As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2021

1933 Act File No. 333-                

1940 Act File No. 811-09475

 

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-2

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Pre-Effective Amendment No.

 

Post-Effective Amendment No.

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

Amendment No. 18

 

 

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code): (800) 257-8787

Mark L. Winget

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 to:

 

Thomas S. Harman

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

  

Eric F. Fess

Chapman and Cutler LLP

111 W. Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60603

 

Jonathan B. Miller

Kenny S. Terrero

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

 

Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans.

 

Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan.

 

Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto.

 

Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.

 

Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act.

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

 

when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act, or as follows:

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .


This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .

 

This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .

Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:

 

Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)).

 

Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act).

 

Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act).

 

A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).

 

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”).

 

If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.

 

New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing).

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Title of Securities

Being Registered

 

Amount Being

Registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering

Price Per Unit

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(3)

 

Amount of

Registration

Fee(3)

Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share

               

MuniFund Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value per share

               

 

 

 

(1)

There are being registered hereunder a presently indeterminate number of Common Shares and MuniFund Preferred Shares.

(2)

This Registration Statement also includes an indeterminate amount of MuniFund Preferred Shares that may be transition-remarketed in connection with a Mode change after their initial offering and sale. The Registrant will not receive any proceeds from such remarketings.

(3)

An unspecified amount of securities is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


LOGO

BASE PROSPECTUS

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

COMMON SHARES

MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

 

 

The Offerings. Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”) is offering, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, common shares (the “Common Shares”) or MuniFund Preferred Shares (“MFP Shares,” and the Common Shares and the MFP Shares, collectively, the “Securities”). The Fund may offer and sell Securities to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, directly to purchasers or through a combination of these methods. In connection with any offering of Securities, the Fund will deliver a prospectus supplement describing such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. For more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Securities, see “Plan of Distribution.”

The Fund. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals, and to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Fund’s investment adviser, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.

Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “NVG.” The Fund’s closing price on the NYSE on November 15, 2021 was $17.64. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the MFP Shares will not be listed or traded on any securities exchange. An investment in MFP Shares may be illiquid and there may be no active secondary trading market.

This prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely information about the Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing, and should be retained for future reference. Investing in the Securities involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 43. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase any of the Securities.

(continued on next page)

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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.

 

 

November 18, 2021


(continued from previous page)

Investment Objectives and Policies. The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals, and to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Fund’s investment adviser, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors”), believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued. As a fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined herein) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income taxes. As non-fundamental investment policies, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest 100% of its Managed Assets (as defined herein) and at least 80% of its Assets in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is also exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase. As a non-fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 55% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below the three highest grades (Baa or BBB or lower) by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s sub-adviser, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“NAM”). There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

Leverage. The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objectives. The Fund may use leverage to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund may source leverage through a number of methods including the issuance of preferred shares, investments in inverse floating rate securities, entering into reverse repurchase agreements (effectively a secured borrowing) and borrowings (subject to certain investment restrictions). The Fund pays a management fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors (which in turn pays a portion of its fees to NAM) based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Because Managed Assets for this purpose includes the assets acquired from the Fund’s use of leverage, Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM may have a conflict of interest in determining whether the Fund should use or increase leverage. See “Use of Leverage” and “The Fund’s Investments.” There is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. Leverage involves special risks. See “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk.”

 

 

As permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.nuveen.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting the financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) through which you hold your Fund shares or, if you are a direct investor, by enrolling at www.nuveen.com/e-reports.

You may elect to receive all future shareholder reports in paper free of charge at any time by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 800-257-8787 and selecting option #1. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your

 

(continued on next page)


(continued from previous page)

 

account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all your directly held Nuveen Funds and any other directly held funds within the same group of related investment companies.

You should read this prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest in Securities and retain it for future reference. A statement of additional information, dated November 18, 2021, and as it may be supplemented (the “SAI”), 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 SAI, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, and other information about the Fund and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or from the Fund’s website (www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the SAI. You also may obtain a copy of the SAI (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

 

 

The Securities 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  

Forward-Looking Statements

     ii  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

Summary of Fund Expenses

     9  

Financial Highlights

     11  

The Fund

     16  

Trading and Net Asset Value Information

     16  

Use of Proceeds

     17  

Description of Securities

     17  

The Fund’s Investments

     22  

Use of Leverage

     38  

Risk Factors

     43  

Management of the Fund

     64  

Net Asset Value

     66  

Distributions

     67  

Plan of Distribution

     67  

Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws

     68  

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

     72  

Tax Matters

     74  

Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption and Paying Agent

     77  

Legal Matters

     77  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     78  

Where You Can Find More Information

     78  

Incorporation by Reference

     78  

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer of Securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates on the front covers. The Fund will update this prospectus to reflect any material changes to the disclosures herein.

 

i


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any projections, forecasts and estimates contained or incorporated by reference herein are forward looking statements and are based upon certain assumptions. Projections, forecasts and estimates are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying any projections, forecasts or estimates will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Actual results may vary from any projections, forecasts and estimates and the variations may be material. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward looking statements include changes in interest rates, market, financial or legal uncertainties, including changes in tax law, and the timing and frequency of defaults on underlying investments. Consequently, the inclusion of any projections, forecasts and estimates herein should not be regarded as a representation by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any other person or entity of the results that will actually be achieved by the Fund. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates has any obligation to update or otherwise revise any projections, forecasts and estimates including any revisions to reflect changes in economic conditions or other circumstances arising after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, even if the underlying assumptions do not come to fruition. The Fund acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to investment companies such as the Fund.

 

ii


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement and in the statement of additional information, dated November 18, 2021, and as it may be supplemented (the “SAI”), including the documents incorporated by reference, prior to making an investment in the Fund, especially the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors.”

 

The Fund

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s common shares, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “NVG.” See “Description of Securities—Common Shares.” As of September 30, 2021, the Fund had 213,425,280 Common Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $3,707,300,733.

 

  As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has outstanding two series of MuniFund Preferred Shares (“MFP Shares”), consisting of 2,054 Series A MFP Shares and 200,000 Series B MFP Shares; five series of Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”), consisting of 1,790 Series 1 VRDP Shares, 3,854 Series 2 VRDP Shares, 1,800 Series 4 VRDP Shares, 3,405 Series 5 VRDP Shares and 3,267 Series 6 VRDP Shares; and one series of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred (“AMTP Shares”), consisting of 1,120 Series 2028 AMTP Shares. See “Description of Securities—Preferred Shares.” MFP Shares, VRDP Shares, AMTP Shares and any other preferred shares of the Fund as may be outstanding from time to time are collectively referred to as “Preferred Shares.”

 

Investment Objectives and Policies

The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals, and to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Fund’s investment adviser, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Investment Adviser”), believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.

 

  As a fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income taxes.

 

1


  As a non-fundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest 100% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase. As a non-fundamental investment policy subject to change by the Fund’s trustees upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase.

 

  “Assets” means net assets of the Fund plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. “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 leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.

 

  As a non-fundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 55% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below the three highest grades (Baa or BBB or lower) by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s sub-adviser, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“NAM” or the “Sub-Adviser”).

 

  Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, the Fund:

 

 

   

may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities.

 

   

may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.

 

   

may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (often referred to as “ETFs”)) that invest

 

2


 

primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations issued thereunder and applicable exemptive orders issued by the SEC.

 

  The Fund also may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial 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. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. For purposes of determining compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and for purposes of calculating Managed Assets, the Fund will value eligible derivatives at market value or fair value instead of notional value. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition—Derivatives.”

 

  During temporary defensive periods or in order to help keep the Fund’s assets fully invested, including during the period within which the net proceeds of an offering of Securities are first being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest any percentage of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable.

 

  There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. See “Risk Factors” and “The Fund’s Investments—Investment Objectives and Policies.”

 

Investment Adviser

Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation.

 

 

Nuveen Fund Advisors, a registered investment adviser, offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”).

 

3


 

TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2021, Nuveen managed approximately $1.2 trillion in assets, of which approximately $183.8 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.

 

Sub-Adviser

NAM serves as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser and is an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors. NAM is a registered investment adviser. NAM oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund.

 

The Offerings

The Fund may offer, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, Common Shares or MFP Shares in any combination (collectively, the “Securities”), at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Fund may offer and sell Securities to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents the Fund designates from time to time, directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of these methods. In connection with any offering of Securities, the Fund will deliver a prospectus supplement describing such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of Securities and the applicable purchase price, fee, commission and/or discount arrangement between the Fund and the underwriters, or among underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

  The prospectus supplement for an offering of Common Shares also will include information regarding risk factors specific to an investment in Common Shares, fund expenses, trading and net asset value of the Common Shares, the dividend reinvestment plan for Common Shares and other details concerning the offering. See “Description of Securities—Common Shares.”

 

 

The prospectus supplement for an offering of MFP Shares also will include information regarding the risk factors specific to an investment in the offered MFP Shares, the series designation, redemption terms, the dividend rate, material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other details concerning the offering. The terms and conditions of the MFP Shares of each series will be specified in a Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares (the “Statement”) and a Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares (the “Statement Supplement”), forms of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this

 

4


 

prospectus is a part. See “Description of Securities—MuniFund Preferred Shares.”

 

Use of Proceeds

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will use the net proceeds from any sales of Securities pursuant to this prospectus to make investments in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies or to redeem outstanding Preferred Shares. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Federal Income Tax

The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to continue to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally does not expect to have to pay U.S. federal income tax. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, among other requirements, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources. Additionally, in order to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must meet certain distribution requirements. The failure to pay distributions could result in the Fund ceasing to qualify as a regulated investment company. Nevertheless, the Fund might not distribute all of its net investment income, and the Fund is not required to distribute any portion of its net capital gains. 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 stockholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. The value of Securities may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies.

 

  In addition, the Fund treats the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Preferred Shares were treated as debt rather than as equity for such purposes, the timing and character of distributions could be affected.

 

  See “Risk Factors—Portfolio Level Risks—Tax Risk” and “—Taxability Risk” and “Tax Matters.”

 

Use of Leverage

The Fund currently employs leverage through the issuance of Preferred Shares and investments in inverse floating rate securities. As of September 30, 2021, the Fund’s leverage through such was approximately 37% of its Managed Assets.

 

5


The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objectives. The Fund may use leverage to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund may source leverage through a number of methods including the issuance of Preferred Shares, investments in inverse floating rate securities, entering into reverse repurchase agreements (effectively a secured borrowing) and borrowings (subject to certain investment restrictions). See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities,” “Risk Factors—Portfolio Level Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk,” “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk” and “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk” in this prospectus and “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. The Fund may also use certain derivatives that have the economic effect of leverage by creating additional investment exposure. The Fund currently employs leverage primarily through its outstanding Preferred Shares.

 

  The Fund may also borrow for temporary purposes permitted by the 1940 Act. The Fund, along with certain other funds managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors (the “Participating Funds”), are party to a committed unsecured credit facility (the “Facility”) provided by a group of lenders, under which Participating Funds may borrow for temporary purposes only. Outstanding balances drawn by the Fund, or any other Participating Fund, will bear interest at a variable rate and is the liability of such Fund. The Facility is not intended for sustained levered investment purposes. A large portion of the Facility’s capacity (and corresponding annual costs, excluding interest cost) is currently allocated by Nuveen Fund Advisors to a small number of Participating Funds, which does not include the Fund. The Facility has a 364-day term and will expire in June 2022 unless extended or renewed.

 

 

The Fund may reduce or increase leverage based upon changes in market conditions and anticipates that its leverage ratio will vary from time to time based upon variations in the value of the Fund’s holdings. So long as the rate of net income received on the Fund’s investments exceeds the then current expense on any leverage, leverage will generate more net income than if the Fund had not used leverage. If so, the excess net income will be available to pay higher distributions to shareholders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”). However, if the rate of net income received from the Fund’s portfolio investments is less than the then current expense on outstanding

 

6


 

leverage, the Fund may be required to utilize other Fund assets to make expense payments on outstanding leverage, which may result in a decline in Common Share net asset value and reduced net investment income available for distribution to Common Shareholders.

 

  The use of leverage involves additional risks for Common Shareholders, including increased variability of the Fund’s net asset value, net income and distributions in relation to market changes. The prospectus supplement for an offering of Common Shares will describe those risks in more detail.

 

  The Fund pays a management fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors (which in turn pays a portion of its fee to the Fund’s sub-adviser, NAM) based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets for this purpose includes the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund’s use of leverage as set forth in the Fund’s investment management agreement. Nuveen Fund Advisors will be responsible for using leverage to pursue the Fund’s investment objectives, and will base its decision regarding whether and how much leverage to use for the Fund based on its assessment of whether such use of leverage will advance the Fund’s investment objectives. However, a decision to increase the Fund’s leverage will have the effect, all other things being equal, of increasing Managed Assets and therefore Nuveen Fund Advisors’ and NAM’s management fees. Thus, Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM may have a conflict of interest in determining whether the Fund should use or increase leverage. Nuveen Fund Advisors will seek to manage that potential conflict by only increasing the Fund’s use of leverage when it determines that such increase is in the best interest of the Fund and is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, and by periodically reviewing the Fund’s performance and use of leverage with the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”).

 

  There is no assurance that the Fund will continue to use leverage or that the Fund’s use of leverage will work as planned or achieve its goals.

 

Exchange Listing

Common Shares: The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NVG.”

 

  MFP Shares: Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the MFP Shares will not be listed or traded on any securities exchange.

 

7


Custodian and Transfer Agent; Tender and Paying Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Custodian”) serves as custodian of the Fund’s assets. Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serve as transfer agent for the Common Shares. See “Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption and Paying Agent.”

 

  The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Tender and Paying Agent”) will serve as tender and paying agent and as the calculation agent, transfer agent and registrar, dividend disbursing agent, and paying agent and redemption price disbursing agent for the MFP Shares. See “Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption and Paying Agent.”

 

Risk Factors

Investment in the Fund involves risk. 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. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement for a discussion of the principal risks you should consider before making an investment in the Fund. The specific risks applicable to a particular offering of Securities will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Governing Law

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) is, and each Statement and Statement Supplement for MFP Shares will be, governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

8


SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

The purpose of the table below and the examples below are to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The table shows the expenses of the Fund as a percentage of the average net assets applicable to Common Shares, and not as a percentage of total assets or total investment exposure.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering price)

  

Maximum Sales Charge

     1.00 %*

Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees(1)

   $ 2.50  

 

*

A maximum sales charge of 1.00% applies only to offerings made at-the-market. There is no sales charge for offerings pursuant to an underwritten transaction or a private transaction.

 

     As a Percentage of
Net Assets
Attributable to
Common  Shares(2)
 

Annual Expenses

  

Management Fees

     0.94

Fees on Preferred Shares and Interest and Related Expenses from Inverse Floaters(3)

     0.54

Other Expenses(4)

     0.07
  

 

 

 

Total Annual Expenses

     1.55
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

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

(2)

Stated as percentages of average net assets attributable to Common Shares for the six months ended April 30, 2021 (Unaudited).

(3)

Fees on preferred shares for the Fund assume annual dividends paid, annual remarketing fees and amortization of offering costs, and annual liquidity fees, where applicable. Interest and Related Expenses from Inverse Floaters include interest expense 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”). To the extent the Fund creates self-deposited inverse floating rate securities, the Fund recognizes 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 also recognizes a corresponding amount of additional interest earned (also indirectly), the net asset value per share, net investment income and total return are not affected by this accounting treatment. The actual fees on preferred shares and interest and related expenses from inverse floaters incurred in the future may be higher or lower. If short-term market interest rates rise in the future, and if the Fund continues to maintain leverage the cost of which is tied to short-term interest rates, the Fund’s interest expenses can be expected to rise in tandem. The Fund’s use of leverage will increase the amount of management fees paid to the Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM.

(4)

Other Expenses is based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Expenses attributable to the Fund’s investments, if any, in other investment companies are currently estimated not to exceed 0.01%. See “The Fund’s Investments—Other Investment Companies” in the SAI.

For a more complete description of the Annual Expenses a Common Shareholder would bear directly or indirectly, see “Management of the Fund—Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements.”

 

9


Examples

The following examples illustrate the expenses including the applicable transaction fees (referred to as the “Maximum Sales Charge” in the fee table above), if any, that a Common Shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods provided in the table. Each example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested in the Fund and that the Fund’s Annual Total Expenses, as provided above, remain the same. The examples also assume a 5% annual return.

Example # 1 (At-the-Market Transaction)

The following example assumes a transaction fee of 1.00%, as a percentage of the offering price.

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  
  $26      $ 58      $ 94      $ 193  

Example # 2 (Underwritten Transaction or Privately Negotiated Transaction)

The following example assumes there is no transaction fee.

 

1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  
  $16      $ 49      $ 84      $ 185  

The examples should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown above.

 

*

The examples assume that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at Common Shares NAV. 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.

 

10


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following Financial Highlights table is intended to help a prospective investor understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Common Share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in Common Shares of the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The Fund’s annual financial statements and financial highlights as of and for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, October 31, 2019, October 31, 2018, October 31, 2017, October 31, 2016, October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 have been audited by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), an independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG has not reviewed or examined any records, transactions or events after the date of such reports. The information with respect to the fiscal years ended prior to October  31, 2014 has been audited by other auditors. The information with respect to the six months ended April 30, 2021 is unaudited and is included in the Fund’s 2021 Semi-Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Fund’s Annual Reports and the 2021 Semi-Annual Report may be obtained from www.sec.gov or by visiting www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s websites is not part of this prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein or in the SAI. Past results are not indicative of future performance.

The following per share data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

11


Selected data for a Common Share outstanding throughout each period:

 

    Six Months
Ended
April 30,
    Year Ended October 31,  
    (unaudited)              
    2021(i)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance                                                      

Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value

  $ 16.76     $ 17.17     $ 15.48     $ 16.39     $ 16.64     $ 16.03     $ 16.24     $ 14.62     $ 16.33  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment Operations:

                 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.42       0.82       0.79       0.81       0.84       0.73       0.77       0.71       0.60  

Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.76       (0.41     1.72       (0.88     (0.19     0.77       (0.13     1.72       (1.46

Net Investment Income (Loss) to ARPS Shareholders(a)

    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  

Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss) to ARPS Shareholders(a)

    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    1.18       0.41       2.51       (0.07     0.65       1.50       0.64       2.43       (0.86
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions to Common Shareholders:

                 

From Net Investment Income

    (0.41     (0.79     (0.79     (0.84     (0.87     (0.86     (0.75     (0.70     (0.74

From Accumulated Net Realized Gains

    (0.09     (0.03     (0.03     0.00       (0.03     (0.03     (0.10     (0.07     (0.11
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    (0.50     (0.82     (0.82     (0.84     (0.90     (0.89     (0.85     (0.77     (0.85
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common Share:

                 

Discount from Common Shares Repurchased and Retired

    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00     (0.01     0.00
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Discount Per Share Repurchased through Tender Offer

    0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       0.00       (0.03     0.00  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Net Asset Value

  $ 17.44     $ 16.76     $ 17.17     $ 15.48     $ 16.39     $ 16.64     $ 16.03     $ 16.24     $ 14.62  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Common Share Price

  $ 17.20     $ 15.62     $ 16.45     $ 13.40     $ 15.17     $ 15.05     $ 14.05     $ 14.14     $ 12.75  

Common Share Total Returns:

                 

Based on Net Asset Value(b)

    7.05     2.53     16.52     (0.50 )%      4.25     9.40     4.04     16.78     (5.46 )% 

Based on Share Price(b)

    13.41     0.06     29.47     (6.49 )%      7.10     13.46     5.53     17.35     (14.46 )% 

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA/RATIOS

                 

Ending Net Assets (000)

  $ 3,720,829     $ 3,576,356     $ 3,476,962     $ 3,134,970     $ 3,319,775     $ 3,370,157     $ 427,104     $ 433,092     $ 434,851  

Ratios to Average Net Assets Before Reimbursement(c)

                 

Expenses(e)

    1.55 %*      1.98     2.49     2.40     2.05     1.81     1.50     1.75     2.03

Net Investment Income Loss

    4.88 %*      4.89     4.82     5.02     5.26     4.87     4.81     4.56     3.87

Ratios to Average Net Assets After Reimbursement(c)(d)

                 

Expenses(e)

    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       2.04 (g)%      1.75 (g)%      N/A       N/A       N/A  

Net Investment Income [Loss]

    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       5.27 (g)%      4.93 (g)%      N/A       N/A       N/A  

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

    7     15     6     15     18     21     26     13     32

 

12


    Six Months
Ended
April 30,
    Year Ended October 31,  
    (unaudited)              
    2021(i)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
Per Share Operating Performance                                                      

Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred (AMTP) Shares at the End of Period:

                 

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

  $ 112,000     $ 112,000     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

  $ 292,889     $ 285,399     $     $     $     $     $     $     $  

MuniFund Term Preferred (MTP) Shares at the End of Period(h)

                 

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

  $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $ 108,000  

Asset Coverage Per $25,000 Share

  $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $     $ 31.69  

Variable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred (VMTP) Shares at the End of Period:

                 

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

  $     $     $     $     $ 240,400     $ 240,400     $     $     $ 92,500  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

  $     $     $     $     $ 300,955     $ 304,005     $     $     $ 316,883  

Variable Rate Demand Preferred (VRDP) Shares at the End of Period:

                 

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

  $ 1,411,600     $ 1,411,600     $ 1,411,600     $ 1,411,600     $ 1,411,600     $ 1,411,600     $ 179,000     $ 179,000     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

  $ 292,889     $ 285,399     $ 291,357     $ 272,535     $ 300,955     $ 304,005     $ 338,606     $ 341,951     $  

MuniFund Preferred (MFP) Shares at the End of Period:

                 

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

  $ 405,400     $ 405,400     $ 405,400     $ 405,400     $     $     $     $     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

  $ 292,889     $ 285,399     $ 291,357     $ 272,535     $     $     $     $     $  

AMTP, MTP , VMTP, VRDP and/or MFP Shares at the End of Period:

                 

Asset Coverage Per $1 Liquidation Preference

  $ 2.93     $ 2.85     $ 2.91     $ 2.73     $ 3.01     $ 3.04     $     $     $ 3.17  

 

13


Selected data for a Common Share outstanding throughout each period:

 

     Year Ended
October 31,
 
     2012     2011  
Per Share Operating Performance     

Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value

   $ 15.03     $ 15.20  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment Operations:

    

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.82       0.91  

Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss)

     1.42       (0.22

Net Investment Income (Loss) to Fund ARPS Shareholders(a)

     0.00       (0.01

Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss) to Fund ARPS Shareholders(a)

     0.00       0.00  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     2.24       0.68  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions to Common Shareholders:

    

From Net Investment Income

     (0.90     (0.85

From Accumulated Net Realized Gains

     (0.04     0.00
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (0.94     (0.85
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common Share:

    

Discount from Common Shares Repurchased and Retired

     0.00       0.00  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Net Asset Value

   $ 16.33     $ 15.03  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Common Share Price

   $ 15.82     $ 14.32  

Common Share Total Returns:

    

Based on Net Asset Value(b)

     15.30     4.83

Based on Share Price(b)

     17.44     2.89

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA/RATIOS

    

Ending Net Assets (000)

   $ 486,750     $ 448,070  

Ratios to Average Net Assets Before Reimbursement(c)

    

Expenses(e)

     2.08     1.95

Net Investment Income Loss

     5.17     6.12

Ratios to Average Net Assets After Reimbursement(c)(d)

    

Expenses(e)

     2.05     1.84

Net Investment Income Loss

     5.20     6.23

Portfolio Turnover Rate(f)

     29     7

Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred (AMTP) Shares at the End of Period:

    

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

   $     $  

MuniFund Term Preferred (MTP) Shares at the End of Period(g)

    

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $ 108,000     $ 108,000  

Asset Coverage Per $25,000 Share

   $ 34.28     $ 32.35  

Variable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred (VMTP) Shares at the End of Period:

    

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $ 92,500     $ 92,500  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

   $ 342,768     $ 323,476  

Variable Rate Demand Preferred (VRDP) Shares at the End of Period:

    

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

   $     $  

MuniFund Preferred (MFP) Shares at the End of Period:

    

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $     $  

Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share

   $     $  

AMTP, MTP , VMTP, VRDP and/or MFP Shares at the End of Period:

    

Asset Coverage Per $1 Liquidation Preference

   $ 3.43     $ 3.23  

 

(a)

The amounts shown for ARPS are based on common share equivalents.

(b)

Total Return Based on Common Share net asset value is the combination of changes in Common Share net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net asset value. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.

 

  

Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last

 

14


  dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
(c)

Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to Preferred Shares issued by the Fund.

(d)

The expense ratios reflect, among other things, all interest expense and other costs related to Preferred Shares and/or the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund, where applicable, as follows:

 

Six Months
Ended
April 30,

(unaudited)
    Year Ended October 31,  
2021(i)     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  
  0.54%*       0.97%       1.47%       1.37     1.02     0.78     0.46     0.75     1.06     1.05     0.90

 

(e)

After expense reimbursement from the Investment Adviser, where applicable. As of March 31, 2012 the Investment Adviser is no longer reimbursing the Fund for any fees and expenses.

(f)

Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

(g)

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, the Investment Adviser voluntarily reimbursed the Fund for certain expenses incurred in connection with its reorganization.

(h)

The Ending and Average Market Value Per Share for each Series of the Fund’s MTP Shares outstanding were as follows:

 

     2014      2013      2012      2011  

Series 2014 (NVG PRCCL)

           

Ending Market Value per Share

   $ —      $ 10.09      $ 10.12      $ 10.10  

Average Market Value per Share

     10.05^        10.11        10.16        10.12  

 

(i)

For the six months ended April 30, 2021.

^

For the period November 1, 2013 through December 23, 2013.

N/A

Fund does not have or no longer has a contractual reimbursement with the Investment Adviser.

*

Annualized

 

15


THE FUND

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on July 12, 1999, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, which is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund’s Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NVG.” The Fund’s principal office is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (800) 257-8787.

TRADING AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION

The following table shows for the periods indicated: (i) the high and low sales prices for the Common Shares reported as of the end of the day on the NYSE, (ii) the high and low NAV of the Common Shares, and (iii) the high and low of the premium/(discount) to net asset value (expressed as a percentage) of the Common Shares.

 

     Market Price      Net Asset Value      Premium/(Discount)  

Fiscal Quarter Ended

   High      Low      High      Low      High      Low  

October 2021

   $ 18.22      $ 16.75      $ 17.86      $ 17.20        3.23%        (3.46)%  

July 2021

   $ 17.91      $ 17.02      $ 17.91      $ 17.41        0.79%        (2.63)%  

April 2021

   $ 17.28      $ 16.17      $ 17.74      $ 17.10        (1.09)%        (6.85)%  

January 2021

   $ 16.98      $ 15.62      $ 17.59      $ 16.75        (2.60)%        (6.80)%  

October 2020

   $ 16.25      $ 15.37      $ 17.28      $ 16.72        (5.89)%        (9.64)%  

July 2020

   $ 15.89      $ 14.06      $ 17.10      $ 15.48        (5.86)%        (9.72)%  

April 2020

   $ 17.14      $ 12.53      $ 18.00      $ 14.19        (3.19)%        (20.09)%  

January 2020

   $ 16.97      $ 15.99      $ 17.58      $ 17.01        (2.69)%        (6.38)%  

The NAV per Common Share, the market price and percentage of premium/(discount) to net asset value per Common Share on November 15, 2021 was $17.41, $17.64 and 1.32%, respectively. As of September 30, 2021, the Fund had 213,425,280 Common Shares, 14,116 VRDP Shares and 202,054 MFP Shares and 1,120 AMTP Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $3,707,300,733. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund.”

 

16


USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will use the net proceeds from any sales of Securities pursuant to this prospectus to make investments in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies or to redeem outstanding Preferred Shares.

To the extent a portion of the net proceeds from an offering are used to make investments, the relevant prospectus supplement will include an estimate of the length of time it is expected to take to invest such proceeds. The Fund anticipates that the net proceeds will be invested shortly following completion of the offering and in any event expects the time period to be less than three months. To the extent a portion of the net proceeds from an offering are used to redeem outstanding Preferred Shares, the Fund anticipates that such redemptions will be effected as soon as practicable after completion of the relevant offering.

Pending the use of proceeds, as described above, the Fund anticipates investing the proceeds in high-quality, short-term investments.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

The following is a brief description of the material terms of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, of the Fund, except that the series designation, redemption terms, dividend rate or rates, and other details concerning any MFP Shares issued under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part will be disclosed in a prospectus supplement.

The following provides information about the Fund’s outstanding Securities as of September 30, 2021:

 

Title of Class

   Amount
Authorized
     Amount Held
by the Fund
or for its

Account
     Amount
Outstanding
 

Common Shares

     Unlimited        0        213,425,280  

Preferred Shares

     Unlimited        

VRDP:

        

Series 1

     1,790        0        1,790  

Series 2

     3,854        0        3,854  

Series 4

     1,800        0        1,800  

Series 5

     3,405        0        3,405  

Series 6

     3,267        0        3,267  

MFP:

        

Series A

     2,054        0        2,054  

Series B

     200,000        0        200,000  

AMTP:

        

Series 2028

     1,120        0        1,120  

Common Shares

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares have a par value of $0.01 per share and, subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares issued, have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Common Shares when issued, are fully paid and, subject to

 

17


matters discussed in “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws,” non-assessable, and have no preemptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. A copy of the Declaration of Trust is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Fund’s registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A copy may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Each whole Common Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportional fractional vote consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. Whenever the Fund incurs borrowings and/or Preferred Shares are outstanding, Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all interest on such borrowings has been paid and all accumulated dividends on Preferred Shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the distributions and 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.

The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE and trade under the ticker symbol “NVG.” 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.

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Common shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Common 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.

Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure 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 should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund.”

Preferred Shares

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Preferred Shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders. As indicated above, the Fund currently has outstanding Preferred Shares consisting of VRDP Shares, MFP Shares and AMTP Shares. Copies of the Declaration of Trust, and the applicable statement establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of Preferred Shares of the applicable series, and, if applicable, the related supplement, are (or will be when the relevant MFP Shares are issued, in the case of MFP Shares offered and sold under the Fund’s

 

18


registration statement of which this prospectus is a part) filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement. Copies may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Currently, the outstanding VRDP Shares of certain series have a remarketing feature and the benefit of an unconditional demand feature pursuant to a purchase agreement provided by a bank acting as liquidity provider to ensure full and timely repayment of the liquidation preference amount plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to holders upon the occurrence of certain events. The purchase agreement for the outstanding VRDP Shares of each such series requires the applicable liquidity provider to purchase from holders all outstanding VRDP Shares of the applicable series tendered for sale that were not successfully remarketed. The liquidity provider also must purchase all outstanding VRDP Shares of the applicable series prior to termination of the purchase agreement for such series, including by reason of the failure of the liquidity provider to maintain the requisite level of short-term ratings, if the Fund has not obtained an alternate purchase agreement before the termination date. The liquidity provider for the outstanding VRDP Shares of each applicable series entered into a purchase agreement with respect to such series, subject to periodic extension by agreement with the Fund.

The outstanding VRDP Shares, MFP Shares and AMTP Shares of each series have a specified term redemption date and may be subject to earlier optional or mandatory redemption by the Fund, in whole or in part, in certain circumstances, such as in the event of a failure by the Fund to comply with asset coverage and/or effective leverage ratio requirements and any such failure is not cured within the applicable cure period. With respect to each series of outstanding VRDP Shares that has a liquidity provider, the Fund has an obligation to redeem, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared), shares of such series purchased by the liquidity provider pursuant to its obligation under the purchase agreement if the liquidity provider continues to be the beneficial owner for a period of six months and such shares cannot be successfully remarketed.

Ranking and Priority of Payment

Each Preferred Share, including each MFP Share, ranks and will rank on parity with each other and other Preferred Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Each Preferred Share, including each MFP Share, ranks and will rank senior in priority to the Common Shares as to the payment of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

Dividends and Distributions

The holders of Preferred Shares of each series are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and applicable law, cumulative cash dividends at the dividend rate for the Preferred Shares of such series payable on the dividend payment dates with respect to the Preferred Shares of such series. Holders of Preferred Shares are not entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on Preferred Shares which may be in arrears, and no additional sum of money will be payable in respect of such arrearage.

 

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Voting Rights

Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, are required to be voting shares and to have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or the SAI and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, would vote together with the holders of Common Shares as a single class.

Holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. The remaining trustees will be elected by the holders of Common Shares and the holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accumulated dividends are unpaid on the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting as a separate class, will 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. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of Preferred Shares would be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of Preferred Shares and Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.”

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares

The terms of the Preferred Shares of any series may provide that they may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption by the Fund at certain times or under certain circumstances, in whole or in part, at the liquidation preference per share plus accumulated dividends. The terms for optional redemption of MFP Shares of any series may provide for the payment of a redemption premium, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any issuance of Preferred Shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

Ratings and Asset Coverage

The Fund currently expects that each series of MFP Shares offered will have a long-term rating from at least one NRSRO at the time of issuance. Each of the Fund’s currently outstanding series of Preferred Shares has a long-term rating from one or more NRSROs.

As long as MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares are outstanding, the composition of the Fund’s portfolio will reflect guidelines established by the NRSRO or NRSROs rating such shares. These guidelines may impose requirements different from or in addition to those required under the 1940 Act, and generally include asset coverage requirements, portfolio characteristics such as portfolio diversification and credit rating criteria, and qualitative views on the Fund and Fund management. Although the Fund’s failure to meet such requirements or criteria under applicable guidelines may cause the Fund to sell portfolio positions or to redeem Preferred Shares at inopportune times in an amount necessary to restore compliance with the guidelines, or may result in a downgrade of ratings, the Fund currently does not anticipate that these restrictions or guidelines will impede the management of the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

There can be no assurance that one or more NRSROs will not alter its or their rating criteria resulting in downgrades of ratings, that the Fund will maintain any ratings of the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares or, if at any time the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, have one or more

 

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ratings, that any particular ratings will be maintained. The Fund may, at any time, replace a NRSRO with another NRSRO or terminate the services of any NRSROs then providing a rating for Preferred Shares without replacement, in either case, without the approval of shareholders of the Fund (except as may be otherwise specifically provided for a series of Preferred Shares). In addition, the NRSRO guidelines adopted by the Fund in connection with a NRSRO’s rating of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, may be changed or eliminated at any time without the approval of shareholders of the Fund, including in connection with the change or elimination of any or all long-term ratings of the Preferred Shares.

Ratings of the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, neither eliminate nor mitigate the risks of investing in Common Shares or Preferred Shares. See “Risk Factors” above and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

MuniFund Preferred Shares

The description of the MFP Shares that may be offered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part set forth below will be supplemented in a related prospectus supplement and will include the following:

 

   

the series and title of the security;

 

   

the liquidation preference per share and aggregate liquidation preference of the MFP Shares being offered;

 

   

the dividend rate or rates on the MFP Shares being offered, or the manner in which the dividend rate or rates will be calculated;

 

   

any optional or mandatory redemption provisions;

 

   

any changes in paying agents or security registrar; and

 

   

any other terms of the MFP Shares being offered.

The prospectus supplement also will contain a description of material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the MFP Shares that are described in the prospectus supplement.

The decision to issue MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares is subject to market conditions and to the Board’s belief that leveraging the Fund’s capital structure through the issuance of Preferred Shares is likely to achieve the benefits to the Common Shareholders described in this prospectus.

Designation of Modes

Initial Mode and Subsequent Modes. The terms and conditions applicable to any series of MFP Shares will be set forth in the Statement relating to that series, as supplemented by the Statement Supplement setting forth the additional terms and conditions applicable to that series upon initial issuance for the period specified in the Statement Supplement. The Fund may have the option with respect to any series of MFP Shares to effect a Mode extension or change after the initial issuance of MFP Shares of that series. The additional or different terms and conditions applicable to the MFP

 

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Shares in any subsequent Modes or extensions of any Mode will be set forth in future new or amended Statement supplements effective on the dates set forth in any such new or amended Statement supplements.

Designation of Mode Provisions. In connection with any Mode designated or extended, the Fund, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Statement and Statement Supplement then in effect, without the vote or consent of any holder of MFP Shares, may (i) provide in the Statement Supplement for such Mode for provisions relating solely to such Mode that differ from those provided in the Statement or any other Statement supplement, including, but not limited to, with respect to optional tender provisions, mandatory tender provisions, a liquidity facility or other credit enhancement, mandatory purchase provisions, the dividend rate setting provisions (including as to any maximum rate), and, if the dividend may be determined by reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in which it will be determined, redemption provisions and modified or new definitions, and (ii), subject to any restrictions on modification specifically set forth in such Statement supplement for a Mode then in effect, modify such Statement supplement then in effect to provide for optional tender provisions, and/or mandatory tender provisions, a liquidity facility or other credit enhancement, and other provisions. Extension of any Mode, and the modification of any provisions relating to such Mode, will be subject to any restrictions on extension or modification set forth in the Statement or in the Statement Supplement for such Mode.

Notices in Respect of Mode Designation or Extension. The Fund will deliver a notice of Mode designation or extension or proposed Mode designation or extension as specified in and otherwise in accordance with the Statement Supplement.

Mandatory Tender of MFP Shares in connection with a Mode Change or Extension. The Statement Supplement will provide that any Mode change or extension will trigger a mandatory tender of all outstanding MFP Shares of the applicable series for transition remarketing into the extended Mode or new Mode.

THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Investment Objectives and Policies

The Fund’s investment objectives are:

 

   

to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals; and

 

   

to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Investment Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.

Underrated municipal securities are those whose ratings do not, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, reflect their true value. Municipal securities may be underrated because of the time that has elapsed since their rating was assigned or reviewed, or because of positive factors that may not have been fully taken into account by NRSROs, or for other similar reasons. Municipal securities that are undervalued or that represent undervalued municipal market sectors are municipal securities that, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Municipal securities of particular types or purposes (e.g., hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or

 

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bonds issued by a particular municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal securities of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular municipal securities that are considered undervalued. The Fund’s investment in underrated or undervalued municipal securities will be based on the Investment Adviser’s belief that the prices of such municipal securities should ultimately reflect their true value. Accordingly, “enhancement of portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market” refers to the Fund’s objective of attempting to realize above-average capital appreciation in a rising market, and to experience less than average capital losses in a declining market. Thus, the Fund’s second investment objective is not intended to suggest that capital appreciation is itself an objective of the Fund. Instead, the Fund seeks enhancement of portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by prudent selection of municipal securities, regardless of which direction the market may move. Any capital appreciation realized by the Fund will generally result in the distribution of taxable capital gains to holders of Common Shares and holders of Preferred Shares. The Fund is currently required to allocate net capital gains and ordinary income taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if any, proportionately between Common Shares and Preferred Shares. See “Tax Matters.”

It is a fundamental policy that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income taxes.

As a non-fundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest 100% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase. As a non-fundamental policy subject to change by the Fund’s trustees upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase.

“Assets” means net assets of the Fund plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. “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 leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 55% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below the three highest grades (Baa or BBB or lower) by at least one NRSRO, which includes below-investment-grade securities or unrated securities judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. The Fund may invest in distressed securities. The Fund may not invest in the securities of an issuer which, at the time of investment, is in default on its obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or that is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding (i.e. rated below C-, at the time of investment), provided, however, that NAM may determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders in pursuing a workout arrangement with issuers of defaulted securities to make loans to the defaulted issuer or another party, or purchase a debt, equity or other interest from the defaulted issuer or another party, or take other related or similar steps involving the investment of additional monies, but only if that issuer’s securities are already held by the Fund.

 

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The Fund’s greater allocation to lower rated municipal securities is expected to result in meaningfully higher net earnings. However, investments in lower rated securities are subject to higher risks than investments in higher rated securities, including a higher risk that the issuer will be unable to pay interest or principal when due. In addition, the Fund’s greater allocation to lower rated municipal securities may have a negative effect on one or more long-term ratings of the Fund’s Preferred Shares. See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks associated with an increased exposure to lower rated municipal securities and for a discussion of ratings risks.

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 are considered “investment grade” securities; municipal securities rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations which 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 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 unrated municipal securities 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 the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser’s research and analysis when investing in these securities.

The foregoing credit quality policy targets 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 NRSRO upgrades or downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer or that valuation changes of various municipal securities cause the Fund’s portfolio to fail to satisfy those targets. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider such factors as the Investment Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’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. The ratings of S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Fitch Ratings, Inc. 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 invest primarily in municipal securities with long-term maturities in order to maintain an average effective maturity of 15 to 30 years, including the effects of leverage, but the average effective maturity of obligations held by the Fund may be lengthened or shortened as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities markets offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for tax-exempt income and total return. As a result, the Fund’s portfolio at any given time may include both long-term

 

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and intermediate-term municipal securities. Moreover, during temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Investment Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt bond 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, the Fund may invest any percentage of its total assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives during such periods.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. The economic effect of leverage through the Fund’s purchase of inverse floating rate securities creates an opportunity for increased net income and returns for Common Shareholders but also creates the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return of the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund.

The Fund may invest in “tobacco settlement bonds.” Tobacco settlement bonds are bonds that are secured or payable solely from the collateralization of the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry. See “Risk Factors—Portfolio Level Risks—Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities.”

The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations issued thereunder and applicable exemptive orders issued by the SEC. See “—Portfolio Composition—Other Investment Companies” below.

The Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge certain risks of its investments in fixed-income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, the Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies which provide such credit enhancements may affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature may reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce the Fund’s income. The insurance feature guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the obligation when due and does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligations, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer, and the effectiveness and value of the insurance itself is dependent on the continued creditworthiness of the insurer. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.

 

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Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. 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 is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of its assets, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), except that this limitation does not apply to cash, securities of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies.

The Fund cannot change its investment objectives without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common and Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Preferred Shares voting as a separate class, and with the prior written consent of the liquidity providers for VRDP Shares or MFP Shares in the Variable Rate Demand Mode, such consent to be determined in each liquidity provider’s good faith discretion, and certain other Fund counterparties. A “majority of the outstanding,” under the 1940 Act, 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. See “Description of Securities” for additional information with respect to the voting rights of holders of Common Shares and Preferred Shares.

Portfolio Composition

The Fund’s portfolio is composed principally of the following investments.

Municipal Securities

General. The Fund generally invests its assets in a portfolio of 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 both regular federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. Municipal securities are generally debt obligations issued by state and local governmental entities and may be issued by U.S. territories to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities may also be issued for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and 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 on long term debt. Municipal securities may be issued and purchased 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, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option

 

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bonds, and residual interest bonds or inverse floating rate securities; or 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 may increase the leverage of the Fund.

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by United States territories and possessions (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) that are exempt from regular federal income taxes.

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. The market value of municipal bonds 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.

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 the Investment Adviser believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.

A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates typically are 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.

 

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Municipal Notes. Municipal securities in the form of notes 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 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. The Fund’s distributions of its interest income from private activity bonds may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax.

Inverse Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities 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, commonly referred to as a “tender option bond trust” (“TOB trust”), that holds municipal bonds. The TOB trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds (“TOBs”)), and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse

 

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floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates or receipts. The floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the TOB trust. In this structure, the floating rate security holders have the option, at periodic short-term intervals, to tender their securities to the trust for purchase and to receive the face value thereof plus accrued interest. The obligation of the trust to repurchase tendered securities is supported by a remarketing agent and by a liquidity provider. As consideration for providing this support, the remarketing agent and the liquidity provider receive periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the trust is not obligated to purchase tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults with respect to the underlying municipal bonds or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer.

As the holder of an inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from the TOB trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security plus accrued interest, the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal bond deposited into the TOB 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 to the value of the inverse floaters that are issued by the TOB trust, and can exceed three times for more “highly leveraged” trusts. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the TOB trust are passed through, pro rata, to the holders of the short-term floaters and to the Fund as the holder of the associated inverse floaters.

Because any increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters issued by a TOB trust would reduce the residual interest paid on the associated inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the TOB trust would affect only the value of the inverse floater and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust so long as the value of the municipal bond held by the trust exceeded the face amount of short-term floaters outstanding, the value of inverse floaters is generally more volatile than that of an otherwise comparable municipal bond held on an unleveraged basis outside a TOB trust. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market of fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but will tend to outperform the market of fixed-rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile in value and return, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields higher than those available on fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity or illiquidity based primarily upon the inverse floater holder’s ability to sell the underlying bonds deposited in the TOB trust at an attractive price.

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by TOB trusts in which the liquidity providers have recourse to the Fund pursuant to a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the liquidity provider, among other circumstances, upon termination of the TOB trust for the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount and accrued interest due to the holders of floating rate securities issued by the trust. The Fund will enter into such a recourse agreement (1) when the liquidity provider requires such a recourse agreement because the level of leverage in the TOB trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (2) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event the municipal bond held in the trust has declined in value to the point where it may cease to exceed the face amount of

 

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outstanding short-term floaters. In an instance where the Fund has entered such a recourse agreement, the Fund may suffer a loss that exceeds the amount of its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities; such loss could be as great as that original investment amount plus the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by the trust plus accrued interest thereon.

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 TOB trusts.

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

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 securities, 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 bond deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate securities. 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 securities.

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, generally are 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 generally are 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.

Derivatives

The Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. 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

 

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reference issuer, such as a municipal securities 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 municipal securities issuer, 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.

See “The Fund’s Investments—Derivatives and Hedging Strategies” in the SAI and “—Segregation of Assets” below.

The requirements for qualification as a RIC may also limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in futures, options on futures and swaps. See “Tax Matters.”

Nuveen Fund Advisors and 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. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. With respect to the Fund’s investment policies, for purposes of calculating net assets, the Fund will value eligible derivatives at fair value or market value instead of notional value.

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

Swap Transactions. The Fund may enter into total return, interest rate and credit default swap agreements and interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any purpose consistent with its investment objectives and strategies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, as a duration management technique, to reduce risk arising from the ownership of a particular instrument, or to gain exposure to certain sectors or markets in the most economical way possible.

Swap agreements typically are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified period of time. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset, reference rate or index. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount, e.g., the return on or increase in value of a

 

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particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. The notional amount of the swap agreement generally is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to the swap agreement have agreed to exchange. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. Interest rate swaps are bilateral contracts in which each party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on different referenced interest rates (e.g., a fixed rate and a floating rate) applied to a specified notional amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

The use of interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and caps, is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. 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 of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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.

Municipal Market Data Rate Locks. The Fund may purchase and sell municipal market data rate locks (“MMD Rate Locks”). An MMD Rate Lock permits the Fund to lock in a specified municipal interest rate for a portion of its portfolio to preserve a return on a particular investment or a portion of its portfolio as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities to be purchased at a later date. By using an MMD Rate Lock, the Fund can create a synthetic long or short position, allowing the Fund to select what the manager believes is an attractive part of the yield curve. The Fund will ordinarily use these transactions as a hedge or for duration or risk management although it is permitted to enter into them to enhance income or gain or to increase the Fund’s yield, for example, during periods of steep interest rate yield curves (i.e., wide differences between short term and long term interest rates). An MMD Rate Lock is a contract between the Fund and an MMD Rate Lock provider pursuant to which the parties agree to make payments to each other on a notional amount, contingent upon whether the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation Scale is above or below a specified level on the expiration date of the contract. For example, if the Fund buys an MMD Rate Lock and the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation Scale is below the specified level on the expiration date, the counterparty to the contract will make a payment to the Fund equal to the specified level minus the actual level, multiplied by the notional amount of the contract. If the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation Scale is above the specified level on the expiration date, the Fund will make a payment to the counterparty equal to the actual level minus

 

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the specified level, multiplied by the notional amount of the contract. In connection with investments in MMD Rate Locks, there is a risk that municipal yields will move in the opposite direction than anticipated by the Fund, which would cause the Fund to make payments to its counterparty in the transaction that could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. The Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the portfolio managers to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets. In connection with the Fund’s position in a swap contract, the Fund will segregate liquid assets or will otherwise cover its position in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments. As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund would pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.

If the Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs, however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund effectively adds the economic equivalent of leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. See “—Segregation of Assets” below. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “—Risks Associated with Swap Transactions” and above under “Risk Factors—Portfolio Level Risks—Swap Transactions Risk.”

Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten,

 

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extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally would incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Risks Associated with Swap Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or NAM is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds the economic equivalent of leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund generally may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such two-party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Futures and Options on Futures Generally. The Fund may attempt to hedge all or a portion of its investment portfolio against market risk by engaging in transactions in financial futures contracts, options on financial futures or options that either are based on an index of long-term municipal securities (i.e., those with average remaining maturities of more than 15 years) or relate to debt securities whose prices NAM anticipates to correlate with the prices of the municipal securities the Fund owns. To accomplish such hedging, the Fund may take an investment position in a futures contract or in an option which is expected to move in the opposite direction from the position being hedged. Hedging may be utilized to reduce the risk that the value of securities the Fund owns may decline on account of an increase in interest rates and to hedge against increases in the cost of the securities the Fund intends to purchase as a result of a decline in interest rates. The use of futures and options for hedging purposes can be expected to result in taxable income or gain. The Fund currently intends to allocate any taxable income or gain proportionately between its Common Shares and its Preferred Shares. See “Tax Matters.” If futures contracts are used for hedging purposes, there can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the futures contract and in the underlying financial instruments that are being hedged. This could result from differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the financial instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading (e.g., differences in interest rate levels, maturities and the creditworthiness of issuers) among other factors. In addition, price movements of futures contracts may not correlate perfectly with price movements of the financial instruments underlying the futures contracts due to certain market distortions. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a

 

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security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract (same exchange, underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.

Successful use of futures by the Fund also is subject to NAM’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant market. For example, if the Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market value of securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such securities increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of the securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. Furthermore, if in such circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. The Fund may have to sell such securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The sale of financial futures or the purchase of put options on financial futures or on debt securities or indexes is a means of hedging against the risk of rising interest rates, whereas the purchase of financial futures or of call options on financial futures or on debt securities or indexes is a means of hedging the Fund’s portfolio against an increase in the price of securities such Fund intends to purchase. Writing a call option on a futures contract or on debt securities or indexes may serve as a hedge against a modest decline in prices of municipal securities held in the Fund’s portfolio, and writing a put option on a futures contract or on debt securities or indexes may serve as a partial hedge against an increase in the value of municipal securities the Fund intends to acquire. The writing of these options provides a hedge to the extent of the premium received in the writing transaction. The Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts and related options.

Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income.

Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made,

 

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additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs and the Fund may have to segregate additional liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.

There are certain risks associated with the use of financial futures and options to hedge investment portfolios. There may be an imperfect correlation between price movements of the futures and options and price movements of the portfolio securities being hedged. Losses may be incurred in hedging transactions, which could reduce the portfolio gains that might have been realized if the hedging transactions had not been entered into.

If the Fund engages in futures transactions or in the writing of options on futures, it will be required to maintain initial margin and maintenance margin and may be required to make daily variation margin payments in accordance with applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC. If the Fund purchases a financial futures contract or a call option or writes a put option in order to hedge the anticipated purchase of municipal securities, and if the Fund fails to complete the anticipated purchase transaction, the Fund may have a loss or a gain on the futures or options transaction that will not be offset by price movements in the municipal securities that were the subject of the anticipatory hedge. The cost of put options on debt securities or indexes effectively increases the cost of the securities subject to them, thereby reducing the yield otherwise available from these securities. If the Fund decides to use futures contracts or options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the Fund will be required to establish an account for such purposes with one or more CFTC-registered FCMs. An FCM could establish initial and maintenance margin requirements for the Fund that are greater than those which would otherwise apply to the Fund under applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a derivatives or futures or a futures option position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. 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.

 

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Segregation of Assets

As a closed-end investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various interpretive positions of the SEC and its staff. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must maintain liquid assets (often referred to as “asset segregation”), or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments and financial agreements (such as reverse repurchase agreements). Generally, the Fund will maintain an amount of liquid assets with its custodian in an amount at least equal to the amount of its obligations, including the value of unpaid past and future payment obligations, under derivative instruments and financial agreements, in accordance with SEC guidance. However, the Fund also may “cover” certain obligations by other means such as through ownership of the underlying security or financial instrument. The Fund also may enter into offsetting transactions with respect to certain obligations so that its combined position, coupled with any liquid assets maintained by its custodian, equals its net outstanding obligation in related derivatives or financial agreements. In the case of financial futures 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 financial futures 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. If the Fund writes credit default swaps, it will segregate the full notional amount of the payment obligation under the credit default swap that must be paid upon the occurrence of a credit event. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts. With respect to such investments, the Fund will segregate or earmark assets in an amount equal to at least 100% of the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by such trusts.

The SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which, among other things, imposes limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into and replaces the asset segregation framework previously used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Fund will comply with the new rule’s requirements on or before the rule’s compliance date in 2022.

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 SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.

To the extent that the Fund uses its assets to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable positions of the SEC and its staff, such assets may not be used for other operational purposes. Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or 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.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest 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 may invest in investment companies that are advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM or their respective affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. The Fund has not received or applied for, nor does it currently intend to apply for, any such relief.

 

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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. The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act and when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, in each case to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments after making a reasonable effort to obtain current information about the investments of underlying 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, the Fund may indirectly be subject to those risks and magnify the Fund’s leverage risks described herein. As described in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to Common Shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.

Other Portfolio Investments, Investment Policies and Techniques and Investment Restrictions

During temporary defensive periods or in order to help keep the Fund’s assets fully invested, including during the period within which the net proceeds of an offering of Securities are first being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest any percentage of its Managed Assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable.

See “Investment Restrictions” and “The Fund’s Investments” in the SAI for additional information.

USE OF LEVERAGE

The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objectives. The Fund may use leverage to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Fund may source leverage through a number of methods including the issuance of Preferred Shares, investments in inverse floating rate securities, entering into reverse repurchase agreements (effectively a secured borrowing) and borrowings (subject to certain investment restrictions). See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities,” “Risk Factors—Portfolio Level Risks—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk,” “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk” and “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk” in this prospectus and “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. The Fund may also use certain derivatives that have the economic effect of leverage by creating additional investment exposure.

The Fund currently employs leverage primarily through its outstanding AMTP Shares, VRDP Shares and MFP Shares, all Preferred Shares. As of September 30, 2021, the Fund’s leverage through Preferred Shares and through its investments in inverse floating rate securities was approximately 37% of its Managed Assets.

The Preferred Shares have seniority over the Common Shares. Changes in the value of the Fund’s bond portfolio, including costs attributable to Preferred Shares, will be borne entirely by

 

38


Common Shareholders. If there is a net decrease (or increase) in the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the leverage will decrease (or increase) the net asset value per Common Share to a greater extent than if the Fund were not leveraged. For tax purposes, the Fund is currently required to allocate net capital gain and other taxable income, if any, between Common Shares and Preferred Shares in proportion to total dividends paid to each class for the year in which the net capital gain or other taxable income is realized. If net capital gain or other taxable income is allocated to Preferred Shares (instead of solely tax-exempt income), the Fund will likely have to pay higher total dividends to preferred shareholders or make special payments to preferred shareholders to compensate them for the increased tax liability. This would reduce the total amount of dividends paid to the Common Shareholders.

The Fund may also borrow for temporary purposes permitted by the 1940 Act. The Fund, along with the Participating Funds, are party to a committed Facility provided by a group of lender, under which Participating Funds may borrow for temporary purposes only. Outstanding balances drawn by the Fund, or any other Participating Fund, will bear interest at a variable rate and is the liability of such Fund. The Facility is not intended for sustained levered investment purposes. A large portion of the Facility’s capacity (and corresponding annual costs, excluding interest cost) is currently allocated by Nuveen Fund Advisors to a small number of Participating Funds, which does not include the Fund. The Facility has a 364-day term and will expire in June 2022 unless extended or renewed.

The Fund may reduce or increase leverage based upon changes in market conditions and anticipates that its leverage ratio will vary from time to time based upon variations in the value of the Fund’s holdings. So long as the net rate of income received on the Fund’s investments purchased with leverage proceeds exceeds the then current expense on any leverage, the investment of leverage proceeds will generate more net income than if the Fund had not used leverage. If so, the excess net income will be available to pay higher distributions to Common Shareholders. However, if the rate of net income received from the Fund’s portfolio investments purchased with leverage is less than the then current expense on outstanding leverage, the Fund may be required to utilize other Fund assets to make expense payments on outstanding leverage, which may result in a decline in Common Share net asset value and reduced net investment income available for distribution to Common Shareholders. See “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk.”

Following an offering of additional Common Shares from time to time, the Fund’s leverage ratio will decrease as a result of the increase in net assets attributable to Common Shares. The Fund’s leverage ratio may decline further to the extent that the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares are used to reduce the Fund’s leverage. A lower leverage ratio may result in lower (higher) returns to Common Shareholders over a period of time to the extent that net returns on the Fund’s investment portfolio exceed (fall below) its cost of leverage over that period, which lower (higher) returns may impact the level of the Fund’s distributions. See “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk.”

The Fund may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps with varying terms, in order to manage the interest rate expense associated with all or a portion of its leverage. Interest rate swaps are bi-lateral agreements whereby parties agree to exchange future payments, typically based upon the differential of a fixed rate and a variable rate, on a specified notional amount. Interest rate swaps can enable the Fund to effectively convert its variable leverage expense to fixed, or vice versa. For example, if the Fund issues leverage having a short-term floating rate of interest, the Fund could use interest rate swaps to hedge against a rise in the short-term benchmark interest rates associated with its

 

39


outstanding leverage. In doing so, the Fund would seek to achieve lower leverage costs, and thereby enhance Common Share distributions, over an extended period, which would be the result if short-term interest rates on average exceed the fixed interest rate over the term of the swap. To the extent the fixed swap rate is greater than short-term market interest rates on average over the period, overall costs associated with leverage will increase (and thereby reduce distributions to Common Shareholders) than if the Fund had not entered into the interest rate swap(s).

The Fund pays a management fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors (which in turn pays a portion of such fee to NAM) based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets include the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund’s use of most types of leverage (excluding the leverage exposure attributable to the use of futures, swaps and similar derivatives). Because Managed Assets include the Fund’s net assets as well as assets that are attributable to the Fund’s investment of the proceeds of its leverage (including instruments like inverse floating rate securities and reverse repurchase agreements), it is anticipated that the Fund’s Managed Assets will be greater than its net assets. Nuveen Fund Advisors will be responsible for using leverage to pursue the Fund’s investment objective. Nuveen Fund Advisors will base its decision regarding whether and how much leverage to use for the Fund, and the terms of that leverage, on its assessment of whether such use of leverage is in the best interests of the Fund. However, a decision to employ or increase leverage will have the effect, all other things being equal, of increasing Managed Assets, and in turn Nuveen Fund Advisors’ and NAM’s management fees. Thus, Nuveen Fund Advisors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether to use or increase leverage. Nuveen Fund Advisors will seek to manage that potential conflict by using leverage only when it determines that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders, and by periodically reviewing with the Board of Trustees the Fund’s performance, the Fund’s degree of overall use of leverage and the impact of the use of leverage on that performance.

The 1940 Act generally defines a “senior security” as any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any stock of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends; however, the term does not include any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made for temporary purposes and in an amount not exceeding five percent of the value of the Fund’s total assets. A loan shall be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue “senior securities representing indebtedness” if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities representing indebtedness, the asset coverage ratio with respect to such senior securities would be less than 300%. “Senior securities representing indebtedness” include borrowings (including loans from financial institutions); debt securities; and other derivative investments or transactions such as reverse repurchase agreements and investments in inverse floating rate securities to the extent the Fund has not fully covered, segregated or earmarked cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to its future obligation under such instruments. With respect to any such senior securities representing indebtedness, 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 representing indebtedness issued by the Fund.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue “senior securities” that are Preferred Shares if, immediately after the issuance of Preferred Shares, the asset coverage ratio with respect to

 

40


such Preferred Shares would be less than 200%. With respect to any such Preferred Shares, 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, bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the Fund plus the aggregate liquidation preference of such Preferred Shares.

The Fund is limited by certain investment restrictions and may only issue senior securities that are preferred shares except the Fund may borrow money from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes or for repurchase of its shares only in an amount not exceeding one-third of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings). See “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI. These restrictions are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of Common Shares and Preferred Shares voting together as a single class.

If the asset coverage with respect to any senior securities issued by the Fund declines below the required ratios discussed above (as a result of market fluctuations or otherwise), the Fund may sell portfolio securities when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Certain types of leverage used by the Fund may result in the Fund being subject to certain covenants, asset coverage and, or other portfolio composition limits by its lenders, Preferred Share purchasers, liquidity providers, rating agencies that may rate Preferred Shares, or reverse repurchase agreement counterparties. Such limitations may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act and may affect whether the Fund is able to maintain its desired amount of leverage. At this time, Nuveen Fund Advisors does not believe that any such potential investment limitations will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with its investment objective and policies.

Utilization of leverage is a speculative investment technique and involves certain risks to the Common Shareholders, including increased variability of the Fund’s net income, distributions and net asset value in relation to market changes. See “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk.” There is no assurance that the Fund will continue to use leverage or that the Fund’s use of leverage will work as planned or achieve its goals.

Effects of Leverage

The following table is designed to illustrate the effects of leverage through the use of senior securities, as that term is defined under Section 18 of the 1940 Act, as well as certain other forms of leverage, such as reverse repurchase agreements and TOB inverse floating rate securities, on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (consisting of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. The table below reflects the Fund’s (i) continued use of leverage as of October 31, 2020 as a percentage of Managed Assets (including assets attributable to such leverage), (ii) the estimated annual effective interest expense rate payable by the Fund on such instruments (based on actual leverage costs incurred during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020) as set forth in the table, and (iii) the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover such costs of leverage based on such estimated annual effective interest expense rate. The information below does not reflect any Fund’s use of certain other forms of economic leverage achieved through the use of other instruments or transactions not considered to be senior securities under the 1940 Act, such as certain derivative instruments.

 

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The numbers are merely estimates, used for illustration. The costs of leverage may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the estimated rate. The assumed investment portfolio returns in the table below are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund. Your actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing below.

 

Estimated Leverage as a Percentage of Managed Assets (Including Assets Attributable to Leverage)

     38

Estimated Annual Effective Leverage Expense Rate Payable by Fund on Leverage

     1.63

Annual Return Fund Portfolio Must Experience (net of expenses) to Cover Estimated Annual Effective Interest Expense Rate on Leverage

     0.62

Common Share Total Return for (10.00)% Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     -17.13

Common Share Total Return for (5.00)% Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     -9.06

Common Share Total Return for 0.00% Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     -1.00

Common Share Total Return for 5.00% Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     7.07

Common Share Total Return for 10.00% Assumed Portfolio Total Return

     15.13

Common Share total return is composed of two elements—the distributions paid by the Fund to holders of Common Shares (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying dividend payments on any Preferred Shares issued by the Fund and expenses on any forms of leverage outstanding) and gains or losses on the value of the securities and other instruments the Fund owns. As required by SEC 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 income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses in the value of those investments. This table reflects hypothetical performance of the Fund’s portfolio and not the actual performance of the Fund’s Common Shares, the value of which is determined by market forces and other factors. Should the Fund elect to add additional leverage to its portfolio, any benefits of such additional leverage cannot be fully achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of such leverage have been received by the Fund and invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As noted above, the Fund’s willingness to use additional leverage, and the extent to which leverage is used at any time, will depend on many factors.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in the Securities involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or that you may lose part or all of your investment. The following discussion, together with the risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement, describes the principal risks associated with an investment in the Common Shares and MFP Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Level Risks

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 market turmoil in 2008-2009 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 investment performance of the Fund may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of NAM than if the Fund were a stock fund or taxable bond fund. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade bonds in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-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. In addition, the market for below investment grade municipal securities has experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, periods of significant volatility, which could negatively impact the value of the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the market price of the Common Shares.

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. 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. Further, some state and local governments have been and in the future may be subject to direct ballot referenda that could limit their financial flexibility, or their ability to levy taxes or raise revenues, which may adversely affect the marketability of notes and bonds issued by those state and local governments. 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. Any income derived from the Fund’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.

Issuer Credit Risk. Issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest may default on their obligations to pay dividends, principal or interest when due. This non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of a debt security experiencing non-payment and, potentially, a decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund. With respect to the Fund’s investments in securities that are secured, there can be no assurance that liquidation of collateral would satisfy the issuer’s obligation in the event of non-payment of a scheduled dividend, interest or principal payment or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of the bankruptcy of an issuer,

 

43


the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing a security. To the extent that the credit rating assigned to a security in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.

Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that municipal securities generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Fund’s securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.

Below Investment Grade Risk. Debt instruments of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest, dividends and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk bonds or high yield debt, which implies higher price volatility and default risk than investment grade instruments of comparable terms and duration. Issuers of lower grade instruments may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. The prices of these lower grade instruments are typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade instruments.

If a below investment grade security goes into default, or its issuer enters bankruptcy, it might be difficult to sell that security in a timely manner at a reasonable price.

The secondary market for lower grade instruments may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated instruments, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular instrument. There are fewer dealers in the market for lower grade securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers for lower grade instruments may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and ask price for such instruments is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for lower 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 instruments or may be able to sell the instruments only at prices lower than if such instruments were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated instruments, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund’s NAV.

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.

 

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In the event that the Fund disposes of a portfolio security subsequent to its being downgraded, the Fund may experience a greater loss than if such security had been sold prior to such downgrade.

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that debt securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. Generally, when market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities will fall, and vice versa. As interest rates decline, issuers of debt 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 prices of shorter-term debt securities as interest rates change. The Federal Reserve recently reduced the federal funds rate several times. Therefore, there is a risk that interest rates will rise, which will likely drive down bond prices.

Duration Risk. Duration is the sensitivity, expressed in years, of the price of a fixed-income security to changes in the general level of interest rates (or yields). Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate (or yield) changes, which typically corresponds to increased volatility and risk, than securities with shorter durations. For example, if a security or portfolio has a duration of three years and interest rates increase by 1%, then the security or portfolio would decline in value by approximately 3%. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers potential changes to interest rates, and a security’s coupon payments, yield, price and par value and call features, in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. The duration of a security will be expected to change over time with changes in market factors and time to maturity.

Call Risk. The Fund may invest in municipal securities that are subject to prepayment or “call” risk. Such municipal securities may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity or redemption date. In general, an issuer will call its instruments if they can be refinanced by issuing new instruments which bear a lower interest rate. The Fund is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer will call its high yielding municipal securities. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

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 securities at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares’ market price, NAV and/or a Common Shareholder’s overall returns.

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 for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will decrease when short-term interest rates increase and increase when short-term 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 Nuveen Fund Advisors’ and NAM’s discretion, the Fund may enter into

 

45


a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party granting liquidity to the floating rate security holders of the 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 granting liquidity to the floating rate security holders of the special purpose trust, 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. In such instances, the Fund may be at risk of loss that exceeds its 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. 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 special purpose trusts or other collateral required to maintain the Fund’s anticipated leverage ratio.

The Fund’s investment in inverse floating rate securities creates leverage. Any 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 “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other 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 leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.

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 NAV 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 leverage ratio. The Fund may be required to sell its inverse floating rate securities

 

46


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;

 

   

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 and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Fund.

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

Municipal Securities Market Liquidity Risk. Inventories of municipal securities held by brokers and dealers have decreased in recent years, lessening their ability to make a market in these securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease the Fund’s ability to buy or sell municipal securities at attractive prices, and increase municipal security price volatility and trading costs, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade municipal securities in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of municipal securities, which may further decrease the Fund’s ability to buy or sell municipal securities. As a result, the Fund may be forced to accept a lower price to sell a security, to sell other securities to raise cash, or to give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of municipal securities to raise cash to meet its obligations, those sales could further reduce the municipal securities’ prices and hurt performance. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in unrated municipal securities. The market for these municipal securities may be less liquid than the market for rated municipal securities of comparable quality. Less public information is typically available about unrated municipal securities or issuers than rated municipal securities or issuers.

Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Obligations. 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. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event that 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

 

47


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 certificate 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.

Restricted and Illiquid Investments Risk. Illiquid investments are securities that are not readily marketable. These securities may include restricted securities, which cannot be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act, or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The Fund may not be able to readily dispose of such securities at prices that approximate those at which the Fund could sell such securities if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of securities, thereby adversely affecting the Fund’s NAV and ability to make dividend distributions. The financial markets in general have in recent years experienced periods of extreme secondary market supply and demand imbalance, resulting in a loss of liquidity during which market prices were suddenly and substantially below traditional measures of intrinsic value. During such periods, some securities could be sold only at arbitrary prices and with substantial losses. Periods of such market dislocation may occur again at any time.

Distressed Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in low-rated securities or securities unrated but judged by the sub-adviser to be of comparable quality. Some or many of these low-rated securities, although not in default, may be “distressed,” meaning that the issuer is experiencing financial difficulties or distress at the time of acquisition. Such securities would present a substantial risk of future default which may cause the Fund to incur losses, including additional expenses, to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on those securities. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio security, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.

Derivatives Risk. 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 enters into a derivative transaction, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. The risks associated with derivatives transactions include (i) the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets, (ii) the possible default of the counterparty to the transaction, (iii) illiquidity of the derivative instruments, and (iv) high volatility losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited. Although both over-the-counter (“OTC”) and exchange-traded derivatives markets may experience a lack of liquidity, OTC non-standardized derivative transactions are generally less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. The illiquidity of the derivatives markets may be due to various factors, including congestion, disorderly

 

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markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, and technical and operational or system failures. In addition, daily limits on price fluctuations and speculative position limits on exchanges on which the Fund may conduct its transactions in derivative instruments may prevent prompt liquidation of positions, subjecting the Fund to the potential of greater losses.

Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM correctly forecasting market circumstances, liquidity, market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM incorrectly forecast these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, there can be no assurance that the derivatives investing techniques, as they may be developed and implemented by the Fund, will be successful in mitigating risk or achieving the Fund’s investment objective. The use of derivatives to enhance returns may be particularly speculative.

In October 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Subject to a transition period, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits would result in a statutory violation and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.

Swap Transactions Risk. The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments including credit default swap contracts, total return 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 not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or NAM is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The Fund generally may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered illiquid. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two-party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. 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. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights.

The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. When the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

 

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It is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Financial Futures and Options Risk. The Fund may use certain transactions for hedging the portfolio’s exposure to credit risk and the risk of increases in interest rates, which could result in poorer overall performance for the Fund. The Fund’s use of certain 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.

There are certain risks associated with the use of financial futures and options to hedge investment portfolios. There may be an imperfect correlation between price movements of the futures and options and price movements of the portfolio securities being hedged. Losses may be incurred in hedging transactions, which could reduce the portfolio gains that might have been realized if the hedging transactions had not been entered into. If the Fund engages in futures transactions or in the writing of options on futures, it will be required to maintain initial margin and maintenance margin and may be required to make daily variation margin payments in accordance with applicable rules of the exchanges and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). If the Fund purchases a financial futures contract or a call option or writes a put option in order to hedge the anticipated purchase of municipal securities, and if the Fund fails to complete the anticipated purchase transaction, the Fund may have a loss or a gain on the futures or options transaction that will not be offset by price movements in the municipal securities that were the subject of the anticipatory hedge. The cost of put options on debt securities or indexes effectively increases the cost of the securities subject to them, thereby reducing the yield otherwise available from these securities. If the Fund decides to use futures contracts or options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the Fund will be required to establish an account for such purposes with one or more CFTC-registered futures commission merchants. A futures commission merchant could establish initial and maintenance margin requirements for the Fund that are greater than those which would otherwise apply to the Fund under applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a derivatives or futures or a futures option position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. 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.

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

 

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into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it may be advisable to do so. Hedging activities may reduce the Fund’s opportunities for gain by offsetting the positive effects of favorable price movements and may result in net losses.

Puerto Rico Municipal Securities Market Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, or public corporations (collectively referred to in this prospectus as “Puerto Rico” or the “Commonwealth”), it will be disproportionally affected by political, social and economic conditions and developments in the Commonwealth. In addition, economic, political or regulatory changes in that territory could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio.

Puerto Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic challenges, including substantial debt service obligations, high levels of unemployment, underfunded public retirement systems, and persistent government budget deficits. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rican municipal securities. Several major ratings agencies have downgraded the general obligation debt of Puerto Rico to below investment grade and continue to maintain a negative outlook for this debt, which increases the likelihood that the rating will be lowered further. In both August 2015 and January 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on its debt by failing to make full payment due on its outstanding bonds, and there can be no assurance that Puerto Rico will be able to satisfy its future debt obligations. Further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rican municipal securities. Additionally, numerous issuers have entered Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversite, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which is similar to bankruptcy protection, through which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico can restructure its debt. However, Puerto Rico’s case is the first ever heard under PROMESA and there is no existing case precedent to guide the proceedings. Accordingly, Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process could take significantly longer than traditional municipal bankruptcy proceedings. Further, it is not clear whether a debt restructuring process will ultimately be approved or, if so, the extent to which it will apply to Puerto Rico municipal securities sold by an issuer other than the territory. A debt restructuring could reduce the principal amount due, the interest rate, the maturity, and other terms of Puerto Rico municipal securities, which could adversely affect the value of Puerto Rican municipal securities. Legislation, including PROMESA that would allow Puerto Rico to restructure its municipal debt obligations, thus increasing the risk that Puerto Rico may never pay off municipal indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed, could also impact the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rican municipal securities.

These challenges and uncertainties have been exacerbated by Hurricane Maria and the resulting natural disaster in Puerto Rico. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing major damage across the Commonwealth, including damage to its water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure. The length of time needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is unclear, but could amount to years, during which the Commonwealth is likely to be in an uncertain economic state. The full extent of the natural disaster’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy and foreign investment in Puerto Rico is difficult to estimate.

Puerto Rico’s political and economic conditions could have a negative impact on the liquidity or value of Puerto Rican municipal securities, and consequently may affect the Fund’s investments and its performance if the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in Puerto Rican municipal securities.

 

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Sector Focus Risk. At times, the Fund may focus its investments (i.e., overweight its investments relative to the overall municipal securities market) in one or more particular sectors, which may subject the Fund to additional risk and variability. Securities issued in the same sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that sector than funds that invest more broadly.

Economic Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its total assets in municipal securities in the same economic sector. This may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting an economic sector. As concentration increases, so does the potential for fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s assets. In addition, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its 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 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 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 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, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.

Income Risk. The Fund’s income is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short and long term. If interest rates drop, the Fund’s income available over time to make dividend payments with respect to the Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, could drop as well if the Fund purchases securities with lower interest coupons. This risk is magnified when prevailing short-term interest rates increase and the Fund holds residual interest municipal bonds.

Zero Coupon Bonds Risk. Because interest on zero coupon bonds is not paid on a current basis, the values of zero coupon bonds will be more volatile in response to interest rate changes than the values of bonds that distribute income regularly. Although zero coupon bonds generate income for accounting purposes, they do not produce cash flow, and thus the Fund could be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to generate cash to distribute to shareholders as required by tax laws.

Tax Risk. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. As a RIC, the Fund is not expected to pay U.S. federal income tax to the extent that it

 

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distributes its investment company taxable income and net capital gains. To qualify for the special tax treatment available to a RIC, the Fund must comply with certain income, distribution, and diversification requirements. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be forced to sell certain assets when it is not advantageous in order to meet these requirements, which may reduce the Fund’s overall return. If the Fund fails to meet any of these requirements, subject to the opportunity to cure such failures under applicable provisions of the Code, the Fund’s income would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level and the shareholder level. The Fund’s income, including its net capital gain, would first be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates, even if such income were distributed to shareholders and, second, all distributions by the Fund from its current and accumulated earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), would be taxable to shareholders as dividends. See “Tax Matters.”

The value of the Fund’s investments and its NAV may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal securities is normally not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s NAV and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable yield and price levels. Additionally, the Fund is not a suitable investment for tax exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments. In addition, distributions of taxable ordinary income (including any net short-term capital gain) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (and not eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Interest income on municipal securities also may be subject to state and local income taxes. See “Tax Matters.”

Taxability Risk. The Fund will invest in municipal securities in reliance at the time of purchase on an opinion of bond counsel to the issuer that the interest paid on those securities will be excludable from gross income for regular federal income tax purposes, and neither NAM nor any other person will independently verify that opinion. Subsequent to the Fund’s acquisition of such a municipal security, however, the security may be determined to pay, or to have paid, taxable income. Distributions of taxable ordinary taxable income (including any net short-term capital gain) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (and not eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends will be taxable as long-term capital gains. See “Tax Matters.”

Inflation Risk. Inflation is the reduction in the purchasing power of money resulting from the increase in the price of goods and services. Inflation risk is the risk that the inflation-adjusted (or “real”) value of an investment in shares of the Fund, or the income from that investment will be worth less in the future. As inflation occurs, the real value of the Fund’s shares and dividends on the Fund’s shares may decline.

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. Certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into

 

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question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if they are called upon to do so 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 may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the NAV represented by such insured obligation.

Tobacco Settlement Bond Risk. Tobacco settlement bonds are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. Under the terms of the MSA, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline.

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.

Valuation Risk. The municipal securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price municipal securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but some trades may occur in smaller, “odd lot” sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Fund’s pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Fund’s NAV.

Other Investment Companies Risk. The Fund may, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act and exemptive orders issued by the SEC, invest 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. In addition, the Fund may invest a portion of its Managed Assets in pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies) 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 and/or other pooled investment vehicles either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of an

 

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offering of its Common Shares or borrowing or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive, high-yielding municipal securities available in the market. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM or their respective affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. 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 management, 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. The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act. Moreover, the Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments.

Nuveen Fund Advisors 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, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. As described in the Fund’s Prospectus, the NAV and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to Common Shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.

Fund Level and Other Risks

Market Discount from Net Asset Value. Common shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than NAV and have during other periods traded at prices lower than NAV. The Fund cannot predict whether Common Shares will trade at, above or below NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower in relation to the Fund’s NAV than at the time of purchase, assuming a stable NAV. Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by transaction costs (if applicable, which vary depending on the offering method used). The NAV per Common Share will be reduced by an amount up to the offering costs. The NAV per Common Share will be reduced by costs associated with any future offerings of Common Shares. Depending on the premium of Common Shares at the time of any offering of Common Shares hereunder, the Fund’s NAV may be reduced by an amount up to the offering costs (as estimated in the applicable prospectus supplement of offered Common Shares). The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the shares of the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in shares of the Fund represents an indirect investment in the municipal securities owned by the Fund. Your shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if applicable. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower than at the time of purchase. The shares of the Fund are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

Leverage Risk. The use of leverage involves special risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of, and distributions on, the

 

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Common Shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage. The use of leverage in a declining market will likely cause a greater decline in Common Share net asset value, which may result in a greater decline of the Common Share price, than if the Fund were not to have used leverage.

The Fund will pay (and Common Shareholders will bear) any costs and expenses relating to the Fund’s use of leverage, which will result in a reduction in the net asset value of and net income payable with respect to the Common Shares. Because of the costs of leverage, the Fund may incur losses even if the Fund has positive returns if they are not sufficient to cover the costs of leverage. Nuveen Fund Advisors, based on its assessment of market conditions, may increase or decrease the Fund’s level of leverage. Such changes may impact the Fund’s distributions and the valuation of the Common Shares in the secondary market. There is no assurance that the Fund will continue to utilize leverage or that the Fund’s use of leverage will be successful. Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to Nuveen Fund Advisors and 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, which may create an incentive for Nuveen Fund Advisors to leverage the Fund or increase the Fund’s leverage. Certain types of leverage used by the Fund may result in the Fund being subject to certain covenants, asset coverage or other portfolio composition limits by its lenders, Preferred Share purchasers, liquidity providers, rating agencies that may rate the preferred securities, or reverse repurchase counterparties. Such limitations may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act and may affect whether the Fund is able to maintain its desired amount of leverage. At this time, Nuveen Fund Advisors does not believe that any such potential investment limitations will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives and policies. See “Use of Leverage.” The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may themselves be leveraged and therefore present similar risks to those described above and magnify the Fund’s leverage risk. The risk of loss attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage is borne by Common Shareholders.

Reverse Repurchase Agreement Risk. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, thereby establishing an effective interest rate. The Fund’s use of reverse repurchase agreements, in economic essence, constitute a securitized borrowing by the Fund from the security purchaser. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements for the purpose of creating a leveraged investment exposure and, as such, their usage involves essentially the same risks associated with a leveraging strategy generally since the proceeds from these agreements may be invested in additional securities. Reverse repurchase agreements tend to be short-term in tenor, and there can be no assurances that the purchaser (lender) will commit to extend or “roll” a given agreement upon its agreed-upon repurchase date or an alternative purchaser can be identified on similar terms.

Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the purchaser fails to return the securities as agreed upon, files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent. The Fund may be restricted from taking normal portfolio actions during such time, could be subject to loss to the extent that the proceeds of the agreement are less than the value of securities subject to the agreement and may experience adverse tax consequences.

Litigation Risk. From time to time, the Fund, the Investment Adviser and/or NAM may be subject to pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action. Some of these claims may result in significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments. The ultimate outcome of any potential litigation or regulatory action or any claims that may arise in the future cannot be predicted and the

 

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reputation of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and/or NAM could be damaged as a result. Certain litigation or regulatory scrutiny could materially adversely affect the Fund. The resolution of certain claims may result in significant fines, judgments, or settlements, which, if partially or completely uninsured, could adversely impact the Fund or the ability of the Investment Adviser and/or NAM to perform their duties to the Fund.

Global Economic Risk. National and regional economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country, region or market might adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or market. Changes in legal, political, regulatory, tax and economic conditions may cause fluctuations in markets and securities prices around the world, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Major economic or political disruptions, particularly in large economies like China’s, may have global negative economic and market repercussions. Additionally, the aftermath of the war in Iraq, instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, natural and environmental disasters and the spread of infectious illnesses or other public health emergencies, possible terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world, continued tensions between North Korea and the United States and the international community generally, growing social and political discord in the United States, the European debt crisis, the response of the international community—through economic sanctions and otherwise—to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine and posture vis-a-vis Ukraine, further downgrade of U.S. Government securities, the change in the U.S. president and the new administration and other similar events may adversely affect the global economy and the markets and issuers in which the Fund invests. Recent examples of such events include the outbreak of a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 that was first detected in China in December 2019 and heightened concerns regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missile programs. These events could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closure, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the economy. These events could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund’s service providers, including Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM, rely, and could otherwise disrupt the ability of employees of the Fund’s service providers to perform essential tasks on behalf of the Fund. Additionally, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely impacted global commercial activity and has contributed to significant volatility in certain financial markets. There are no comparable recent events in the U.S. that provide guidance as to the effect of the spread of COVID-19 and a pandemic on the economy as a whole and, consequently, the Fund. Accordingly, while there have been proposed, and in some cases enacted, economic stimulus measures aimed at curbing the negative economic impacts to the U.S. and other countries as a result of COVID-19, it cannot be determined at this time whether such stimulus measures will have a stabilizing economic effect. The Fund does not know and can not predict how long the securities markets may be affected by these events and the effects of these and similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets. The Fund may be adversely affected by abrogation of international agreements and national laws which have created the market instruments in which the Fund may invest, failure of the designated national and international authorities to enforce compliance with the same laws and agreements, failure of local, national and international organizations to carry out their duties prescribed to them under the relevant agreements, revisions of these laws and agreements which dilute their effectiveness or conflicting interpretation of provisions of the same laws and agreements.

Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary

 

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programs and dramatically lower interest rates. An unexpected or quick reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. See “—Recent Market Conditions” below.

Recent Market Conditions. In response to the financial crisis and recent market events, the United States and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. Policy and legislative changes by the United States government and the Federal Reserve to assist in the ongoing support of financial markets, both domestically and in other countries, are changing many aspects of financial regulation. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time. In some countries where economic conditions are recovering, such countries are nevertheless perceived as still fragile. Withdrawal of government support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely impact the value and liquidity of certain securities. The severity or duration of adverse economic conditions may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations, including changes in tax laws and the imposition of trade barriers. The impact of new financial regulation legislation on the markets and the practical implications for market participants may not be fully known for some time. Changes to the Federal Reserve policy, including with respect to certain interest rates, may affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities. Regulatory changes are causing some financial services companies to exit long-standing lines of business, resulting in dislocations for other market participants. In addition, the contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as the U.S. government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, the threat of a federal government shutdown and threats not to increase the federal government’s debt limit, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. The U.S. government has recently reduced the federal corporate income tax rate, and Future legislative, regulatory and policy changes may result in more restrictions on international trade, less stringent prudential regulation of certain players in the financial markets, and significant new investments in infrastructure and national defense. Markets may react strongly to expectations about the changes in these policies, which could increase volatility, especially if the markets’ expectations for changes in government policies are not borne out.

Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the United States and abroad, but there is a consensus that interest rates will increase during the life of the Fund, which could negatively impact the price of debt securities. Because there is little precedent for this situation, it is difficult to predict the impact of a significant rate increase on various markets. For example, because investors may buy securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. Because of the sharp decline in the worldwide price of oil, there is a concern that oil producing nations may withdraw significant assets now held in U.S. Treasuries, which could force a substantial increase in interest rates. Regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the United States and many foreign economies may decline over time, known as deflation (the opposite of inflation). Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt more likely. If a country’s economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse.

 

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On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) held a referendum on whether to remain a member state of the European Union (“EU”), in which voters favored the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, an event widely referred to as “Brexit” and which triggered a two-year period of negotiations on the terms of withdrawal. The formal notification to the European Council required under Article 50 of the Treaty on EU was made on March 29, 2017, following which the terms of exit were negotiated. On January 31, 2020, the UK formally withdrew from the EU and the two sides entered into a transition phase, where the UK effectively remained in the EU from an economic perspective, but no longer had any political representation in the EU parliament. The transition period concluded on December 31, 2020, and EU law no longer applies in the UK. On December 30, 2020, the UK and EU signed an EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the “UK/EU Trade Agreement”), which went into effect on January 1, 2021 and sets out the foundation of the economic and legal framework for trade between the UK and EU. As the UK/EU Trade Agreement is a new legal framework, the implementation of the UK/EU Trade Agreement may result in uncertainty in its application and periods of volatility in both the UK and wider European markets. The longer term economic, legal, political and social framework to be put in place between the UK and the EU are unclear at this stage, remain subject to negotiation and are likely to lead to ongoing political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the UK and in wider European markets for some time. The outcomes may cause increased volatility and have a significant adverse impact on world financial markets, other international trade agreements, and the UK and European economies, as well as the broader global economy for some time. Additionally, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terror attacks, and additional attacks may occur in the future. Ukraine has experienced ongoing military conflict; this conflict may expand and military attacks could occur elsewhere in Europe. Europe has also been struggling with mass migration from the Middle East and Africa. The ultimate effects of these events and other socio-political or geographical issues are not known but could profoundly affect global economies and markets.

The current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the United States, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

Legislation and Regulatory Risk. At any time after the date of this prospectus, legislation or additional regulations may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund, securities held by the Fund or the issuers of such securities. Changing approaches to regulation may have a negative impact on the entities and/or securities in which the Fund invests. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Fund shareholders may incur increased costs resulting from such legislation or additional regulation. There can be no assurance that future legislation, regulation or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on the Fund or will not impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.

 

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For example, the Dodd-Frank Act is designed to impose stringent regulation on the over-the-counter derivatives market in an attempt to increase transparency and accountability and provides for, among other things, new clearing, execution, margin, reporting, recordkeeping, business conduct, disclosure, position limit, minimum net capital and registration requirements. Although the CFTC has released final rules under the Dodd-Frank Act, many of the provisions are subject to further final rulemaking, and thus the Dodd-Frank Act’s ultimate impact remains unclear.

Additionally, the Fund is operated by persons who have claimed an exclusion, granted to operators of registered investment companies like the Fund, from registration as a “commodity pool operator” under Rule 4.5 promulgated by the CFTC pursuant to its authority under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (the “CEA”), and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator.” As a result, the Fund is limited in its ability to use commodity futures (which include futures on broad-based securities indexes and interest rate futures) or options on commodity futures, engage in swaps transactions or make certain other investments (whether directly or indirectly through investments in other investment vehicles) for purposes other than bona fide hedging. With respect to transactions other than for bona fide hedging purposes, either: (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund’s positions in such investments may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the Fund may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the futures, options or swaps markets. If the Fund does not continue to claim the exclusion, it would likely become subject to registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator. The Fund may incur additional expenses as a result of the CFTC’s registration and regulatory requirements.

Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Fund’s Declaration of Trust 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. Further, the By-Laws provide that a shareholder who obtains beneficial ownership of common shares in a “Control Share Acquisition” shall have the same voting rights as other Common Shares only to the extent authorized by shareholders. 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.”

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk. The Investment Adviser and NAM each provide a wide array of portfolio management and other asset management services to a mix of clients and may engage in ordinary course activities in which their respective interests or those of their clients may compete or conflict with those of the Fund. In certain circumstances, and subject to its fiduciary obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NAM may have to allocate a limited investment opportunity among its clients, which include closed-end funds, open-end funds and other commingled funds. The Investment Adviser and NAM have each adopted policies and procedures designed to address such situations and other potential conflicts of interests.

Economic and Political Events Risk. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the municipal securities of similar projects (such as those relating to the education, health care, housing,

 

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transportation, or utilities industries), industrial development bonds, or in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, private activity bonds or moral obligation bonds). Such developments may adversely affect a specific industry or local political and economic conditions, and thus may lead to declines in the creditworthiness and value of such municipal securities.

Cybersecurity Risk. Technology, such as the internet, has become more prevalent in the course of business, and as such, the Fund and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security risk resulting from cyber incidents. Cyber incidents refer to both intentional attacks and unintentional events including: processing errors, human errors, technical errors including computer glitches and system malfunctions, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, market-wide technical-related disruptions, unauthorized access to digital systems (through “hacking” or malicious software coding), computer viruses, and cyber-attacks which shut down, disable, slow or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality (including denial of service attacks). Cyber incidents could adversely impact the Fund and cause the Fund to incur financial loss and expense, as well as face exposure to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures. Cyber incidents may cause the Fund or its service providers to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, lose operational capacity or fail to comply with applicable privacy and other laws. Among other potentially harmful effects, cyber incidents also may result in theft, unauthorized monitoring and failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Fund.

Unrated Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization. NAM may, after assessing such securities’ credit quality, internally assign ratings to certain of those securities in categories similar to those of rating organizations. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Fund might have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated securities, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives will be more dependent on NAM’s credit analysis than would be the case when the Fund invests in rated securities.

Asset Segregation Risk. Certain portfolio management techniques, such as, among other things, using reverse repurchase agreements, purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or entering into swap agreements, futures contracts or other derivative transactions, create leverage or its effect, and may be considered “senior securities’” (as that term is defined under the 1940 Act). To avoid having these instruments considered “senior securities,” the Fund may maintain liquid assets with its custodian in an amount with a value at least equal (on a daily market value basis or notional value basis, as applicable) to the aggregate amount of its obligations under these types of leveraging transactions (often referred to as “asset segregation”), enter into offsetting transactions, or otherwise “cover” certain transactions, in accordance with the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable positions of the SEC and its staff. See “The Fund’s Investments—Segregation of Assets.” In the event that the Fund is unable to maintain sufficient assets, or otherwise “cover,” any open positions, a portion or all of these instruments will be classified as a “senior security” for 1940 Act purposes and be subject to certain limitations on “senior securities” under the 1940 Act. The Fund may be restricted in its use

 

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of assets that are maintained for “asset segregation,” or committed as “cover,” for certain other purposes, which could result in the Fund earning a lower return on its portfolio than it might otherwise earn if it did not have to maintain those assets in respect of, or otherwise “cover,” such portfolio positions. To the extent the Fund’s assets are maintained or committed as “cover,” it could limit the Fund’s investment flexibility. Maintaining assets and covering positions will not limit or offset losses on the related leveraging positions.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative transactions entered into by the Fund. Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives transactions may affect the value of those instruments. Because certain derivative transactions in which the Fund may engage may be traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise becomes unable to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties the Fund may sustain losses (including the full amount of its investment), may be unable to liquidate a derivatives position or may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings. By entering into derivatives transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience such financial hardships. Although the Fund intends to enter into transactions only with counterparties that the Investment Adviser believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction. In the event of a counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, any collateral posted by the Fund in connection with a derivatives transaction may be subject to the conflicting claims of that counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared OTC derivative transactions. In a cleared derivative transaction, generally, a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and each party to a trade looks only to the clearing organization for performance of financial obligations under the derivative contract. In effect, the clearing organization guarantees a party’s performance under the contract. However, there can be no assurance that a clearing organization, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund, or that the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, cleared derivative transactions benefit from daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Uncleared OTC derivative transactions generally do not benefit from such protections. As a result, for uncleared OTC derivative transactions, there is the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. This risk is heightened for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties.

Risks Related to the Fund’s Clearing Broker and Central Clearing Counterparty. The CEA requires swaps and futures clearing brokers registered as “futures commission merchants” to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the brokers’ proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each futures commission merchant to hold in separate secure accounts all funds received from

 

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customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and cleared swaps and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account and may be invested in certain instruments permitted under applicable regulations. There is a risk that assets deposited by the Fund with any swaps or futures clearing broker as margin for futures contracts or cleared swaps may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the Fund’s clearing broker’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for the relevant account class.

Similarly, the CEA requires a clearing organization approved by the CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s clients in connection with domestic cleared derivative contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, all customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any futures contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. All customer funds held at a clearing organization with respect to cleared swaps of customers of a clearing broker are also held in an omnibus account, but CFTC rules require that the clearing broker notify the clearing organization of the amount of the initial margin provided by the clearing broker to the clearing organization that is attributable to each customer. With respect to futures and options contracts, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. With respect to cleared swaps, a clearing organization generally cannot do so, but may do so if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting to the clearing organization as to the attribution of margin among its clients. Also, since clearing brokers generally provide to clearing organizations the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer, the Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to the Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default. As a result, in the event of a default or the clearing broker’s other clients or the clearing broker’s failure to extend its own funds in connection with any such default, the Fund may not be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited by the clearing broker on behalf of the Fund with the clearing organization.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a given year. The portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund. 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. In addition, a higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund.

Rating Agencies Risk. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. In addition, rating agencies are subject to an inherent conflict of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

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

Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Manager

Investment Adviser

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606.

Nuveen Fund Advisors also has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2021, Nuveen managed approximately $1.2 trillion in assets, of which approximately $183.8 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.

Sub-Adviser

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). NAM is a registered investment adviser, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. NAM oversees day-to-day investment operations of the Fund.

Portfolio Manager

NAM is responsible for the execution of specific investment strategies and day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. NAM manages the Nuveen funds using a team of analysts and portfolio managers that focuses on a specific group of funds. The day-to-day operation of the Fund and the execution of its specific investment strategies is the primary responsibility of Paul L. Brennan, the designated portfolio manager of the Fund (the “Portfolio Manager”).

Paul L. Brennan, CFA, CPA manages several municipal funds and portfolios. He began working in the financial industry in 1991 when he joined Flagship Financial, which was later acquired by NAM. Mr. Brennan became a portfolio manager in 1994. He received a B.S. from Wright State University. Mr. Brennan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a registered CPA (inactive) in the state of Ohio.

Additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager and the Portfolio Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund is provided

 

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in the SAI. The SAI is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this prospectus or the SAI.

Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements

Investment Management Agreement. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, 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 for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets*

   Fund-Level
Fee Rate
 

For the first $125 million

     0.5000

For the next $125 million

     0.4875

For the next $250 million

     0.4750

For the next $500 million

     0.4625

For the next $1 billion

     0.4500

For the next $3 billion

     0.4250

For managed assets over $5 billion

     0.4125

Complex Level Fee. The annual complex-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated by multiplying the current complex-wide fee rate, determined according to the following schedule, by the Fund’s daily managed assets:

 

Complex-Level Eligible Asset Breakpoint Level*

   Effective
Complex-Level
Fee 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

 

*

For the complex-level fees, managed assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Investment Adviser that are attributable to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Investment Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining managed assets in certain circumstances.

 

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  The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed assets of all Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds that constitute “eligible assets.” Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with the Investment Adviser’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. As of April 30, 2021, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1544%.

In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and NAM), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any borrowings, expenses of issuing any Preferred Shares, including the MFP Shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s decision to renew the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated October 31 of each year.

Sub-Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, NAM will receive from Nuveen Fund Advisors on the fifth business day of each month a management fee equal to 42.8572% of the fees (net of applicable breakpoints, waivers and reimbursements) paid by the Fund to the Investment Adviser under the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s decision to renew the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated October 31 of each year.

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund’s net asset value per Common Share is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Net asset value is calculated by taking the fair value of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share.

The Fund’s custodian calculates the Fund’s net asset value. The custodian uses prices for portfolio securities from a pricing service the Fund’s Board has approved. The pricing service values portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available (which will constitute the majority of the Fund’s portfolio securities) are valued at fair value as determined by the Board in reliance upon data supplied by the pricing service. The pricing service uses methods that consider yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity, and ratings; dealers’ indications of value; and general market conditions. The pricing service may use electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both. The Fund’s officers review the pricing service’s procedures and valuations, under the general supervision of the Board.

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS

For a discussion of dividends and other distributions applicable to the Common Shares and the dividend reinvestment plan, see the prospectus supplement relating to the Common Shares being offered.

For a discussion of dividends and other distributions applicable to the MFP Shares, see the prospectus supplement relating to the MFP Shares being offered.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Fund may sell Securities from time to time on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings under this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement in any one or more of the following ways: (1) directly to one or more purchasers, (2) through agents for the period of their appointment, (3) to underwriters as principals for resale to the public, (4) through, in the case of the Common Shares, transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” as defined under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or (5) such other method as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the Securities offered therein.

Each prospectus supplement relating to an offering of Securities will state the terms of the offering, including:

 

   

the names of any agents or underwriters;

 

   

any sales loads, underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

 

   

any discounts, commissions, fees or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers or agents;

 

   

the public offering or purchase price of the offered Securities, the estimated net proceeds the Fund will receive from the sale and the use of proceeds; and

 

   

any securities exchange on which the offered Securities may be listed.

If any underwriters are involved in the offer and sale, the Securities will be acquired by the underwriters and may be resold by them, either at a fixed public offering price established at the time of offering or from time to time in one or more negotiated transactions or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing market prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the Securities described in the prospectus supplement if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

The Fund may offer and sell the Securities directly or through an agent or agents designated by the Fund from time to time. An agent may sell securities it has purchased from the Fund as principal to other dealers for resale to investors and other purchasers, and may reallow all or any portion of the

 

67


discount received in connection with the purchase from the Fund to the dealers. After the initial offering of the Securities, the offering price (in the case of Securities to be resold at a fixed offering price), the concession and the discount may be changed. Any agent participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as that term is defined in the 1933 Act, of the Securities so offered and sold.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Fund, to indemnification by the Fund against some liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act.

The place and time of delivery for the Securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement if appropriate.

Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each series of offered MFP Shares will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is no market. Any underwriters to whom MFP Shares are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such MFP Shares as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so, and any such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the MFP Shares.

Underwriters, agents and dealers may engage in transactions with or perform services, including various investment banking and other services, for the Fund and/or any of the Fund’s affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

The Fund will bear the expenses of the offering, including but not limited to, the expenses of preparation of this prospectus and the SAI and the prospectus supplement for the offering and the expense of counsel and auditors in connection with the offering.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of FINRA or independent broker-dealer will not be greater than 9% of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any Securities being sold.

To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS

General

The By-Laws of the Fund provide that by becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the terms of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws. However, neither the Declaration of Trust nor the By-Laws purport to require the waiver of a shareholder’s rights under the federal securities laws.

Shareholder and Trustee Liability

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer

 

68


of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund 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 of Trust further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. 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 of Trust provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding upon the Fund’s trustees individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Fund, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration of Trust, 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 of Trust 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 be divided into three classes with staggered terms. This provision of the By-Laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. Preferred shareholders, including MFP shareholders, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. In addition, the Declaration of Trust includes other 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. Specifically, the Declaration of Trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including MFP 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 or recapitalization 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 (voting by class or classes of shares that elected such trustee) 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 of Trust 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 Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting together as a single class, is required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected, only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “recapitalization” shall not mean, without limitation, the issuance or redemption of Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms of the Declaration of Trust or the statement adopted with respect to such Preferred Shares, whether or not in conjunction with the issuance, retirement or redemption of other securities or indebtedness of the Fund. Approval of shareholders is not 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 which adversely affects the holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, the

 

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action in question will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Preferred Shares, including MFP 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 of Trust or the By-Laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Preferred Shares, including MFP 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 Preferred Shares, including MFP 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 which adversely affects the holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board believes that the provisions of the Declaration of Trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

The By-Laws provide that a shareholder who obtains beneficial ownership of Common Shares in a “Control Share Acquisition” will have the same voting rights as other Common Shares only to the extent authorized by shareholders. Such authorization will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote in the election of trustees excluding Interested Shares. “Interested Shares” include shares held by Fund officers and any person who has acquired Common Shares in a Control Share Acquisition (the “Control Share Provisions”). The By-Laws define a “Control Share Acquisition,” subject to various conditions and exceptions, generally to mean an acquisition of Common Shares that would give the beneficial owner, upon the acquisition of such shares, the ability to exercise voting power, but for the Control Share Provisions, in the election of trustees in any one of the following ranges: (i) one-tenth or more, but less than one-fifth of all voting power; (ii) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third of all voting power; (iii) one-third or more, but less than a majority of all voting power; or (iv) a majority or more of all voting power. For this purpose, all Common Shares acquired by a person within ninety days before or after the date on which such person acquires shares that result in a Control Share Acquisition, and all Common Shares acquired by such person pursuant to a plan to make a Control Share Acquisition, will be deemed to have been acquired in the same Control Share Acquisition. Subject to various conditions and procedural requirements, including the delivery of a “Control Share Acquisition Statement” to the Fund setting forth certain required information, a shareholder who obtains or proposes to obtain beneficial ownership of Common Shares in a Control Share Acquisition generally may request a vote of shareholders to approve the authorization of voting rights of such shareholder with respect to such shares.

The provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws described above could have the effect of depriving the 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 Board has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

Procedural Requirements on Derivative Actions, Exclusive Jurisdiction and Jury Trial Waiver

The By-Laws of the Fund contain certain provisions affecting potential shareholder claims against the Fund, including procedural requirements for derivative actions, an exclusive forum

 

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provision, and the waiver of shareholder rights to a jury trial. Massachusetts is considered a “universal demand” state, meaning that under Massachusetts corporate law a shareholder must make a demand on the company before bringing a derivative action (i.e., a lawsuit brought by a shareholder on behalf of the company). The By-Laws of the Fund provide detailed procedures for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders which are modeled on the substantive provisions of the Massachusetts corporate law derivative demand statute. The procedures are intended to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to the Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Among other things, these procedures:

 

   

provide that before bringing a derivative action, a shareholder must make a written demand to the Fund;

 

   

establish a 90 day review period, subject to extension in certain circumstances, for the Board of Trustees to evaluate the shareholder’s demand;

 

   

establish a mechanism for the Board of Trustees to submit the question of whether to maintain a derivative action to a vote of shareholders;

 

   

provide that if the Fund does not notify the requesting shareholder of the rejection of the demand within the applicable review period, the shareholder may commence a derivative action;

 

   

establish bases upon which a trustee will not be considered to be not independent for purposes of evaluating a derivative demand; and

 

   

provide that if the trustees who are independent for purposes of considering a shareholder demand determine in good faith within the applicable review period that the maintenance of a derivative action is not in the best interest of the Fund, the shareholder shall not be permitted to maintain a derivative action unless he or she first sustains the burden of proof to the court that the decision of the trustees not to pursue the requested action was not a good faith exercise of their business judgment on behalf of the Fund.

These procedures may be more restrictive than procedures for bringing derivative suits applicable to other investment companies.

The By-Laws also require that actions by shareholders against the Fund, except for actions under the U.S. federal securities laws, be brought only in a certain federal court in Massachusetts, or if not permitted to be brought in federal court, then in the Business Litigation Session of the Massachusetts Superior Court in Suffolk County (the “Exclusive Jurisdictions”), and that the right to jury trial be waived to the fullest extent permitted by law. Other investment companies may not be subject to similar restrictions. The designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit than if the shareholder were permitted to select another jurisdiction. Also, the designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions and the waiver of jury trials limit a shareholder’s ability to litigate a claim in the jurisdiction and in a manner that may be more favorable to the shareholder. It is possible that a court may choose not to enforce these provisions of the Fund’s By-Laws.

 

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Preemptive Rights

The Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders shall have no right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares or investments 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 of Trust and By-Laws on file with the SEC 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 trade in the open market at prices that are a function of several factors, including Common Share dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses) in comparison to market rates for similar investments, net asset value, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, 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 may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Board 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 will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Fund’s Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, are outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Common Shares unless (1) all accumulated but unpaid dividends on Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, due to be paid have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the net asset value of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the acquisition price of the Common Shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon). 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 borrowings 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 would have to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), 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 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 NYSE, or (b) impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the

 

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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 NYSE, (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 foreign 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 which would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Fund or its shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board 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 and Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares outstanding at the time, 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 the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to conversion of the Fund to an open-end company. If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, it would be required to redeem all Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, then outstanding (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the Common Shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE. 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 or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. As a result, conversion to open-end status may require changes in the management of the Fund’s portfolio in order to meet the liquidity requirements applicable to open-end funds. Because portfolio securities may have to be liquidated to meet redemptions, conversion could affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives or to use certain investment policies and techniques described above. If converted to an open-end fund, the Fund expects to pay all redemptions in cash, but intends to reserve the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, new Common Shares may be sold at net asset value plus a sales load. The Board may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end 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 Common 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 Common Shares trading at a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Common Shares

 

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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 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. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at a time when Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the outstanding Common Shares then remaining.

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 Common Shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken. On August 2, 2021, the Fund’s Board renewed the Fund’s open market share repurchase program under which the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its Common Shares. Since the inception of the Fund’s share repurchase program through September 30, 2021, the Fund has repurchased 202,500 Common Shares under the program.

TAX MATTERS

The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. holders of an investment in the shares of the Fund. Please see the SAI for additional information. A description of material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of any Common Shares or MFP Shares being offered will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. Investors should rely on their own tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for treatment 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 generally does not expect to have to pay U.S. federal income tax. The Fund primarily invests in municipal securities (as defined above) issued by states, cities and local authorities and certain possessions and territories of the United States (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) or municipal securities the income of which is otherwise exempt from regular U.S. federal income taxes. To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund must consist of obligations exempt from regular income tax as of the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by the Fund exceeds 50% of the Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of any Fund taxable year, the Fund would not for that taxable year satisfy the general eligibility test that would otherwise permit it to pay exempt-interest dividends. Substantially all of the Fund’s dividends paid to you are expected to qualify as “exempt-interest dividends,” which are exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax. The Fund does not intend to acquire securities the income of which is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals.

The exemption from U.S. federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the income or other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. Some states exempt from state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that

 

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is derived from interest received by a RIC on its holdings of securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Therefore, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income earned by the fund during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such income. Shareholders of the Fund are advised to consult with their own tax advisers about state and local tax matters.

In addition to exempt-interest dividends, the Fund may also distribute to its shareholders amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain or ordinary income (which may include short-term capital gains). These distributions are generally subject to regular U.S. federal income tax, whether or not reinvested in additional shares. 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 taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. 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,” which is taxable to non-corporate shareholders at reduced maximum U.S. federal income tax rates.

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder that is an individual and not a nonresident alien for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income, but exempt-interest dividends are not taken into account.

As a RIC, the Fund will not have to pay U.S. federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain requirements. The Fund might not distribute some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain and net investment income, it will be subject to tax at the corporate rate 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 that, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount and will be entitled to credit that amount of tax against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. 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.

The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as exempt interest, ordinary income and capital gains). Accordingly, the Fund reports dividends made with respect to Common Shares and Preferred Shares as consisting of particular types of income (e.g., exempt interest, net capital gains and ordinary income) in accordance with each class’ proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund with respect to the year.

 

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Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, and paid during the following January will be treated as having been received by shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.

Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the U.S. federal income tax status of all distributions.

The repurchase, sale or exchange of shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to holders that 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 even though the increase in value in such shares may be at least partly attributable to tax-exempt interest income. For corporate taxpayers, both long-term and short-term capital gains are taxed at the same rate that applies to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are taxed at rates of up to 20%. Short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are taxed to non-corporate taxpayers at ordinary income rates. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of 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 amounts treated as distributions to the holder of long-term capital gain (including any amount credited to the holder as undistributed capital gain). Any loss realized by a shareholder on the disposition of shares held six months or less is disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to shares of the Fund. 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 substantially identical shares of the Fund (including shares acquired by reason of participation in the dividend reinvestment plan) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares, or to the extent the shareholder enters into a contract or option to repurchase shares within such period. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Fund’s shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules, the purchase or ownership of shares may be deemed to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of the shares. In addition, if you receive social security or certain railroad retirement benefits, you may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving investment income, including exempt-interest dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund.

The Fund may be required to withhold (as “backup withholding”) U.S. federal income tax for distributions (including exempt-interest dividends) and repurchase proceeds 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. The backup withholding rate is 24%. 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 a portion of its assets in securities that generate income that is not exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax, the income from which would be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

With respect to MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares of the Fund, the Fund has received or will receive prior to issuance an opinion from special tax counsel that the Preferred Shares will constitute

 

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stock of the Fund, and the foregoing discussion relies on the position that the Preferred Shares will constitute stock of the Fund. Accordingly, distributions with respect to the Preferred Shares (other than distributions in redemption of Preferred Shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes and to the extent allocable to such distribution. Because the treatment of a corporate security as debt or equity is determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and no controlling precedent exists for the Preferred Shares, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not question special tax counsel’s opinion and the Fund’s treatment of the Preferred Shares as stock. If the IRS were to succeed in such a challenge, holders of Preferred Shares could be treated as having received taxable interest rather than exempt-interest dividends, which could require them to file amended income tax returns, report additional taxable income and pay additional tax, interest and penalties.

State and Local Tax Matters. The exemption from U.S. federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends generally does not result in exemption for such dividends under the income or other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. In some states, however, the portion of any exempt-interest dividends derived from interest received by the Fund on its holdings of that state’s securities and those of its political subdivisions and instrumentalities is exempt from the state’s income tax. The Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income earned by the Fund during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such income. Shareholders of the Fund are advised to consult their own tax advisors about state and local tax matters.

Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND REDEMPTION AND PAYING AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street” or the “Custodian”), One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. State Street performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend disbursing agent with respect to its Common Shares is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

The Fund expects to enter into a Tender and Paying Agent Agreement with the Tender and Paying Agent, with respect to each series of MFP Shares. The Tender and Paying Agent will serve as the Fund’s transfer agent and registrar, dividend disbursing agent, calculation agent and paying agent and redemption price disbursing agent with respect to the MFP Shares.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Washington, D.C. Certain legal matters in connection with the MFP Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York. Sidley Austin LLP may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Any additional legal opinions will be described in a prospectus supplement.

 

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The audited Financial Statements and Financial Highlights of the Fund appearing in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the SAI. The audited financial statements and financial highlights have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon and incorporated herein by reference. Such audited financial statements and financial highlights are incorporated by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The information with respect to the fiscal years ended prior to October 31, 2014 has been audited by other auditors. The principal business address of KPMG LLP is 200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This prospectus, the SAI, reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE and at the Fund’s website http://www.nuveen.com.

This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the Fund’s registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules.

Additional information about the Fund and the Securities can be found in the Fund’s registration statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund’s registration statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the 1934 Act. Additional information may be found on the Internet at http://www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, those websites is not part of this prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the SAI.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC. The Fund is allowed to “incorporate by reference” the information that it files with the SEC, which means that that the Fund can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The Fund incorporates by reference into this prospectus and the SAI the documents listed below and any future filings that the Fund makes with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, including any filings on or after the date of this prospectus from the date of filing (excluding any information furnished, rather than filed), until the Fund has sold all of the Securities to which this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be automatically modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1) this prospectus or (2) any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents incorporated by reference herein include:

 

   

the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, dated November 18, 2021, filed with this prospectus;

 

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The Fund’s annual report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on January 7, 2021; and

 

   

The Fund’s semi-annual report on Form N-CSR for the six months ended April, 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on July 7, 2021.

The Fund will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the SAI or the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should direct requests for documents by writing to:

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(800) 257-8787

This prospectus, the SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports when filed may be accessed at the Fund’s website at http://www.nuveen.com. Except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the SAI, information contained in, or that can be accessed through, such website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement and should not be considered to be part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

November 18, 2021

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund was organized on July 12, 1999. This statement of additional information (the “SAI”) relating to the common shares (“Common Shares”) and MuniFund Preferred Shares (“MFP Shares,” and the Common Shares and the MFP Shares, collectively, the “Securities”) of the Fund does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the prospectus relating thereto dated November 18, 2021 and any related prospectus supplement. This SAI relates to the offering, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, of the Securities. This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Securities. Investors should obtain and read the prospectus and any related prospectus supplement prior to purchasing such shares. In addition, the Fund’s audited financial statements and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report thereon included in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended October  31, 2020 are incorporated into this SAI by reference. The Fund’s unaudited financial statements for the six months ended April 30, 2021 are included in the Fund’s 2021 semi-annual report, which also is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the prospectus and any related prospectus supplement may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain a copy of the prospectus and any related prospectus supplement on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) web site (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

The Fund

     1  

Investment Objectives and Policies

     1  

Investment Restrictions

     5  

The Fund’s Investments

     8  

Management of the Fund

     27  

Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Manager

     50  

Code of Ethics

     55  

Proxy Voting Policies

     56  

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

     56  

Net Asset Value

     58  

Beneficial Owners

     58  

Tax Matters

     59  

Financial Statements

     65  

Appendix A Ratings of Investments

     A-1  

Appendix B Derivative Strategies and Risks

     B-1  

Appendix C Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     C-1  


THE FUND

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company, organized as a Massachusetts business trust, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The Fund’s investment objectives are:

 

   

to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals; and

 

   

to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Investment Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.

Underrated municipal securities are those whose ratings do not, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, reflect their true value. Municipal securities may be underrated because of the time that has elapsed since their rating was assigned or reviewed, or because of positive factors that may not have been fully taken into account by NRSROs, or for other similar reasons. Municipal securities that are undervalued or that represent undervalued municipal market sectors are municipal securities that, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Municipal securities of particular types or purposes (e.g., hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal securities of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular municipal securities that are considered undervalued. The Fund’s investment in underrated or undervalued municipal securities will be based on the Investment Adviser’s belief that the prices of such municipal securities should ultimately reflect their true value. Accordingly, “enhancement of portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market” refers to the Fund’s objective of attempting to realize above-average capital appreciation in a rising market, and to experience less than average capital losses in a declining market. Thus, the Fund’s second investment objective is not intended to suggest that capital appreciation is itself an objective of the Fund. Instead, the Fund seeks enhancement of portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by prudent selection of municipal securities, regardless of which direction the market may move. Any capital appreciation realized by the Fund will generally result in the distribution of taxable capital gains to holders of Common Shares and holders of preferred shares of the Fund (“Preferred Shares”). The Fund is currently required to allocate net capital gains and ordinary income taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if any, proportionately between Common Shares and Preferred Shares. See “Tax Matters” in the prospectus.

It is a fundamental policy that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income taxes.

As a non-fundamental investment policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest 100% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt

 

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from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase. As a non-fundamental policy subject to change by the Fund’s trustees upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Assets (as defined below) in municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals at the time of purchase.

“Assets” means net assets of the Fund plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. “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 leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 55% of its Managed Assets in securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below the three highest grades (Baa or BBB or lower) by at least one NRSRO, which includes below-investment-grade securities or unrated securities judged to be of comparable quality by NAM. The Fund may invest in distressed securities. The Fund may not invest in the securities of an issuer which, at the time of investment, is in default on its obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or that is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding (i.e. rated below C-, at the time of investment), provided, however, that NAM may determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders in pursuing a workout arrangement with issuers of defaulted securities to make loans to the defaulted issuer or another party, or purchase a debt, equity or other interest from the defaulted issuer or another party, or take other related or similar steps involving the investment of additional monies, but only if that issuer’s securities are already held by the Fund.

The Fund’s greater allocation to lower rated municipal securities is expected to result in meaningfully higher net earnings. However, investments in lower rated securities are subject to higher risks than investments in higher rated securities, including a higher risk that the issuer will be unable to pay interest or principal when due. In addition, the Fund’s greater allocation to lower rated municipal securities may have a negative effect on one or more long-term ratings of the Fund’s Preferred Shares. See “Risk Factors” in the prospectus for a discussion of the risks associated with an increased exposure to lower rated municipal securities and for a discussion of ratings risks.

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 are considered “investment grade” securities; municipal securities rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations which 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 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

 

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market for them is less broad. The market for unrated municipal securities 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 the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser’s research and analysis when investing in these securities.

The foregoing credit quality policy targets 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 NRSRO upgrades or downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer or that valuation changes of various municipal securities cause the Fund’s portfolio to fail to satisfy those targets. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider such factors as the Investment Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’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. The ratings of S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Fitch Ratings, Inc. 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. See “Appendix A—Ratings of Investments” for additional information about NRSRO ratings.

The Fund will invest primarily in municipal securities with long-term maturities in order to maintain an average effective maturity of 15 to 30 years, including the effects of leverage, but the average effective maturity of obligations held by the Fund may be lengthened or shortened as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities markets offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for tax-exempt income and total return. As a result, the Fund’s portfolio at any given time may include both long-term and intermediate-term municipal securities. Moreover, during temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Investment Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt bond 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, the Fund may invest any percentage of its total assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives during such periods.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. The economic effect of leverage through the Fund’s purchase of inverse floating rate securities creates an opportunity for increased net income and returns for Common Shareholders but also creates the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return of the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund.

The Fund may invest in “tobacco settlement bonds.” Tobacco settlement bonds are bonds that are secured or payable solely from the collateralization of the proceeds from class action or other litigation against the tobacco industry.

The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which

 

3


the Fund may invest directly, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations issued thereunder and applicable exemptive orders issued by the SEC. See “The Fund’s Investments—Other Investment Companies” below.

The Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge certain risks of its investments in fixed-income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments.

As a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Fund’s trustees without prior shareholder notice, the Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s Managed Assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies which provide such credit enhancements may affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature may reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce the Fund’s income. The insurance feature guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the obligation when due and does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligations, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer, and the effectiveness and value of the insurance itself is dependent on the continued creditworthiness of the insurer. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.

Obligations of issuers of municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. 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 is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of its assets, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), except that this limitation does not apply to cash, securities of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies.

The Fund cannot change its investment objectives without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common and Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Preferred Shares voting as a separate class, and with the prior written consent of the liquidity providers for Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”), or MFP Shares in the Variable Rate Demand Mode (“VRDM Shares”), such consent to be determined in each liquidity provider’s good faith discretion, and certain other Fund counterparties. A

 

4


“majority of the outstanding,” under the 1940 Act, 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. See “Description of Securities” in the prospectus for additional information with respect to the voting rights of holders of Common Shares and Preferred Shares.

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 and Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting as a separate class, and the prior written consent of liquidity providers for VRDP Shares or VRDM Shares or other Fund counterparties:

(1) Invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any one issuer, except that this limitation shall not apply to bonds issued by the United States Government, its agencies and instrumentalities or to the investment of 25% of its total assets.1

(2) Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes or for repurchase of its shares, and then only in an amount not exceeding one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings).1,2

(3) Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than Preferred Shares, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and except as otherwise described in the prospectus and this SAI.

(4) 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 “1933 Act”), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

(5) 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 bonds other than those municipal bonds backed only by the assets and revenues of nongovernmental users.3

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

(7) 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 

Section 18(c) of the 1940 Act generally limits a registered closed-end investment company to issuing one class of senior securities representing indebtedness and one class of senior securities representing stock, except that the class of indebtedness or stock may be issued in one or more series, and promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed, are not deemed a separate class of senior securities.

2 

Section 18(a) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a registered closed-end fund from incurring borrowings if, immediately thereafter, the aggregate amount of its borrowings exceeds 33 1/3% of its total assets.

3 

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

 

5


(8) Make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act.4

(9) Issue debt securities that rank senior to Preferred Shares other than for temporary or emergency purposes.

For purposes of the foregoing, “majority of the outstanding,” when used with respect to particular shares of the Fund, 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.

For the purpose of applying the 25% industry limitation set forth in subparagraph (5) above, such limitation will apply to tax-exempt municipal securities if the payment of principal and interest for such securities is derived principally from a specific project associated with an issuer that is not a governmental entity or a political subdivision of a government, and in that situation the Fund will consider such municipal securities to be an industry associated with the project.

For the purpose of applying the 25% industry limitation set forth in subparagraph (5) above, the Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments after making a reasonable effort to obtain current information about the investments in underlying companies.

For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph 1 above, an issuer shall be deemed the sole 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, such as an industrial corporation or a privately owned or operated hospital, 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 sole 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.

The Fund is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund may not (1) purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than cash, securities of other investment companies and securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of such issuer or (2) purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.

 

4 

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 loan or (ii) the borrower controls or is under common control with the investment company. The Fund has not applied for, and currently does not intend to apply for, any exemptive relief that would allow it to make loans outside the limits of the 1940 Act.

 

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Subject to certain exemptions under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting shares of beneficial interest of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a shareholder 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 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 will be subject to leverage risk.

In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) without prior shareholder notice. 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) Invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) except in compliance with the 1940 Act or any exemptive relief obtained thereunder.

(3) Enter into futures contracts or related options or forward contracts, if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts and related options.

(4) Purchase securities when borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets if and so long as Preferred Shares are outstanding.

(5) 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 bonds (a) the Fund already owns and (b) have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality, provided that the Fund’s investment adviser, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Investment Adviser”) 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 be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) that may issue ratings for Preferred Shares, or, if issued, commercial paper or notes, 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 the Investment Adviser and the Fund’s

 

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investment sub-adviser, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, (the “Sub-Adviser” or “NAM”), from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

At least six months prior to the final mandatory redemption date or term redemption date for all outstanding Preferred Shares of each series, the Fund will earmark assets rated at least A- or the equivalent (and including deposit securities including, but not limited to, cash or cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, highly rated municipal obligations or money market funds, in an amount equal to 20% of the liquidation preference of all outstanding Preferred Shares of the applicable series, with 135 days remaining to the redemption date, increasing to 100% with 15 days remaining) with a market value equal to at least 110% of the liquidation preference of all outstanding Preferred Shares of the applicable series until the redemption of all outstanding Preferred Shares of such series. As may be specified for a series of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, the Fund also may be required to earmark assets in connection with certain mandatory redemption events if they occur prior to the final mandatory redemption date or term redemption date.

THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Municipal Securities

General.    The Fund generally invests its assets in a portfolio of 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 taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. Municipal securities are generally debt obligations issued by state and local governmental entities and may be issued by U.S. territories to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities may also be issued for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and 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 on long term debt. Municipal securities may be issued and purchased 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, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds, and residual interest bonds or inverse floating rate securities; or 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 may increase the leverage of the Fund.

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by U.S. territories and possessions (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) that are exempt from regular federal income taxes.

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. The market value of

 

8


municipal bonds 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.

Tobacco Settlement Bonds.    Included in the general category of municipal securities described in the Prospectus are “tobacco settlement bonds.” The Fund may invest in tobacco settlement bonds, which are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. The MSA provides for annual payments in perpetuity by the manufacturers to the states in exchange for releasing all claims against the manufacturers and a pledge of no further litigation. Tobacco manufacturers pay into a master escrow trust based on their market share, and each state receives a fixed percentage of the payment as set forth in the MSA. A number of states have securitized the future flow of those payments by selling bonds pursuant to indentures or through distinct governmental entities created for such purpose. The principal and interest payments on the bonds are backed by the future revenue flow related to the MSA. Annual payments on the bonds, and thus risk to the Fund, are highly dependent on the receipt of future settlement payments to the state or its governmental entity.

The actual amount of future settlement payments is further dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. The initial and annual payments made by the tobacco companies will be adjusted based on a number of factors, the most important of which is domestic cigarette consumption. If the volume of cigarettes shipped in the U.S. by manufacturers participating in the settlement decreases significantly, payments due from them will also decrease. Demand for cigarettes in the U.S. could continue to decline due to price increases needed to recoup the cost of payments by tobacco companies. Demand could also be affected by: anti-smoking campaigns, tax increases, reduced advertising, enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors; elimination of certain sales venues such as vending machines; and the spread of local ordinances restricting smoking in public places. As a result, payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline. A market share loss by the MSA companies to non-MSA participating tobacco manufacturers would cause a downward adjustment in the payment amounts. A participating manufacturer filing for bankruptcy also could cause delays or reductions in bond payments. The MSA itself has been subject to legal challenges and has, to date, withstood those challenges.

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

 

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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 the Investment Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.

A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates typically are 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.    Municipal securities in the form of notes 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

 

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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 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. The Fund’s distributions of its interest income from private activity bonds may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax.

Inverse Floating Rate Securities.    The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities 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, commonly referred to as a “tender option bond trust” (“TOB trust”), that holds municipal bonds. The TOB trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds (“TOBs”)), and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates or receipts. The floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the TOB trust. In this structure, the floating rate security holders have the option, at periodic short-term intervals, to tender their securities to the trust for purchase and to receive the face value thereof plus accrued interest. The obligation of the trust to repurchase tendered securities is supported by a remarketing agent and by a liquidity provider. As consideration for providing this support, the remarketing agent and the liquidity provider receive periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the trust is not obligated to purchase tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults with respect to the underlying municipal bonds or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer.

As the holder of an inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from the TOB trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security plus accrued interest, the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal bond deposited into the TOB 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 to the value of the inverse floaters that are issued by the TOB trust, and it can exceed three times for more “highly leveraged” trusts. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the TOB trust are passed through, pro rata, to the holders of the short-term floaters and to the Fund as the holder of the associated inverse floaters.

Because any increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters issued by a TOB trust would reduce the residual interest paid on the associated inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the TOB trust would affect only the value of the inverse

 

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floater and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust so long as the value of the municipal bond held by the trust exceeded the face amount of short-term floaters outstanding, the value of inverse floaters is generally more volatile than that of an otherwise comparable municipal bond held on an unleveraged basis outside a TOB trust. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market of fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but they will tend to outperform the market of fixed-rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile in value and return, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields higher than those available on fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity or illiquidity based primarily upon the inverse floater holder’s ability to sell the underlying bonds deposited in the TOB trust at an attractive price.

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by TOB trusts in which the liquidity providers have recourse to the Fund pursuant to a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the liquidity provider, among other circumstances, upon termination of the TOB trust for the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount and accrued interest due to the holders of floating rate securities issued by the trust. The Fund will enter into such a recourse agreement (1) when the liquidity provider requires such a recourse agreement because the level of leverage in the TOB trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (2) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event the municipal bond held in the trust has declined in value to the point where it may cease to exceed the face amount of outstanding short-term floaters. In an instance where the Fund has entered such a recourse agreement, the Fund may suffer a loss that exceeds the amount of its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities; such loss could be as great as that original investment amount plus the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by the trust plus accrued interest thereon.

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 TOB trusts.

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

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 securities, 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 bond deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate securities. 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 securities.

Special Taxing Districts.    Special taxing districts are organized to plan and finance infrastructure developments to induce residential, commercial and industrial growth and

 

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redevelopment. The bond financing methods such as tax increment finance, tax assessment, special services district and Mello-Roos bonds, generally are 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 generally are 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.

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 any percentage of its Managed Assets in cash equivalents and short-term taxable fixed-income securities, although the Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of the dividends paid being subject to regular U.S. federal income tax and the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. 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 Corporation 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

 

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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 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. The Investment Adviser will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios) 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 NRSRO and which matures within one year of the date of purchase or carries a variable or floating rate of interest.

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

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

 

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(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) Tax-exempt commercial paper (“Municipal Paper”) represents 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.

(7) 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.

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 15-45 days of the trade date. On such transactions the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. 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 interpretations of the SEC to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value, at all times, at least equal to the amount of the commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of the Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be taxable to shareholders. The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase municipal 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 sixty 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 cost.

 

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Derivatives and Hedging Strategies

The Fund may periodically engage in hedging transactions, and otherwise use various types of derivative instruments, described below, to reduce risk, to effectively gain particular market exposures, to seek to enhance returns, and to reduce transaction costs, among other reasons. In addition to inverse floating rate securities and structured notes, the Fund may invest in certain other derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments whose prices, in the Investment Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, correlate with the prices of the Fund’s investments. The Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser uses derivatives to shorten or lengthen the effective duration of the Fund’s portfolio securities, and therefore the interest rate risk, and to adjust other aspects of the portfolio’s risk/return profile. The Fund may use these instruments if the Fund deems it more efficient from a transaction cost, total return or income standpoint than investing in cash securities. See “Appendix B—Derivative Strategies and Risks” for additional information regarding the various techniques involving the use of derivatives.

“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 Barclays Capital Municipal Bond 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” (“OTC”) or on 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 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 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. Finally, the potential deposit requirements in futures contracts create an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce yield. The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to be active and sufficiently liquid. Net gains, if any, from hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable distributions to shareholders. These hedging strategies may generate taxable income.

The Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser 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. These types of strategies may generate taxable income.

 

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There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful.

Swap Transactions.    The Fund may enter into total return, interest rate and credit default swap agreements and interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).

Swap agreements typically are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount” (e.g., the change in the value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index).

The “notional amount” of a swap agreement is the agreed upon basis for calculating the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. Under most swap agreements entered into by the Fund, the obligations of the parties would be exchanged on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s obligation (or rights) under a net swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banking firms acting as both principals and agents using standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid. However, swap agreements may still be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular swap is difficult to purchase or sell. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Caps, floors and collars are more recent innovations for which standardized documentation has not been fully developed and, accordingly, swaps with these features are less liquid.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) sets forth a regulatory framework for certain derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Fund may be authorized to invest. The Dodd-Frank Act requires many swap transactions to be executed on registered exchanges or through swap execution facilities, cleared through a regulated clearinghouse and publicly reported. In addition, many market participants are now regulated as swap dealers or major swap participants and are subject to required business conduct standards and other regulatory burdens, and will be subject to certain minimum capital and margin requirements upon the adoption of final capital rules. The statutory requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act have been implemented primarily through rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”). The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of most swaps, and it has completed most of its rules implementing the Dodd-Frank Act swap regulations. The SEC has jurisdiction over a small segment of the market referred to as “security-based swaps,” which includes swaps on single securities or credits, or narrow-based indices of securities or credits, but has not yet completed its rulemaking.

Cleared swaps are transacted through CFTC-registered futures commission merchants that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouse serving as a central counterparty similar to

 

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transactions in futures contracts. Currently, central clearing is required only for certain categories of swaps, although central clearing for additional categories of swaps is expected to be implemented by the CFTC. The Fund may face the indirect risk of the failure of another clearing member customer to meet its obligations to its clearing member. Such scenario could arise due to a default by the clearing member on its obligations to the clearinghouse, triggered by a customer’s failure to meet its obligations to the clearing member. In addition, the CFTC and bank regulators have imposed new margin requirements on uncleared OTC swaps that could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to enter into swaps in the OTC market. The SEC is expected to adopt similar margin requirements for uncleared security-based swaps. These requirements may increase the amount of collateral the Fund is required to provide and the costs associated with providing it. These developments could cause the Fund to terminate new or existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such instruments at an inopportune time. Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on the Fund, and the establishment of centralized clearinghouses and trading facilities for swap transactions may not result in swaps being easier to value or trade. However, it is expected that swap dealers, major market participants and swap counterparties will experience other new and/or additional regulations, requirements, compliance burdens and associated costs, and that such costs will be passed on to customers such as the Fund. The rules that have been and will be promulgated may exert a negative effect on the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives, either through limits or requirements imposed on the Fund or its counterparties. The swap market could be disrupted or limited as a result of the new requirements, which may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and of doing business, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to buy or sell derivatives. The overall impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the Fund remains highly uncertain and it is unclear how the swap markets will adapt to this regulatory regime, along with additional, sometimes overlapping, regulatory requirements imposed by non-U.S. regulators.

Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors.    Interest rate swaps are bilateral contracts in which each party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on different referenced interest rates (e.g., a fixed rate and a floating rate) applied to a specified notional amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

The use of interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and caps, is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. 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 of 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

 

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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.

Municipal Market Data Rate Locks. The Fund may purchase and sell municipal market data rate locks (“MMD Rate Locks”). An MMD Rate Lock permits the Fund to lock in a specified municipal interest rate for a portion of its portfolio to preserve a return on a particular investment or a portion of its portfolio as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities to be purchased at a later date. By using an MMD Rate Lock, the Fund can create a synthetic long or short position, allowing the Fund to select what the manager believes is an attractive part of the yield curve. The Fund will ordinarily use these transactions as a hedge or for duration or risk management although it is permitted to enter into them to enhance income or gain or to increase the

Fund’s yield, for example, during periods of steep interest rate yield curves (i.e., wide differences

between short term and long term interest rates). An MMD Rate Lock is a contract between the Fund

and an MMD Rate Lock provider pursuant to which the parties agree to make payments to each other

on a notional amount, contingent upon whether the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation

Scale is above or below a specified level on the expiration date of the contract. For example, if the Fund buys an MMD Rate Lock and the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation Scale is below the specified level on the expiration date, the counterparty to the contract will make a payment to the Fund equal to the specified level minus the actual level, multiplied by the notional amount of the contract. If the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligation Scale is above the specified level on the expiration date, the Fund will make a payment to the counterparty equal to the actual level minus the specified level, multiplied by the notional amount of the contract. In connection with investments in MMD Rate Locks, there is a risk that municipal yields will move in the opposite direction than anticipated by the Fund, which would cause the Fund to make payments to its counterparty in the transaction that could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Total Return Swaps.    In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. The Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.

In connection with the Fund’s position in a swap contract, the Fund will segregate liquid assets or will otherwise cover its position in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

Credit Default Swaps.    A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.

 

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As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund would pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.

If the Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs, however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund adds the economic effect of leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. See “—Segregation of Assets” below. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “—Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.”

Swap Options.    A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally would incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.    The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund adds the economic effect of leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund generally it may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two-party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that

 

20


developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Futures and Options on Futures Generally.    A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract (same exchange, underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.

Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income. Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs and the Fund may have to segregate additional liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.

A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.

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

 

21


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 they may be renewed. Forward contracts are generally purchased or sold in OTC transactions.

Under regulations of 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 SEC 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.

Index Futures.    A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the tax-exempt bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included rather than a single bond. 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.

Index Options.    The Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. government or tax-exempt 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.

Limitations on the Use of Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps.    The Investment Adviser has claimed, with respect to the Fund, the exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, as amended (“CEA”), provided by CFTC Regulation 4.5 and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser has claimed the exemption from registration as a commodity trading advisor provided by CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In February 2012, the CFTC announced

 

22


substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if the Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net asset value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s net asset value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on December 31, 2012, and the Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5’s requirements such that the Investment Adviser will not be required to register as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to employ futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. However, the requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), may limit the extent to which the Fund may employ futures, options on futures or swaps.

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.

Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending

The SEC has granted an exemptive order permitting the Nuveen registered open-end and closed-end funds, including the Fund, to participate in an inter-fund lending facility whereby those funds may directly lend to and borrow money from each other for temporary purposes (e.g., to satisfy redemption requests or when a sale of securities “fails,” resulting in an unanticipated cash shortfall) (the “Inter-Fund Program”). The closed-end Nuveen funds will participate only as lenders, and not as borrowers, in the Inter-Fund Program because such closed-end funds rarely, if ever, need to borrow cash to meet redemptions. The Inter-Fund Program is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the requirements that (1) no fund may borrow or lend money through the Inter-Fund Program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than is typically available from a bank or other financial institution for a comparable transaction; (2) no fund may borrow on an unsecured basis through the Inter-Fund Program unless the fund’s outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the inter-fund borrowing total 10% or less of its total assets; provided that if the

 

23


borrowing fund has a secured borrowing outstanding from any other lender, including but not limited to another fund, the inter-fund loan must be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value; (3) if a fund’s total outstanding borrowings immediately after an inter-fund borrowing would be greater than 10% of its total assets, the fund may borrow through the inter-fund loan on a secured basis only; (4) no fund may lend money if the loan would cause its aggregate outstanding loans through the Inter-Fund Program to exceed 15% of its net assets at the time of the loan; (5) a fund’s inter-fund loans to any one fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending fund’s net assets; (6) the duration of inter-fund loans will be limited to the time required to receive payment for securities sold, but in no event more than seven days; and (7) each inter-fund loan may be called on one business days’ notice by a lending fund and may be repaid on any day by a borrowing fund. In addition, a Nuveen fund may participate in the Inter-Fund Program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objective and investment policies. The Board of Trustees of the Nuveen Funds is responsible for overseeing the Inter-Fund Program. The limitations detailed above and the other conditions of the SEC exemptive order permitting the Inter-Fund Program are designed to minimize the risks associated with Inter-Fund Program for both the lending fund and the borrowing fund. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When a fund borrows money from another fund, there is a risk that the loan could be called on one day’s notice or not renewed, in which case the fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher rate or take other actions to payoff such loan if an inter-fund loan is not available from another fund. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest 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. As a shareholder in another 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. The Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser 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, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to leverage risks. The net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile, and the yield to Common Shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares. The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act and when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, in each case to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments after making a reasonable effort to obtain current information about the investments in underlying companies.

Segregation of Assets

As a closed-end investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various interpretive positions of the SEC and its staff. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must maintain liquid assets (often referred to as “asset segregation”), or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments and financial agreements (such as reverse repurchase agreements). Generally, the Fund will maintain an amount of liquid assets

 

24


with its custodian in an amount at least equal to the amount of its obligations, including the value of unpaid past and future payment obligations, under derivative instruments and financial agreements, in accordance with SEC guidance. However, the Fund also may “cover” certain obligations by other means such as through ownership of the underlying security or financial instrument. The Fund also may enter into offsetting transactions with respect to certain obligations so that its combined position, coupled with any liquid assets maintained by its custodian, equals its net outstanding obligation in related derivatives or financial agreements. In the case of financial futures 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 financial futures 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. If the Fund writes credit default swaps, it will segregate the full notional amount of the payment obligation under the credit default swap that must be paid upon the occurrence of a credit event. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts. With respect to such investments, the Fund will segregate or earmark assets in an amount equal to at least 100% of the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by such trusts.

The SEC adopted new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which, among other things, imposes limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into and replaces the asset segregation framework previously used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Fund will comply with the new rule’s requirements on or before the rule’s compliance date in 2022.

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 SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.

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 SEC and its staff. As a result of their segregation, such Assets may not be used for other operational purposes. The Investment Adviser 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.

Other Investment Policies and Techniques

Illiquid Investments.    The Fund may invest in illiquid investments (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable), including, but 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 1933 Act and repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days.

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 1933 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 a fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegate.

 

25


Portfolio Trading and Turnover Rate.    Portfolio trading may be undertaken to accomplish the investment objectives of the Fund in relation to actual and anticipated movements in interest rates. In addition, a security may be sold and another of comparable quality purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser 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 bonds may cause a temporarily low price for such bonds, as compared with other bonds 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.

Subject to the foregoing, the Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objectives by prudent selection of municipal securities with a view to holding them for investment. While there can be no assurance thereof, the Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 100%. However, the rate of turnover will not be a limiting factor when the Fund deems it desirable to sell or purchase securities. Therefore, depending upon market conditions, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund may exceed 100% in particular years. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. 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 for U.S. federal income tax purposes or may result in greater amounts of net capital gain distributions. See “Tax Matters” below.

Repurchase Agreements.    As temporary investments, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contractual agreement whereby the seller of securities (U.S. government securities or municipal bonds) agrees to repurchase the same security at a specified price on a future date agreed-upon by the parties. 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. Income generated from transactions in repurchase agreements is taxable to shareholders of the Fund and, therefore, is required to be allocated proportionately by the Fund between Common Shares and Preferred Shares. See “Tax Matters” below. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, 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. The Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser 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, the Investment Adviser will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.

Zero Coupon Bonds and Other Original Issue Discount Instruments.    A zero coupon bond is a bond that typically does not pay interest for its entire life. When held to its maturity, the holder receives the par value of the zero coupon bond, which generates a return equal to the difference

 

26


between the purchase price and its maturity value. A zero coupon bond is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. This original issue discount (“OID”) approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound prior to its maturity and reflects the payment deferral and credit risk associated with the instrument. Because zero coupon securities and other OID instruments do not pay cash interest at regular intervals, the instruments’ ongoing accruals require ongoing judgments concerning the collectability of deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. As a result, these securities may be subject to greater value fluctuations and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities that pay cash on a current basis. Because zero coupon bonds, and OID instruments generally, allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments, they may involve greater payment deferral and credit risk than coupon loans and bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The Fund generally will be required to distribute dividends to shareholders representing the income 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, and use the cash proceeds to make income distributions to its shareholders. For accounting purposes, these cash distributions to shareholders will not be treated as a return of capital.

Further, the Investment Adviser collects management fees on the value of a zero coupon bond or OID instrument attributable to the ongoing non-cash accrual of interest over the life of the bond or other instrument. As a result, the Investment Adviser receives non-refundable cash payments based on such non-cash accruals while investors incur the risk that such non-cash accruals ultimately may not be realized.

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 Nuveen Fund Advisors (the “Management Agreement”), is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”). The number of trustees of the Fund is twelve, all of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as “independent trustees”). None of the independent trustees has ever been a director, trustee or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”), Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM, or their affiliates. The Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, the Class I trustees serving until the 2022 annual meeting, the Class II trustees serving until the 2023 annual meeting and the Class III trustees serving until the 2024 annual meeting, in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, as described below. Currently, William C. Hunter, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone and Margaret L. Wolff are slated in Class I, Amy B.R. Lancellotta, John K. Nelson, Terence J. Toth and Robert L. Young are slated in Class II and Jack B. Evans, Joanne T. Medero, Albin F. Moschner and Matthew Thornton III are slated in Class III. While there are Preferred Shares outstanding, two of the Fund’s trustees are elected by the holders of Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class. The remaining trustees of the Fund are elected by holders of Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting together as a class. The officers of the Fund serve indefinite terms until their successor has been duly elected and qualified, their death or their resignation or removal. The names, business addresses and years of birth 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 as of November 15, 2021 are set forth below. Except as noted in the table below, the trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 145 Nuveen-sponsored registered investment companies (the “Nuveen Funds”) which includes 65 open-end mutual funds (the “Nuveen Mutual Funds”); and 62 closed-end funds and 18 exchange-traded funds.

 

27


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     

Independent Trustees:

Terence J. Toth

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1959)

  Chair of the Board
and Trustee
 

Term—Class II

 

Length of
Service—
Since 2008

  Formerly, Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (investment advisory firm) (2008-2017); Director of Quality Control Corporation (manufacturing) (since 2012); formerly, Director, Fulcrum IT Services LLC (information technology services firm to government entities) (2010-2019); formerly, Director LogicMark LLC (health services) (2012-2016); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (asset management) (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (financial services) (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (financial services) (since 1994); Member of Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board (philanthropy) (since 2012) and is Chair of its Investment Committee; formerly, Member, Chicago Fellowship Board (philanthropy) (2005-2016); 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).   145   None.

 

28


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     

Jack B. Evans

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1948)

  Trustee  

Term—Class III

 

Length of

Service—

Since 1999

  Chairman (since 2019), formerly, President (1996-2019), The Hall-Perrine Foundation (private philanthropic corporation); Life Trustee of Coe College; formerly, Director, Public Member, American Board of Orthapaedic Surgery (2015-2020); Director (1997-2003), Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; President and Chief Operating Officer, (1972-1995), SCI Financial Group, Inc. (regional financial services firm); Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System (2007-2013); Director (1996-2015), The Gazette Company (media and publishing).   145   Formerly, Director and Chairman (2009-2021), United Fire Group, a publicly held company; Director (2000-2004), Alliant Energy.

William C. Hunter

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1948)

  Trustee  

Term—Class I

 

Length of

Service—

Since 2003

  Dean Emeritus, formerly, Dean (2006-2012), Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa; past Director (2005-2015) and past President (2010-2014) of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance (2003-2006), School of Business at the University of Connecticut; previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research (1995-2003) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.   145   Director (since 2009) of Wellmark, Inc.; formerly, Director (2004-2018) of Xerox Corporation.

 

29


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     

Amy B. R. Lancellotta

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1959)

  Trustee  

Term—Class II

 

Length of

Service—
Since 2021

  Formerly, Managing Director, Independent Directors Council (IDC) (supports the fund independent director community and is part of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents regulated investment companies) (2006-2019); formerly, various positions with ICI (1989-2006); Member of the Board of Directors, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) (since 2020).   145   None.

Joanne T. Medero

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1954)

  Trustee  

Term—Class III

 

Length of

Service—

Since 2021

  Formerly, Managing Director, Government Relations and Public Policy (2009-2020) and Senior Advisor to the Vice Chairman (2018-2020), BlackRock, Inc. (global investment management firm); formerly, Managing Director, Global Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, Barclays Group (IBIM) (investment banking, investment management and wealth management businesses) (2006-2009); formerly, Managing Director, Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Barclays Global Investors (global investment management firm) (1996-2006); formerly, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (law firm) (1993-1995); formerly, General Counsel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (government agency overseeing U.S. derivatives markets) (1989-1993); formerly, Deputy Associate Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial   145   None.

 

30


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     
      Affairs, Office of Presidential Personnel, The White House (1986-1989); Member of the Board of Directors, Baltic- American Freedom Foundation (seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development through exchanges in the U.S.) (since 2019).    

Albin F. Moschner

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1952)

  Trustee  

Term—Class III

 

Length of

Service—

Since 2016

  Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Northcroft Partners, LLC (management consulting) (since 2012); previously, held positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc. (consumer wireless services), including Consultant (2011-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011) and Chief Marketing Officer (2004-2008); formerly, President, Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (telecommunication services) (2000-2003); formerly, President, One Point Services at One Point Communications (telecommunication services) (1999-2000); formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board, Diba, Incorporated (internet technology provider) (1996-1997); formerly, various executive positions (1991-1996), including Chief Executive Officer (1995-1996), with Zenith Electronics Corporation (consumer electronics).   145   Formerly, Chairman (2019) and Director (2012-2019), USA Technologies, Inc., a provider of solutions and services to facilitate electronic payment transactions; formerly, Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation (1996-2016).

 

31


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     

John K. Nelson

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1962)

  Trustee  

Term—Class II

 

Length of
Service—
Since 2013

  Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients) (since 2008); served The President’s Council of Fordham University (2010-2019) and previously a Director of the Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018); formerly, senior external advisor to the Financial Services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. (2012-2014); former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Marian University (2010-2014 as trustee, 2011-2014 as Chair); formerly Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., North America, and Global Head of the Financial Markets Division (2007-2008), with various executive leadership roles in ABN AMRO Bank N.V. between 1996 and 2007.   145   None.

Judith M. Stockdale

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1947)

  Trustee  

Term—Class I

 

Length of

Service—

Since 1997

  Board Member of the Land Trust Alliance (national public charity addressing natural land and water conservation in the U.S.) (since 2013); formerly, Board Member of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (national endowment addressing forest health, sustainable forest production and markets, and economic health of forest-reliant communities in the U.S.) (2013-2019); formerly, Executive Director (1994-2012), Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (private foundation endowed to support both natural land   145   None.

 

32


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     
      conservation and artistic vitality); prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (endowment created jointly by seven of the eight Great Lake states’ Governors to take a regional approach to improving the health of the Great Lakes) (1990-1994).    

Carole E. Stone

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1947)

  Trustee  

Term—Class I

 

Length of

Service—

Since 2007

  Former Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange (2006-2017) and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (2009-2017); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010).   145   Formerly, Director, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (2010-2020) (formerly named CBOE Holdings, Inc.)

Matthew Thornton III

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1958)

  Trustee  

Term—Class III

 

Length of
Service—
Since 2020

  Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2018-2019), FedEx Freight Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) (provider of transportation, e-commerce and business services through its portfolio of companies); formerly, Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations (2006-2018), Federal Express Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx; formerly, Member of the Board of Directors (2012-2018), Safe Kids Worldwide® (non-profit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries).   145   Member of the Board of Directors (since 2014), The Sherwin-Williams Company (develops, manufactures, distributes and sells paints, coatings and related products); Member of the Board of Directors (since 2020), Crown Castle International (provider of communications infrastructure).

 

33


Name, Address and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During
Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
 

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past
Five Years

                     

Margaret L. Wolff

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1955)

  Trustee  

Term—Class I

 

Length of

Service—

Since 2016

  Formerly, Of Counsel (2005-2014), Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (legal services); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005); Member (since 2004) and Chair (since 2015) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011- 2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College.   145   Formerly, Member of the Board of Directors (2013-2017) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.).

Robert L. Young

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1963)

  Trustee  

Term—Class II

 

Length of
Service—
Since 2017

  Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (financial services) (2010-2016); formerly, President and Principal Executive Officer (2013-2016), and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2005-2010), of J.P. Morgan Funds; formerly, Director and various officer positions for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (formerly, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and formerly, One Group Administrative Services) and JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. (financial services) (formerly, One Group Dealer Services, Inc.) (1999-2017).   145   None.

 

34


Name, Business
Address and Year of

Birth

 

Position(s) Held
with Fund

 

Term of Office and
Length of Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Officers of the Fund:

     

David J. Lamb

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1963)

  Chief
Administrative
Officer
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2015
  Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2019); Senior Managing Director (since 2021); formerly, Managing Director (2020-2021) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2017-2021), Senior Vice President, of Nuveen (2006-2017), Vice President prior to 2006.

Mark J. Czarniecki

901 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55402

(1979)

  Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2013
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2016) and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2017); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2018); Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen (since 2013).

Diana R. Gonzalez

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1978)

  Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2017
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2017); Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen (since 2017); formerly, Associate General Counsel of Jackson National Asset Management (2012-2017).

Nathaniel T. Jones

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1979)

  Vice President
and Treasurer
 

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—
Since 2016

  Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2017-2021), Senior Vice President (2016-2017), Vice President (2011-2016), of Nuveen; Managing Director (since 2015) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.

Tina M. Lazar

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1961)

  Vice President   Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2002
  Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2014-2017), of Nuveen Securities, LLC.

Brian J. Lockhart

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1974)

  Vice President  

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—

Since 2019

  Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2017-2021), Vice President (2010-2017), of Nuveen; Head of Investment Oversight (since September 2017), formerly, Team Leader of Manager Oversight (2015-2017); Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Risk Manager.

 

35


Name, Business
Address and Year of

Birth

 

Position(s) Held
with Fund

 

Term of Office and
Length of Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Jacques M. Longerstaey

8500 Andrew Carnegie Boulevard

Charlotte, NC 28262

(1963)

  Vice President  

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—

Since 2019

  Senior Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of Nuveen, LLC (since May 2019); Senior Managing Director (since May 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; formerly, Chief Investment and Model Risk Officer, Wealth & Investment Management Division, Wells Fargo Bank (NA) (2013-2019).

Kevin J. McCarthy

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1966)

 

Vice President

and Assistant

Secretary

 

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—

Since 2007

  Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Secretary and General Counsel (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017), Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, formerly, Co-General Counsel (2011-2020), Executive Vice President (2016-2017), Managing Director, (2008-2016) and Assistant Secretary (2007-2016); Senior Managing Director (since 2017), Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, formerly, Associate General Counsel (2011-2020), Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2011-2016); Vice President (since 2007) and Secretary (since 2016) (formerly, Assistant Secretary) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Senior Managing Director (since 2017) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC.

Jon Scott Meissner

8500 Andrew Carnegie Boulevard

Charlotte, NC 28262

(1973)

  Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
 

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—
Since 2019

  Managing Director of Mutual Fund Tax and Financial Reporting groups at Nuveen, LLC (since 2017); Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Senior Director of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2016); Senior Director (since 2015), Mutual Fund Taxation to the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and the CREF Accounts; has held various positions with TIAA since 2004.

 

36


Name, Business
Address and Year of

Birth

 

Position(s) Held
with Fund

 

Term of Office and
Length of Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

Deann D. Morgan

730 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(1969)

  Vice President  

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—

Since February 2020

  President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2020); Executive Vice President, Global Head of Product at Nuveen, LLC (since November 2019); Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2020); Managing Member of MDR Collaboratory LLC (since 2018); formerly, Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management Product Structuring & COO Multi Asset Investing, The Blackstone Group (2013-2017).

Christopher M. Rohrbacher

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1971)

  Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2008
  Managing Director (since 2017), General Counsel (since 2020) and Assistant Secretary (since 2016), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017), of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2020); Managing Director (since 2017), and Associate General Counsel (since 2016), formerly, Senior Vice President (2012-2017) and Assistant General Counsel (2008-2016), of Nuveen.

William A. Siffermann

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1975)

  Vice President   Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2017
  Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017) and Vice President (2011-2016), of Nuveen.

E. Scott Wickerham

8500 Andrew Carnegie

Boulevard

Charlotte, NC 28262

(1973)

  Vice President
and Controller
 

Term—Indefinite

Length of Service—
Since 2019

  Senior Managing Director, Head of Public Investment Finance of Nuveen (since 2019), formerly, Managing Director; Senior Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer (since 2017) of the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer (since 2020) and Treasurer (since 2017) to the CREF Accounts; formerly, Senior Director, TIAA-CREF Fund Administration (2014-2015); has held various positions with TIAA since 2006.

Mark L. Winget

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1968)

  Vice President
and Secretary
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2008
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2008); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2019); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset

 

37


Name, Business
Address and Year of

Birth

 

Position(s) Held
with Fund

 

Term of Office and
Length of Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

      Management, LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2010) and Associate General Counsel (since 2019), formerly, Assistant General Counsel (2008-2016), of Nuveen.

Gifford R. Zimmerman

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

(1956)

  Chief
Compliance
Officer and
Vice President
  Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 1988
  Formerly, Managing Director (2002-2020) and Assistant Secretary (2002-2020) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; formerly, Managing Director (2002-2020), Assistant Secretary (1997-2020) and Co-General Counsel (2011-2020) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; formerly, Managing Director (2004-2020) and Assistant Secretary (1994-2020) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; formerly, Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (2011-2020); formerly, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (2002-2020), Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (2006-2020) and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (2010-2020); Chartered Financial Analyst.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The Board oversees the operations and management of the Fund, including the duties performed for the Fund by the Investment Adviser. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of trustees who serves on the board of every Nuveen 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, diversity (including, among other things, gender, race and ethnicity), independence and experience to oversee the Fund’s 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 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 Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the Board generally benefits from diversity of background (including, among other things, gender, race and ethnicty), skills, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy on diversity or any particular definition of diversity.

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 trustees 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

 

38


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 Adviser and other service providers.

In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a chair that is an independent trustee. The Board recognizes that a chair 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 chair may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with fund management. Terence J. Toth currently serves as the independent chair of the Board. Pursuant to the Fund’s By-Laws, the Chair shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chair of the Board and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the trustees or the By-Laws.

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 Nuveen 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 the Fund’s operations. The Board has established six standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Closed-End Funds 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.

Executive Committee.    The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. The current members of the Executive Committee are Mr. Toth (Chair), Ms. Wolff and Mr. Moschner. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Executive Committee did not meet.

Dividend Committee.    The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on each Nuveen 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 Mr. Young (Chair), Dr. Hunter, Mr. Moschner, and Ms. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Dividend Committee met eight (8) times.

Audit Committee.     The Audit Committee assists the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Nuveen Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the Nuveen Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Nuveen Funds’ financial statements; the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Nuveen 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

 

39


compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Nuveen Funds’ portfolios. Subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Nuveen 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 Nuveen Funds’ securities brought to its attention and considers the risks to the Nuveen Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee also may consider any financial risk exposures for the Nuveen 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 Nuveen Funds and Nuveen Fund Advisors’ 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 Nuveen 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 Mr. Evans, Dr. Hunter, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Moschner, Ms. Stockdale and Ms. Stone (Chair), each of whom is an Independent Trustee of the Nuveen Funds. A copy of the Charter is available at www.nuveen.com/fundgovernance. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Audit Committee met four (4) times.

Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee.    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 Nuveen 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 Nuveen 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 Nuveen 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 Compliance Committee’s attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Nuveen Funds in adopting a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Nuveen 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 Nuveen 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 Nuveen Funds’ and other service

 

40


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 Compliance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Compliance Committee are Ms. Wolff (Chair), Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Toth and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Compliance Committee met four (4) times.

Nominating and Governance Committee.    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 Nominating and Governance 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 Nominating and Governance 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 Nuveen 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 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, including suggestions from Fund security holders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to William Siffermann, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen, 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-advisers and service providers) and, if qualifying as an independent trustee candidate, independence from the Investment Adviser, sub-advisers, 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

 

41


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 Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent trustees of the Nuveen Funds. The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Mr. Toth (Chair), Mr. Evans, Dr. Hunter, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero, Mr. Moschner, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Stockdale, Ms. Stone, Mr. Thornton, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Nominating and Governance Committee met seven (7) times.

Closed-End Funds Committee.    The Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen Funds that are registered as closed-end management investment companies (“Closed-End Funds Committee”). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Closed-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Closed-End Fund. The Closed-End Funds Committee receives updates on the secondary closed-end fund market and evaluates the premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, at each quarterly meeting. The Closed-End Funds Committee reviews, among other things, the premium and discount trends in the broader closed-end fund market, by asset category and by closed-end fund; the historical total return performance data for the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, based on net asset value and price over various periods; the volatility trends in the market; the use of leverage by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund; the distribution data of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, and as compared to peer averages; and a summary of Common Share issuances, if any, and share repurchases, if any, during the applicable quarter by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund. The Closed-End Funds Committee regularly engages in more in-depth discussions of premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds. Additionally, the Closed-End Funds Committee members participate in workshops to explore, among other things, actions to address discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds, potential share repurchases and available leverage strategies and their use.

The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Closed-End Funds Committee are Mr. Evans (Chair), Dr. Hunter, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Wolff, Mr. Toth and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Closed-End Funds Committee met four (4) times.

Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications.    In determining that a particular trustee was qualified to serve on the Board, the Board has considered each trustee’s background, skills, experience and other attributes in light of the composition of the Board with no particular factor controlling. The Board believes that trustees need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, and the Board believes each trustee satisfies this standard. An effective trustee may achieve this ability through his or her educational background; business, professional training or practice; public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member or executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Accordingly, set forth below is a summary of the experiences, qualifications,

 

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attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each trustee should continue to serve in that capacity. References to the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills of trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any trustee as having any special expertise or experience and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

Jack B. Evans

Mr. Evans has served as Chairman (since 2019), formerly, President (1996-2019) of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation. Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer (1972-1995) of the SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago from 1997 to 2003 as well as a Director of Alliant Energy from 2000 to 2004 and Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System from 2007 to 2013. Mr. Evans is a Life Trustee of Coe College and formerly served as Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group from 2009 to 2021, served as a Director and Public Member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery from 2015 to 2020 and served on the Board of The Gazette Company from 1996 to 2015. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Coe College and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa. Mr. Evans joined the Board in 1999. Mr. Evans joined the Board in 1999.

William C. Hunter

Dr. Hunter became Dean Emeritus of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa in 2012, after having served as Dean of the College since July 2006. He had been Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business from 2003 to 2006. From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He has held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. He has consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. He has been a Director of Wellmark, Inc. since 2009. He is a past Director (2005-2015) and a past President (2010-2014) of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society and a past Director (2004-2018) of the Xerox Corporation. Dr. Hunter received his PhD (1978) and MBA (1970) from Northwestern University and his BS from Hampton University (1970). Dr. Hunter joined the Board in 2003.

Amy B. R. Lancellotta

After 30 years of service, Ms. Lancellotta retired at the end of 2019 from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents regulated investment companies on regulatory, legislative and securities industry initiatives that affect funds and their shareholders. From November 2006 until her retirement, Ms. Lancellotta served as Managing Director of ICI’s Independent Directors Council (IDC), which supports fund independent directors in fulfilling their responsibilities to promote and protect the interests of fund shareholders. At IDC, Ms. Lancellotta was responsible for all ICI and IDC activities relating to the fund independent director community. In conjunction with her responsibilities, Ms. Lancellotta advised and represented IDC, ICI, independent directors and the investment company industry on issues relating to fund governance and the role of fund directors. She also directed and coordinated IDC’s education, communication, governance and policy initiatives. Prior to serving as Managing Director of IDC, Ms. Lancellotta held various other positions with ICI beginning in 1989.

 

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Before joining ICI, Ms. Lancellotta was an associate at two Washington, D.C. law firms. In addition, since 2020, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), an organization that seeks to end power-based violence, empower survivors and ensure safe communities. Ms. Lancellotta received a B.A. degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1981 and a J.D. degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University (currently known as George Washington University Law School) in 1984. Ms. Lancellotta joined the Board in 2021.

Joanne T. Medero

Ms. Medero has over 30 years of financial services experience and, most recently, from December 2009 until her retirement in July 2020, she was a Managing Director in the Government Relations and Public Policy Group at BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock). From July 2018 to July 2020, she was also Senior Advisor to BlackRock’s Vice Chairman, focusing on public policy and corporate governance issues. In 1996, Ms. Medero joined Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. At BGI, she was a Managing Director and served as Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary until 2006. Then, from 2006 to 2009, Ms. Medero was a Managing Director and Global Head of Government Relations and Public Policy at Barclays Group (IBIM), where she provided policy guidance and directed legislative and regulatory advocacy programs for the investment banking, investment management and wealth management businesses. Before joining BGI, Ms. Medero was a Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1993 to 1995, where she specialized in derivatives and financial markets regulation issues. Additionally, she served as General Counsel of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 1989 to 1993 and, from 1986 to 1989, she was Deputy Associate Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial Affairs at The White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Further, from 2006 to 2010, Ms. Medero was a member of the CFTC Global Markets Advisory Committee and she has been actively involved in financial industry associations, serving as Chair of the Steering Committee of the SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) Asset Management Group (2016-2018) and Chair of the CTA (Commodity Trading Advisor), CPO (Commodity Pool Operator) and Futures Committee of the Managed Funds Association (2010-2012). Currently, Ms. Medero chairs the Corporations, Antitrust and Securities Practice Group of The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy (since 2010 and from 2000 to 2002). In addition, since 2019, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, which seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development through exchanges in the United States. Ms. Medero received a B.A. degree from St. Lawrence University in 1975 and a J.D. degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University (currently known as George Washington University Law School) in 1978. Ms. Medero joined the Board in 2021.

Albin F. Moschner

Mr. Moschner is a consultant in the wireless industry and, in July 2012, founded Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm that provides operational, management and governance solutions. Prior to founding Northcroft Partners, LLC, Mr. Moschner held various positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., a provider of wireless services, where he was a consultant from February 2011 to July 2012, Chief Operating Officer from July 2008 to February 2011, and Chief Marketing Officer from August 2004 to June 2008. Before he joined Leap Wireless International, Inc., Mr. Moschner was President of the Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. from 2000 to 2003, and President of One Point Services at One Point Communications from 1999 to

 

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2000. Mr. Moschner also served at Zenith Electronics Corporation as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 1996, and as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Moschner was formerly Chairman (2019) and a member of the Board of Directors (2012-2019) of USA Technologies, Inc. and, from 1996 until 2016, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation. In addition, he is emeritus (since 2018) of the Advisory Boards of the Kellogg School of Management (1995-2018) and the Archdiocese of Chicago Financial Council (2012-2018). Mr. Moschner received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from The City College of New York in 1974 and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1979. Mr. Moschner joined the Board in 2016.

John K. Nelson

Mr. Nelson is on the Board of Directors of Core12, LLC. (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. Mr. Nelson has extensive experience in global banking and markets, having served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008, ultimately serving as Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America. During his tenure at the bank, he also served as Global Head of its Financial Markets Division, which encompassed the bank’s Currency, Commodity, Fixed Income, Emerging Markets, and Derivatives businesses. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and during his tenure with ABN AMRO served as the bank’s representative on various committees of The Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and The Bank of England. Mr. Nelson previously served as a senior, external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. (2012-2014). At Fordham University, he served as a director of The President’s Council (2010- 2019) and previously served as a director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018). He served as a trustee and Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2013). Mr. Nelson is a graduate of Fordham University and holds a BA in Economics (1984) and an MBA in Finance (1991). Mr. Nelson joined the Board in 2013.

Judith M. Stockdale

Ms. Stockdale retired in 2012 as 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 Low country of South Carolina. She is currently a board member of the Land Trust Alliance (since 2013). 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 Advisory Councils of the National Zoological Park, the Governor’s Science Advisory Council (Illinois) and the Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program. She has served on the boards of Brushwood Center, Forefront f/k/a Donors Forum and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. 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. Ms. Stockdale joined the Board in 1997.

Carole E. Stone

Ms. Stone formerly was on the Board of Directors of Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (2010-2020) (formerly, CBOE Holdings, Inc.), having previously served on the Boards of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated. Ms. Stone retired from the New York

 

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State Division of the Budget in 2004, having served as its Director for nearly five years and as Deputy Director from 1995 through 1999. She has also served as the Chair of the New York Racing Association Oversight Board, as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform 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. Ms. Stone joined the Board in 2007.

Matthew Thornton III

Mr. Thornton has over 40 years of broad leadership and operating experience from his career with FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”), which, through its portfolio of companies, provides transportation, e-commerce and business services. In November 2019, Mr. Thornton retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Freight Corporation (FedEx Freight), a subsidiary of FedEx, where, from May 2018 until his retirement, he had been responsible for day-to-day operations, strategic guidance, modernization of freight operations and delivering innovative customer solutions. From September 2006 to May 2018, Mr. Thornton served as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations at Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Express), a subsidiary of FedEx. Prior to September 2006, Mr. Thornton held a range of positions of increasing responsibility with FedEx, including various management positions. In addition, Mr. Thornton currently (since 2014) serves on the Board of Directors of The Sherwin-Williams Company, where he is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Board of Directors of Crown Castle International (since 2020), where he is a member of the Strategy Committee and the Compensation Committee. Formerly (2012-2018), he was a member of the Board of Directors of Safe Kids Worldwide®, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of childhood injuries. Mr. Thornton is a member (since 2014) of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), the nation’s premier organization of global black senior executives. He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Mr. Thornton has been recognized by Black Enterprise on its 2017 list of the Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America and by Ebony on its 2016 Power 100 list of the world’s most influential and inspiring African Americans. Mr. Thornton received a B.B.A. degree from the University of Memphis in 1980 and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee in 2001. Mr. Thornton joined the Board in 2020.

Terence J. Toth

Mr. Toth, the Nuveen Funds’ Independent Chairman, was a Co-Founding Partner of Promus Capital (2008-2017). From 2010 to 2019, he was a Director of Fulcrum IT Services LLC and, from 2012 to 2016, a Director of LogicMark LLC. From 2008 to 2013, he was a Director of Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. 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 Board of Quality Control Corporation (since 2012) and Catalyst Schools of Chicago. He is on the Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and is the Chair of its Investment Committee. Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his M.B.A. from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University. Mr. Toth joined the Board in 2008.

 

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Margaret L. Wolff

Ms. Wolff retired from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2014 after more than 30 years of providing client service in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. During her legal career, Ms. Wolff devoted significant time to advising boards and senior management on U.S. and international corporate, securities, regulatory and strategic matters, including governance, shareholder, fiduciary, operational and management issues. Ms. Wolff has been a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2005 and, since 2004, she has served as a trustee of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults) where she currently is the Chair. From 2013 to 2017, she was a Board member of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each of which is a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). From 2005 to 2015, she was a trustee of Mt. Holyoke College and served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor of Arts from Mt. Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Ms. Wolff joined the Board in 2016.

Robert L. Young

Mr. Young has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. From 1997 to 2017, he held various positions with J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“J.P. Morgan Investment”) and its affiliates (collectively, “J.P. Morgan”). Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of J.P. Morgan Investment (from 2010 to 2016) and as President and Principal Executive Officer of the J.P. Morgan Funds (from 2013 to 2016). As Chief Operating Officer of J.P. Morgan Investment, Mr. Young led service, administration and business platform support activities for J.P. Morgan’s domestic retail mutual fund and institutional commingled and separate account businesses, and co-led these activities for J.P. Morgan’s global retail and institutional investment management businesses. As President of the J.P. Morgan Funds, Mr. Young interacted with various service providers to these funds, facilitated the relationship between such funds and their boards, and was directly involved in establishing board agendas, addressing regulatory matters, and establishing policies and procedures. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Young, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was a Senior Manager (Audit) with Deloitte & Touche LLP (formerly, Touche Ross LLP), where he was employed from 1985 to 1996. During his tenure there, he actively participated in creating, and ultimately led, the firm’s midwestern mutual fund practice. Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and, from 2008 to 2011, he served on the Investment Committee of its Board of Trustees. Mr. Young joined the Board in 2017.

Independent Chairman

Terence J. Toth currently serves as the independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include (a) presiding at all meetings of the Board 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 2022; Class II Trustees will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2023; and Class III Trustees will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2024. As each trustee’s term expires, shareholders will be asked to

 

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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. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” in the prospectus.

Beneficial Ownership of Shares of the Fund and the Nuveen Family of Investment Companies by Each Trustee

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each trustee as of December 31, 2020:

 

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

Jack B. Evans

   None      Over $100,000  

William C. Hunter

   None      Over $100,000  

Amy B. R. Lancellotta

   None      None  

Joanne T. Medero

   None      None  

Albin F. Moschner

   None      Over $100,000  

John K. Nelson

   None      Over $100,000  

Judith M. Stockdale

   None      Over $100,000  

Carole E. Stone

   None      Over $100,000  

Matthew Thornton III

   None      None  

Terence J. Toth

   $10,001-$50,000      Over $100,000  

Margaret L. Wolff

   None      Over $100,000  

Robert L. Young

   None      Over $100,000  

As of November 1, 2021, no trustee who is not an interested person of the Fund or any of his or her immediate family members owns beneficially or of record, any security issued by Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM, Nuveen, the Fund’s principal underwriter or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM, Nuveen or the Fund’s principal underwriter.

Compensation

The following table shows, for each independent trustee, (1) the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, (2) the amount of total compensation paid by the Fund that has been deferred and (3) the total compensation paid to each Trustee by the Nuveen Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2020. The Fund does not have a retirement or pension plan. The officers and trustees affiliated with Nuveen serve without any compensation from the Fund. Certain of the Nuveen Funds have a deferred compensation plan (the “Compensation Plan”) that permits any Trustee who is not an “interested person” of certain Nuveen Funds 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 the book reserve account of a Nuveen Fund when the compensation

 

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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 Nuveen Fund’s obligations to make distributions under the Compensation Plan.

 

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

Jack B. Evans

   $ 14,470      $ 947      $ 392,652  

William C. Hunter

     14,739               396,750  

Amy B. R. Lancellotta(4)

                    

Joanne T. Medero(5)

                    

Albin F. Moschner

     14,307               380,050  

John K. Nelson

     15,536               417,500  

Judith M. Stockdale

     14,425        3,600        400,147  

Carole E. Stone

     14,627        4,679        404,611  

Matthew Thornton III(6)

                    

Terence J. Toth

     17,560               467,300  

Margaret L. Wolff

     14,162        4,454        385,629  

Robert L. Young

     15,034        15,034        425,754  

 

(1)

The compensation paid, including deferred amounts, to the independent trustees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 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 Fund (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, 2020 for services to the Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Because the funds in the Nuveen fund complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column are presented on a calendar year basis.

(4)

Ms. Lancellotta was appointed to the Board effective June 1, 2021.

(5)

Ms. Medero was appointed to the Board effective June 1, 2021.

(6)

Mr. Thornton was elected to the Board effective November 16, 2020.

Effective January 1, 2021, each independent Trustee receives a $200,000 annual retainer, increased from $195,000 as of January 1, 2020, plus (a) a fee of $7,000 per day, which was increased from $6,750 per day as of January 1, 2020, for attendance in person or by telephone at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (b) a fee of $3,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at special, non-regularly scheduled Board meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in-person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (c) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in-person or by telephone at Audit Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in-person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (d) a fee of $5,000 per meeting for attendance in-person or by telephone at Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in-person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (e) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in-person or by telephone at Dividend Committee meetings; (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in-person at such committee meetings (excluding

 

49


shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is not required and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for initial public offerings, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held; and (g) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Closed-End Funds Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held. In addition to the payments described above, the Chair of the Board receives $100,000, which was increased from $90,000 as of January 1, 2020, and the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Closed-End Funds Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee receive $15,000 as annual retainers. The independent Trustees also receive a fee of $3,500 per day, which was increased from $3,000 per day as of January 1, 2020, for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no 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 or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings 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 assets, although management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund. In certain instances, fees and expenses will be allocated only to those Nuveen Funds that are discussed at a given meeting. In certain circumstances, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board may hold in-person meetings by telephonic or videographic means and be compensated at the in-person rate.

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

INVESTMENT ADVISER, SUB-ADVISER AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. The Investment Adviser has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolios, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. The Investment Adviser is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

The Investment Adviser is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2021, Nuveen managed approximately $1.2 trillion in assets, of which approximately $183.8 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.

The Investment Adviser has selected its wholly owned affiliate, NAM, located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, to serve as a sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between the Investment Adviser and NAM (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). NAM, a registered investment adviser, oversees day-to-day operations and manages the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis, subject to the supervision of the Investment Adviser. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, NAM is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a

 

50


portion of the management fee the Investment Adviser receives from the Fund. The Investment Adviser and NAM retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.

Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees.    Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the overall advisory and administrative services and general office facilities provided by the Investment Adviser. The Fund’s management fee consists of two components—a fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund, and a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by the Investment Adviser. The fund-level is a maximum of 0.50% of the Fund’s average total daily net assets (including assets attributable to Preferred Shares), with lower fee levels for such assets that exceed $125 million. The complex-level fee is a maximum of 0.20% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets based on the total daily managed assets for all Nuveen-sponsored funds in the U.S. that constitute “eligible assets,” with lower fee levels of complex-level assets that exceed $55 billion. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen Fund complex in connection with Nuveen Fund Advisors’ assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. This pricing structure enables Nuveen Fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.

Fund Level Fee.    The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets*

   Fund-Level
Fee Rate
 

For the first $125 million

     0.5000

For the next $125 million

     0.4875

For the next $250 million

     0.4750

For the next $500 million

     0.4625

For the next $1 billion

     0.4500

For the next $3 billion

     0.4250

For managed assets over $5 billion

     0.4125

 

51


Complex Level Fee.    The annual complex-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated by multiplying the current complex-wide fee rate, determined according to the following schedule, by the Fund’s daily managed assets:

 

Complex-Level Eligible Asset Breakpoint Level*

   Effective
Complex-Level
Fee 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

 

*

For the complex-level fees, managed assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Investment Adviser that are attributable to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Investment Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining managed assets in certain circumstances. The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed assets of all Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds that constitute “eligible assets.” Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with the Investment Adviser’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. As of April 30, 2021, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1544%.

The following table sets forth the management fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Management
Fee Net of
Expense
Reimbursement
Paid
for the Fiscal
Year Ended
     Expense
Reimbursement
for the Fiscal
Year Ended
 

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020

   $ 33,656,813      $  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2019

   $ 32,262,996      $  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2018

   $ 31,846,782      $  

In addition to the Investment Adviser’s management fee, the Fund pays all of its other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with the Investment Adviser), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of issuing any preferred 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 of distributions to shareholders.

 

52


A discussion regarding the Board’s decision to renew the Management Agreement is in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated October 31 of each year.

Sub-Advisory Agreement and Related Fees.    Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, NAM will receive from the Investment Adviser a management fee equal to 42.8572% of the Investment Adviser’s net management fee from the Fund.

The following table sets forth the management fee paid by Nuveen Fund Advisors to NAM for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Sub-Advisory
Fees
Paid by Nuveen
Fund Advisors
to
NAM
 

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020

   $ 14,648,706  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2019

   $ 13,827,017  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2018

   $ 13,648,639  

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s decision to renew the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated October 31 of each year.

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

Portfolio Management.    Paul L. Brennan, CFA, CPA the designated portfolio manager of the Fund (the “Portfolio Manager”), manages several municipal funds and portfolios. He began working in the financial industry in 1991 when he joined Flagship Financial, which was later acquired by NAM. Mr. Brennan became a portfolio manager in 1994. He received a B.S. from Wright State University. Mr. Brennan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a registered CPA (inactive) in the state of Ohio.

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Manager.    The Portfolio Manager also has responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts is set forth below.

Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account Type as of October 31, 2021

 

Portfolio Manager

  Type of
Account Managed
  Total
Number
of Accounts
    Total Assets     Number of
Accounts
with Performance
Based Fees
    Assets of Accounts
with Performance
Based Fees
 

Paul L. Brennan, CFA, CPA

  Registered Investment
Companies
    10     $ 26.09 billion       0     $ 0  
  Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
    1     $ 39.95 million       0     $ 0  
  Other Accounts     3     $ 54.56 million       0     $ 0  

 

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As described above, the Portfolio Manager may manage other accounts with investment strategies similar to the Fund, including other investment companies and separately managed accounts. Fees earned by the sub-advisers may vary among these accounts and the Portfolio Manager may personally invest in some but not all of these accounts. In addition, certain accounts may be subject to performance-based fees. These factors could create conflicts of interest because a portfolio manager may have incentives to favor certain accounts over others, resulting in other accounts outperforming the Fund. A conflict may also exist if a portfolio manager identified a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for more than one account, but the Fund is not able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to the need to allocate that opportunity among multiple accounts. In addition, the Portfolio Manager may execute transactions for another account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the Fund. However, the Sub-Adviser believes that these risks are mitigated by the fact that accounts with like investment strategies managed by a particular portfolio manager are generally managed in a similar fashion, subject to exceptions to account for particular investment restrictions or policies applicable only to certain accounts, differences in cash flows and account sizes, and other factors. In addition, the Sub-Adviser has adopted trade allocation procedures so that accounts with like investment strategies are treated fairly and equitably over time.

Compensation.    Portfolio manager compensation consists primarily of base pay, an annual cash bonus and long term incentive payments.

Base Pay.    Base pay is determined based upon an analysis of the Portfolio Manager’s general performance, experience, and market levels of base pay for such position.

Annual Cash Bonus.    The Portfolio Manager is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on investment performance, qualitative evaluation and financial performance of NAM.

A portion of the Portfolio Manager’s annual cash bonus is based on the Fund’s pre-tax investment performance, generally measured over the past one- and three or five-year periods unless the Portfolio Manager’s tenure is shorter. Investment performance for the Fund generally is determined by evaluating the Fund’s performance relative to its benchmark(s) and/or Lipper industry peer group. A portion of the cash bonus is based on a qualitative evaluation made by the Portfolio Manager’s supervisor taking into consideration a number of factors, including the Portfolio Manager’s team collaboration, expense management, support of personnel responsible for asset growth, and his or her compliance with NAM’s policies and procedures. The final factor influencing a portfolio manager’s cash bonus is the financial performance of NAM based on its operating earnings.

Long-term Incentive Compensation.    Certain key employees of NAM, including certain portfolio managers, have received profits interests in NAM which entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.

There are generally no differences between the methods used to determine compensation with respect to the Fund and the other accounts shown in the table above.

Potential Material Conflicts of Interest.    Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.

The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. NAM seeks to manage such competing interests for

 

54


the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, NAM has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.

With respect to many of its clients’ accounts, NAM determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, NAM may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, NAM may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.

Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where NAM has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

NAM has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

Ownership of Fund Shares by the Portfolio Manager.    As of October 31, 2021, the Portfolio Manager beneficially owned (as determined pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) shares of the Fund having values within the indicated dollar ranges.

 

Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned
in the Fund
 

Paul L. Brennan, CFA, CPA

   $ 100,001-$500,000  

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors, NAM, Nuveen Securities and other related entities have adopted a combined code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that essentially prohibits certain of their personnel, including the Portfolio Manager, 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. Personnel subject to the Code of Ethics may purchase shares of the Fund and may generally invest in securities in which the Fund may also invest subject to the restrictions set forth in the Code of Ethics. Text-only versions of the Code of Ethics of the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors,

 

55


NAM, and Nuveen Securities can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Code of Ethics may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Fund invests primarily in municipal securities. On rare occasions the Fund may acquire, directly or through a special purpose vehicle, equity securities of a municipal bond issuer whose bonds the Fund already owns when such bonds 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 municipal bond 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 municipal 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, but nevertheless provides reports to the Board on its control activities on a quarterly basis.

In the rare event that a municipal issuer held by the Fund 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 Board or its representative. In the case of a conflict of interest, the proxy would be submitted to the Board to determine how the proxy should be voted. A member of NAM’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting, and ensure that records were maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6, reports were filed with the SEC on Form N-PX, and the results provided to the Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules. NAM’s proxy voting policies and procedures are attached hereto as Appendix C. If applicable, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 257-8787 or from the Fund’s website at http://www.nuveen.com, and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Subject to the supervision of the Board, 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.

 

56


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 Securities, LLC or its affiliates or affiliates of Nuveen Fund Advisors 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.

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 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.

Substantially all of the Fund’s trades are effected on a principal basis. The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Brokerage
Commissions
Paid
 

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020

   $  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2019

   $  

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2018

   $  

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the Fund did not pay commissions in return for research services or hold any securities of its regular broker-dealers.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not purchase portfolio securities from any underwriting syndicate of which Nuveen Securities, LLC is a member except under certain limited conditions set forth in Rule 10f-3. The Rule sets forth requirements relating to, among other things, the terms of a security purchased by the Fund, the amount of securities that may be purchased in any one issue and

 

57


the assets of the Fund that may be invested in a particular issue. In addition, purchases of securities made pursuant to the terms of the Rule must be approved at least quarterly by the Board, including a majority of the independent trustees.

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund’s net asset value per Common Share is determined as of the close of regular session trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Net asset value is calculated by taking the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Fund’s Board or its delegate, Nuveen Asset Management.

In determining net asset value, securities and other assets for which market quotations are available are valued daily at market value and expenses are accrued and applied daily. The prices of fixed income securities are provided by a pricing service and are based on the mean between the bid and asked price. When price quotes are not readily available, which is typically the case for municipal bonds, the pricing service establishes a security’s fair value based on various factors, including prices of comparable fixed income securities utilizing a matrix pricing system. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the fair value determined for a particular security may be different from the value realized upon the sale of the security.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Board or its delegate at fair value. These securities generally include but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities that may not be publicly sold without registration under the 1933 Act) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; debt securities that have gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; a security whose market price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of net asset value; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, does not reflect the security’s “fair value.” As a general principle, the current “fair value” of a security would be the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for it upon its current sale. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities.

BENEFICIAL OWNERS

As of December 31, 2020, the officers and trustees of the Fund, in the aggregate, beneficially owned less than 1% of the Fund’s total outstanding Common Shares and less than 1% of the Fund’s total outstanding Preferred Shares.

5% Shareholders

Information regarding shareholders or groups of shareholders who beneficially own 5% or more of a class of shares of the Fund is provided below. Information in the table below regarding the

 

58


number and percentage of shares owned is based on a review of Schedule 13D and 13G filings and amendments made with respect to the Fund on or before October 31, 2021.

 

Class

   Shareholder Name
and Address
   Number
of Shares
Owned
     Percentage
Owned
 

AMTP Shares (Series 2028)

   Wells Fargo Municipal Capital
Strategies, LLC
375 Park Avenue New York,
New York 10152
     1,120        100

MFP Shares (Series A)

   Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

101 North Phillips Ave

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

     2,054        100

VRDP Shares of certain series are designed to be eligible for purchase by money market funds. Based on information provided by the remarketing agent for the VRDP Shares of each applicable series of the Fund, money market funds within certain fund complexes may hold, in the aggregate, 5% or more of the outstanding VRDP Shares of the Fund, and individual money market funds within such complexes may beneficially own an indeterminable amount of VRDP Shares constituting 5% or more of the outstanding VRDP Shares of the Fund. Information with respect to aggregate holdings of VRDP Shares associated with fund complexes identified by the remarketing agents for the Fund (number of VRDP Shares and percentage of total outstanding) as of October 31, 2021 is as follows: Series 1: The Vanguard Group (1,082 shares (60%)), BlackRock, Inc. (956 shares (33%)), Moloney Securities Asset Management (124 shares (7%)); Series 2: The Vanguard Group (2,640 shares (69%)) and Federated (1,214 shares (31%)); Series 4: The Vanguard Group (240 shares (13%)) and Federated (1,560 shares (87%)); Series 5: The Vanguard Group (915 shares (27%)), Charles Schwab (610 shares (18%)), and Federated (410 shares (12%)); and Series 6: The Vanguard Group (1,934 shares (59%)).

Information with respect to aggregate holdings of Series B MFP Shares associated with institutional investors known by the Fund to hold greater than 5% of the outstanding Series B MFP Shares of the Fund as of October 31, 2021, including the number of MFP Shares and percentage of total outstanding shares, is as follows: Series B: The Vanguard Group (98,405 shares (49%)), Federated (50,000 shares (25%)), Wells Fargo (25,000 shares (13%)), BMO (11,320 shares (5%)), Baird (10,000 shares (5%)).

TAX MATTERS

The following is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder that acquires, holds and/or disposes of shares of the Fund. This discussion addresses only U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders that hold their shares as capital assets and does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to shareholders that are subject to special rules, including, without limitation, shareholders with large positions in the Fund, financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, foreign holders, persons that hold their shares as or in a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale, or conversion transaction, holders that are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (except as discussed below), or tax-exempt or tax-advantaged plans, accounts, or entities. In addition, except where provided, the discussion does not address any

 

59


state, local, or foreign tax consequences. The discussion reflects applicable tax laws of the United States as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) retroactively or prospectively. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws.

The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to continue to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to satisfy conditions which enable its dividends that are attributable to interest on municipal securities to be exempt from U.S. federal income tax in the hands of owners of such stock, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum tax.

To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Fund must, among other requirements, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or non-U.S. currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and 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.

If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company in any taxable year, the Fund would be taxed in the same manner as a regular corporation on its 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 (including distributions from net capital gains and net tax-exempt interest) 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.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not have to pay U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. The Fund may retain for investment its net capital gains. However, if the Fund retains any net capital gains or any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at the corporate rate on the amount retained. If the Fund

 

60


retains any net capital gains, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders that, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their share of such undistributed amount, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the 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 U.S. federal income 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 (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and the net capital gains not otherwise retained by the Fund.

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% federal 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) 98.2% 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 U.S. federal income tax. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.

The Fund intends to continue to qualify to pay “exempt-interest” dividends, as defined in the Code, by satisfying the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consist of tax-exempt state and local bonds. Exempt-interest dividends are dividends or any part thereof (other than a capital gain dividend) paid by the Fund which are attributable to interest on state and local bonds that pay interest exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax and are so reported by the Fund. Exempt-interest dividends will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum tax in the case of noncorporate investors.

The Fund may acquire municipal obligations and other debt securities that are market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount unless the Fund elects to include the market discount in taxable income as it accrues.

If the Fund invests in certain taxable pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net tax-exempt interest, including such income it is required to accrue, to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and (with respect to taxable income) to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.

 

61


A portion of the Fund’s expenditures that would otherwise be deductible may not be allowed as deductions by reason of the Fund’s investment in municipal securities (with such disallowed portion, in general, being the same percentage of the Fund’s aggregate expenses as the percentage of the Fund’s aggregate income (other than capital gain income) that constitutes exempt-interest income). A similar disallowance rule also applies to interest expense paid or incurred by the Fund, if any. Such disallowed deductions, if any, will reduce the amount that the Fund can report as exempt-interest dividends by the disallowed amount. Income distributions by the Fund in excess of the amount of the Fund’s exempt-interest dividends may be taxable as ordinary income.

Distributions to shareholders of net investment income received by the Fund from taxable investments, if any, 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 gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned the shares with respect to which such distributions are made. The amount of taxable income allocable to the Fund’s shares will depend upon the amount of such income realized by the Fund, but is not generally expected to be significant. Taxable distributions are subject to U.S. federal income tax whether reinvested in additional shares of the Fund or paid in cash.

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). Earnings and profits are generally treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on preferred shares, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the Common Shares. “Qualified dividend income” received by noncorporate shareholders is taxed for U.S. federal income tax purposes at rates equivalent to long-term capital gains tax rates, which reach a maximum of 20%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic corporations and dividends from non-U.S. corporations that meet certain specified criteria. 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 IRS requires that the Fund report 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 the total Fund dividends received by such class. Thus, the Fund will report dividends paid as exempt-interest 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 with respect to the taxable year, or otherwise as required by applicable law. Net capital gain dividends and ordinary income dividends will similarly be allocated between the two classes.

If the Fund utilizes leverage through borrowings, but, asset coverage limitations imposed by the 1940 Act as well as additional restrictions that may be imposed by certain lenders on the payment of dividends or distributions potentially could limit or eliminate the Fund’s ability to make distributions on its Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares until the asset coverage is restored. These limitations could prevent the Fund from distributing at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and tax-exempt interest as is required under the Code for the Fund to retain its status as a regulated investment company and therefore might jeopardize the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company, subject the Fund to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax or both. Upon any failure to meet the asset coverage requirements imposed by the 1940 Act, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and to

 

62


the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, purchase or redeem Preferred Shares in order to maintain or restore the requisite asset coverage and avoid the adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders of failing to meet the distribution requirements. However, there can be no assurance that any such action would achieve these objectives. The Fund endeavors to avoid restrictions on its ability to distribute dividends.

The Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Fund’s shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under rules used by the IRS for determining when borrowed funds are deemed used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase or ownership of shares may be deemed to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of such shares.

The interest on private activity bonds in most instances is not federally tax-exempt to a person that is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds or a “related person” of such “substantial user.” As a result, the Fund may not be an appropriate investment for a shareholder that is considered either a “substantial user” or a “related person” within the meaning of the Code. In general, a “substantial user” of a facility includes a “nonexempt person [that] regularly uses a part of such facility in [its] trade or business.” “Related persons” are in general defined to include persons among whom there exists a relationship, either by family or business, which would result in a disallowance of losses in transactions among them under various provisions of the Code (or if they are members of the same controlled group of corporations under the Code), including a partnership and each of its partners (and certain members of their families), an S corporation and each of its shareholders (and certain members of their families) and various combinations of these and other relationships. The foregoing is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the Code covering the definitions of “substantial user” and “related person.”

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 consequences, 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 federal 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 sale or exchange of shares of the Fund normally will result in capital gains or losses to shareholders that hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gains or losses if the shares have been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such shares is attributable to tax-exempt interest income. The gain or loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gains or losses. For corporations, both long-term and short-term capital gains are taxed at the same rate that applies to ordinary income. However, for non-corporate taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at

 

63


a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20%, while short-term capital gains are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Any loss on the sale of shares that have been held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of shares before holding them for more than six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any net capital gain dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. 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 or other substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) 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 stock or securities will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation.

U.S. federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain “private activity” bonds is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that the Fund receives income from municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund, although otherwise exempt from U.S. federal income tax, would be taxable to its shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. Pursuant to its non-fundamental investment policy adopted on February 4, 2016, the Fund does not intend to acquire securities whose income is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. The Fund will annually provide a report indicating the percentage of the Fund’s income attributable to municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals.

Certain non-corporate shareholders are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on some or all of their “net investment income,” which includes items of gross income that are attributable to interest, original issue discount and market discount (but not including tax-exempt interest), as well as net gain from the disposition of certain property. This tax generally applies to the extent net investment income, when added to other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), or $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the applicability of this tax in respect of their shares.

Tax-exempt income, including exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund, is taken into account in calculating the amount of social security and railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 24% from all distributions (including exempt-interest dividends) and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders that fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or that have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. 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 U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

The Code provides that every shareholder required to file a tax return must include for information purposes on such return the amount of tax-exempt interest received during the taxable year, including any exempt-interest dividends received from the Fund.

 

64


With respect to the Preferred Shares of the Fund, the Fund has received or will receive an opinion from special tax counsel that the Preferred Shares constitute or will constitute stock of the Fund, and the foregoing discussion relies on the position that the Preferred Shares will constitute stock of the Fund. Accordingly, distributions with respect to the Preferred Shares (other than distributions in redemption of Preferred Shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes and to the extent allocable to such distribution. Because the treatment of a corporate security as debt or equity is determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and no controlling precedent exists for the Preferred Shares issued by the Fund, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not question special tax counsel’s opinion and the Fund’s treatment of the Preferred Shares as stock. If the IRS were to succeed in such a challenge, holders of Preferred Shares could be treated as having received taxable interest rather than exempt-interest dividends, which could require them to file amended income tax returns, report additional taxable income and pay additional tax, interest, and penalties.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited financial statements, financial highlights and notes thereto and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report thereon appearing in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 are incorporated by reference in this SAI. The information with respect to the six months ended April 30, 2021 is unaudited and is included in the Fund’s 2021 Semi-Annual Report, which also is incorporated herein by reference. The Fund’s annual reports and semi-annual reports may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or on Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this SAI.

 

65


APPENDIX A

RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS

S&P Global Ratings—A brief description of the applicable S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“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 forward-looking opinion about 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 opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

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. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

   

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

 

   

Nature of and provisions of the financial obligation; and

 

   

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

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

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 to a 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. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

A-2


C

An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, or 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.

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.

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.

 

A-3


B

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

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 default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital investments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard &Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligations rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Dual Ratings

Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

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:

Global Long-Term Rating Scale

Aaa

Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa

Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A

Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

A-4


Baa

Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba

Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa

Obligations rated ‘Caa’ are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca

Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C

Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

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 obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

MIG 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

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

MIG 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.

 

A-5


SG

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

Demand Obligations Ratings

VMIG 1

This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2

This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3

This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

SG

This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure that timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

Commercial Paper

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

A-6


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

AAA

Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default 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 expectations of a very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB

Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B

Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in business and economic environment.

CCC

Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

CC

Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

 

A-7


C

Near Default. A default or default-like process has begun, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:

a. the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; or

b. the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or

c. Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of ‘RD’ or ‘D’ to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

RD

Restricted default. ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan, or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased business. This would include:

a. the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

b. the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;

c. the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or

d. execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D

Default. ‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business. Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, nonpayment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstances, or by a distressed debt exchange.

“Imminent” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

 

A-8


In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Note: The modifiers “+” 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 IDR category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below ‘B’.

Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:

 

   

The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as counterparty to trade credit.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.

Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience.

Short-Term Credit Ratings

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

Fl: Highest short-term credit quality.

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

F2: Good short-term credit quality.

Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair short-term credit quality.

The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

A-9


B: Speculative short-term credit quality.

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

C: High short-term default risk.

Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted Default.

Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default.

Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:

 

   

The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.

 

   

The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.

Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience.

 

A-10


APPENDIX B

DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Set forth below is additional information regarding the various techniques involving the use of derivatives.

FINANCIAL FUTURES

A financial future is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security for a set price on a future date. They have been designed by boards of trade which have been designated “contracts markets” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).

The purchase of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund desires to increase its exposure to long-term bonds and has identified long-term bonds it wishes to purchase at a future time, but expects market interest rates to decline (thereby causing the value of those bonds to increase), it might purchase financial futures. If interest rates did decrease, the value of those to-be-purchased long-term bonds would increase, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same rate, thereby helping maintain the Fund’s purchasing power. When the Fund purchases a financial future, it deposits in cash or securities an “initial margin”, typically equal to an amount between 1% and 5% of the contract amount. Thereafter, the Fund’s account is either credited or debited on a daily basis in correlation with the fluctuation in price of the underlying future or other requirements imposed by the exchange in order to maintain an orderly market. The Fund must make additional payments to cover debits to its account and has the right to withdraw credits in excess of the liquidity, the Fund may close out its position at any time prior to expiration of the financial future by taking an opposite position. At closing a final determination of debits and credits is made, additional cash is paid by or to the Fund to settle the final determination and the Fund realizes a loss or gain depending on whether on a net basis it made or received such payments.

The sale of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund owns long-term bonds and market interest rates were expected to increase (causing those bonds’ values to decline), it might sell financial futures. If interest rates did increase, the value of long-term bonds in the Fund’s portfolio would decline, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise would have.

Among the risks associated with the use of financial futures by the Fund as a hedging or anticipatory device, perhaps the most significant is the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the financial futures and movements in the price of the debt securities which are the subject of the hedge.

Thus, if the price of the financial future moves less or more than the price of the securities which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective. To compensate for this imperfect correlation, the Fund may enter into financial futures in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of the securities being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of such securities has been greater than the historical volatility of the financial futures. Conversely, the Fund may enter into fewer financial futures if the historical volatility of the price of the securities being hedged is less than the historical volatility of the financial futures.

 

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The market prices of financial futures may also be affected by factors other than interest rates. One of these factors is the possibility that rapid changes in the volume of closing transactions, whether due to volatile markets or movements by speculators, would temporarily distort the normal relationship between the markets in the financial future and the chosen debt securities. In these circumstances as well as in periods of rapid and large price movements. The Fund might find it difficult or impossible to close out a particular transaction.

OPTIONS ON FINANCIAL FUTURES

The Fund may also purchase put or call options on financial futures which are traded on a U.S. Exchange or board of trade and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. The purchase of put options on financial futures is analogous to the purchase of put options by the Fund on its portfolio securities to hedge against the risk of rising interest rates. As with options on debt securities, the holder of an option may terminate his position by selling an option of the Fund. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

INDEX CONTRACTS

INDEX FUTURES

A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the tax-exempt bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included rather than a single bond. 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.

INDEX OPTIONS

The Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. government or tax-exempt 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.

SWAP AGREEMENTS

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors, typically for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the

 

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parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount (the amount or value of the underlying asset used in computing the particular interest rate, return, or other amount to be exchanged) of a particular security, or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. Swap agreements may include, by way of example, (i) interest rate swaps, in which one party exchanges a commitment to pay a floating, shorter-term interest rate (typically by reference to the rate of a specific security or index) for the other party’s commitment to pay a fixed, longer-term interest rate (either as specifically agreed, or by reference to a specified security or index); (ii) interest rate caps, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate or cap; (iii) interest rate floors, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level or floor; (iv) interest rate collars, in which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor, or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels or collar amounts; (v) total return swaps, in which one party commits to pay the total return of an underlying security or asset in return for receiving from the other party a specified return or the return of another instrument (typically a floating short-term interest rate), and (vi) credit default swap, in which the buyer pays a periodic fee in return for a contingent payment by the seller upon a credit event (such as a default) happening with respect to a specified instrument, typically in an amount equivalent to the loss incurred on a specific investment in that security due to the credit event.

The Fund may enter into such swap agreements for any purpose consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain, enhance, or preserve a particular desired return or spread at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return or spread. The Fund also may enter into swaps in order to protect against an increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend, in part, on the ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments and the changes in the future values, indices, or rates covered by the swap agreement. Swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. 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. The Fund will enter swap agreements only with counterparties that Nuveen Fund Advisors reasonably believes are capable of performing under the swap agreements. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have to rely on its contractual remedies (which may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws) pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. The swap market is largely unregulated.

 

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APPENDIX C

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

Effective Date: January 1, 2011, as last amended March 5, 2020

I.    General Principles

 

  A.

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“NAM”) is an investment sub-adviser for certain of the Nuveen Funds (the “Funds”) and investment adviser for institutional and other separately managed accounts (collectively, with the Funds, “Accounts”). As such, Accounts may confer upon NAM complete discretion to vote proxies.1

 

  B.

When NAM has proxy voting authority, it is NAM’s duty to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients (which may involve affirmatively deciding that voting the proxies may not be in the best interests of certain clients on certain matters). In voting proxies, NAM also seeks to enhance total investment return for its clients.

 

  C.

If NAM contracts with another investment adviser to act as a sub-adviser for an Account, NAM may delegate proxy voting responsibility to the sub-adviser. Where NAM has delegated proxy voting responsibility, the sub-adviser will be responsible for developing and adhering to its own proxy voting policies, subject to oversight by NAM.

 

  D.

NAM’s Proxy Voting Committee (“PVC”) provides oversight of NAM’s proxy voting policies and procedures, including (1) providing an administrative framework to facilitate and monitor the exercise of such proxy voting and to fulfill the obligations of reporting and recordkeeping under the federal securities laws; and (2) approving the proxy voting policies and procedures.

II.    Policies

The PVC after reviewing and concluding that such policies are reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients, has approved and adopted the proxy voting policies (“Policies”) of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), a leading national provider of proxy voting administrative and research services.i As a result, such Policies set forth NAM’s positions on recurring proxy issues and criteria for addressing non-recurring issues. These Policies are reviewed periodically by ISS, and therefore are subject to change. Even though it has adopted the Policies as drafted by ISS, NAM maintains the fiduciary responsibility for all proxy voting decisions.

III.    Procedures

 

  A.

Supervision of Proxy Voting. Day-to-day administration of proxy voting may be provided internally or by a third-party service provider, depending on client type, subject to the ultimate oversight of the PVC. The PVC shall supervise the relationships with NAM’s proxy voting services, ISS. ISS apprises Nuveen Global Operations (“NGO”) of shareholder

 

1 

NAM does not vote proxies where a client withholds proxy voting authority, and in certain non-discretionary and model programs NAM votes proxies in accordance with its Policies in effect from time to time. Clients may opt to vote proxies themselves, or to have proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s cost. i ISS has separate polices for Taft Hartley plans and it is NAM’s policy to apply the Taft Hartley polices to accounts that are Taft Hartley plans and have requested the application of such policies.

 

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  meeting dates, and casts the actual proxy votes. ISS also provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations. ISS serves as NAM’s proxy voting record keepers and generate reports on how proxies were voted. NGO periodically reviews communications from ISS to determine whether ISS voted the correct amount of proxies, whether the votes were cast in a timely manner, and whether the vote was in accordance with the Policies or NAM’s specific instructions.

 

  B.

General Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest.

 

  1.

NAM believe that most conflicts of interest faced by NAM in voting proxies can be avoided by voting in accordance with the Policies. Examples of such conflicts of interest are as follows:2

 

  a.

The issuer or proxy proponent (e.g., a special interest group) is TIAA-CREF, the ultimate principal owner of NAM, or any of its affiliates.

 

  b.

The issuer is an entity in which an executive officer of NAM or a spouse or domestic partner of any such executive officer is or was (within the past three years of the proxy vote) an executive officer or director.

 

  c.

The issuer is a registered or unregistered fund or other client for which NAM or another affiliated adviser has a material relationship as investment adviser or sub-adviser (e.g., Nuveen Funds and TIAA Funds) or an institutional separate account.

 

  d.

Any other circumstances that NAM is aware of where NAM’s duty to serve its clients’ interests, typically referred to as its “duty of loyalty,” could be materially compromised.

 

  2.

To further minimize this risk, Compliance will review ISS’ conflict avoidance policy at least annually to ensure that it adequately addresses both the actual and perceived conflicts of interest ISS may face.

 

  3.

In the event that ISS faces a material conflict of interest with respect to a specific vote, the PVC shall direct ISS how to vote. The PVC shall receive voting direction from appropriate investment personnel. Before doing so, the PVC will consult with Legal to confirm that NAM faces no material conflicts of its own with respect to the specific proxy vote.

 

  4.

Where ISS is determined to have a conflict of interest, or NAM determines to override the Policies and is determined to have a conflict, the PVC will recommend to NAM’s Compliance Committee or designee a course of action designed to address the conflict. Such actions could include, but are not limited to:

 

  a.

Obtaining instructions from the affected client(s) on how to vote the proxy;

 

  b.

Disclosing the conflict to the affected client(s) and seeking their consent to permit NAM to vote the proxy;

 

  c.

Voting in proportion to the other shareholders;

 

2 

A conflict of interest shall not be considered material for the purposes of these Policies and Procedures with respect to a specific vote or circumstance if the matter to be voted on relates to a restructuring of the terms of existing securities or the issuance of new securities or a similar matter arising out of the holding of securities, other than common equity, in the context of a bankruptcy or threatened bankruptcy of the issuer.

 

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  e.

Recusing the individual with the actual or potential conflict of interest from all discussion or consideration of the matter, if the material conflict is due to such person’s actual or potential conflict of interest; or

 

  f.

Following the recommendation of a different independent third party.

 

  5.

In addition to all of the above-mentioned and other conflicts, the Head of Equity Research, NGO and any member of the PVC must notify NAM’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of any direct, indirect or perceived improper influence exerted by any employee, officer or director of TIAA or its subsidiaries with regard to how NAM should vote proxies. NAM Compliance will investigate any such allegations and will report the findings to the PVC and, if deemed appropriate, to NAM’s Compliance Committee. If it is determined that improper influence was attempted, appropriate action shall be taken. Such appropriate action may include disciplinary action, notification of the appropriate senior managers, or notification of the appropriate regulatory authorities. In all cases, NAM will not consider any improper influence in determining how to vote proxies, and will vote in the best interests of clients.

 

  C.

Proxy Vote Override. From time to time, a portfolio manager of an account (a “Portfolio Manager”) may initiate action to override the Policies’ recommendation for a particular vote. Any such override by a NAM Portfolio Manager (but not a sub-adviser Portfolio Manager) shall be reviewed by NAM’s Legal Department for material conflicts. If the Legal Department determines that no material conflicts exist, the approval of one member of the PVC shall authorize the override. If a material conflict exists, the conflict and, ultimately, the override recommendation will be rejected and will revert to the original Policies recommendation or will be addressed pursuant to the procedures described above under “Conflicts of Interest.”

In addition, the PVC may determine from time to time that a particular recommendation in the Policies should be overridden based on a determination that the recommendation is inappropriate and not in the best interests of shareholders. Any such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of a meeting of the PVC at which such decision is made.

 

  D.

Securities Lending.

 

  1.

In order to generate incremental revenue, some clients may participate in a securities lending program. If a client has elected to participate in the lending program then it will not have the right to vote the proxies of any securities that are on loan as of the shareholder meeting record date. A client, or a Portfolio Manager, may place restrictions on loaning securities and/or recall a security on loan at any time. Such actions must be affected prior to the record date for a meeting if the purpose for the restriction or recall is to secure the vote.

 

  2.

Portfolio Managers and/or analysts who become aware of upcoming proxy issues relating to any securities in portfolios they manage, or issuers they follow, will consider the desirability of recalling the affected securities that are on loan or restricting the affected securities prior to the record date for the matter. If the proxy issue is determined to be material, and the determination is made prior to the shareholder meeting record date the Portfolio Manager(s) will contact the Securities Lending Agent to recall securities on loan or restrict the loaning of any security held in any portfolio they manage, if they determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders to do so.

 

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  E.

Proxy Voting Records. As required by Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NAM shall make and retain five types of records relating to proxy voting; (1) NAM’s Policies; (2) proxy statements received for securities in client accounts; (3) records of proxy votes cast by NAM on behalf of clients accounts; (4) records of written requests from clients about how NAM voted their proxies, and written responses from NAM to either a written or oral request by clients; and (5) any documents prepared by the adviser that were material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for the decision. NAM relies on ISS to make and retain on NAM’s behalf certain records pertaining to Rule 204-2.

 

  F.

Fund of Funds Provision. In instances where NAM provides investment advice to a fund of funds that acquires shares of affiliated funds or three percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of an unaffiliated fund, the acquiring fund shall vote the shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the acquired fund. If compliance with this procedure results in a vote of any shares in a manner different than the Policies’ recommendation, such vote will not require compliance with the Proxy Vote Override procedures set forth above.

 

  G.

Legacy Securities. To the extent that NAM receives proxies for securities that are transferred into an account’s portfolio that were not recommended or selected by it and are sold or expected to be sold promptly in an orderly manner (“legacy securities”), NAM will generally refrain from voting such proxies. In such circumstances, since legacy securities are expected to be sold promptly, voting proxies on such securities would not further NAM’s interest in maximizing the value of client investments. NAM may agree to an account’s special request to vote a legacy security proxy, and would vote such proxy in accordance with the Policies.

 

  H.

Terminated Accounts. Proxies received after the termination date of an account generally will not be voted. An exception will be made if the record date is for a period in which an account was under NAM’s discretionary management or if a separately managed account (“SMA”) custodian failed to remove the account’s holdings from its aggregated voting list.

 

  I.

Non-votes. NGO shall be responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance from ISS that it voted proxies on NAM’s behalf, and that any special instructions from NAM about a given proxy or proxies are submitted to ISS in a timely manner. It should not be considered a breach of this responsibility if NGO or NAM does not receive a proxy from ISS or a custodian with adequate time to analyze and direct to vote or vote a proxy by the required voting deadline.

NAM may determine not to vote proxies associated with the securities of any issuer if as a result of voting such proxies, subsequent purchases or sales of such securities would be blocked. However, NAM may decide, on an individual security basis that it is in the best interests of its clients to vote the proxy associated with such a security, taking into account the loss of liquidity. In addition, NAM may determine not to vote proxies where the voting would in NAM’s judgment result in some other financial, legal, regulatory disability or burden to the client (such as imputing control with respect to the issuer) or to NAM or its affiliates.

NAM may determine not to vote securities held by SMAs where voting would require the transfer of the security to another custodian designated by the issuer. Such transfer is generally outside the scope of NAM’s authority and may result in significant operational limitations on NAM’s ability to conduct transactions relating to the securities during the period of transfer. From time to time, situations may arise

 

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(operational or otherwise) that prevent NAM from voting proxies after reasonable attempts have been made.

 

  J.

Review and Reports.

 

  1.

The PVC shall maintain a review schedule. The schedule shall include reviews of the Policies and the policies of any Sub-adviser engaged by NAM, the proxy voting record, account maintenance, and other reviews as deemed appropriate by the PVC. The PVC shall review the schedule at least annually.

 

  2.

The PVC will report to NAM’s Compliance Committee with respect to all identified conflicts and how they were addressed. These reports will include all accounts, including those that are sub-advised. NAM also shall provide the Funds that it sub-advises with information necessary for preparing Form N-PX.

 

  K.

Vote Disclosure to Clients. NAM’s institutional and SMA clients can contact their relationship manager for more information on NAM’s Policies and the proxy voting record for their account. The information available includes name of issuer, ticker/CUSIP, shareholder meeting date, description of item and NAM’s vote.

IV.    Responsible Parties

PVC

NGO

NAM Compliance

Legal Department

 

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Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

Common Shares

MuniFund Preferred Shares

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

 

November 18, 2021

 


PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25:

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

1.    Contained in Part A:
   Financial Highlights for Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund” or the “Registrant”) for fiscal years ended October 31, 2011, October 31, 2012, October 31, 2013, October 31, 2014, October 31, 2015, October 31, 2016, October 31, 2017, October 31, 2018, October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2020 and the six months ended April 30, 2021 are filed in Part A of this Registration Statement under the caption “Financial Highlights”.
   Registrant’s Financial Statements are incorporated in Part A by reference to Registrant’s October 31, 2020 Annual Report (audited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 7, 2021 and Registrant’s April 30, 2021 Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the SEC on July 7, 2021.
   Contained in Part B:
  

Registrant’s Financial Statements are incorporated in Part B by reference to Registrant’s October 31, 2020 Annual Report (audited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the SEC on January 7, 2021 and Registrant’s April 30, 2021 Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the SEC on July 7, 2021.

2.    Exhibits:
a.1    Declaration of Trust dated July  12, 1999 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit a.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-160630 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 17, 2009.
a.2    Certificate of Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated October  6, 2009 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit a.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-160630 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on October 9, 2009.
a.3    Certificate of Name Change Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated December  9, 2011 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(b) to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-206627) as filed with the SEC on August 27, 2015.
a.4    Certificate of Name Change Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated April  1, 2016 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(c) to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-206627) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016.
a.5    Certificate of Name Change Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated December 12, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.6   

Reserved.

a.7    Amended and Restated Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June 18, 2019 is filed herewith.
a.8    Notice of Subsequent Rate Period Designating the Subsequent Rate Period Succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period for Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June 20, 2019 is filed herewith.

 

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a.9    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 2 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated April  7, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.10    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June  15, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.11    Amendment No. 1 to Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June 18, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.12    Notice of Subsequent Rate Period Designating the Subsequent Rate Period Succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period for Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June 21, 2018 is filed herewith.
a.13    Amendment No. 2 to Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated June 19, 2019 is filed herewith.
a.14    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 5 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated November  9, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.15    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 6 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares dated November  9, 2016 is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.16    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares dated January  25, 2018 and related Supplement Initially Designating the Variable Rate Mode is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement of Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on July 12, 2018.
a.17    Amendment No. 1 to Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares dated September 28, 2018 is filed herewith.
a.18    Amendment No. 2 to Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares dated November 13, 2020 is filed herewith.
a.19    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series B MuniFund Preferred Shares is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) on March 7, 2019.
a.20    Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series B MuniFund Preferred Shares is incorporated herein by reference to an Exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-226136 and 811-09475) on March 7, 2019.
a.21    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Preferred Shares, Series 2028 dated November 14, 2019 and related Designation and Terms Specific to Series 2028 AMTP Shares is filed herewith.
b.    Registrant’s By-Laws (Amended and Restated as of October  5, 2020) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K (File No. 811-09475) as filed with the SEC on October 6, 2020.
c.    Not Applicable.

 

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d.1   

Reserved.

d.2    Form of Share Certificate for MFP Shares is filed herewith.
d.3    Form of Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares is filed herewith.
d.4    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode is filed herewith.
d.5    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode is filed herewith.
d.6    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode (Adjustable Rate) is filed herewith.
e.    Terms and Conditions of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit e. to Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-211435 and 811-05488) as filed with the SEC on May 18, 2016.
f.    Not Applicable.
g.1    Investment Management Agreement dated April  11, 2016 (the “Investment Management Agreement”) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(a) to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-206627) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016.
g.2    Amendment to Investment Management Agreement dated August 1, 2019 is incorporated by reference to an Exhibit to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form N-CEN (File No. 811-09475) as filed on January 14, 2020.
g.3    Continuance of Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC dated July 30, 2021 is filed herewith.
g.4    Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April  11, 2016 (the “Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement”) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(b) to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-206627) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016.
g.5    Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC dated July 30, 2021 is filed herewith.
h.1   

Form of Underwriting Agreement is filed herewith.***

h.2    Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Securities, LLC is filed herewith.
h.3    Form of Dealer Agreement between Nuveen Securities, LLC and [●] is filed herewith.
i.    Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Fund Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees (Amended and Restated effective May 8, 2020) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit i. to Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-248493) as filed with the SEC on August 31, 2020.
j.1    Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated July  15, 2015 (the “Custodian Agreement”) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(a) to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-206627) as filed with the SEC on October 2, 2015.

 

Part C-3


j.2    Amendment and revised Appendix A to the Custodian Agreement (Updated as of March 15, 2021) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit j.2 to Nuveen Core Plus Impact Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-251817 and 811-23627) as filed with the SEC on April 26, 2021.
k.1    Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between Registrant and Computer Share Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit k.1 to Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-184971 and 811-21212) as filed with the SEC on November 16, 2017.
k.2    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Transfer Agency Agreement dated April 12, 2021 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit k.2 to Nuveen Core Plus Impact Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-251817 and 811-23627) as filed with the SEC on April 26, 2021.
l.1    Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is filed herewith.*
l.2    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP.**
m.    Not Applicable.
n.    Consent of KPMG LLP is filed herewith.
o.    Not Applicable.
p.    Not Applicable.
q.    Not Applicable.
r.1    Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen (including affiliated entities) and the Nuveen Funds as amended August 9, 2021 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit r.1 to Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-256744 and 811-23704) as filed with the SEC on October 5, 2021.
r.2    Code of Ethics for the Independent Trustees of the Nuveen Funds as last amended May 23, 2019 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit r.2 to the Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-248493) as filed with the SEC on August 31, 2020.
s.1    Powers of Attorney dated August 10, 2021 are filed herewith.
s.2    Form of Remarketing Agreement for VRRM-MFP Shares is filed herewith.***

 

*

Unqualified opinion relating to the securities issued to be filed by post-effective amendment.

**

Tax opinion to be filed by post-effective amendment.

***

Executed version to be filed by post-effective amendment or on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 26:

Marketing Arrangements.

Reference is made to the form of Underwriting Agreement, the form of Distribution Agreement and the form of Dealer Agreement for the Registrant’s Common Shares and Preferred Shares filed as exhibits to the

 

Part C-4


Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement, Distribution Agreements and Dealer Agreements (or forms thereof) which relate to the specific issuances of Common Shares and Preferred Shares under the Registration Statement and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. Reference also is made to the information under the headings “Plan of Distribution” in the Registrant’s prospectus and under the heading “Underwriting,” or other similar such captions, in the Registrant’s prospectus supplement relating to specific issuances of Common Shares and Preferred Shares filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

 

Item 27:

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fees

   $ 32,445*  

Printing and Engraving Fees

   $ 55,000*  

Legal Fees

   $ 525,000*  

Audit Fees

   $ 30,000*  

Rating Agency Fees

   $ 212,500*  

Miscellaneous Expenses

   $ 25,055*  
  

 

 

 
   $ 880,000*  
  

 

 

 

 

*

Estimated.

 

Item 28:

Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

None.

 

Item 29:

Number of Holders of Securities.

As of October 31, 2021:

 

Title of Class

   Number of Record Holders  

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

     73,970  

Preferred Shares

     12  

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 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;

 

Part C-5


(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.

The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by joint errors and omissions insurance policies against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen funds, subject to such policies’ coverage limits, exclusions and retention.

Section 7 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 underwriter, to indemnify the others,

 

Part C-6


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 and Sub-Adviser.

Nuveen Fund Advisors manages the Registrant and serves as investment adviser or manager to other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and to separately managed accounts. The principal business address for all of these investment companies and the persons named below is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the directors and officers of Nuveen Fund Advisors who serve as officers or Trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under “Management” in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers appears below:

 

Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors

  

Other Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

Oluseun Salami, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    Director (since 2020) NIS/R&T, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC (since 2020), Nuveen, LLC (since 2020), Teachers Advisors, LLC (since 2020), TIAA-CREF Asset Management LLC (since 2020) and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2020); Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Business Finance and Planning (since 2020) Chief Accounting Officer (2019), Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller (2018-2020), Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Board of Overseers, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds, TIAA-CREF Life Funds (2018-2020).
Megan Sendlak, Managing Director and Controller    Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2021) of NIS/R&T, INC.; Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC.

 

Part C-7


Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors

  

Other Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

Michael A. Perry, Executive Vice President    Co-Chief Executive Officer (since April 2019), formerly, Executive Vice President (2017-2019); formerly, Managing Director (2015-2017) of Nuveen Securities; and Executive Vice President (since 2017) of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC.
Erik Mogavero, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer    Formerly employed by Deutsche Bank (2013-2017) as Managing Director, Head of Asset Management and Wealth Management Compliance for the Americas region and Chief Compliance Officer of Deutsche Investment Management America.

Nuveen Asset Management LLC (“NAM”) currently serves as sub-adviser to the Fund and as an investment adviser or sub-adviser to certain other open-end and closed-end funds and as investment adviser to separately managed accounts. The address for NAM is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. See “Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Manager” in Part B of the Registration Statement.

Set forth below is a list of each director and officer of NAM, indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which such person has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

Name and Position with NAM

  

Other Business Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

William T. Huffman, President    Executive Vice President (since 2020) of Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen, LLC; President, Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2020), Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2019); Senior Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC; Chairman (since 2019) of Churchill Asset Management LLC.
Stuart J. Cohen, Managing Director and Head of Legal    Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Vice President (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary (since 2006) of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Winslow Capital Management, LLC.
Travis M. Pauley, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer    Regional Head of Compliance and Regulatory Legal (2013-2020) of AXA Investment Managers.
Megan Sendlak Managing Director and Controller    Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2021) of NIS/R&T, INC.; Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC.

Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records.

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, minutes of trustee and shareholder meetings, and contracts of the Registrant and

 

Part C-8


all advisory material of the investment adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, in its capacity as sub-adviser, may also hold certain accounts and records of the Fund.

Computershare Inc., 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 Nuveen Fund Advisors or NAM.

Item 33: Management Services.

Not applicable.

Item 34: Undertakings

1. Not applicable.

2. Not applicable.

3. The Registrant undertakes:

(a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is filed pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of Form N-2 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; and

(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to

 

Part C-9


Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) under the Securities Act for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10 (a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(2) Not Applicable.

(e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;

(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

4. Not Applicable.

5. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

6. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under 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

 

Part C-10


is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

7. 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 prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.

 

Part C-11


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, 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 18th day of November, 2021.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

/s/  MARK L. WINGET

Mark L. Winget,
Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  E. SCOTT WICKERSHAM

E. Scott Wickersham

  

Vice President and Controller
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  November 18, 2021

/s/  DAVID J. LAMB

David J. Lamb

  

Chief Administrative Officer
(principal executive officer)

  November 18, 2021
Terence J. Toth*   

Chairman of the Board and Trustee

 
Jack B. Evans*   

Trustee

 
William C. Hunter*   

Trustee

 
Albin F. Moschner*   

Trustee

 
Amy B. R. Lancellotta*   

Trustee

 
Joanne T. Medero*   

Trustee

 
John K. Nelson*   

Trustee

 
Judith M. Stockdale*   

Trustee

 
Carole E. Stone*   

Trustee

 
Matthew Thornton III*   

Trustee

 
Margaret L. Wolff*   

Trustee

 
Robert L. Young*   

Trustee

 

 

By*:   /s/  MARK L. WINGET
 

Mark L. Winget

Attorney-in-Fact

  November 18, 2021

 

*

The powers of attorney authorizing Mark L. Winget, 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 as Exhibit s.1.


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

  

Name

a.7    Amended and Restated Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares.
a.8    Notice of Subsequent Rate Period Designating the Subsequent Rate Period Succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period for Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares.
a.12    Notice of Subsequent Rate Period Designating the Subsequent Rate Period Succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period for Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares.
a.13    Amendment No. 2 to Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares.
a.17    Amendment No. 1 to Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares.
a.18    Amendment No. 2 to Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares.
a.21    Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Preferred Shares, Series 2028 and related Designation and Terms Specific to Series 2028 AMTP Shares.
d.2    Form of Share Certificate for MFP Shares.
d.3    Form of Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares.
d.4    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode.
d.5    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode.
d.6    Form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode (Adjustable Rate).
g.3    Continuance of Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC.
g.5    Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements between the Registrant and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC.
h.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
h.2    Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Securities, LLC.
h.3    Form of Dealer Agreement between Nuveen Securities, LLC and [●].
l.1    Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
n.    Consent of KPMG LLP.
s.1    Powers of Attorney.
s.2    Form of Remarketing Agreement for VRRM-MFP Shares.

Exhibit a.7

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDED AND RESTATED

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES 1

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES

(NVG Series 1 VRDP)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    

Page

 

DESIGNATION OF SERIES 1 VRDP

     1  

DEFINITIONS

     2  

PART I

     15  
 

1.

 

Number of Authorized Shares; Effectiveness

     15  
 

2.

 

Dividends

     15  
   

(a)

  

Ranking

     15  
   

(b)

  

Cumulative Cash Dividends

     15  
   

(c)

  

Dividends Cumulative from Date of Original Issue

     15  
   

(d)

  

Dividend Payment Dates and Adjustment Thereof

     16  
   

(e)

  

Applicable Rates and Calculation of Dividends

     16  
   

(f)

  

Curing a Failure to Deposit

     18  
   

(g)

  

Dividend Payments by Fund to Tender and Paying Agent

     18  
   

(h)

  

Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by Fund

     18  
   

(i)

  

Dividends Paid to Holders

     18  
   

(j)

  

Dividends Credited Against Earliest Accumulated But Unpaid Dividends

     18  
   

(k)

  

Dividends Designated as Exempt-Interest Dividends

     18  
 

3.

 

Gross-Up Payments

     19  
 

4.

 

Designation of Special Rate Periods

     19  
   

(a)

  

Length of and Preconditions for Special Rate Period

     19  
   

(b)

  

Adjustment of Length of Special Rate Period

     19  
   

(c)

  

Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period

     19  
   

(d)

  

Notices in Respect of Special Rate Period

     20  
   

(e)

  

Failure to Deliver Notice of Special Rate Period

     20  
   

(f)

  

Other Special Rate Period Provisions

     21  
   

(g)

  

Minimum Rate Period Succeeding a Special Rate Period

     21  
 

5.

 

Voting Rights

     21  
   

(a)

  

One Vote Per VRDP Share

     21  
   

(b)

  

Voting for Additional Trustees

     21  
   

(c)

  

Holders of VRDP Shares to Vote on Certain Other Matters

     22  
   

(d)

  

Fund May Take Certain Actions Without Shareholder Approval

     23  
   

(e)

  

Voting Rights Set Forth Herein are Sole Voting Rights

     24  
   

(f)

  

No Preemptive Rights or Cumulative Voting

     24  
   

(g)

  

Sole Remedy for Fund’s Failure to Pay Dividends

     24  
   

(h)

  

Holders Entitled to Vote

     24  
 

6.

 

Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage

     24  
 

7.

 

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions

     24  
   

(a)

  

Dividends on Preferred Shares Other than the Series 1 VRDP Shares

     24  
   

(b)

  

Dividends and Other Distributions With Respect to Common Shares Under the 1940 Act

     25  
   

(c)

  

Other Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions

     25  
 

8.

 

Ratings

     25  
   

(a)

  

Short-Term Ratings

     25  
   

(b)

  

Long-Term Ratings

     25  

 

i


 

9.

 

Redemption

     26  
   

(a)

  

Optional Redemption

     26  
   

(b)

  

Mandatory Redemption

     26  
   

(c)

  

Notice of Redemption

     30  
   

(d)

  

No Redemption Under Certain Circumstances

     30  
   

(e)

  

Absence of Funds Available for Redemption

     30  
   

(f)

  

Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund

     31  
   

(g)

  

Deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent; Shares for Which Notice of Redemption Has Been Given Are No Longer Outstanding

     31  
   

(h)

  

Compliance With Applicable Law

     31  
   

(i)

  

Only Whole VRDP Shares May Be Redeemed

     31  
   

(j)

  

Modification of Redemption Procedures

     31  
 

10.

 

Liquidation Rights

     32  
   

(a)

  

Ranking

     32  
   

(b)

  

Distributions Upon Liquidation

     32  
   

(c)

  

Pro Rata Distributions

     32  
   

(d)

  

Rights of Junior Shares

     32  
   

(e)

  

Certain Events Not Constituting Liquidation

     32  
 

11.

 

Purchase Obligation

     32  
 

12.

 

Miscellaneous

     34  
   

(a)

  

Amendment of or Supplements to this Statement

     34  
   

(b)

  

No Fractional Shares

     34  
   

(c)

  

Status of VRDP Shares Redeemed, Exchanged or Otherwise Acquired by the Fund

     34  
   

(d)

  

Purchase Obligation Part of VRDP Shares

     34  
   

(e)

  

Treatment of VRDP Shares as Stock

     34  
   

(f)

  

Board May Resolve Ambiguities

     35  
   

(g)

  

Headings Not Determinative

     35  
   

(h)

  

Notices

     35  

PART II

     35  
 

1.

 

Remarketing Procedures

     35  
 

2.

 

Remarketing Schedule

     37  
 

3.

 

Determination of Applicable Rate

     39  
 

4.

 

Failed Remarketing Condition

     39  
 

5.

 

Purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares by Remarketing Agent

     40  
 

6.

 

Notification of Allocations

     40  
 

7.

 

Transfers

     40  
 

8.

 

Global Certificate

     41  

 

ii


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDED AND RESTATED

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES 1

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that:

FIRST: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the Board of Trustees of the Fund by Article IV of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees has, by resolution, authorized the issuance of preferred shares, $.01 par value per share, classified as Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares with a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share in such one or more series as may be authorized and issued from time to time (each, a “Series,” and each such Series being referred to herein as a “Series of VRDP,” and shares of all such Series being referred to herein individually as a “VRDP Share” and collectively as “VRDP Shares” or “VRDP”);

SECOND: The preferences (including liquidation preference), voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, of the Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares were initially designated in the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares effective December 13, 2013 (the “Original Statement”);

THIRD: The Board of Trustees of the Trust, having determined that the amendments contemplated by this Amended and Restated Statement Establishing And Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares do not materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the Holders or the Beneficial Owners thereof as contemplated by Section 5(c)(i) of Part I of the Original Statement, has by resolution authorized the amendment and restatement of the Original Statement effective as of the Effective Date;

FOURTH: Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, the Holders of the Series 1 VRDP Shares have consented to this Amended and Restated Statement Establishing And Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares; and

FIFTH: The preferences (including liquidation preference), voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, of the Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares designated below, effective as of the Effective Date, are as follows or as set forth in an amendment or supplement hereto.

DESIGNATION OF SERIES 1 VRDP

Series 1: A series of preferred shares, par value $.01 per share, liquidation preference $100,000 per share, is hereby authorized and designated “Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares,” also referred to herein as “Series 1 VRDP,” “Series 1 VRDP Shares” or “shares of Series 1 VRDP,” and references to “such Series” with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be interpreted as references to “shares of such Series,” as the context may require. Each share of Series 1 VRDP shall be issued on a date determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or pursuant to their delegated authority; and have such other preferences, voting powers, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law or as set forth in the Declaration, as set forth in Parts I and II of this Statement (as defined below). The Initial Rate Period, which terminated on June 19, 2019, was a Special Rate Period during which the Fund paid dividends at the dividend rate or rates and on the Dividend Payment Dates initially as set forth in the Notice of Special Rate Period effective December 13, 2013 and subsequently as set forth in the Notice of Special Rate Period effective June 23, 2016, as amended and restated effective June 1, 2018. With respect to the Minimum Rate Period commencing on the

 

1


Effective Date, each Series 1 VRDP Share shall have an Applicable Rate equal to the sum of 0.08% per annum plus the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index, published by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, or 1.79% per annum, if the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index is not so published. The Series 1 VRDP shall constitute a separate series of preferred shares of the Fund and each share of Series 1 VRDP shall be identical.

The number of Series 1 VRDP Shares which the Board of Trustees has initially authorized for issuance is 1,790. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, authorize the issuance of additional Series 1 VRDP Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.

DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)            “Agent Member” means a Person with an account at the Securities Depository that holds one or more Series 1 VRDP Shares through the Securities Depository, directly or indirectly, for a Beneficial Owner and that will be authorized and instructed, directly or indirectly, by a Beneficial Owner to disclose information to the Remarketing Agent and the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to such Beneficial Owner.

(b)            “Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement” means any agreement with a successor liquidity provider replacing the VRDP Purchase Agreement upon its termination in accordance with its terms and containing a purchase obligation substantially identical to the Purchase Obligation therein as determined by the Fund.

(c)            “Applicable Base Rate” means (i) with respect to a Rate Period of fewer than 49 days, the greater of (a) the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index Rate or (b) the LIBOR Rate, and (ii) with respect to a Rate Period of 49 or more days, the LIBOR Rate.

(d)            “Applicable Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Maximum Rate.”

(e)            “Applicable Rate” means the dividend rate per annum on any Series 1 VRDP Shares for a Rate Period determined as set forth in paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 of Part I of this Statement or in the definition of “Maximum Rate.”

(f)            “Applicable Rate Determination” means each periodic operation of the process of determining the Applicable Rate for the Series 1 VRDP Shares for a Subsequent Rate Period, as provided in the Remarketing Agreement and Part II of this Statement.

(g)            “Applicable Spread” means, in connection with the Maximum Rate for any Rate Period (and subject to adjustment as described in the definition of Maximum Rate) (i) when there is not a Failed Remarketing Condition, 200 basis points (2.00%), and (ii) while a Failed Remarketing Condition has occurred or is continuing, 200 basis points (2.00%) (up to 59 days of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition), 225 basis points (2.25%) (60 days but fewer than 90 days of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition), 250 basis points (2.50%) (90 days but fewer than 120 days of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition), 275 basis points (2.75%) (120 days but fewer than 150 days of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition), 300 basis points (3.00%) (150 days but fewer than 180 days of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition), and 400 basis points (4.00%) (180 days or more of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition); provided, that, if at any time when the Applicable Spread is 225 basis points (2.25%), 250 basis points (2.50%), 275 basis points (2.75%), 300 basis points (3.00%) or 400 basis points (4.00%) the Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists due to the successful Remarketing of all Purchased VRDP Shares, such Applicable Spread of 225 basis points (2.25%), 250 basis points (2.50%), 275 basis points (2.75%), 300 basis points (3.00%) or 400 basis points (4.00%) will continue to be the Applicable Spread in connection with determining the Maximum Rate in effect for each Rate Period commencing with the first Subsequent Rate Period after the Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists through and including the first

 

2


Subsequent Rate Period ending on or after the 45th day after the day the Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists; provided further, that (i) if a new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs prior to the end of such period and the Applicable Spread is then 225 basis points (2.25%), the date such new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs will be deemed to be the 60th day of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition, (ii) if a new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs prior to the end of such period and the Applicable Spread is then 250 basis points (2.50%), the date such new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs will be deemed to be the 90th day of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition, (iii) if a new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs prior to the end of such period and the Applicable Spread is then 275 basis points (2.75%), the date such new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs will be deemed to be the 120th day of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition, (iv) if a new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs prior to the end of such period and the Applicable Spread is then 300 basis points (3.00%), the date such new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs will be deemed to be the 150th day of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition, and (v) if a new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs prior to the end of such period and the Applicable Spread is then 400 basis points (4.00%), the date such new Failed Remarketing Condition occurs will be deemed to be the 180th day of a continued Failed Remarketing Condition, in each case, solely for purposes of determining the Applicable Spread.

(h)            “Beneficial Owner” means a Person, including the Liquidity Provider to the extent it is at any time the beneficial owner of Series 1 VRDP Shares (irrespective of any assignment or transfer by the Liquidity Provider of its voting rights), in whose name Series 1 VRDP Shares are recorded as beneficial owner of such Series 1 VRDP Shares by the Securities Depository, an Agent Member or other securities intermediary on the records of such Securities Depository, Agent Member or securities intermediary, as the case may be, or such Person’s subrogee.

(i)            “Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Fund or any duly authorized committee thereof.

(j)            “Business Day” means a day (a) other than a day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to close and (b) on which the New York Stock Exchange is not closed.

(k)            “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(l)            “Common Shares” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Fund.

(m)            “Custodian” means a bank, as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in paragraph 1 of Section 26(a) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be providing custodian services to the Fund as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, and shall include, as appropriate, any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Custodian.

(n)            “Date of Original Issue,” with respect to any Series 1 VRDP Share, means the date on which the Fund initially issued such Series 1 VRDP Share.

(o)            “Declaration” means the Declaration of Trust of the Fund, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(p)            “Deposit Securities” means, as of any date, any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date or mandatory payment date, on its face or at the option of the holder, preceding the relevant payment date in respect of which such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit Security:

 

  (1)

cash or any cash equivalent;

 

  (2)

any U.S. Government Security;

 

3


  (3)

any Municipal Security that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to Municipal Securities (long-term or short-term as to the applicable type of obligation) as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent), including (A) any such Municipal Security that has been pre-refunded by the issuer thereof with the proceeds of such refunding having been irrevocably deposited in trust or escrow for the repayment thereof and (B) any such fixed or variable rate Municipal Security that qualifies as an eligible security under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act;

 

  (4)

any investment in any money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, or similar investment vehicle described in Rule 12d1-1(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in Municipal Securities or U.S. Government Securities or any combination thereof; or

 

  (5)

any letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to bank deposits or short-term debt of banks or other financial institutions as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent).

(q)            “Dividend Payment Date,” except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of Section 2 of Part I of this Statement, means the date that is the first Business Day of each calendar month.

(r)            “Dividend Period,” with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, means the period from, and including, the Date of Original Issue in connection with the initial issuance of Series 1 VRDP Shares to, but excluding, the initial Dividend Payment Date for the Series 1 VRDP Shares and any period thereafter from, and including, one Dividend Payment Date for the Series 1 VRDP Shares to, but excluding, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date for the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(s)            “Effective Date” means June 20, 2019.

(t)            “Effective Leverage Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in the VRDP Fee Agreement.

(u)            “Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Period” shall have the meaning set forth in the VRDP Fee Agreement.

(v)            “Electronic Means” means email transmission, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving party, in any case if operative as between the relevant two parties, or, if not operative, by telephone (promptly confirmed by any other method set forth in this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Tender and Paying Agent, shall be sent by such means as set forth in Section 7.02 of the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement or as specified in the related notice.

(w)            “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(x)            “Extraordinary Corporate Event” means, as to the Liquidity Provider, (i) the consolidation or amalgamation with, or the merger with and into, or the transfer of all or substantially all of the Liquidity Provider’s assets to, another entity, or (ii) the dissolution, for any reason, of the Liquidity Provider other than in connection with the consolidation or amalgamation with, or the merger with and into, or the transfer of all or substantially all of the Liquidity Provider’s assets to, another entity; provided, however, that with respect to (i) above, an Extraordinary Corporate Event does not include any of the listed occurrences where (x) the surviving entity, or transferee of all or substantially all of the Liquidity Provider’s assets, (a) assumes all of the obligations of the Liquidity Provider under the terms of the VRDP Purchase Agreement and (b) has short-term debt ratings in one of the two highest rating categories from the Requisite NRSROs or such other short-term debt ratings, if any, as may

 

4


be required for the Series 1 VRDP Shares to satisfy the eligibility criteria under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act and (y) the Liquidity Provider has provided notice in writing to the Fund confirming the information described in clause (x) at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the applicable listed occurrence in clause (i) above.

(y)            “Failed Remarketing Condition” means a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares or a Failed Remarketing Condition—Unpurchased VRDP Shares.

(z)            “Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares” means that the Liquidity Provider acquires and continues to be the beneficial owner for federal income tax purposes of any Series 1 VRDP Shares in connection with purchases made pursuant to the Purchase Obligation (whether as a result of an unsuccessful Remarketing or a Mandatory Purchase) on any Purchase Date including Series 1 VRDP Shares the Liquidity Provider continues to be the beneficial owner of for federal income tax purposes after the expiration or termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(aa)            “Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption” means redemption by the Fund, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board of Trustees for redemption, of Series 1 VRDP Shares that the Liquidity Provider shall have acquired pursuant to the Purchase Obligation and continued to be the beneficial owner of for federal income tax purposes for a period of six months during which such VRDP Shares cannot be successfully remarketed (i.e., a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares shall have occurred and be continuing for such period of time with respect to such VRDP Shares), determined by the Fund on a first-in, first-out basis, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the VRDP Fee Agreement and this Statement.

(bb)            “Failed Remarketing Condition—Unpurchased VRDP Shares” means that a Beneficial Owner (other than the Liquidity Provider or its affiliates) continues to hold Series 1 VRDP Shares, that were subject to a proper Tender, after any Purchase Date as a result of the failure by the Liquidity Provider for any reason to purchase such VRDP Shares pursuant to the Purchase Obligation (whether as a result of an unsuccessful Remarketing or a Mandatory Purchase) (“Unpurchased VRDP Shares”), until such time as all Outstanding Unpurchased VRDP Shares are (i) successfully remarketed pursuant to a Remarketing, (ii) purchased by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation, or (iii) if not successfully remarketed pursuant to a Remarketing or purchased by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation, the subject of a properly tendered Notice of Revocation (or any combination of the foregoing); and any Unpurchased VRDP Shares shall be deemed tendered for Remarketing until the earliest to occur of the foregoing events (i), (ii) or (iii) with respect to such Unpurchased VRDP Shares.

(cc)            “Failure to Deposit” means, with respect to shares of Series 1 VRDP, a failure by the Fund to pay to the Tender and Paying Agent, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, (A) on the Business Day immediately preceding any Dividend Payment Date for shares of such Series, in funds available on such Dividend Payment Date in The City of New York, New York, the full amount of any dividend (whether or not earned or declared) to be paid on such Dividend Payment Date on any share of such Series or (B) on the Business Day immediately preceding any redemption date in funds available on such redemption date for shares of such Series in The City of New York, New York, the Redemption Price to be paid on such redemption date for any share of such Series after Notice of Redemption is provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part 1 of this Statement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause (B) shall not apply to the Fund’s failure to pay the Redemption Price in respect of Series 1 VRDP Shares when the related Notice of Redemption provides that redemption of such shares is subject to one or more conditions precedent and any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption.

(dd)            “Final Notice of Purchase” means, in connection with an Optional Tender or a Mandatory Tender, a Notice of Purchase delivered by the Tender and Paying Agent to the Liquidity Provider (or directly to the Liquidity Provider by Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, in the case of an Optional Tender, or Holders, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, if there is no Tender and Paying Agent or for any reason the Tender and Paying Agent does not perform its obligations) on the Purchase Date indicating the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased on such date pursuant to the Purchase Obligation, or, in connection with a Mandatory

 

5


Purchase, the Mandatory Purchase Notice delivered by the Fund or the Tender and Paying Agent on behalf of the Fund.

(ee)            “Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

(ff)             “Gross-up Payment” means payment to a Beneficial Owner of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of Taxable Allocations made to such Beneficial Owner to which such Gross-up Payment relates, would cause such Beneficial Owner’s dividends in dollars (after giving effect to regular federal income tax consequences) from the aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Gross-up Payment to be equal to the dollar amount of the dividends which would have been received by such Beneficial Owner if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would have been excludable from the gross income of such Beneficial Owner.

Such Gross-up Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) only taking into account the regular federal income tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund (that is, without giving effect to any other federal tax based on income, such as (A) the alternative minimum tax or (B) the “Medicare tax,” which at the date hereof is imposed at the rate of 3.8% on the net investment income (which includes taxable dividends and net capital gains) of certain individuals, trusts and estates); and (iii) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Gross-up Payment (except to the extent such Gross-up Payment is designated as an exempt-interest dividend under Section 852(b)(5) of the Code or successor provisions) would be taxable in the hands of each Beneficial Owner at the maximum marginal regular federal individual income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Gross-up Payment is made.

(gg)            “Holder” means a Person in whose name a Series 1 VRDP Share is registered in the registration books of the Fund maintained by the Tender and Paying Agent.

(hh)            “Initial Rate Period” means the period commencing on and including the Date of Original Issue in connection with the initial issuance of shares of the Series designated Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares of the Fund and ending on, and including, June 19, 2019 (as such Rate Period may be shortened or extended in accordance with the Notice of Special Rate Period relating thereto).

(ii)            “Investment Adviser” means Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, or any successor company or entity.

(jj)            “Late Charge” has the meaning specified in paragraph (e)(i)(C) of Section 2 of Part I of this Statement.

(kk)            “LIBOR Dealer” means such dealer or dealers as the Fund from time to time may appoint as such, their respective affiliates and successors.

(ll)            “LIBOR Rate” means, on any Rate Determination Date, (i) the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for the designated Rate Period, which appears on Reuters display page LIBOR01 (“Page LIBOR01”) (or such other page as may replace that page on that service, or such other service as may be selected by the LIBOR Dealer or its successors that are LIBOR Dealers) as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on the day that is the London Business Day preceding the Rate Determination Date (the “LIBOR Determination Date”), or (ii) if such rate does not appear on Page LIBOR01 or such other page as may replace such Page LIBOR01, (A) the LIBOR Dealer shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market for deposits in U.S. dollars for the designated Rate Period in an amount determined by such LIBOR Dealer by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date made by such LIBOR Dealer to the Reference Banks, (B) if at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, the LIBOR Rate shall equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations, (C) if only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, the LIBOR Rate shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that leading banks in The City of New York selected by the LIBOR Dealer (after obtaining the Fund’s

 

6


approval) are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for deposits in U.S. dollars for the designated Rate Period in an amount determined by the LIBOR Dealer (after obtaining the Fund’s approval) that is representative of a single transaction in such market at such time by reference to the principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market; provided, however, that if no LIBOR Dealer quotes a rate required to determine the LIBOR Rate, the LIBOR Rate will be determined on the basis of the quotation or quotations furnished by any Substitute LIBOR Dealer or Substitute LIBOR Dealers selected by the Fund to provide such rate or rates not being supplied by the LIBOR Dealer; provided further, that if the LIBOR Dealer and Substitute LIBOR Dealers are required but unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, the LIBOR Rate shall be the LIBOR Rate as determined on the previous Rate Determination Date. If the number of days in a Rate Period shall be (i) seven or more but fewer than 21 days, such rate shall be the seven-day LIBOR Rate; (ii) 21 or more but fewer than 49 days, such rate shall be the one-month LIBOR rate; (iii) 49 or more but fewer than 77 days, such rate shall be the two-month LIBOR rate; (iv) 77 or more but fewer than 112 days, such rate shall be the three-month LIBOR rate; (v) 112 or more but fewer than 140 days such rate shall be the four-month LIBOR rate; (vi) 140 or more but fewer than 168 days, such rate shall be the five-month LIBOR rate; (vii) 168 or more but fewer than 189 days, such rate shall be the six-month LIBOR rate; (viii) 189 or more but fewer than 217 days, such rate shall be the seven-month LIBOR rate; (ix) 217 or more but fewer than 252 days, such rate shall be the eight-month LIBOR rate; (x) 252 or more but fewer than 287 days, such rate shall be the nine-month LIBOR rate; (xi) 287 or more but fewer than 315 days, such rate shall be the ten-month LIBOR rate; (xii) 315 or more but fewer than 343 days, such rate shall be the eleven-month LIBOR rate; and (xiii) 343 or more but fewer than 365 days, such rate shall be the twelve-month LIBOR rate. If the LIBOR Rate is no longer calculable as provided above or is discontinued, the Fund shall replace the LIBOR Rate with a substitute or successor rate that it determines in good faith to be a reasonably comparable index rate, provided that if the Fund determines there is an industry accepted substitute or successor index rate, the Fund shall replace the LIBOR Rate with such index rate, and, without shareholder approval, amend or supplement this Statement as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 12 of Part I of this Statement accordingly to implement such replacement.

(mm)          “Liquidation Preference,” with respect to a given number of Series 1 VRDP Shares, means $100,000 times that number.

(nn)            “Liquidity Account Investments” means any Deposit Security or any other security or investment owned by the Fund that is rated at least A- or the equivalent rating by each NRSRO then rating such security or investment, provided that any such Deposit Security or other security or investment shall be so rated by at least one NRSRO.

(oo)            “Liquidity Provider” means any entity acting in such capacity pursuant to a VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(pp)            “Liquidity Provider Ratings Event” means the Liquidity Provider shall fail to maintain at any time short-term debt ratings in one of the two highest ratings categories from the Requisite NRSROs or such other short-term debt ratings, if any, as may be required for the Series 1 VRDP Shares to satisfy the eligibility criteria under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

(qq)            “Liquidity Provider Ratings Event Termination Date” means the date established by the Tender and Paying Agent, acting upon instructions of the Fund pursuant to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, for termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement upon the occurrence of a Liquidity Provider Ratings Event, which date shall be not less than 16 days nor more than 30 days following such Liquidity Provider Ratings Event.

(rr)            “London Business Day” means any day on which commercial banks are generally open for business in London.

(ss)            “Mandatory Purchase” means the mandatory purchase of Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the VRDP Purchase Agreement in connection with a Mandatory Purchase Event.

 

7


(tt)            “Mandatory Purchase Date” means the Purchase Date for a Mandatory Purchase determined in accordance with this Statement and the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(uu)            “Mandatory Purchase Event” means (i) in connection with the termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement due to its expiration as of a Scheduled Termination Date, by the fifteenth day prior to any such Scheduled Termination Date, (a) the Liquidity Provider shall not have agreed to an extension or further extension of the Scheduled Termination Date to a date not earlier than 180 days from the Scheduled Termination Date of the VRDP Purchase Agreement then in effect, and (b) the Fund shall not have obtained and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent an Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement with a termination date not earlier than 180 days from the Scheduled Termination Date of the VRDP Purchase Agreement then in effect, or (ii) in connection with the termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement due to a Liquidity Provider Ratings Event or Related Party Termination Event, by the fifteenth day prior to the Liquidity Provider Ratings Event Termination Date or Related Party Termination Date, as the case may be, the Fund shall not have obtained and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent an Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement with a termination date not earlier than 180 days from the Liquidity Provider Ratings Event Termination Date or Related Party Termination Date, as the case may be, of the VRDP Purchase Agreement then in effect. The Mandatory Purchase Event shall be deemed to occur on such fifteenth day prior to any Scheduled Termination Date, Liquidity Provider Ratings Event Termination Date or Related Party Termination Date, as the case may be.

(vv)            “Mandatory Purchase Notice” means, in connection with the Mandatory Purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares, a notice delivered by the Fund or the Tender and Paying Agent on behalf of the Fund to the Holders and the Liquidity Provider specifying a Mandatory Purchase Date.

(ww)            “Mandatory Tender,” with respect to a Mandatory Tender Event, means the mandatory tender of all Series 1 VRDP Shares by Holders for Remarketing or, in the event (i) no Remarketing occurs on or before the Purchase Date or (ii) pursuant to an attempted Remarketing, Series 1 VRDP Shares remain unsold and the Remarketing Agent does not purchase for its own account the unsold Series 1 VRDP Shares tendered to the Tender and Paying Agent for Remarketing (provided, that the Remarketing Agent may seek to sell such Series 1 VRDP Shares in a subsequent Remarketing prior to the Purchase Date), for purchase by the Liquidity Provider at the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 1 of Part II of this Statement and the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(xx)            “Mandatory Tender Event” means (a) each failure by the Fund to make a scheduled payment of dividends on any Series 1 VRDP Share on a Dividend Payment Date; (b) the occurrence of a Liquidity Provider Ratings Event (which shall constitute a single Mandatory Tender Event upon the occurrence of such Liquidity Provider Ratings Event, whether or not continuing and whether or not such Liquidity Provider Ratings Event also results in a Mandatory Purchase Event; provided that, a subsequent Liquidity Provider Ratings Event, following restoration of the short-term debt ratings to the requisite level, shall constitute a new Mandatory Tender Event); (c) the Fund fails to pay the Liquidity Provider the applicable fee due in advance under the terms of the VRDP Fee Agreement by seven Business Days prior to the beginning of the month to which such payment relates and the Liquidity Provider (in its sole discretion) thereafter provides written notice to the Fund that such failure to pay such fee constitutes a Mandatory Tender Event; (d) the eighth day prior to the scheduled date of the occurrence of an Extraordinary Corporate Event; (e) the Fund shall have obtained and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent an Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement by the fifteenth day prior to the Scheduled Termination Date, Liquidity Provider Ratings Event Termination Date or Related Party Termination Date, as the case may be, of the VRDP Purchase Agreement being replaced; (f) the occurrence of an Optional Early Replacement Event; (g) the Fund shall have provided a Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period in accordance with this Statement; or (h) in the event of a breach by the Fund of its Effective Leverage Ratio covenant with the Liquidity Provider in the VRDP Fee Agreement and the failure to cure such breach within 60 days from the date of such breach (which 60-day period would include the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Period), if the Liquidity Provider (in its sole discretion) thereafter provides written notice to the Fund that the failure to timely cure such breach constitutes a Mandatory Tender Event (subject to the Fund curing such breach prior to the delivery date of such notice from the Liquidity Provider).

(yy)            “Mandatory Tender Notice” means, in connection with the Mandatory Tender of Series 1 VRDP Shares, a notice delivered in accordance with the VRDP Purchase Agreement by the Fund or the

 

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Tender and Paying Agent on behalf of the Fund to the Holders and the Liquidity Provider specifying a Mandatory Tender Event and Purchase Date.

(zz)            “Market Value” of any asset of the Fund means the market value thereof determined by an independent third-party pricing service designated from time to time by the Board of Trustees. The Market Value of any asset shall include any interest accrued thereon. The pricing service shall value portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available shall be valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service using methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating; indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions. The pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both, to determine valuations.

(aaa)            “Maximum Rate” means, for the Series 1 VRDP Shares on any Rate Determination Date or in respect of the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Condition for shares of such Series, the Applicable Percentage of the Applicable Base Rate plus the Applicable Spread. The Maximum Rate for the Series 1 VRDP Shares will depend on the long-term rating assigned to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, the length of the Rate Period and whether or not the Fund has given notification prior to the Applicable Rate Determination for the Rate Period pursuant to Section 6 of Part II hereto that any ordinary income or capital gains will be included in the dividend on Series 1 VRDP Shares for that Rate Period. The Applicable Percentage of the Applicable Base Rate is as follows:

 

Long-Term
Ratings*
      

 

Applicable Percentage of
Applicable Base Rate—No
Notification

 

Moody’s

 

Fitch

   
Aa3 to Aaa   AA- to AAA   100%
Baa3 to A1   BBB- to A+   110%
Below Baa3**   Below BBB-**   135%

 

*   And/or the equivalent ratings of another Rating Agency then rating the Series 1 VRDP Shares utilizing the higher of the ratings of the Rating Agencies then rating the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

**   Includes unrated, if no Rating Agency is then rating the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

provided, however, that in the event the Fund has given notification prior to the Applicable Rate Determination for the Rate Period pursuant to Section 6 of Part II hereof that any ordinary income or capital gains will be included in the dividend on Series 1 VRDP Shares for that Rate Period, the Applicable Percentage in the foregoing table shall be divided by the quantity 1 minus the maximum marginal regular federal personal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income, whichever is greater.

The Applicable Percentage as so determined and the Applicable Spread may be subject to upward (and, if previously adjusted upward, subsequent downward) adjustment as provided in the Remarketing Agreement, provided that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Remarketing Agreement, following such adjustment, the Maximum Rate is equal to or higher than the rates determined as set forth above, and immediately following any such upward adjustment, the Fund would be in compliance with the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage. Furthermore, in the event of Special Rate Periods of greater than 364 days, the Maximum Rate may be subject to upward adjustment as provided in the Remarketing Agreement, provided that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Remarketing Agreement, immediately following any such upward adjustment, the Fund would be in compliance with the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage.

A Maximum Rate in effect in respect of a Failed Remarketing Condition will continue to be the Applicable Rate (i) until the first day of the next succeeding Subsequent Rate Period after a Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists in the case of a Minimum Rate Period, and (ii) as may be provided in the Notice of Special Rate Period in the case of a Special Rate Period.

 

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Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Remarketing Agreement, in no event shall the Maximum Rate exceed 15%; provided, however, that in the event the Fund has given notification prior to the Applicable Rate Determination for the Rate Period pursuant to Section 6 of Part II hereof that any ordinary income or capital gains will be included in the dividend on Series 1 VRDP Shares for that Rate Period, the Maximum Rate shall not exceed 15% divided by the quantity 1 minus the maximum marginal regular federal personal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income, whichever is greater.

(bbb)        “Minimum Rate Period” means any Rate Period consisting of seven Rate Period Days, as adjusted to reflect any changes when the regular day that is a Rate Determination Date is not a Business Day.

(ccc)        “Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage” means asset coverage, as defined in Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act as of the date of the VRDP Fee Agreement with such changes thereafter as agreed with the prior written consent of the Liquidity Provider, of at least 200% or such higher percentage as required and specified in the VRDP Fee Agreement, or as otherwise provided in connection with a Special Rate Period, but, in any event, not more than 250%, with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Fund which are stock, including all Outstanding VRDP Shares (or, in each case, if higher, such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common shares or stock).

(ddd)        “Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date” means, with respect to the failure by the Fund to maintain the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage as of the close of business on the last Business Day of each month (as required by Section 6 of Part I of this Statement), the tenth Business Day of the following month.

(eee)         “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

(fff)          “Municipal Securities” means municipal securities as described under “The Fund’s Investments – Municipal Securities” in the Remarketing Memorandum.

(ggg)        “1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(hhh)        “Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (c) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

(iii)          “Notice of Purchase” means, as the context requires, a Preliminary Notice of Purchase or a Final Notice of Purchase, in each case, substantially in the form attached to the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(jjj)          “Notice of Redemption” has the meaning specified in paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement.

(kkk)        “Notice of Revocation” means, in connection with the revocation by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member of its Notice of Tender, a notice, substantially in the form attached to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, delivered by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member to the Tender and Paying Agent indicating an intention to revoke the tender of some or all of the Series 1 VRDP Shares for sale on a Purchase Date pursuant to Section 1 of Part II of this Statement.

(lll)          “Notice of Special Rate Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (d)(i) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

(mmm)    “Notice of Tender” means, in connection with an Optional Tender, a notice, substantially in the form attached to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, delivered by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member to the Tender and Paying Agent, indicating an intention to tender Series 1 VRDP Shares for sale on a Purchase Date pursuant to Section 1 of Part II of this Statement.

 

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(nnn)        “NRSRO” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that is not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Liquidity Provider, including, at the date hereof, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P.

(ooo)        “Optional Early Replacement Event” means the Fund shall have obtained and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent an Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement and provided notice thereof (which notice also designates an Optional Early Termination Date) to the Holders and the Liquidity Provider in accordance with the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement given at any time prior to the 30th calendar day preceding the then-prevailing Scheduled Termination Date. The date of the occurrence of the Optional Early Replacement Event shall be the date of such notice.

(ppp)        “Optional Early Termination Date” means the date established by the Tender and Paying Agent, acting upon instructions of the Fund pursuant to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, for termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement upon the occurrence of an Optional Early Replacement Event, which date shall be not less than 16 days nor more than 30 days following such Optional Early Replacement Event.

(qqq)        “Optional Tender” means any tender of Series 1 VRDP Shares by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member to the Tender and Paying Agent, other than a Mandatory Tender, for Remarketing or, in the event (i) no Remarketing occurs on or before the Purchase Date, or (ii) pursuant to an attempted Remarketing Series 1 VRDP Shares remain unsold and the Remarketing Agent does not purchase for its own account the unsold Series 1 VRDP Shares tendered to the Tender and Paying Agent for Remarketing (provided that the Remarketing Agent may seek to sell such Series 1 VRDP Shares in a subsequent Remarketing prior to the Purchase Date), for purchase by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to Section 1 of Part II of this Statement and the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(rrr)        “Other Special Rate Period Provisions” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (f) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

(sss)        “Outstanding” means, as of any date with respect to VRDP Shares of any Series, the number of shares of such Series theretofore issued by the Fund except, without duplication, (i) any shares of such Series theretofore exchanged, redeemed or cancelled or delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent (or other relevant tender and paying agent) for cancellation or redemption by the Fund, (ii) any shares of such Series with respect to which, in the case of Series 1 VRDP Shares, the Fund has given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities to redeem such VRDP Shares, pursuant to Section 9 of Part I of this Statement or, in the case of VRDP Shares of any other Series, the Fund has taken the equivalent action under the statement applicable to such shares, (iii) any shares of such Series as to which the Fund shall be a Beneficial Owner, and (iv) any shares of such Series represented by any certificate in lieu of which a new certificate has been executed and delivered by the Fund; provided, however, with respect to clause (ii), any Series 1 VRDP Share will be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of the VRDP Purchase Agreement until redeemed by the Fund.

(ttt)        “Person” means and includes an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

(uuu)        “Preferred Shares” means the preferred shares of the Fund, including the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(vvv)        “Preliminary Notice of Purchase” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (b) of Section 2 of Part II of this Statement.

(www)    “Purchase Date,” with respect to any purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares, means (i) in connection with an Optional Tender, the date specified in a Notice of Tender, which date shall be no earlier than the seventh day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) following delivery to the Tender and Paying Agent of the Notice of Tender, (ii) in connection with a Mandatory Tender, the date specified in the Mandatory Tender Notice (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), subject to the immediately succeeding sentence below, or (iii) in connection with a Mandatory Purchase, the Mandatory

 

11


Purchase Date specified in the Mandatory Purchase Notice (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day). The Purchase Date in respect of a Mandatory Tender Event shall be not later than seven days following the date a Mandatory Tender Notice is sent to Holders by Electronic Means; provided, that: (A) the Purchase Date in connection with the failure of the Fund to pay the applicable fee to the Liquidity Provider may not be later than the last Business Day of the month such payment was due; (B) the Purchase Date in connection with the occurrence of an Extraordinary Corporate Event may not be later than the Business Day immediately preceding the occurrence of the Extraordinary Corporate Event (and, if no earlier Purchase Date is specified in a Mandatory Tender Notice with respect to such Extraordinary Corporate Event, the Business Day immediately preceding the occurrence of the Extraordinary Corporate Event shall be deemed to be the Purchase Date irrespective of the failure to have given or sent a Mandatory Tender Notice); (C) the Purchase Date in connection with the Fund obtaining an Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement may not be later than the Business Day immediately preceding the termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement being replaced; and (D) the Purchase Date in connection with a Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period may not be later than the first day of the proposed Special Rate Period.

(xxx)        “Purchase Obligation” means the unconditional and irrevocable obligation of the Liquidity Provider during the term and pursuant to the terms of the VRDP Purchase Agreement to purchase Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares on any Purchase Date at the Purchase Price from Beneficial Owners, in the case of any Optional Tender, and Holders, in the case of any Mandatory Tender or any Mandatory Purchase, in each case following delivery of a Final Notice of Purchase with respect to such Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(yyy)        “Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference of any Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased on a Purchase Date, plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared), if any, to, but excluding, the relevant Purchase Date.

(zzz)        “Purchased VRDP Shares” means all Series 1 VRDP Shares purchased by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to Article II of the VRDP Purchase Agreement, so long as the Liquidity Provider continues to be the beneficial owner for federal income tax purposes of such Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(aaaa)      “Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, the last day of a Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that the next succeeding Rate Determination Date will be determined without regard to any prior extension of a Rate Determination Date to a Business Day.

(bbbb)      “Rate Period,” with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, means the Initial Rate Period and any Subsequent Rate Period, including any Special Rate Period.

(cccc)      “Rate Period Days,” for any Rate Period, means the number of days in such Rate Period.

(dddd)      “Rating Agency” means each NRSRO, if any, then providing a rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares pursuant to the request of the Fund, including, at the date hereof, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P.

(eeee)      “Rating Agency Guidelines” means the guidelines provided by each Rating Agency, as may be amended from time to time, applied by such Rating Agency in connection with the Rating Agency’s rating of the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(ffff)      “Redemption Date” has the meaning specified in paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement.

(gggg)      “Redemption Price” means the applicable redemption price specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement.

(hhhh)      “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Remarketing Agent or its affiliates or successors or such other party as the Fund may from time to time appoint.

 

12


(iiii)      “Related Party” means a related party for purposes of Section 267(b) or Section 707(b) of the Code, as such provisions may be amended from time to time.

(jjjj)      “Related Party Termination Date” means the effective date of the termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms following the occurrence of a Related Party Termination Event.

(kkkk)      “Related Party Termination Event” means the Liquidity Provider becoming a Related Party of the Fund other than through the acquisition of Series 1 VRDP Shares pursuant to the terms of the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(llll)      “Remarketing” means the remarketing of Series 1 VRDP Shares by the Remarketing Agent on behalf of Beneficial Owners thereof pursuant to an Optional Tender or on behalf of the Holders thereof pursuant to a Mandatory Tender, as provided in the Remarketing Agreement and Part II of this Statement.

(mmmm)    “Remarketing Agent” means any entity appointed as such with respect to Series 1 VRDP Shares by a resolution of the Board of Trustees and any additional or successor companies or entities appointed by the Board of Trustees which have entered into a Remarketing Agreement with the Fund.

(nnnn)      “Remarketing Agreement” means the Remarketing Agreement, if any, with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, by and among the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Remarketing Agent, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Remarketing Agent.

(oooo)      “Remarketing Memorandum” means the remarketing memorandum of the Fund, dated June 18, 2019, relating to the transition to Minimum Rate Periods for the Series 1 VRDP Shares, as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time, including in connection with any Remarketing, if applicable, or offering of additional Series 1 VRDP Shares, if applicable.

(pppp)      “Remarketing Notice” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (b) of Section 2 of Part II of this Statement.

(qqqq)      “Remarketing Procedures” means the procedures for conducting Remarketings set forth in Part II of this Statement.

(rrrr)      “Requisite NRSROs” means (i) any two NRSROs that have issued a rating with respect to a security or class of debt obligations of an issuer; or (ii) if only one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or class of debt obligations of an issuer at the time a purchaser Acquires (as such term is defined in Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act) the security, that NRSRO.

(ssss)      “S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and its successors.

(tttt)      “Scheduled Termination Date” means the date designated as the initial Scheduled Termination Date in the VRDP Purchase Agreement, if any, in effect at such time, or any succeeding date to which the term of such VRDP Purchase Agreement is extended, or, as the case may be, the initial Scheduled Termination Date of any Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement, or any succeeding date to which the term of the Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement is extended.

(uuuu)      “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(vvvv)      “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

13


(wwww)    “Securities Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and any substitute for or successor to such securities depository that shall maintain a book-entry system with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(xxxx)      “SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” means the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index, or such other weekly, high-grade index comprised of seven-day, tax-exempt variable rate demand notes produced by Bloomberg or its successor, or as otherwise designated by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; provided, however, that if such index is no longer produced by Bloomberg or its successor, then SIFMA Municipal Swap Index shall mean (i) the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index produced by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or its successors or (ii) if the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index is no longer produced, such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Fund.

(yyyy)      “SIFMA Municipal Swap Index Rate” means, on any Rate Determination Date, (i) the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index made available by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date, or (ii) if such index is not so made available on such date, the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index as determined on the previous Rate Determination Date.

(zzzz)      “Special Rate Period,” with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, means a Rate Period that is established in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

(aaaaa)    “Special Redemption Provisions” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (a)(i) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement.

(bbbbb)    “Statement” means this statement establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of Series 1 VRDP Shares, amending and restating the Original Statement, as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(ccccc)    “Subsequent Rate Period,” with respect to shares of Series 1 VRDP, means the period from, and including, the first day following the Initial Rate Period of shares of such Series to, and including, the next Rate Determination Date for shares of such Series and any period thereafter from, and including, the first day following a Rate Determination Date for shares of such Series to, and including, the next succeeding Rate Determination Date for shares of such Series; provided, however, that, if any Subsequent Rate Period is also a Special Rate Period, such term shall mean the period commencing on the first day of such Special Rate Period and ending on, and including, the last day of the last Dividend Period thereof; except for Special Rate Periods, each Subsequent Rate Period will be a Minimum Rate Period.

(ddddd)    “Substitute LIBOR Dealer” means any LIBOR Dealer selected by the Fund; provided that none of such entities shall be an existing LIBOR Dealer.

(eeeee)    “Taxable Allocation” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (a) of Section 3 of Part I of this Statement.

(fffff)     “Tender” means an Optional Tender or a Mandatory Tender, as applicable.

(ggggg)    “Tender and Paying Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon, or any successor Person, which has entered into an agreement with the Fund to act in such capacity as the Fund’s tender agent, transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, paying agent, redemption price disbursing agent and calculation agent in connection with the payment of regularly scheduled dividends with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(hhhhh)    “Tender and Paying Agent Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Tender and Paying Agent Agreement with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares, dated as of June 20, 2019, between the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Tender and Paying Agent.

 

14


(iiiii)    “U.S. Government Securities” means direct obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States Treasury Bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.

(jjjjj)     “Voting Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (b)(i) of Section 5 of Part I of this Statement.

(kkkkk)     “VRDP Fee Agreement” means the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Fee Agreement, if any, with respect to Series 1 VRDP Shares, between the Fund and the initial Liquidity Provider, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Liquidity Provider.

(lllll)    “VRDP Purchase Agreement” means the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Purchase Agreement, if any, with respect to Series 1 VRDP Shares, between the Tender and Paying Agent and the initial Liquidity Provider, as amended, modified or supplemented, or any Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement.

PART I

1.          Number of Authorized Shares; Effectiveness.

The initial number of authorized shares constituting Series 1 VRDP is as set forth above under the title “Designation of Series 1 VRDP.”

This Statement is effective as of the Effective Date.

2.          Dividends.

(a)        Ranking. The shares of Series 1 VRDP shall rank on a parity with each other, with shares of any other Series of VRDP and with shares of any other series of Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends by the Fund.

(b)        Cumulative Cash Dividends. The Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law, cumulative cash dividends at the Applicable Rate for shares of such Series, determined as set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section 2, and no more (except to the extent set forth in Section 3 of Part I of this Statement and Section 6 of Part II of this Statement), payable on the Dividend Payment Dates with respect to shares of such Series determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 2. Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on Series 1 VRDP Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on Series 1 VRDP Shares which may be in arrears, and no additional sum of money shall be payable in respect of such arrearage, except that the Fund shall pay as a supplemental dividend a Late Charge (as defined below in paragraph (e)(i)(C) of this Section 2) on account of a Failure to Deposit, if any, in respect of each day during the period commencing on the day a Failure to Deposit occurs through and including the day immediately preceding the earlier of (i) the day the Failure to Deposit is cured and (ii) the third Business Day next succeeding the day on which the Failure to Deposit occurred.

(c)        Dividends Cumulative from Date of Original Issue. Dividends on Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be declared daily and accumulate at the Applicable Rate for shares of such Series from the Date of Original Issue thereof.

 

15


(d)       Dividend Payment Dates and Adjustment Thereof. The Dividend Payment Date with respect to the Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be the first Business Day of each calendar month; provided, however, that:

(i)      notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund in its discretion may establish more frequent Dividend Payment Dates than monthly in respect of any Minimum Rate Period, and the Dividend Payment Date for the Dividend Period prior to the commencement of a Special Rate Period following a Minimum Rate Period shall be the Business Day immediately following the end of such Minimum Rate Period; and

(ii)    notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund in its discretion may establish the Dividend Payment Dates in respect of any Special Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares; provided, however, that such dates shall be set forth in the Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period, if any, and Notice of Special Rate Period relating to such Special Rate Period, as provided in accordance with Section 4 of Part I of this Statement, which Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period, if any, and Notice of Special Rate Period shall be filed with the Secretary of the Fund; and further provided that (1) any such Dividend Payment Date shall be a Business Day and (2) the last Dividend Payment Date in respect of such Special Rate Period shall be the Business Day immediately following the last day thereof, as such last day is determined in accordance with paragraph (b) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

(e)       Applicable Rates and Calculation of Dividends.

(i)        Applicable Rates. The dividend rate or rates on the Series 1 VRDP Shares during the Initial Rate Period were as set forth in the Notices of Special Rate Period with respect to the Initial Rate Period. Except for Special Rate Periods, each Subsequent Rate Period will be a Minimum Rate Period. The dividend rate on the Series 1 VRDP Shares for the Minimum Rate Period commencing on the Effective Date shall be equal to the rate per annum specified under “Designation of Series 1 VRDP” above; except as may otherwise be provided for in a Special Rate Period, for each Subsequent Rate Period thereafter, the dividend rate on shares of such Series shall be equal to the rate per annum that results from the Applicable Rate Determination for shares of such Series on the Rate Determination Date immediately preceding such Subsequent Rate Period; provided, however, that:

(A)        if an Applicable Rate Determination for any such Subsequent Rate Period is not held for any reason other than as described below, the dividend rate on shares of such Series for such Subsequent Rate Period will be adjusted to the Maximum Rate for shares of such Series on the Rate Determination Date therefor;

(B)        in the event of a Failed Remarketing Condition, the Applicable Rate as of the close of business on the day the Failed Remarketing Condition first occurs will be adjusted to the Maximum Rate (with the Applicable Spread subject to adjustment as set forth in the definition of Applicable Spread), and the Maximum Rate will continue to be the Applicable Rate (i) until the first day of the next succeeding Subsequent Rate Period after a Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists in the case of a Minimum Rate Period and (ii) as may be provided in the Notice of Special Rate Period in the case of a Special Rate Period;

(C)        if any Failure to Deposit shall have occurred with respect to shares of such Series during any Dividend Period therefor, but, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the third Business Day next succeeding the date on which such Failure to Deposit occurred, such Failure to Deposit shall have been cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2, and the Fund shall have paid to the Tender and Paying Agent as a late charge (“Late Charge”) daily supplemental dividends equal in the aggregate to the sum of (1) if such Failure to Deposit consisted of the failure timely to pay to the Tender and Paying Agent the full amount of dividends with respect to any Dividend Period for the shares of such Series, an amount computed by multiplying (x) the Applicable Rate for the Rate Period during which such Failure to Deposit occurred on the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period plus 2.00% by (y) a fraction,

 

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the numerator of which shall be the number of days for which such Failure to Deposit had not been cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2 (including the day such Failure to Deposit occurred and excluding the day such Failure to Deposit is cured) and the denominator of which shall be 360, and applying the rate obtained against the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding shares of such Series (with the amount for each individual day on which such Failure to Deposit occurred or continued uncured being declared as a supplemental dividend on that day) and (2) if such Failure to Deposit consisted of the failure timely to pay to the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price of the shares, if any, of such Series for which a Notice of Redemption had been provided by the Fund pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement, an amount computed by multiplying, (x) the Applicable Rate for the Rate Period during which such Failure to Deposit occurred on the applicable Redemption Date plus 2.00% by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days for which such Failure to Deposit had not been cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2 (including the day such Failure to Deposit occurred and excluding the day such Failure to Deposit is cured) and the denominator of which shall be 360, and applying the rate obtained against the aggregate Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding shares of such Series to be redeemed (with the amount for each individual day on which such Failure to Deposit occurred or continued uncured being declared as a supplemental dividend on that day), the Applicable Rate Determination will be held in respect of shares of such Series for the Subsequent Rate Period as provided above in this paragraph (e), unless a Rate Determination Date occurs on the date on which such Failure to Deposit occurred or on either of the two Business Days succeeding that date, and the Failure to Deposit has not been cured on such Rate Determination Date in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2, in which case no Applicable Rate Determination will be held in respect of shares of such Series for the Subsequent Rate Period relating to such Rate Determination Date and the dividend rate for shares of such Series for such Subsequent Rate Period will be the Maximum Rate for shares of such Series on the Rate Determination Date for such Subsequent Rate Period;

(D)        if any Failure to Deposit shall have occurred with respect to shares of such Series during any Dividend Period therefor, and, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the third Business Day next succeeding the date on which such Failure to Deposit occurred, such Failure to Deposit shall not have been cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2 or the Fund shall not have paid the applicable Late Charge to the Tender and Paying Agent, no Applicable Rate Determination will occur in respect of shares of such Series for the first Subsequent Rate Period therefor thereafter (or for any Subsequent Rate Period therefor thereafter to and including the Subsequent Rate Period during which (1) such Failure to Deposit is cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2 and (2) the Fund pays the applicable Late Charge to the Tender and Paying Agent, in each case no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the fourth Business Day prior to the end of such Subsequent Rate Period), and the dividend rate for shares of such Series for each such Subsequent Rate Period shall be a rate per annum equal to the Maximum Rate for shares of such Series on the Rate Determination Date for such Subsequent Rate Period (but with the prevailing rating for shares of such Series, for purposes of determining such Maximum Rate, being deemed to be “below ‘Baa3’/‘BBB-’”); or

(E)        in connection with a Special Rate Period, the Fund may establish other or additional terms with respect to the dividend rate in accordance with Section 4 of Part I of this Statement.

Each dividend rate determined in accordance with this paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 of Part I of this Statement shall be an “Applicable Rate.”

(ii)        Calculation of Dividends. The amount of dividends per share payable on shares of Series 1 VRDP on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Rate Period (or part thereof) in the related Dividend Period or Dividend Periods. The amount of dividends accumulated for each such Rate Period (or part thereof) shall be computed by multiplying the Applicable Rate in effect for shares of such Series for such Rate Period (or part thereof) by

 

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a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days in each such Rate Period (or part thereof) and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of days in the year (365 or 366), and applying each such rate obtained against $100,000.

(f)        Curing a Failure to Deposit. A Failure to Deposit with respect to shares of Series 1 VRDP shall be cured for purposes of paragraph (e) above on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, the Fund shall have paid to the Tender and Paying Agent (A) all accumulated but unpaid dividends on shares of such Series and (B) without duplication, the Redemption Price for shares, if any, of such Series for which Notice of Redemption has been provided by the Fund pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement; provided, however, that the foregoing clause (B) shall not apply to the Fund’s failure to pay the Redemption Price in respect of VRDP Shares when the related Redemption Notice provides that redemption of such shares is subject to one or more conditions precedent and any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption.

(g)        Dividend Payments by Fund to Tender and Paying Agent. In connection with each Dividend Payment Date for Series 1 VRDP Shares, the Fund shall pay to the Tender and Paying Agent, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the earlier of (i) the third Business Day next succeeding the Rate Determination Date immediately preceding the Dividend Payment Date and (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the Dividend Payment Date, an aggregate amount of Deposit Securities equal to the dividends to be paid to all Holders of shares of such Series on such Dividend Payment Date, or as otherwise provided for and in connection with the designation of a Special Rate Period. If an aggregate amount of funds equal to the dividends to be paid to all Holders of shares of such Series on such Dividend Payment Date are not available in New York, New York, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date, the Tender and Paying Agent will notify the Liquidity Provider by Electronic Means of such fact prior to the close of business on such day.

(h)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities paid to the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends on Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders specified in paragraph (i) of this Section 2. Any Deposit Securities paid to the Tender and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Tender and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends will, to the extent permitted by law, upon request of the Fund, be repaid to the Fund as soon as possible after the date on which such Deposit Securities were so to have been applied.

(i)        Dividends Paid to Holders. Dividends on the Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be declared daily to the Holders thereof at the close of business on each such day and paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders thereof at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date. In connection with any transfer of Series 1 VRDP Shares, the transferor as Beneficial Owner of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be deemed to have agreed pursuant to the terms of the Series 1 VRDP Shares to transfer to the transferee the right to receive from the Fund any dividends declared and unpaid for each day prior to the transferee becoming the Beneficial Owner of the Series 1 VRDP Shares in exchange for payment of the Purchase Price for such Series 1 VRDP Shares by the transferee.

(j)        Dividends Credited Against Earliest Accumulated But Unpaid Dividends. Any dividend payment made on Series 1 VRDP Shares that is insufficient to cover the entire amount of dividends payable shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividends due with respect to such shares. Dividends in arrears for any past Dividend Period may be declared (to the extent not previously declared as required under paragraph (i) above) and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders as their names appear on the record books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding 15 days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

(k)        Dividends Designated as Exempt-Interest Dividends. Dividends on Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be designated as exempt-interest dividends up to the amount of tax-exempt income of the Fund, to the extent permitted by, and for purposes of, Section 852 of the Code.

 

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3.            Gross-Up Payments. Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor, dividends in an amount equal to the aggregate Gross-up Payments as follows:

(a)        If the Fund allocates any net capital gains or ordinary income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid on Series 1 VRDP Shares without either having given advance notice thereof to the Remarketing Agent or simultaneously increasing such dividend payment by an additional amount, both as provided in Section 6 of Part II of this Statement (such allocation being referred to herein as a “Taxable Allocation”), the Fund shall, prior to the end of the calendar year in which such dividend was paid, provide notice thereof to the Remarketing Agent and direct the Tender and Paying Agent to send such notice with a Gross-up Payment to the Holder that was entitled to such dividend payment during such calendar year at such Holder’s address as the same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Fund.

(b)        The Fund shall not be required to make Gross-up Payments with respect to any net capital gains or ordinary income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund.

4.            Designation of Special Rate Periods.

(a)        Length of and Preconditions for Special Rate Period. If permitted by applicable law, the Fund, at its option, may designate any Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares as a Special Rate Period having the duration specified by the Fund in accordance with this Section 4 and ending on a Wednesday, subject to adjustment as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 4, or, if so designated by the Fund, ending on the final redemption date specified in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement. A designation of a Special Rate Period shall be effective only if (i) in the case of the designation of the Initial Rate Period as a Special Rate Period, notice thereof shall have been given in accordance with paragraph (d)(i) of this Section 4, (ii) in the case of the designation of a Special Rate Period to succeed a Minimum Rate Period, (A) notice thereof shall have been given in accordance with paragraph (c) and paragraph (d)(ii)(A) of this Section 4, (B) no Series 1 VRDP Shares are owned by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation on either the Rate Determination Date for such proposed Special Rate Period or on the first day of such Special Rate Period and full cumulative dividends and any amounts due with respect to redemptions payable prior to such date have been paid in full, in each case, on the Series 1 VRDP Shares, and (C) if any Notice of Redemption shall have been provided by the Fund pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement with respect to any shares of such Series, the Redemption Price with respect to such shares shall have been deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent, or (iii) in the case of the designation of a Special Rate Period to succeed a Special Rate Period, notice thereof shall have been given in accordance with paragraph (d)(iii) of this Section 4.

(b)        Adjustment of Length of Special Rate Period. In the event the Fund wishes to designate a Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares as a Special Rate Period, but the day that would otherwise be the last day of such Special Rate Period is a Wednesday that is not a Business Day, then the Special Rate Period shall end on the next Business Day and the succeeding Subsequent Rate Period (if it is a Minimum Rate Period) will end on the following Wednesday, or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

(c)        Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period. If the Fund proposes to designate a Special Rate Period to succeed a Minimum Rate Period pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 4, not less than 20 (or such lesser number of days as may be agreed to from time to time by the Remarketing Agent) nor more than 30 days prior to the date the Fund proposes to designate as the first day of such Special Rate Period (which shall be a day that would otherwise be the first day of a Minimum Rate Period), a notice (a “Notice of Proposed Special Rate Period”) shall be sent by the Fund by Electronic Means (or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, where the Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository) to the Holders of shares of such Series with copies provided to the Remarketing Agent, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider. Each such notice shall state (A) that the Fund may exercise its option to designate a succeeding Subsequent Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares as a Special Rate Period, specifying the first day thereof, (B) that the Fund will, by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day immediately preceding such first day (or by such later time or date, or both, as may be agreed to by the Remarketing Agent) notify the

 

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Remarketing Agent of either (x) its determination, subject to certain conditions, to exercise such option, or (y) its determination not to exercise such option, (C) the Rate Determination Date immediately prior to the first day of such Special Rate Period, (D) that such Special Rate Period shall not commence if (1) any Series 1 VRDP Shares are owned by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation on either the Rate Determination Date for such proposed Special Rate Period or on the first day of such Special Rate Period or (2) full cumulative dividends or any amounts due with respect to redemptions payable prior to such Rate Determination Date have not been paid in full, in each case, on the Series 1 VRDP Shares, (E) the scheduled Dividend Payment Dates for shares of such Series during such Special Rate Period and (F) a description of the Other Special Rate Period Provisions, if any, applicable to shares of such Series in respect of such Special Rate Period.

(d)        Notices in Respect of Special Rate Period. The Fund shall deliver a notice of Special Rate Period (a “Notice of Special Rate Period”) in accordance with paragraph (i), (ii)(A) or (iii) below or a notice that the Fund is electing not to designate a Special Rate Period in accordance with paragraph (ii)(B) below, as applicable:

(i)        In connection with the designation of the Initial Rate Period as a Special Rate Period, pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 4, the Fund shall deliver to the initial purchaser of the Series 1 VRDP Shares a Notice of Special Rate Period setting forth such terms and delivered at such time on or prior to the first day of such Rate Period as shall be agreed by such initial purchaser.

(ii)        In connection with the designation of a Special Rate Period to succeed a Minimum Rate Period pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 4, no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day immediately preceding the first day of such proposed Special Rate Period for the Series 1 VRDP Shares as to which notice has been given as set forth in paragraph (c) of this Section 4 (or such later time or date, or both, as may be agreed to by the Remarketing Agent), the Fund shall deliver to the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider either:

(A)        a Notice of Special Rate Period stating (1) that the Fund has determined to designate the next succeeding Rate Period for shares of such Series as a Special Rate Period, specifying the same and the first day thereof, (2) the Rate Determination Date immediately prior to the first day of such Special Rate Period, (3) that such Special Rate Period shall not commence if (x) any Series 1 VRDP Shares are owned by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation on either such Rate Determination Date or on the first day of such Special Rate Period or (y) full cumulative dividends or any amounts due with respect to redemptions payable, in each case, on Series 1 VRDP Shares, prior to such Rate Determination Date have not been paid in full, (4) the scheduled Dividend Payment Dates for shares of such Series during such Special Rate Period and (5) the Other Special Rate Period Provisions, if any, applicable to shares of such Series in respect of such Special Rate Period; or

(B)         a notice stating that the Fund has determined not to exercise its option to designate a Special Rate Period for shares of such Series and that the next succeeding Rate Period of shares of such Series shall be a Minimum Rate Period.

(iii)        In connection with designation of a Special Rate Period to succeed a Special Rate Period pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 4, the Fund shall deliver a Notice of Special Rate Period as specified in and otherwise in accordance with the Notice of Special Rate Period that designated the Special Rate Period being succeeded.

(e)        Failure to Deliver Notice of Special Rate Period. If the Fund fails to deliver either of the notices described in paragraphs (d)(ii)(A) or (d)(iii) of this Section 4 of any proposed Special Rate Period to the Remarketing Agent, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day immediately preceding the first day of such proposed Special Rate Period (or by such later time or date, or both, as may be agreed to by the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider), the Fund shall be deemed to have delivered a notice to the Remarketing Agent, and the Liquidity Provider with respect to such Special Rate Period to the effect set forth in paragraph (d)(ii)(B) of this Section 4. In the event the Fund delivers to

 

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the Remarketing Agent, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider a notice described in paragraph (d)(ii)(A) of this Section 4, it shall file a copy of such notice with the Secretary of the Fund, and the contents of such notice shall be binding on the Fund.

(f)        Other Special Rate Period Provisions. In connection with any Special Rate Period designated pursuant to this Section 4, the Fund, without the vote or consent of any Holder of Series 1 VRDP Shares, but with the prior written consent of the Liquidity Provider, if any (and to the extent that the Liquidity Provider is appointed as such for such Special Rate Period), may provide for provisions relating solely to such Special Rate Period that differ from those provided in this Statement, including, but not limited to, with respect to the Purchase Obligation, optional tender provisions, mandatory tender provisions, mandatory purchase provisions, the dividend rate setting provisions (including as to the Maximum Rate), and, if the dividend may be determined by reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in which it will be determined, Special Redemption Provisions or other redemption provisions (other than Section 9(b)(i)(A) of this Statement) and modified or new definitions (“Other Special Rate Period Provisions”); provided that such provisions do not affect the parity ranking of Series 1 VRDP Shares relative to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund then outstanding with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(g)        Minimum Rate Period Succeeding a Special Rate Period. The Fund, at its option, may designate the Rate Period (together with succeeding Rate Periods until the establishment of a Subsequent Rate Period as a Special Rate Period) succeeding a Special Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period. Notice thereof shall be delivered in accordance with the Notice of Special Rate Period that designated the Special Rate Period being succeeded by the Minimum Rate Period.

5.           Voting Rights.

(a)        One Vote Per VRDP Share. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration or as otherwise required by law, (i) each Holder of VRDP Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each VRDP Share held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund, and (ii) the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares, including each VRDP Share, and of Common Shares shall vote together as a single class; provided, however, that the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares, including VRDP Shares, voting as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, shall be entitled to elect two trustees of the Fund at all times, each Preferred Share, including each VRDP Share, entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 5, the holders of outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including VRDP Shares, voting together as a single class, shall elect the balance of the trustees.

(b)        Voting for Additional Trustees.

(i)        Voting Period. During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this paragraph (b)(i) shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “Voting Period”), the number of trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be automatically increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the holders of Preferred Shares, including VRDP Shares, would constitute a majority of the Board of Trustees as so increased by such smallest number; and the holders of Preferred Shares, including VRDP Shares, shall be entitled, voting as a class on a one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund), to elect such smallest number of additional trustees, together with the two trustees that such holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:

(A)        if at the close of business on any Dividend Payment Date accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on any outstanding Preferred Shares, including VRDP Shares, equal to at least two full years’ dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities shall not have been deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends; or

 

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(B)    if at any time holders of Preferred Shares are entitled under the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the trustees of the Fund.

Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this paragraph (b)(i) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting rights in the holders of Preferred Shares upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this paragraph (b)(i).

(ii)        Notice of Special Meeting. As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees as described in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5, the Fund shall call a special meeting of such holders, and the Fund shall mail a notice of such special meeting to such holders, such meeting to be held not less than 10 nor more than 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice. If a special meeting is not called by the Fund, it may be called by any such holder on like notice. The record date for determining the holders entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the day on which such notice is mailed. At any such special meeting and at each meeting of holders of Preferred Shares held during a Voting Period at which trustees are to be elected, such holders, voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund), shall be entitled to elect the number of trustees prescribed in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 on a one-vote-per-share basis.

(iii)        Terms of Office of Existing Trustees. The terms of office of all persons who are trustees of the Fund at the time of a special meeting of Holders and holders of other Preferred Shares to elect trustees shall continue, notwithstanding the election at such meeting by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares of the number of trustees that they are entitled to elect, and the persons so elected by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares, together with the two incumbent trustees elected by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares and the remaining incumbent trustees elected by the holders of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, shall constitute the duly elected trustees of the Fund.

(iv)        Terms of Office of Certain Trustees to Terminate Upon Termination of Voting Period. Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional trustees elected by the Holders and holders of other Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 shall terminate, the remaining trustees shall constitute the trustees of the Fund and the voting rights of the Holders and such other holders to elect additional trustees pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5.

(c)        Holders of VRDP Shares to Vote on Certain Other Matters.

(i)        Increases in Capitalization and Certain Amendments. The Board of Trustees, without the vote or consent of the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares, may from time to time authorize and create, and the Fund may from time to time issue additional shares of, any Series of VRDP, including Series 1 VRDP Shares, or any classes or series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund. So long as any Series 1 VRDP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the Series 1 VRDP Shares Outstanding at the time, in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, voting as a separate class: (a) authorize, create or issue any class or series of shares ranking prior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund or (b) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Declaration, or this Statement, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the Holders or the Beneficial Owners thereof; provided, however, that (i) none of the actions permitted by the first sentence of this paragraph (c) or by paragraph (a) of Section 12 of Part I of this Statement will be deemed to so affect such preferences, rights or powers, (ii) a division of a VRDP Share will be deemed to so affect such

 

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preferences, rights or powers only if the terms of such division so affect the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares and (iii) the authorization, creation and issuance of classes or series of shares ranking junior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund will be deemed to so affect such preferences, rights or powers only if such issuance would, at the time thereof, cause the Fund not to satisfy the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage. For purposes of the foregoing, except as otherwise set forth in this Statement, no matter shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect any right, preference or power of the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the Holders thereof unless such matter (i) alters or abolishes any preferential right of such Series; (ii) alters or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such Series; or (iii) creates or alters (other than to abolish or to comply with applicable law) any restriction on transfer applicable to such Series. So long as any Series 1 VRDP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 6623% of the Series 1 VRDP Shares Outstanding at the time, in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, voting as a separate class, file a voluntary application for relief under federal bankruptcy law or any similar application under state law for so long as the Fund is solvent and does not foresee becoming insolvent. If any action set forth above requiring the vote of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares would adversely affect the rights of Series 1 VRDP in a manner different from any other Series of VRDP, the Fund will not approve any such action without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Series 1 VRDP Outstanding at the time, in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (the Series 1 VRDP voting as a separate class). Notwithstanding the foregoing, as set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 8 of Part I of this Statement, the Fund, without the vote, approval or consent of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares or other shareholders of the Fund, has the right to (x) terminate the services of any and all Rating Agencies providing a long-term rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares, and such rating or ratings, to the extent it or they would have been taken into account in any of the provisions in this Statement, will be disregarded (other than the effect of the absence of such ratings for purposes of determining the Maximum Rate) and (y) provide for Other Special Rate Period Provisions in accordance with, but subject to the limitations set forth in, paragraph (f) of Section 4 of Part I of this Statement. No vote of the holders of Common Shares shall be required to amend, alter or repeal the provisions of this Statement.

(ii)        1940 Act Matters. Unless a higher percentage is provided for in the Declaration, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a “majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares,” including VRDP Shares, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required to approve (A) any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (B) any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares and (C) any other action requiring a vote of security holders of the Fund under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. For purposes of the foregoing, “majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares” means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.

(iii)        Exclusive Right to Vote on Certain Matters. Except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, other applicable law or the Declaration, (i) whenever a vote of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares is otherwise required by this Statement, Holders of Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares will be entitled as a Series, to the exclusion of the holders of all other shares, including other Preferred Shares, Common Shares and other classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, to vote on matters affecting Series 1 VRDP Shares only and (ii) Holders of Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares will not be entitled to vote on matters affecting any other Preferred Shares that do not adversely affect any of the rights of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares, as expressly set forth in the Declaration and this Statement.

(d)    Fund May Take Certain Actions Without Shareholder Approval. The Fund is not required to maintain any particular short-term or long-term ratings for the Series 1 VRDP Shares, and, subject only to Section 8 of this Part I, the Fund, without the vote, approval or consent of any holder of Preferred Shares, including any Series of VRDP, or any other shareholder of the Fund, may from time to time adopt, amend, alter or repeal any or all of the definitions contained herein, add covenants and other obligations of the Fund, or confirm the applicability of covenants and other obligations set forth herein, in connection with obtaining, maintaining or changing the rating of any Rating Agency which is then rating the Series 1 VRDP Shares, and any such adoption,

 

23


amendment, alteration or repeal will not be deemed to affect the preferences, rights or powers of Series 1 VRDP Shares, or the Holders thereof.

Subject only to Section 8 of this Part I, the Fund may, at any time, replace a Rating Agency or terminate the services of any Rating Agencies then providing a rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares without replacement, in either case, without the vote, approval or consent of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares or other shareholders of the Fund. In the event a Rating Agency ceases to furnish a long-term rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the Fund terminates the services of a Rating Agency then providing a long-term rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares, such rating, to the extent it would have been taken into account in any of the provisions of the Series 1 VRDP Shares included in this Statement, will be disregarded, and only the ratings of the then-designated Rating Agency or Agencies, if any, will be taken into account (other than the effect of the absence of such ratings for purposes of determining the Maximum Rate).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5 is intended in any way to limit the ability of (i) the Fund to make certain adjustments in the Remarketing Agreement as provided under the definition of “Maximum Rate,” subject to the limitations set forth in such definition, or (ii) the Board of Trustees to amend or alter other provisions of this Statement, without the vote, approval or consent of any Holder of Series 1 VRDP Shares, or any other shareholder of the Fund, as otherwise provided in this Statement.

(e)        Voting Rights Set Forth Herein are Sole Voting Rights. Unless otherwise required by law, the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall not have any voting rights, relative rights or preferences or other special rights other than those specifically set forth herein.

(f)        No Preemptive Rights or Cumulative Voting. The Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares shall have no preemptive rights or rights to cumulative voting.

(g)        Sole Remedy for Fund’s Failure to Pay Dividends. In the event that the Fund fails to pay any dividends on the Series 1 VRDP Shares, the sole remedy of the Holders under this Statement, without limitation of any rights to payment of such dividends or other rights under the Declaration, this Statement and applicable law, shall be the right to vote for trustees pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.

(h)        Holders Entitled to Vote. For purposes of determining any rights of the Holders to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by this Statement, by the other provisions of the Declaration, by statute or otherwise, no Holder shall be entitled to vote any Series 1 VRDP Share and no Series 1 VRDP Share shall be deemed to be “outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently with the time of determination of shares entitled to vote or shares deemed outstanding for quorum purposes, as the case may be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such shares shall have been provided as set forth in paragraph (c) of Section 9 of Part I of this Statement and Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price for the redemption of such shares shall have been deposited in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent for that purpose. Series 1 VRDP Shares owned (legally or beneficially) or controlled by the Fund shall not have any voting rights or be deemed to be Outstanding for voting or for calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other purposes.

6.        Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage. The Fund shall maintain, as of the close of business on the last Business Day of each month on which any Series 1 VRDP Share is Outstanding, the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage.

7.        Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions.

(a)        Dividends on Preferred Shares Other than the Series 1 VRDP Shares. Except as set forth in the next sentence, no dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the shares of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking, as to the payment of dividends, on a parity with the Series 1 VRDP Shares for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid on the shares of each Series of VRDP through its most recent dividend payment date. When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of each Series of VRDP through its most recent dividend payment date or upon the

 

24


shares of any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with VRDP Shares through their most recent respective dividend payment dates, all dividends declared and paid upon VRDP Shares and any other such class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with VRDP Shares shall be declared and paid pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared and paid per share on VRDP Shares and such other class or series of shares of beneficial interest shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the VRDP Shares and such other class or series of shares of beneficial interest bear to each other (for purposes of this sentence, the amount of dividends declared and paid per Series 1 VRDP Share shall be based on the Applicable Rate for such share for the Dividend Periods during which dividends were not paid in full).

(b)        Dividends and Other Distributions With Respect to Common Shares Under the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees shall not declare any dividend (except a dividend payable in Common Shares), or declare any other distribution, upon the Common Shares, or purchase Common Shares, unless in every such case the Preferred Shares have, at the time of any such declaration or purchase, an asset coverage (as defined in and determined pursuant to the 1940 Act) of at least 200% (or such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are shares or stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common shares or stock) after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be.

(c)        Other Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions. For so long as any Series 1 VRDP Share is Outstanding, and except as set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 7 and paragraph (c) of Section 10 of this Part I, the Fund shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of, or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Common Shares or other shares, if any, ranking junior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Fund ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series 1 VRDP Shares as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares or any other such junior shares (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), or any such parity shares (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to or on a parity with Series 1 VRDP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), unless (i) full cumulative dividends on the Series 1 VRDP Shares through the most recently ended Dividend Period therefor shall have been paid or shall have been declared and sufficient funds for the payment thereof deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent and (ii) the Fund has redeemed the full number of Series 1 VRDP Shares required to be redeemed by any provision for mandatory redemption pertaining thereto.

8.        Ratings.

(a)        Short-Term Ratings. The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain at least one short-term rating on the Series 1 VRDP Shares, to the extent that the Liquidity Provider then has a short-term debt rating.

(b)        Long-Term Ratings. The Fund is not required to maintain any, or any particular, long-term ratings for the Series 1 VRDP Shares. To the extent that the Fund does at any time maintain one or more long-term ratings for the Series 1 VRDP Shares from one or more Rating Agencies, the Fund may take any action resulting in a change in, or addition or termination of, any long-term rating for the Series 1 VRDP Shares without the vote, approval or consent of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares or any other shareholders of the Fund. The Rating Agency Guidelines, if any, as they may be amended from time to time by the respective Rating Agency, will be reflected in written documents, including the ratings methodologies of the applicable Rating Agency. The Rating Agency Guidelines may be amended by the respective Rating Agency without the approval of the Fund or its Board of Trustees or any Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares, or any other shareholder of the Fund, and may be changed or eliminated at any time without the vote, approval or consent of Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares or any other shareholders of the Fund, including in connection with the change or termination by the Fund of any or all long-term ratings then applicable to the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

 

25


9.        Redemption.

(a)        Optional Redemption.

(i)        Subject to the provisions of paragraph (iv) of this paragraph (a), the Series 1 VRDP Shares may be redeemed, at the option of the Fund, at any time, as a whole or from time to time in part, out of funds legally available therefor, at a redemption price per share equal to the sum of $100,000 plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that (1) the Series 1 VRDP Shares may not be redeemed in part if after such partial redemption fewer than 50 shares of such Series would remain Outstanding; (2) except as otherwise provided in the Notice of Special Rate Period relating to the Initial Rate Period, shares of Series 1 VRDP are not redeemable by the Fund during the Initial Rate Period; and (3) subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (a), the Notice of Special Rate Period relating to a Special Rate Period for shares of Series 1 VRDP, as delivered to the Remarketing Agent and filed with the Secretary of the Fund, may provide that shares of such Series shall not be redeemable during the whole or any part of such Special Rate Period or shall be redeemable during the whole or any part of such Special Rate Period only upon payment of such redemption premium or premiums as shall be specified therein (“Special Redemption Provisions”).

(ii)        In connection with any Subsequent Rate Period designated as a Special Rate Period, a Notice of Special Rate Period relating to the Series 1 VRDP for such Special Rate Period thereof may contain Special Redemption Provisions only if the Fund’s Board of Trustees, after consultation with the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider (to the extent that the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider are appointed as such for such Special Rate Period), determines that such Special Redemption Provisions are in the best interest of the Fund.

(iii)        If fewer than all of the Outstanding shares of Series 1 VRDP are to be redeemed pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a), the number of shares of such Series to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the Holders of shares of such Series in proportion to the number of shares of such Series held by such Holders or by lot or in such manner as the Fund’s Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable and, in each case, in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities Depository so long as the Series 1 VRDP Shares are held in the book-entry system of the Securities Depository. Subject to the provisions of this Statement and applicable law, the Fund’s Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which Series 1 VRDP Shares will be redeemed from time to time.

(iv)        The Fund may not on any date send a Notice of Redemption pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 9 in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this paragraph (a) unless on such date the Fund has available Deposit Securities with maturity or tender dates not later than the day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and having a Market Value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares by reason of the redemption of such shares on such Redemption Date.

(b)        Mandatory Redemption.

(i)        (A) The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares on December 1, 2043, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) to, but excluding, such date.

(B)        The Fund shall redeem Preferred Shares if the Fund fails to maintain the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage in accordance with this Statement and such failure is not cured on or before the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date. The number of Preferred Shares to be redeemed, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of Preferred Shares of any series, shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the minimum number of Preferred Shares, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately

 

26


prior to the opening of business on the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date, would, together with all other Preferred Shares subject to retirement, result in the Fund’s maintaining the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage on such Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date (provided, however, that, if there is no such minimum number of Preferred Shares the redemption of which would have such result, all VRDP Shares and other Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed) and (ii) the maximum number of Preferred Shares, that can be redeemed out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. To the extent that the Fund redeems VRDP Shares in accordance with the foregoing, the Fund shall allocate the number of VRDP Shares to be redeemed pro rata among each Series of VRDP subject to redemption. The Fund shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be earlier than 10 days nor later than 30 days after the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that, if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption or retirement of all of the required number of VRDP Shares and other Preferred Shares which are subject to redemption or retirement or the Fund otherwise is unable as a result of applicable law to effect such redemption on or prior to 30 days after the Minimum VRDP Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Fund shall redeem those VRDP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem or retire on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption or retirement. The Fund will redeem any Series 1 VRDP Shares at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board of Trustees for redemption.

(C)         Except in the case of a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption, as described below, if fewer than all of the Outstanding shares of Series 1 VRDP are to be redeemed pursuant to this paragraph (b), the number of shares of such Series to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata from the Holders of shares of such Series in proportion to the number of shares of such Series held by such Holders or by lot or in such manner as the Fund’s Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable and, in each case, in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities Depository so long as the Series 1 VRDP Shares are held in the book-entry system of the Securities Depository. Subject to the provisions of this Statement and applicable law, the Fund’s Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which Series 1 VRDP Shares will be redeemed from time to time.

(ii)        (A) In accordance with this Statement and if then required pursuant to the VRDP Fee Agreement, if the Liquidity Provider acquires any Series 1 VRDP Shares pursuant to the Purchase Obligation and continues to be the beneficial owner for federal income tax purposes of such Purchased VRDP Shares for a period of six months during which such Purchased VRDP Shares cannot be successfully remarketed (i.e., a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares shall have occurred and be continuing for such period of time with respect to such Purchased VRDP Shares), the Fund shall effect a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption; provided, that, as of the date of redemption: (i) to the extent any Series 1 VRDP Shares are Outstanding and held by Persons other than the Liquidity Provider, the Purchase Obligation of the Liquidity Provider whose Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption remains in effect to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the VRDP Purchase Agreement to which such Liquidity Provider is a party, and (ii) to the extent (a) any Series 1 VRDP Shares are Outstanding and held by Persons other than the Liquidity Provider and (b) the Purchase Obligation of the Liquidity Provider whose Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption remains in effect to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the VRDP Purchase Agreement to which such Liquidity Provider is a party, the Liquidity Provider whose Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption shall have made written affirmation to the Fund not later than the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date to the effect that the Liquidity Provider is in compliance with the Purchase Obligation in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, any failure or delay by the Liquidity Provider whose Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption to deliver the affirmation referred to in the foregoing proviso shall not relieve the Fund of its obligation to effectuate a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption and shall only result in a delay by the Fund to effectuate a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP

 

27


Shares Redemption until one (1) Business Day following the date that such Liquidity Provider delivers such affirmation or on which such affirmation is no longer required to be delivered. The six-month holding period for Purchased VRDP Shares acquired and held as a result of a continuing Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares shall be determined by the Fund on a first-in, first-out basis. The Fund shall effect a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be later than three Business Days after the expiration of the six-month holding period in respect of the applicable Purchased VRDP Shares, except that if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of Purchased VRDP Shares which are subject to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares Redemption or the Fund otherwise is unable as a result of applicable law to effect such redemption on or prior to three Business Days after the expiration of the applicable six-month holding period, the Fund shall redeem those Series 1 VRDP Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption.

(B)        Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares with respect to any Series 1 VRDP Shares, by the fifth Business Day following delivery of notice thereof from the Liquidity Provider in accordance with the VRDP Fee Agreement, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to segregate, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Liquidation Preference of such Purchased VRDP Shares. If, while the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares with respect to such Purchased VRDP Shares is continuing, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account for such Purchased VRDP Shares as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than 110% of the Liquidation Preference of such Purchased VRDP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Investment Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including segregating additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account for such Purchased VRDP Shares is at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of such Purchased VRDP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund segregated as Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian with a copy to the Liquidity Provider on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments with respect to any Purchased VRDP Shares from such segregation and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (x) the assets of the Fund segregated as Liquidity Account Investments with respect to such Purchased VRDP Shares at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of such Purchased VRDP Shares and (y) the assets of the Fund designated and segregated as Deposit Securities at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to the Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with subparagraph (C) below with respect to such Purchased VRDP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account for any Purchased VRDP Shares, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(C)    Subject to notice having been received as referred to in subparagraph (B) above, the Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account for any Purchased VRDP Shares, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the expiration of the six-month holding period for the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares applicable to such Purchased VRDP Shares (which may result in multiple six month holding periods, each in respect of a Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares in respect of applicable Purchased VRDP Shares) specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference for

 

28


such Purchased VRDP Shares set forth below opposite such day (the “Liquidity Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of paragraph (D) below:

 

Number of Days*
Preceding the Six-Month Anniversary of Liquidity Provider’s
Purchase

 

Value of Deposit Securities
as Percentage of Liquidation Preference

135

  20%

105

  40%

75

  60%

45

  80%

15

  100%

 

*

Or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day

(D)        If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for any Purchased VRDP Shares as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement in respect of such Purchased VRDP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the segregation of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account for such Purchased VRDP Shares, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for such Purchased VRDP Shares is at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for such Purchased VRDP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(E)        The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for any Purchased VRDP Shares may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Redemption Price for such Purchased VRDP Shares. Upon the earlier to occur of (x) the successful Remarketing of the Purchased VRDP Shares or (y) the deposit by the Fund with the Tender and Paying Agent with arrangements satisfactory to the Liquidity Provider of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of such Purchased VRDP Shares on the Redemption Date for such Purchased VRDP Shares, the requirement of the Fund to maintain a Liquidity Account for such Purchased VRDP Shares as contemplated by this Section 9(b)(ii) shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

(F)        The provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (E) of this Section 9(b)(ii) may be amended by the Fund, by resolution of the Board of Trustees duly adopted, without shareholder approval in order to conform to the terms of a VRDP Fee Agreement or as otherwise necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, provided that the Fund receives the prior written consent of the Liquidity Provider.

(iii)        At least six months prior to the scheduled mandatory Redemption Date of December 1, 2043 specified in Section 9(b)(i) above, if any Series 1 VRDP Shares then remain Outstanding, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to segregate in a Liquidity Account (but without duplication of any Liquidity Account then in effect pursuant to Section 9(b)(ii) above), by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund, Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the then Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares. The Fund shall maintain such Liquidity Account in accordance with Section 9(b)(ii)(B), (C) and (D) above and comply with the requirements set forth therein with respect to Liquidity Account Investments and the Liquidity Requirement; provided, that for purposes of this Section 9(b)(iii) all references therein to Purchased VRDP Shares shall be deemed to be to all Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares, all references therein to the Failed Remarketing Condition—Purchased VRDP Shares or the related six-month period shall be deemed to be to the six-month period preceding the scheduled mandatory Redemption Date of December 1, 2043, and the references to notice by the Liquidity Provider shall not be applicable. The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for the Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares may be applied by the Fund, in its

 

29


discretion, towards payment of the Redemption Price for the Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares. Upon the deposit by the Fund with the Tender and Paying Agent with arrangements satisfactory to the Liquidity Provider of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares on the December 1, 2043 Redemption Date for the Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares, the requirement of the Fund to maintain a Liquidity Account for the Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares as contemplated by this Section 9(b)(iii) shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

(c)        Notice of Redemption. If the Fund shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, shares of Series 1 VRDP pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of this Section 9, the Fund will send a notice of redemption (a “Notice of Redemption”), by Electronic Means (or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the case where the Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository), to Holders thereof and the Liquidity Provider or, in the case of a redemption pursuant to paragraph (b)(ii) of this Section 9, only to the Liquidity Provider, or request the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund to promptly do so by Electronic Means (or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the case where the Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository) so long as the Notice of Redemption is furnished by the Fund to the Tender and Paying Agent in electronic format at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date a Notice of Redemption is required to be delivered to the Holders, unless a shorter period of time shall be acceptable to the Tender and Paying Agent. A Notice of Redemption shall be sent to Holders not less than 10 days prior to the date fixed for redemption in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares to be redeemed and the Series thereof; (iii) the CUSIP number for the Series 1 VRDP Shares; (iv) the Redemption Price or, if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof; (v) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s), if any, for such VRDP Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (vi) that dividends on the Series 1 VRDP Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (vii) the provisions of this Statement under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all Series 1 VRDP Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares to be redeemed from such Holder. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Statement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent not otherwise expressly stated herein and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(d)        No Redemption Under Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 9, if any dividends on shares of Series 1 VRDP (whether or not earned or declared) are in arrears, no shares of such Series shall be redeemed unless all Outstanding shares of such Series are simultaneously redeemed, and the Fund shall not purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of such Series; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of all Outstanding shares of such Series pursuant to the successful completion of an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to, and accepted by, Holders of all Outstanding shares of such Series.

(e)        Absence of Funds Available for Redemption. To the extent that any redemption for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by reason of the absence of legally available funds therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable to the extent such funds become available. A failure to redeem Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be deemed to exist at any time after the date specified for redemption in a Notice of Redemption when the Fund shall have failed, for any reason whatsoever, to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares for which such Notice of Redemption has been sent; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply in the case of the Fund’s failure to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (i) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (ii) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that the Fund may not have redeemed Series 1 VRDP Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been

 

30


provided, dividends shall be declared and paid on Series 1 VRDP Shares in accordance with and subject to the conditions of this Statement and shall be included in the Redemption Price in respect of those Series 1 VRDP Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided.

(f)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All moneys paid to the Tender and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of Series 1 VRDP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of shares so to be redeemed.

(g)        Deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent; Shares for Which Notice of Redemption Has Been Given Are No Longer Outstanding. Provided a Notice of Redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 9, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day not less than ten (10) days preceding the Redemption Date specified in such notice, the Fund shall irrevocably deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent an aggregate amount of Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price to be paid on the Redemption Date for the Series 1 VRDP Shares that are subject to such notice. Provided a Notice of Redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 9, upon the deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price to be paid on the Redemption Date for the Series 1 VRDP Shares that are the subject of such notice, dividends on such shares shall cease to accumulate, except as included in the Redemption Price, and such shares shall no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, except as noted below with respect to the VRDP Purchase Agreement, for any purpose, and all rights of the Holders of the shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price, but without any interest or other additional amount, except as provided in paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 of this Part I and in Section 3 of Part I of this Statement. Upon surrender in accordance with the Notice of Redemption of the certificates for any shares so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees shall so require and the Notice of Redemption shall so state), the Redemption Price shall be paid by the Tender and Paying Agent to the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares subject to redemption. In the case that fewer than all of the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued, representing the unredeemed shares, without cost to the Holder thereof. The Fund shall be entitled to receive from the Tender and Paying Agent, promptly after the date fixed for redemption, any cash deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent in excess of (i) the aggregate Redemption Price of the Series 1 VRDP Shares called for redemption on such date and (ii) all other amounts to which Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares called for redemption may be entitled. Any funds so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of 90 days from such Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund, after which time the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares so called for redemption may look only to the Fund for payment of the Redemption Price and all other amounts to which they may be entitled. The Fund shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date fixed for redemption, any interest on the funds so deposited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Series 1 VRDP Shares will be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of the VRDP Purchase Agreement until redeemed by the Fund.

(h)        Compliance With Applicable Law. In effecting any redemption pursuant to this Section 9, the Fund shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption under the 1940 Act and any applicable Massachusetts law, but shall effect no redemption except in accordance with the 1940 Act and any applicable Massachusetts law.

(i)        Only Whole VRDP Shares May Be Redeemed. In the case of any redemption pursuant to this Section 9, only whole Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be redeemed, and in the event that any provision of the Declaration would require redemption of a fractional share, the Tender and Paying Agent shall be authorized to round up so that only whole shares are redeemed.

(j)        Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the Series 1 VRDP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the Series 1 VRDP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent. Furthermore, if in the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees, after consultation with counsel, modification of the foregoing redemption provisions are permissible under the rules and regulations or

 

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interpretations of the SEC and the Code (including in respect of the treatment of the Series 1 VRDP Shares as stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with respect to the redemption of Series 1 VRDP Shares owned by the Liquidity Provider, the Fund, without shareholder approval, by resolution of the Board of Trustees, may modify such redemption procedures.

10.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)        Ranking. The shares of Series 1 VRDP shall rank on a parity with each other, with shares of any other Series of VRDP and with shares of any other series of Preferred Shares as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(b)        Distributions Upon Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares then Outstanding shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to its shareholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Shares or on any other class of shares of the Fund ranking junior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference with respect to such shares plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) accumulated but unpaid to (but not including) the date of final distribution in same day funds, together with any payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3 of Part I of this Statement in connection with the liquidation of the Fund. After the payment to the Holders of the Series 1 VRDP Shares of the full preferential amounts provided for in this paragraph (b), the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Fund.

(c)        Pro Rata Distributions. In the event the assets of the Fund available for distribution to the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 10, no such distribution shall be made on account of Series 1 VRDP or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the Series 1 VRDP Shares, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares and all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

(d)        Rights of Junior Shares. Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any other series or class or classes of shares ranking on a parity with the Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, after payment shall have been made in full to the Holders of the Series 1 VRDP Shares as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 10, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of shares ranking junior to the Series 1 VRDP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the Holders of the Series 1 VRDP Shares shall not be entitled to share therein.

(e)        Certain Events Not Constituting Liquidation. Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property or business of the Fund, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Fund into or with any business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity into or with the Fund shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 10.

11.        Purchase Obligation. As long as Series 1 VRDP Shares are Outstanding, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 4 of Part I of this Statement in connection with a Special Rate Period, the Fund shall maintain a VRDP Purchase Agreement providing for a Purchase Obligation with a Liquidity Provider with short-term debt ratings in one of the two highest ratings categories from the Requisite NRSROs or such other short-term debt ratings, if any, as may be required for the Series 1 VRDP Shares to satisfy the eligibility criteria under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act on an ongoing basis to the extent that the Fund can do so on a commercially reasonable basis as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees. If the Fund maintains a VRDP Purchase Agreement

 

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providing a Purchase Obligation, the provisions herein relating to the Liquidity Provider shall be operative and the following shall apply:

(a)        The Fund shall notify, or cause the Tender and Paying Agent to notify, Holders by Electronic Means, or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the case in which Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository, (A) of the occurrence of a Mandatory Tender Event or Mandatory Purchase Event, (B) in the event that there is a substitute Liquidity Provider (including, but not limited to, as to the Liquidity Provider, its consolidation or amalgamation with, or merger with and into, another entity, or the transfer of all or substantially all of the Liquidity Provider’s assets to another entity), such notice to be provided at least seven days’ prior to any such substitution, or (C) of any downgrade in the short-term or long-term rating of the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the short-term rating of the Liquidity Provider by an NRSRO then rating the Series 1 VRDP Shares or the Liquidity Provider, as applicable.

(b)        In the event of a Failed Remarketing Condition, the Fund will require in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement that the Tender and Paying Agent will notify the Fund and Holders by telephone or Electronic Means, or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the case in which Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository, of such Failed Remarketing Condition.

(c)        Each Series 1 VRDP Share shall be subject to Tender to the Tender and Paying Agent for Remarketing on the related Purchase Date or, in the event (i) no Remarketing occurs or (ii) pursuant to an attempted Remarketing shares remain unsold and the Remarketing Agent does not purchase for its own account the unsold Series 1 VRDP Shares tendered to the Tender and Paying Agent for Remarketing (provided that the Remarketing Agent may seek to sell such Series 1 VRDP Shares in a subsequent Remarketing prior to the Purchase Date), for purchase by the Liquidity Provider on such Purchase Date pursuant to a Final Notice of Purchase. If there is no Tender and Paying Agent or the Tender and Paying Agent does not perform such obligation pursuant to the VRDP Purchase Agreement, Beneficial Owners and their Agent Members shall have the right to tender their Series 1 VRDP Shares directly to the Liquidity Provider pursuant to a Final Notice of Purchase. In the event there is no Tender and Paying Agent or for any reason the Tender and Paying Agent does not, or in the reasonable judgment of the Fund will not, perform its obligations under the VRDP Purchase Agreement, the Fund (i) upon becoming aware thereof, shall promptly notify the Liquidity Provider, the Remarketing Agent and the Holders by Electronic Means of such event, and (ii) so long as such event is continuing, shall use its best efforts to direct the Remarketing Agent to forward, concurrently with the delivery thereof to the Liquidity Provider or as promptly as practicable thereafter, any Remarketing Notice to each Beneficial Owner or Holder tendering Series 1 VRDP Shares that are the subject of such notice.

(d)        The Fund will require in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement that, pursuant to a Tender, Series 1 VRDP Shares that are not sold in a Remarketing will be tendered by the Tender and Paying Agent to the Liquidity Provider for payment of the Purchase Price on the Purchase Date pursuant to the VRDP Purchase Agreement.

(e)        Except as set forth in Section 9(b)(ii) of Part I of this Statement in connection with a mandatory redemption of Series 1 VRDP Shares, the Fund shall have no obligation to purchase Series 1 VRDP Shares acquired by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the VRDP Purchase Agreement or otherwise.

(f)        Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to Mandatory Purchase by the Liquidity Provider upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Purchase Event. Promptly following the occurrence of a Mandatory Purchase Event, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, the Fund, or the Tender and Paying Agent at the direction of the Fund (provided, that the Tender and Paying Agent may require up to two (2) Business Days prior notification by Electronic Means by the Fund), shall provide a Mandatory Purchase Notice by Electronic Means to the Holders and the Liquidity Provider, specifying a Mandatory Purchase Date for all Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares. The Mandatory Purchase Date shall not be later than seven days following the date a Mandatory Purchase Notice is sent to Holders by Electronic Means, and in any event shall be not later than the Business Day immediately preceding the termination of the VRDP Purchase Agreement. Any notice given in respect of a Mandatory Purchase under this Statement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holders or Beneficial Owners receive such notice. Upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Purchase Event, all Outstanding Series

 

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1 VRDP Shares automatically shall be subject to Mandatory Purchase by the Liquidity Provider at the Purchase Price on the Mandatory Purchase Date, including any Series 1 VRDP Shares tendered pursuant to an Optional Tender or Mandatory Tender for which the Purchase Date has not yet occurred.

(g)        In the event Series 1 VRDP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder fails to deliver such Series 1 VRDP Shares to which a Mandatory Purchase relates, on or prior to the Mandatory Purchase Date, the Holder of such Series 1 VRDP Shares will not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares as of the scheduled Purchase Date. Any such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent, and the Tender and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares. Any moneys held by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be held in a separate account, shall not be invested, and shall be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares. The undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement Series 1 VRDP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(h)        The Fund shall use its best efforts to engage at all times a Tender and Paying Agent to perform the duties specified in this Statement, the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement and the VRDP Purchase Agreement with respect to the Tender and Paying Agent.

The provisions of paragraphs (a) through (g) of this Section 11 may be amended by the Board of Trustees, by resolution duly adopted, without shareholder approval in order to conform to a VRDP Purchase Agreement providing a Purchase Obligation.

12.        Miscellaneous.

(a)        Amendment of or Supplements to this Statement. The Board of Trustees may, by resolution duly adopted, without shareholder approval (except as otherwise provided by this Statement or required by applicable law), amend or supplement this Statement to (1) reflect any amendments or supplements hereto which the Board of Trustees is entitled to adopt pursuant to the terms of this Statement without shareholder approval or (2) provide for the issuance of additional shares of Series 1 VRDP (and terms relating thereto) or (3) replace the LIBOR Rate as provided in the definition thereof or (4) replace the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index as provided in the definition thereof. Each such additional share of Series 1 VRDP shall be governed by the terms of this Statement as so amended or supplemented.

(b)        No Fractional Shares. No fractional Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be issued.

(c)        Status of VRDP Shares Redeemed, Exchanged or Otherwise Acquired by the Fund. Series 1 VRDP Shares which are redeemed, exchanged or otherwise acquired by the Fund shall return to the status of authorized and unissued Preferred Shares without designation as to series, provided, however, that any Series 1 VRDP Shares which are provisionally delivered by the Fund to or for the account of an agent of the Fund or to or for the account of a purchaser of such Series 1 VRDP Shares, but for which final payment is not received by the Fund, shall return to the status of authorized and unissued Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(d)        Purchase Obligation Part of VRDP Shares. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner, by virtue of acquiring Series 1 VRDP Shares, is deemed to have agreed, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat the Purchase Obligation as part of the Series 1 VRDP Shares rather than as a separate property right.

(e)        Treatment of VRDP Shares as Stock. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner, by virtue of acquiring Series 1 VRDP Shares, is deemed to have agreed, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat the Series 1 VRDP Shares as stock in the Fund.

 

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(f)        Board May Resolve Ambiguities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board of Trustees may interpret or adjust the provisions of this Statement to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to remedy any formal defect.

(g)        Headings Not Determinative. The headings contained in this Statement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Statement.

(h)        Notices. All notices or communications, unless otherwise specified in the by-laws of the Fund or this Statement, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by Electronic Means or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid.

PART II

1.        Remarketing Procedures.

(a)        Pursuant to an Optional Tender, Beneficial Owners may elect to tender their Series 1 VRDP Shares (in denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples thereof) for Remarketing at the Purchase Price on the Purchase Date designated in a Notice of Tender (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day). Each Notice of Tender shall be irrevocable (except as described below) and effective upon receipt and shall:

(i)        be delivered by a Beneficial Owner, directly or through its Agent Member, by email transmission (or, if email transmission shall be unavailable, by facsimile transmission), to the Tender and Paying Agent not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day;

(ii)        state the series and the aggregate number of Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased, the CUSIP number of the Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased, and the Purchase Date and be in substantially the form of and contain such other information specified in an exhibit to the VRDP Purchase Agreement; and

(iii)        state that the tendering Beneficial Owner acknowledges that such Beneficial Owner is required to deliver the Series 1 VRDP Shares that are the subject of a Notice of Tender (that has not been duly revoked as described below) on or before 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date.

(b)        Upon receipt of a Notice of Tender, the Tender and Paying Agent shall provide a copy to the Liquidity Provider and the Remarketing Agent (with a copy to the Fund) as promptly as practicable by Electronic Means, but no later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of receipt or deemed receipt.

(c)        Any Notice of Tender delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member after 2:00 p.m., New York City time, shall be deemed to have been received by the Tender and Paying Agent on the next succeeding Business Day, and the Purchase Date shall be adjusted such that the Purchase Date shall be the Business Day next succeeding the date specified as the Purchase Date in the relevant Notice of Tender.

(d)        The determination of the Tender and Paying Agent as to whether a Notice of Tender has been properly delivered pursuant to the foregoing in paragraph (a)(i) and (ii) shall be conclusive and binding upon the Beneficial Owner and its Agent Member.

(e)        (i) Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to Mandatory Tender upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Tender Event.

(ii)        Promptly following the occurrence of a Mandatory Tender Event, and in any event within three (3) Business Days thereafter, the Fund, or the Tender and Paying Agent at the direction of the Fund (provided, that the Tender and Paying Agent may require up to two (2) Business Days prior

 

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notification by Electronic Means by the Fund), shall provide a Mandatory Tender Notice by Electronic Means to Holders, the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider, specifying a Purchase Date for all Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares. Any notice given in respect of a Mandatory Tender under this Statement will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holders or Beneficial Owners receive such notice.

(iii)        Upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Tender Event, all Outstanding Series 1 VRDP Shares automatically shall be subject to Mandatory Tender and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent for purchase on the designated Purchase Date by purchasers in the Remarketing in the event of a successful Remarketing or otherwise by the Liquidity Provider, including any Series 1 VRDP Shares previously tendered pursuant to an Optional Tender for which the Purchase Date has not yet occurred. In the event that Series 1 VRDP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder of Series 1 VRDP Shares fails to deliver such Series 1 VRDP Shares to which a Mandatory Tender relates on or prior to the Purchase Date, the Holder of such Series 1 VRDP Shares shall not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares as of the scheduled Purchase Date. Any such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent, and the Tender and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares. Any moneys held by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares will be held in a separate account by the Tender and Paying Agent, will not be invested, and will be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares. The undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares will be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement Series 1 VRDP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(f)    A Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member that delivered a Notice of Tender in connection with an Optional Tender may deliver in writing by email transmission (or if email transmission shall be unavailable, by facsimile transmission) to the Tender and Paying Agent, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on or prior to the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date, a notice to the effect that such Beneficial Owner wishes to revoke its election to tender some or all of the Series 1 VRDP Shares that were specified in such Notice of Tender to be purchased (a “Notice of Revocation”). Any Notice of Revocation delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent shall be promptly delivered by Electronic Means by the Tender and Paying Agent to the Liquidity Provider and the Remarketing Agent (with a copy to the Fund) by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Purchase Date. The Remarketing Agent (following receipt of such Notice of Revocation) shall notify the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider of the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares specified in such Notice of Revocation that are subject to an agreement of sale pursuant to a Remarketing by Electronic Means not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date. The Tender and Paying Agent will contact the Remarketing Agent by Electronic Means by 1:45 p.m., New York City time, if such notification has not been received by that time. The Tender and Paying Agent shall deliver such notification to the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member promptly following receipt from the Remarketing Agent, and in any event by 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date. Any such Notice of Revocation shall be effective (without further action on the part of the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member) as a revocation of the Optional Tender of the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares specified therein as being sought to be revoked, but (except as set forth below) only if and to the extent that the Remarketing Agent has not entered into an agreement to sell such Series 1 VRDP Shares. A Notice of Revocation shall be effective as to the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares specified therein as having been revoked less the number of such Series 1 VRDP Shares in respect of which the Remarketing Agent has so notified the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider that it has entered into an agreement of sale. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares, if any, unsold and in respect of which the Remarketing Agent has not entered into an agreement of sale at or after the time of receipt by the Remarketing Agent of a Notice of Revocation may, at the discretion of the Remarketing Agent, be allocated by the Remarketing Agent to such Notice of Revocation and (y) tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares, if any, that remain unsold on the related Purchase Date shall be allocated by the Remarketing Agent to each Notice of Revocation received in respect of Series 1 VRDP Shares tendered for purchase on such Purchase Date and not already satisfied in the chronological order in which each such Notice of Revocation was received by the Tender and Paying Agent, and each such Notice

 

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of Revocation shall be effective only to the extent of such allocation and availability of unsold Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(g)        Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 4 of Part I of this Statement in connection with a Special Rate Period, the Fund shall use its best efforts to engage at all times a Remarketing Agent that is a nationally recognized securities dealer with expertise in remarketing variable-rate securities to use its best efforts to remarket all Series 1 VRDP Shares properly tendered pursuant to a Tender in accordance with Part II of this Statement.

2.        Remarketing Schedule.

(a)        In connection with any attempted Remarketing, all tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be remarketed at the Purchase Price of such Series 1 VRDP Shares. The calculation of the Purchase Price of the Series 1 VRDP Shares that are remarketed or purchased by the Liquidity Provider shall be made by the Remarketing Agent in advance of such Remarketing or purchase and, together with the details of the aggregate number and Purchase Price of remarketed Series 1 VRDP Shares and the aggregate number and Purchase Price of Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Purchase Obligation, shall be communicated by the Remarketing Agent to the Fund, the Liquidity Provider and the Tender and Paying Agent by Electronic Means by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date, as described below. The proceeds of the sale of any remarketed Series 1 VRDP Shares by the Remarketing Agent relating to tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares shall be used by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of the tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares at the Purchase Price, and the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Remarketing Agent to be received by the Tender and Paying Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the related Purchase Date for payment to the Agent Member of the Beneficial Owner, in the case of an Optional Tender, or Holder, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, tendering Series 1 VRDP Shares for sale through the Securities Depository in immediately available funds against delivery of the tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares to the Tender and Paying Agent through the Securities Depository, the delivery of such Series 1 VRDP Shares to the Tender and Paying Agent through the Securities Depository no later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Purchase Date, and the re-delivery of such Series 1 VRDP Shares by means of “FREE” delivery through the Securities Depository to the Remarketing Agent for delivery to the purchaser’s Agent Member through the Securities Depository by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Purchase Date.

(b)        By 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding each Purchase Date, the Remarketing Agent shall deliver a notice to the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider (a “Remarketing Notice”), by Electronic Means, that sets forth the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares, if any, that it successfully remarketed for purchase on such Purchase Date and the aggregate Purchase Price of such sold Series 1 VRDP Shares and the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares, if any, not successfully remarketed for purchase on such Purchase Date and the aggregate Purchase Price of such unsold Series 1 VRDP Shares to be paid by the Liquidity Provider. If the Remarketing Notice states that the Remarketing Agent has not successfully remarketed all of the Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased on such Purchase Date, the Tender and Paying Agent will promptly, and in any event not later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Business Day, deliver by Electronic Means to the Liquidity Provider (with a copy to the Fund) a Preliminary Notice of Purchase that, subject to delivery of the Final Notice of Purchase on the Purchase Date described below, provides for the purchase by the Liquidity Provider of the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares that the Remarketing Agent stated in the Remarketing Notice as not having been successfully remarketed, including the aggregate Purchase Price of such Series 1 VRDP Shares, as calculated by the Remarketing Agent. If the Remarketing Notice states that the Remarketing Agent has not successfully remarketed all of the Series 1 VRDP Shares to be purchased on such Purchase Date (or if Remarketing proceeds for any tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares have not been received for any reason by the Tender and Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date), the Tender and Paying Agent will deliver by Electronic Means to the Liquidity Provider (with a copy to the Fund) by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such Purchase Date a Final Notice of Purchase that states the number of Series 1 VRDP Shares required to be purchased by the Liquidity Provider. For purposes of the Final Notice of Purchase, any tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares for which Remarketing proceeds have not been received for any reason by the Tender and Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date (other than VRDP Shares owned by the Liquidity Provider and tendered for Remarketing), shall be treated as not having been successfully remarketed and shall be required to

 

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be purchased by the Liquidity Provider. Except for manifest error, the payment obligation of the Liquidity Provider shall equal the Purchase Price of the Series 1 VRDP Shares stated in the Final Notice of Purchase delivered to the Liquidity Provider as being required to be purchased by the Liquidity Provider.

(c)        The Liquidity Provider shall, no later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Purchase Date for any Series 1 VRDP Shares, wire transfer the aggregate Purchase Price of all Series 1 VRDP Shares in respect of which Final Notices of Purchase have been delivered to it for purchase on such date, as follows: (i) in the case of a Final Notice of Purchase delivered by the Tender and Paying Agent, by wire transfer, in immediately available funds, to the account of the Tender and Paying Agent specified by the Tender and Paying Agent in any such Final Notice of Purchase; and (ii) in the case of a Final Notice of Purchase delivered by a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member, in the case of an Optional Tender, or by a Holder, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, in the event there is no Tender and Paying Agent or for any reason the Tender and Paying Agent does not perform its obligations under the VRDP Purchase Agreement and the Liquidity Provider has received a Remarketing Notice that such Series 1 VRDP Shares have not been the subject of an agreement of sale in a Remarketing and has received written notice from the Fund that there is no Tender and Paying Agent or that the Tender and Paying Agent does not intend to perform its obligations under the VRDP Purchase Agreement, by payment against delivery of the Series 1 VRDP Shares that are the subject of any such Final Notice of Purchase, in each case, through means of the Securities Depository in the case of Series 1 VRDP Shares in the form of global securities.

(d)        Upon receipt by the Tender and Paying Agent from the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member, in the case of an Optional Tender, or from the Holder, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, of tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares and the payment by the Tender and Paying Agent to such Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member, or such Holder, as the case may be, of the Purchase Price therefor on the applicable Purchase Date, the Tender and Paying Agent shall deliver to the Liquidity Provider, by means of “FREE” delivery through the system of the Securities Depository, Series 1 VRDP Shares in satisfaction of the Liquidity Provider’s Purchase Obligation on such Purchase Date. Any funds paid by the Liquidity Provider and held in the account of the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of the Purchase Price shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Liquidity Provider until the Series 1 VRDP Shares are delivered, against payment therefor, by the tendering Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, in the case of an Optional Tender, or by the tendering Holder, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, or returned to the Liquidity Provider. Any funds paid by the Remarketing Agent and held in an account of the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of the Purchase Price in connection with a Remarketing shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Remarketing Agent on account of purchasers purchasing in a Remarketing until the Series 1 VRDP Shares are delivered, against payment therefor, by the tendering Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, in the case of an Optional Tender, or by the tendering Holders, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, or returned to the Remarketing Agent on account of purchasers purchasing in a Remarketing. Upon receipt of Series 1 VRDP Shares from the tendering Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, in the case of an Optional Tender, or from the tendering Holders, in the case of a Mandatory Tender, by the Tender and Paying Agent, the Tender and Paying Agent shall pay, subject to receipt of the Purchase Price by the Tender and Paying Agent in the form of Remarketing proceeds from the Remarketing Agent, with respect to Series 1 VRDP Shares successfully remarketed by the Remarketing Agent, or in the form of payment pursuant to the VRDP Purchase Agreement from the Liquidity Provider, with respect to Series 1 VRDP Shares subject to purchase pursuant to the Purchase Obligation, the Purchase Price for such Series 1 VRDP Shares to the relevant tendering Beneficial Owners, Agent Members or Holders, as the case may be. In accordance with and subject to the foregoing, the Tender and Paying Agent shall effect any such payment on the applicable Purchase Date.

(e)        Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the purchase and delivery of tendered Series 1 VRDP Shares in the form of global securities, the Remarketing or purchase by the Liquidity Provider thereof, and payments with respect to the foregoing, will be accomplished in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Securities Depository.

(f)        The Remarketing Agent and the Tender and Paying Agent each shall use commercially reasonable efforts to meet the timing requirements set forth above. At any time that no Purchase Obligation is in effect (or with respect to a Remarketing of Series 1 VRDP Shares held by the Liquidity Provider as to which any then-effective Purchase Obligation by a successor liquidity provider is inapplicable), any Series 1 VRDP Shares unsold in a Remarketing shall be returned to the relevant tendering Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, or

 

38


the relevant tendering Holders, as the case may be, by the Tender and Paying Agent. The Remarketing Agent may, in its sole discretion, modify the settlement procedures set forth above with respect to any Remarketing upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Fund, the Liquidity Provider and the Tender and Paying Agent, provided any such modification does not adversely affect the Holders, the Beneficial Owners, the Tender and Paying Agent, the Liquidity Provider or the Fund. The Remarketing Agent may sell Series 1 VRDP Shares for its own account outside of a Remarketing at a price other than the Purchase Price.

(g)        In connection with the allocation of Series 1 VRDP tendered for Remarketing by the Liquidity Provider and any other Holder or Beneficial Owner of shares of Series 1 VRDP in any Remarketing, the Remarketing Agent shall allocate those shares of Series 1 VRDP previously acquired by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to its Purchase Obligation first to any purchasers in a Remarketing (such allocation coming first from those shares of Series 1 VRDP acquired earliest by the Liquidity Provider).

3.        Determination of Applicable Rate.

(a)        The Applicable Rate shall be determined by the Remarketing Agent on and as of each Rate Determination Date as the lowest rate under then-existing market conditions that in the Remarketing Agent’s sole judgment would result in the Series 1 VRDP Shares on the first day of the Subsequent Rate Period next succeeding the Rate Determination Date having a market value equal to the Liquidation Preference thereof (plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared). Such determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the interested parties. The Applicable Rate shall not exceed the Maximum Rate.

(b)        The Remarketing Agent shall establish the Applicable Rate by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Rate Determination Date to the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) of one percent per annum for the Subsequent Rate Period. The Applicable Rate shall be in effect from and including the first day following such Rate Determination Date to and including the following Rate Determination Date. The Remarketing Agent shall make the Applicable Rate available after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Rate Determination Date by Electronic Means to the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Liquidity Provider and post the Applicable Rate on Bloomberg.

(c)        In the event that the Remarketing Agent establishes the Maximum Rate as the Applicable Rate for a Subsequent Rate Period, the Remarketing Agent shall notify the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent. The Fund will require in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement that the Tender and Paying Agent will notify the Liquidity Provider and the Holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares by first class mail, postage prepaid (in the case of physical shares outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository), or Electronic Means (in the case of Series 1 VRDP Shares in the form of global securities), that the Applicable Rate for the Subsequent Rate Period is the Maximum Rate.

(d)        In the event the Remarketing Agent does not or is unable to determine the Applicable Rate, or if there is no Remarketing Agent, the Applicable Rate shall be the Maximum Rate.

(e)        In the event of a Failed Remarketing Condition, the Applicable Rate as of the close of business on the day the Failed Remarketing Condition first occurs will be adjusted to the Maximum Rate (with the Applicable Spread subject to adjustment as set forth in the definition of Applicable Spread) and the Maximum Rate will continue to be the Applicable Rate (i) until the first day of the next succeeding Subsequent Rate Period after a Failed Remarketing Condition no longer exists in the case of a Minimum Rate Period, and (ii) as may be provided in the Notice of Special Rate Period in the case of a Special Rate Period.

4.        Failed Remarketing Condition. In the event of a Failed Remarketing Condition, pursuant to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, the Tender and Paying Agent shall provide notice of a Failed Remarketing Condition, promptly but in any event within two (2) Business Days of receipt by the Tender and Paying Agent of notice from the Fund of the occurrence of such Failed Remarketing Condition, by Electronic Means (or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the case where the Series 1 VRDP Shares are in physical form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository) to the Holders (with a copy to the Fund).

 

39


5.        Purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares by Remarketing Agent. The Remarketing Agent in its sole discretion may purchase for its own account Series 1 VRDP Shares in a Remarketing; however, the Remarketing Agent shall not be obligated to purchase any Series 1 VRDP Shares that would otherwise remain unsold in a Remarketing. None of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Remarketing Agent shall be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment to a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member or a Holder upon such Beneficial Owner’s or Holder’s tender of its Series 1 VRDP Shares in a Remarketing unless, in each case, such Series 1 VRDP Shares were acquired for the account of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Remarketing Agent.

6.        Notification of Allocations. Whenever the Fund intends to include any net capital gains or ordinary income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes in any dividend on the Series 1 VRDP Shares, the Fund shall (except as provided below) notify the Remarketing Agent and Tender and Paying Agent of the amount to be so included (i) not later than 14 calendar days preceding the first Rate Determination Date on which the Applicable Rate for such dividend is to be established, and (ii) for any successive Rate Determination Date on which the Applicable Rate for such dividend is to be established, not later than the close of business on the immediately preceding Rate Determination Date. Whenever such notice is received from the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent will notify each Holder and the Remarketing Agent will notify each potential Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member. With respect to a Rate Period for which such advance notice was given and whose dividends are comprised partly of such ordinary income or capital gains and partly of exempt-interest income, the different types of income will be paid in the same relative proportions for each day during the Rate Period. The Fund may also include such ordinary income or capital gains in a dividend on shares of Series 1 VRDP without giving advance notice thereof if it increases the dividends by an additional amount calculated as if such income was a Taxable Allocation and the additional amount was a Gross-up Payment, provided the Fund will notify the Tender and Paying Agent of the additional amounts to be included in such dividend at least five Business Days prior to the applicable Dividend Payment Date.

7.        Transfers.

(a)        Unless otherwise permitted by the Fund, a Beneficial Owner or Holder may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of Series 1 VRDP Shares only in whole shares and only pursuant to a Remarketing in accordance with the Remarketing Procedures, provided, however, that (a) a sale, transfer or other disposition of Series 1 VRDP Shares from a Beneficial Owner who holds shares through an Agent Member to another Beneficial Owner who holds shares through the same Agent Member shall be permitted, and (b) in the case of all transfers other than pursuant to Remarketings, the Agent Member (or other Person, if permitted by the Fund) to whom such transfer is made shall advise the Remarketing Agent. The Fund has not registered the Series 1 VRDP Shares under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Series 1 VRDP Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale and may only be purchased by and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any successor provision) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any successor provision or any exemption from registration available and otherwise in accordance with the legend set forth on the face of the Series 1 VRDP Shares.

(b)        The Investment Adviser, affiliated persons of the Investment Adviser (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) (other than the Fund, in the case of a purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares which are to be cancelled within 10 days of purchase by the Fund), and Persons over which the Investment Adviser, or affiliated persons of the Investment Adviser (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act), exercise discretionary investment or voting authority (other than the Fund, in the case of a purchase of Series 1 VRDP Shares which are to be cancelled within 10 days of purchase by the Fund), are not permitted to purchase, directly or indirectly, Series 1 VRDP Shares without the prior written consent of the Liquidity Provider, and any such purchases without such consent shall be void ab initio; provided, however, that the Fund shall give prompt notice to Beneficial Owners by Electronic Means upon any of the foregoing Persons, singly or in the aggregate, acquiring a beneficial interest in 20% or more of the Series 1 VRDP Shares; provided, further, that, without regard to the preceding requirements, purchases of Series 1 VRDP Shares may be made by broker-dealers that are affiliated persons of the Investment Adviser in riskless principal transactions with respect to such purchases of Series 1 VRDP Shares.

 

40


(c)        If at any time the Fund is not furnishing information to the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in order to preserve the exemption for resales and transfers under Rule 144A, the Fund shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to holders of Series 1 VRDP Shares and prospective purchasers of Series 1 VRDP Shares, upon request, information with respect to the Fund satisfying the requirements of subsection (d)(4) of Rule 144A.

8.        Global Certificate.

So long as any share of Series 1 VRDP shall be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of the Securities Depository or its nominee, no registration of transfer of such share of Series 1 VRDP shall be made on the books of the Fund to any Person other than the Securities Depository or its nominee.

 

41


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund has caused these presents to be signed as of June 18, 2019, in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer and attested by its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and such officers of the Fund have executed this Statement as officers and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Statement are not binding upon any such officers, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Cedric H. Antosiewicz                

 

Name: Cedric H. Antosiewicz

 

Title:   Chief Administrative Officer

 

ATTEST:

/s/ Mark L. Winget

Name: Mark L. Winget

Title:   Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Statement (NVG Series 1)

Exhibit a.8

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD

(DESIGNATING THE SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD SUCCEEDING THE INITIAL RATE PERIOD AS

A MINIMUM RATE PERIOD FOR SERIES 1

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES)

(NVG)


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD

(effective date: June 20, 2019)

(DESIGNATING THE SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD SUCCEEDING THE INITIAL RATE PERIOD AS

A MINIMUM RATE PERIOD FOR SERIES 1

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES)

This Notice of Subsequent Rate Period (this “Notice”) designates the Subsequent Rate Period succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period commencing June 20, 2019 (the “New Rate Period Commencement Date”) for the Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (the “Series 1 VRDP Shares”).

In accordance with the Amended and Restated Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares effective June 20, 2019 (the “Statement”), except for Subsequent Rate Periods established as Special Rate Periods in accordance with Section 4 of Part I of the Statement, each Subsequent Rate Period commencing on or after the effective date of this Notice shall be a Minimum Rate Period. As provided in the Statement, effective as of the New Rate Period Commencement Date, the terms of the Series 1 VRDP Shares for the Minimum Rate Periods shall be as set forth in the Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Statement.    

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, having duly adopted this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period, has caused these presents to be signed as of June 20, 2019 in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period are not binding upon such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT
INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Cedric H Antosiewicz

 

Name: Cedric H Antosiewicz

 

Title:   Chief Administrative Officer

Signature Page to Notice of Subsequent Rate Period (NVG Series 1)

Exhibit a.12

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD

(DESIGNATING THE SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD SUCCEEDING THE INITIAL RATE PERIOD AS

A MINIMUM RATE PERIOD FOR SERIES 4

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES)

(NVG)


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD

(effective date: June 21, 2018)

(DESIGNATING THE SUBSEQUENT RATE PERIOD SUCCEEDING THE INITIAL RATE PERIOD AS

A MINIMUM RATE PERIOD FOR SERIES 4

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES)

This Notice of Subsequent Rate Period (this “Notice”) designates the Subsequent Rate Period succeeding the Initial Rate Period as a Minimum Rate Period commencing June 21, 2018 for the Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (the “Series 4 VRDP Shares”).

In accordance with the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares effective June 16, 2016, as amended (the “Statement”), except for Subsequent Rate Periods established as Special Rate Periods in accordance with Section 4 of the Statement, each Subsequent Rate Period commencing on or after the effective date of this Notice shall be a Minimum Rate Period. As provided in the Statement and Section 3.2(b) of the Notice of Special Rate Period (Designating the Initial Rate Period as a Special Rate Period for Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares), effective the date hereof, the terms of the Series 4 VRDP Shares for the Minimum Rate Periods shall be as set forth in the Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Statement.    

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, having duly adopted this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period, has caused these presents to be signed as of June 21, 2018 in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Notice of Subsequent Rate Period are not binding upon such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT
INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Cedric H. Antosiewicz

 

Name: Cedric H Antosiewicz

 

Title:   Chief Administrative Officer

Exhibit a.13

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING

THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES 4

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES (“VRDP”)


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING

THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES 4

VARIABLE RATE DEMAND PREFERRED SHARES (“VRDP”)

(the “Original Statement”)

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that the Board of Trustees of the Fund, having determined that the amendments to the Original Statement set forth in Section 2 below do not materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of the Series 4 VRDP Shares or the Holders or the Beneficial Owners thereof as contemplated by Section 5(c)(i) of the Original Statement, the Board of Trustees has, by resolution, authorized the amendments to the Original Statement set forth in Section 2 below.

Section 1.      Definitions.

(a) Terms used in this amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Original Statement.

(b) The Original Statement as amended (i) by Amendment No. 1 thereto, effective June 21, 2018, and (ii) hereby is hereinafter referred to as the “Statement.”

Section 2.       Amendments.

 

  (a)

The definition of “VRDP Fee Agreement” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Statement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

   

VRDP Fee Agreement” means the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Fee Agreement with respect to the Series 4 VRDP Shares, between the Fund and the initial Liquidity Provider, dated as of June 21, 2018 (the “Original VRDP Fee Agreement”); provided that, upon termination of the Original VRDP Fee Agreement and the effectiveness in accordance with its terms of the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Fee Agreement with respect to the Series 4 VRDP Shares, between the Fund and the initial Liquidity Provider, dated as of June 20, 2019, replacing the Original VRDP Fee Agreement (the “Replacement VRDP Fee Agreement”), “VRDP Fee Agreement” means the Replacement VRDP Fee Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Liquidity Provider.

 

  (b)

The definition of “VRDP Purchase Agreement” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Statement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

   

VRDP Purchase Agreement” means the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Purchase Agreement with respect to the Series 4 VRDP Shares, between the Tender and Paying Agent and the initial Liquidity Provider, dated as of June 21, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of June 20, 2019 (the “Original VRDP Purchase Agreement”); provided that, upon termination of the Original VRDP Purchase Agreement and the effectiveness in accordance with its terms of the Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (VRDP) Purchase Agreement with respect to the Series 4 VRDP Shares, between the Tender and Paying Agent and the initial Liquidity Provider, dated as of June 20, 2019 and with an initial Scheduled Termination Date not less than 180 days following the June 20, 2019 Scheduled Termination Date of the Original VRDP Purchase Agreement, replacing the Original VRDP Purchase Agreement (the “Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement”), “VRDP Purchase Agreement” means the Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any Alternate VRDP Purchase Agreement.

 

1


  (c)

The termination of the Original VRDP Purchase Agreement and its replacement with the Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement as provided in the definition of “VRDP Purchase Agreement” above shall not constitute a Mandatory Tender Event or a Mandatory Purchase Event.

 

  (d)

Any Outstanding VRDP Shares that would have been subject to purchase by the Liquidity Provider pursuant to the Original VRDP Purchase Agreement but for its termination and replacement by the Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement shall be subject to purchase by the Liquidity Provider in accordance with the Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement.

 

  (e)

The foregoing amendments to the Original Statement shall be effective from and including the effectiveness of the Replacement VRDP Purchase Agreement.    

 

2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund having duly adopted this amendment to the Original Statement, has caused these presents to be signed as of June 19, 2019 in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer and attested by its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officers of the Fund have executed this amendment to the Original Statement as officers and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in the Statement are not binding upon any such officers, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By: /s/ Cedric H. Antosiewicz                            

Name: Cedric H. Antosiewicz

Title: Chief Administrative Officer

ATTEST:

/s/ Mark L. Winget                            

Name: Mark L. Winget

Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

3

Exhibit a.17

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE)

(NVG SERIES A MFP)


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE) (the “Original Supplement”)

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that the Board of Trustees of the Fund has, by resolution, authorized this amendment (this “Amendment”) to the Original Supplement for the purpose of establishing an Adjusted Dividend Rate in accordance with Section 2.1(h) of the Original Supplement.

Section 1. General.

(a) Terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Original Supplement.

(b) The Original Supplement as amended hereby is hereinafter referred to as the “Supplement.”

(c) The Original Supplement became effective on the Mode Commencement Date. This Amendment shall be effective October 1, 2018 and remain in effect to and including the Mode Termination Date, subject to earlier amendment or supplementing of the Supplement in accordance with the terms thereof.    

Section 2. Amendments.

(a) The definition of “Applicable Spread” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Applicable Spread” means, from and including October 1, 2018, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period: (i) the percentage per annum set forth opposite the highest applicable credit rating most recently assigned to the MFP Shares by any Rating Agency in the table set forth directly below on the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period; or (ii) such spread or spreads as may be provided for in an Adjusted Dividend Rate established pursuant to Section 2.1(h); provided, however, that the “Applicable Spread” shall not apply for any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof occurring during the Failed Transition Period, if any, except as provided in the definition of Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread or in the case of an Increased Rate Period occurring during the Failed Transition Period.

 

 

    

  
   

 

Long Term Ratings*

    
   
Fitch    Applicable Percentage**
AAA to AA    0.825%
AA-    1.025%
A+    1.225%
A    1.425%
A-    1.625%

 

1


    

  
   

 

Long Term Ratings*

    
   
Fitch    Applicable Percentage**
BBB+    2.525%
BBB    2.675%
BBB-    2.825%
*And/or the equivalent ratings of another Rating Agency then rating the MFP Shares utilizing the highest of the ratings of the Rating Agencies then rating the MFP Shares.    **Unless an Increased Rate Period is in effect or the Increased Rate otherwise applies to any portion of a Dividend Reset Period, in which case the Applicable Spread shall be 5.825% for such Increased Rate Period or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period, as the case may be.

(b) The definition of “Dividend Reset Date” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Dividend Reset Date” means (i) October 1, 2018, (ii) thereafter, the first day of each applicable Dividend Reset Period and (iii) as may be otherwise provided for an Adjusted Dividend Rate pursuant to Section 2.1(h).

(c) The definition of “Dividend Reset Period” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Dividend Reset Period” means, from and including October 1, 2018, the Initial Dividend Reset Period (as defined below) and any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period (as defined below); notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Original Supplement, the last day of the Dividend Reset Period that commenced September 27, 2018 shall be September 30, 2018.

(d) The definition of “Failed Adjustment Event” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Failed Adjustment Event” means that, in the case of a proposed Adjusted Dividend Rate where the Majority Beneficial Owner is the proposing party, the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall have failed to agree in writing to an Adjusted Dividend Rate by the 540th calendar day, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall agree, following the date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice, unless the Rate Adjustment Notice shall have been withdrawn prior to such 540th calendar day or other agreed day.

(e) The definition of “Increased Rate” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Increased Rate” means, from and including October 1, 2018, for any Increased Rate Period or any portion thereof to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies, the Index Rate for such Increased Rate Period or portion thereof plus an Applicable Spread of 5.825%.

(f) The definition of “Index Rate” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Index Rate” means, from and including October 1, 2018, the LIBOR Index Rate.

 

2


(g) The definition of “Initial Dividend Reset Period” is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Initial Dividend Reset Period” means, from and including October 1, 2018, the period commencing on, and including, October 1, 2018 and ending on, and including, October 31, 2018.

(h) The definition of “Rate Determination Date” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Rate Determination Date” means LIBOR Rate Determination Date.

(i) The definition of “SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement, from and including October 1, 2018, is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following, and any references in the Original Supplement to “SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” shall be deemed to be “One-month LIBOR”:

One-month LIBOR” means:

(1)        the rate for one-month deposits in U.S. dollars, commencing on the applicable Dividend Reset Date, that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page (as defined below) as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Rate Determination Date; or

(2)        if the rate referred to in clause (1) does not appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, or is not so published by 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Rate Determination Date, the rate calculated by the Calculation Agent (as defined below) as the arithmetic mean of at least two quotations obtained by the Calculation Agent after requesting the principal London offices of four major reference banks in the London interbank market to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for one-month deposits in U.S. dollars, commencing on the applicable Dividend Reset Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Rate Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the U.S. dollars in that market at that time; or

(3)        if fewer than two quotations referred to in clause (2) are so provided, the rate on the applicable Rate Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, in The City of New York on the applicable Rate Determination Date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for one-month loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks commencing on the applicable Dividend Reset Date, and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time; or

(4)        if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (3), One-month LIBOR as previously in effect on the applicable Dividend Reset Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (A) One-month LIBOR determined as set forth above in respect of any Dividend Reset Date would otherwise be less than zero (0), One-month LIBOR for such Dividend Reset Date will be deemed to be zero (0), and (B) One-month LIBOR no longer appears or is not otherwise calculable as provided above, then One-month LIBOR shall mean such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Board of Trustees.

For purposes of the definition of One-month LIBOR, the following terms shall have the respective meanings as set forth below:

Calculation Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon, or any successor Calculation Agent appointed by the Fund.

 

3


Designated LIBOR Page” means the display on Bloomberg, or any successor service, on Page BBAL or any page as may replace that specified page on that service for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for U.S. dollars.

(j) The definition of “Subsequent Dividend Reset Period” under the heading “Definitions” in the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Subsequent Dividend Reset Period” means, from and including October 1, 2018, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month following the Initial Dividend Reset Period to and including the last calendar day of such month and each subsequent period from and including the first calendar day of the month to and including the last calendar day of the month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the final Subsequent Dividend Reset Period shall end on and include the earlier of (a) the last calendar day immediately the effective date of a new “Dividend Reset Period,” as established and defined pursuant to Section 2.1(h) of the Supplement and (b) the Mode Termination Date.

(k) Section 2.1(a) of the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

The amount of dividends per share payable on MFP Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) in the related Dividend Period. The amount of dividends per share accumulated for each such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall be computed by (i) multiplying the Dividend Rate in effect for MFP Shares for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the actual number of days in such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) and the denominator of which shall be 360 and (ii) multiplying the product determined pursuant to clause (i) by the Liquidation Preference for an MFP Share. The Dividend Rate for the MFP Shares shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period (or portion of a Dividend Reset Period) as provided in Section 2.1(f) below. For each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, the Dividend Rate shall be the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate.

(l) Section 2.1(h)(iv) of the Original Supplement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

The Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall have until the 540th calendar day following the date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall agree, to agree in writing to proposed Adjusted Dividend Rate terms pursuant to the Rate Adjustment Notice (the date of such written agreement, the “Rate Adjustment Agreement Date”). The agreed Adjusted Dividend Rate terms, if any, may be the rate terms proposed in the Rate Adjustment Notice or such other rate terms as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners may agree. If the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners agree to Adjusted Dividend Rate terms during the Rate Adjustment Notice Period, then the Adjusted Dividend Rate terms shall become effective from and including the Dividend Reset Period immediately succeeding the Rate Adjustment Agreement Date.

Section 3. New Adjusted Dividend Rate Terms.

The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), for purposes of the Adjusted Dividend Rate terms established hereby:

LIBOR Index Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof, 70% of One-month LIBOR as determined on the Rate Determination Date relating to the Dividend Reset Date commencing such Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof.

LIBOR Rate Determination Date” means, (a) with respect to the Initial Dividend Reset Period for the MFP Shares, the date that is two London Banking Days preceding the Dividend Rest Date for such Initial Dividend Reset Period and, (b) with respect to any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period, the date that is two London Banking Days preceding the Dividend Reset Date for such Subsequent Dividend Reset Period.

 

4


London Banking Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in U.S. dollars, in London.

[Signature Page Appears on the Following Page]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund having duly adopted this Amendment to the Original Supplement, has caused these presents to be signed as of September 28, 2018 in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer and attested by its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officers of the Fund have executed this amendment to the Original Supplement as officers and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in the Statement and the Original Supplement as amended hereby are not binding upon any such officers, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By: /s/ Cedric H. Antosiewicz                            

Name: Cedric H. Antosiewicz

Title: Chief Administrative Officer

ATTEST:

/s/ Mark L. Winget                            

Name: Mark L. Winget

Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

6

Exhibit a.18

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE)

(NVG SERIES A MFP)


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES A MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE) (the “Original Supplement”)

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that the Board of Trustees of the Fund has, by resolution, authorized this amendment (this “Amendment”) to the Original Supplement for the purpose of designating a new process for the replacement of One-Month LIBOR and related provisions for calculation of the Dividend Rate.

Section 1. General.

(a) The Original Supplement as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto effective October 1, 2018 (“Amendment No. 1”) and as further amended hereby is hereinafter referred to as the “Supplement.”

(b) Terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Supplement as amended by Amendment No. 1.

(c) The Original Supplement became effective on the Mode Commencement Date. This Amendment shall be effective November 13, 2020 and remain in effect to and including the Mode Termination Date, subject to earlier amendment or supplementing of the Supplement in accordance with the terms thereof.    

Section 2. Amendments.

(a) The definition of “One-month LIBOR” in Amendment No. 1 is hereby amended by deleting the following paragraph:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (A) One month LIBOR determined as set forth above in respect of any Dividend Reset Date would otherwise be less than zero (0), One month LIBOR for such Dividend Reset Date will be deemed to be zero (0), and (B) One-month LIBOR no longer appears or is not otherwise calculable as provided above, then One-month LIBOR shall mean such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Board of Trustees.

and replacing it with the following paragraph:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if One month LIBOR determined as set forth above in respect of any Dividend Reset Date would otherwise be less than zero (0), One month LIBOR for such Dividend Reset Date will be deemed to be zero (0).

(b) The definition of “LIBOR Index Rate” in Amendment No. 1 is hereby amended by deleting the current definition and replacing it with the following:

“LIBOR Index Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof, 70% of the Benchmark as determined on the Rate Determination Date relating to the Dividend Reset Date commencing such Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof.

(c) The Original Supplement as amended by Amendment No. 1 is hereby amended by adding the following Section 2.13 immediately following Section 2.12:

 

1


2.13    Index Benchmark Replacement Provisions.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Statement, the Supplement or in any other related documents, the following provisions shall apply with respect to changes to or replacement of the Benchmark and related terms in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or Early Opt-In Election:

(a) Benchmark Replacement. As further provided in this Section 2.13, it shall be the obligation of the Fund to propose the Benchmark Replacement, the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes (collectively, the “Benchmark Replacement Provisions”). Also as further provided in this Section 2.13, prior to the Benchmark Transition Event, either the Fund or the Majority Beneficial Owner may make an Early Opt-In Election. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-In Election, as applicable, subject to agreement by the Fund and the Majority Beneficial Owner to the Benchmark Replacement Provisions, the Fund shall, with the consent of the Majority Beneficial Owner, amend the Statement and Supplement such that the then current Benchmark shall be replaced by the Benchmark Replacement with such replacement becoming effective commencing with the first Subsequent Dividend Reset Period starting after the latest to occur of (i) 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the occurrence of the Benchmark Transition Event or Early Opt-In Election, (ii) the date the written consent of the Majority Beneficial Owner is received by the Fund with respect to such replacement and (iii) the date on which the Benchmark Replacement Provisions are approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the applicable effective date of replacement, the “Effective Date”). If the Effective Date has not occurred prior to the first Reference Time on or after the Benchmark Termination Date, then a Benchmark Unavailability Period shall commence and the Index Rate shall be determined in accordance with Section 2.13(d) below (such Index Rate, the “Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate”).

(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with a Benchmark Replacement, the Fund will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplement or in the Statement or in any other related documents, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective only with the consent of the Majority Beneficial Owner.

(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Fund, upon becoming aware of any of the following events, as applicable, will promptly notify the Beneficial Owners of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-In Election by the Fund or by the Majority Beneficial Owner, if not then the Beneficial Owners of 100% of the MFP Shares, as applicable, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and (iv) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period and the Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate being used. Any determination, decision or election that may be made pursuant to this Section 2.13, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in the Fund’s sole discretion and without consent from the Beneficial Owners, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.13.

(d) Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate. For any determination of dividend payments hereunder for any Dividend Reset Period during a Benchmark Unavailability Period, commencing with the first Subsequent Dividend Reset Period starting after the Benchmark Termination Date through and including the last Subsequent Dividend Reset Period starting prior to the end of the Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Index Rate shall be the Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate and equal to:

(i) Subject to the terms of clause (ii) below, (A) 70% of the sum of the ISDA Fallback Rate plus the ISDA Fallback Adjustment, each determined for the Corresponding Tenor as of the Reference Time for such Dividend Reset Period, provided that, if the Fund cannot determine the ISDA Fallback Rate or the ISDA Fallback Adjustment as of any relevant date during the Benchmark Unavailability Period, then (B) 70% of the sum of the simple average SOFR, determined for the Corresponding Tenor as of the Reference Time for such Dividend Reset Period, plus 0.15%, computed as otherwise provided herein, provided further that if Fund is not reasonably able to calculate the Index Rate pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above for the period of the Corresponding Tenor to, but excluding, the date that is two Business Days preceding the end of the related Dividend Reset Period due to the unavailability of timely data, the Fund, acting in a

 

2


commercially reasonable manner, may perform the calculation in clause (B) using data for a period of the Corresponding Tenor as of the most recent date practicable for which data are available.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Fund, acting in a commercially reasonable manner, determines that, as of the first day of the Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Fund is not able to calculate the Index Rate pursuant to clause (i)(A) or (i)(B) above, then the Fund may elect (by written notice to the Beneficial Owners) that the Index Rate will be the LIBOR Index Rate as was calculated on the last LIBOR Rate Determination Date prior to the Benchmark Unavailability Period. Such election shall become effective commencing with the first Subsequent Dividend Reset Period starting after the date of such election and ending on the earliest to occur of (A) the date that is 45 calendar days from such date, (B) the date on which the Fund (acting a commercially reasonable manner) determines that it is able to calculate the Index Rate pursuant to clause (i)(A) or (i)(B) above, or (C) the date on which a Benchmark Replacement becomes effective (the period during which such election is effective, the “LIBOR Holdover Period”).

Following a LIBOR Holdover Period, the Fund will declare and distribute a special dividend on the MFP Shares equal to the Retroactive LIBOR Adjustment.

For purposes of determining the Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate as provided in this Section 2.13(d) and calculating and declaring dividends in arrears, if necessary as determined by the Fund in a commercially reasonable manner, the Fund shall amend the definitions of “Rate Determination Date” and “Reference Time,” and make such other technical, administrative or operational changes, if any, that are reasonably necessary as determined in a commercially reasonable manner that is substantially consistent with market practice for the calculation of the relevant fallback rate as provided in Section 2.13(d)(i) and calculating and declaring dividends in arrears, or, if the Fund determines that such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for such changes for determining the applicable Index Rate and calculating and declaring dividends in arrears exists, the Fund shall adopt such amendment to the definition of Rate Determination Date, and make such other technical, administrative or operational changes, if any, as the Fund determines, acting in a commercially reasonable manner, are reasonably necessary in order to determine the Index Rate as provided above and calculate and declare dividends in arrears. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Statement or this Supplement, except as expressly set forth in this Section 2.13, the Fund may, without a shareholder vote or consent, implement the foregoing amendments, provided that such amendments do not adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such amendment shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

Section 3. New Definitions.

The following additional terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), for purposes of the Supplement:

Benchmark” means, initially, One-month LIBOR; provided, however, that if a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-In Election, as applicable, has occurred with respect to One-month LIBOR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has become effective pursuant to Section 2.13 of this Supplement.

Benchmark Replacement” means the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate (which may include Term SOFR) that has been selected by the Fund, giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body, (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of dividends as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for U.S. registered closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds, or (iii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated or bilateral credit facilities and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that if the Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than zero, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of the Statement and this Supplement.

 

3


Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for each applicable Dividend Reset Period, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected by the Fund with the consent of the Majority Beneficial Owner, giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body, (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for either (A) U.S. registered closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds at such time or (B) U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated or bilateral credit facilities at such time, and (iii) any adjustment to the current Benchmark that may have been included in the transaction at the time the Benchmark Replacement is to become effective.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including, without limitation, changes to the definitions of “Dividend Rate,” “Dividend Reset Period,” “Dividend Reset Date,” “Applicable Spread,” “Rate Determination Date,” “Reference Time” and “Index Rate,” the timing and frequency of determining rates and declaring and making payments of dividends, optional redemption provisions, and other administrative matters) that the Fund decides (in a commercially reasonable manner) may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Fund in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Fund decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Fund determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Fund decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of the Statement and this Supplement).

Benchmark Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Termination Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Termination Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1)        a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;

(2)        a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or

 

4


(3)        a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark and solely to the extent that the Benchmark has not been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement, the period:

(x) beginning with the first Reference Time occurring on or after the Benchmark Termination Date; and

(y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the Benchmark for all purposes hereunder pursuant to the provisions hereof.

Corresponding Tenor” means, with respect to an Index Rate determined in accordance with Section 2.13(d)(i), a tenor having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the applicable Dividend Reset Period with respect to the LIBOR Index Rate.

Early Opt-In Election” means the delivery of a notice to the Beneficial Owners by the Fund or to the Fund by the Majority Beneficial Owner indicating the occurrence of:

(1)        a determination by the party providing such notice, acting in a commercially reasonable manner, that preferred securities issued by registered closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds are being executed or amended to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark to replace the current Benchmark (due to a determination that such new benchmark is necessary or appropriate in anticipation of the cessation of publication of the Benchmark or the Benchmark becoming no longer representative); and

(2)        the election by the party providing such notice to declare an Early Opt-In Election for the purpose of replacing the current Benchmark.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the Corresponding Tenor.

ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the Corresponding Tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

Reference Time” means (i) with respect to any determination of the Benchmark, (a) if the Benchmark is One-month LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London Banking Days preceding the date of such determination, and (b) if the Benchmark is not One-month LIBOR, the time and day determined by the Fund in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and (ii) with respect to any determination of the Benchmark Unavailability Period Index Rate, the time and day determined by the Fund in accordance with Section 2.13(d) of this Supplement.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.

 

5


Retroactive LIBOR Adjustment” means, with respect to a LIBOR Holdover Period, the difference, if a positive number, of (1) the hypothetical aggregate accumulated dividend amount calculated using the Index Rate described in Section 2.13(d)(i)(A) or (B) of this Supplement, as applicable, minus (2) the aggregate accumulated dividend amount calculated pursuant to the Index Rate in effect during the LIBOR Holdover Period.

SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark, (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.

Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

[Signature Page Appears on the Following Page]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund having duly adopted this Amendment to the Original Supplement, has caused these presents to be signed as of November 13, 2020 in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer and attested by its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officers of the Fund have executed this amendment to the Original Supplement as officers and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in the Statement and the Original Supplement as further amended hereby are not binding upon any such officers, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund..

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By: /s/ David J. Lamb                                        

Name: David J. Lamb

Title: Chief Administrative Officer

ATTEST:

/s/ Mark L. Winget                            

Name: Mark L. Winget

Title: Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

7

Exhibit a.21

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF ADJUSTABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES

Series 2028


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page  

RECITALS

       2  

DESIGNATION OF SERIES

     2  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     2  

1.1

  Definitions      2  

1.2

  Interpretation      14  

1.3

  Liability of Officers, Trustees and Shareholders      14  

ARTICLE 2 TERMS APPLICABLE TO AMTP SHARES

     14  

2.1

  Number of Shares; Ranking      14  

2.2

  Dividends and Distributions      15  

2.3

  Liquidation Rights      20  

2.4

  Coverage & Leverage Tests      21  

2.5

  Redemption      22  

2.6

  Voting Rights      28  

2.7

  Rating Agencies      31  

2.8

  Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares      32  

2.9

  Status of Redeemed or Repurchased AMTP Shares      32  

2.10

  Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations      32  

2.11

  Liquidity Account and Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement      33  

2.12

  Liquidity Account and Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement      34  

2.13

  Global Certificate.      35  

2.14

  Notice      36  

2.15

  Termination      36  

2.16

  Appendices      36  

2.17

  Actions on Other than Business Days.      36  

2.18

  Modification      36  

2.19

  Transfers.      37  

2.20

  No Additional Rights.      37  

ARTICLE 3 THIRD PARTY PURCHASE OF AMTP SHARES

     37  

3.1

  Third Party Purchase Procedures.      37  

ARTICLE 4 TRANSITION

     38  

4.1

  General Provisions.      38  

4.2

  Notice of Transition.      39  

4.3

  Failed Transition Period.      40  

Appendix A Designation and Terms Specific to Series 2028 AMTP Shares

     A-1  

Exhibit I Form of Term Adjustment Notice

     I-1  

 


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF ADJUSTABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”), a Massachusetts business trust, certifies that:

RECITALS

FIRST: The Fund is authorized under Article IV of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended (which, as hereafter restated or amended from time to time, is herein called the “Declaration”), to issue an unlimited number of Preferred Shares (as defined below), par value $.01 per share.

SECOND: Pursuant to the authority expressly vested in the Board of Trustees of the Fund by Article IV of the Declaration, the Board of Trustees has, by resolution, authorized the issuance of Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value per share, of the Fund, such shares to be classified as Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, Series 2028 (the “AMTP Shares”). The initial terms related to the AMTP Shares are set forth in this Statement, as modified by the Appendix (as defined below) attached hereto. Changes to such initial terms shall be set forth in a Supplement (as defined in Article I) to the Appendix or in a separate statement establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of the AMTP Shares.

THIRD: The number of shares, preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, of the AMTP Shares subject to this Statement, as now or hereafter authorized by the Board of Trustees, are set forth in this Statement, as modified or amended from time to time in the appendix to this Statement (the “Appendix”) and in any Supplement thereto that is then in effect, as applicable, specifically relating to such AMTP Shares (such shares subject to this Statement being referred to herein individually as an “AMTP Share” and collectively as the “AMTP Shares”). The effective date of this Statement is November 18, 2019.

DESIGNATION OF SERIES

The Fund initially shall designate in Appendix A hereto the initial additional or different terms and conditions to apply to the AMTP Shares of the Fund for a period commencing on the effective date of this Statement and ending not later than the Term Redemption Date.

The Fund, as authorized by the Board of Trustees and in accordance with and subject to Section 2.2(h), may modify or amend the terms and conditions applicable to the AMTP Shares, and any such Adjusted Terms (as defined in Article I) applicable to the AMTP Shares will be set forth in a Supplement to the Appendix.

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

Definitions. Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent and except with respect the AMTP Shares as specifically provided in the Appendix, each of the

 

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following terms when used in this Statement shall have the meaning ascribed to it below, whether such term is used in the singular or plural and regardless of tense:

1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor statute.

1940 Act Asset Coverage” means “asset coverage,” as defined for purposes of Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act, of at least 200% with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Fund which are shares of stock for purposes of the 1940 Act, including all outstanding AMTP Shares (or such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act or by rule, regulation or order of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are shares of stock of a closed-end investment company).

Additional Amount Payment” means a payment to a Holder of AMTP Shares of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of Taxable Allocations made to such Holder to which such Additional Amount Payment relates, would cause such Holder’s dividends in dollars (after federal income tax consequences) from the aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Additional Amount Payment to be equal to the dollar amount of the dividends that would have been received by such Holder if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would have been excludable (for federal income tax purposes) from the gross income of such Holder. Such Additional Amount Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) assuming that no Holder of AMTP Shares is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund; and (iii) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Additional Amount Payment (except to the extent such Additional Amount Payment is reported as an exempt-interest dividend for purposes of Section 852(b)(5) of the Code) would be taxable in the hands of each Holder of AMTP Shares at the maximum marginal regular federal individual income tax rate (taking account of the tax imposed under Section 1411 of the Code or any successor provision) applicable to ordinary income or net capital gain, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gain, as applicable, whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Additional Amount Payment is paid.

Adjusted Dividend Amount” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, a new Dividend Amount, as established pursuant to Section 2.2(h) and set forth in a Supplement to the Appendix.

Adjusted Terms” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(h)(xi).

Adjusted Terms Agreement” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, a written agreement between the Fund and the Required Designated Owners with respect to an Adjusted Dividend Amount and/or any other Adjusted Terms as may be established pursuant to Section 2.2(h).

Adjusted Terms Agreement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(h)(iv).

Adjusted Terms Effective Date” shall have the meaning, with respect to the AMTP Shares, as set forth in a Supplement to the Appendix.

 

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Adviser” means Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or such other entity as shall be then serving as the investment adviser of the Fund, and shall include, as appropriate, any sub-adviser duly appointed by the Adviser.

Agent Member” means a Person with an account at the Securities Depository that holds one or more AMTP Shares through the Securities Depository, directly or indirectly, for a Designated Owner and that will be authorized and instructed, directly or indirectly, by a Designated Owner to disclose information to the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to such Designated Owner.

AMTP Shares” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Recitals of this Statement.

Appendix” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Recitals of this Statement.

Applicable Spread” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Asset Coverage” means “asset coverage” of a class of senior security which is a stock, as defined for purposes of Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act as in effect on the date hereof, determined on the basis of values calculated as of a time within 48 hours (only including Business Days) next preceding the time of such determination.

Asset Coverage Cure Date” means, with respect to the failure by the Fund to maintain Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on a Business Day (as required by Section 2.4(a)), the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following such Business Day.

Banks” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.19(a).

Below Investment Grade” means, with respect the AMTP Shares and as of any date, the following ratings with respect to each Rating Agency (to the extent it is a Rating Agency on such date):

(i)      lower than BBB-, in the case of Fitch;

(ii)     lower than an equivalent long-term credit rating to that set forth in clause (i), in the case of any Other Rating Agency; and

(iii)    unrated, if no Rating Agency is rating the AMTP Shares.

Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Fund or any duly authorized committee thereof as permitted by applicable law.

Business Day” means any day (a) other than a day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to close and (b) on which the New York Stock Exchange is not closed.

Closed-End Funds” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.19(a).

 

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Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Common Shares” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Fund.

Custodian” means a bank, as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in paragraph 1 of Section 26(a) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be providing custodian services to the Fund as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, and shall include, as appropriate, any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Fund.

Custodian Agreement” means any Custodian Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Fund.

Date of Original Issue” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix.

Declaration” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Recitals of this Statement.

Default” shall mean a Dividend Default or a Redemption Default.

Deposit Securities” means, as of any date, any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date or mandatory payment date, on its face or at the option of the holder, preceding the relevant Redemption Date, Dividend Payment Date or other payment date in respect of which such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit Security:

(1)      cash or any cash equivalent;

(2)      any U.S. Government Obligation;

(3)      any Municipal Security that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to Municipal Securities with substantially similar terms as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent), including (A) any such Municipal Security that has been pre-refunded by the issuer thereof with the proceeds of such refunding having been irrevocably deposited in trust or escrow for the repayment thereof and (B) any such fixed or variable rate Municipal Security that qualifies as an eligible security under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act;

(4)      any investment in any money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, or similar investment vehicle described in Rule 12d1-1(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in Municipal Securities or U.S. Government Obligations or any combination thereof; or

(5)      any letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to bank deposits or short-term debt of similar banks or other financial institutions as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent).

 

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Designated Owner” means a Person in whose name the AMTP Shares are recorded as beneficial owner by the Securities Depository, an Agent Member or other securities intermediary on the records of such Securities Depository, Agent Member or securities intermediary, as the case may be.

Dividend Amount” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Dividend Default” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i).

Dividend Payment Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Dividend Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Dividend Rate Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Dividend Spread” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Effective Leverage Ratio” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.4(d).

Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A).

Electronic Means” means email transmission, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving party, in any case if operative as between any two parties, or, if not operative, by telephone (promptly confirmed by any other method set forth in this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Redemption and Paying Agent and the Custodian, shall be sent by such means to each of its representatives set forth in the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement and the Custodian Agreement, respectively.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Failed Adjustment Event” means that, in the case of a Term Adjustment Notice delivered to the Fund by the Majority Designated Owner, on or before the Scheduled Term Adjustment Period Expiration Date, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Designated Owners shall agree, (i) the Fund and the Required Designated Owners shall have failed to enter into an Adjusted Terms Agreement, or (ii) a Third Party Purchase has not been completed, and in either case such Term Adjustment Notice shall not have been previously withdrawn.

Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

 

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Failed Adjustment Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Adjustment Redemption” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(h)(v).

Failed Adjustment Redemption Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Adjustment Redemption Price” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(d).

Failed Transition Event” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Transition Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Transition Redemption Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Failed Transition Redemption Price” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(e).

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, a part of the Fitch Group, and any successor or successors thereto.

Fund” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Preamble to this Statement.

Holder” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares or any other security issued by the Fund, a Person in whose name such security is registered in the registration books of the Fund maintained by the Redemption and Paying Agent or otherwise.

Increased Spread” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Increased Spread Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i).

Initial LIBOR Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

 

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Initial Rate Period” means the Initial LIBOR Rate Period or the Initial SIFMA Rate Period, as applicable.

Initial SIFMA Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

LIBOR Index Rate” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

LIBOR Rate Determination Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

LIBOR Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Liquidation Preference” means the amount specified as the liquidation preference per share in the Appendix.

Liquidity Account” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.11(a).

Liquidity Account Investments” means Deposit Securities or any other security or investment owned by the Fund that is rated not less than Baa3 by Moody’s, BBB- by Standard & Poor’s, BBB- by Fitch or an equivalent rating by any other NRSRO (or any such rating’s future equivalent).

London Inter-Bank Offered Rate” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Majority Designated Owner” of AMTP Shares means the Designated Owner at the relevant date of more than 50% of the Outstanding AMTP Shares.

Mandatory Redemption Price” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(b)(i)(A).

“Mandatory Tender” means the mandatory tender of all Outstanding AMTP Shares by the Required Designated Owners thereof in connection with a Third Party Purchase (including a Third Party Purchase effected in connection with a Transition), as set forth in Section 2.2(h)(vii), Section 3.1 and Article 4, as applicable.

Market Value” of any asset of the Fund means, for securities for which market quotations are readily available, the market value thereof determined by an independent third-party pricing service designated from time to time by the Board of Trustees, which pricing service shall be Standard & Poor’s Securities Evaluations, Inc./J. J. Kenny Co., Inc. (or any successor thereto), Interactive Data Corporation (or any successor thereto) or such other independent third-party pricing service broadly recognized in the tax-exempt fund market. Market Value of any asset shall include any interest accrued thereon. The pricing service values portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available

 

8


are valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service using methods that include consideration of: yields or prices of Municipal Securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating; state of issuance; indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions. The pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both, to determine recommended valuations.

Maximum Amount” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor or successors thereto.

Municipal Securities” means municipal securities as described under the heading “Portfolio Investments” in the information memorandum or other offering document for the AMTP Shares.

Notice of Redemption” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(f)(i).

Notice of Taxable Allocation” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.10(a).

NRSRO” means (a) each of Fitch, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s so long as such Person is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act and (b) any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that is not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund.

Nuveen Person” means the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) (other than the Fund, in the case of a redemption or purchase of the AMTP Shares which are to be cancelled within ten (10) days of purchase by the Fund).

Optional Redemption Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

Optional Redemption Premium” means the premium (if any) payable by the Fund upon the redemption of AMTP Shares at the option of the Fund, as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Optional Redemption Price” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

Other Rating Agency” means each Rating Agency, if any, other than Fitch then providing a rating for the AMTP Shares pursuant to the request of the Fund.

Outstanding” means, as of any date with respect to the AMTP Shares, the number of AMTP Shares theretofore issued by the Fund except (without duplication):

(a)      any shares theretofore exchanged, cancelled or redeemed or delivered to the Redemption and Paying Agent for exchange, cancellation or redemption in accordance with the terms hereof;

 

9


(b)      any shares as to which the Fund shall have given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities to redeem such shares in accordance with Section 2.5; and

(c)      any shares as to which the Fund shall be the Holder or the Designated Owner.

Person” means and includes an individual, a partnership, a trust, a corporation, a limited liability company, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Preferred Shares” means the authorized preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Fund, including the AMTP Shares, shares of any other series of preferred shares now or hereafter issued by the Fund, and any other shares of beneficial interest hereafter authorized and issued by the Fund of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payments of dividends.

Purchase Agreement” means (i) with respect to the AMTP Shares issued pursuant to this Statement, the Purchase Agreement dated as of November 18, 2019 between the Fund and the initial holder of the AMTP Shares; or (ii) with respect to any Third Party Purchase, the purchase agreement, if any, between the Fund and such purchaser, as applicable.

Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to the Initial Rate Period for the AMTP Shares, the day immediately preceding the Date of Original Issue, and with respect to any Subsequent Rate Period for the AMTP Shares, the last day of the immediately preceding Rate Period or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that the next succeeding Rate Determination Date will be determined without regard to any prior extension of a Rate Determination Date to a Business Day.

Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Rating Agencies” means, as of any date and in respect of the AMTP Shares, (i) Fitch; and (ii) any other NRSRO designated as a Rating Agency on such date in accordance with Section 2.7, in each case (i) or (ii) above to the extent it maintains a rating on the AMTP Shares on such date and has not been replaced as a Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.7 and (ii) any Other Rating Agency designated as a Rating Agency on such date. Fitch has initially been designated as the Rating Agency for purposes of the AMTP Shares. In the event that at any time any Rating Agency (A) ceases to be a Rating Agency for purposes of the AMTP Shares and such Rating Agency has been replaced by an Other Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.7, any references to any credit rating of the replaced Rating Agency in this Statement, the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, shall be deleted for purposes hereof as provided below and shall be deemed instead to be references to the equivalent credit rating of the Other Rating Agency that has replaced such Rating Agency as of the most recent date on which such replacement Other Rating Agency published credit ratings for the AMTP Shares or (B) designates a new rating definition for any credit rating of such Rating Agency with a corresponding replacement rating definition for such credit rating of such Rating Agency, any references to such replaced rating definition of such Rating Agency contained in

 

10


this Statement, the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, shall instead be deemed to be references to such corresponding replacement rating definition. In the event that at any time the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency for purposes of the AMTP Shares is terminated in accordance with Section 2.7, any rating of such terminated Rating Agency, to the extent it would have been taken into account in any of the provisions of this Statement, the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, shall be disregarded, and only the ratings of the then-designated Rating Agencies shall be taken into account for purposes of this Statement, the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Rating Agency Guidelines” means the guidelines of any Rating Agency, as they may be amended or modified from time to time, compliance with which is required to cause such Rating Agency to continue to issue a rating with respect to the AMTP Shares for so long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding.

Ratings Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i).

Redemption and Paying Agent” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, collectively, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Inc. and their successors or any other redemption and paying agent appointed by the Fund with respect to the AMTP Shares.

Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement effective as of June 15, 2017 between the Redemption and Paying Agent, the Fund and certain other Persons, as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time, or any similar agreement between the Fund and any other redemption and paying agent appointed by the Fund.

Redemption Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(f)(i).

Redemption Default” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i).

Redemption Price” shall mean the Term Redemption Price, the Mandatory Redemption Price, the Failed Adjustment Redemption Price, the Failed Transition Redemption Price or the Optional Redemption Price, as applicable.

Required Designated Owners” of AMTP Shares means the Designated Owners of 100% of the Outstanding AMTP Shares.

Scheduled Term Adjustment Period Expiration Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities Depository” shall mean The Depository Trust Company and its successors and assigns or any other securities depository selected by the Fund that agrees to follow the procedures required to be followed by such securities depository as set forth in this Statement with respect to the AMTP Shares.

 

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Settlement Agent” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, an agent of the Fund appointed by a resolution of the Board of Trustees to accept AMTP Shares subject to a Mandatory Tender and to facilitate the settlement of a Third Party Purchase of such AMTP Shares.

SIFMA Index Rate” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

SIFMA Rate Determination Date” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

SIFMA Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Standard & Poor’s” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and any successor or successors thereto.

Statement” means this Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Subsequent LIBOR Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Subsequent Rate Period” means the Subsequent LIBOR Rate Period or the Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period, as applicable.

Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Supplement” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, a written document, authorized and approved by the Board of Trustees, that amends the Appendix, or a previous Supplement, relating to the AMTP Shares to reflect any Adjusted Terms agreed to in accordance with Section 2.2(h) in an Adjusted Terms Agreement.

Tax Event” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(g)(i).

Taxable Allocation” means, with respect to the AMTP Shares, the allocation of any net capital gain or other income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid in respect of the AMTP Shares.

Term Adjustment Notice” means a notice of a proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) in the form of EXHIBIT I hereto, delivered by either the Fund or the Majority Designated Owner in accordance with Section 2.2(h).

 

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Term Adjustment Notice Period” means, with respect to any Term Adjustment Notice, the period commencing on the date of delivery of the Term Adjustment Notice and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) withdrawal of the Term Adjustment Notice in accordance with Section 2.2(h)(iii), (ii) the related Adjusted Terms Agreement Date, (iii) the Third Party Purchase Date, (iv) the date of a Failed Adjustment Event and (v) the Transition Date, as applicable.

Term Redemption Date” means the date specified as the Term Redemption Date in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable.

Term Redemption Price” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.5(a).

Third Party Purchase” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(h)(v).

Third Party Purchase Date” means the date on which a Third Party Purchase is completed.

Third Party Purchase Price” means, for the AMTP Shares subject to a Third Party Purchase, a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue to (but excluding) the Third Party Purchase Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon).

Third Party Purchaser” means a Person (other than the Fund or the Required Designated Owners) that agrees, during a Term Adjustment Notice Period or pursuant to a Transition, to purchase all of the Outstanding AMTP Shares as described in Section 2.2(h) or Article 4, as applicable.

Transition” means the proposed transfer to a Third Party Purchaser of beneficial ownership of all Outstanding AMTP Shares initiated by the Fund, at its option and without any requirement for any Person to deliver a Term Adjustment Notice, pursuant to Article 4.

Transition Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(b).

Transition Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States Treasury Bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.

Voting Period” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.6(b)(i).

Any additional definitions specifically set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, any amendments to any definitions specifically set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, as such Appendix or Supplement may be amended or further supplemented from time to time, shall be incorporated herein and made part hereof by reference thereto.

 

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1.2    Interpretation. The headings preceding the text of Sections included in this Statement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Statement or be given any effect in interpreting this Statement. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Statement. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually. Reference to any agreement (including this Statement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. Underscored references to Sections and references to Articles shall refer to those portions of this Statement. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Statement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause of this Statement.

1.3    Liability of Officers, Trustees and Shareholders. A copy of the Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice hereby is given that this Statement is executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Fund in his or her capacity as an officer of the Fund and not individually and that the obligations of the Fund under or arising out of this Statement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and properties of the Fund. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having a claim against the Fund must look solely to the Fund’s assets and property for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as none of the Fund’s officers, agents or shareholders, whether past, present or future, assume any personal liability for obligations entered on behalf of the Fund.

ARTICLE 2 TERMS APPLICABLE TO

AMTP SHARES

Except for such changes and amendments hereto with respect to AMTP Shares that are specifically contemplated by the Appendix or any Supplement to the Appendix as then in effect, the AMTP Shares shall have the following terms:

2.1    Number of Shares; Ranking.

(a)      The number of authorized shares constituting the AMTP Shares shall be as set forth in the Appendix hereto. No fractional AMTP Shares shall be issued.

(b)      The AMTP Shares shall rank on a parity with shares of any other series of Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund. The AMTP Shares shall have preference

 

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with respect to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund over the Common Shares as set forth herein.

(c)      No Holder of AMTP Shares shall have, solely by reason of being such a Holder, any preemptive or other right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any AMTP Shares or Common Shares or other securities of the Fund which it may hereafter issue or sell.

2.2     Dividends and Distributions.

(a)      The Holders of AMTP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by, or under authority granted by, the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor and in preference to dividends and other distributions on Common Shares, cumulative cash dividends and other distributions on each AMTP Share in an amount equal to the Dividend Amount, calculated as set forth in this Statement, the Appendix hereto and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, and no more. Dividends and other distributions on the AMTP Shares shall accumulate from the Date of Original Issue. The amount of dividends per share payable on AMTP Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Rate Period (or part thereof) in the related Dividend Period. The Dividend Amount accumulated shall be computed as provided in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable. The Dividend Spread for such AMTP Shares shall be adjusted to the Increased Spread for each Increased Spread Period (or portion of a Rate Period to which the Increased Spread otherwise applies) as provided in Section 2.2(g) below. The Dividend Spread for such AMTP Shares shall be adjusted (i) to the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread for each Rate Period (or portion of a Rate Period to which the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread otherwise applies) as provided in Section 4.3 below and (ii) to the Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread for each Rate Period (or portion of a Rate Period to which the Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread otherwise applies) as provided in Section 2.2(h)(v) below.

(b)      Dividends on AMTP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on each day in such Dividend Period and shall be paid as provided in Section 2.2(f) hereof.

(c)      (i) No full dividends and other distributions shall be declared or paid on AMTP Shares for any Dividend Period or part thereof unless full cumulative dividends and other distributions due through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor for all outstanding Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with AMTP Shares have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor. If full cumulative dividends and distributions due have not been declared and paid on all such outstanding Preferred Shares of any series, any dividends and other distributions being declared and paid on AMTP Shares will be declared and paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends and other distributions accumulated but unpaid on the shares of each such series of Preferred Shares on the relevant dividend payment date for such series. Subject to Section 2.10 (and Section 2.5 of the Purchase Agreement), no Holders of AMTP Shares shall be entitled to any dividends and other distributions, whether payable in cash,

 

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property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends and other distributions as provided in this Statement on such AMTP Shares.

(ii) For so long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not: (x) declare any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in Common Shares) in respect of the Common Shares, (y) call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares, or (z) pay any proceeds of the liquidation of the Fund in respect of the Common Shares, unless, in each case, (A) immediately thereafter, the Fund shall have 1940 Act Asset Coverage after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution or redemption or purchase price or liquidation proceeds, (B) all cumulative dividends and other distributions on all AMTP Shares and all other series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the AMTP Shares due on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition shall have been declared and paid (or shall have been declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares) for the payment thereof shall have been deposited irrevocably with the paying agent for such Preferred Shares) and (C) the Fund shall have deposited Deposit Securities pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.5(f)(ii) hereof with respect to Outstanding AMTP Shares to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.5(a) or Section 2.5(b) hereof for which a Notice of Redemption shall have been given or shall have been required to be given in accordance with the terms hereof on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition.

(iii) Any dividend payment made on AMTP Shares shall first be credited against the dividends and other distributions accumulated with respect to the earliest Dividend Period for which dividends and distributions have not been paid.

(d)      Not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Dividend Payment Date, the Fund shall deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on such date sufficient to pay the dividends and other distributions that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date. The Fund may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities so deposited prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Securities and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.

(e)      All Deposit Securities deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends payable on the AMTP Shares shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of AMTP Shares entitled to the payment of such dividends pursuant to Section 2.2(f). Any moneys paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Redemption and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Fund.

 

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(f)      Dividends on AMTP Shares shall be paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (or if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day). Dividends in arrears on AMTP Shares for any past Dividend Period may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on AMTP Shares which may be in arrears.

(g)      (i) The Dividend Spread used to compute the Dividend Amount on AMTP Shares shall be adjusted to the Increased Spread for each Increased Spread Period (as hereinafter defined). Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.2(g)(iii), a Rate Period with respect to AMTP Shares shall be deemed to be an “Increased Spread Period” if on the first day of such Rate Period, (A) the Fund has failed to deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Default”) and such Dividend Default has not ended as contemplated by Section 2.2(g)(ii); (B) the Fund has failed to deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on an applicable Redemption Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Redemption and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Redemption Price payable on such Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default”) and such Redemption Default has not ended as contemplated by Section 2.2(g)(ii); (C) any Rating Agency has withdrawn the credit rating required to be maintained pursuant to Section 2.7 other than due to the Rating Agency ceasing to rate tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally and such withdrawal is continuing; (D) a Ratings Event (as defined below) has occurred and is continuing; or (E) (i) a court or other applicable governmental authority has made a final determination that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the AMTP Shares do not qualify as equity in the Fund and (ii) such determination results from an act or failure to act on the part of the Fund (a “Tax Event”). A “Ratings Event” shall be deemed to exist at any time that the AMTP Shares have a long-term credit rating from at least one-half of the Rating Agencies designated at such time that is Below Investment Grade. For the avoidance of doubt, no determination by any court or other applicable governmental authority that requires the Fund to make an Additional Amount Payment in respect of a Taxable Allocation shall be deemed to be a Tax Event hereunder.

(ii)    Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.2(g)(iii), a Dividend Default or a Redemption Default on the AMTP Shares shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends on such AMTP Shares and any unpaid Redemption Price on such AMTP Shares shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Redemption and Paying Agent.

(iii)    No Increased Spread Period for AMTP Shares with respect to any Dividend Default or Redemption Default shall be deemed to have commenced if the amount of any dividend or any Redemption Price due in respect of such AMTP Shares (if such Default is

 

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not solely due to the willful failure of the Fund) is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds, with the Redemption and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day that is not later than three (3) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date or Redemption Date with respect to which such Default occurred, together with an amount equal to the Increased Spread applied to the amount and period of such non-payment, determined as provided in Section 2.2(a).

(h)    The following are the procedures for proposing and establishing an Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms):

(i)    On any Business Day, the Fund, at its option, may seek to establish an Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or other Adjusted Terms) by delivering a Term Adjustment Notice by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the AMTP Shares, or by requesting the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so.

(ii)    On any Business Day, a Majority Designated Owner, at its option, may seek to have the Fund establish an Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or other Adjusted Terms) by delivering a Term Adjustment Notice by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Fund. Promptly after receiving such notice from such Majority Designated Owner, if such Majority Designated Owner then owns less than 100% of the Outstanding AMTP Shares, the Fund shall deliver, or request the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to deliver, notice thereof by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the AMTP Shares.

(iii)    A Term Adjustment Notice may be withdrawn at any time by the proposing party prior to agreement in writing to a proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or other Adjusted Terms) with the other party pursuant to such Term Adjustment Notice, in which case the Term Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate. Notice of withdrawal of a Term Adjustment Notice shall be made by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. After the Majority Designated Owner delivers a Term Adjustment Notice and while the related Term Adjustment Notice Period is continuing, if at any time during the period commencing forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the Scheduled Term Adjustment Period Expiration Date, the Majority Designated Owner decreases its ownership level of AMTP Shares to 50% or less of the Outstanding AMTP Shares, its Term Adjustment Notice shall be deemed withdrawn and the Term Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate.

(iv)    Following delivery of a Term Adjustment Notice, the Fund and the Required Designated Owners shall have until the Scheduled Term Adjustment Period Expiration Date, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Designated Owners shall agree, to agree in writing to a proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other proposed Adjusted Terms), and enter into an Adjusted Terms Agreement (the date of such agreement, the “Adjusted Terms Agreement Date”). The agreed Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other proposed Adjusted Terms), if any, may be the rate (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) proposed in the Term Adjustment Notice or such other rate (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) as the Fund and the Required Designated Owners may agree. If the Fund and the Required Designated Owners enter into an Adjusted Terms Agreement during the Term Adjustment Notice Period, then the

 

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Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) shall become effective on the Adjusted Terms Effective Date.

(v)    During a Term Adjustment Notice Period, if the Majority Designated Owner is the proposing party, the Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to (A) enter into an Adjusted Terms Agreement, or (B) arrange a Third Party Purchase as described below. The Fund shall provide the Required Designated Owners with at least ten (10) calendar days (or such shorter period as may be consented to by all of the Designated Owners, which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 2.6) prior written notice of a Third Party Purchase Date. A “Third Party Purchase” means the purchase of all of the Outstanding AMTP Shares from the Required Designated Owners by a Third Party Purchaser, at a price equal to the Third Party Purchase Price for the AMTP Shares, and which is settled in accordance with the procedures described in Section 3.1. If the Majority Designated Owner is the proposing party, and the Fund and the Required Designated Owners fail to enter into an Adjusted Terms Agreement and the Fund is unable to arrange a Third Party Purchase during the Term Adjustment Notice Period, then (i) the proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount shall not take effect, (ii) such failure shall constitute a Failed Adjustment Event, (iii) a Failed Adjustment Period shall commence and (iv) the Fund shall redeem all of the Outstanding AMTP Shares on the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date resulting from such Failed Adjustment Event (a “Failed Adjustment Redemption”). During a Failed Adjustment Period, the Dividend Spread used to calculate the Dividend Amount shall be the Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread.

(vi)    During a Term Adjustment Notice Period, if the Fund is the proposing party, the Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to agree with the Required Designated Owners on the Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) for the AMTP Shares. If the Fund and the Required Designated Owners fail to reach such agreement during the Term Adjustment Notice Period, the Term Adjustment Notice shall be deemed withdrawn and the Term Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate.

(vii)    In the event that a Third Party Purchase of AMTP Shares is arranged by the Fund pursuant to Section 2.2(h)(v) or in connection with a Transition pursuant to Article 4, (A) the Fund shall appoint a Settlement Agent in connection with such Third Party Purchase and the associated Mandatory Tender and (B) all Outstanding AMTP Shares automatically shall be subject to a Mandatory Tender and delivered to the Settlement Agent for purchase by the Third Party Purchaser on the Third Party Purchase Date or Transition Date, as applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1.

(viii)    Delivery of a Term Adjustment Notice pursuant to Section 2.2(h)(i) shall not preclude the simultaneous or subsequent delivery of a Term Adjustment Notice pursuant to Section 2.2(h)(ii) or a Transition Notice pursuant to Section 4.2(a), and vice versa.

(ix)    An Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms), once established, may be further adjusted or replaced with a new Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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(x)    The Adjusted Dividend Amount (and/or any other Adjusted Terms) agreed to in accordance with the foregoing procedures shall be set forth in an Adjusted Terms Agreement and the associated Supplement to the Appendix.

(xi)    A Term Adjustment Notice pursuant to this Section 2.2(h) may propose modified or new terms for the AMTP Shares, including, but not limited to, the Dividend Amount, as well as, as applicable, the Applicable Spread, the Rate Determination Date(s) and the Dividend Period(s) (collectively, “Adjusted Terms”); provided, that no Adjusted Terms shall be proposed that modify the terms of Section 2.1, Section 2.2(c), this Section 2.2(h)(xi), Section 2.3, Section 2.5(a), Section 2.5(f)(v) or Section 2.6 of this Statement.

2.3     Liquidation Rights.

(a)      In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders of AMTP Shares shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders, after satisfying claims of creditors but before any distribution or payment shall be made in respect of the Common Shares, a liquidation distribution equal to the Liquidation Preference for such shares, plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such shares accumulated to (but excluding) the date fixed for such distribution or payment on such shares (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon), and such Holders shall be entitled to no further participation in any distribution or payment in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

(b)      If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Fund available for distribution among the Holders of all Outstanding AMTP Shares and any other outstanding Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the AMTP Shares shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such Holders of the Liquidation Preference of such AMTP Shares plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and other distributions on such shares as provided in Section 2.3(a) above and the amounts due upon liquidation with respect to such other Preferred Shares, then such available assets shall be distributed among the Holders of such AMTP Shares and such other Preferred Shares ratably in proportion to the respective preferential liquidation amounts to which they are entitled. In connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, unless and until the Liquidation Preference on each Outstanding AMTP Share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends and other distributions on such shares as provided in Section 2.3(a) above have been paid in full to the Holders of such shares, no dividends, distributions or other payments will be made on, and no redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the Fund will be made by the Fund in respect of, the Common Shares.

(c)      Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Fund, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Fund into or with any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any other business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity into or with the Fund shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purpose of this Section 2.3.

 

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2.4     Coverage & Leverage Tests.

(a)      Asset Coverage Requirement. For so long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall have Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on each Business Day. If the Fund shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section 2.5(b)(i) shall be applicable, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.4(a).

(b)      Calculation of Asset Coverage. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.4(a) are satisfied, (i) no AMTP Shares or other Preferred Shares shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section 2.4(a) if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such AMTP Shares or other Preferred Shares) to pay the full redemption price for such AMTP Shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for such AMTP Shares or other Preferred Shares and the requisite notice of redemption for such AMTP Shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds that shall have been deposited with the applicable paying agent shall not be included as assets of the Fund for purposes of such computation.

(c)      Effective Leverage Ratio Requirement. For so long as AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Effective Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 45% as of the close of business on any Business Day; provided, however, in the event that the Fund’s Effective Leverage Ratio exceeds 45% on any Business Day solely by reason of fluctuations in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, the Effective Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 46% on such Business Day. If the Effective Leverage Ratio shall exceed the applicable percentage provided in the preceding sentence as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section 2.5(b)(ii) shall be applicable, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.4(c).

(d)      Calculation of Effective Leverage Ratio. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.4(c) are satisfied, the “Effective Leverage Ratio” on any date shall mean the quotient of:

(i)    The sum of (A) the aggregate liquidation preference of the Fund’s “senior securities” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) that are stock for purposes of the 1940 Act, excluding, without duplication, any such senior securities for which the Fund has issued a notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption; (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Fund’s “senior securities representing indebtedness” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act); and (C) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund; divided by

 

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(ii)    The sum of (A) the Market Value of the Fund’s total assets (for the avoidance of doubt, determined on a separate company basis, without consolidating the assets held in special purpose vehicles, such as tender option bond trusts, but including the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund) (including amounts attributable to senior securities but excluding any assets consisting of Deposit Securities or funds referred to in clause (A) of Section 2.4(d)(i) above), less the amount of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (for the avoidance of doubt, other than liabilities for the aggregate principal amount of senior securities representing indebtedness, and other than floating rate securities described in Section 2.4(d)(ii)(B) below), and (B) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund.

2.5     Redemption. The AMTP Shares shall be subject to redemption by the Fund as provided below:

(a)      Term Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all AMTP Shares on the Term Redemption Date, at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference per share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue to (but excluding) the Term Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon) (the “Term Redemption Price”).

(b)      Asset Coverage and Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(i)    Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption. (A) If the Fund fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section 2.4(a) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.4(a) and such failure is not cured as of the Asset Coverage Cure Date other than as a result of the redemption required by this Section 2.5(b)(i), the Fund shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, redeem a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of AMTP Shares, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section 2.5(b)(i)(B). In connection with such redemption, the Fund shall, by the close of business on the Business Day next following such Asset Coverage Cure Date, cause a notice of redemption to be issued, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed. In addition, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, the Fund shall cause to be deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed. In the event that any AMTP Shares then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(i), the Fund shall redeem such shares at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference per share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue to (but excluding) the date fixed for such redemption by the Board of Trustees (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon) (the “Mandatory Redemption Price”).

(B) On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by Section 2.5(b)(i)(A), the Fund shall redeem at the Mandatory Redemption Price, out of funds legally available therefor, such number of Preferred Shares (which may include at the sole option of the Fund any number or proportion of AMTP Shares) as shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the

 

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minimum number of Preferred Shares, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of at least 225% (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum number of AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed), and (y) the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(i), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(i) a sufficient number of AMTP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of up to and including 250%. The Fund shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be later than thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed or the Fund otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Fund shall redeem those AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding AMTP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(i), the number of AMTP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding AMTP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable, in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.5(b)(i)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(ii)    Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption. (A) If (1) the Fund fails to comply with the Effective Leverage Ratio requirement as provided in Section 2.4(c) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.4(c) or (2) with respect to the AMTP Shares issued pursuant to this Statement, the Fund fails to comply with the Effective Leverage Ratio requirement calculated as set forth in Section 6.13 of the Purchase Agreement applicable to AMTP Shares if such requirement shall still be in effect in accordance with the terms of such Purchase Agreement, the Fund fails to comply with any additional requirements relating to the calculation of the Effective Leverage Ratio pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or Appendix or any Supplement thereto then in effect as applicable, and, in any such case, such failure is not cured as of the close of business on the date that is seven (7) Business Days following the Business Day on which such non-compliance is first determined (the “Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date”) other than as a result of the redemption required by this Section 2.5(b)(ii), the Fund shall cause the Effective Leverage Ratio (determined in accordance with the requirements applicable to the determination of the Effective Leverage Ratio under this Statement, and under the Appendix and any Supplement thereto then in effect as applicable, and Purchase Agreement for the AMTP Shares in respect of which the Effective Leverage Ratio is being determined) to not exceed the Effective Leverage Ratio required under Section 2.4(c) as so determined, by (x) not later than the close of business on the

 

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Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, engaging in transactions involving or relating to the floating rate securities not owned by the Fund and/or the inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund, including the purchase, sale or retirement thereof, (y) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, not later than the close of business on the Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, causing a notice of redemption to be issued, and in addition, causing to be irrevocably deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption at the redemption price specified in the terms of such Preferred Shares of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of AMTP Shares, or (z) engaging in any combination of the actions contemplated by, clauses (x) and (y) of this Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A). In the event that any AMTP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of this Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A), the Fund shall redeem such AMTP Shares at a price per AMTP Share equal to the Mandatory Redemption Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(ii), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(b)(ii) a sufficient number of AMTP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, in the Fund having an Effective Leverage Ratio on such Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date of no less than 40%.

(B) On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by clause (y) of Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A), the Fund shall not redeem more than the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. If the Fund is unable to redeem the required number of AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed in accordance with clause (y) of Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A) due to the unavailability of legally available funds, the Fund shall redeem those AMTP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding AMTP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of Section 2.5(b)(ii)(A), the number of AMTP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding AMTP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.5(b)(ii)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(c)      Optional Redemption.

(i)    Subject to the provisions of Section 2.5(c)(ii), the Fund may at its option on any Business Day (an “Optional Redemption Date”) redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding AMTP Shares, at a redemption price per AMTP Share (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to (x) the Liquidation Preference per AMTP Share plus (y) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such AMTP Share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue to (but excluding) the Optional

 

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Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon) plus (z) the Optional Redemption Premium per share (if any) that is applicable to an optional redemption of AMTP Shares that is effected on such Optional Redemption Date as set forth in the Appendix and any Supplement thereto that is then in effect, as applicable.

(ii)    If fewer than all of the outstanding AMTP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.5(c)(i), the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either (A) pro rata, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable; provided, in each such case, that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.5(c)(ii) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository. Subject to the provisions of this Statement and applicable law, the Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which AMTP Shares will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.5(c) from time to time.

(iii)    The Fund may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 2.5(f) in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section 2.5(c) unless on such date the Fund has available Deposit Securities for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of AMTP Shares by reason of the redemption of such AMTP Shares on such Optional Redemption Date.

(iv)    AMTP Shares redeemed at the Fund’s sole option in accordance with, but solely to the extent contemplated by, Section 2.5(b)(i)(B) or Section 2.5(b)(ii) shall be considered mandatorily redeemed pursuant to such Section, as applicable, and not subject to this Section 2.5(c).

(d)    Failed Adjustment Mandatory Redemption. In the event of a Failed Adjustment Event, the Fund shall redeem all Outstanding AMTP Shares on the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date, at a price per share equal to (i) the Liquidation Preference per AMTP Share plus (ii) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such AMTP Share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue of such AMTP Share to (but excluding) the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon (the “Failed Adjustment Redemption Price”).

(e)    Failed Transition Mandatory Redemption. In the event of a Failed Transition Event, the Fund shall redeem all Outstanding AMTP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date, at a price per share equal to (i) the Liquidation Preference per AMTP Share plus (ii) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such AMTP Share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue of such AMTP Share to (but excluding) the Failed Transition Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon (the “Failed Transition Redemption Price”).

(f)    Procedures for Redemption.

(i)    If the Fund shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, AMTP Shares pursuant to Section 2.5(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) the Fund shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage

 

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prepaid or by Electronic Means to Holders thereof, or request the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the date fixed for redemption and not less than five (5) calendar days (or such shorter notice period as may be consented to by all of the Designated Owners of the AMTP Shares, which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 2.6) prior to the date fixed for redemption pursuant to this Section 2.5(f) in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) the series and number of AMTP Shares to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for AMTP Shares of such series; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis; (E) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (F) that dividends on the AMTP Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (G) the provisions of this Statement under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all AMTP Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of AMTP Shares to be redeemed from such Holder and/or the method of determining such number. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to Section 2.5(c) of this Statement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to a Failed Adjustment Event contemplated to be effected pursuant to Section 2.5(d) that such redemption is subject to the condition of the Failed Adjustment Event being continuing on the related Redemption Date. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(ii)    If the Fund shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of such Notice of Redemption and prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date (so long as any conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Fund), the Fund shall (A) deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the AMTP Shares to be redeemed on the Redemption Date and (B) give the Redemption and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the AMTP Shares called for redemption on the Redemption Date. The Fund may direct the Redemption and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any Deposit Securities consisting of cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (A) of the preceding sentence, if the Redemption Date is the Term Redemption Date, then such deposit of Deposit Securities shall be made no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Term Redemption Date.

(iii)    Upon the date of the deposit of such Deposit Securities, all rights of the Holders of the AMTP Shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the Holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such AMTP Shares shall

 

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no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever (other than (A) the transfer thereof prior to the applicable Redemption Date and (B) the accumulation of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms hereof up to (but excluding) the applicable Redemption Date, which accumulated dividends, unless previously declared and paid as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2.5(f)(vi) below, shall be payable only as part of the applicable Redemption Price on the Redemption Date). The Fund shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the Redemption Date, any Deposit Securities in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the AMTP Shares called for redemption on the Redemption Date. Any Deposit Securities so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days from the Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund, after which the Holders of the AMTP Shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Fund for payment of the Redemption Price thereof. The Fund shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the Redemption Date, any interest on the Deposit Securities so deposited.

(iv)    On or after the Redemption Date, each Holder of AMTP Shares in certificated form (if any) that are subject to redemption shall surrender the certificate(s) evidencing such AMTP Shares to the Fund at the place designated in the Notice of Redemption and shall then be entitled to receive the Redemption Price for such AMTP Shares, without interest, and in the case of a redemption of fewer than all the AMTP Shares represented by such certificate(s), a new certificate representing the AMTP Shares that were not redeemed.

(v)    Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.5, except as otherwise required by law, the Fund shall not redeem any AMTP Shares or other series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the AMTP Shares with respect to dividends and other distributions unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions on all Outstanding AMTP Shares and shares of other series of Preferred Shares for all applicable past dividend periods (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund) (x) shall have been or are contemporaneously paid or (y) shall have been or are contemporaneously declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares for the payment of such dividends and other distributions) shall have been or are contemporaneously deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for such Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding AMTP Shares pursuant to an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to Holders of all Outstanding AMTP Shares and any other series of Preferred Shares for which all accumulated and unpaid dividends and other distributions have not been paid.

(vi)    To the extent that any redemption for which Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by reason of the absence of legally available funds therefor in accordance with the Declaration, this Statement, and applicable law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable to the extent such funds become available. In the case of any redemption pursuant to Section 2.5(c) or Section 2.5(d), no Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Fund shall fail to deposit in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that a Notice of

 

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Redemption has been provided with respect to any AMTP Shares, dividends may be declared and paid on such AMTP Shares in accordance with their terms if Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such AMTP Shares shall not have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose.

(g)    Redemption and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities transferred to the Redemption and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of AMTP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of AMTP Shares so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5(f)(iii) above.

(h)    Compliance With Applicable Law. In effecting any redemption pursuant to this Section 2.5, the Fund shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption under the 1940 Act and any applicable law, but shall effect no redemption except in accordance with the 1940 Act and any applicable law.

(i)    Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the AMTP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the AMTP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Redemption and Paying Agent without its prior consent.

2.6     Voting Rights.

(a)    One Vote Per AMTP Share. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration, this Statement or as otherwise required by law, (i) each Holder of AMTP Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each AMTP Share held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund, and (ii) the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares, including Outstanding AMTP Shares, and Common Shares shall vote together as a single class; provided, however, that the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares, including Outstanding AMTP Shares, shall be entitled, as a class, to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and Common Shares of the Fund, to elect two trustees of the Fund at all times. Subject to Section 2.6(b), the Holders of outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including AMTP Shares, voting together as a single class, shall elect the balance of the trustees.

(b)    Voting For Additional Trustees.

(i)    Voting Period. During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described in clauses (A) or (B) of this Section 2.6(b)(i) shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “Voting Period”), the number of trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be automatically increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the Holders of Preferred Shares, including AMTP Shares, would constitute a majority of the Board of Trustees as so increased by such smallest number; and the Holders of Preferred Shares, including AMTP Shares, shall be entitled, voting as a class on a

 

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one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of capital stock of the Fund), to elect such smallest number of additional trustees, together with the two trustees that such Holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:

(A)    if, at the close of business on any dividend payment date for any outstanding Preferred Shares including any Outstanding AMTP Shares, accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on such outstanding Preferred Shares equal to at least two (2) full years’ dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities shall not have been deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends; or

(B)    if at any time Holders of Preferred Shares are otherwise entitled under the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees.

Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this Section 2.6(b)(i) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting rights in the Holders of Preferred Shares upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this Section 2.6(b)(i).

(ii)    Notice of Special Meeting. As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the Holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees as described in Section 2.6(b)(i), the Fund shall call a special meeting of such Holders and notify the Redemption and Paying Agent and/or such other Person as is specified in the terms of such Preferred Shares to receive notice (i) by mailing or delivery by Electronic Means or (ii) in such other manner and by such other means as are specified in the terms of such Preferred Shares, a notice of such special meeting to such Holders, such meeting to be held not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the delivery by Electronic Means or mailing of such notice or the delivery of such notice by such other means as are described in clause (ii) above. If the Fund fails to call such a special meeting, it may be called at the expense of the Fund by any such Holder on like notice. The record date for determining the Holders of Preferred Shares entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the fifth (5th) Business Day preceding the calendar day on which such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered. At any such special meeting and at each meeting of Holders of Preferred Shares held during a Voting Period at which trustees are to be elected, such Holders voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the Holders of all other securities and classes of capital stock of the Fund), shall be entitled to elect the number of trustees prescribed in Section 2.6(b)(i) on a one-vote-per-share basis.

(iii)    Terms of Office of Existing Trustees. The terms of office of the incumbent trustees of the Fund at the time of a special meeting of Holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees in accordance with Section 2.6(b)(i) shall not be affected by the election at such meeting by the Holders of AMTP Shares and such other Holders of Preferred Shares of the number of trustees that they are entitled to elect, and the trustees so elected by the Holders of AMTP Shares and such other Holders of Preferred Shares, together with the two (2) trustees elected by the Holders of Preferred Shares in accordance with Section 2.6(a) and the remaining

 

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trustees elected by the holders of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, shall constitute the duly elected trustees of the Fund.

(iv)    Terms of Office of Certain Trustees to Terminate Upon Termination of Voting Period. Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional trustees elected by the Holders of the Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(i) shall terminate, the remaining trustees shall constitute the trustees of the Fund and the voting rights of the Holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(i) shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section 2.6(b)(i).

(c)    Holders of AMTP Shares to Vote on Certain Matters.

(i)    Certain Amendments Requiring Approval of AMTP Shares. Except as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Statement, including without limitation, Section 2.2(h), so long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the AMTP Shares subject to this Statement Outstanding at the time, voting together as a separate class, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Declaration or this Statement, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of such AMTP Shares or the Holders thereof; provided, however, that (i) a change in the capitalization of the Fund in accordance with Section 2.8 hereof shall not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights and preferences of the AMTP Shares, and (ii) a division of a AMTP Share shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect such preferences, rights or powers only if the terms of such division materially and adversely affect the Holders of the AMTP Shares. For purposes of the foregoing, no matter shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of an AMTP Share or the Holder thereof unless such matter (i) alters or abolishes any preferential right of such AMTP Share, or (ii) creates, alters or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such AMTP Share (other than solely as a result of a division of an AMTP Share). So long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 66 2/3% of the AMTP Shares Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, file a voluntary application for relief under Federal bankruptcy law or any similar application under state law for so long as the Fund is solvent and does not foresee becoming insolvent. For the avoidance of doubt, no vote of the holders of Common Shares shall be required to amend, alter or repeal the provisions of this Statement, including any Appendix or any Supplement thereto.

(ii)    1940 Act Matters. Unless a higher percentage is provided for in the Declaration, the affirmative vote of the Holders of at least “a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares,” including AMTP Shares Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required (A) to approve any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (B) to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares, or (C) to approve any other action requiring a vote of security holders of the Fund under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. For purposes of the foregoing, the vote of a “majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares” means the vote at an annual or special meeting duly called of (i) sixty-seven percent (67%) or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares are present or represented by proxy at such meeting, or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of such shares, whichever is less.

 

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(d)    Voting Rights Set Forth Herein Are Sole Voting Rights. Unless otherwise required by law, the Declaration or this Statement, the Holders of AMTP Shares shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights with respect to voting such AMTP Shares other than those specifically set forth in this Section 2.6; provided, however, that nothing in this Statement shall be deemed to preclude or limit the right of the Fund (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to contractually agree with any Holder or Designated Owner of AMTP Shares that any action or inaction by the Fund shall require the consent or approval of such Holder or Designated Owner.

(e)    No Cumulative Voting. The Holders of AMTP Shares shall have no rights to cumulative voting.

(f)    Voting for Trustees Sole Remedy for Fund’s Failure to Declare or Pay Dividends. In the event that the Fund fails to declare or pay any dividends on any AMTP Shares on the Dividend Payment Date therefor, the exclusive remedy of the Holders of the AMTP Shares shall be the right to vote for trustees pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6. Nothing in this Section 2.6(f) shall be deemed to affect the obligation of the Fund to accumulate and, if permitted by applicable law, the Declaration and this Statement, pay dividends in an amount other than the Dividend Amount in the circumstances contemplated by this Statement.

(g)    Holders Entitled to Vote. For purposes of determining any rights of the Holders of AMTP Shares to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by this Statement, by the Declaration, by statute or otherwise, no Holder of AMTP Shares shall be entitled to vote any AMTP Share and no AMTP Share shall be deemed to be “Outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently with the time of determination of shares entitled to vote or the time of the actual vote on the matter, as the case may be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such AMTP Share shall have been given in accordance with this Statement and Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such AMTP Share shall have been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose. No AMTP Share held by the Fund shall have any voting rights or be deemed to be outstanding for voting or for calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other purposes.

2.7    Rating Agencies.

The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Rating Agencies to issue long-term credit ratings with respect to the AMTP Shares for so long any AMTP Shares are Outstanding. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any applicable Rating Agency Guidelines. If a Rating Agency shall cease to rate the securities of tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally, the Board of Trustees shall terminate the designation of such Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder. The Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder with respect to the AMTP Shares so long as either (i) immediately following such termination, there would be at least one Rating Agency or (ii) it replaces the terminated Rating Agency with another NRSRO and provides notice thereof to the Holders; provided that such replacement shall not occur unless such replacement Other Rating Agency shall have at the time of such replacement (i) published a rating for the AMTP Shares and (ii) entered into an agreement with

 

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the Fund to continue to publish such rating subject to the Rating Agency’s customary conditions. The Board of Trustees may also elect to designate one or more other NRSROs as Other Rating Agencies hereunder with respect to the AMTP Shares by notice to the Holders. The Rating Agency Guidelines of any Rating Agency may be amended by such Rating Agency without the vote, consent or approval of the Fund, the Board of Trustees or any Holder of Preferred Shares, including any AMTP Shares, or Common Shares.

2.8    Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares.

So long as any AMTP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of Preferred Shares, ranking on a parity with AMTP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Fund, and authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such series of Preferred Shares then outstanding or so established or created, including additional AMTP Shares (to the extent the prior written consent of the Majority Designated Owner has been obtained if such AMTP Shares are issued pursuant to this Statement), in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Fund shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred Shares with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by Section 2.4(b)) of at least 225% and an Effective Leverage Ratio (calculated in the same manner as contemplated by Section 2.4(d)) not in excess of 45%.

2.9    Status of Redeemed or Repurchased AMTP Shares.

AMTP Shares that at any time have been redeemed, exchanged or purchased by the Fund shall, after such redemption, exchange or purchase, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Shares.

2.10    Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations.

Whenever a Taxable Allocation is to be paid by the Fund with respect to the AMTP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period and either the Increased Spread is not in effect or the Maximum Amount has not been exceeded during such Dividend Period, the Fund shall comply with one of clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) of this Section 2.10:

(a)    The Fund may provide notice to the Redemption and Paying Agent prior to the commencement of any Dividend Period for the AMTP Shares of the amount of the Taxable Allocation that will be made in respect of such shares for such Dividend Period (a “Notice of Taxable Allocation”). Such Notice of Taxable Allocation will state the amount of the dividends payable in respect of each AMTP Share for such Dividend Period that will be treated as a Taxable Allocation and the adjustment to the Dividend Amount for each Rate Period (or portion thereof) included in such Dividend Period that will be required to pay the Additional Amount Payment in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such AMTP Shares for such Dividend Period. In lieu of adjusting the Dividend Amount, the Fund may make, in addition to and in conjunction with the payment of regular dividends for such Dividend Period, a supplemental distribution in respect of each share for such Dividend Period equal to the

 

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Additional Amount Payment payable in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such share for such Dividend Period. The Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the distribution of Taxable Allocations in respect of AMTP Shares as provided in this Section 2.10(a), and shall only effect the distribution of Taxable Allocations as described in Section 2.10(b) and/or Section 2.10(c) if such commercially reasonable efforts do not reasonably permit the Fund to effect the distribution of a Taxable Allocation as contemplated by this Section 2.10(a).

(b)    If the Fund does not provide a Notice of Taxable Allocation as provided in Section 2.10(a) with respect to a Taxable Allocation that is made in respect of AMTP Shares, the Fund may make one or more supplemental distributions on such shares equal to the amount of such Taxable Allocation. Any such supplemental distribution in respect of AMTP Shares may be declared and paid on any date, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date of such supplemental distribution, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

(c)    If in connection with a redemption of AMTP Shares, the Fund makes a Taxable Allocation without having either given advance notice thereof pursuant to Section 2.10(a) or made one or more supplemental distributions pursuant to Section 2.10(b), the Fund shall direct the Redemption and Paying Agent to send an Additional Amount Payment in respect of such Taxable Allocation to each Holder of such shares at such Person’s address as the same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Fund.

(d)    Except as required by any Purchase Agreement applicable to the AMTP Shares, for so long as the applicable provisions of such Purchase Agreement shall be in effect, the Fund shall not be required to pay Additional Amount Payments with respect to AMTP Shares with respect to any net capital gain or other taxable income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund.

2.11    Liquidity Account and Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement.

(a)    By the first Business Day following the occurrence and during the continuance of the Failed Adjustment Period, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares. If, while the Failed Adjustment Period is continuing, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account

 

33


Investments, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments not so earmarked, so long as (i) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares and (ii) the assets of the Fund designated and earmarked as Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least the Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with Section 2.11(b) below with respect to the Outstanding AMTP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(b)    In connection with a Liquidity Account related to a Failed Adjustment Event, the Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement shall apply, in all cases subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.11(c) below.

(c)    If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement in respect of the Outstanding AMTP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement for the Outstanding AMTP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(d)    The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Failed Adjustment Redemption Price for the Outstanding AMTP Shares. Upon the deposit by the Fund with the Redemption and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the AMTP Shares on the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date, the requirement of the Fund to maintain the Liquidity Account as contemplated by this Section 2.11 shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

2.12    Liquidity Account and Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement.

(a)    By the first Business Day following the occurrence and during the continuance of the Failed Transition Period, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark a Liquidity Account comprised of Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares. If, while the Failed Transition Period is continuing, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity

 

34


Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments not so earmarked, so long as (i) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares and (ii) the assets of the Fund designated and earmarked as Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least the Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with Section 2.12(b) below with respect to the Outstanding AMTP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(b)    In connection with a Liquidity Account related to a Failed Transition Event, the Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement shall apply, in all cases subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.12(c) below.

(c)    If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement in respect of the Outstanding AMTP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement for the Outstanding AMTP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(d)    The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Failed Transition Redemption Price for the Outstanding AMTP Shares. Upon the deposit by the Fund with the Redemption and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the AMTP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date, the requirement of the Fund to maintain the Liquidity Account as contemplated by this Section 2.12 shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

2.13    Global Certificate.

All AMTP Shares Outstanding from time to time shall be represented by one global certificate registered in the name of the Securities Depository or its nominee and no registration of transfer of such shares shall be made on the books of the Fund to any Person other than the Securities Depository or its nominee or transferee. The foregoing restriction on registration of transfer shall be conspicuously noted on the face or back of the global certificates. Such global

 

35


certificates will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co., its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global certificates will be held only through The Depository Trust Company and any of its participants.

2.14     Notice.

All notices or communications hereunder, unless otherwise specified in this Statement, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by telecopier, by Electronic Means or by overnight delivery. Notices delivered pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be deemed given on the date received.

2.15     Termination.

In the event that no AMTP Shares subject to this Statement are Outstanding, all rights and preferences of the shares established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Fund under this Statement shall terminate.

2.16     Appendices.

The designation of the AMTP Shares subject to this Statement shall be set forth in an Appendix to this Statement. The Board of Trustees (i) may, by resolution duly adopted, without shareholder approval (except as otherwise provided by this Statement or required by applicable law) amend the Appendix to this Statement relating to the AMTP Shares so as to reflect any amendments to the terms applicable to such shares including an increase in the number of authorized shares and (ii) shall, by resolution duly adopted, authorize and approve a Supplement to the Appendix, to reflect any Adjusted Terms agreed to pursuant to Section 2.2(h) in an Adjusted Terms Agreement.

2.17     Actions on Other than Business Days.

Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Statement, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made or done on the nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.

2.18     Modification.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Section 2.6(c) and the Purchase Agreement, the Board of Trustees, without the vote of the Holders of AMTP Shares, may interpret, supplement, or amend the provisions of this Statement, the Appendix hereto and any Supplement thereto that is in effect, as applicable, to supply any omission, resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, including any provision that becomes defective after the date hereof because of impossibility of performance or any provision that is inconsistent with any provision of any other Preferred Shares of the Fund.

 

36


2.19     Transfers.

(a)    Subject to Article III hereof, a Designated Owner or Holder of any AMTP Shares may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of AMTP Shares only in whole shares and only to Persons that are both: (1)(i) Persons that such Designated Owner or Holder reasonably believes are “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any successor provision) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any successor provision that are registered closed-end management investment companies, the shares of which are traded on a national securities exchange (“Closed-End Funds”), banks or entities that are 100% direct or indirect subsidiaries of banks’ publicly traded parent holding companies (collectively, “Banks”), insurance companies or registered open-end management investment companies, (ii) tender option bond trusts or other similar investment vehicles in which all investors are Persons that such Designated Owner or Holder reasonably believes are “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any successor provision) that are Closed-End Funds, Banks, insurance companies, or registered open-end management investment companies, or (iii) other investors with the prior written consent of the Fund and (2) Persons that are either (i) not a Nuveen Person or (ii) a Nuveen Person, provided that (x) such Nuveen Person would, after such sale and transfer, own not more than 20% of the Outstanding AMTP Shares, or (y) the prior written consent of the Fund and the Holder(s) of more than 50% of the Outstanding AMTP Shares has been obtained. The restrictions on transfer contained in this Section 2.19(a) shall not apply to any AMTP Shares that are being registered and sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or to any subsequent transfer of such AMTP Shares.

(b)    If at any time the Fund is not furnishing information pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in order to preserve the exemption for resales and transfers under Rule 144A, the Fund shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to holders of AMTP Shares and prospective purchasers of AMTP Shares, upon request, information with respect to the Fund satisfying the requirements of subsection (d)(4) of Rule 144A.

2.20     No Additional Rights.

Unless otherwise required by law or the Declaration, the Holders of AMTP Shares shall not have any relative rights or preferences or other special rights with respect to such AMTP Shares other than those specifically set forth in this Statement; provided, however, that nothing in this Statement shall be deemed to preclude or limit the right of the Fund (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to contractually agree with any Holder or Designated Owner of AMTP Shares with regard to any special rights of such Holder or Designated Owner with respect to its investment in the Fund.

ARTICLE 3 THIRD PARTY PURCHASE OF AMTP SHARES

3.1    Third Party Purchase Procedures.

(a)    In the event that a Third Party Purchase is arranged by the Fund pursuant to Section 2.2(h)(v) or in connection with a Transition pursuant to Article 4, all Outstanding AMTP

 

37


Shares automatically shall be subject to a Mandatory Tender and delivered to the Settlement Agent for purchase by the Third Party Purchaser on the Third Party Purchase Date, in accordance with this Section 3.1. With respect to any Transition, references to “Third Party Purchase Date” in this Section 3.1 shall be deemed to include the Transition Date as applicable. The proceeds of such Third Party Purchase shall be used by the Settlement Agent for the purchase of the automatically tendered AMTP Shares at the Third Party Purchase Price, and the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Third Party Purchase Price by the third party to be received by the Settlement Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Third Party Purchase Date for payment to the Holders automatically tendering AMTP Shares for sale through the Securities Depository in immediately available funds, against delivery of the tendered AMTP Shares either (i) to the Settlement Agent through the Securities Depository on the Third Party Purchase Date and the re-delivery of such AMTP Shares by means of “FREE” delivery through the Securities Depository to the Third Party Purchaser for delivery to the relevant purchaser’s Agent Member or (ii) directly to the Third Party Purchaser or such Agent Member, through the Securities Depository by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Third Party Purchase Date.

(b)    Any funds paid by the Third Party Purchaser and held in an account of the Settlement Agent for the payment of the Third Party Purchase Price in connection with the Third Party Purchase shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Third Party Purchaser of the AMTP Shares pending automatic delivery by the Holders pursuant to the Mandatory Tender of the tendered shares, against payment therefor. In the event of a Third Party Purchase, upon the Mandatory Tender of AMTP Shares from the Holders to the Settlement Agent, the Settlement Agent shall pay, subject to receipt of the Third Party Purchase Price by the Settlement Agent from the Third Party Purchaser, the Third Party Purchase Price for such AMTP Shares to such tendering Holders. In accordance with and subject to the foregoing, the Settlement Agent shall effect any such payment on the Third Party Purchase Date.

(c)    Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the purchase and delivery of tendered AMTP Shares in the form of global securities, the Third Party Purchase, and payments with respect to the foregoing, will be accomplished in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Securities Depository.

(d)    The Fund may modify or waive each of the timing requirements set forth above with the written consent of the Required Designated Owners and the Settlement Agent, in each case such consent to be required only to the extent such party is affected thereby.

ARTICLE 4 TRANSITION

4.1    General Provisions.

(a)    On any Business Day after December 14, 2019 the Fund may initiate a Transition. In the event that a Third Party Purchase of AMTP Shares is arranged by the Fund in connection with a Transition, (A) the Fund shall appoint a Settlement Agent in connection with such Third Party Purchase and the associated Mandatory Tender and (B) all Outstanding AMTP Shares automatically shall be subject to a Mandatory Tender and delivered to the Settlement Agent for

 

38


purchase by the Third Party Purchaser on the Transition Date (as defined below) in accordance with Section 3.1. Upon initiating a Transition, the Fund agrees to use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent that it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to arrange a Third Party Purchase of such AMTP Shares, upon terms as designated and set forth in a new Appendix or Supplement for the AMTP Shares.

(b)    In the event that the Fund successfully accomplishes a Transition and no Failed Transition Event otherwise shall have occurred and be continuing as of the effective date of the Transition (the “Transition Date”), then on and as of the Transition Date, such AMTP Shares shall be subject to the terms set forth in the new Supplement. If a Failed Transition Event shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) the new terms designated by the Fund shall not be established, (ii) all tendered AMTP Shares, if any, shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Settlement Agent, and (iii) all of the then Outstanding AMTP Shares shall be redeemed by the Fund on the Failed Transition Redemption Date in accordance with Section 2.5(e).

(c)    The Fund shall use its best efforts to cause the terms and conditions of such AMTP Shares transitioned to a Third Party Purchaser pursuant to this Article 4 to be consistent with the continuing qualification of such AMTP Shares as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it shall be a condition precedent to such Transition that the Fund shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that such AMTP Shares will continue to qualify as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(d)    The terms of the AMTP Shares transitioned to a Third Party Purchaser pursuant to this Article 4 may not, in any event, affect the parity ranking of such AMTP Shares relative to each other or to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund then outstanding with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

4.2    Notice of Transition.

(a)    The Fund shall provide the Required Designated Owners with written notice of a Transition pursuant to this Article 4 (a “Transition Notice”) not more than forty-five (45) calendar days and not less than thirty (30) calendar days (or such shorter notice period as may be consented to by the Required Designated Owners (which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 2.6)) prior to the applicable Transition Date.

(b)    The Transition Notice shall state, as applicable: (A) the Transition Date; (B) the series of AMTP Shares to which the notice relates; (C) the CUSIP number for the AMTP Shares; (D) the Third Party Purchase Price on a per share basis; (E) that (i) all Outstanding AMTP Shares will be subject to Mandatory Tender and purchase on the Transition Date, and (ii) in the event of a Failed Transition Event, all tendered AMTP Shares will be returned to the relevant tendering Holders; and (F) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Third Party Purchase Agreement states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Third Party Purchase Price. The Fund may provide in the Transition Notice that such Transition is subject to one or more additional conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such Transition unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner

 

39


specified in such Transition Notice; provided, that no such conditions shall affect the consequences of a Failed Transition Event.

4.3    Failed Transition Period.

If a Failed Transition Event occurs where the Fund has initiated a proposed Transition pursuant to this Article 4, a Failed Transition Period shall commence and continue. For each Rate Period or portion thereof during the Failed Transition Period, if any, the Dividend Spread used to compute the Dividend Amount on the AMTP Shares shall be the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread.

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

40


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund has caused this Statement to be signed on November 18, 2019 in its name and on its behalf by a duly authorized officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Statement as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Statement are not binding upon any such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

Name:

 

Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

Title:

 

Vice President and Secretary

[Signature Page to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and

Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares (NVG)]


APPENDIX A

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

ADJUSTABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES, SERIES 2028

Preliminary Statement and Incorporation By Reference

This Appendix establishes a Series of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund. Except as set forth below, this Appendix incorporates by reference the terms set forth with respect to such Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares in that “Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares” effective as of November 18, 2019 (the “AMTP Statement”). This Appendix has been adopted by resolution of the Board of Trustees of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund and is effective as of November 18, 2019. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the AMTP Statement.

Section 1.    Designation as to Series.

Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, Series 2028: A series of One Thousand One Hundred Twenty (1,120) Preferred Shares classified as Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares is hereby designated as the “Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, Series 2028” (the “Series 2028 AMTP Shares”). Each share of such Series shall have such preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law and those that are expressly set forth in the Declaration and the AMTP Statement (except as the AMTP Statement may be expressly modified by this Appendix), as are set forth in this Appendix A. The Series 2028 AMTP Shares shall constitute a separate series of Preferred Shares and of the Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares and each Series 2028 AMTP Share shall be identical. The following terms and conditions shall apply solely to the Series 2028 AMTP Shares:

Section 2.    Number of Authorized Shares of Series.

The number of authorized shares is One Thousand One Hundred Twenty (1,120).

Section 3.    Date of Original Issue with respect to Series.

The Date of Original Issue is November 18, 2019.

Section 4.    Liquidation Preference Applicable to Series.

The Liquidation Preference is $100,000.00 per share.

Section 5.    Term Redemption Date Applicable to Series.

The Term Redemption Date is December 1, 2028.

 

A-1


Section 6.    Dividend Payment Dates Applicable to Series.

The Dividend Payment Date for the first Dividend Period is December 2, 2019. For subsequent Dividend Periods, the Dividend Payment Dates are the first Business Day of each calendar month that the Series 2028 AMTP Shares are Outstanding.

Section 7.    Calculation of Dividends.

The amount of dividends per share accumulated for each day (the “Dividend Amount”) shall be equal to the product of: (a) the SIFMA Index Rate plus the Dividend Spread in effect for such day, divided by the actual number of days in the year (365 or 366) in which such day occurs, and (b) the Liquidation Preference for a Series 2028 AMTP Share. Dollar amounts resulting from the calculation of dividends will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward. The Dividend Amount shall in no circumstances exceed the Maximum Amount.

Section 8.    [Reserved].

Section 9.    Exceptions or Amendments to Certain Definitions Applicable to the Series.

The following definitions contained under the heading “Definitions” in the AMTP Statement are hereby amended as follows:

Not applicable.

Section 10.    Definitions Applicable to the Series.

The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

Applicable Spread” means, with respect to any Rate Period for the SIFMA Index Rate, (i) the percentage per annum set forth opposite the applicable credit rating most recently assigned to the Series 2028 AMTP Shares by the Rating Agency in the table below on the SIFMA Rate Determination Date for such Rate Period or (ii) such spread or spreads as may be provided for in the Adjusted Terms established pursuant to Section 2.2(h) of the Statement.

 

Long-Term Ratings*

Fitch

  

Applicable Percentage

AAA to AA

   0.825%

AA-

   1.025%

A+

   1.225%

A

   1.425%

A-

   1.625%

BBB+

   2.525%

BBB

   2.675%

 

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BBB-

   2.825%

* And/or the equivalent ratings of any Other Rating Agency then rating the Series 2028 AMTP Shares utilizing the highest of the ratings of the Rating Agencies then rating the Series 2028 AMTP Shares.

Dividend Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 7 of this Appendix A.

Dividend Payment Date” means (i) with respect to the first Dividend Period, December 2, 2020; and (ii) with respect to each subsequent Dividend Period, the first Business Day of each calendar month that the Series 2028 AMTP Shares are Outstanding.

Dividend Period” means in the case of the first Dividend Period, the period beginning on the Date of Original Issue and ending on and including November 30, 2019 and for each subsequent Dividend Period, the period beginning on and including the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the previous Dividend Period ended and ending on and including the last calendar day of such month; provided, however, in connection with any voluntary exchange by the Holders thereof of Series 2028 AMTP Shares for any new series of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Fund, the Board of Trustees may declare that a Dividend Period shall begin on and include the first calendar day of the month in which such exchange will occur and shall end on but not include the date of such exchange, and in such case, the Dividend Payment Date for such dividend shall be the date of such exchange and provided further that, in connection with any reorganization or merger involving the Fund, the Board of Trustees may establish a Dividend Period of less than a month, in which case the Dividend Payment Date for such dividend shall be the first Business Day following the end of such Dividend Period.

Dividend Spread” means, with respect to each Rate Period and subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.10(a) of the Statement, the Applicable Spread; provided, however, that, with respect to any Increased Spread Period (or any portion of a Rate Period to which the Increased Spread otherwise applies), “Dividend Spread” shall mean the Increased Spread for such Increased Spread Period (or such portion of a Rate Period); provided further, that with respect to any Rate Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, “Dividend Spread” shall mean the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread for such Rate Period; and provided further, that with respect to any Rate Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Adjustment Period, if any, “Dividend Spread” shall mean the Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread for such Rate Period.

Failed Adjustment Liquidity Requirement” means the Market Value of Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account from and after the day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares set forth below opposite the number of such days:

 

A-3


    Number of Days Preceding    

Failed Adjustment

Redemption Date:

  

Market Value of Deposit

    Securities as Percentage of    

Liquidation Preference

45

   20%

30

   40%

20

   60%

10

   80%

5

   100%

Failed Adjustment Period” means, upon the occurrence of a Failed Adjustment Event with respect to Series 2028 AMTP Shares, the period commencing on the date of such Failed Adjustment Event and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) the redemption by the Fund on the Failed Adjustment Redemption Date or, if earlier, another Redemption Date, if any, of 100% of the Outstanding Series 2028 AMTP Shares, or (ii) the repurchase by the Fund of 100% of such AMTP Shares, or (iii) the successful Transition of 100% of such AMTP Shares or (iv) mutual agreement by the Fund and the Required Designated Owners to terminate the Failed Adjustment Period and revert to the terms mutually agreed by the Fund and the Required Designated Owners.

Failed Adjustment Period Applicable Spread” means, for each day that a Failed Adjustment Period, if any, has occurred and is continuing: the higher of (i) the Applicable Spread that would otherwise be in effect absent a Failed Adjustment Event and (ii) 200 basis points (2.00%) (up to 59 days of the continued Failed Adjustment Period), and 225 basis points (2.25%) (60 days but fewer than 90 days of the continued Failed Adjustment Period).

Failed Adjustment Redemption Date” means the 90th calendar day following a Failed Adjustment Event, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Designated Owners shall agree.

Failed Transition Event” means that, in the case of a proposed Transition pursuant to Article 4 of the Statement, (i) the Fund was unable to successfully Transition all of the Outstanding Series 2028 AMTP Shares or (ii) the proceeds of the Third Party Purchase of such AMTP Shares were not received for any reason by (x) by the Settlement Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time on the Transition Date, or (y) if payment is not made directly to the Designated Owners of such AMTP Shares, by 3:00 p.m., New York City time on the Transition Date.

Failed Transition Liquidity Requirement” means the Market Value of Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account from and after the day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Transition Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding AMTP Shares set forth below opposite the number of such days:

 

A-4


Number of Days Preceding

  Failed Transition Redemption  

Date:

  

Market Value of Deposit

    Securities as Percentage of    

Liquidation Preference

150

   20%

120

   40%

90

   60%

60

   80%

30

   100%

Failed Transition Period” means, upon the occurrence of a Failed Transition Event with respect to Series 2028 AMTP Shares, the period commencing on the date of such Failed Transition Event and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) the redemption by the Fund on the Failed Transition Redemption Date or, if earlier, another Redemption Date, if any, of 100% of the Outstanding Series 2028 AMTP Shares, or (ii) the repurchase by the Fund of 100% of such AMTP Shares, or (iii) the successful Transition of 100% of such AMTP Shares or (iv) mutual agreement by the Fund and the Required Designated Owners to terminate the Failed Transition Period and revert to the terms mutually agreed by the Fund and the Required Designated Owners.

Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread” means, for each day that a Failed Transition Period, if any, has occurred and is continuing: the higher of (i) the Applicable Spread that would otherwise be in effect absent a Failed Transition Event and (ii) 200 basis points (2.00%) (up to 59 days of the continued Failed Transition Period), 225 basis points (2.25%) (60 days but fewer than 90 days of the continued Failed Transition Period), 250 basis points (2.50%) (90 days but fewer than 120 days of the continued Failed Transition Period), 275 basis points (2.75%) (120 days but fewer than 150 days of the continued Failed Transition Period), 300 basis points (3.00%) (150 days but fewer than 180 days of the Failed Transition Period), and 400 basis points (4.00%) (180 days or more of the continued Failed Transition Period).

Failed Transition Redemption Date” means, in the case of a Failed Transition Event, the first Business Day falling on or after the 180th calendar day following the Failed Transition Event.

Increased Spread” means, with respect to each Series 2028 AMTP Share and subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.10(a) of the Statement, on each day during any Increased Spread Period, 5.825%.

Initial SIFMA Rate Period” means the period commencing on and including the Date of Original Issue and ending on and including the next succeeding calendar day that is a Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

Maximum Amount” means the product of the Liquidation Preference multiplied by 15%, divided by the actual number of days in the year (365 or 366).

Optional Redemption Premium” means with respect to each Series 2028 AMTP Share to be redeemed an amount equal to:

 

A-5


(A)    If the Optional Redemption Date occurs prior to December 14, 2019, the product of (i) 0.825%, (ii) the Liquidation Preference of such AMTP Share and (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from and including the date of redemption to and including December 14, 2019 and the denominator of which is the actual number of days from and including the Date of Original Issue to and including December 14, 2019; or

(B)    If the Optional Redemption Date is after December 14, 2019, zero.

Rate Period” means each SIFMA Rate Period.

Scheduled Term Adjustment Period Expiration Date” means the 540th calendar day following the delivery of the applicable Term Adjustment Notice.

SIFMA Index Rate” means, with respect to any SIFMA Rate Period or portion thereof, (i) the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index made available by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the SIFMA Rate Determination Date for such SIFMA Rate Period or (ii) if such index is not made so available on such date, the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index as determined on the previous SIFMA Rate Determination Date.

SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” means the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index, or such other weekly, high-grade index comprised of seven-day, tax-exempt variable rate demand notes produced by Bloomberg or its successor, or as otherwise designated by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; provided, however, that if such index is no longer produced by Bloomberg or its successor, then “SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” shall mean (i) the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index produced by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or its successors or (ii) if the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index is no longer produced, such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Board of Trustees.

SIFMA Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to the Initial SIFMA Rate Period, the Wednesday immediately preceding the Date of Original Issue, and, with respect to any Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period, the last day of the immediately preceding SIFMA Rate Period or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that the next succeeding SIFMA Rate Determination Date will be determined without regard to any prior extension of a SIFMA Rate Determination Date to a Business Day.

SIFMA Rate Period” means the Initial SIFMA Rate Period and any Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period.

Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period” means the period from and including the first day following the Initial SIFMA Rate Period to and including the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) and each subsequent period from and including the first day following the end of the previous Subsequent SIFMA Rate Period to and including the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day).

[Signature page follows.]

 

A-6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund has caused this Appendix to be signed on November 14, 2019 in its name and on its behalf by a duly authorized officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Appendix as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Appendix are not binding upon any such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

Name:

 

Gifford R. Zimmerman

 

Title:

 

Vice President and Secretary

[Signature Page to the Appendix Establishing and Fixing the Rights and

Preferences of Series 2028 Adjustable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares (NVG)]


EXHIBIT I

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

FORM OF TERM ADJUSTMENT NOTICE

Date:

Deadline for Adjusted Terms Agreement Date

(Subject to Change by Agreement between the Fund and

the Required Designated Owners):

Proposing Party:

Proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount

(or such other amount as the Fund and the Required Designated

Owners may agree during the Term Adjustment Notice

Period):

[Insert description of Proposed Adjusted Dividend Amount calculation]

Other/Additional Provisions:

Dividend Period(s):

Other: ____________________________

 

[PROPOSING PARTY]
By:  

                 

  Name:
  Title:

Designated Owner of _____________ AMTP Shares,

Series 2028

[Majority Designated Owner is the Proposing Party]

 

I-1

Exhibit d.2

 

CERTIFICATE

NUMBER

        1        

  

NUMBER OF

SHARES []

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

Organized Under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Series [•] MFP Shares

$.01 Par Value Per Share

$[] Liquidation Preference Per Share

CUSIP NO. [•]

This Certifies that CEDE & CO. is the owner of [] fully paid and non-assessable shares of Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares (“MFP Shares”), $.01 par value per share, $[] liquidation preference per share, of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”) transferable only on the books of the Fund by the holder thereof in person or by duly authorized Attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the transfer agent and registrar.

A statement in full, of all the designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights of the shares of each class or series of the Fund authorized to be issued, will be furnished by the Fund to any shareholder upon request and without charge. The Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust.

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and this Certificate is executed on behalf of the Fund by the officers and not individually and the obligations of the Fund hereunder are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers this [•] day of [•], 20[•] A.D.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,    NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

as Transfer Agent and Registrar

  

By:______________________________

  

By: _______________________________

Authorized Signature

  

Name:

  

Title:

  

Attest: ____________________________

  

Name:

  

Title:


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto ______________________ MFP Shares represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________ Attorney to transfer the said MFP Shares on the books of the within named Fund with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated [•], 20[•]

In presence of

 

 

MFP Shares evidenced by this Certificate may be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of only pursuant to the provisions of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of such MFP Shares, as modified by the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of such MFP Shares Initially Designating the [Variable Rate Remarketed Mode][Variable Rate Mode] (the MFP Shares in the [Variable Rate Remarketed Mode, the “VRRM-MFP Shares”] [Variable Rate Mode, the “VRM-MFP Shares”]), copies of which will be furnished by the Fund to any shareholder upon request and without charge.

The Fund will furnish to any shareholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of each class or series of the Fund authorized to be issued, so far as they have been determined, and the authority of the Board of Trustees to determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent classes or series.    Any such request should be addressed to the Secretary of the Fund.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Fund or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR THE VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE AGREED THAT, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF MFP SHARES, IT IS TRANSFERRING TO THE TRANSFEREE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE FROM THE FUND ANY DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND UNPAID FOR EACH DAY PRIOR TO THE TRANSFEREE BECOMING THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE MFP SHARES IN EXCHANGE FOR PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR SUCH MFP SHARES BY THE TRANSFEREE.

Exhibit d.3

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES [-]

MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(NVG SERIES [-] MFP)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              

Page

DESIGNATION OF SERIES [-] MFP

   1

DEFINITIONS

   2

1.

  

Number of Authorized Shares; Ranking; Preemptive Rights; Effectiveness

   6

2.

  

Dividends

   6
  

(a)

  

Cumulative Cash Dividends

   6
  

(b)

  

Dividends Cumulative from Date of Original Issue

   7
  

(c)

  

Dividend Payment Dates

   7
  

(d)

  

Dividend Rates and Calculation of Dividends

   7
  

(e)

  

Dividends Paid to Holders

   7
  

(f)

  

Dividends Credited Against Earliest Accumulated But Unpaid Dividends

   7
  

(g)

  

Dividends Reported as Exempt-Interest Dividends

   7

3.

  

Additional Amount Payments and Taxable Allocations

   7

4.

  

Designation of Modes

   7
  

(a)

  

Initial Mode and Subsequent Modes

   7
  

(b)

  

Designation of Change in or Extension of Mode

   8
  

(c)

  

Notices in Respect of Mode Designation or Extension

   8
  

(d)

  

Designation of Mode Provisions

   8
  

(e)

  

Modification of Statement in a Supplement Designating Mode Provisions

   8

5.

  

Voting Rights

   8
  

(a)

  

One Vote Per MFP Share

   8
  

(b)

  

Voting for Additional Trustees

   8
  

(c)

  

Holders of MFP Shares to Vote on Certain Other Matters

   10
  

(d)

  

Fund May Take Certain Actions Without Shareholder Approval

   11
  

(e)

  

Voting Rights Set Forth Herein are Sole Voting Rights

   11
  

(f)

  

No Preemptive Rights or Cumulative Voting

   11
  

(g)

  

Sole Remedy for Fund’s Failure to Pay Dividends

   11
  

(h)

  

Holders Entitled to Vote

   11

6.

  

Asset Coverage

   11

7.

  

Rating Agencies

   11

8.

  

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions

   12
  

(a)

  

Dividends on Preferred Shares Other than the MFP Shares

   12
  

(b)

  

Dividends and Other Distributions With Respect to Common Shares Under the 1940 Act

   12
  

(c)

  

Other Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions

   12

9.

  

Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares

   13

10.

  

Redemption

   13
  

(a)

  

Optional Redemption

   13
  

(b)

  

Mandatory Redemption

   13
  

(c)

  

Notice of Redemption

   13
  

(d)

  

No Redemption Under Certain Circumstances

   13

 

i


  

(e)

  

Absence of Funds Available for Redemption

   13
  

(f)

  

Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund

   14
  

(g)

  

Deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent; MFP Shares for Which Notice of Redemption Has Been Given Are No Longer Outstanding

   14
  

(h)

  

Compliance With Applicable Law

   14
  

(i)

  

Only Whole MFP Shares May Be Redeemed

   14
  

(j)

  

Modification of Redemption Procedures

   15
  

(k)

  

Term Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement.

   15

11.

  

Liquidation Rights

   16
  

(a)

  

Distributions Upon Liquidation

   16
  

(b)

  

Pro Rata Distributions

   16
  

(c)

  

Rights of Junior Shares

   16
  

(d)

  

Certain Events Not Constituting Liquidation

   16

12.

  

Miscellaneous

   17
  

(a)

  

Amendment of or Supplements to this Statement

   17
  

(b)

  

No Fractional Shares

   17
  

(c)

  

Status of MFP Shares Redeemed, Exchanged or Otherwise Acquired by the Fund

   17
  

(d)

  

Treatment of MFP Shares as Stock

   17
  

(e)

  

Board May Resolve Ambiguities

   17
  

(f)

  

Headings Not Determinative

   17
  

(g)

  

Notices

   17

13.

  

Transfers

   17

14.

  

Global Certificate

   17

APPENDIX A: Supplement Initially Designating the [Variable Rate Remarketed Mode] [Variable Rate Mode] for the Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares

 

ii


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SERIES [-]

MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), hereby certifies that:

FIRST: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the Board of Trustees of the Fund by Article IV of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees has, by resolution, authorized the issuance of preferred shares, $.01 par value per share, classified as MuniFund Preferred Shares with a liquidation preference of $[•] per share in such one or more series as may be authorized and issued from time to time; and

SECOND: The preferences (including liquidation preference), voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, of the Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares designated below are as follows or as set forth in an amendment or supplement hereto.

DESIGNATION OF SERIES [-] MFP

Series [-]: A series of preferred shares, par value $.01 per share, liquidation preference $[•] per share, is hereby authorized and designated “Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares,” also referred to herein as “Series [-] MFP” or “MFP Shares,” and references to “such series” with respect to the MFP Shares shall be interpreted as references to “shares of such series,” as the context may require. Each MFP Share shall be issued on a date determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or pursuant to their delegated authority; and have such other preferences, voting powers, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, in addition to those required by applicable law or as set forth in the Declaration (as defined below), as set forth in this Statement (as defined below), as amended or supplemented. The Fund initially shall designate in Appendix A hereto the additional or different terms and conditions to apply to the MFP Shares for a period commencing on the effective date of this Statement and ending not later than the Term Redemption Date, referred to herein as the “Initial Mode.” In accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4 below and, as applicable, Appendix A or any other Supplement (as defined below) hereto as then in effect, the Fund, by means of a further Supplement, may establish a new Mode (as defined below) or, if applicable, extend the Initial Mode or any subsequent Mode to a date not later than the Term Redemption Date, and, if the Initial Mode or any subsequent Mode (in each case, as it may be extended) is designated to end on a date earlier than the Term Redemption Date (including through an optional or accelerated expiration), shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent that it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to extend such Mode or establish a new Mode to succeed such Mode then in effect for the MFP Shares. In the Supplement for any Mode or Mode extension, the Fund may designate different or additional terms and conditions for the MFP Shares, subject to Section 4(e) of this Statement and the applicable Supplement.

The number of MFP Shares which the Board of Trustees has initially authorized for issuance is [-]. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, authorize the issuance of additional MFP Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. The MFP Shares shall constitute a separate series of preferred shares of the Fund and each MFP Share shall be identical.

 

1


DEFINITIONS

The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)          “Additional Amount Payment” has the meaning if and as set forth in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(b)          “Agent Member” means a Person with an account at the Securities Depository that holds one or more MFP Shares through the Securities Depository, directly or indirectly, for a Beneficial Owner and that will be authorized and instructed, directly or indirectly, by a Beneficial Owner to disclose information to the Remarketing Agent, if any, and the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to such Beneficial Owner.

(c)          “Asset Coverage” means asset coverage, as defined in Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act as of the effective date of this Statement, of at least 200% or such higher percentage as required and specified in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect, but, in any event, not more than 250%, with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Fund which are stock, including all Outstanding MFP Shares (or, in each case, if higher, such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are shares of stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common shares or stock).

(d)          “Beneficial Owner” means a Person to the extent such Person is at any time the beneficial owner of MFP Shares, in whose name MFP Shares are recorded as beneficial owner of such MFP Shares by the Securities Depository, an Agent Member or other securities intermediary on the records of such Securities Depository, Agent Member or securities intermediary, as the case may be, or such Person’s subrogee.

(e)          “Board of Trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Fund or any duly authorized committee thereof.

(f)          “Business Day” means a day (a) other than a day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to close and (b) on which the New York Stock Exchange is not closed.

(g)          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(h)          “Common Shares” means the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Fund.

(i)           “Custodian” means a bank, as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in paragraph 1 of Section 26(a) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be providing custodian services to the Fund as permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, and shall include, as appropriate, any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Fund.

(j)          “Date of Original Issue,” with respect to any MFP Share, means the date on which the Fund initially issued such MFP Share.

(k)          “Declaration” means the Declaration of Trust of the Fund, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(l)          “Deposit Securities” means, as of any date, any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date or mandatory payment date, on

 

2


its face or at the option of the holder, preceding the relevant payment date in respect of which such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit Security:

 

  (1)

cash or any cash equivalent;

 

  (2)

any U.S. Government Security;

 

  (3)

any Municipal Security that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to Municipal Securities (long-term or short-term as to the applicable type of obligation) as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent), including (A) any such Municipal Security that has been pre-refunded by the issuer thereof with the proceeds of such refunding having been irrevocably deposited in trust or escrow for the repayment thereof and (B) any such fixed or variable rate Municipal Security that qualifies as an eligible security under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act;

 

  (4)

any investment in any money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, or similar investment vehicle described in Rule 12d1-1(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in Municipal Securities or U.S. Government Securities or any combination thereof; or

 

  (5)

any letter of credit from a bank or other financial institution that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to bank deposits or short-term debt of banks or other financial institutions as of the date of this Statement (or such rating’s future equivalent).

(m)          “Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (c) of Section 2 of this Statement.

(n)          “Dividend Period” has the meaning as set forth in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(o)          “Dividend Rate” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(i) of Section 2 of this Statement.

(p)          “Electronic Means” means email transmission, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving party, in any case if operative as between the relevant two parties, or, if not operative, by telephone (promptly confirmed by any other method set forth in this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Tender and Paying Agent, shall be sent by such means as set forth in of the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement or as specified in the related notice.

(q)          “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(r)          “Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

(s)          “Holder” means a Person in whose name an MFP Share is registered in the registration books of the Fund maintained by the Tender and Paying Agent.

(t)          “Initial Mode” has the meaning set forth in “Designation of Series [-] MFP” above.

 

3


(u)          “Investment Adviser” means Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, or any successor company or entity.

(v)          “Liquidity Account” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (k)(i) of Section 10 of this Statement.

(w)          “Liquidation Preference,” with respect to a given number of MFP Shares, means $[-] times that number.

(x)    “Liquidity Requirement” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (k)(ii) of Section 10 of this Statement.

(y)          “Liquidity Account Investments” means any Deposit Security or any other security or investment owned by the Fund that is rated at least A- or the equivalent rating by each NRSRO then rating such security or investment, provided that any such Deposit Security or other security or investment shall be so rated by at least one NRSRO.

(z)          “Market Value” of any asset of the Fund means the market value thereof determined by an independent third-party pricing service designated from time to time by the Board of Trustees. The Market Value of any asset shall include any interest accrued thereon. The pricing service shall value portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available shall be valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service using methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating; indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions. The pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both, to determine valuations.

(aa)        “Prospectus” means the prospectus in respect of the Fund’s offering of MFP Shares, dated [-], 20[-], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time, including in connection with any remarketing, if applicable, or offering of additional MFP Shares, if applicable.

(bb)        “Mode” means the Initial Mode, including any extension thereof, or any subsequent Mode, including any extension thereof, for which terms and conditions of the MFP Shares are designated pursuant to Section 4 of this Statement and the Supplement in effect at the time of designation of such subsequent Mode or any Mode extension and set forth in a further Supplement hereto.

(cc)        “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

(dd)        “Municipal Securities” means municipal securities as described under “The Fund’s Investments – Municipal Securities” in the Prospectus.

(ee)        “1940 Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(ff)        “Notice of Redemption” has the meaning specified in paragraph (c) of Section 10 of this Statement.

(gg)        “NRSRO” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that is not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund, including, at the date hereof, Fitch, Moody’s and S&P.

 

4


(hh)        “Optional Redemption Premium,” if any, has the meaning if and as set forth in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(ii)          “Outstanding” means, as of any date with respect to Preferred Shares of any series, the number of shares of such series theretofore issued by the Fund except, without duplication, (i) any shares of such series theretofore exchanged, redeemed or cancelled or delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent (or other relevant tender and paying agent) for cancellation or redemption by the Fund, (ii) any shares of such series with respect to which, in the case of MFP Shares, the Fund has given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities to redeem such MFP Shares, pursuant to Section 10 of this Statement or, in the case of Preferred Shares of any other series, the Fund has taken the equivalent action under the statement applicable to such shares, (iii) any shares of such series of which the Fund is Beneficial Owner, and (iv) any shares of such series represented by any certificate in lieu of which a new certificate has been executed and delivered by the Fund.

(jj)         “Person” means and includes an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

(kk)        “Preferred Shares” means the preferred shares of the Fund, including the MFP Shares.

(ll)          “Rating Agency” means each NRSRO, if any, then providing a rating for the MFP Shares pursuant to the request of the Fund, including, at the date hereof, [-].

(mm)      “Redemption Date” means the Term Redemption Date and any redemption dates for optional or mandatory redemption otherwise provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(nn)        “Redemption Price” means the applicable redemption price specified in, or in the applicable Supplement for the Mode then in effect for purposes of redemption of MFP Shares pursuant to, paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 10 of this Statement and the applicable Supplement.

(oo)        “Remarketing Agent” means any entity appointed as such with respect to MFP Shares by a resolution of the Board of Trustees and any additional or successor companies or entities appointed by the Board of Trustees which have entered into a Remarketing Agreement with the Fund.

(pp)        “Remarketing Agreement” means the Remarketing Agreement, if any, with respect to the MFP Shares, between the Fund and the Remarketing Agent and any other party thereto, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Remarketing Agent.

(qq)        “S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and its successors.

(rr)         “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(ss)        “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(tt)         “Securities Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and any substitute for or successor to such securities depository that shall maintain a book-entry system with respect to the MFP Shares.

 

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(uu)        “Statement” means this statement establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof, including by any Supplement hereto relating to the Mode then in effect.

(vv)        “Supplement” means Appendix A to this Statement and any further supplement hereto entered into in accordance with the provisions of this Statement for the purpose of designating or extending a Mode pursuant to Section 4 of this Statement.

(ww)       “Taxable Allocation” has the meaning specified in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(xx)        “Tender and Paying Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon, or any successor Person, which has entered into an agreement with the Fund to act in such capacity as the Fund’s tender agent, transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, paying agent, redemption price disbursing agent and calculation agent in connection with the payment of regularly scheduled dividends with respect to the MFP Shares.

(yy)        “Tender and Paying Agent Agreement” means the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement with respect to the MFP Shares, dated as of [-], 20[-], between the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or any similar agreement with a successor Tender and Paying Agent.

(zz)        “Term Redemption Date” means [-], 20[-].

(aaa)      “U.S. Government Securities” means direct obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other than United States Treasury Bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.

(bbb)       “Voting Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph (b)(i) of Section 5 of this Statement.

1.          Number of Authorized Shares; Ranking; Preemptive Rights; Effectiveness.

(a)          The initial number of authorized shares constituting MFP is as set forth above under the title “Designation of Series [-] MFP.”

(b)          The MFP Shares shall rank on a parity with each other and with shares of any other series of Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends by the Fund and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(c)          No Holder of MFP Shares shall have, solely by reason of being such a Holder, any preemptive or other right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, or Common Shares or other securities of the Fund which the Fund may hereafter issue or sell.

(d)          The effective date of this Statement is [-], 20[-].

2.          Dividends.

(a)          Cumulative Cash Dividends. The Holders of MFP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the

 

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Declaration and applicable law, cumulative cash dividends at the Dividend Rate for the MFP Shares determined as set forth in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect, and no more, payable on the Dividend Payment Dates with respect to the MFP Shares as set forth in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect, as provided in paragraph (c) below. Holders of MFP Shares shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on MFP Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on MFP Shares which may be in arrears, and no additional sum of money shall be payable in respect of such arrearage.

(b)          Dividends Cumulative from Date of Original Issue. Dividends on the MFP Shares shall be declared daily and accumulate at the applicable Dividend Rate for the MFP Shares from the Date of Original Issue thereof.

(c)          Dividend Payment Dates. The dividend payment dates (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”) with respect to the MFP Shares shall be as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(d)          Dividend Rates and Calculation of Dividends.

(i)        Applicable Rates. The dividend rate or rates (in each case, the “Dividend Rate”) on the MFP Shares shall be as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(ii)        Calculation of Dividends. The amount of dividends per share payable on the MFP Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for the related Dividend Period or Dividend Periods (or applicable portion thereof). The amount of dividends accumulated shall be computed as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(e)          Dividends Paid to Holders. Dividends on the MFP Shares shall be paid to the Holders thereof as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(f)          Dividends Credited Against Earliest Accumulated But Unpaid Dividends. Any dividend payment made on MFP Shares that is insufficient to cover the entire amount of dividends payable shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividends due with respect to such shares. Dividends in arrears for any past Dividend Period may be declared (to the extent not previously declared as required under paragraph (b) above) and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders as their names appear on the record books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding 15 days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

(g)          Dividends Reported as Exempt-Interest Dividends. Dividends on MFP Shares shall be reported as exempt-interest dividends up to the amount of tax-exempt income of the Fund, to the extent permitted by, and for purposes of, Section 852 of the Code.

3.          Additional Amount Payments and Taxable Allocations(a) . Holders of MFP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor, dividends in an amount equal to the aggregate Additional Amount Payments as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect. The Fund shall not be required to make Additional Amount Payments with respect to any net capital gains or ordinary income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund. The Fund may make Taxable Allocations as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

4.          Designation of Modes.

(a)          Initial Mode and Subsequent Modes. The additional or different terms and conditions applicable to the MFP Shares in the Initial Mode effective on the effective date of this Statement are as set forth in the Supplement attached as Appendix A hereto. The additional or different terms and conditions applicable to the

 

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MFP Shares in any subsequent Modes or extensions of the Initial Mode or any Subsequent Mode will be set forth in future new or amended Supplements effective on the dates set forth in any such new or amended Supplements.

(b)          Designation of Change in or Extension of Mode. The Fund, at its option, may change the terms of or extend the Mode then in effect or, if applicable, designate a new Mode for the MFP Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Statement and the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

(c)          Notices in Respect of Mode Designation or Extension. The Fund shall deliver a notice of Mode designation or extension or proposed Mode designation or extension as specified in and otherwise in accordance with the Supplement that designated the Mode being succeeded or extended.

(d)          Designation of Mode Provisions. In connection with any Mode designated or extended pursuant to this Section 4, the Fund, subject to compliance with paragraph (e) below, without the vote or consent of any Holder of MFP Shares, may (i) provide in the Supplement for such Mode for provisions relating solely to such Mode that differ from those provided in this Statement or any other Supplement, including, but not limited to, with respect to optional tender provisions, mandatory tender provisions, a liquidity facility or other credit enhancement, mandatory purchase provisions, the dividend rate setting provisions (including as to any maximum rate), and, if the dividend may be determined by reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in which it will be determined, redemption provisions and modified or new definitions, and (ii) subject to any restrictions on modification specifically set forth in such Supplement for a Mode then in effect, modify such Supplement then in effect to provide for optional tender provisions, and/or mandatory tender provisions, a liquidity facility or other credit enhancement, and other provisions. Extension of any Mode, and the modification of any provisions relating to such Mode, shall be subject to any restrictions on extension or modification set forth herein or in the Supplement for such Mode.

(e)          Modification of Statement in a Supplement Designating Mode Provisions. Notwithstanding paragraph (d) above, no Supplement adopted in accordance with paragraph (d) above shall modify the terms of Section 1, this Section 4(e), Section 5, Section 8, Section 10(b)(i), Section 11 or Section 12(a) of this Statement. Furthermore, subject only to the immediately preceding sentence, for purposes of any provision of this Statement that purports to limit the right of the Fund or the Board of Trustees to take any action with respect to this Statement or the MFP Shares, no terms or conditions adopted for a Mode shall be considered to affect the rights and preferences of the MFP Shares or any Holder or Beneficial Owner thereof as in effect for any preceding or succeeding Mode. The provisions of this Section 4 are subject to the further restriction that no Mode may be designated to end, or extended to end, on a date later than the Term Redemption Date.

5.          Voting Rights.

(a)          One Vote Per MFP Share. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration or as otherwise required by law, (i) each Holder of MFP Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each MFP Share held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund, and (ii) the holders of Outstanding Preferred Shares, including each MFP Share, and of Common Shares shall vote together as a single class; provided, however, that the holders of Outstanding Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, shall be entitled to elect two trustees of the Fund at all times, each Preferred Share, including each MFP Share, entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 5, the holders of outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, voting together as a single class, shall elect the balance of the trustees.

(b)          Voting for Additional Trustees.

(i)        Voting Period. During any period in which any one or more of the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this paragraph (b)(i) shall exist (such period being referred to herein as a “Voting Period”), the number of trustees constituting the Board of Trustees shall be

 

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automatically increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, would constitute a majority of the Board of Trustees as so increased by such smallest number; and the holders of Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, shall be entitled, voting as a class on a one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund), to elect such smallest number of additional trustees, together with the two trustees that such holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:

(A)        if at the close of business on any Dividend Payment Date accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on any Outstanding Preferred Shares, including MFP Shares, equal to at least two full years’ dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities shall not have been deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends; or

(B)        if at any time holders of Preferred Shares are entitled under the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the trustees of the Fund. A Voting Period shall terminate upon all of the foregoing conditions ceasing to exist.

Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this paragraph (b)(i) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting rights in the holders of Preferred Shares upon the further occurrence of any of the events described in this paragraph (b)(i).

(ii)        Notice of Special Meeting. As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees as described in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5, the Fund shall call a special meeting of such holders, and the Fund shall mail a notice of such special meeting to such holders, such meeting to be held not less than 10 nor more than 20 calendar days after the date of mailing of such notice. If a special meeting is not called by the Fund, it may be called by any such holder on like notice. The record date for determining the holders entitled to notice of and to vote at such special meeting shall be the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the day on which such notice is mailed. At any such special meeting and at each meeting of holders of Preferred Shares held during a Voting Period at which trustees are to be elected, such holders, voting together as a class (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund), shall be entitled to elect the number of trustees prescribed in paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 on a one-vote-per-share basis.

(iii)        Terms of Office of Existing Trustees. The terms of office of all persons who are trustees of the Fund at the time of a special meeting of Holders and holders of other Preferred Shares to elect trustees shall continue, notwithstanding the election at such meeting by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares of the number of trustees that they are entitled to elect, and the persons so elected by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares, together with the two incumbent trustees elected by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares and the remaining incumbent trustees elected by the holders of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, shall constitute the duly elected trustees of the Fund.

(iv)        Terms of Office of Certain Trustees to Terminate Upon Termination of Voting Period. Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the terms of office of the additional trustees elected by the Holders and holders of other Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 shall terminate, the remaining trustees shall constitute the trustees of the Fund and the voting rights of the Holders and such other holders to elect additional trustees pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5 shall cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 5.

 

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(c)          Holders of MFP Shares to Vote on Certain Other Matters.

(i)        Certain Amendments Requiring Approval of MFP Shares. Except as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Statement including, without limitation, Section 4 hereof, so long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the MFP Shares Outstanding at the time, voting together as a separate class, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Declaration or this Statement, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, (x) to modify the terms of Section 1, Section 4(e), Section 8, Section 10(b)(i), Section 11 or Section 12(a) of this Statement or (y) so as to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of such MFP Shares or the Holders thereof; provided, however, that (i) a change in the capitalization of the Fund in accordance with Section 9 hereof shall not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights and preferences of the MFP Shares, (ii) a division of an MFP Share shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect such preferences, rights or powers only if the terms of such division materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares and (iii) a Supplement establishing terms and conditions for a new Mode in accordance with Section 4 hereof or a modification of a Supplement then in effect in accordance with the terms of Section 4(d) hereof shall not be considered to materially and adversely affect the rights and preferences of the MFP Shares. For purposes of the foregoing, no other matter shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of an MFP Share or the Holder thereof unless such matter (i) reduces or abolishes any preferential right of such MFP Share or (ii) reduces or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such MFP Share applicable to the Mode then in effect (other than solely as a result of a division of an MFP Share or as provided in the Supplement designating such Mode in accordance with Section 4 hereof). So long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of at least 6623% of the Holders of the MFP Shares Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, file a voluntary application for relief under federal bankruptcy law or any similar application under state law for so long as the Fund is solvent and does not foresee becoming insolvent. Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) (x) no extension of the Term Redemption Date or (y) reduction or repeal of the Liquidation Preference of the MFP Shares that adversely affects the rights of the Holders of the MFP Shares relative to each other or any other shares of the Fund shall be effected without, in each case, the prior unanimous vote or consent of the Holders of the MFP Shares, and (2) with respect to a Supplement then in effect, no change reducing the amount or extending the timing of any payment due on the MFP Shares or adversely affecting the taxability of any payments due on the MFP Shares, in each case, other than in accordance with the terms of such Supplement, or to the obligation of the Fund to (x) pay the Redemption Price on any Redemption Date, (y) accumulate dividends at the Dividend Rate for, or other required distributions on, the MFP Shares, or (z) pay the Optional Redemption Premium, if any, shall be effected without, in each case, the prior unanimous vote or consent of the Holders of the MFP Shares in the Mode to which such Supplement relates. No vote of the holders of Common Shares shall be required to amend, alter or repeal the provisions of this Statement including any Supplement hereto.

(ii)        1940 Act Matters. Unless a higher percentage is provided for in the Declaration, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a “majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares,” including MFP Shares Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required to approve (A) any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (B) any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares and (C) any other action requiring a vote of security holders of the Fund under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. For purposes of the foregoing, “majority of the Outstanding Preferred Shares” means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.

(iii)      Exclusive Right to Vote on Certain Matters. Except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, other applicable law or the Declaration, (i) whenever a vote of Holders of MFP Shares is otherwise required by this Statement, Holders of Outstanding MFP Shares will be entitled as a series, to the exclusion of the holders of all other shares, including other Preferred Shares, Common Shares and other

 

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classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, to vote on matters affecting MFP Shares only and (ii) Holders of Outstanding MFP Shares will not be entitled to vote on matters affecting any other Preferred Shares that do not adversely affect any of the rights of Holders of MFP Shares, as expressly set forth in the Declaration and this Statement.

(d)          Fund May Take Certain Actions Without Shareholder Approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5 is intended in any way to limit the ability of the Board of Trustees to amend or alter other provisions of this Statement or any Supplement, without the vote, approval or consent of any Holder of MFP Shares, or any other shareholder of the Fund, as otherwise provided in this Statement or any such Supplement; provided, that nothing in this Statement or any Supplement shall be deemed to preclude or limit the right of the Fund (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to contractually agree with any Holder or Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares with regard to any special rights of such Holder or Beneficial Owner with respect to its investment in the Fund.

(e)          Voting Rights Set Forth Herein are Sole Voting Rights. Unless otherwise required by law, the Holders of MFP Shares shall not have any voting rights, relative rights or preferences or other special rights other than those specifically set forth herein.

(f)          No Preemptive Rights or Cumulative Voting. The Holders of MFP Shares shall have no preemptive rights or rights to cumulative voting.

(g)          Sole Remedy for Fund’s Failure to Pay Dividends. In the event that the Fund fails to pay any dividends on the MFP Shares, the sole remedy of the Holders under this Statement, without limitation of any rights to payment of such dividends or other rights under the Declaration, this Statement (including any Supplement hereto) and applicable law, shall be the right to vote for trustees pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.

(h)          Holders Entitled to Vote. For purposes of determining any rights of the Holders to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by this Statement, by the other provisions of the Declaration, by statute or otherwise, no Holder shall be entitled to vote any MFP Share and no MFP Share shall be deemed to be “outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently with the time of determination of shares entitled to vote or shares deemed outstanding for quorum purposes, as the case may be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such shares shall have been provided as set forth in paragraph (c) of Section 10 of this Statement and Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price for the redemption of such shares shall have been deposited in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent for that purpose. MFP Shares owned (legally or beneficially) or controlled by the Fund shall not have any voting rights or be deemed to be outstanding for voting or for calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other purposes.

6.          Asset Coverage. The Fund shall maintain minimum Asset Coverage as provided in the Supplement applicable to the Mode then in effect.

7.          Rating Agencies(i) .

(a)          The Fund is not required to maintain any particular short-term or long-term ratings for the MFP Shares, and the Fund, without the vote, approval or consent of any holder of Preferred Shares, including the MFP Shares, or any other shareholder of the Fund, may from time to time adopt, amend, alter or repeal any or all of the definitions contained herein, add covenants and other obligations of the Fund, or confirm the applicability of covenants and other obligations set forth herein, in connection with obtaining, maintaining or changing the rating of any Rating Agency which is then rating the MFP Shares, and any such adoption, amendment, alteration or repeal will not be deemed to affect the preferences, rights or powers of MFP Shares or the Holders thereof.

 

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(b)          The Fund may, at any time, replace a Rating Agency or terminate the services of any Rating Agencies then providing a rating for the MFP Shares without replacement, in either case, without the vote, approval or consent of Holders of MFP Shares or other shareholders of the Fund. In the event a Rating Agency ceases to furnish a rating for the MFP Shares or the Fund terminates the services of a Rating Agency then providing a rating for the MFP Shares, such rating, to the extent it would have been taken into account in any of the provisions of the MFP Shares included in this Statement, will be disregarded, and only the ratings of the then-designated Rating Agency or Agencies, if any, will be taken into account.

8.          Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions.

(a)          Dividends on Preferred Shares Other than the MFP Shares. Except as set forth in the next sentence, no dividends and other distributions shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the shares of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking, as to the payment of dividends, on a parity with the MFP Shares for any period unless full cumulative dividends and other distributions have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid on the shares of each series of Preferred Shares through its most recent dividend payment date. When dividends and other distributions due are not paid in full upon the shares of each series of Preferred Shares through its most recent dividend payment date or upon the shares of any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the MFP Shares through their most recent respective dividend payment dates, all dividends declared and paid upon the MFP Shares and any other such class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking on a parity as to the payment of dividends with the MFP Shares shall be declared and paid pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared and paid per share on the MFP Shares and such other class or series of shares of beneficial interest shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the MFP Shares and such other class or series of shares of beneficial interest bear to each other (for purposes of this sentence, the amount of dividends declared and paid per MFP Share shall be based on the Dividend Rate for such share for the Dividend Periods during which dividends were not paid in full).

(b)          Dividends and Other Distributions With Respect to Common Shares Under the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees shall not declare or pay any dividend or distribution (except a dividend payable in Common Shares) upon the Common Shares, or purchase or redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares or pay any proceeds of the liquidation of the Fund in respect of any Common Shares, unless in every such case the Preferred Shares have, at the time of any such declaration or purchase, an asset coverage (as defined in and determined pursuant to the 1940 Act) of at least 200% (or such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are shares or stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common shares or stock) after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or redemption or purchase price, as the case may be.

(c)          Other Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions. For so long as any MFP Share is Outstanding, and except as set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 8 and paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof, the Fund shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of, or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Common Shares or other shares, if any, ranking junior to the MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Fund ranking junior to or on a parity with the MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares or any other such junior shares (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to the MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), or any such parity shares (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to or on a parity with the MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), unless (i) full cumulative dividends on the MFP Shares through the most recently ended Dividend Period therefor shall have been paid or shall have been declared and sufficient funds for the payment thereof deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent and (ii) the Fund has redeemed

 

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the full number of MFP Shares required to be redeemed by any provision for mandatory redemption pertaining thereto.

9.          Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares. So long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof, authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Fund, in addition to then Outstanding MFP Shares, and authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such series of Preferred Shares then Outstanding or so established and created, including additional MFP Shares, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Fund shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred Shares with such proceeds, have at least the Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by the Supplement for the Mode then in effect) specified in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

10.          Redemption.

(a)          Optional Redemption. The MFP Shares may be redeemed, at the option of the Fund, on such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Supplement applicable to the Mode then in effect.

(b)          Mandatory Redemption.

(i)        The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding MFP Shares on the Term Redemption Date, at a redemption price equal to $[•] per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) to, but excluding, such date.

(ii)        The MFP Shares otherwise shall be subject to mandatory redemption by the Fund on such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Supplement applicable to the Mode then in effect.

(c)          Notice of Redemption. The Fund will send a notice of redemption (a “Notice of Redemption”) in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Supplement applicable to the Mode then in effect. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Statement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent not otherwise expressly stated herein and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(d)          No Redemption Under Certain Circumstances(a) . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 10, except as otherwise required by law, the Fund shall not redeem any MFP Shares or other series of Preferred Shares unless all accumulated and unpaid dividends and other distributions on all Outstanding MFP Shares and shares of other series of Preferred Shares for all applicable past Dividend Periods (or the equivalent for other series of Preferred Shares) (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund) (x) shall have been or are contemporaneously paid or (y) shall have been or are contemporaneously declared and Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares for the payment of such dividends and other distributions) shall have been or are contemporaneously deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent for such Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Shares, provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding MFP Shares pursuant to an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to Holders of all Outstanding MFP Shares and any other series of Preferred Shares for which all accumulated and unpaid dividends and other distributions have not been paid.

(e)          Absence of Funds Available for Redemption. To the extent that any redemption for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by reason of the absence of legally available funds

 

13


therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable to the extent such funds become available. A failure to redeem MFP Shares shall be deemed to exist at any time after the date specified for redemption in a Notice of Redemption when the Fund shall have failed, for any reason whatsoever, to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares for which such Notice of Redemption has been sent; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply in the case of the Fund’s failure to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (i) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (ii) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that the Fund may not have redeemed MFP Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided, dividends shall be declared and paid on MFP Shares in accordance with and subject to the conditions of this Statement and shall be included in the Redemption Price in respect of those MFP Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided.

(f)          Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All moneys paid to the Tender and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of MFP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of shares so to be redeemed or returned to the Fund in accordance with paragraph (g) below.

(g)          Deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent; MFP Shares for Which Notice of Redemption Has Been Given Are No Longer Outstanding. Provided a Notice of Redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 10 in accordance with the Supplement for the Mode then in effect, the Fund shall irrevocably deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent in accordance with the Supplement for the Mode then in effect an aggregate amount of Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price to be paid on the Redemption Date for the MFP Shares that are subject to such notice. Provided a Notice of Redemption has been given pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 10, upon the deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities with a Market Value at least equal to the Redemption Price to be paid on the Redemption Date for the MFP Shares that are the subject of such notice, dividends on such shares shall cease to accumulate, except as included in the Redemption Price, and such shares shall no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, for any purpose, and all rights of the Holders of the shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price, but without any interest or other additional amount, except as provided in the Supplement for the Mode then in effect. Upon surrender in accordance with the Notice of Redemption of the certificates for any shares so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees shall so require and the Notice of Redemption shall so state), the Redemption Price shall be paid by the Tender and Paying Agent to the Holders of MFP Shares subject to redemption. In the case that fewer than all of the MFP Shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued, representing the unredeemed shares, without cost to the Holder thereof. The Fund shall be entitled to receive from the Tender and Paying Agent, promptly after the date fixed for redemption, any Deposit Securities deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent in excess of (i) the aggregate Redemption Price of the MFP Shares called for redemption on such date and (ii) all other amounts to which Holders of MFP Shares called for redemption may be entitled. Any funds so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of 90 days from such Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund, after which time the Holders of MFP Shares so called for redemption may look only to the Fund for payment of the Redemption Price and all other amounts to which they may be entitled. The Fund shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date fixed for redemption, any interest on the funds so deposited.

(h)          Compliance With Applicable Law. In effecting any redemption pursuant to this Section 10, the Fund shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption under the 1940 Act and any applicable Massachusetts law, but shall effect no redemption except in accordance with the 1940 Act and any applicable Massachusetts law.

(i)          Only Whole MFP Shares May Be Redeemed. In the case of any redemption pursuant to this Section 10, only whole MFP Shares shall be redeemed, and in the event that any provision of the Declaration

 

14


would require redemption of a fractional share, the Tender and Paying Agent shall be authorized to round up so that only whole shares are redeemed.

(j)          Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, modify the procedures set forth above and in the Supplement with respect to notification of redemption for the MFP Shares; provided, that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

(k)          Term Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement. (i) (i) At least six months prior to the Term Redemption Date, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares. If, during the six-month period, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Investment Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (x) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares and (y) the assets of the Fund designated and earmarked as Deposit Securities at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with paragraph (ii) below with respect to the Outstanding MFP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit, and the Fund shall otherwise not permit, any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(ii)        The Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Term Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference for the Outstanding MFP Shares set forth below opposite such day (the “Liquidity Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of subsection (iii) below:

 

Number of Days

Preceding the

Term Redemption Date

  

Market Value of Deposit Securities

as Percentage of Liquidation Preference

[•]

   [•]%

[•]

   [•]%

[•]

   [•]%

[•]

   [•]%

[•]

   [•]%

(iii)      If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement in respect of the Outstanding MFP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of

 

15


additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(iv)      The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Redemption Price for the Outstanding MFP Shares. Upon the deposit by the Fund with the Tender and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Outstanding MFP Shares on the Term Redemption Date for the Outstanding MFP Shares, the requirement of the Fund to maintain a Liquidity Account for the Outstanding MFP Shares as contemplated by this Section 10(k) shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

11.        Liquidation Rights.

(a)          Distributions Upon Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders of MFP Shares then Outstanding shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to its shareholders, before any payment or distribution shall be made on the Common Shares or on any other class of shares of the Fund ranking junior to the MFP Shares upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference with respect to such shares plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) accumulated but unpaid to (but not including) the date of final distribution in same day funds, together with any payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3 of this Statement in connection with the liquidation of the Fund. After the payment to the Holders of the MFP Shares of the full preferential amounts provided for in this paragraph (a), the Holders of MFP Shares as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Fund.

(b)          Pro Rata Distributions. In the event the assets of the Fund available for distribution to the Holders of MFP Shares upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 11, no such distribution shall be made on account of MFP or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the MFP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the MFP Shares, ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of MFP Shares and all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

(c)          Rights of Junior Shares. Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any other series or class or classes of shares ranking on a parity with the MFP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, after payment shall have been made in full to the Holders of the MFP Shares as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 11, but not prior thereto, any other series or class or classes of shares ranking junior to the MFP Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund shall, subject to the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the Holders of the MFP Shares shall not be entitled to share therein.

(d)          Certain Events Not Constituting Liquidation. Neither the sale of all or substantially all the property or business of the Fund, nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Fund into or with any business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity nor the merger, consolidation or reorganization of any business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity into or with the Fund shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 11.

 

16


12.        Miscellaneous.

(a)          Amendment of or Supplements to this Statement. Subject to Section 5 hereof, in addition to adopting a Supplement or Supplements in accordance with Section 4 hereof, the Board of Trustees may, by resolution duly adopted, without shareholder approval (except as otherwise required by applicable law or any applicable Supplement), amend or supplement this Statement including any Supplement hereto, to (1) provide for the issuance of additional MFP Shares (and terms relating thereto), each such additional MFP Share to be governed by the terms of this Statement as so amended or supplemented, or (2) reflect any amendments or supplements to this Statement including amendments to any Supplement hereto made in accordance with Section 5(c)(i) hereto. Furthermore, subject only to the immediately preceding sentence, for purposes of any provision of this Statement that purports to limit the right of the Fund or the Board of Trustees to take any action with respect to this Statement or the MFP Shares, no amendment or supplement to a Supplement adopted for a Mode shall be considered to affect the rights and preferences of the MFP Shares or any Holder or Beneficial Owner thereof as in effect for any preceding or succeeding Mode.

(b)          No Fractional Shares. No fractional MFP Shares shall be issued.

(c)          Status of MFP Shares Redeemed, Exchanged or Otherwise Acquired by the Fund. MFP Shares which are redeemed, exchanged or otherwise acquired by the Fund shall return to the status of authorized and unissued Preferred Shares without designation as to series; provided, however, that any MFP Shares which are provisionally delivered by the Fund to or for the account of an agent of the Fund or to or for the account of a purchaser of such MFP Shares, but for which final payment is not received by the Fund, shall return to the status of authorized and unissued MFP Shares.

(d)          Treatment of MFP Shares as Stock. Each Holder and Beneficial Owner, by virtue of acquiring MFP Shares or any beneficial interest therein, is deemed to have agreed, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat the MFP Shares as stock in the Fund.

(e)          Board May Resolve Ambiguities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, without shareholder approval, the Board of Trustees may interpret or adjust the provisions of this Statement to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or to remedy any formal defect.

(f)          Headings Not Determinative. The headings contained in this Statement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Statement.

(g)          Notices. All notices or communications, unless otherwise specified in the by-laws of the Fund or this Statement, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by Electronic Means or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Any notice given to Holders or Beneficial Owners in accordance with the terms hereof or the applicable Supplement will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holders or Beneficial Owners receive such notice.

13.        Transfers.

Unless otherwise permitted by the Fund, a Beneficial Owner or Holder may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of MFP Shares only in whole shares and only as permitted by the terms of the Supplement for the Mode then in effect.

14.        Global Certificate.

So long as any MFP Share shall be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of the Securities Depository or its nominee, no registration of transfer of such MFP Share shall be made on the books of the Fund to any Person other than the Securities Depository or its nominee.

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, having duly adopted this Statement, has caused these presents to be signed as of [-], 20[-], in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer and attested by its Vice President and Assistant Secretary. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and such officers of the Fund have executed this Statement as officers and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Statement are not binding upon any such officers, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

                                                                               

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

ATTEST:

     

Name:

Title:

Signature Page to Statement (NVG Series [-] MFP)

Exhibit d.4

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE REMARKETED MODE

FOR THE

SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(NVG SERIES [] MFP)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

Section 1.1

  

Definitions

     1  

Section 1.2

  

Interpretation

     6  

ARTICLE II TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE [INITIAL] MODE FOR SERIES [●]

VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

     6  

Section 2.1

  

Dividends and Distributions

     6  

Section 2.2

  

Remarketing

     9  

Section 2.3

  

Coverage & Leverage Tests

     11  

Section 2.4

  

Redemption

     12  

Section 2.5

  

Rating Agencies

     15  

Section 2.6

  

Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares

     16  

Section 2.7

  

Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations

     16  

Section 2.8

  

Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement

     17  

Section 2.9

  

Termination

     18  

Section 2.10    

  

Actions on Other than Business Days

     18  

Section 2.11

  

Modification

     18  

ARTICLE III TRANSITION TO NEW MODE

     18  

Section 3.1

  

Election and Notice of Mode Change

     18  

Section 3.2

  

Transition to New Mode

     19  

Section 3.3

  

Failed Transition

     20  

 

i


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES [INITIALLY] DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE REMARKETED MODE

FOR THE

SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

This Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares [Initially] Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares (the “Supplement”) designates the [Initial] Mode (as defined below) as a Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”). This Supplement establishes pursuant to Section 4 of the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares, effective on the effective date hereof (the “Statement”), the additional or different terms and conditions of the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares for the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode effective commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1        Definitions.   Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Statement. The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

Additional Amount Payment” means a payment to a Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of Taxable Allocations made to such Beneficial Owner to which such Additional Amount Payment relates, would cause such Beneficial Owner’s dividends in dollars (after regular federal income tax consequences) from the aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Additional Amount Payment to be equal to the dollar amount of the dividends that would have been received by such Beneficial Owner if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would have been excludable (for regular federal income tax purposes) from the gross income of such Beneficial Owner. Such Additional Amount Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) assuming that no Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund and without giving effect to any other federal tax based on income, such as the “Medicare tax,” which at the date hereof is imposed at the rate of 3.8% on the net investment income (which includes taxable dividends and net capital gains) of certain individuals, trusts and estates; and (iii) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Additional Amount Payment (except to the extent such Additional Amount Payment is reported as an exempt-interest dividend for purposes of Section 852(b)(5) of the Code or successor provisions) would be taxable in the hands of each Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares at the maximum marginal regular federal individual income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Additional Amount Payment is made.

Agent Member” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Asset Coverage” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Asset Coverage Cure Date” means, with respect to the failure by the Fund to maintain Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on a Business Day (as required by Section 2.3(a)), the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following such Business Day.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

 

1


Board of Trustees” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Business Day” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Calculation and Paying Agent” means [●] and its successors or any other calculation and paying agent appointed by the Fund. References in the Statement to the “Tender and Paying Agent“ are deemed to refer to the Calculation and Paying Agent for purposes of this Supplement and the Variable Rate Remarkted Mode to which it relates.

Code” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Custodian” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Date of Original Issue” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Declaration” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Deposit Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Designated Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(i).

Dividend Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Dividend Factor” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).

Dividend Payment Date” means the first Business Day of the month next following each Dividend Period, the New Mode Commencement Date, if any, and each other date designated for the payment of dividends in accordance with this Supplement, including, as applicable, any Special Dividend Payment Date.

Dividend Period” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, (i) in the case of the first Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Mode Commencement Date to and including [●], and (ii) for each subsequent Dividend Payment Date, (a) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month ending immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls to and including the last calendar day of such immediately preceding month, (b) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Special Dividend Payment Date to and including the last calendar day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls, (c) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month in which such regular monthly Dividend Payment Date falls to but excluding the Special Dividend Payment Date, and (d) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following another Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the prior Special Dividend Payment to but excluding the current Special Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the final Dividend Period in the [Initial] Mode shall end on and include the last calendar day of the [Initial] Mode.

Dividend Rate” means, with respect to any day, and subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.7(a), the Regular Dividend Rate or the Step-Up Dividend Rate, as applicable, applicable for such day in accordance with Section 2.1(a); provided, however, that with respect to any Increased Rate Period, the Dividend Rate shall mean the Increased Rate for such Increased Rate Period; and provided further that the Dividend Rate for any day shall in no event exceed the Maximum Rate.

Effective Leverage Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d).

Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A).

Electronic Means” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

 

2


Failed Remarketing Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i), 2.2(c)(iii) or Section 3.2(c), as applicable.

Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date” means the first Business Day falling on or after the 365th calendar day following the Tender Notice Date that resulted in the related Failed Remarketing Event under Section 2.2(b)(i) or Section 3.3(a), as applicable.

Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

Failed Remarketing Notice” means a notice of a Failed Remarketing Event provided in accordance with Section 2.2(b)(ii), Section 2.2(c)(iii) or Section 3.2(c), as applicable.

Failed Remarketing Period” means: (i) for purposes of Section 2.2, the period commencing on the Tender Date relating to the Failed Remarketing Event and ending upon the earliest to occur of (a) the redemption or repurchase by the Fund of all of the Outstanding MFP Shares, (b) the date on which all (but not less than all) of the MFP Shares are successfully remarketed pursuant to a mandatory tender for remarketing, and (c) the date on which the Fund completes a successful transition to a new Mode for all of the MFP Shares, and (ii) for purposes of Section 3.3, the period commencing on the date of Remarketing Notice relating to the Failed Remarketing Event and ending upon the earliest to occur of (a) the redemption or repurchase by the Fund of all of the Outstanding MFP Shares, and (b) as applicable, (x) the date on which all (but not less than all) of the MFP Shares are successfully remarketed pursuant to a mandatory tender for remarketing, or (y) the date on which the Fund completes a successful transition to a new Mode for all of the MFP Shares.

Failed Transition Election Notice” means a notice of the Fund’s election in accordance with Section 3.3(b) upon a failed transition to a new Mode to either cancel the attempted Mode transition or continue to attempt to transition to a new Mode.

Fed Funds Rate” means, as of any date of determination, the rate labeled Federal Funds (effective) (or any successor thereto) as published in the Federal Reserve Bank Publication H.15 Daily Update (or any successor thereto) on such date.

Fitch” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Fund” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Increased Rate” means, for any Increased Rate Period, the applicable Regular Dividend Rate or Step-Up Dividend Rate as in effect from time to to time plus [●]% per annum.

Increased Rate Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

[Initial] Mode” means the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode designated by this Supplement for the period commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date.

Investment Adviser” means Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or such other entity as shall be then serving as the investment adviser of the Fund, and shall include, as appropriate, any sub-adviser duly appointed by the Adviser.

Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidity Account Investments” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidity Requirement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b).

 

3


Market Value” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Maximum Rate” means 15% per annum.

Mode” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Mode Change Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

Mode Commencement Date” means [●].

Mode Termination Date” means the earlier of (i) the Term Redemption Date and (ii) the date established pursuant to Section 3.1(a) as the final day of the current Mode preceding a successful transition to a new Mode commencing on the New Mode Commencement Date.

Moody’s” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

MuniFund Preferred Shares” or “MFP Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Statement and as used in this Supplement refers only to the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares.

New Mode Commencement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

1940 Act” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Notice of Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e)(i).

Notice of Taxable Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).

NRSRO” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

One-Year AAA MMD Rate” means, as of any date of determination, the rate equal to the one-year yield on the Thomson Reuters Municipal Market Data (MMD) AAA Curve (or any successor thereto) made available by Thomson Reuters (or any successor thereto) as the definitive such yield curve on such date.

Optional Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(d)(i).

Outstanding” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Person” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Purchase Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(i).

Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(ii).

Rating Agencies” means, as of any date, (i) each of [●] and [●], to the extent each maintains a rating on the MFP Shares on such date and has not been replaced as a Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5 and (ii) any other NRSRO designated as a Rating Agency on such date in accordance with Section 2.5. [●] and [●] have initially been designated as the Rating Agencies for purposes of the MFP Shares. In the event that at any time any Rating Agency (i) ceases to be a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares and such Rating Agency has been replaced by another Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5, any references to any credit rating of the replaced Rating Agency in this Supplement shall be deleted for purposes hereof as provided below and shall be deemed instead to be references to the equivalent credit rating of the Rating Agency that has replaced such Rating Agency as of the most recent date on which such replacement Rating Agency published credit ratings for the MFP Shares or (ii) designates a new rating definition for any credit rating of such Rating Agency to replace a corresponding rating

 

4


definition of such Rating Agency, any references to such replaced rating definition of such Rating Agency contained in this Supplement shall instead be deemed to be references to such corresponding replacement rating definition.

Rating Agency Guidelines” means the guidelines of any Rating Agency, as they may be amended or modified from time to time, compliance with which is required to cause such Rating Agency to continue to issue a rating with respect to the MFP Shares.

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e)(i) and includes the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date, if any, and any Optional Redemption Date, as applicable.

Redemption Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Redemption Price” for each MFP Share means an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference per MFP Share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such MFP Share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue to (but excluding) the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon).

Regular Dividend Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

Remarketing Agent” means [●] or any entity subsequently appointed as such in replacement thereof or in addition thereto with respect to MFP Shares by a resolution of the Board of Trustees and which has entered into a Remarketing Agreement with the Fund.

Remarketing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c)(i).

Remarketing Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(iii).

Remarketing Window” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(iii).

Required Beneficial Owners” means the Beneficial Owners of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares.

Retaining Beneficial Owner” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c)(ii).

Retention Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c)(ii).

Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Special Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g).

Statement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Step-Up Dividend Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(iii).

Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Tax Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Taxable Allocation” means the allocation of any net capital gains or ordinary income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes, to a dividend paid in respect of the MFP Shares.

Tender Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(i).

 

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Tender Notice Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(i).

Tendered MFP Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(ii).

Term Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Variable Rate Remarketed Mode” means the Mode established for the MFP Shares by the terms and conditions of the Statement as modified by this Supplement.

Section 1.2        Interpretation.

(a)        General. The headings preceding the text of Sections included in this Supplement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Supplement or be given any effect in interpreting this Supplement. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Supplement. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually. Reference to any agreement (including this Supplement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. Underscored references to Sections shall refer to those portions of this Supplement. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Supplement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause of this Supplement.

(b)        Interpretation of the Statement and this Supplement.   Subject to Section 4(e) of the Statement, the terms and conditions of the MFP Shares set forth in this Supplement supersede the terms and conditions of the Statement, to the extent inconsistent therewith, for the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode.

(c)        Mode Commencement Date.   This Supplement shall be effective on the Mode Commencement Date.

ARTICLE II

TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE [INITIAL] MODE FOR SERIES []

VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

Section 2.1        Dividends and Distributions.

(a)        Applicable Rates.

(i)        The amount of dividends per share payable on the MuniFund Preferred Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for the related Dividend Period. The amount of dividends per MuniFund Preferred Share accumulated for each such Dividend Period shall be calculated by adding the “Dividend Factor” for each calendar day in such Dividend Period. The Dividend Factor for each calendar day in a Dividend Period shall be equal to: (x) the Dividend Rate in effect for such calendar day; (y) divided by the actual number of days in the year in which such day occurs (365 or 366); and (z) multiplied by the Liquidation Preference.

(ii)        Except as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph or during a Failed Remarketing Period or an Increased Rate Period, the Dividend Rate on the MFP Shares shall be the “Regular Dividend Rate.” The Regular Dividend Rate applicable to the MFP Shares for the Mode Commencement Date shall be equal to the sum of [●]% per annum, plus the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Swap Index published after 3:00 p.m., New York City time on Wednesday, [●] or [●]% per annum if the

 

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SIFMA Municipal Swap Index is not so published. Thereafter, the Regular Dividend Rate shall be determined by the Remarketing Agent on each Business Day, commencing on the Mode Commencement Date, by 6:00 p.m., New York City time, for applicability on the following day; provided, that the Regular Dividend Rate for any day that is not a Business Day shall be the same as the Dividend Rate for the immediately preceding Business Day. The Regular Dividend Rate shall be the minimum rate which, if borne by the MFP Shares, would enable the Remarketing Agent to sell all of the Outstanding MFP Shares on such Business Day for settlement in seven (7) days at a price (without regard to accumulated but unpaid dividends) equal to the aggregate Liquidation Preference thereof. In determining the Regular Dividend Rate, the Remarketing Agent shall consider (but not be limited to considering) the following factors: existing short-term tax-exempt market rates for securities, indices of such short-term rates and the existing market supply and demand for securities bearing such short-term rates; existing yield curves for short-term and long-term securities for securities of issuers of credit quality comparable to the MFP Shares; and such general economic conditions, industry and financial conditions as the Remarketing Agent, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be relevant. In the event that the Remarketing Agent fails to determine the Regular Dividend Rate on any Business Day as set forth above, then the Regular Dividend Rate applicable for the following day shall be the same as the Regular Dividend Rate for the immediately preceding Business Day and such rate shall continue until the earlier of (A) the Business Day on which the Remarketing Agent determines a new Regular Dividend Rate or Step-Up Dividend Rate, as applicable, or (B) the fifth consecutive Business Day succeeding the first such Business Day on which such Dividend Rate is not determined by the Remarketing Agent. In the event that the Remarketing Agent fails to determine a new Regular Dividend Rate for a period of five consecutive Business Days as described in clause (B) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Dividend Rate shall be equal to the Step-Up Dividend Rate until a new Regular Dividend Rate is established by the Remarketing Agent.

(iii)        During a Failed Remarketing Period, the Dividend Rate on the MFP Shares shall be the “Step-Up Dividend Rate,” subject to the application of the Increased Rate provisions in paragraph (f) below, if applicable. The Step-Up Dividend Rate shall mean a Dividend Rate, determined by the Remarketing Agent, equal to the highest, as of the date of determination, of: (x) [●]% per annum; (y) the Fed Funds Rate plus [●]% per annum; and (z) the One-Year AAA MMD Rate plus [●]% per annum. In the event that the Fed Funds Rate (or a successor thereto) or the One-Year AAA MMD Rate (or a successor thereto) is no longer published or available for purposes of determining the Step-Up Dividend Rate on any date, the Remarketing Agent, with the prior agreement of the Fund, will determine an equivalent rate in good faith on a commercially reasonable basis using a formulation by reference to market practice at such date. The Step-Up Dividend Rate shall be determined by the Remarketing Agent commencing on the first day of the Failed Remarketing Period and thereafter on each Business Day in the Failed Remarketing Period by 6:00 p.m., New York City time, for applicability on the following day; provided, that the Step-Up Dividend Rate for any day that is not a Business Day shall be the same as the Step-Up Dividend Rate for the immediately preceding Business Day. In the event that the Remarketing Agent fails to determine the Step-Up Dividend Rate on any Business Day as set forth above, then the Step-Up Dividend Rate applicable for the following day shall be the same as the Step-Up Dividend Rate for the immediately preceding Business Day and such rate shall continue until the Business Day on which the Remarketing Agent determines a new Step-Up Dividend Rate or Regular Dividend Rate, as applicable.

(b)        Dividend Declaration and Entitlement. Dividends on MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on each day in such Dividend Period and shall be paid as provided in Section 2.1(e) hereof. In connection with any transfer of MFP Shares, the transferor as Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares shall be deemed to have agreed pursuant to the terms of the MFP Shares to transfer to the transferee the right to receive from the Fund any dividends declared and unpaid for each day prior to the transferee becoming the Holder or Beneficial Owner, as applicable, of the MFP Shares in exchange for payment of the Purchase Price for such MFP Shares by the transferee.

(c)        Dividend Payment by Fund to Calculation and Paying Agent. Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding each Dividend Payment Date, the Fund shall deposit with the Calculation and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on such date sufficient to pay the dividends and other distributions that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date. The Fund may direct the Calculation and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities so deposited prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit

 

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Securities and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.

(d)        Calculation and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities deposited with the Calculation and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends or other distributions payable on MFP Shares shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends or other distributions by the Calculation and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the MFP Shares entitled to the payment of such dividends or other distributions pursuant to Section 2.1(e). Any moneys paid to the Calculation and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Calculation and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends or other distributions, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Fund.

(e)        Dividends Paid to Holders. Dividends on MFP Shares shall be paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day). Dividends in arrears on MFP Shares for any past Dividend Period may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or other distributions on MFP Shares which may be in arrears.

(f)        Increased Rate.

(i) The Dividend Rate shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period (as hereinafter defined). An “Increased Rate Period” shall commence (A) on a Dividend Payment Date for the MFP Shares if the Fund has failed to deposit with the Calculation and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Calculation and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend on the MFP Shares payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Default”), and continue to, but exclude, the Business Day on which such Dividend Default has ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii); (B) on an applicable Redemption Date for the MFP Shares subject to redemption on such date if the Fund has failed to deposit with the Calculation and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such Redemption Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Calculation and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Redemption Price payable in respect of such MFP Shares on such Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default”), and continue to, but exclude, the Business Day on which such Redemption Default has ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii); (C) (x) on the Business Day on which a court or other applicable governmental authority has made a final determination that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the MFP Shares do not qualify as equity in the Fund and (y) such determination results from an act or failure to act on the part of the Fund (a “Tax Event”) and continue so long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, no determination by any court or other applicable governmental authority that requires the Fund to make an Additional Amount Payment in respect of a Taxable Allocation shall be deemed to be a Tax Event hereunder.

(ii)        A Dividend Default or a Redemption Default shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends on the MFP Shares and any unpaid Redemption Price on the MFP Shares shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Calculation and Paying Agent.

(g)        Special Dividend Payment Dates.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund in its discretion may establish Dividend Payment Dates (each, a “Special Dividend Payment Date”) more frequent than monthly Dividend Payment Dates; provided, that any such Special Dividend Payment Date shall be a Business Day.

(h)        Calculation and Reporting of Dividend Rate.   With respect to any Outstanding MFP Shares, the Remarketing Agent shall determine the Regular Dividend Rate, the Step-Up Dividend Rate and the Increased Rate, as applicable, applicable for each day in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall provide notice

 

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thereof by Electronic Means to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent and post the applicable Dividend Rate on Bloomberg promptly on each date of determination of the Dividend Rate. In the case of the notice to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent with respect to the Step-Up Dividend Rate, such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for and calculation of the highest rate as determined by the Remarketing Agent. If, on any Business Day on which the Dividend Rate is required to be determined, there is no Remarketing Agent, the Dividend Rate determined on such Business Day shall be the Step-Up Dividend Rate, subject to the application of the Increased Rate provisions in paragraph (f) above. In such case, or, if there is a Remarketing Agent but the Remarketing Agent does not or is unable to calculate the Step-Up Dividend Rate, the Step-Up Dividend Rate shall be calculated by the Fund or a calculation agent appointed by the Fund for such purpose.

Section 2.2        Remarketing.

(a)        Optional Tender for Remarketing.

(i)        Each Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares has the right to tender its MFP Shares (in whole shares only) for remarketing by delivering an irrevocable written notice (a “Tender Notice”) by Electronic Means to the Remarketing Agent on any Business Day (the “Tender Notice Date”). A Tender Notice shall state the series designation, the CUSIP number and the number of MFP Shares tendered for remarketing (the “Designated Amount”), and shall include an acknowledgement by the tendering Beneficial Owner that such Beneficial Owner is required to deliver the Designated Amount of MFP Shares on or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date. The giving of a Tender Notice shall constitute the irrevocable tender for remarketing of the Designated Amount of such MFP Shares on the seventh calendar day following the Tender Notice Date or, if such seventh calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (the “Purchase Date”); provided, however, that if a Tender Notice is not received by the Remarketing Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any day it will not be deemed received by the Remarketing Agent until the following Business Day. Upon receipt of a Tender Notice, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a copy to the Fund as promptly as practicable by Electronic Means on the date of receipt or deemed receipt.

(ii)        Upon receipt of a Tender Notice, the Remarketing Agent shall offer for sale, and use its best efforts to sell, the Designated Amount of MFP Shares with respect to which a Tender Notice has been received by the Remarketing Agent (the “Tendered MFP Shares”) at a price equal to $[●] per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared), if any, to, but excluding, the relevant Purchase Date (the “Purchase Price”) for purchase on the Purchase Date. If multiple Beneficial Owners deliver Tender Notices on different Tender Notice Dates, there will be multiple Purchase Dates and the Remarketing Agent shall first remarket Tendered MFP Shares having the earliest Purchase Date.

(iii)        If the Remarketing Agent successfully remarkets the Tendered MFP Shares by identifying a purchaser for such Tendered MFP Shares during the period beginning on the Tender Notice Date for such Tendered MFP Shares and ending on the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date for such Tendered MFP Shares (a “Remarketing Window”), the Remarketing Agent shall give written notice (a “Remarketing Notice”) by Electronic Means to the Beneficial Owner of such Tendered MFP Shares, with a copy to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent, that a purchaser has been identified for a purchase of such Tendered MFP Shares on the Purchase Date.

(iv)        For payment of the Purchase Price on the Purchase Date, Tendered MFP Shares must be delivered at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date to the Remarketing Agent by or for the account of the tendering Beneficial Owner through the Securities Depository, so long as the MFP Shares are in book-entry form, or at the principal office of the Remarketing Agent, accompanied by an instrument of transfer thereof, in form satisfactory to the Remarketing Agent, executed in blank by the Holder thereof or by the Holder’s duly-authorized attorney, with such signature guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company or member firm of the New York Stock Exchange, if the MFP Shares are in certificated form. If Tendered MFP Shares are delivered after that time on any Business Day, the Purchase Price will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

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(b)        Failed Remarketing Event.

(i)        If for any reason (other than a failure to timely deliver Tendered MFP Shares by or on behalf of the tendering Beneficial Owner) any Tendered MFP Share is not successfully remarketed during the related Remarketing Window a “Failed Remarketing Event” shall occur.

(ii)        Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event (a) all Tendered MFP Shares shall be retained by their respective Beneficial Owners, and no such Tendered MFP Shares shall be purchased on their respective Purchase Date, (b) the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Failed Remarketing Notice in writing to the Calculation and Paying Agent, the Fund and the Holders of the MFP Shares by Electronic Means, (c) a Failed Remarketing Period shall commence and (d) all Outstanding MFP Shares shall become subject to mandatory redemption on the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date.

(iii)        During the Failed Remarketing Period, the Remarketing Agent will no longer determine the Regular Dividend Rate on a daily basis; dividends on all MFP Shares shall be payable at the Step-Up Dividend Rate (as determined by the Remarketing Agent commencing on the date of the Failed Remarketing Event); the right of Beneficial Owners to make optional tenders of their MFP Shares for remarketing shall be suspended; and all of the Outstanding MFP Shares shall be subject to mandatory tender for remarketing as provided in subsection (c) below.

(c)        Mandatory Tender for Remarketing Following a Failed Remarketing Event.

(i)          During a Failed Remarketing Period, the Remarketing Agent shall offer for sale, and use its best efforts to sell, all (but not less than all) of the Outstanding MFP Shares at a price per share equal to the Purchase Price. Upon identifying a purchaser or purchasers for all of the Outstanding MFP Shares (but subject to paragraph (ii) below) and establishing the Regular Dividend Rate to apply to the MFP Shares on the Remarketing Date, the Remarketing Agent shall give a Remarketing Notice to the Calculation and Paying Agent, the Fund and the Holders of the MFP Shares by Electronic Means stating (A) that a purchaser or purchasers have been identified for the purchase of all (but not less than all) of the MFP Shares on the date set forth in such Remarketing Notice (the “Remarketing Date”), which Remarketing Date shall be the fifth Business Day following delivery of the Remarketing Notice, (B) the Regular Dividend Rate to be applicable to the MFP Shares on the Remarketing Date and (C) that all MFP Shares shall be subject to mandatory tender for purchase at a price equal to the Purchase Price on the Remarketing Date.

(ii)          Any Beneficial Owner of a MFP Share that is not a Tendered MFP Share that was part of the related Failed Remarketing Event, as determined by the Remarketing Agent, may deliver written notice (a “Retention Notice”) to the Remarketing Agent and the Calculation and Paying Agent by Electronic Means at least three Business Days prior to the related Remarketing Date that it wishes to retain its MFP Shares (each such Beneficial Owner, a “Retaining Beneficial Owner”). On the Remarketing Date, the MFP Shares held by such Retaining Beneficial Owner shall be (a) subject to mandatory tender as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph and (b) repurchased by the Retaining Beneficial Owner at a price equal to the Purchase Price on the Remarketing Date.

(iii)        If for any reason (other than a failure to timely deliver MFP Shares by or on behalf of a tendering Holder) any MFP Share is not successfully remarketed pursuant to the related mandatory tender a “Failed Remarketing Event” shall occur. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event, (a) all MFP Shares shall be retained by their respective Holders, and no MFP Shares shall be purchased on the Remarketing Date, (b) the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Failed Remarketing Notice in writing to the Calculation and Paying Agent, the Fund and the Holders of the MFP Shares by Electronic Means, (c) the then-prevailing Failed Remarketing Period shall continue and (d) all Outstanding MFP Shares shall remain subject to mandatory redemption on the related Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date.

(iv)        Upon the consummation of a successful remarketing on the Remarketing Date, the Remarketing Agent shall resume resetting the Regular Dividend Rate on the MFP Shares, the Failed

 

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Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date with respect to the related Failed Remarketing Event shall be cancelled and the MFP Shares will no longer be subject to mandatory redemption on such date.

(v)        For payment of the Purchase Price on the Remarketing Date, MFP Shares must be delivered at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Remarketing Date to the Remarketing Agent by or for the account of the tendering Beneficial Owner through the Securities Depository, so long as the MFP Shares are in book-entry form, or at the principal office of the Remarketing Agent, accompanied by an instrument of transfer thereof, in form satisfactory to the Remarketing Agent, executed in blank by the Holder thereof or by the Holder’s duly-authorized attorney, with such signature guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company or member firm of the New York Stock Exchange, if the MFP Shares are in certificated form. If any MFP Shares are delivered after that time on any Business Day, the Purchase Price for such MFP Shares will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day.

(vi)      In the event that MFP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder of MFP Shares fails to deliver such MFP Shares to which a mandatory tender relates on or prior to the Remarketing Date, the Holder of such MFP Shares shall not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered MFP Shares as of the scheduled Remarketing Date. Any such undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Calculation and Paying Agent, and the Calculation and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered MFP Shares. Any moneys held by the Calculation and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered MFP Shares will be held in a separate account by the Calculation and Paying Agent, will not be invested, and will be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered MFP Shares. The undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement MFP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered MFP Shares.

Section 2.3        Coverage & Leverage Tests.

(a)        Asset Coverage Requirement.   The Fund shall have Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on each Business Day. If the Fund shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section 2.4(c)(i) shall be applicable, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.3(a).

(b)        Calculation of Asset Coverage.   For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.3(a) are satisfied, (i) no MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section 2.3(a) if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares) to pay the full redemption price for the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares and the requisite notice of redemption for the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other funds that shall have been so deposited with the applicable paying agent shall not be included as assets of the Fund for purposes of such computation.

(c)        Effective Leverage Ratio Requirement.   The Effective Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 45% (or 46% solely by reason of fluctuations in the Market Value of the Fund’s portfolio securities) as of the close of business on any Business Day. If the Effective Leverage Ratio shall exceed the applicable percentage provided in the preceding sentence as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined as aforesaid, the provisions of Section 2.4(c)(ii) shall be applicable, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.3(c).

(d)        Calculation of Effective Leverage Ratio.   For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.3(c) are satisfied, the “Effective Leverage Ratio” on any date shall mean the quotient of:

 

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(i)        The sum of (A) the aggregate liquidation preference of the Fund’s “senior securities” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) that are stock for purposes of the 1940 Act, excluding, without duplication, (1) any such senior securities for which the Fund has issued a notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption and (2) any such senior securities that are to be redeemed with net proceeds from the sale of the MFP Shares, for which the Fund has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption; (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Fund’s “senior securities representing indebtedness” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act); and (C) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund; divided by

(ii)        The sum of (A) the Market Value of the Fund’s total assets (including amounts attributable to senior securities, but excluding any assets consisting of Deposit Securities or funds referred to in clauses (A)(1) and (A)(2) of Section 2.3(d)(i) above), less the amount of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the aggregate principal amount of senior securities representing indebtedness), and (B) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund.

Section 2.4        Redemption. MFP Shares shall be subject to redemption by the Fund as provided below:

(a)        Term Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all MFP Shares on the Term Redemption Date as provided in the Statement.

(b)        Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding MFP Shares at the aggregate Redemption Price on the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date, if a Failed Remarketing Period shall have commenced and be continuing for 365 days, or, if earlier, on the Term Redemption Date.

(c)        Asset Coverage and Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(i)        Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption.

(A)         If the Fund fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section 2.3(a) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.3(a) and such failure is not cured as of the Asset Coverage Cure Date other than as a result of the redemption required by this Section 2.4(c)(i), the Fund shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, by the close of business on the Business Day next following such Asset Coverage Cure Date, cause a notice of redemption to be issued in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed. In addition, in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, the Fund shall cause to be deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Calculation and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, for the redemption of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section 2.4(c)(i)(B). In the event that any MFP Shares then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.4(c)(i), the Fund shall redeem such MFP Shares at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date therefor.

(B)        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by Section 2.4(c)(i)(A), the Fund shall redeem at the Redemption Price, out of funds legally available therefor, such number of Preferred Shares as determined by the Fund (which may include at the sole option of the Fund any number or proportion of MFP Shares) as shall be no fewer than (x) the

 

12


minimum number of Preferred Shares, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of at least 225% (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed), or more than (y) the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. The Fund shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be later than thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed or the Fund otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.4(c)(i), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be determined (A) pro rata among the Outstanding MFP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable and that is in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided, in each such case, that such method of redemption as set forth in this Section 2.4(c)(i)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(ii)        Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(A)         If the Fund fails to comply with the Effective Leverage Ratio requirement as provided in Section 2.3(c) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.3(c) and such failure is not cured as of the close of business on the date that is seven Business Days following the Business Day on which such non-compliance is first determined (the “Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date”) other than as a result of the redemption or other transactions required by this Section 2.4(c)(ii), the Fund shall cause the Effective Leverage Ratio (determined in accordance with the requirements applicable to the determination of the Effective Leverage Ratio under this Supplement) to not exceed the Effective Leverage Ratio required under Section 2.3(c) (without giving effect to the parenthetical provision in the first sentence of Section 2.3(c)) as so determined by (x) not later than the close of business on the Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, engaging in transactions involving or relating to the floating rate securities not owned by the Fund and/or the inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund, including the purchase, sale or retirement thereof, (y) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, not later than the close of business on the Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, causing notices of redemption to be issued, and causing to be deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Calculation and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption of such number of Preferred Shares as determined by the Fund, which shall be no fewer than the sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, or (z) engaging in any combination of the actions contemplated by clauses (x) and (y) of this Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A). In the event that any MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of this Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall redeem such MFP Shares at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date therefor.

(B)        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by clause (y) of Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall not redeem more than the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. If the Fund is unable to redeem the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed in

 

13


accordance with clause (y) of Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A) due to the unavailability of legally available funds, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of Section 2.4(c)(ii)(A), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be redeemed (A) pro rata among the Outstanding MFP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable and that is in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided, in each such case, that such method of redemption as set forth in this Section 2.4(c)(ii)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(d)        Optional Redemption.

(i)        Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(d)(ii), the Fund may at its option on any Business Day (any such Business Day referred to above in this sentence, an “Optional Redemption Date”), redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding MFP Shares, at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price.

(ii)       If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.4(d)(i), the shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected either (A) pro rata among the Holders of the MFP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions of this Supplement and applicable law, the Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which MFP Shares will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.4(d) from time to time.

(iii)     The Fund may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 2.4(e) in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section 2.4(d) unless on such date the Fund has available Deposit Securities for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of MFP Shares by reason of the redemption of such MFP Shares on such Optional Redemption Date.

(iv)      Any MFP Shares redeemed at the sole option of the Fund in accordance with, but solely to the extent contemplated by, Section 2.4(c)(i)(B) or Section 2.4(c)(ii)(B) shall be considered mandatorily redeemed in accordance therewith and not subject to this Section 2.4(d).

(e)        Procedures for Redemption.

(i)        If the Fund shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, MFP Shares pursuant to Section 2.4(a), (b), (c) or (d), the Fund shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”) with respect to any redemption pursuant to Section 2.4(a), (b), (c) or (d), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by Electronic Means to Holders thereof, or request the Calculation and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days and not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption pursuant to Section 2.4(a), (b), (c) or (d) in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) that it applies to the MFP Shares and the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis; (E) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (F) that dividends on the MFP Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (G) the provisions of this Supplement under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all MFP Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from such Holder and/or the method of determining such number. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to Section 2.4(d) of this Supplement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified

 

14


in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(ii)        If the Fund shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of such Notice of Redemption and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date (so long as any conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Fund), the Fund shall (A) deposit with the Calculation and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the MFP Shares to be redeemed on the Redemption Date and (B) give the Calculation and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the MFP Shares called for redemption on the Redemption Date. The Fund may direct the Calculation and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any Deposit Securities consisting of cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (A) of the preceding sentence, if the Redemption Date is the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date, then such deposit of Deposit Securities (which may come in whole or in part from the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account) shall be made no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date.

(iii)      In the case of any redemption pursuant to Section 2.4(d), no Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Fund shall fail to deposit in trust with the Calculation and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof of no less than the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption.

(iv)      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Notice of Redemption, if the Fund shall not have redeemed MFP Shares on the applicable Redemption Date, the Holders of the MFP Shares subject to redemption shall continue to be entitled to (a) receive dividends on such MFP Shares accumulated at the Dividend Rate for the period from, and including, such Redemption Date through, but excluding, the date on which such MFP Shares are actually redeemed and such dividends, to the extent accumulated, but unpaid, during such period (whether or not earned or declared but without interest thereon), together with any Additional Amount Payment applicable thereto, shall be included in the Redemption Price for such MFP Shares and (b) transfer the MFP Shares prior to the date on which such MFP Shares are actually redeemed; provided, that all other rights of Holders of such MFP Shares shall have terminated upon the date of deposit of Deposit Securities in accordance with and as provided in Sections 2.4(e)(ii) and Section 10(g) of the Statement.

(f)        Calculation and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities transferred to the Calculation and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of MFP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Calculation and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of MFP Shares so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(g) of the Statement.

(g)        Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the MFP Shares (other than the five (5) Business Day minimum notice period set forth in Section 2.4(e)(i)); provided, that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Calculation and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

Section 2.5        Rating Agencies.   The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Rating Agencies to issue long-term credit ratings with respect to the MFP Shares for so long as the MFP Shares are Outstanding. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any applicable Rating Agency Guidelines. If a Rating Agency shall cease to rate the securities of tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally, the Board of Trustees shall terminate the designation of such Rating Agency as a Rating Agency

 

15


hereunder. The Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder so long as either (i) immediately following such termination, there would be at least two Rating Agencies with respect to the MFP Shares or (ii) it replaces the terminated Rating Agency with another NRSRO and provides notice thereof to the Holders of the MFP Shares; provided that such replacement shall not occur unless such replacement Rating Agency shall have at the time of such replacement (i) published a rating for the MFP Shares and (ii) entered into an agreement with the Fund to continue to publish such rating subject to the Rating Agency’s customary conditions. The Board of Trustees may also elect to designate one or more other NRSROs as Rating Agencies hereunder by notice to the Holders of the MFP Shares.

Section 2.6        Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares.   So long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of Preferred Shares, ranking on a parity with MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Fund, in addition to then Outstanding MFP Shares, including additional MFP Shares, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Fund shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance and sale of such additional Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred Shares with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by Section 2.3(b) hereof) of at least 225%.

Section 2.7        Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations.   Holders of MFP Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with applicable law, the Declaration and the Statement, additional dividends or other distributions payable in an amount or amounts equal to the aggregate Additional Amount Payments, as follows:

(a)        Whenever the Fund intends or expects to include a Taxable Allocation in any dividend on MFP Shares, the Fund shall, subject to Section 2.7(b), (i) in addition to and in conjunction with the payment of such dividend, pay the Additional Amount Payment, payable in respect of the Taxable Allocation that was included as part of such dividend and (ii) notify the Calculation and Paying Agent and the Remarketing Agent of the fact that a Taxable Allocation will be so included not later than fourteen (14) calendar days preceding the earliest date on which a dividend is declared with respect to which the Taxable Allocation will relate (as provided in Section 2.7(d)). Whenever such advance notice (a “Notice of Taxable Allocation”) is received from the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent will, in turn, provide notice thereof to the Remarketing Agent, each Holder and to each Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member that has been identified in writing to the Calculation and Paying Agent.

(b)        If the Fund determines that a Taxable Allocation must be included in a dividend on MFP Shares but it is not practicable to pay any required Additional Amount Payment concurrently with such dividend pursuant to Section 2.7(a), then the Fund shall pay such Additional Amount Payment as soon as reasonably practicable and without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date. Similarly, if the Fund determines that a Taxable Allocation must be included in a dividend on MFP Shares but it is not practicable to comply with the requirements for prior notice in Section 2.7(a), then the Fund shall provide notice thereof to the Calculation and Paying Agent and the Remarketing Agent as soon as practicable, but in any event prior to the end of the calendar year in which such dividend is paid. Whenever such notice is received from the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent will, in turn, provide notice thereof to each Holder and each Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member that has been identified in writing to the Calculation and Paying Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 2.7(b) is not intended to excuse the Fund’s obligations under Section 2.7(a), but rather to provide a mechanism for paying Additional Amount Payments and providing notice thereof under circumstances in which the Fund may not become aware of the need to report a dividend as other than as wholly an exempt-interest dividend until it is not practicable to comply fully with Section 2.7(a). Moreover, the Fund shall not be considered to have failed to comply with the notice provisions of Section 2.7(a)(ii) to the extent that (i) the Fund’s determination of whether a Taxable Allocation will be required cannot be made prior to the date on which notice would otherwise be required, (ii) such Taxable Allocation cannot be made with respect to a later dividend because the current dividend is the last with respect to the Fund’s taxable year, and (iii) the Fund timely complies with its obligations for notice under this Section 2.7(b) with respect to such events and Taxable Allocation.

 

16


(c)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplement, the Fund shall not be required to make Additional Amount Payments with respect to any net capital gains or ordinary income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund. The Fund will promptly give notice to the Calculation and Paying Agent and the Remarketing Agent of any such determination, with instructions to the Calculation and Paying Agent to forward such notice to each Holder of affected MFP Shares during the affected periods at such Holder’s address as the same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Fund.

(d)        If the Fund determines that a Taxable Allocation will be made with respect to a dividend to be paid with respect to MFP Shares on a date specified in Section 2.1(e) and notice of such Taxable Allocation is required pursuant to Section 2.7(a)(ii) or Section 2.7(b), to the extent possible the Fund will cause such Taxable Allocation to relate to the last day on which dividends are declared that will be paid on such specified date (and, if the amount of the dividend declared on such last day is less than the Taxable Allocation, the immediately preceding day, with such process continuing to each preceding day in the applicable Dividend Period until the full amount of the Taxable Allocation is exhausted) so that, to the extent possible, the dividends declared on the earlier dates will be reported entirely as exempt-interest dividends and only the dividends declared with respect to such last day or preceding days will include a Taxable Allocation.

Section 2.8        Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement.

(a)        At least six months prior to the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date, if any, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (the “Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares. If, during the six-month period, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Investment Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account for the MFP Shares is equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (i) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares and (ii) the assets of the Fund constituting Deposit Securities earmarked in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account at the close of business on such date have a Market Value equal to the Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with Section 2.8(b) below with respect to the MFP Shares for such date. The Fund shall not, and shall cause the Custodian not to, permit any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account for the MFP Shares, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(b)        The Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares set forth below opposite such number of months (the “Liquidity Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.8(c) below:

 

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Number of Days

        Preceding the Failed Remarketing    
Mandatory Redemption Date:

 

        

 

Market Value of Deposit Securities  

as Percentage of Liquidation

Preference

[●]

    [●]%

[●]

    [●]%

[●]

    [●]%

[●]

    [●]%

[●]

    [●]%

(c)        If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(d)        The Deposit Securities included in the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Redemption Price as contemplated by Section 2.4(b). Upon the earlier to occur of (x) the successful remarketing of all of the Outstanding MFP Shares in accordance with Section 2.2(c) or (y) the deposit by the Fund with the Calculation and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the MFP Shares on the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date in accordance with Section 2.4(e)(ii), the requirement of the Fund to maintain the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Liquidity Account as contemplated by this Section 2.8 shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

Section 2.9      Termination.   Upon the earlier to occur of (a) no MFP Shares being Outstanding or (b) the successful transition to a new Mode for the MFP Shares, all rights and preferences of the MFP Shares established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Fund under this Supplement with respect to the MFP Shares shall terminate.

Section 2.10        Actions on Other than Business Days.   Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Supplement, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made or done on the nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.

Section 2.11        Modification.   To the extent permitted by law and the Statement, the Board of Trustees, without the vote of the Holders of MFP Shares, may interpret, supplement or amend the provisions of this Supplement.

ARTICLE III

TRANSITION TO NEW MODE

Section 3.1        Election and Notice of Mode Change.

(a)        The Fund may at its option elect to terminate the [Initial] Mode and change the MFP Shares to a new Mode by delivering a notice of Mode change (a “Mode Change Notice”) by Electronic Means to the Remarketing Agent and the Calculation and Paying Agent and by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the MFP Shares, or by requesting the Calculation and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so. The Mode Change Notice shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days and not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Mode Termination Date for the [Initial] Mode

 

18


specified in such Mode Change Notice. Subject to the notice requirement in the immediately preceding sentence, the Fund may select any Wednesday that is a Business Day, and for which the next calendar day is also a Business Day, as the Mode Termination Date, with the new Mode to commence on the Business Day immediately following the Mode Termination Date (the “New Mode Commencement Date”) and end not later than the Term Redemption Date. The terms of the new Mode may not, in any event, affect the parity ranking of MFP Shares relative to each other or to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund then outstanding with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(b)        The Mode Change Notice shall state: (A) the Mode Termination Date; (B) that the notice relates to the MFP Shares; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the Purchase Price on a per share basis; (E) that (i) all Outstanding MFP Shares will be subject to Mandatory Tender for Mode Change Remarketing on the New Mode Commencement Date, and (ii) in the event of a Failed Remarketing Event, all MFP Shares will be returned to the relevant tendering Holders; and (F) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Mode Change Notice states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Purchase Price. The Fund may provide in any Mode Change Notice that such Mode change is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such change unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Mode Change Notice.

(c)        The Fund shall use its best efforts to cause the transition to a new Mode and the terms and conditions of such new Mode to be consistent with the continuing qualification of the MFP Shares as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it shall be a condition precedent to such transition that the Fund shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the MFP Shares will continue to qualify as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Section 3.2        Transition to New Mode.

(a)        All Outstanding MFP Shares automatically will be subject to mandatory tender for remarketing and delivered to the Calculation and Paying Agent for delivery to the Remarketing Agent, or directly to the Remarketing Agent, for sale to, and purchase by, purchasers in the remarketing on the New Mode Commencement Date, in the event of a successful remarketing. All Tendered MFP Shares will be remarketed at the Purchase Price of such MFP Shares.

(b)        In the event of a successful remarketing, the proceeds of the sale of the Tendered MFP Shares may be paid (i) through the Calculation and Paying Agent or (ii) to the Beneficial Owners (directly or through the Securities Depository) as directed by the Fund. In the case of (i), the proceeds shall be used by the Calculation and Paying Agent, or directly by the Remarketing Agent, for the purchase of the Tendered MFP Shares at the Purchase Price, and the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Remarketing Agent to be received by the Calculation and Paying Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date for payment to the Beneficial Owners tendering MFP Shares for sale through the Securities Depository, in immediately available funds, and, in the case of (ii), the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Remarketing Agent to be made by no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time (or such other time as the Remarketing Agent and the Beneficial Owners may agree), on the New Mode Commencement Date, in either case, against delivery of the Tendered MFP Shares either (x) to the Calculation and Paying Agent through the Securities Depository on the New Mode Commencement Date and the re-delivery of such MFP Shares by means of “FREE” delivery through the Securities Depository to the Remarketing Agent for delivery to the relevant purchaser’s Agent Member or (y) directly to the Remarketing Agent or such Agent Member through the Securities Depository by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date.

(c)        By 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date, the Remarketing Agent shall deliver a Remarketing Notice to the Calculation and Paying Agent, the Fund and the Holders, by Electronic Means, that provides notice of the successful remarketing of all Outstanding MFP Shares or, if applicable, the number of MFP Shares, if any, not successfully remarketed for purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date, and the Purchase Price per MFP Share. If the Remarketing Notice states that the Remarketing Agent has not successfully remarketed all of the MFP Shares to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date

 

19


or if remarketing proceeds for any Tendered MFP Shares have not been received for any reason by the Calculation and Paying Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, or, if payment is made directly to the Beneficial Owners, by the Beneficial Owners by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, in each case on the New Mode Commencement Date (in which case the related MFP Shares will be treated as not having been successfully remarketed), a “Failed Remarketing Event” shall have occurred, and the Remarketing Agent will promptly, and in any event by approximately 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such day, deliver by Electronic Means to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent a Failed Remarketing Notice; provided, that, if payment for all Outstanding MFP Shares is received by, as applicable, the Calculation and Paying Agent after 2:45 p.m., New York City time, but by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on such day, or if the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners agree to waive the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event on such day, then the Mode Termination Date shall be deemed changed to such day and the New Mode Commencement Date shall be deemed changed to the immediately succeeding Business Day. The New Mode Commencement Date, and the date, if any, to which it shall have been postponed in accordance with the foregoing shall be a Dividend Payment Date.

(d)        In the event that MFP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder of MFP Shares fails to deliver such MFP Shares to which a mandatory tender relates on or prior to the New Mode Commencement Date, the Holder of such MFP Shares shall not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered MFP Shares as of the scheduled New Mode Commencement Date. Any such undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Calculation and Paying Agent, and the Calculation and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered MFP Shares. Any moneys held by the Calculation and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered MFP Shares will be held in a separate account by the Calculation and Paying Agent, will not be invested, and will be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered MFP Shares. The undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement MFP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered MFP Shares.

Section 3.3        Failed Transition.

(a)        In the event that a Failed Remarketing Event occurs, the new Mode designated by the relevant Mode Change Notice shall not be established. In such event, the [Initial] Mode shall continue in the form determined by the Fund’s election pursuant to Section 3.3(b) below, a Failed Remarketing Period shall commence and the Dividend Rate shall be the Step-Up Dividend Rate. All Tendered MFP Shares shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Calculation and Paying Agent. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event, (i) the Remarketing Agent shall provide written notice to the Calculation and Paying Agent, the Fund and the Holders of the MFP Shares by Electronic Means and (ii) all Outstanding MFP Shares shall become subject to mandatory redemption on the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date, subject to paragraph (c) below.

(b)        By not later than the Business Day immediately following the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event as contemplated in Section 3.2(c), the Fund shall make an election, and provide a Failed Transition Election Notice in writing by Electronic Means to the Holders, the Remarketing Agent and the Calculation and Paying Agent, to either (i) cancel the related attempted transition to a new Mode, in which case the provisions of Section 2.2(c) shall apply to the Failed Remarketing Period, or (ii) continue to attempt to transition to a new Mode, in which case the Fund shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to successfully establish a new Mode for the MFP Shares and, in connection with each such attempt, may designate by a Mode Change Notice a new Mode with new or different terms, until (x) a new Mode is established, (y) the Fund makes a new election to cancel the attempted Mode transition as provided in clause (i) above in connection with a subsequent failure to establish a new Mode, or (z) no MFP Shares remain Outstanding. If a subsequent Failed Remarketing Event occurs in connection with the remarketing relating to such continued attempt to establish a new Mode, any such Failed Remarketing Event shall not alter the Failed Remarketing Period, the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date or the Step-Up Dividend Rate.

(c)        In the event that, within the Failed Remarketing Period, (i) if the Fund shall have made the election set forth in Section 3.3(b)(i) above, all (but not less than all) of the MFP Shares are successfully remarketed pursuant to a mandatory tender for remarketing in accordance with Section 2.2(c) above, or (ii) if the Fund

 

20


shall have made the election set forth in Section 3.3(b)(ii) above, the Fund successfully establishes a new Mode, the Failed Remarketing Period shall terminate, the MFP Shares shall not be subject to redemption on the related Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date and, as applicable, the [Initial] Mode shall continue or the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for the new Mode.

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, having duly adopted this Supplement, has caused this Supplement to be signed on [●] in its name and on its behalf by a duly authorized officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Supplement as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Supplement are not binding upon any such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

                              

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

Exhibit d.5

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [•] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES [•] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(NVG SERIES [•] MFP)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page  

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS

     1  

1.1

  Definitions      1  

1.2

  Interpretation      8  

ARTICLE 2

  TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE [INITIAL] MODE FOR SERIES [•] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES      8  

2.1

  Dividends and Distributions      8  

2.2

  Coverage & Leverage Tests      10  

2.3

  Redemption      11  

2.4

  Grant of Irrevocable Proxy      15  

2.5

  Rating Agencies      15  

2.6

  Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares      15  

2.7

  Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations      16  

2.8

  Failed Transition Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement      16  

2.9

  Termination      17  

2.10

  Actions on Other than Business Days      17  

2.11

  Modification      18  

2.12

  Acknowledgement of Contractual Rights      18  

ARTICLE 3

  DESIGNATION OF NEW MODE OR MODE EXTENSION      18  

3.1

  General Provisions      18  

3.2

  Election and Notice of Mode Extension or Change      19  

3.3

  Extension of the [Initial] Mode or Transition to a New Mode      19  

3.4

  Failed Transition Event      21  

3.5

  Optional Early Transition to New Mode at the Option of the Fund      22  

 

i


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [•] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES [INITIALLY] DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES [•] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

This Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares [Initially] Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares (this “Supplement”) designates the [Initial] Mode (as defined below) as a Variable Rate Mode for the Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”). This Supplement establishes, pursuant to Section 4 of the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares, effective [•], 20[•] (the “Statement”), the additional or different terms and conditions of the Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares for the Variable Rate Mode commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date (subject to early transition in accordance with Section 3.5 below or extension in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(i) below or in the event of a Failed Transition Event (defined below)).

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1        Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Statement. The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

Additional Amount Payment” means a payment to a Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of Taxable Allocations made to such Beneficial Owner to which such Additional Amount Payment relates, would cause such Beneficial Owner’s dividends in dollars (after regular federal income tax consequences) from the aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Additional Amount Payment to be equal to the dollar amount of the dividends that would have been received by such Beneficial Owner if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would have been excludable (for regular federal income tax purposes) from the gross income of such Beneficial Owner. Such Additional Amount Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) assuming that no Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund and without giving effect to any other federal tax based on income, such as the “Medicare tax,” which at the date hereof is imposed at the rate of 3.8% on the net investment income (which includes taxable dividends and net capital gains) of certain individuals, trusts and estates; and (iii) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Additional Amount Payment (except to the extent such Additional Amount Payment is reported as an exempt-interest dividend for purposes of Section 852(b)(5) of the Code or successor provisions) would be taxable in the hands of each Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares at the maximum marginal regular federal individual income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Additional Amount Payment is made.

Agent Member” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Applicable Spread” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period, the percentage per annum set forth opposite the highest applicable credit rating most recently assigned to the MFP Shares by any Rating Agency in the table set forth directly below on the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period; provided, however, that, “Applicable Spread” shall not apply for any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof occurring during the Failed Transition Period, if any, except in the case of an Increased Rate Period occurring during the Failed Transition Period.


 

    

 

Long Term Ratings*

 

               
   
[•]    Applicable Percentage**
AAA to AA    [•]%
AA-    [•]%
A+    [•]%
A    [•]%
A-    [•]%
BBB+    [•]%
BBB    [•]%
BBB-    [•]%
*And/or the equivalent ratings of another Rating Agency then rating the MFP Shares utilizing the highest of the ratings of the Rating Agencies then rating the MFP Shares.    **Unless an Increased Rate Period is in effect or the Increased Rate otherwise applies to any portion of a Dividend Reset Period, in which case the Applicable Spread shall be [•]% for such Increased Rate Period or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period, as the case may be.

Asset Coverage” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Asset Coverage Cure Date” means, with respect to the failure by the Fund to maintain Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on a Business Day (as required by Section 2.2(a)), the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following such Business Day.

Below Investment Grade” means, as of any date, the following ratings with respect to each Rating Agency (to the extent it is a Rating Agency on such date):

(i)         lower than BBB-, in the case of Fitch; and

(ii)        lower than an equivalent long-term credit rating to that set forth in clause (i), in the case of any other Rating Agency.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Business Day” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Code” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Custodian” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Declaration” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Deposit Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Dividend Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

 

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Dividend Payment Date” means (i) the first Business Day of each calendar month, commencing on (and including) [•], 20[•], (ii) the first Business Day following the last calendar day of the [Initial] Mode, (iii) the New Mode Commencement Date (and the date, if any, to which it shall have been postponed in accordance with Section 3.3(e)) and (iv) each other date designated for the payment of dividends in accordance with this Supplement, including, as applicable, any Special Dividend Payment Date.

Dividend Period” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, (i) in the case of the first Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Mode Commencement Date to and including [•], 20[•], and (ii) for each subsequent Dividend Payment Date, (a) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month ending immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls to and including the last calendar day of such month, (b) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Special Dividend Payment Date to and including the last calendar day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls, (c) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month in which such regular monthly Dividend Payment Date falls to but excluding the Special Dividend Payment Date, and (d) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following another Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the prior Special Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the current Special Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the final Dividend Period in the [Initial] Mode shall end on and include the last calendar day of the [Initial] Mode.

Dividend Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period and subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.7, for the Initial Dividend Reset Period, the Index Rate for the Initial Dividend Reset Period plus the Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period and for each Subsequent Dividend Reset Period, the Index Rate in effect as of the Dividend Reset Date constituting the first day of such Dividend Reset Period plus the Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period; provided, however, that, with respect to any Increased Rate Period (or any portion of a Dividend Reset Period to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies), the Dividend Rate shall mean the Increased Rate for such Increased Rate Period (or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period); provided further, that for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, “Dividend Rate” shall mean the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate; and provided further that the Dividend Rate for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall in no event exceed the Maximum Rate.

Dividend Reset Date” means the Mode Commencement Date and, thereafter, the first day of each Dividend Reset Period.

Dividend Reset Period” means the Initial Dividend Reset Period and any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period.

Effective Leverage Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).

Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A).

Electronic Means” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Failed Transition Event” means that either (i) the Transition Notice required by Section 3.3(e) states that the Transition Remarketing Agent was unable to successfully remarket all of the MFP Shares to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, (ii) the remarketing proceeds for any tendered MFP Shares are not received for any reason (x) by the Tender and Paying Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time or (y) if payment is made directly to the Beneficial Owners, by the Beneficial Owners by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, subject to the proviso in Section 3.3(e), in each case, on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (iii) the Fund has otherwise been unsuccessful in extending the [Initial] Mode or establishing a new Mode (in each of which cases the related MFP Shares will be treated as not having been successfully remarketed).

Failed Transition Period” means, upon the occurrence of a Failed Transition Event, the period commencing on the date of such Failed Transition Event and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the Failed

 

3


Transition Redemption Date and (ii) the redemption, repurchase or successful Transition Remarketing of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares in accordance with the terms of this Supplement.

Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread” means, for each Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof occurring while the Failed Transition Period, if any, has occurred and is continuing: [•] basis points ([•]%) (up to [•] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [•] basis points ([•]%) ([•] days but fewer than [•] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [•] basis points ([•]%) ([•] days but fewer than [•] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [•] basis points ([•]%) ([•] days but fewer than [•] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [•] basis points ([•]%) ([•] days but fewer than [•] days of the Failed Transition Period), and [•] basis points ([•]%) ([•] days or more of the continued Failed Transition Period).

Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) occurring during the Failed Transition Period, if any, subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.7(a), the Index Rate for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) plus the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof); provided, however, that, with respect to any Increased Rate Period (or any portion of a Dividend Reset Period to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies), the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate shall mean the Increased Rate for such Increased Rate Period (or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period); and provided further, that the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall in no event exceed the Maximum Rate.

Failed Transition Redemption Date” means [•], 20[•], only if a Failed Transition Period has occurred and is continuing as of such date.

Failed Transition Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Fitch” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Fund” has the meaning set forth the preamble to this Supplement.

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Increased Rate” means, for any Increased Rate Period or any portion of a Dividend Reset Period to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies, the Index Rate for such Increased Rate Period or portion thereof plus an Applicable Spread of [•]%.

Increased Rate Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Index Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof, [(i) the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index made available by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period or (ii) if such index is not made available by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date, the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index as determined on the previous Rate Determination Date.]

Initial Dividend Reset Period” means [the period commencing on and including the Mode Commencement Date and ending on, and including, the next succeeding calendar day that is a Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).]

“[Initial] Mode” means the Variable Rate Mode designated by this Supplement for the period commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date.

Investment Adviser” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

 

4


Liquidity Account” in connection with a Failed Transition Redemption, has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

Liquidity Account Investments” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidity Requirement” in connection with a Failed Transition Redemption, has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b).

Mandatory Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(i)(A).

Mandatory Tender” means the mandatory tender of all MFP Shares by the Beneficial Owners thereof for Transition Remarketing and purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date.

Market Value” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Maximum Rate” means 15% per annum.

Mode” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Mode Commencement Date” means [•], 20[•].

Mode Extension/Change Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

Mode Termination Date” means the earliest of (i) the Optional Early Transition Date, in the case of a successful transition to a new Mode pursuant to Section 3.5, (ii) [•], 20[•], in the event of a successful transition to a new Mode upon expiration of the [Initial] Mode, as such date may be extended in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(i) and (iii) the Failed Transition Redemption Date, as it may be extended in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(i).

MuniFund Preferred Shares” or “MFP Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Statement and as used in this Supplement refers only to the Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares.

New Mode Commencement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

Notice of Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

Notice of Taxable Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).

NRSRO” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Optional Early Transition Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).

Optional Early Transition” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).

Optional Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i).

[“Optional Redemption Premium” means with respect to each MFP Share to be redeemed an amount equal to:

(A)        if the Optional Redemption Date for such MFP Share occurs prior to [•], 20[•], the product of (i) [•]%, (ii) the Liquidation Preference of such MFP Share and (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from and including the date of redemption to and including [•], 20[•] and the denominator of which is the actual number of days from and including [•], 20[•] to and including [•], 20[•]; or

(B)        if the Optional Redemption Date for such MFP Share occurs on or after [•], 20[•], zero.]

 

5


Optional Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i).

Outstanding” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Person” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Purchase Agreement” means, with respect to the MFP Shares issued pursuant to the Statement and this Supplement, the [Initial] Series [•] MuniFund Preferred Shares (MFP) Purchase Agreement to be dated as of [•], 20[•] between the Fund and the Purchaser, as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference of each MFP Share to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared), if any, to, but excluding, the New Mode Commencement Date.

Purchaser” means [•], a [•], as the [initial] purchaser of the MFP Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to the Initial Dividend Reset Period, the Wednesday immediately preceding the Date of Original Issue in connection with the initial issuance of MFP Shares and, with respect to any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period, the last day of the immediately preceding Dividend Reset Period or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that the next succeeding Rate Determination Date will be determined without regard to any prior extension of a Rate Determination Date to a Business Day.

Rating Agencies” means, as of any date, (i) [•] and (ii) any other NRSRO designated as a Rating Agency on such date in accordance with Section 2.5, in each case above, to the extent it maintains a rating on the MFP Shares on such date and the Board of Trustees has not terminated its designation as a Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5. [•] has initially been designated as a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares. In the event that at any time any Rating Agency (i) ceases to be a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares and such Rating Agency has been replaced by another Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5, any references to any credit rating of such replaced Rating Agency in this Supplement shall be deleted for purposes hereof as provided below and shall be deemed instead to be references to the equivalent credit rating of the other Rating Agency that has replaced such Rating Agency using the most recent published credit ratings for the MFP Shares of such replacement Rating Agency or (ii) designates a new rating definition for any credit rating of such Rating Agency with a corresponding replacement rating definition for such credit rating of such Rating Agency, any references to such replaced rating definition of such Rating Agency contained in this Supplement shall instead be deemed to be references to such corresponding replacement rating definition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7 of the Statement, in the event that at any time the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares is terminated in accordance with Section 2.5, any rating of such terminated Rating Agency, to the extent it would have been taken into account in any of the provisions of this Supplement for such Series, shall be disregarded, and only the ratings of the then-designated Rating Agencies for such Series shall be taken into account for purposes of this Supplement, provided that, for purposes of determining the Dividend Rate applicable to a Dividend Reset Period, any designation of a Rating Agency after the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period will take effect on or as of the next succeeding Rate Determination Date.

Rating Agency Guidelines” means the guidelines of any Rating Agency, as they may be amended or modified from time to time, compliance with which is required to cause such Rating Agency to continue to issue a rating with respect to the MFP Shares.

Ratings Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

 

6


Redemption Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Redemption Price” means the Failed Transition Redemption Price, the Mandatory Redemption Price or the Optional Redemption Price, as applicable.

Required Beneficial Owners” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(i).

Retention Transition” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

[“SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” means the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index, or such other weekly, high-grade index comprised of seven-day, tax-exempt variable rate demand notes produced by Bloomberg or its successor, or as otherwise designated by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; provided, however, that if such index is no longer produced by Bloomberg or its successor, then SIFMA Municipal Swap Index shall mean (i) the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index produced by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or its successors or (ii) if the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index is no longer produced, such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.]

Special Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g).

Statement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Subsequent Dividend Reset Period” means the period from, and including, the first day following the Initial Dividend Reset Period to, and including, the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) and each subsequent period from, and including, the first day following the end of the previous Subsequent Dividend Reset Period to, and including, the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day).

Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Tax Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Taxable Allocation” means the allocation of any net capital gains or ordinary income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid in respect of the MFP Shares.

Tender and Paying Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon and its successors or any other tender and paying agent appointed by the Fund with respect to such Series.

Tender and Paying Agent Agreement” means the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement dated as of [•], 20[•], by and between the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent, and as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time, or any similar agreement between the Fund and any other tender and paying agent appointed by the Fund.

Term Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Transition Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(e).

Transition Remarketing” means the remarketing of the MFP Shares by the Transition Remarketing Agent on behalf of the Beneficial Owners thereof pursuant to the Mandatory Tender in connection with the transition from the [Initial] Mode to a new Mode.

Transition Remarketing Agent” means the entity or entities appointed as such by the Fund to conduct the Transition Remarketing.

 

7


Variable Rate Mode” means the Mode established for the MFP Shares by the terms and conditions of the Statement as modified by this Supplement.

1.2        Interpretation.

(a)        General. The headings preceding the text of Sections included in this Supplement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Supplement or be given any effect in interpreting this Supplement. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Supplement. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually. Reference to any agreement (including this Supplement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. References to Sections shall refer to those portions of this Supplement, unless otherwise provided. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Supplement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause of this Supplement.

(b)        Interpretation of the Statement and this Supplement. Subject to Section 4(e) of the Statement, the terms and conditions of the MFP Shares set forth in this Supplement supersede the terms and conditions of the Statement, to the extent inconsistent therewith, for the Variable Rate Mode.

(c)        Mode Commencement Date. This Supplement shall be effective on the Mode Commencement Date.

ARTICLE 2

TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE [INITIAL] MODE FOR SERIES [•]

MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

2.1        Dividends and Distributions.

(a)        Applicable Rates. The amount of dividends per share payable on MFP Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) in the related Dividend Period. The amount of dividends per share accumulated for each such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall be computed by (i) multiplying the Dividend Rate in effect for MFP Shares for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the actual number of days in such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of days in the year in which such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) occurs (365 or 366) and (ii) multiplying the product determined pursuant to clause (i) by the Liquidation Preference for a MFP Share. The Dividend Rate shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period as provided in Section 2.1(f) below. For each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, the Dividend Rate shall be the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate.

(b)        Dividend Declaration and Entitlement. Dividends on MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on each day in such Dividend Period and shall be paid as provided in Section 2.1(e) hereof. In connection with any transfer of MFP Shares, the transferor shall, subject to any agreement between the transferor and transferee, transfer to the transferee the transferor’s right to receive from the Fund any unpaid dividends so declared for each day prior to the transferee becoming the Holder or Beneficial Owner, as applicable, of the MFP Shares in consideration of a portion of the purchase price for such MFP Shares paid by the transferee.

 

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(c)        Dividend Payment by Fund to Tender and Paying Agent. Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding each Dividend Payment Date, the Fund shall deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on such date sufficient to pay the dividends and other distributions, if any, that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of the MFP Shares. The Fund may direct the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities so deposited prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Securities and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same-day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.

(d)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends and other distributions, if any, payable on MFP Shares shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends and other distributions by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the MFP Shares entitled to the payment of such dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 2.1(e). Any moneys paid to the Tender and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Tender and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends and other distributions, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Fund.

(e)        Dividends Paid to Holders. Dividends and any distributions made pursuant to Section 2.7(a) on the MFP Shares shall be paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day). Dividends and any distributions made pursuant to Section 2.7(a) in arrears on MFP Shares for any past Dividend Period may be declared (to the extent not previously declared) and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments of other distributions on MFP Shares which may be in arrears.

(f)        Increased Rate. (i) The Dividend Rate shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period. Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.1(f)(iii), an “Increased Rate Period” shall commence (A) on a Dividend Payment Date if the Fund has failed (as a result of complying with Section 8(a) of the Statement or otherwise) to deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Tender and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend on the MFP Shares payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Default”), and continue to, but excluding, the Business Day on which such Dividend Default has ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii); (B) on an applicable Redemption Date (or any thereof) if the Fund has failed (as a result of complying with Section 8(a) of the Statement or otherwise) to deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such Redemption Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Tender and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Redemption Price payable in respect of such shares on such Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default”), and continue to, but excluding, the Business Day on which such Redemption Default has ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii); (C) on the Business Day on which any Rating Agency has withdrawn the credit rating required to be maintained with respect to the MFP Shares pursuant to Section 2.5 other than due to the Rating Agency ceasing to rate tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally, or on which the Board of Trustees has terminated the designation of a Rating Agency without complying with the requirements of Section 2.5, and the MFP Shares are not then rated by a Rating Agency, and continue to, but excluding, the Business Day on which compliance with Section 2.5 is restored; (D) on the Business Day on which a Ratings Event (as defined below) has occurred with respect to the MFP Shares and continue to, but excluding, the Business Day on which such Ratings Event has ended; or (E) (x) on the Business Day on which a court or other applicable governmental authority has made a final determination that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the MFP Shares do not qualify as equity in the Fund and (y) such determination results from an act or failure to act on the part of the Fund (a “Tax Event”) and continue so long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding. A “Ratings Event” shall be deemed to exist with respect to the MFP Shares at any time the MFP Shares have a long-term credit rating from at

 

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least one-half of the Rating Agencies designated at such time (or from the Rating Agency designated at such time if only one Rating Agency is then designated) that is Below Investment Grade. For the avoidance of doubt, no determination by any court or other applicable governmental authority that requires the Fund to make an Additional Amount Payment in respect of a Taxable Allocation shall be deemed to be a Tax Event hereunder. In no event shall an Increased Rate be cumulative, notwithstanding the existence of and continuation of multiple conditions giving rise to an Increased Rate Period.

(ii)        Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.1(f)(iii), a Dividend Default or a Redemption Default shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such shares and any unpaid Redemption Price on such shares shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Tender and Paying Agent.

(iii)      No Increased Rate Period for the MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Default or Redemption Default on such shares shall be deemed to have commenced if the amount of any dividend or any Redemption Price due in respect of the MFP Shares is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds, with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day that is not later than three (3) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date or Redemption Date for the MFP Shares with respect to which such Default occurred, together with an amount equal to the Increased Rate on such shares applied to the aggregate Liquidation Preference of and for the period of such non-payment on such shares, determined as provided in Section 2.1(a).

(g)        Special Dividend Payment Dates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund in its discretion may establish Dividend Payment Dates (each, a “Special Dividend Payment Date”) more frequent than monthly Dividend Payment Dates; provided, that any such Special Dividend Payment Date shall be a Business Day.

2.2        Coverage & Leverage Tests.

(a)        Asset Coverage Requirement. For so long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding during the [Initial] Mode, the Fund shall have Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on each Business Day. If the Fund shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of the close of business on any Business Day, the provisions of Section 2.3(c)(i) shall apply, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.2(a).

(b)        Calculation of Asset Coverage. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.2(a) are satisfied, (i) no MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section 2.2(a) if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such shares or other Preferred Shares) to pay the full redemption price for such shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares and the requisite notice of redemption for such shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds that shall have been so deposited with the applicable paying agent shall not be included as assets of the Fund for purposes of such computation.

(c)        Effective Leverage Ratio Requirement. For so long as MFP Shares are Outstanding during the [Initial] Mode, the Effective Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 45% (or 46% solely by reason of fluctuations in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities) as of the close of business on any Business Day. If the Effective Leverage Ratio shall exceed the applicable percentage provided in the preceding sentence as of the close of business on any Business Day, the provisions of Section 2.3(c)(ii) shall apply, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.2(c).

(d)        Calculation of Effective Leverage Ratio. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.2(c) are satisfied, the “Effective Leverage Ratio” on any date shall mean the quotient of:

 

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(i)        The sum of (A) the aggregate liquidation preference of the Fund’s “senior securities” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) that are stock for purposes of the 1940 Act, excluding, without duplication, (1) any such senior securities for which the Fund has issued a notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption and (2) any such senior securities that are to be redeemed with net proceeds from the sale of the MFP Shares, for which the Fund has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption; (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Fund’s “senior securities representing indebtedness” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act); and (C) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund; divided by

(ii)        The sum of (A) the Market Value of the Fund’s total assets (including amounts attributable to senior securities but excluding any assets consisting of Deposit Securities or funds referred to in clauses (A)(1) and (A)(2) of Section 2.2(d)(i) above), less the amount of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the aggregate principal amount of senior securities representing indebtedness), and (B) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund.

2.3        Redemption. The MFP Shares shall be subject to redemption by the Fund as provided below:

(a)        Term Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all MFP Shares on the Term Redemption Date as provided in the Statement.

(b)        Failed Transition Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding MFP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date, if a Failed Transition Period is then continuing, at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference per MFP Share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such MFP Share accumulated from (and including) the Mode Commencement Date to (but excluding) the Failed Transition Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon, and subject to Section 2.3(e)(vii)) (the “Failed Transition Redemption Price”).

(c)        Asset Coverage and Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(i)        Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption.

(A).        If the Fund fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section 2.2(a) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.2(a) and such failure is not cured as of the Asset Coverage Cure Date other than as a result of the redemption required by this Section 2.3(c)(i), the Fund shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, by the close of business on the Business Day next following such Asset Coverage Cure Date, cause a notice of redemption to be issued, and cause to be deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section 2.3(c)(i)(B). In the event that any MFP Shares then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i) or Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund shall redeem such shares at a price per share equal to the Liquidation Preference of each MFP Share plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such MFP Share accumulated from and including the Mode Commencement Date to (but excluding) the date fixed for such redemption by the Board of Trustees (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon, and subject to Section 2.3(e)(vii)) (the “Mandatory Redemption Price”).

(B).        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by Section 2.3(c)(i)(A), the Fund shall redeem at the Mandatory Redemption Price, out of funds legally available therefor, such

 

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number of Preferred Shares (which may include at the sole option of the Fund any number or proportion of MFP Shares) as shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the minimum number of Preferred Shares, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of at least 225% (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed) and (y) the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) a sufficient number of MFP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of up to and including 250%. The Fund shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be later than thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed or the Fund otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of such Series, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable, in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(c)(i)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(ii)        Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(A).        If the Fund fails to comply with the Effective Leverage Ratio requirement as provided in Section 2.2(c) or as determined in accordance with Section 6.13 of the Purchase Agreement (if then in effect) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.2(c) and, in any such case, such failure is not cured as of the close of business on the date that is seven (7) Business Days following the Business Day on which such non-compliance is first determined (the “Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date”) other than as a result of the redemption or other transactions required by this Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund shall not later than the close of business on the Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date cause the Effective Leverage Ratio (determined in accordance with the requirements applicable to the determination of the Effective Leverage Ratio under this Supplement and under the Purchase Agreement) to not exceed the Effective Leverage Ratio required under Section 2.2(c) (without giving effect to the parenthetical provision in the first sentence of Section 2.2(c)) as so determined, by (x) engaging in transactions involving or relating to the floating rate securities not owned by the Fund and/or the inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund, including the purchase, sale or retirement thereof, (y) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, causing a notice of redemption to be issued, and, in addition, causing to be irrevocably deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption at the redemption price specified in the terms of such Preferred Shares of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, or (z) engaging in any combination of the actions contemplated by clauses (x) and (y) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A). In the event that any MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall redeem such MFP Shares at a price per MFP Share equal to the Mandatory Redemption Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii) a sufficient number of MFP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund and after giving effect to the transactions described in clause (x) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, in the Fund having an Effective Leverage Ratio on such Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date of no less than 40%.

 

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(B).        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall not redeem more than the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. If the Fund is unable to redeem the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed in accordance with clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A) due to the unavailability of legally available funds, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of such Series, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable, in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(d)        Optional Redemption.

(i)        Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(d)(ii), the Fund may at its option on any Business Day (an “Optional Redemption Date”) redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding MFP Shares, at a redemption price per MFP Share (the “Optional Redemption Price”) equal to (x) the Liquidation Preference per MFP Share plus (y) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such MFP Share accumulated from (and including) the Mode Commencement Date to (but excluding) the Optional Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon and subject to Section 2.3(e)(vi)) plus (z) the Optional Redemption Premium per share that is applicable to an optional redemption of MFP Shares that is effected on such Optional Redemption Date.

(ii)        If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.3(d)(i), the shares of such Series to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected either (A) pro rata among the Holders of such Series, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable; provided that, in each case, such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(d)(ii) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository. Subject to the provisions of the Statement and this Supplement and applicable law, the Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which MFP Shares will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) from time to time.

(iii)        The Fund may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 2.3(e) in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) unless on such date the Fund has available Deposit Securities for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of MFP Shares by reason of the redemption of such MFP Shares on such Optional Redemption Date.

(iv)        MFP Shares redeemed at the Fund’s sole option in accordance with, but solely to the extent contemplated by, Section 2.3(c)(i)(B) or Section 2.3(c)(ii) shall be considered mandatorily redeemed in accordance therewith and not subject to this Section 2.3(d).

(e)        Procedures for Redemption.

(i)        If the Fund shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, MFP Shares pursuant to Section 2.3(a), (b), (c) or (d), the Fund shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to Holders thereof, or request the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the date fixed for redemption and not less than five (5) calendar days (or such shorter or longer notice period as may be consented to by all of the Beneficial Owners of the MFP Shares, which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 5 of the Statement) prior to the date fixed for redemption pursuant to this Section 2.3(e) in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such

 

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Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) that it applies to the MFP Shares and the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis; (E) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (F) that dividends on the MFP Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (G) the provisions of this Supplement under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all MFP Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from such Holder and/or the method of determining such number. The Fund may provide in the Notice of Redemption relating to the Failed Transition Redemption Date that such redemption is subject to the condition of the Failed Transition Period being continuing on the related Failed Transition Redemption Date. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Supplement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(ii)        If the Fund shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of a Notice of Redemption and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date (so long as any applicable conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Fund), the Fund shall (A) deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the MFP Shares to be redeemed on the Redemption Date and (B) give the Tender and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the MFP Shares called for redemption and redeemed on the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (A) of the preceding sentence, if the Redemption Date is the Failed Transition Redemption Date, then such deposit of Deposit Securities (which may come in whole or in part from the Liquidity Account) shall be made no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Failed Transition Redemption Date. The Fund may direct the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any Deposit Securities consisting of cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds.

(iii)        Upon the date of the deposit of such Deposit Securities, all rights of the Holders of the MFP Shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the Holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such MFP Shares shall no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever (other than (A) the transfer thereof prior to the applicable Redemption Date and (B) the accumulation of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms hereof, including Section 2.3(e)(vi), up to (but excluding) the applicable date of redemption of the MFP Shares, which accumulated dividends, unless previously declared and paid as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2.3(e)(v) below, shall be payable as part of the applicable Redemption Price on the date of redemption of the MFP Shares). The Fund shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the Redemption Date, any Deposit Securities in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the MFP Shares called for redemption and redeemed on the Redemption Date. Any Deposit Securities so deposited that are unclaimed at the end of three hundred and sixty five (365) calendar days from the date of redemption of the MFP Shares shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund, after which the Holders of the MFP Shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Fund for payment of the Redemption Price thereof. The Fund shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date of redemption, any interest on the Deposit Securities so deposited.

(iv)        On or after the Redemption Date, each Holder of MFP Shares in certificated form (if any) that are subject to redemption shall surrender the certificate(s) evidencing such MFP Shares to the Fund at the place designated in the Notice of Redemption and shall then be entitled to receive the Redemption Price for such MFP Shares, without interest, and, in the case of a redemption of fewer than all the MFP Shares represented by such certificate(s), a new certificate representing the MFP Shares that were not redeemed.

(v)        In the case of any redemption pursuant to Section 2.3(d), no Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Fund shall fail to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the

 

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Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that a Notice of Redemption has been provided with respect to any MFP Shares, dividends shall be declared and paid on each Dividend Payment Date in accordance with their terms regardless of whether Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such MFP Shares shall have been deposited in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent for that purpose.

(vi)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, or in the Statement or in any Notice of Redemption, if the Fund shall not have redeemed MFP Shares on the applicable Redemption Date, the Holders of the MFP Shares subject to redemption shall continue to be entitled to receive dividends on such shares at the Dividend Rate for the period from, and including, such Redemption Date through, but excluding, the date on which such shares are actually redeemed and such dividends, to the extent accumulated, but unpaid, during such period (whether or not earned or declared but without interest thereon), together with any Additional Amount Payment applicable thereto, shall be included in the Redemption Price.

(f)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities transferred to the Tender and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of MFP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of MFP Shares so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(e)(iii) above.

(g)        Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the MFP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

2.4        Grant of Irrevocable Proxy. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Holder and Beneficial Owner may in its discretion grant an irrevocable proxy with respect to MFP Shares.

2.5        Rating Agencies. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a Rating Agency to issue a long-term credit rating with respect to the MFP Shares for so long as such Series is Outstanding during the [Initial] Mode. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any applicable Rating Agency Guidelines. If a Rating Agency shall cease to rate the securities of tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally, the Board of Trustees shall terminate the designation of such Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder. The Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder with respect to MFP Shares so long as it replaces the terminated Rating Agency with another NRSRO and provides notice thereof to the Holders of such Series; provided that such replacement shall not occur unless such a replacement Rating Agency shall have at the time of such replacement (i) published a rating for the MFP Shares and (ii) entered into an agreement with the Fund to continue to publish such rating subject to the Rating Agency’s customary conditions. The Board of Trustees may also elect to designate one or more other NRSROs as Rating Agencies hereunder with respect to MFP Shares by notice to the Holders of the MFP Shares. The Rating Agency Guidelines of any Rating Agency may be amended by such Rating Agency without the vote, consent or approval of the Fund, the Board of Trustees or any Holder of MFP Shares or any other shareholder of the Fund.

2.6        Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares. So long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof, authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Fund, in addition to then Outstanding MFP Shares, and authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such Series of Preferred Shares then outstanding or so established and created, including additional MFP Shares, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Fund shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred

 

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Shares with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by Section 2.2(b) hereof) of at least 225%.

2.7        Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations. Whenever a Taxable Allocation is to be paid by the Fund with respect to the MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period and either the Increased Rate or the Maximum Rate is not in effect during such Dividend Period, the Fund shall comply with one of clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) of this Section 2.7:

(a)        The Fund may provide notice to the Tender and Paying Agent prior to the commencement of any Dividend Period of the amount of the Taxable Allocation that will be made in respect of MFP Shares for such Dividend Period (a “Notice of Taxable Allocation”). Such Notice of the Taxable Allocation will state the amount of the dividends payable in respect of each MFP Share for such Dividend Period that will be treated as a Taxable Allocation and the adjustment to the Dividend Rate for each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) included in such Dividend Period that will be required to pay the Additional Amount Payment in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such MFP Share for such Dividend Period. In lieu of adjusting the Dividend Rate, the Fund may make, in addition to and in conjunction with the payment of regular dividends for such Dividend Period, a supplemental distribution in respect of each share of such series for such Dividend Period equal to the Additional Amount Payment payable in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such share for such Dividend Period. The Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the adjustment or distribution in respect of Taxable Allocations in respect of the MFP Shares as provided in this Section 2.7(a), and shall only effect the distribution in respect of Taxable Allocations as described in Section 2.7(b) and/or Section 2.7(c) if such commercially reasonable efforts do not reasonably permit the Fund to effect the adjustment or distribution in respect of a Taxable Allocation as contemplated by this Section 2.7(a).

(b)        If the Fund does not provide a Notice of Taxable Allocation as provided in Section 2.7(a) with respect to a Taxable Allocation that is made in respect of the MFP Shares, the Fund may make one or more supplemental distributions on the MFP Shares equal to the Additional Amount Payment due in respect of such Taxable Allocation. Any such supplemental distribution in respect of the MFP Shares shall be made reasonably promptly following any such Taxable Allocation and may be declared and paid on any date, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date of such supplemental distribution, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

(c)        If in connection with a redemption of MFP Shares, the Fund makes a Taxable Allocation without having either given advance notice thereof pursuant to Section 2.7(a) or made one or more supplemental distributions pursuant to Section 2.7(b), the Fund shall direct the Tender and Paying Agent to send an Additional Amount Payment in respect of such Taxable Allocation to each Beneficial Owner of such shares at such Person’s address as the same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Fund. For such purpose, the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent may rely on the address most recently provided by the Beneficial Owner in accordance with the Purchase Agreement (including any transferee certificate delivered in accordance therewith).

(d)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplement, the Fund shall not be required to pay an Additional Amount Payment, with respect to the MFP Shares with respect to any net capital gain or ordinary income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund.

2.8        Failed Transition Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement.

(a)        By the first Business Day following the occurrence and during the continuance of the Failed Transition Period, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares. If, while the Failed Transition Period is continuing, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares, then

 

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the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Investment Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (x) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares and (y) the assets of the Fund designated and earmarked as Deposit Securities at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with paragraph (b) below with respect to the Outstanding MFP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit, and the Fund shall otherwise not permit, any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(b)        The Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Transition Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference for the Outstanding MFP Shares set forth below opposite such day (the “Liquidity Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of subsection (c) below:

 

Number of Days

Preceding the

Failed Transition Redemption Date

  

Market Value of Deposit Securities

as Percentage of Liquidation Preference

[•]    [•]%
[•]    [•]%
[•]    [•]%
[•]    [•]%
[•]    [•]%

(c)        If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement in respect of the Outstanding MFP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(d)        The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Failed Transition Redemption Price for the Outstanding MFP Shares. Upon the earlier to occur of (x) the successful Transition Remarketing of the Outstanding MFP Shares or (y) the deposit by the Fund with the Tender and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Outstanding MFP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date for the Outstanding MFP Shares, the requirement of the Fund to maintain a Liquidity Account for the Outstanding MFP Shares as contemplated by this Section 2.8 shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

2.9        Termination. Upon the earlier to occur of (a) no MFP Shares being Outstanding or (b) the successful transition to a new Mode for the MFP Shares, all rights and preferences of the MFP Shares established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Fund under this Supplement with respect to the MFP Shares shall terminate.

2.10      Actions on Other than Business Days. Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Supplement, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day,

 

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with the same force and effect as if made or done on the nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.

2.11        Modification. To the extent permitted by law, the Statement and the Purchase Agreement, the Board of Trustees, without the vote of the Holders of MFP Shares, may interpret, supplement or amend the provisions of this Supplement.

2.12        Acknowledgement of Contractual Rights. Nothing in this Supplement or the Statement (including, without limitation, Section 5(e) of the Statement) shall be deemed to preclude or limit the right of the Fund (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to contractually agree with any Holder or Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares with regard to any special rights of such Holder or Beneficial Owner with respect to its investment in the Fund.

ARTICLE 3

DESIGNATION OF NEW MODE OR MODE EXTENSION

3.1        General Provisions.

(a)        The Fund agrees to use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent that it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to extend the [Initial] Mode or transition to a new Mode by:

(i)        extending the [Initial] Mode through an extension of the Mode Termination Date then in effect, the terms of which extension are agreed to in writing by the Beneficial Owners of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares (the “Required Beneficial Owners”) and, to the extent different from the terms of the [Initial] Mode already in effect, are set forth in a new or amended Supplement; or

(ii)        establishing a new Mode to succeed the [Initial] Mode that will result in a transition to such new Mode on the first Business Day immediately following the last day of the [Initial] Mode, as such day may be accelerated in accordance with Section 3.5 (such first Business Day, whether or not a new Mode commences on such day, as so accelerated, being referred to in this Supplement as the “New Mode Commencement Date”), the terms of which are agreed to in writing by the Required Beneficial Owners and are set forth in a new Supplement; or

(iii)        establishing any other Mode to succeed the [Initial] Mode that will result in a transition to such Mode on the New Mode Commencement Date, with terms as set forth in a new Supplement designating the terms of such Mode;

provided, that, if the Fund is not successful in extending the [Initial] Mode or transitioning to a new Mode by using its reasonable best efforts to implement any one of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, it shall use its reasonable best efforts to attempt the actions described in one or both of the remaining two clauses until a Mode to succeed the [Initial] Mode or an extension of the [Initial] Mode is established or no MFP Shares remain Outstanding.

(b)        In the event that the Fund successfully establishes a new Mode succeeding the [Initial] Mode, and no Failed Transition Event otherwise shall have occurred and be continuing as of the New Mode Commencement Date, then on and as of the New Mode Commencement Date, the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for such Mode. If a Failed Transition Event shall have occurred, the Mode designated by the Fund shall not be established, pursuant to Section 3.3(c), all tendered MFP Shares, if any, shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent, and all of the then Outstanding MFP Shares shall be redeemed by the Fund on the Failed Transition Redemption Date in accordance with Section 2.3(b).

(c)        The Fund shall use its best efforts to cause the extension of the [Initial] Mode or transition to a new Mode succeeding the [Initial] Mode and the terms and conditions of such Mode to be consistent with the continuing qualification of the MFP Shares as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and

 

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it shall be a condition precedent to such transition that the Fund shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the MFP Shares will continue to qualify as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

3.2        Election and Notice of Mode Extension or Change.

(a)        The Fund shall provide notice of the termination or expiration of the [Initial] Mode and proposed extension of the [Initial] Mode or transition to a Mode succeeding the [Initial] Mode by delivering a notice of Mode extension or change (a “Mode Extension/Change Notice”) by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the MFP Shares, or by requesting the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so. The Mode Extension/Change Notice shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days and not less than [•] ([•]) Business Days (or such lesser number of Business Days as may be agreed to by the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners or, if so provided in the Purchase Agreement (if in effect) the Purchaser) prior to the Mode Termination Date for the [Initial] Mode specified in such Mode Extension/Change Notice. Subject to the notice requirement in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of an Optional Early Transition, the Fund may select any Wednesday that is a Business Day, and for which the next calendar day is also a Business Day, as the Mode Termination Date, with the new Mode to commence on the New Mode Commencement Date and end not later than the Term Redemption Date. The terms of the extension of the [Initial] Mode or the new Mode may not, in any event, affect the parity ranking of MFP Shares relative to each other or to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund then outstanding with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(b)        The Mode Extension/Change Notice shall state, as applicable: (A) the Mode Termination Date then in effect and the proposed extended Mode Termination Date, if any; (B) that the notice relates to the MFP Shares; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the Purchase Price on a per share basis; (E) that (i) all Outstanding MFP Shares will be subject to Mandatory Tender for Transition Remarketing and purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date, and (ii) in the event of a Failed Transition Event, all tendered MFP Shares will be returned to the relevant tendering Holders; (F) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Mode Extension/Change Notice states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Purchase Price; and (G) that the notice relates to a Mode extension or Mode change and, if applicable, pursuant to an Optional Early Transition. The Fund may provide in any Mode Extension/Change Notice that such Mode extension or change is subject to one or more additional conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such change unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Mode Extension/Change Notice; provided, that no such conditions shall affect the timing of termination or expiration of the [Initial] Mode or the consequences of a Failed Transition Event.

3.3        Extension of the [Initial] Mode or Transition to a New Mode.

(a)        In the case of an extension of the [Initial] Mode in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(i) above or a transition to a new Mode succeeding the [Initial] Mode established in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(ii) above, the Required Beneficial Owners by agreement with the Fund as to such extension or new Mode shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived their right to the Mandatory Tender of their MFP Shares and shall retain their MFP Shares upon the extension of the [Initial] Mode or as of the New Mode Commencement Date, as applicable. Such agreement and waiver shall be binding upon the then-current Holders and Beneficial Owners and each subsequent Holder and Beneficial Owner of the MFP Shares. Notice of such agreement, waiver and retention of shares shall be delivered by the Fund by Electronic Means to the Tender and Paying Agent by not later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the Mode Termination Date then in effect.

(b)        In the case of a transition to a new Mode succeeding the [Initial] Mode in accordance with Section 3.1(a)(iii) above, or otherwise in a successful transition not consented to by the Required Beneficial Owners, all Outstanding MFP Shares automatically shall be subject to Mandatory Tender for Transition Remarketing and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent for purchase by purchasers in the Transition Remarketing on the New Mode Commencement Date, in the event of a successful Transition Remarketing. All tendered MFP Shares shall be remarketed at the Purchase Price of such MFP Shares. The calculation of the Purchase Price of the MFP Shares shall be made by the Transition Remarketing Agent in advance of the New Mode

 

19


Commencement Date. The Fund shall use its best efforts to engage Nuveen Securities, LLC or another Person with expertise in remarketing variable-rate securities as Transition Remarketing Agent, and to cause the Transition Remarketing Agent to agree to use its best efforts to find purchasers for all the MFP Shares subject to Mandatory Tender pursuant to this Section 3.3.

(c)      The retention of MFP Shares by the Beneficial Owners thereof pursuant to Section 3.3(a) (a “Retention Transition”) shall be deemed to constitute a successful Transition Remarketing. Otherwise, a Transition Remarketing shall be deemed successful only if a Failed Transition Event shall not have occurred. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Transition Event, all tendered MFP Shares shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent.

(d)        In the event of a successful Transition Remarketing (other than a Retention Transition), the proceeds of the sale of the tendered MFP Shares may be paid (i) through the Tender and Paying Agent or (ii) to the Beneficial Owners (directly or through the Securities Depository) as directed by the Fund. In the case of (i), the proceeds shall be used by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of the tendered MFP Shares at the Purchase Price, and the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Transition Remarketing Agent to be received by the Tender and Paying Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date for payment to the Holders tendering MFP Shares for sale through the Securities Depository in immediately available funds, and, in the case of (ii), the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Transition Remarketing Agent to be made by no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time (or such other time as the Transition Remarketing Agent and the Beneficial Owners may agree), on the New Mode Commencement Date, in either case, against delivery of the tendered MFP Shares either (x) to the Tender and Paying Agent through the Securities Depository on the New Mode Commencement Date and the re-delivery of such MFP Shares by means of “FREE” delivery through the Securities Depository to the Transition Remarketing Agent for delivery to the relevant purchaser’s Agent Member or (y) directly to the Transition Remarketing Agent or such Agent Member, through the Securities Depository by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date.

(e)        By 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date, the Transition Remarketing Agent shall deliver a notice to the Tender and Paying Agent and the Fund (a “Transition Notice”), by Electronic Means, that provides notice of the successful Transition Remarketing of all Outstanding MFP Shares or, if applicable, the number of MFP Shares, if any, not successfully remarketed for purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date, and the Purchase Price per MFP Share. If (i) the Transition Notice states that the Transition Remarketing Agent has not successfully remarketed all of the MFP Shares to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (ii) the remarketing proceeds for any tendered MFP Shares have not been received for any reason (x) by the Tender and Paying Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, or (y) if payment is made directly to the Beneficial Owners, by the Beneficial Owners by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, in each case on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (iii) the Fund has otherwise been unsuccessful in establishing a new Mode (in each of which cases the MFP Shares will be treated as not having been successfully remarketed), the Tender and Paying Agent will promptly, and in any event by approximately 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date, deliver by Electronic Means to the Holders, the Fund and the Transition Remarketing Agent a notice stating that a Failed Transition Event has occurred; provided, that, if payment for all Outstanding MFP Shares is being made through the Tender and Paying Agent and is received by the Tender and Paying Agent after 2:45 p.m., New York City time, but by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on such day, if applicable, or if the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners agree to waive the occurrence of a Failed Transition Event on such day, then the Mode Termination Date shall be deemed changed to such day and the New Mode Commencement Date shall be deemed changed to the immediately succeeding Business Day. The New Mode Commencement Date, and the date, if any, to which it shall have been postponed in accordance with the foregoing, shall be a Dividend Payment Date.

(f)        Any funds paid by the Transition Remarketing Agent and held in an account of the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of the Purchase Price in connection with the Transition Remarketing shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Transition Remarketing Agent on account of purchasers of the MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing until the MFP Shares are delivered by the tendering Holders against payment therefor, or returned to the Transition Remarketing Agent on account of such purchasers. In the event of a successful Transition Remarketing, upon receipt of MFP Shares from the tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent,

 

20


the Tender and Paying Agent shall pay, subject to receipt of the Purchase Price by the Tender and Paying Agent in the form of remarketing proceeds from the Transition Remarketing Agent, the Purchase Price for such MFP Shares to such tendering Holders. In accordance with and subject to the foregoing, the Tender and Paying Agent shall effect any such payment on the New Mode Commencement Date.

(g)        Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the purchase and delivery of tendered MFP Shares in the form of global securities, the Transition Remarketing, and payments with respect to the foregoing, will be accomplished in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Securities Depository.

(h)        The Transition Remarketing Agent shall not be obligated to purchase any MFP Shares that would otherwise remain unsold in the Transition Remarketing. The Transition Remarketing Agent in its sole discretion may, however, purchase for its own account MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing. None of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Transition Remarketing Agent shall be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment to a Holder upon such Holder’s tender of its MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing unless, in each case, such MFP Shares were acquired for the account of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Transition Remarketing Agent.

(i)        In the event that MFP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder of MFP Shares fails to deliver such MFP Shares on or prior to the New Mode Commencement Date, the Holder of such MFP Shares shall not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered MFP Shares as of the New Mode Commencement Date. Any such undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent, and the Tender and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered MFP Shares. Any moneys held by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered MFP Shares will be held in a separate account by the Tender and Paying Agent, will not be invested, and will be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered MFP Shares. The undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement MFP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered MFP Shares.

(j)        The Transition Remarketing Agent may modify the settlement procedures set forth above with respect to the Transition Remarketing (other than timing requirements) with the written consent of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Beneficial Owners. The Fund may modify or waive each of the timing requirements set forth above with the written consent of the Beneficial Owners, the Transition Remarketing Agent and the Tender and Paying Agent, in each case such consent to be required only to the extent such party is affected thereby.

(k)        Upon the occurrence of a successful Transition Remarketing, the Fund will be deemed to have successfully established a new Mode, and the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for the new Mode.

3.4        Failed Transition Event.

(a)        If a Failed Transition Event occurs, the extension of the [Initial] Mode or the new Mode, as applicable, designated by the relevant Mode Extension/Change Notice shall not be established. In such event, subject to Section 3.4(b), the Failed Transition Period shall commence and be deemed an extension of the [Initial] Mode and, for each Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof during the Failed Transition Period, the Dividend Rate shall be the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate. Pursuant to Section 3.3(c), all tendered MFP Shares shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent.

(b)        During the Failed Transition Period, the Fund shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to successfully establish a Mode for the MFP Shares, or use its reasonable best efforts to extend the [Initial] Mode in accordance with Section 3.1 and, in connection with each such attempt, may designate by a Mode Extension/Change Notice, a Mode with new or different terms in accordance with Section 3.2, until a Mode to succeed the [Initial] Mode or an extension of the [Initial] Mode is established or no MFP Shares remain Outstanding. If a Failed Transition Event occurs in connection with the Transition Remarketing relating to such

 

21


continued attempt to establish a Mode to extend or succeed the [Initial] Mode, any such Failed Transition Event shall not alter the Failed Transition Period, the Failed Transition Redemption Date or the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate. In the event that the Fund successfully extends the [Initial] Mode or establishes a Mode to succeed the [Initial] Mode, the Failed Transition Period shall terminate, and the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for such extension or new Mode.

3.5        Optional Early Transition to New Mode at the Option of the Fund.

(a)        For the purpose of effecting an early transition to a new Mode with respect to all of the Outstanding MFP Shares, the Fund may at its option accelerate the expiration date of the [Initial] Mode (an “Optional Early Transition”) to any Wednesday that is a Business Day occurring on or after [•], 20[•] (the “Optional Early Transition Date”) by delivering a Mode Extension/Change Notice in accordance with Section 3.2 above. The proposed transition to a new Mode to follow the expiration of the [Initial] Mode on the Optional Early Transition Date shall otherwise be effected in accordance with, and governed by, this Article 3 of this Supplement.

(b)        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of optional early transition for the MFP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund has caused these presents to be signed as of [•], 20[•] in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Supplement as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Supplement are not binding upon such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

             

 

Name:

 

Title:

Exhibit d.6

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES INITIALLY DESIGNATING THE VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE)

(NVG SERIES [] MFP)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     1  

1.1.

  Definitions      1  

1.2.

  Interpretation      8  

ARTICLE 2 TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES FOR THE VARIABLE RATE MODE

     8  

2.1.

  Dividends and Distributions      8  

2.2.

  Coverage & Leverage Tests      12  

2.3.

  Redemption      12  

2.4

  Grant of Irrevocable Proxy      16  

2.5.

  Rating Agencies      16  

2.6.

  Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares      17  

2.7.

  Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations      17  

2.8.

  Failed Transition Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement      18  

2.9.

  Termination      19  

2.10.

  Actions on Other than Business Days      19  

2.11.

  Modification      19  

2.12.

  Acknowledgement of Contractual Rights      19  

ARTICLE 3 DESIGNATION OF NEW MODE

     19  

3.1.

  General Provisions      19  

3.2.

  Election and Notice of Mode Change      20  

3.3.

  Transition to a New Mode      20  

3.4.

  Failed Transition Period      22  

3.5.

  Transition to New Mode at the Option of the Fund      23  

Appendix A                 Form of Rate Adjustment Notice


NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND

PREFERENCES OF SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES [INITIALLY] DESIGNATING THE

VARIABLE RATE MODE FOR THE SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

(ADJUSTABLE RATE)

This Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares [Initially] Designating the Variable Rate Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares (this “Supplement”) designates the [Initial] Mode (as defined below) as a Variable Rate Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”). This Supplement establishes, pursuant to Section 4 of the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares, effective on the effective date hereof (the “Statement”), the additional or different terms and conditions of the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares for the Variable Rate Mode commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date (subject to early transition in accordance with Article 3 below).

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1.        Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Statement. The following terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

Additional Amount Payment” means a payment to a Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of Taxable Allocations made to such Beneficial Owner to which such Additional Amount Payment relates, would cause such Beneficial Owner’s dividends in dollars (after regular federal income tax consequences) from the aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Additional Amount Payment to be equal to the dollar amount of the dividends that would have been received by such Beneficial Owner if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would have been excludable (for regular federal income tax purposes) from the gross income of such Beneficial Owner. Such Additional Amount Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) assuming that no Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund and without giving effect to any other federal tax based on income, such as the “Medicare tax,” which at the date hereof is imposed at the rate of 3.8% on the net investment income (which includes taxable dividends and net capital gains) of certain individuals, trusts and estates; and (iii) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Additional Amount Payment (except to the extent such Additional Amount Payment is reported as an exempt-interest dividend for purposes of Section 852(b)(5) of the Code or successor provisions) would be taxable in the hands of each Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares at the maximum marginal regular federal individual income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable, whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Additional Amount Payment is made.

Adjusted Rate Terms” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(h)(viii).

Agent Member” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Applicable Spread” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period: (i) the percentage per annum set forth opposite the highest applicable credit rating most recently assigned to the MFP Shares by any Rating Agency in the table set forth directly below on the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period; or (ii) such spread or spreads as may be provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms established pursuant to Section 2.1(h); provided, however, that the “Applicable Spread” shall not apply for any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof occurring during the Failed Transition Period, if any, except as provided in the definition of Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread or in the case of an Increased Rate Period occurring during the Failed Transition Period.

 

1


 

Long Term Ratings*

 

    
[●]    Applicable Percentage**
AAA to AA    [●]%
AA-    [●]%
A+    [●]%
A    [●]%
A-    [●]%
BBB+    [●]%
BBB    [●]%
BBB-    [●]%
*And/or the equivalent ratings of another Rating Agency then rating the MFP Shares utilizing the highest of the ratings of the Rating Agencies then rating the MFP Shares.    **Unless an Increased Rate Period is in effect or the Increased Rate otherwise applies to any portion of a Dividend Reset Period, in which case the Applicable Spread shall be [●]% for such Increased Rate Period or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period, as the case may be.

Asset Coverage” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Asset Coverage Cure Date” means, with respect to the failure by the Fund to maintain Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on a Business Day (as required by Section 2.2(a)), the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following such Business Day.

Below Investment Grade” means, with respect to the MFP Shares and as of any date, the following ratings with respect to each Rating Agency (to the extent it is a Rating Agency on such date):

(i)         lower than BBB-, in the case of Fitch; and

(ii)        lower than an equivalent long-term credit rating to that set forth in clause (i), in the case of any other Rating Agency.

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Business Day” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Custodian” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Declaration” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Default” means a Dividend Default or a Redemption Default.

 

2


“Deposit Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Dividend Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Dividend Payment Date” means the first Business Day of each calendar month, commencing [●], 20[●], the New Mode Commencement Date, if any, and each other date designated for the payment of dividends in accordance with this Supplement, including, as applicable, any Special Dividend Payment Date.

Dividend Period” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, (i) in the case of the first Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Mode Commencement Date to and including [●], 20[●], and (ii) for each subsequent Dividend Payment Date, (a) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month ending immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls to and including the last calendar day of such month, (b) for each regular monthly Dividend Payment Date following a Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the Special Dividend Payment Date to and including the last calendar day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the current Dividend Payment Date falls, (c) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following a regular monthly Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the first calendar day of the month in which such regular monthly Dividend Payment Date falls to but excluding the Special Dividend Payment Date, (d) for each Special Dividend Payment Date following another Special Dividend Payment Date, the period from and including the prior Special Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the current Special Dividend Payment Date and (e) the date or dates of the period as may be provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the final Dividend Period in the Variable Rate Mode shall end on and include the last calendar day of the Variable Rate Mode.

Dividend Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period and subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.7, (i) the Index Rate for the Initial Dividend Reset Period plus the Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period and (ii) for each Subsequent Dividend Reset Period, (A) the Index Rate in effect as of the Dividend Reset Date commencing such Dividend Reset Period plus the Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period or (B) the Dividend Rate as may be provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h) and applicable to such Dividend Reset Period; provided, however, that, with respect to any Increased Rate Period (or any portion of a Dividend Reset Period to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies), the Dividend Rate shall mean the Increased Rate for such Increased Rate Period (or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period); provided further, that for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, “Dividend Rate” shall mean the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate; and provided further that the Dividend Rate for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall in no event exceed the Maximum Rate.

“Dividend Reset Date” means (i) the Mode Commencement Date, (ii) thereafter, the first day of each Dividend Reset Period and (iii) as may be otherwise provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h).

Dividend Reset Period” means the Initial Dividend Reset Period and any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period.

Effective Leverage Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).

Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A).

Electronic Means” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Failed Adjustment Event” means that, in the case of Adjusted Rate Terms proposed by the Majority Beneficial Owner, the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall have failed to agree in writing to Adjusted Rate Terms by the [●] calendar day, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall agree, following the date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice, unless the Rate Adjustment Notice shall have been withdrawn prior to such [●] calendar day or other agreed day.

 

3


Failed Transition Event” means that, in the case of a proposed transition to a new Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode pursuant to Article 3, (i) the Transition Notice required by Section 3.3(c) states that the Transition Remarketing Agent was unable to successfully remarket all of the MFP Shares to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, (ii) the remarketing proceeds for any tendered MFP Shares are not received for any reason by the Tender and Paying Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, or, if payment is made directly to the Beneficial Owners, by the Beneficial Owners by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, subject to the proviso in Section 3.3(e), in each case, on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (iii) the Fund has otherwise been unsuccessful in establishing a new Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode (in each of which cases the related MFP Shares will be treated as not having been successfully remarketed).

Failed Transition Period” means, upon the occurrence of a Failed Adjustment Event or a Failed Transition Event, the period commencing on the date of such Failed Adjustment Event or Failed Transition Event and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) the redemption by the Fund on the Failed Transition Redemption Date or, if earlier, another Redemption Date, if any, of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares, or (ii) the repurchase by the Fund of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares, or (iii) the successful Transition Remarketing of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares in accordance with the terms of this Supplement, or (iv) mutual agreement by the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners to terminate the Failed Transition Period and revert to the Variable Rate Mode on the terms mutually agreed by the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners.

Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread” means, for each Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof occurring while the Failed Transition Period, if any, has occurred and is continuing: the higher of (i) the Applicable Spread that would otherwise be in effect absent a Failed Transition Event and (ii) [●] basis points ([●]%) (up to [●] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [●] basis points ([●]%) ([●] days but fewer than [●] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [●] basis points ([●]%) ([●] days but fewer than [●] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [●] basis points ([●]%) ([●] days but fewer than [●] days of the continued Failed Transition Period), [●] basis points ([●]%) ([●] days but fewer than [●] days of the Failed Transition Period), and [●] basis points ([●]%) ([●] days or more of the continued Failed Transition Period).

Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) occurring during the Failed Transition Period, if any, subject to the adjustment described in Section 2.7(a), the Index Rate for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) plus the Failed Transition Period Applicable Spread for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof); provided, however, that, with respect to any Increased Rate Period (or any portion of a Dividend Reset Period to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies), the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate shall mean the Increased Rate for such Increased Rate Period (or such portion of a Dividend Reset Period); and provided further, that the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate for any Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall in no event exceed the Maximum Rate.

Failed Transition Redemption Date” means (i) in the case of a Failed Adjustment Event, the first Business Day falling on or after the [●] calendar day following the Failed Adjustment Event or (ii) in the case of a Failed Transition Event, the first Business Day falling on or after the [●] calendar day following the Failed Transition Event.

“Fitch” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

“Fund” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Increased Rate” means, for any Increased Rate Period or any portion thereof to which the Increased Rate otherwise applies, the Index Rate for such Increased Rate Period or portion thereof plus an Applicable Spread of [●]%.

Increased Rate Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Index Rate” means, with respect to any Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof, [(i) the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index made available by approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period or (ii) if such index is not made so available on such date, the SIFMA Municipal Swap

 

4


Index as determined on the previous Rate Determination Date or (iii) such index rate or rates as may be provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h)].

Initial Dividend Reset Period” means the period commencing on and including the Mode Commencement Date, and ending on, and including, the next succeeding calendar day that is a Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

“[Initial] Mode” means, the Variable Rate Mode designated by this Supplement for the period commencing on the Mode Commencement Date and ending on the Mode Termination Date.

“Investment Adviser” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

“Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidity Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

Liquidity Account Investments” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Liquidity Requirement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b).

Majority Beneficial Owner” means the Beneficial Owner at the relevant date of more than 50% of the Outstanding MFP Shares.

Mandatory Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(iii).

Mandatory Tender” means the mandatory tender of all MFP Shares by the Beneficial Owners thereof for Transition Remarketing and purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date.

“Market Value” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Maximum Rate” means 15% per annum.

Mode” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Mode Change Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

Mode Commencement Date” means [●], 20[●].

Mode Termination Date” means the earliest of (i) the date established pursuant to Article 3 as the final day of the Variable Rate Mode preceding a successful transition to a new Mode, (ii) the Term Redemption Date and (iii) the date of earlier redemption of all of the Outstanding MFP Shares.

New Mode Commencement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

Notice of Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

Notice of Taxable Allocation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).

“NRSRO” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Optional Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i).

Outstanding” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Person” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

 

5


Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Purchase Agreement” means, with respect to the MFP Shares issued pursuant to the Statement and this Supplement, the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares (MFP) Purchase Agreement to be dated as of [●], 20[●] between the Fund and the Purchaser.

Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference of each MFP Share to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared), if any, to, but excluding, the New Mode Commencement Date.

Purchaser” means [●] as the [initial] purchaser of the MFP Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Rate Adjustment Agreement Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(h)(iv).

Rate Adjustment Notice” means a notice of a proposed Adjusted Rate Terms, in the form of Appendix A hereto, delivered by either the Fund or the Majority Beneficial Owner in accordance with Section 2.1(h).

Rate Adjustment Notice Period” means, with respect to any Rate Adjustment Notice, the period commencing on the date of delivery of the Rate Adjustment Notice and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) withdrawal or deemed withdrawal of the Rate Adjustment Notice in accordance with Section 2.1(h)(iii) or (vi), (ii) the related Rate Adjustment Agreement Date, (iii) the redemption, repurchase or successful Transition Remarketing of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares in accordance with the terms of this Supplement or (iv) the date of a Failed Adjustment Event, as applicable.

Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to the Initial Dividend Reset Period, [●], 20[●], and, with respect to any Subsequent Dividend Reset Period, (i) the last day of the immediately preceding Dividend Reset Period or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (provided, however, that the next succeeding Rate Determination Date will be determined without regard to any prior extension of a Rate Determination Date to a Business Day) or (ii) as may be otherwise provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h).

Rating Agencies” means, as of any date, (i) [●] and (ii) any other NRSRO designated as a Rating Agency on such date in accordance with Section 2.5, in each case above, to the extent it maintains a rating on the MFP Shares on such date and the Board of Trustees has not terminated its designation as a Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5.    [●] has initially been designated as the Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares. In the event that at any time any Rating Agency (i) ceases to be a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares and such Rating Agency has been replaced by another Rating Agency in accordance with Section 2.5, any references to any credit rating of such replaced Rating Agency in this Supplement shall be deleted for purposes hereof as provided below and shall be deemed instead to be references to the equivalent credit rating of the other Rating Agency that has replaced such Rating Agency using the most recent published credit ratings for the MFP Shares of such replacement Rating Agency or (ii) designates a new rating definition for any credit rating of such Rating Agency with a corresponding replacement rating definition for such credit rating of such Rating Agency, any references to such replaced rating definition of such Rating Agency contained in this Supplement shall instead be deemed to be references to such corresponding replacement rating definition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7 of the Statement, in the event that at any time the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency for purposes of the MFP Shares is terminated in accordance with Section 2.5, any rating of such terminated Rating Agency, to the extent it would have been taken into account in any of the provisions of this Supplement for the MFP Shares, shall be disregarded, and only the ratings of the then-designated Rating Agencies for the MFP Shares shall be taken into account for purposes of this Supplement, provided that, for purposes of determining the Dividend Rate applicable to a Dividend Reset Period, any designation of a Rating Agency after the Rate Determination Date for such Dividend Reset Period will take effect on or as of the next succeeding Rate Determination Date.

Rating Agency Guidelines” means the guidelines of any Rating Agency, as they may be amended or modified from time to time, compliance with which is required to cause such Rating Agency to continue to issue a rating with respect to the MFP Shares for so long as the MFP Shares are Outstanding during the Variable Rate Mode.

 

6


Ratings Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i) and includes, as applicable, the Term Redemption Date, a Failed Transition Redemption Date, any Mandatory Redemption Date or any Optional Redemption Date.

Redemption Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Redemption Price” means, for each MFP Share to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.3, a price per share equal to (x) the Liquidation Preference per MFP Share plus (y) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on such MFP Share accumulated from and including the Date of Original Issue of such MFP Share to (but excluding) the date fixed for such redemption by the Board of Trustees (whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but without interest thereon, and subject to Section 2.3(e)(vi)).

“Required Beneficial Owners” means the Beneficial Owners of 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares.

Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

[“SIFMA Municipal Swap Index” means the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Index, or such other weekly, high-grade index comprised of seven-day, tax-exempt variable rate demand notes produced by Bloomberg or its successor, or as otherwise designated by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association; provided, however, that if such index is no longer produced by Bloomberg or its successor, then SIFMA Municipal Swap Index shall mean (i) the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index produced by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or its successors or (ii) if the S&P Municipal Bond 7 Day High Grade Rate Index is no longer produced, such other reasonably comparable index selected in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.]

Special Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g).

Statement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Subsequent Dividend Reset Period” means [(i) the period from, and including, the first day following the Initial Dividend Reset Period to, and including, the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) and each subsequent period from, and including, the first day following the end of the previous Subsequent Dividend Reset Period to, and including, the next Wednesday (or, if such Wednesday is not a Business Day, the next Business Day), or (ii) as may be otherwise provided for in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h).]

Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Supplement.

Tax Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(i).

Taxable Allocation” means the allocation of any net capital gains or other income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid in respect of the MFP Shares.

Tender and Paying Agent” means, with respect to the MFP Shares, The Bank of New York Mellon and its successors or any other tender and paying agent appointed by the Fund with respect to the MFP Shares.

Tender and Paying Agent Agreement” means, with respect to the MFP Shares, the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement to be dated as of [●], 20[●], by and between the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent, and as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time, or any similar agreement between the Fund and any other tender and paying agent appointed by the Fund.

Term Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

 

7


Transition” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).

Transition Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).

Transition Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

Transition Remarketing” means the remarketing of the MFP Shares by the Transition Remarketing Agent on behalf of the Beneficial Owners thereof pursuant to the Mandatory Tender in connection with the transition from the Variable Rate Mode to a new Mode.

Transition Remarketing Agent” means the entity or entities appointed as such by the Fund to conduct the Transition Remarketing.

Variable Rate Mode” means the Mode established for the MFP Shares by the terms and conditions of the Statement as modified by this Supplement.

1.2.        Interpretation. (a) General. The headings preceding the text of Sections included in this Supplement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Supplement or be given any effect in interpreting this Supplement. The use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender or the singular or plural form of words herein shall not limit any provision of this Supplement. The use of the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including, without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. Reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent such successors and assigns are permitted by the terms of any applicable agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually. Reference to any agreement (including this Supplement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or re-enacted, in whole or in part, including rules, regulations, enforcement procedures and any interpretations promulgated thereunder. References to Sections shall refer to those portions of this Supplement, unless otherwise provided. The use of the terms “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall refer to this Supplement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause of this Supplement.

(b)        Interpretation of the Statement and this Supplement. Subject to Section 4(e) of the Statement, the terms and conditions of the MFP Shares set forth in this Supplement supersede the terms of the Statement, to the extent inconsistent therewith, for the Variable Rate Mode.

(c)        Mode Commencement Date. This Supplement shall be effective on the Mode Commencement Date.

ARTICLE 2

TERMS APPLICABLE TO THE SERIES [] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES FOR

THE VARIABLE RATE MODE

The MFP Shares shall have the following terms for the Variable Rate Mode:

2.1.        Dividends and Distributions.

(a)        Applicable Rates. The amount of dividends per share payable on MFP Shares on any Dividend Payment Date shall equal the sum of the dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) in the related Dividend Period. The amount of dividends per share accumulated for each such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) shall be computed by [(i) multiplying the Dividend Rate in effect for MFP Shares for such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the actual number of days in such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of days in the year in which such Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) occurs (365 or 366) and (ii) multiplying the product determined pursuant to clause (i) by the Liquidation Preference for an MFP Share.] The

 

8


Dividend Rate may be adjusted to a new Dividend Rate as provided in the Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to Section 2.1(h) below. The Dividend Rate shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period (or portion thereof) as provided in Section 2.1(f) below. For each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) during the Failed Transition Period, if any, the Dividend Rate shall be the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate.

(b)        Dividend Declaration and Entitlement. Dividends on MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period shall be declared to the Holders of such shares as their names shall appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on each day in such Dividend Period and shall be paid as provided in Section 2.1(e) hereof. In connection with any transfer of MFP Shares, the transferor shall, subject to any agreement between the transferor and transferee, transfer to the transferee the transferor’s right to receive from the Fund any unpaid dividends so declared for each day prior to the transferee becoming the Holder or Beneficial Owner, as applicable, of the MFP Shares in consideration of a portion of the purchase price for such MFP Shares paid by the transferee.

(c)        Dividend Payment by Fund to Tender and Paying Agent. Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding each Dividend Payment Date, the Fund shall deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on such date sufficient to pay the dividends and other distributions, if any, that are payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of the MFP Shares. The Fund may direct the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to the investment or reinvestment of any such Deposit Securities so deposited prior to the Dividend Payment Date, provided that such investment consists exclusively of Deposit Securities and provided further that the proceeds of any such investment will be available as same day funds at the opening of business on such Dividend Payment Date.

(d)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities deposited with the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of dividends and other distributions, if any, payable on MFP Shares shall be held in trust for the payment of such dividends and other distributions by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the MFP Shares entitled to the payment of such dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 2.1(e). Any moneys paid to the Tender and Paying Agent in accordance with the foregoing but not applied by the Tender and Paying Agent to the payment of dividends and other distributions, including interest earned on such moneys while so held, will, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund as soon as possible after the date on which such moneys were to have been so applied, upon request of the Fund.

(e)        Dividends Paid to Holders. Dividends and any distributions made pursuant to Section 2.7(a) on the MFP Shares shall be paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day). Dividends and any distributions made pursuant to Section 2.7(a) in arrears on MFP Shares for any past Dividend Period may be declared (to the extent not previously declared) and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of such shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments of other distributions on MFP Shares which may be in arrears.

(f)        Increased Rate. (i) The Dividend Rate shall be adjusted to the Increased Rate for each Increased Rate Period. Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.1(f)(iii), a Dividend Reset Period with respect to the MFP Shares shall be deemed to be an “Increased Rate Period” if on the first day of such Dividend Reset Period, (A) the Fund has failed to deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Dividend Payment Date, Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Tender and Paying Agent on such Dividend Payment Date sufficient to pay the full amount of any dividend on the MFP Shares payable on such Dividend Payment Date (a “Dividend Default”) and such Dividend Default has not ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii) on or prior to such first day; (B) the Fund has failed to deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on an applicable Redemption Date for the MFP Shares (or any thereof), Deposit Securities that will provide funds available to the Tender and Paying Agent on such Redemption Date sufficient to pay the full amount of the Redemption Price payable in respect of such shares on such Redemption Date (a “Redemption Default”) and such Redemption Default has not ended as contemplated by Section 2.1(f)(ii) on or prior to such first day; (C) any Rating Agency has withdrawn the credit rating required to be maintained with respect to the MFP Shares pursuant to Section 2.5, other than due to the Rating Agency ceasing to rate tax-exempt closed-end management investment

 

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companies generally, and such withdrawal is continuing, or the Board of Trustees has terminated the designation of a Rating Agency without complying with the requirements of Section 2.5, and the MFP Shares are not then rated by a Rating Agency, and such condition is continuing; (D) a Ratings Event (as defined below) has occurred and is continuing with respect to the MFP Shares; or (E) (i) a court or other applicable governmental authority has made a final determination that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the MFP Shares do not qualify as equity in the Fund and (ii) such determination results from an act or failure to act on the part of the Fund (a “Tax Event”). A “Ratings Event” shall be deemed to exist with respect to the MFP Shares at any time the MFP Shares have a long-term credit rating from at least one-half of the Rating Agencies designated at such time (or from the Rating Agency designated at such time if only one Rating Agency is then designated) that is Below Investment Grade. For the avoidance of doubt, no determination by any court or other applicable governmental authority that requires the Fund to make an Additional Amount Payment in respect of a Taxable Allocation shall be deemed to be a Tax Event hereunder. In no event shall an Increased Rate be cumulative, notwithstanding the existence of and continuation of multiple conditions giving rise to an Increased Rate Period.

(ii)        Subject to the cure provisions of Section 2.1(f)(iii), a Dividend Default or a Redemption Default shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions on the MFP Shares and any unpaid Redemption Price on the MFP Shares (or any thereof, as applicable) shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Tender and Paying Agent.

(iii)        No Increased Rate Period for the MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Default or Redemption Default on such shares shall be deemed to have commenced if the amount of any dividend or any Redemption Price due in respect of the MFP Shares is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds, with the Tender and Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day that is not later than three (3) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Payment Date or Redemption Date for the MFP Shares with respect to which such Default occurred, together with an amount equal to the Increased Rate on such shares applied to the aggregate Liquidation Preference of and for the period of such non-payment on such shares, determined as provided in Section 2.1(a).

(g)        Special Dividend Payment Dates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund in its discretion may establish Dividend Payment Dates (each, a “Special Dividend Payment Date”) more frequent than monthly Dividend Payment Dates in respect of the Variable Rate Mode; provided, that any such Special Dividend Payment Date shall be a Business Day.

(h)        Adjustable Rate Terms. The following are the procedures for proposing and establishing Adjusted Rate Terms:

(i)        On any day after [●], 20[●], the Fund, at its option, may seek to establish Adjusted Rate Terms by delivering a Rate Adjustment Notice by email transmission, confirmed promptly by telephone, to the Holders of the MFP Shares and the Purchaser, or by requesting the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so; provided, that, if the MFP Shares are in certificated form, the Rate Adjustment Notice may be delivered to the Holders at their addresses as shown on the records of the Tender and Paying Agent by overnight delivery or by first class mail, postage prepaid. The date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice shall be deemed to be the day on which it is sent by email transmission or, if applicable, overnight delivery or by first class mail, postage prepaid.

(ii)        On any day after [●], 20[●], a Majority Beneficial Owner, at its option, may seek to have the Fund establish Adjusted Rate Terms by delivering a Rate Adjustment Notice by email transmission, confirmed promptly by telephone, to the Fund. Promptly after receiving such notice from such Majority Beneficial Owner, if such Majority Beneficial Owner then owns less than 100% of the Outstanding MFP Shares, the Fund shall deliver, or request the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to deliver, notice thereof by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the MFP Shares. The date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice shall be deemed to be the day on which it is sent by email transmission or, if applicable, overnight delivery or by first class mail, postage prepaid.

 

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(iii)        A Rate Adjustment Notice may be withdrawn at any time by the proposing party prior to agreement in writing to proposed Adjusted Rate Terms with the other party pursuant to such Rate Adjustment Notice, in which case the Rate Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate. Notice of withdrawal of a Rate Adjustment Notice shall be made by email transmission, confirmed promptly by telephone; provided, that if the MFP Shares are in certificated form, notice of withdrawal may be made by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid to the Holders at their addresses as shown on the records of the Tender and Paying Agent. If at any time after the Majority Beneficial Owner delivers a Rate Adjustment Notice and while the related Rate Adjustment Notice Period is continuing, the Majority Beneficial Owner decreases its ownership level of MFP Shares to 50% or less of the Outstanding MFP Shares, its Rate Adjustment Notice shall be deemed withdrawn and the Rate Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate.

(iv)        The Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall have until the 180th calendar day following the date of delivery of a Rate Adjustment Notice, or such other date as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners shall agree, to agree in writing to proposed Adjusted Rate Terms pursuant to the Rate Adjustment Notice (the date of such written agreement, the “Rate Adjustment Agreement Date”). The agreed Adjusted Rate Terms, if any, may be the Adjusted Rate Terms proposed in the Rate Adjustment Notice or such other Adjusted Rate Terms as the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners may agree. If the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners agree to Adjusted Rate Terms during the Rate Adjustment Notice Period, then the Adjusted Rate Terms shall become effective from and including the Dividend Reset Period immediately succeeding the Rate Adjustment Agreement Date.

(v)        During a Rate Adjustment Notice Period, if the Majority Beneficial Owner is the proposing party, the Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to either agree with the Required Beneficial Owners on the Adjusted Rate Terms or establish a new Mode for the MFP Shares in accordance with Section 3.1(a). If the Majority Beneficial Owner is the proposing party, and the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners fail to agree in writing to Adjusted Rate Terms during the Rate Adjustment Notice Period, then the proposed Adjusted Rate Terms shall not take effect, such failure shall constitute a Failed Adjustment Event and a Failed Transition Period shall commence. In such case, the Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent that it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to establish a new Mode for the MFP Shares prior to the Failed Transition Redemption Date resulting from such Failed Adjustment Event in accordance with Section 3.1(a).

(vi)        During a Rate Adjustment Notice Period, if the Fund is the proposing party, the Fund shall use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to agree with the Required Beneficial Owners on the Adjusted Rate Terms. If the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners fail to reach such agreement during the Rate Adjustment Notice Period, then the Rate Adjustment Notice shall be deemed withdrawn and the Rate Adjustment Notice Period shall terminate.

(vii)        Adjusted Rate Terms, once established, may be further adjusted or replaced with new Adjusted Rate Terms in accordance with the terms hereof.

(viii)        A Rate Adjustment Notice pursuant to this Section 2.1(h) may propose modified or new terms for the MFP Shares, including, but not limited to, the Dividend Rate (which may be fixed or floating), as well as, as applicable, the Index Rate, the Index Maturity, the Index Multiplier, the Applicable Spread, the Spread Multiplier, the Rate Determination Date(s), the Dividend Reset Date(s), the Dividend Reset Period(s), the Minimum Dividend Rate, the Day Count Convention, the Dividend Period(s) and other terms as set forth in the Rate Adjustment Notice (collectively, “Adjusted Rate Terms”); provided, that no Adjusted Rate Terms adopted in accordance with this Supplement shall modify the terms or applicability of Section 1, Section 4(e), Section 5, Section 8, Section 10(b)(i), Section 10(d), Section 10(h), Section 11 or Section 12(a) of the Statement; and provided further, that no Adjusted Rate Terms adopted in accordance with this Supplement shall modify any terms affecting the parity ranking of MFP Shares relative to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund at any time outstanding with respect to dividends or distributions of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund. The Adjusted Rate Terms, if any, agreed to in accordance with the foregoing procedures shall be set forth in a supplement to this Supplement or in an amended Supplement. Any Adjusted Rate Terms used in this Supplement but not otherwise defined shall, as applicable, be defined in the Rate Adjustment Notice and such supplement or amended Supplement.

 

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2.2.        Coverage & Leverage Tests.

(a)        Asset Coverage Requirement. For so long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding during the Variable Rate Mode, the Fund shall have Asset Coverage of at least 225% as of the close of business on each Business Day. If the Fund shall fail to maintain such Asset Coverage as of the close of business on any Business Day, the provisions of Section 2.3(c)(i) shall apply, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.2(a).

(b)        Calculation of Asset Coverage. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.2(a) are satisfied, (i) no MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of any computation required by Section 2.2(a) if, prior to or concurrently with such determination, sufficient Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such shares or other Preferred Shares) to pay the full redemption price for such shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been deposited in trust with the paying agent for the MFP Shares or other Preferred Shares and the requisite notice of redemption for such shares or other Preferred Shares (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall have been given, and (ii) the Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds that shall have been so deposited with the applicable paying agent shall not be included as assets of the Fund for purposes of such computation.

(c)        Effective Leverage Ratio Requirement. For so long as MFP Shares are Outstanding during the Variable Rate Mode, the Effective Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 45% (or 46% solely by reason of fluctuations in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities) as of the close of business on any Business Day. If the Effective Leverage Ratio shall exceed the applicable percentage provided in the preceding sentence as of the close of business on any Business Day, the provisions of Section 2.3(c)(ii) shall apply, which provisions to the extent complied with shall constitute the sole remedy for the Fund’s failure to comply with the provisions of this Section 2.2(c).

(d)        Calculation of Effective Leverage Ratio. For purposes of determining whether the requirements of Section 2.2(c) are satisfied, the “Effective Leverage Ratio” on any date shall mean the quotient of:

(i)        The sum of (A) the aggregate liquidation preference of the Fund’s “senior securities” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) that are stock for purposes of the 1940 Act, excluding, without duplication, any such senior securities for which the Fund has issued a notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient funds on hand for the purpose of such redemption; (B) the aggregate principal amount of the Fund’s “senior securities representing indebtedness” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act); and (C) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund; divided by

(ii)        The sum of (A) the Market Value of the Fund’s total assets (including amounts attributable to senior securities but excluding any assets consisting of Deposit Securities or funds referred to in clause (A) of Section 2.2(d)(i) above), less the amount of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the aggregate principal amount of senior securities representing indebtedness), and (B) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate securities not owned by the Fund that correspond to the associated inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund.

2.3.        Redemption. The MFP Shares shall be subject to redemption by the Fund as provided below:

(a)        Term Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding MFP Shares on the Term Redemption Date as provided in the Statement.

(b)        Failed Transition Redemption. The Fund shall redeem all Outstanding MFP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date, if any, if the Failed Transition Period is then continuing, at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price.

(c)        Asset Coverage and Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

 

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(i)        Asset Coverage Mandatory Redemption.

(A)        If the Fund fails to comply with the Asset Coverage requirement as provided in Section 2.2(a) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.2(a) and such failure is not cured as of the Asset Coverage Cure Date other than as a result of the redemption required by this Section 2.3(c)(i), the Fund shall, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, by the close of business on the Business Day next following such Asset Coverage Cure Date, cause a notice of redemption to be issued, and cause to be deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, to enable it to meet the requirements of Section 2.3(c)(i)(B). In the event that any MFP Shares then Outstanding are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i) or Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund shall redeem such shares at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price.

(B)        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by Section 2.3(c)(i)(A), the Fund shall redeem, at the Redemption Price per MFP Share or specified redemption price for any other Preferred Shares, as applicable, out of funds legally available therefor, such number of Preferred Shares (which may include at the sole option of the Fund any number or proportion of MFP Shares) as shall be equal to the lesser of (x) the minimum number of Preferred Shares, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of at least 225% (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares the redemption or retirement of which would have such result, all MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed) and (y) the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) a sufficient number of MFP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund, would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Asset Coverage Cure Date, in the Fund having Asset Coverage on such Asset Coverage Cure Date of up to and including 250%. The Fund shall effect such redemption on the date fixed by the Fund therefor, which date shall not be later than thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, except that if the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed or the Fund otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after such Asset Coverage Cure Date, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of such Series, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable, in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(c)(i)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(ii)        Effective Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption.

(A)        If the Fund fails to comply with the Effective Leverage Ratio requirement as provided in Section 2.2(c) or as determined in accordance with Section 6.13 of the Purchase Agreement (if then in effect) as of any time as of which such compliance is required to be determined in accordance with Section 2.2(c) and, in any such case, such failure is not cured as of the close of business on the date that is seven (7) Business Days following the Business Day on which such non-compliance is first determined (the “Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date”) other than as a result of the redemption or other transactions required by this Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund shall not later than the close of business on the Business Day next following the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date cause the Effective Leverage Ratio (determined in accordance with the requirements applicable to the determination of the Effective Leverage Ratio under this Supplement and under the Purchase Agreement) to not exceed the Effective Leverage Ratio required under Section 2.2(c) (without giving effect to the parenthetical provision in the first sentence of Section 2.2(c)) as so determined, by (x) engaging in transactions

 

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involving or relating to the floating rate securities not owned by the Fund and/or the inverse floating rate securities owned by the Fund, including the purchase, sale or retirement thereof, (y) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, causing a notice of redemption to be issued, and, in addition, causing to be irrevocably deposited Deposit Securities or other sufficient funds in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares to be redeemed, for the redemption at the redemption price specified in the terms of such Preferred Shares of a sufficient number of Preferred Shares, which at the Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law) may include any number or proportion of MFP Shares, or (z) engaging in any combination of the actions contemplated by clauses (x) and (y) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A). In the event that any MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall redeem such MFP Shares at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Preferred Shares are redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii), the Fund may at its sole option, but is not required to, include in the number of Preferred Shares being mandatorily redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(ii) a sufficient number of MFP Shares that, when aggregated with other Preferred Shares redeemed by the Fund and after giving effect to the transactions described in clause (x) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), would result, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date, in the Fund having an Effective Leverage Ratio on such Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Date of no less than 40%.

(B)        On the Redemption Date for a redemption contemplated by clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the Fund shall not redeem more than the maximum number of Preferred Shares that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration and applicable law. If the Fund is unable to redeem the required number of MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which have been designated to be redeemed in accordance with clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A) due to the unavailability of legally available funds, the Fund shall redeem those MFP Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to clause (y) of Section 2.3(c)(ii)(A), the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected (A) pro rata among the Outstanding shares of such Series, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable, in each case, in accordance with the 1940 Act; provided that such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(c)(ii)(B) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository.

(iii)        Mandatory Redemption Date. Any date fixed for the redemption of MFP Shares pursuant to the requirements of this Section 2.3(c) and in accordance with Section 2.3(e) shall constitute a “Mandatory Redemption Date.”

(d)        Optional Redemption.

(i)        Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(d)(ii), the Fund may at its option on any Business Day after [●], 20[●] (an “Optional Redemption Date”) redeem in whole or from time to time in part the Outstanding MFP Shares, at a price per MFP Share equal to the Redemption Price.

(ii)        If fewer than all of the Outstanding MFP Shares are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 2.3(d)(i), the MFP Shares to be redeemed from the respective Holders shall be selected either (A) pro rata among the Holders of the MFP Shares, (B) by lot or (C) in such other manner as the Board of Trustees may determine to be fair and equitable; provided that, in each case, such method of redemption as set forth in clause (A), (B) or (C) of this Section 2.3(d)(ii) shall be subject to any applicable procedures established by the Securities Depository. Subject to the provisions of the Statement and this Supplement and applicable law, the Board of Trustees will have the full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which MFP Shares will be redeemed pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) from time to time.

(iii)        The Fund may not on any date deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 2.3(d) in respect of a redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) unless on such date the Fund has available Deposit Securities for the Optional Redemption Date contemplated by such Notice of Redemption having a Market Value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of MFP Shares by reason of the redemption of such MFP Shares on such Optional Redemption Date.

 

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(iv)        MFP Shares redeemed at the Fund’s sole option in accordance with, but solely to the extent contemplated by, Section 2.3(c)(i)(B) or Section 2.3(c)(ii) shall be considered mandatorily redeemed in accordance therewith and not subject to this Section 2.3(d).

(e)        Procedures for Redemption.

(i)        If the Fund shall determine or be required to redeem, in whole or in part, MFP Shares pursuant to Section 2.3(a), (b), (c) or (d), the Fund shall deliver a notice of redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”), by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to Holders thereof, or request the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means. A Notice of Redemption shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the date fixed for redemption and not less than [●] ([●]) calendar days (or such shorter or longer notice period as may be consented to by the Required Beneficial Owners, which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 5 of the Statement) prior to the date fixed for redemption pursuant to this Section 2.3(e) in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (A) the Redemption Date; (B) that it applies to the MFP Shares and the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the applicable Redemption Price on a per share basis or, if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof; (E) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Notice of Redemption states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (F) that dividends on the MFP Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and (G) the provisions of this Supplement under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all MFP Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of MFP Shares to be redeemed from such Holder and/or the method of determining such number. The Fund may provide in the Notice of Redemption relating to a Failed Transition Period redemption that such redemption is subject to the condition of the Failed Transition Period being continuing on the related Redemption Date. The Fund may provide in any Notice of Redemption relating to an optional redemption contemplated to be effected pursuant to this Supplement that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

(ii)        If the Fund shall give a Notice of Redemption, then at any time from and after the giving of a Notice of Redemption and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date (so long as any applicable conditions precedent to such redemption have been met or waived by the Fund), the Fund shall (A) deposit with the Tender and Paying Agent Deposit Securities having an aggregate Market Value on the date thereof no less than the Redemption Price of the MFP Shares to be redeemed on the Redemption Date and (B) give the Tender and Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holders of the MFP Shares called for redemption and redeemed on the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (A) of the preceding sentence, if the Redemption Date is the Failed Transition Redemption Date, then such deposit of Deposit Securities (which may come in whole or in part from the Liquidity Account) shall be made no later than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the Failed Transition Redemption Date. The Fund may direct the Tender and Paying Agent with respect to the investment of any Deposit Securities consisting of cash so deposited prior to the Redemption Date, provided that the proceeds of any such investment shall be available at the opening of business on the Redemption Date as same day funds.

(iii)        Upon the date of the deposit of such Deposit Securities, all rights of the Holders of the MFP Shares so called for redemption shall cease and terminate except the right of the Holders thereof to receive the Redemption Price thereof and such MFP Shares shall no longer be deemed Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever (other than (A) the transfer thereof prior to the applicable Redemption Date and (B) the accumulation of dividends thereon in accordance with the terms hereof, including Section 2.3(e)(vi), up to (but excluding) the applicable date of redemption of the MFP Shares, which accumulated dividends, unless previously declared and paid as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 2.3(e)(v) below, shall be payable as part of the applicable Redemption Price on the date of redemption of the MFP Shares). The Fund shall be entitled to receive, promptly after the Redemption Date, any Deposit Securities in excess of the aggregate Redemption Price of the MFP Shares called for redemption and redeemed on the Redemption Date. Any Deposit Securities so deposited that are unclaimed at the

 

15


end of three hundred and sixty five (365) calendar days from the date of redemption of the MFP Shares shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Fund, after which the Holders of the MFP Shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Fund for payment of the Redemption Price thereof.        The Fund shall be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date of redemption, any interest on the Deposit Securities so deposited.

(iv)        On or after the Redemption Date, each Holder of MFP Shares in certificated form (if any) that are subject to redemption shall surrender the certificate(s) evidencing such MFP Shares to the Fund at the place designated in the Notice of Redemption and shall then be entitled to receive the Redemption Price for such MFP Shares, without interest, and, in the case of a redemption of fewer than all the MFP Shares represented by such certificate(s), a new certificate representing the MFP Shares that were not redeemed.

(v)        In the case of any redemption pursuant to Section 2.3(d), no Redemption Default shall be deemed to have occurred if the Fund shall fail to deposit in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such redemption provided that such redemption was subject to one or more conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that a Notice of Redemption has been provided with respect to any MFP Shares, dividends may be declared and paid on each Dividend Payment Date in accordance with their terms if Deposit Securities for the payment of the Redemption Price of such MFP Shares shall not have been deposited in trust with the Tender and Paying Agent for that purpose.

(vi)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Statement or in any Notice of Redemption, if the Fund shall not have redeemed MFP Shares on the applicable Redemption Date, the Holders of the MFP Shares subject to redemption shall continue to be entitled to receive dividends on such shares at the Dividend Rate for the period from, and including, such Redemption Date through, but excluding, the date on which such shares are actually redeemed and such dividends, to the extent accumulated, but unpaid, during such period (whether or not earned or declared but without interest thereon), together with any Additional Amount Payment applicable thereto, shall be included in the Redemption Price for the MFP Shares.

(f)        Tender and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by Fund. All Deposit Securities transferred to the Tender and Paying Agent for payment of the Redemption Price of MFP Shares called for redemption shall be held in trust by the Tender and Paying Agent for the benefit of Holders of MFP Shares so to be redeemed until paid to such Holders in accordance with the terms hereof or returned to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(e)(iii) above.

(g)        Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of redemption for the MFP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior consent.

2.4.        Grant of Irrevocable Proxy. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Holder and Beneficial Owner may in its discretion grant an irrevocable proxy with respect to MFP Shares.

2.5.        Rating Agencies. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a Rating Agency to issue a long-term credit rating with respect to the MFP Shares for so long as the MFP Shares are Outstanding during the Variable Rate Mode. The Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with any applicable Rating Agency Guidelines. If a Rating Agency shall cease to rate the securities of tax-exempt closed-end management investment companies generally, the Board of Trustees shall terminate the designation of such Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder. The Board of Trustees may elect to terminate the designation of any Rating Agency as a Rating Agency hereunder with respect to the MFP Shares so long as either (i) immediately following such termination, there would be at least one Rating Agency with respect to the MFP Shares or (ii) it replaces the terminated Rating Agency with another NRSRO and provides notice thereof to the Holders of the MFP Shares; provided that such replacement shall not occur unless such a replacement Rating Agency shall have at the time of such replacement (i) published a rating for the MFP Shares and (ii) entered into an agreement with the Fund to continue to publish such

 

16


rating subject to the Rating Agency’s customary conditions. The Board of Trustees may also elect to designate one or more other NRSROs as Rating Agencies hereunder with respect to the MFP Shares by notice to the Holders of the MFP Shares. The Rating Agency Guidelines of any Rating Agency may be amended by such Rating Agency without the vote, consent or approval of the Fund, the Board of Trustees or any Holder of the MFP Shares or any other shareholder of the Fund.

2.6.        Issuance of Additional Preferred Shares. So long as any MFP Shares are Outstanding, the Fund may, without the vote or consent of the Holders thereof, authorize, establish and create and issue and sell shares of one or more series of a class of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with MFP Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or the winding up of the affairs of the Fund, in addition to then Outstanding MFP Shares, and authorize, issue and sell additional shares of any such Series of Preferred Shares then outstanding or so established and created, including additional MFP Shares, in each case in accordance with applicable law, provided that the Fund shall, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such Preferred Shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof, including to the redemption of Preferred Shares with such proceeds, have Asset Coverage (calculated in the same manner as is contemplated by Section 2.2(b)) of at least 225% and an Effective Leverage Ratio not in excess of 45%.

2.7.        Distributions with respect to Taxable Allocations. Whenever a Taxable Allocation is to be paid by the Fund with respect to the MFP Shares with respect to any Dividend Period and either the Increased Rate or the Maximum Rate is not in effect during such Dividend Period, the Fund shall comply with one of clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) of this Section 2.7:

(a)        The Fund may provide notice to the Tender and Paying Agent prior to the commencement of any Dividend Period for the MFP Shares of the amount of the Taxable Allocation that will be made in respect of shares of such Series for such Dividend Period (a “Notice of Taxable Allocation”). Such Notice of the Taxable Allocation will state the amount of the dividends payable in respect of each MFP Share for such Dividend Period that will be treated as a Taxable Allocation and the adjustment to the Dividend Rate for each Dividend Reset Period (or portion thereof) included in such Dividend Period that will be required to pay the Additional Amount Payment in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such MFP Share for such Dividend Period. In lieu of adjusting the Dividend Rate, the Fund may make, in addition to and in conjunction with the payment of regular dividends for such Dividend Period, a supplemental distribution in respect of each share of such series for such Dividend Period equal to the Additional Amount Payment payable in respect of the Taxable Allocation paid on such share for such Dividend Period. The Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the distribution of Taxable Allocations in respect of the MFP Shares as provided in this Section 2.7(a), and shall only effect the adjustment or distribution in respect of Taxable Allocations as described in Section 2.7(b) and/or Section 2.7(c) if such commercially reasonable efforts do not reasonably permit the Fund to effect the adjustment or distribution in respect of a Taxable Allocation as contemplated by this Section 2.7(a).

(b)        If the Fund does not provide a Notice of Taxable Allocation as provided in Section 2.7(a) with respect to a Taxable Allocation that is made in respect of the MFP Shares, the Fund may make one or more supplemental distributions on the MFP Shares equal to the Additional Amount Payment due in respect of such Taxable Allocation. Any such supplemental distribution in respect of the MFP Shares shall be made reasonably promptly following any such Taxable Allocation and may be declared and paid on any date, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders of the MFP Shares as their names appear on the registration books of the Fund on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days preceding the payment date of such supplemental distribution, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.

(c)        If in connection with a redemption of MFP Shares, the Fund makes a Taxable Allocation without having either given advance notice thereof pursuant to Section 2.7(a) or made one or more supplemental distributions pursuant to Section 2.7(b), the Fund shall direct the Tender and Paying Agent to send an Additional Amount Payment in respect of such Taxable Allocation to each Beneficial Owner of such shares at such Person’s address as the same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Fund. For such purpose, the Fund and the Tender and Paying Agent may rely on the address most recently provided by the Beneficial Owner in accordance with the Purchase Agreement (including any transferee certificate delivered in accordance therewith).

 

17


(d)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplement, the Fund shall not be required to pay Additional Amount Payments with respect to the MFP Shares with respect to any net capital gain or ordinary income determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from the manner used by the Fund.

2.8.        Failed Transition Redemption Liquidity Account and Liquidity Requirement.(a) By the first Business Day following the commencement and during the continuance of the Failed Transition Period, the Fund shall cause the Custodian to earmark, by means of appropriate identification on its books and records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from the other assets of the Fund (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares. If, while the Failed Transition Period is continuing, the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares, then the Fund shall cause the Custodian and the Investment Adviser to take all such necessary actions, including earmarking additional assets of the Fund as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release any Liquidity Account Investments from such earmarking and to substitute therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (x) the assets of the Fund earmarked as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to 110% of the Liquidation Preference of the Outstanding MFP Shares and (y) the assets of the Fund designated and earmarked as Deposit Securities at the close of business on such date have a Market Value at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with paragraph (b) below with respect to the Outstanding MFP Shares for such date. The Fund shall cause the Custodian not to permit, and the Fund shall otherwise not permit, any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account, other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or repayment for its advances.

(b)        

(i)        In the case of a Failed Transition Period relating to a Failed Adjustment Event, the Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Transition Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the percentage of the Liquidation Preference for the Outstanding MFP Shares set forth below opposite such day (the “Liquidity Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of subsection (c) below:

 

Number of Days

Preceding the

Failed Transition Redemption Date

  

Market Value of Deposit Securities

as Percentage of Liquidation Preference

[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%

(ii)        In the case of a Failed Transition Period relating to a Failed Transition Event where the Fund has initiated a proposed Transition pursuant to Section 3.5, the Market Value of the Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account, from and after the day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) preceding the Failed Transition Redemption Date specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the Liquidity Requirement set forth below opposite such day, but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of subsection (c) below:

 

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Number of Days

Preceding the

Failed Transition Redemption Date

  

Market Value of Deposit Securities

as Percentage of Liquidation Preference

[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%
[●]    [●]%

(c)        If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account as of the close of business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement in respect of the Outstanding MFP Shares for such Business Day, then the Fund shall cause the earmarking of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the Liquidity Account, so that the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account is at least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for the Outstanding MFP Shares not later than the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.

(d)        The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account may be applied by the Fund, in its discretion, towards payment of the Redemption Price for the Outstanding MFP Shares. Upon the earlier to occur of (x) the successful Transition Remarketing of the Outstanding MFP Shares or (y) the deposit by the Fund with the Tender and Paying Agent of Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect the redemption of the Outstanding MFP Shares on the Failed Transition Redemption Date for the Outstanding MFP Shares, the requirement of the Fund to maintain a Liquidity Account for the Outstanding MFP Shares as contemplated by this Section 2.8 shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.

2.9.        Termination. Upon the earlier to occur of (a) no MFP Shares being Outstanding or (b) the successful transition to a new Mode for the MFP Shares, all rights and preferences of the MFP Shares established and designated hereunder shall cease and terminate, and all obligations of the Fund under this Supplement with respect to the MFP Shares shall terminate.

2.10.        Actions on Other than Business Days. Unless otherwise provided herein, if the date for making any payment, performing any act or exercising any right, in each case as provided for in this Supplement, is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made, act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made or done on the nominal date provided therefor, and, with respect to any payment so made, no dividends, interest or other amount shall accrue for the period between such nominal date and the date of payment.

2.11.        Modification. To the extent permitted by law, the Statement and the Purchase Agreement, the Board of Trustees, without the vote of the Holders of the MFP Shares, may interpret, supplement or amend the provisions of this Supplement.

2.12.        Acknowledgement of Contractual Rights. Nothing in this Supplement or the Statement (including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Statement) shall be deemed to preclude or limit the right of the Fund (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to contractually agree with any Holder or Beneficial Owner of MFP Shares with regard to any special rights of such Holder or Beneficial Owner with respect to its investment in the Fund.

ARTICLE 3

DESIGNATION OF NEW MODE

3.1.        General Provisions.

(a)        To the extent provided in Section 2.1(h)(v), or upon the occurrence of a Failed Adjustment Event or a Failed Transition Event, or upon the Fund electing to effect a Transition in accordance with Section 3.5, the Fund agrees to use its reasonable best efforts, to the extent that it can do so on a commercially reasonable basis, to transition to a new Mode by establishing a new Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode that will result in a transition to such new Mode on a Thursday that is a Business Day (such Business Day, the “New Mode Commencement Date”), with terms as set forth in a new supplement designating the terms of such Mode; provided that, in the case of

 

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a Failed Adjustment Event or a Failed Transition Event, such Mode shall begin prior to the related scheduled Redemption Date.

(b)        In the event that the Fund successfully designates a new Mode succeeding the Variable Rate Mode, and no Failed Transition Event otherwise shall have occurred and be continuing as of the designated New Mode Commencement Date, then on and as of the New Mode Commencement Date, the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for such new Mode. If a Failed Transition Event shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) the new Mode designated by the Fund shall not be established, (ii) pursuant to Section 3.3(c), all tendered MFP Shares, if any, shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent, and (iii) all of the then Outstanding MFP Shares shall be redeemed by the Fund on the applicable Failed Transition Redemption Date in accordance with Section 2.3(b).

(c)        The Fund shall use its best efforts to cause the transition to a new Mode succeeding the Variable Rate Mode and the terms and conditions of such new Mode to be consistent with the continuing qualification of the MFP Shares as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it shall be a condition precedent to such transition that the Fund shall have received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the MFP Shares will continue to qualify as equity in the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

3.2.        Election and Notice of Mode Change.

(a)        The Fund shall provide notice of the termination of the Variable Rate Mode and proposed transition to a new Mode succeeding the Variable Rate Mode by delivering a notice of Mode change (a “Mode Change Notice”) by overnight delivery, by first class mail, postage prepaid or by Electronic Means to the Holders of the MFP Shares, or by requesting the Tender and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Fund, to promptly do so. In the case of an optional Transition, the Mode Change Notice shall be provided not more than forty-five (45) calendar days and not less than [●] ([●]) calendar days (or such shorter or longer notice period as may be consented to by the Required Beneficial Owners, or, if so provided in the Purchase Agreement (if in effect), the Purchaser (which consent shall not be deemed to be a vote required by Section 5 of the Statement)) prior to the Mode Termination Date for the Variable Rate Mode specified in such Mode Change Notice; provided that, no minimum notice period shall be required in connection with delivery of a Mode Change Notice following a Failed Adjustment Event or a Failed Transition Event. Subject to the notice requirement in the immediately preceding sentence, the Fund may select any Wednesday that is a Business Day, and for which the next calendar day is also a Business Day, as the Mode Termination Date, with the new Mode to commence on the New Mode Commencement Date and end not later than the Term Redemption Date. The terms of the new Mode may not, in any event, affect the parity ranking of MFP Shares relative to each other or to any other series of Preferred Shares of the Fund then outstanding with respect to dividends or distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund.

(b)        The Mode Change Notice shall state, as applicable: (A) the Mode Termination Date; (B) that the notice relates to the MFP Shares; (C) the CUSIP number for the MFP Shares; (D) the Purchase Price on a per share basis; (E) that (i) all Outstanding MFP Shares will be subject to Mandatory Tender for Transition Remarketing and purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date, and (ii) in the event of a Failed Transition Event, all tendered MFP Shares will be returned to the relevant tendering Holders; (F) if applicable, the place or places where the certificate(s) for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of Trustees requires and the Mode Change Notice states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Purchase Price; and (G) that the notice relates to a Mode change and, if applicable, pursuant to an optional Transition. The Fund may provide in the Mode Change Notice that such Mode change is subject to one or more additional conditions precedent and that the Fund shall not be required to effect such change unless each such condition has been satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Mode Change Notice; provided, that no such conditions shall affect the consequences of a Failed Adjustment Event or a Failed Transition Event.

3.3.        Transition to a New Mode.

(a)        In the case of a transition to a new Mode succeeding the Variable Rate Mode, all Outstanding MFP Shares automatically shall be subject to Mandatory Tender for Transition Remarketing and delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent for purchase by purchasers in the Transition Remarketing on the New Mode Commencement Date, in the event of a successful Transition Remarketing. All tendered MFP Shares shall be

 

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remarketed at the Purchase Price of such MFP Shares. The calculation of the Purchase Price of the MFP Shares shall be made by the Transition Remarketing Agent in advance of the New Mode Commencement Date. The Fund shall use its best efforts to engage Nuveen Securities, LLC or another Person with expertise in remarketing variable-rate securities as Transition Remarketing Agent, and to cause the Transition Remarketing Agent to agree to use its best efforts to find purchasers for all the MFP Shares subject to Mandatory Tender pursuant to this Section 3.3.

(b)        In the event of a successful Transition Remarketing, the proceeds of the sale of the tendered MFP Shares may be paid (i) through the Tender and Paying Agent or (ii) to the Beneficial Owners (directly or through the Securities Depository) as directed by the Fund. In the case of (i), the proceeds shall be used by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of the tendered MFP Shares at the Purchase Price, and the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Transition Remarketing Agent to be received by the Tender and Paying Agent no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date for payment to the Holders tendering MFP Shares for sale through the Securities Depository in immediately available funds, and, in the case of (ii), the terms of the sale will provide for the wire transfer of such Purchase Price by the Transition Remarketing Agent to be made by no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time (or such other time as the Transition Remarketing Agent and the Beneficial Owners may agree), on the New Mode Commencement Date, in either case, against delivery of the tendered MFP Shares either (x) to the Tender and Paying Agent through the Securities Depository on the New Mode Commencement Date and the re-delivery of such MFP Shares by means of “FREE” delivery through the Securities Depository to the Transition Remarketing Agent for delivery to the relevant purchaser’s Agent Member or (y) directly to the Transition Remarketing Agent or such Agent Member, through the Securities Depository by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date.

(c)        By 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date, the Transition Remarketing Agent shall deliver a notice to the Tender and Paying Agent and the Fund (a “Transition Notice”), by Electronic Means, that provides notice of the successful Transition Remarketing of all Outstanding MFP Shares or, if applicable, the number of MFP Shares, if any, not successfully remarketed for purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date, and the Purchase Price per MFP Share. If (i) the Transition Notice states that the Transition Remarketing Agent has not successfully remarketed all of the MFP Shares to be purchased on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (ii) the remarketing proceeds for any tendered MFP Shares have not been received for any reason (x) by the Tender and Paying Agent by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, or (y) if payment is made directly to the Beneficial Owners, by the Beneficial Owners by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, in each case on the New Mode Commencement Date, or (iii) the Fund has otherwise been unsuccessful in establishing a new Mode (in each of which cases the MFP Shares will be treated as not having been successfully remarketed), the Tender and Paying Agent will promptly, and in any event by approximately 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New Mode Commencement Date, deliver by Electronic Means to the Holders, the Fund and the Transition Remarketing Agent a notice stating that a Failed Transition Event has occurred; provided, that, if payment for all Outstanding MFP Shares is being made through the Tender and Paying Agent and is received by the Tender and Paying Agent after 2:45 p.m., New York City time, but by 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on such day, if applicable, or if the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners agree to waive the occurrence of a Failed Transition Event on such day, then the Mode Termination Date shall be deemed changed to such day and the New Mode Commencement Date shall be deemed changed to the immediately succeeding Business Day. The New Mode Commencement Date, and the date, if any, to which it shall have been postponed in accordance with the foregoing, shall be a Dividend Payment Date.

(d)        Any funds paid by the Transition Remarketing Agent and held in an account of the Tender and Paying Agent for the payment of the Purchase Price in connection with the Transition Remarketing shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Transition Remarketing Agent on account of purchasers of the MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing until the MFP Shares are delivered by the tendering Holders against payment therefor, or returned to the Transition Remarketing Agent on account of such purchasers. In the event of a successful Transition Remarketing, upon receipt of MFP Shares from the tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent, the Tender and Paying Agent shall pay, subject to receipt of the Purchase Price by the Tender and Paying Agent in the form of remarketing proceeds from the Transition Remarketing Agent, the Purchase Price for such MFP Shares to such tendering Holders. In accordance with and subject to the foregoing, the Tender and Paying Agent shall effect any such payment on the New Mode Commencement Date.

 

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(e)        Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the purchase and delivery of tendered MFP Shares in the form of global securities, the Transition Remarketing, and payments with respect to the foregoing, will be accomplished in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Securities Depository.

(f)        The Transition Remarketing Agent shall not be obligated to purchase any MFP Shares that would otherwise remain unsold in the Transition Remarketing. The Transition Remarketing Agent in its sole discretion may, however, purchase for its own account MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing. None of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Transition Remarketing Agent shall be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment to a Holder upon such Holder’s tender of its MFP Shares in the Transition Remarketing unless, in each case, such MFP Shares were acquired for the account of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent or the Transition Remarketing Agent.

(g)        In the event that MFP Shares are issued in certificated form outside the book-entry system of the Securities Depository and a Holder of MFP Shares fails to deliver such MFP Shares on or prior to the New Mode Commencement Date, the Holder of such MFP Shares shall not be entitled to any payment (including any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) other than the Purchase Price of such undelivered MFP Shares as of the New Mode Commencement Date. Any such undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be delivered to the Tender and Paying Agent, and the Tender and Paying Agent will place stop-transfer orders against the undelivered MFP Shares. Any moneys held by the Tender and Paying Agent for the purchase of undelivered MFP Shares will be held in a separate account by the Tender and Paying Agent, will not be invested, and will be held for the exclusive benefit of the Holder of such undelivered MFP Shares. The undelivered MFP Shares will be deemed to be no longer Outstanding (except as to entitlement to payment of the Purchase Price), and the Fund will issue to the purchaser replacement MFP Share certificates in lieu of such undelivered MFP Shares.

(h)        The Transition Remarketing Agent may modify the settlement procedures set forth above with respect to the Transition Remarketing (other than timing requirements) with the written consent of the Fund, the Tender and Paying Agent and the Beneficial Owners. The Fund may modify or waive each of the timing requirements set forth above with the written consent of the Beneficial Owners, the Transition Remarketing Agent and the Tender and Paying Agent, in each case such consent to be required only to the extent such party is affected thereby.

(i)        Upon the occurrence of a successful Transition Remarketing, the Fund will be deemed to have successfully established a new Mode, and the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for the new Mode.

3.4.        Failed Transition Period.

(a)        If a Failed Adjustment Event occurs or a Failed Transition Event occurs where the Fund has initiated a proposed Transition pursuant to Section 3.5, the Failed Transition Period shall commence and continue in accordance with, and to the extent provided in, Section 3.4(b) below, and shall be deemed a continuation of the Variable Rate Mode. For each Dividend Reset Period or portion thereof during the Failed Transition Period, the Dividend Rate shall be the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate. If a Failed Transition Event occurs, the new Mode designated by the relevant Mode Change Notice shall not be established. In such event, pursuant to Section 3.3(c), all tendered MFP Shares shall be returned to the relevant tendering Holders by the Tender and Paying Agent.

(b)        During the Failed Transition Period, the Fund shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to successfully establish a new Mode for the MFP Shares, in accordance with Section 3.1 and, in connection with each such attempt, may designate by a Mode Change Notice a new Mode with new or different terms in accordance with Section 3.2, until a Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode is established, or no MFP Shares remain Outstanding, or the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners mutually agree to terminate the Failed Transition Period and revert to the Variable Rate Mode on the terms mutually agreed by the Fund and the Required Beneficial Owners. If a Failed Transition Event occurs in connection with the Transition Remarketing relating to such continued attempt to establish a new Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode, any such Failed Transition Event shall not alter the Failed Transition Period, the Failed Transition Redemption Date or the Failed Transition Period Dividend Rate applicable thereto. In the event that the Fund successfully establishes a new Mode to succeed the Variable Rate Mode, the Failed Transition Period shall terminate, and the MFP Shares shall be subject to the terms established for such new Mode.

 

22


3.5.        Transition to New Mode at the Option of the Fund.

(a)        For the purpose of effecting a transition to a new Mode with respect to all of the Outstanding MFP Shares, on any day after [●], 20[●], the Fund may, at its option, accelerate the expiration date of the Variable Rate Mode (a “Transition”) to any Wednesday that is a Business Day (the “Transition Date”) by delivering a Mode Change Notice in accordance with Section 3.2 above. The proposed transition to a new Mode to follow the termination of the Variable Rate Mode on the Transition Date shall otherwise be effected in accordance with, and governed by, this Article 3 of this Supplement.

(b)        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.5, the Fund may, in its sole discretion and without a shareholder vote, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification of a Transition for the MFP Shares, provided that such modification does not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the MFP Shares or cause the Fund to violate any applicable law, rule or regulation; and provided further that no such modification shall in any way alter the rights or obligations of the Tender and Paying Agent without its prior written consent.

[Signature Page Begins on the Following Page]

 

 

23


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, having duly adopted this Supplement, has caused these presents to be signed as of [●], 20[●] in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Administrative Officer. The Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the said officer of the Fund has executed this Supplement as an officer and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund set forth in this Supplement are not binding upon such officer, or the trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund, individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:

 

             

 

Name:

 

Title:


APPENDIX A

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

SERIES []

MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES

RATE ADJUSTMENT NOTICE

Date:

Deadline For Rate Adjustment Agreement Date

(Subject to Change by Agreement between the Fund and

the Required Beneficial Owners):

PROPOSING PARTY:

PROPOSED ADJUSTED RATE TERMS

(or such other rate terms as the Fund and

the Required Beneficial Owners may agree during

the Rate Adjustment Notice Period:

FIXED RATE

DIVIDEND RATE:    %

FLOATING RATE

INDEX RATE:                                

INDEX MATURITY:        

INDEX MULTPLIER:        

APPLICABLE SPREAD (PLUS OR MINUS):         

SPREAD MULTIPLIER:        

RATE DETERMINATION DATE(S):

DIVIDEND RESET DATE(S):

DIVIDEND RESET PERIOD(S):

MINIMUM DIVIDEND RATE: %

DAY COUNT CONVENTION:

[ ] 30/360

[ ] Actual/360                                

[ ] Actual/Actual


[ ] Other:

OTHER/ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS:

DIVIDEND PERIOD(S):

OTHER:

[PROPOSING PARTY]

 

By:                                              

            Name:

            Title:

[_____] MFP Shares Beneficially Owned

[Majority Beneficial Owner is the Proposing Party]

Exhibit g.3

CONTINUANCE OF MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

Agreement made as of this 30th day of July 2021, by and between the entities listed on Appendix A (the “Funds”), and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), to be effective August 1, 2021.

WITNESSETH THAT:

WHEREAS, the parties hereto are the contracting parties under each certain Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreements”) pursuant to which the Adviser furnishes investment management and other services to each Fund ; and

WHEREAS, each Agreement terminates August 1, 2021 unless continued in the manner required by the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors/Trustees, at meetings held May 25-27, 2021, have approved each Agreement, as amended as set forth in Appendix B hereto, and its continuance until August 1, 2022 in the manner required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in each Agreement the parties hereto do hereby continue each Agreement in effect until August 1, 2022 and ratify and confirm the Agreements in all respects.

 

 

On behalf of the Nuveen Funds

 

Listed on Appendix A

By:

 

/s/ Mark L. Winget

  Vice President

NUVEEN FUND ADVISORS, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Christopher M. Rohrbacher

  Managing Director


Appendix A

As of August 1, 2021

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

 

    

TICKER SYMBOLS

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

   NVG

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund

   NUW

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NEA

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NAZ

Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NKX

Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund

   NCA

Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NAC

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

   NXC

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

   JCE

Nuveen Credit Opportunities 2022 Target Term Fund

   JCO

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund

   JQC

Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund

   JDD

Nuveen Dow 30SM Dynamic Overwrite Fund

   DIAX

Nuveen Dynamic Municipal Opportunities Fund

   NDMO

Nuveen Emerging Markets Debt 2022 Target Term Fund

   JEMD

Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund

   NEV

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund

   JFR

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund

   JRO

Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NKG

Nuveen Global High Income Fund

   JGH

Nuveen High Income 2023 Target Term Fund

   JHAA

Nuveen High Income November 2021 Target Term Fund

   JHB

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term Fund

   NID

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Quality Municipal Term Fund

   NIQ

Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NMT

Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NMS

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NOM

Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund

   JLS

Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund

   JMM

Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund

   NZF

Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund

   NMCO

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund

   NMZ

Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc.

   NMI

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc.

   NUV

Nuveen NASDAQ 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund

   QQQX

Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NXJ

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NRK

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund

   NNY

Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NAN

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

   NXN

Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NUO

Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NQP

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund

   JPC

Nuveen Preferred & Income Securities Fund

   JPS

Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund    

   JPT


Nuveen Preferred and Income Term Fund

   JPI

Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NAD

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund

   JRI

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

   JRS

Nuveen S&P 500 Dynamic Overwrite Fund

   SPXX

Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund

   BXMX

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund

   NIM

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2

   NXQ

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3

   NXR

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio

   NXP

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

   NSL

Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund

   JSD

Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund

   NBB

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

   JTD

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund

   JTA

Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund

   NPV

NUVEEN INTERVAL FUNDS

Nuveen Enhanced High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

NUVEEN OPEN-END FUNDS

NUVEEN MUNICIPAL TRUST

Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Limited Term Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Short Duration High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Strategic Municipal Opportunities Fund

NUVEEN MULTISTATE TRUST I

Nuveen Arizona Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Colorado 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 Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen New York Municipal Bond Fund

NUVEEN MULTISTATE TRUST III

Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen North Carolina 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 Large Cap Core Fund

Nuveen NWQ Global Equity Income Fund

Nuveen NWQ Multi-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Small-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Large-Cap Value Fund

Nuveen NWQ Small/Mid-Cap Value Fund

NUVEEN INVESTMENT TRUST II

Nuveen Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund

Nuveen International Growth Fund

Nuveen NWQ International Value Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara Global Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Santa Barbara International Dividend Growth Fund

Nuveen Winslow International Large Cap Fund

Nuveen Winslow International Small Cap Fund

Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG Fund

NUVEEN INVESTMENT TRUST III

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund f/k/a Nuveen Symphony Floating Rate Income Fund

Nuveen High Yield Income Fund f/k/a Nuveen Symphony High Yield Income Fund

NUVEEN INVESTMENT TRUST V

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

Nuveen NWQ Flexible Income Fund

Nuveen Preferred Securities and Income Fund

NUVEEN MANAGED ACCOUNTS PORTFOLIOS TRUST

Municipal Total Return Managed Accounts Portfolio

Nuveen Core Impact Bond Managed Accounts Portfolio


NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.

Nuveen Dividend Value Fund

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

Nuveen Credit Income Fund

Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Minnesota Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Nebraska Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Oregon Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

Nuveen Short Term Municipal Bond Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund

Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund

Nuveen Strategic Income Fund

NuSHARES ETF TRUST

Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUAG)

Nuveen Short-Term REIT ETF (NURE)

Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG)

Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV)

Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG)

Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF (NUMV)

Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC)

Nuveen Enhanced Yield 1-5 Year U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA)

Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM)

Nuveen ESG International Developed Markets Equity ETF (NUDM)

Nuveen ESG U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NUBD)

Nuveen ESG Large-Cap ETF (NULC)

Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NUHY)

Exhibit g.5

NUVEEN FUNDS

NOTICE OF CONTINUANCE OF INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS

WHEREAS, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager “) and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Adviser”) have entered into Sub-Advisory Agreements (the “Agreements”), pursuant to which the Sub-Adviser furnishes investment advisory services to the funds listed on Schedule A (the “Funds”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the Agreements shall continue in force from year to year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved for each Fund (as defined in each Agreement) at least annually in the manner required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

NOW THEREFORE, this Notice memorializes between the parties that the Board of Directors/Trustees of each Fund, including the independent Directors/Trustees, at a meeting called in part for the purpose of reviewing the Agreement, have approved the continuance of the Agreement with respect to each Fund until August 1, 2022, in the manner required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Dated as of July 30, 2021

 

NUVEEN FUND ADVISORS, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Christopher M. Rohrbacher

Its:

 

Managing Director

NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Stuart Cohen

Its:

 

Managing Director


Schedule A

 

Closed-End Fund/ticker

   Date of Contract    Date of Renewal

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (NVG)

  

4-11-16

  

8-1-21

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund (NUW)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NEA)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAZ)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NKX)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund (NCA)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAC)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXC)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE)

  

10-26-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Credit Opportunities 2022 Target Term Fund (JCO)

  

12-31-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund (JQC)

  

12-31-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Diversified Divdend and Income Fund (JDD)

  

12-31-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Dynamic Municipal Opportunities Fund (NDMO)

  

7-10-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Dow 30SM Dynamic Overwrite Fund (DIAX)

  

12-5-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund (NEV)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Enhanced High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

  

1-13-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund (JFR)

  

12-31-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund (JRO)

  

12-31-20

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund (NKG)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Global High Income Fund (JGH)

  

11-7-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen High Income 2023 Target Term Fund (JHAA)

  

10-24-18

  

8-1-21

Nuveen High Income November 2021 Target Term Fund (JHB)

  

2-11-16

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Term Fund (NID)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Quality Municipal Term Fund (NIQ)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NMT)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund (NMS)

  

10-6-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund (NOM)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund (JMM)

  

11-19-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund (NZF)

  

4-11-16

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund (NMCO)

  

8-8-19

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund (NMZ)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (NMI)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. (NUV)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen NASDAQ 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund (QQQX)

  

12-5-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund (NXJ)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NRK)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund (NNY)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAN)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXN)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund (NUO)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund (NQP)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund (JPC)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund (JPT)

  

11-16-16

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Preferred and Income Term Fund (JPI)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAD)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen S&P 500 Dynamic Overwrite Fund (SPXX)

  

12-1-14

  

8-1-21

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund (NIM)

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21


Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXP)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 (NXQ)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3 (NXR)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Nuveen Senior Income Fund (NSL)

   12-31-20    8-1-21

Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund (JSD)

   12-31-20    8-1-21

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund (JTD)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA)

   12-31-20    8-1-21

Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund (NBB)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund (NPV)

   10-1-14    8-1-21

OPEN-END FUNDS

REGISTRANT

  

FUND

  

Date of
Contract

  

Date of
Renewal

NUVEEN

MUNICIPAL

TRUST

  

Nuveen All-American Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Limited Term Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Short Duration High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Strategic Municipal Opportunities Fund

  

12-16-14

  

8-1-21

                

NUVEEN

MULTI-STATE

TRUST I

  

Nuveen Arizona Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Colorado Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Maryland Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen New Mexico Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Virginia Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

                

NUVEEN

MULTI-STATE

TRUST II

  

Nuveen California High Yield Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen California Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen New York Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

                

NUVEEN

MULTI-STATE

TRUST III

  

Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

              

NUVEEN

MULTI-STATE

TRUST IV

  

Nuveen Kansas Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

  

Nuveen Michigan Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Missouri Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Ohio Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

    

Nuveen Wisconsin Municipal Bond Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

                

NUVEEN INVESTMENT TRUST

  

Nuveen Large Cap Core Fund

  

10-1-14

  

8-1-21

                


 

REGISTRANT

  

FUND

   Date of Contract    Date of Renewal

NUVEEN

INVESTMENT

TRUST II

  

Nuveen Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   11-5-18    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund

   10-15-14    8-1-21
  

Nuveen International Growth Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21

NUVEEN

INVESTMENT

TRUST III

  

Nuveen High Yield Income Fund

   12-31-20    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund

   12-31-20    8-1-21
              

NUVEEN

INVESTMENT

TRUST V

  

Nuveen Global Real Estate Securities Fund

   3-20-18    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Preferred Securities and Income Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
             8-1-21

NUVEEN MANAGED

ACCOUNTS PORTFOLIOS

TRUST

  

Municipal Total Return Managed Accounts Portfolio

   10-1-14    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Core Impact Bond Managed Accounts Portfolio

   7-9-20    8-1-21
              

NUVEEN

INVESTMENT

FUNDS, INC.

  

Nuveen Credit Income Fund f/k/a Nuveen High Income Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Dividend Value Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
  

Nuveen Global Infrastructure Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Large Cap Select Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Mid Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Mid Cap Value Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Minnesota Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Nebraska Municipal Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Oregon Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Real Asset Income Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Real Estate Securities Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Short Term Municipal Bond Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Small Cap Growth Opportunities Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Small Cap Select Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Small Cap Value Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21
    

Nuveen Strategic Income Fund

   10-1-14    8-1-21

Exhibit h.1

 

 

 

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT (THE “AGREEMENT”)

(MFP Shares)

 

 

 

 

[DATE], 2021


[DATE], 2021

[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund (the “Fund”), Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”) and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser,” and together with the Investment Adviser, the “Advisers”), confirm their respective agreements with [NAME] (the “Underwriter,”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriter of [-] Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (the “MFP Shares”), in the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode (the MFP Shares, while in the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode, the “Securities”).

The Securities will be authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares and the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares constituting Appendix A thereto (collectively, the “Statement”), and the Declaration of Trust of the Fund dated July 12, 1999, as amended (the “Declaration of Trust”) in the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (as defined in this Agreement).

The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) 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 thereunder (the “1940 Act Regulations”) and an automatic shelf registration statement, including a base prospectus, on Form N-2, as amended (File Nos. [333-[-] and 811-09475), for the registration of the Securities and other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “1933 Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration statement became effective under Rule 462(e) of the 1933 Act Regulations. Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto to such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to General Instruction F. of Form N-2 and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement;” provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of such registration statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, as amended by any post-effective amendments to such registration statement to such time, including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to General Instruction F. to Form N-2 and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B. The preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities immediately


prior to the Time of Sale filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”), together with the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective (the “Base Prospectus”), including the statement of additional information and any other documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to General Instruction F. to Form N-2, are collectively referred to herein as the “Preliminary Prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Fund will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b). The final prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first furnished or made available to the Underwriter for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the statement of additional information and any other documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to General Instruction F. to Form N-2, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus (as defined below) 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”).

The Fund understands that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Time of Sale Prospectus (as defined below) and agrees that the Underwriter may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus. The Fund hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Underwriter.

As used in this Agreement:

Time of Sale” means [-] [a.m./p.m.] (Eastern Time) on [DATE], 2021 or such other time as agreed by the Fund and the Underwriter.

Time of Sale Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) together with the other information, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto under the caption Time of Sale Prospectus and any Rule 482 Statement (as defined below) identified on Schedule C hereto.

Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 163B of the 1933 Regulations.

TTW Presentation” means the “Testing The Waters’” Communication Regarding the Fund’s Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares in the Variable Rate Remarketing Mode, dated [DATE], 2021, and authorized by the Fund for use by the Underwriter in accordance with the agreed upon procedures included therein.

 

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Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

SECTION 1.       Representations and Warranties.

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Advisers. The Fund and the Advisers jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Time of Sale, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof and agree with the Underwriter, as follows:

(i)    Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Fund meets the requirements of General Instruction 1.A of Form S-3, has been registered as an investment company pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act for at least twelve calendar months and has timely filed all reports required to be filed under Section 30 of the 1940 Act for the past twelve calendar months. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) and the Securities have been and remain eligible for registration by the Fund on such automatic shelf registration statement. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Fund’s knowledge, contemplated, and no order of suspension or revocation of the registration of the Fund pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act has been issued, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Advisers, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriter pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act Regulations, and the notification on Form N-8A and any amendments at the Time of Sale and the Closing Time complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations. The Preliminary

 

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Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, and, in each case, at the Time of Sale and the Closing Time complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriter for use in connection with this offering were and 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.

The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “1934 Act Regulations”), and the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations.

(ii)    Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Time of Sale and at the Closing Time, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The TTW Presentation, at the time it was provided to the Underwriter for use and at the date hereof, did not and does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or 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. At the Time of Sale, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or 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. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), or at the Closing Time, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits 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. Any Rule 482 Statement prepared, used or referred to by the Fund or by the Underwriter with the consent of the Fund, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, at the time of its use did not, and as of the Closing Time will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such documents incorporated by reference were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include 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.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Rule 482 Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to

 

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the Underwriter furnished to the Fund by the Underwriter expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the statements set forth in [the second sentence and third sentence of the fourth paragraph, the first sentence of the seventh paragraph and the eighth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting,”] in each case contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Rule 482 Statement (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii)    Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Fund or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the 1933 Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the 1933 Act, and (D) as of the Time of Sale, the Fund was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).

(iv)    Fund Not Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Fund or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Fund was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Fund be considered an ineligible issuer.

(v)     Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Fund (A) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (B) has not authorized anyone other than the Underwriter to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications.

(vi)    Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The independent registered public accounting firm which certified the financial highlights, the statement of assets and liabilities and related statement of operations and delivered its report with respect to the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Fund as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations.

(vii)    Financial Statements. The financial highlights, the statement of assets and liabilities and related statement of operations included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related notes, present fairly, or will present fairly in the case of the Prospectus, the financial position of the Fund at the dates and for the periods indicated; said financial highlights and statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein); and the other financial and statistical information and data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are accurately derived, or will be accurately derived in the case of the Prospectus, from such financial statements and the books and records of the Fund.

 

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(viii)    No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus 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, properties, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Fund, and (C) except for regular dividends on the Fund’s outstanding common and preferred shares of beneficial interest, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its shares of beneficial interest.

(ix)    Good Standing of the Fund. The Fund has been organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and 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 would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Fund.

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

(xi)    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 applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations.

(xii)    Officers and Trustees. No individual or entity is serving or acting as an officer, trustee or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Advisers Act Regulations”). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any 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 the Underwriter.

(xiii)    Capitalization.    The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. All issued and outstanding 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, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus) 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 shares of beneficial interest of the Fund were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund; and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and

 

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the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of beneficial interest of or ownership interests in the Fund are outstanding.

(xiv)    Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriter from the Fund have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriter 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 Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus). The Securities conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and such statements conform to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same, to the extent such rights are set forth; except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and 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. The Statement creating the Securities will have been duly filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and with all other offices where such filing is required, at or before the Closing Time.

(xv)    Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Fund is not (A) in violation or default of any provision of its Declaration of Trust, by-laws or the Statement, or (B) in default in the 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, by-laws and the Statement, the “Agreements and Instruments”), except, with respect to clause (B) only, for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement dated as of April 11, 2016 between the Fund and the Investment Adviser, as amended (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated as of July 15, 2015, between the Fund and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as amended (the “Custodian Agreement”), the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement dated as of [DATE], 2021 between the Fund and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Calculation and Paying Agent”), with respect to the Securities (the “Tender and Paying Agent Agreement”), and the Remarketing Agreement dated as of [DATE], 2021 between the Fund and the Investment Adviser and [NAME], with respect to the Securities (the “Remarketing Agreement”) (collectively, the Investment Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement and the Remarketing Agreement are herein referred to as the “Fund Agreements”), and any other material agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Fund with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action and do not and will not, whether with or

 

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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, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the by-laws of the Fund or the Statement, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality, regulatory body, administrative agency or court, domestic or foreign, or other authority 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.

(xvi)    Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body or arbitrator, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which is required by the 1940 Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement by reference to Item 12 of Form N-2 that has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or which might reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the Fund’s 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 subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xvii)    Accuracy of Exhibits and Disclosure. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required; the information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of VRRM-MFP Shares,” “Description of Securities,” “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” and “Tax Matters” and in the Registration Statement under Item 30 (Indemnification) to the extent that it constitutes summaries of matters of law, legal matters, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust and by-laws, the Statement or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects.

(xviii)    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 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

 

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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.

(xix)    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 or in the Fund Agreements, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act, the Advisers Act Regulations, state securities laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(xx)    Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Fund possesses all 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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or 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.

(xxi)    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 1940 Act 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, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(xxii)    Material Lending or Other Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Fund (A) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of the

 

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Underwriter and (B) 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 the Underwriter.

(xxiii)    Subchapter M. The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus 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 is currently, and at all times since inception of investment operations has been, in compliance with the requirements to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.

(xxiv)    Tax Returns. The Fund has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed or has properly requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(xxv)    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.

(xxvi)    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 of the 1940 Act Regulations) by the Fund, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance by the Advisers, administrator and transfer agent of the Fund.

(xxvii)    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 Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the TTW Presentation provided to the Underwriter, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any document prepared in accordance with the provisions of Rule 482 of the 1933 Act Regulations, a copy of which, if any, shall be attached as Schedule C hereto (the “Rule 482 Statement”).

(xxviii)    Accounting Controls. The Fund maintains and will maintain 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, with the investment objective, policies and restrictions of the Fund and with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations and the Code; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, to calculate net asset value and to maintain accountability for assets and to maintain compliance with the books and records requirements under the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act

 

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Regulations; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with 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.

(xxix)    Controls and Procedures. The Fund maintains and will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such terms are defined in Rule 30a-3 of the 1940 Act Regulations), and such disclosure controls and procedures are and have been effective as required by the 1940 Act Regulations. Since the end of the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

(xxx)    No Manipulation. Except as stated in this Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Fund has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in any violation of federal securities laws or any stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, and the Fund is not aware of any such action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Fund.

(xxxi)    Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Advisers have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Advisers, the Fund and their respective directors or trustees, officers and employees with all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Advisers or the Fund from time to time concerning or relating to money laundering, bribery or corruption (“Anti-Corruption Laws”), and applicable sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (“Sanctions”), and the Advisers and the Fund and, to the knowledge of the Advisers or the Fund, their respective directors or trustees, officers and employees, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects. None of the Advisers or the Fund or, to the knowledge of the Advisers or the Fund, any of their respective directors or trustees, officers or employees is currently the subject of any Sanctions. No proceeds from the issuance of the Securities shall be used in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or any Sanctions.

(xxxii)    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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

(xxxiii)     Authorization of Agreements. This Agreement and the Fund Agreements have each been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund. This Agreement and the Fund Agreements have each been executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein, and each complies with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Regulations, and the Investment Management Agreement has been approved in accordance with Section 15 of the 1940 Act. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties

 

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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 securities laws or principles of public policy. The Fund Agreements are in full force and effect.

(xxxiv)    Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, 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.

(xxxv)    NYSE Listing. The Fund’s common shares have been duly authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) and the Fund’s registration statement on Form 8-A with respect to the common shares under the 1934 Act is effective.

(xxxvi)    Ratings. The Securities have been, or prior to the Closing Time will be, assigned the rating by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch,” and together with Moody’s, the “Rating Agencies”) as advised by the Fund to the Underwriter prior to the execution of this Agreement.

(xxxvii)    Leverage. Except as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Fund has no liability for borrowed money or under any reverse repurchase agreement.

(xxxviii)     Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. Neither the Fund nor any agent thereof acting on its behalf has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(xxxix)    Tax Treatment of the Securities.    For federal income tax purposes, the Securities will constitute equity of the Fund and distributions made with respect to the Securities will qualify as exempt-interest dividends to the extent reported by the Fund and permitted by Section 852(b)(5)(A) of the Code.

(xl)    Portfolio Securities. The Fund has good and marketable title to all portfolio securities owned by it which are material to the business of the Fund, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such portfolio securities.

(xli)    Asset Coverage and Leverage Ratio Requirements. As of the date hereof the Fund complies, and as of the Closing Time, assuming the receipt of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities and the application of such net proceeds as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds,” the Fund will comply, with the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act and the asset coverage and effective leverage ratio requirements of the Securities (as calculated in accordance with the Statement and as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus).

 

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(b) Representations and Warranties by the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser represents and warrants to the Underwriter, and in the case of paragraph (iii) also represents to the Fund, as of the date hereof, as of the Time of Sale and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with the Underwriter, 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 limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company 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 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 or this Agreement.

(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, the Advisers Act Regulations, the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act Regulations from acting under the Investment Management Agreement as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(iii)    Description of the Investment Adviser. The description of the Investment Adviser and the statements attributable to the Investment Adviser in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus complied and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, and are true and correct and do 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 the light of the circumstances under which they are 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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and this Agreement and under the Investment Management Agreement.

(v)    Authorization of Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Investment Adviser has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated as of April 11, 2016 between the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, as amended (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement 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

 

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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 neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement nor the performance by the Investment Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated 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 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, regulatory body or agency is required for the consummation by the Investment Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement, except as have been obtained or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations or state securities laws. The Investment Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are in full force and effect.

(vi)    No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has not occurred any event which would 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, the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Investment Adviser which are material to the Investment Adviser other than those in the ordinary course of its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(vii)    Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body or arbitrator, 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, the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as so disclosed. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases, permits or other instruments relating to the Investment Adviser that are required to be described in the

 

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Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act Regulations.

(viii)    Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Investment Adviser possesses all Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; the Investment Adviser 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 Investment Adviser 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, 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, the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement.

(ix)    Absence of Violation or Default. The Investment Adviser is not (A) in violation of its organizational documents or (B) in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except, with respect to (B) only, where such default would not, singly or in the aggregate, 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 the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

(x)    No Manipulation. Except as stated in this Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Investment Adviser has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in any violation of federal securities laws or any stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, and the Investment Adviser is not aware of any such action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Investment Adviser.

(xi)    Promotional Material. In the event that the Fund or the Investment Adviser makes available any promotional materials related to the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby intended for use only by registered broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof by means of an internet web site or similar electronic means, the Investment Adviser will install and maintain or will cause to be installed and maintained, pre-qualification and password-protection or similar procedures which are reasonably designed to effectively prohibit access to such promotional materials by persons other than registered broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof.

(xii)    Internal Controls. The Investment Adviser maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B)

 

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access to the Fund’s assets is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.

(c) Representations and Warranties by the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Underwriter, and in the case of paragraph (iii) also represents to the Fund, as of the date hereof, as of the Time of Sale, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

(i)    Good Standing of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the state of Delaware with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company 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 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 Sub-Adviser, to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Sub-Adviser or to materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement.

(ii)    Investment Adviser Status. The Sub-Adviser is duly registered and in good standing with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Advisers Act Regulations, the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act Regulations from acting under the Sub-Advisory Agreement as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(iii)    Description of the Sub-Adviser. The description of the Sub-Adviser and the statements attributable to the Sub-Adviser in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus complied and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act are true and correct and do 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 the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(iv)    Capitalization. The Sub-Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and this Agreement and under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

(v)    Authorization of Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Sub-Adviser has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. This Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Sub-Adviser, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, such agreements constitute valid and binding obligations of the Sub-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

 

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equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement nor the performance by the Sub-Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated 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 Sub-Adviser is a party or by which it is bound, the organizational documents of the Sub-Adviser, or 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 Sub-Adviser or its properties or operations; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority, regulatory body or agency is required for the consummation by the Sub-Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Sub-Advisory Agreement except as have been obtained or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act, the Advisers Act Regulations or state securities laws. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is in full force and effect.

(vi)    No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has not occurred any event which would 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 Sub-Adviser, to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Sub-Adviser or to materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Sub-Adviser which are material to the Sub-Adviser other than those in the ordinary course of its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(vii)    Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body or arbitrator, domestic or foreign, now pending, or threatened against or affecting the Sub-Adviser or any parent or subsidiary of the Sub-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 Sub-Adviser, to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Sub-Adviser or to materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as so disclosed. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases, permits or other instruments relating to the Sub-Adviser that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.

 

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(viii)    Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Sub-Adviser possesses all Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct its business as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; the Sub-Adviser 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 Sub-Adviser 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, 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 Sub-Adviser, to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Sub-Adviser or to materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the Sub-Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreement or this Agreement.

(ix)    Absence of Violation or Default. The Sub-Adviser is not (A) in violation of its organizational documents or (B) in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except, with respect to (B) only, where such violation or default would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Sub-Adviser to perform its obligations under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

(x)    No Manipulation. Except as stated in this Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Sub-Adviser has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in any violation of federal securities laws or any stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, and the Sub-Adviser is not aware of any such action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Sub-Adviser.

(xi)    Promotional Material. In the event that the Fund or the Sub-Adviser makes available any promotional materials related to the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby intended for use only by registered broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof by means of an internet web site or similar electronic means, the Sub-Adviser will install and maintain or will cause to be installed and maintained, pre-qualification and password protection or similar procedures which are reasonably designed to effectively prohibit access to such promotional materials by persons other than registered broker-dealers and registered representatives thereof.

(xii)    Internal Controls. The Sub-Adviser maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions effectuated by it under the Sub-Advisory Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (B) access to the Fund’s assets is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization.

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

 

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SECTION 2.     Sale and Delivery to the Underwriter; Closing.

(a) 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 the Underwriter and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Fund, [-] Securities, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, and the Underwriter agrees to sell the Securities to the public in the minimum amounts set forth in Schedule A.

(b) Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates, if any, for, the Securities shall be made at the offices of Sidley Austin LLP, special counsel for the Fund, at 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the second (third, 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 11 hereof), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to the Underwriter for its account of certificates, if any, for the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriter.

(c) Delivery; Global Certificate. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct. The Securities will be represented by a global certificate to be held by The Depository Trust Company.

SECTION 3.     Covenants.

The Fund and the Advisers, jointly and severally, covenant with the 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 430B, and will notify the Underwriter immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the 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, including 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 any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the 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(d) or 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 effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission

 

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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) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Fund will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) 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 Underwriter or for the Fund, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include 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, (ii) amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus in order that the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement 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 (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Fund will promptly (A) give the Underwriter notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Underwriter with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Fund shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter shall object. The Fund will furnish to the Underwriter such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriter 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, or would conflict with the information otherwise contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Fund will promptly notify the Underwriter and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Rule 482 Statement to eliminate or correct such statement, omission or conflict.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has furnished or will deliver to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits). The copies of the Registration

 

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Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriter 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 the Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus as the 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 the Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriter 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.

(e) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will, if necessary, in cooperation with the Underwriter, qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Underwriter 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; 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.

(f) 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 Underwriter the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(g) Use of Proceeds. The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h) Ratings. The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Securities, prior to the Closing Time to be assigned the ratings by the Rating Agencies advised by the Fund to the Underwriter in accordance with Section 1(a)(xxxvi) of this Agreement.

(i) Reporting Requirements. The Fund, during the period when the Prospectus is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 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, the 1940 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

(j) Subchapter M. The Fund will comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code.

(k) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Fund will comply 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

 

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such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(l) No Manipulation of Market for Securities. The Fund will not (i) 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 (ii) except for share repurchases permitted in accordance with applicable laws and purchases of common shares in the open market pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, until the Closing Time (A) sell, bid for or purchase the Securities or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities or (B) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Fund.

(m) Asset Coverage and Effective Leverage Ratio Reporting. For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding in the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode (as defined in the Statement), the Fund will disseminate its asset coverage and effective leverage ratios (as calculated in accordance with the Statement and as described in the Registration Statement) monthly, through its publicly available website at www.nuveen.com, or through such other publicly available website as may be agreed to from time to time between the Fund and the Remarketing Agent (the “Website”). The asset coverage and effective leverage ratios shall be reported as calculated as of the close of business on the last business day of the preceding month and posted to the Website within ten business days from the first business day of each subsequent month.

(n) Best Efforts. The Fund and the Advisers will use their reasonable best efforts to perform all of the agreements required of them by this Agreement and discharge all conditions of theirs to closing as set forth in this Agreement.

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 registration of the Securities under the 1933 Act (iii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriter of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iv) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Securities to the Underwriter, 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 Underwriter, (v) the fees and disbursements of the Fund’s counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, (vi) the qualification of the Securities, if required, under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey, if any, and any supplement thereto, (vii) if applicable, the printing and delivery to the Underwriter of copies of the 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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus by the Underwriter to investors, (viii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriter of copies of the Blue Sky Survey, if any, and any supplement thereto, (ix) the fees

 

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and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (x) the filing fees, if any, incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter, if any, in connection with, the review by the FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities and (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the rating of the Securities with Moody’s and Fitch.

(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriter in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 10 hereof, the Fund and the Advisers, jointly and severally, agree that they shall reimburse the Underwriter for all of its out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter.

SECTION 5.     Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations.

The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the Advisers contained in Section 1 hereof and in certificates of any officer of the Fund or the Advisers delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Advisers of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become effective prior to 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter.

(b) Opinions of Counsel for Fund and the Advisers. At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing Time, of (i) Sidley Austin LLP, special counsel for the Fund and the Advisers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, (ii) Sidley Austin LLP, special tax counsel to the Fund, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, (iii) [Christopher M. Rohrbacher,] Managing Director, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Investment Adviser and Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Sub-Adviser, or [Kevin J. McCarthy,] Senior Managing Director and Secretary of the Investment Adviser and Senior Managing Director, Secretary and Associate General Counsel of the Sub-Adviser, counsel for the Advisers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, and (iv) Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Massachusetts counsel for the Fund, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter. Each 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 or the Advisers, as applicable, and certificates of public officials.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriter. The Underwriter shall have received from [-], counsel for the Underwriter, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Time and addressed to the Underwriter, with respect to such matters as the Underwriter may reasonably require, and the Fund and the Advisers shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. Such counsel may also state

 

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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 Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, properties, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the President or a Vice President of the Fund and of the treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund, of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director of the Investment Adviser and of the treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller, assistant controller, chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Investment Adviser and of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director of the Sub-Adviser and of the treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller, assistant controller, chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Sub-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), (b) and (c) 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, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-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 certificates by an officer or Managing Director of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser only, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, properties, business affairs or business prospects of the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, respectively, 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 Underwriter shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter dated the date of this Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in 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 Time of Sale Prospectus.

(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received from KPMG 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 statements shall be made with respect to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.

(g) Maintenance of Ratings. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have been received by the Fund or the Advisers any notice of any intended or potential downgrading, or of any review for a potential downgrading, in the rating accorded to the Securities by any of the Rating Agencies.

 

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(h) Asset Coverage and Leverage Ratio Requirements. At the Closing Time, the Fund will furnish to the Underwriter a report showing compliance with the asset coverage requirements of the 1940 Act and the asset coverage and effective leverage ratio requirements of the Securities (as calculated in accordance with the Statement and as described in the Registration Statement) as of the Closing Time in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter. Such report shall be prepared on a pro forma basis assuming the receipt of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities and the application of such net proceeds as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(i) Tender and Paying Agent Agreement. At or prior to the Closing Time, the Fund will execute and deliver the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, and the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement will comply with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Regulations. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other party thereto, the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement will constitute 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 securities laws or principles of public policy.

(j) Remarketing Agreement. At or prior to the Closing Time, the Fund and the Investment Adviser will execute and deliver the Remarketing Agreement, and the Remarketing Agreement will comply with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Regulations. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, the Remarketing Agreement will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Fund and the Investment Adviser, 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 securities laws or principles of public policy.

(k) Additional Documents. At Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriter shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the 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 Advisers 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 Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter.

(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, may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice to the Fund at any time at or prior to Closing Time and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and

 

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except that Sections 1, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6.     Additional Opinions.

(a) Opinion of Counsel for Remarketing Agent. The Fund and the Underwriter shall have received from [-] counsel for the Remarketing Agent, such opinions, dated the Closing Time and addressed to the Fund and the Underwriter, with respect to such matters as the Fund may reasonably require, and the Remarketing Agent shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. 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 Remarketing Agent and certificates of public officials.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Calculation and Paying Agent. The Fund and the Underwriter shall have received from [-], counsel for the Calculation and Paying Agent, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Time and addressed to the Fund and the Underwriter, with respect to such matters as the Fund or the Underwriter may reasonably require, and the Calculation and Paying Agent shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. 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 Calculation and Paying Agent and certificates of public officials.

SECTION 7.     Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriter. The Fund and the Advisers, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, the affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the 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 any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the TTW Presentation, any Rule 482 Statement prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Fund, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) of the 1933 Act Regulations (a “road show”) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), 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 (x) litigation, (y) investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or (z) claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 7(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Fund; and

 

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(iii)    against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter), 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 the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of the Fund, the Advisers, Directors and Officers. The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Advisers, their respective directors, trustees and shareholders, each of the Fund’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Advisers 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 to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Rule 482 Statement (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), 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, made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) 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 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Underwriter, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Fund and the Advisers. 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 7 or Section 8 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

 

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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.

(d) 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 this Section 7 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 8.     Contribution.

If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 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 and the Advisers on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and the Advisers on the one hand and of the Underwriter 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 Advisers on the one hand and the Underwriter 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 discount received by the Underwriter (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 Advisers on the one hand and the Underwriter 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 Advisers or by the Underwriter and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Fund, the Advisers and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be

 

28


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 8, the Underwriter shall not 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 the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of 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 8, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the 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 the Underwriter, and each trustee and shareholder of the Fund, each director of the Investment Adviser and each member of the Sub-Adviser respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Advisers, 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 Advisers, respectively.

SECTION 9.    Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.

All representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Sub-Adviser submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Advisers, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriter.

SECTION 10.    Termination of Agreement.

(a) Termination; General. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to the 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 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, properties, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund or the Advisers, 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 or escalation of hostilities 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 Underwriter, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading of any securities of the Fund has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, or if trading generally on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or on the

 

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NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade 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, payment or clearance services in the United States, or (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by United States federal or New York State 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, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

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 Initial Purchaser shall be directed to [NAME], [ADDRESS], Attention: [-]; and notices to the Fund or the Advisers shall be directed to 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: David J. Lamb, Chief Administrative Officer, and Nathaniel T. Jones, Vice President and Treasurer.

SECTION 12.    Parties.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of the Underwriter, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the Underwriter, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers, shareholders and directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 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 Underwriter, the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers, shareholders and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person. No purchaser of Securities from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 13.    No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.

The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price and dividend rate 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 Underwriter, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction the Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Fund or the Advisers or their shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed and will not

 

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assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund or the Advisers with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, (irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Fund or the Advisers on other matters) and the Underwriter has no obligation to the Fund or the Advisers with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Underwriter and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Fund and the Advisers, and (v) the Underwriter has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Fund and the Advisers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

SECTION 14.    GOVERNING LAW.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 15.    Effect of Headings.

The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 16.    Disclaimer of Liability of Trustees and Beneficiaries.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary 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 of the Fund 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 17.    Partial Unenforceability.

If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.

SECTION 18.    Counterparts and Electronic Signatures.

This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (i.e., a “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, the words “execute,” “execution,” “signed” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement, or any of the transaction contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other

 

31


modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

32


SECTION 19.    Entire Agreement.

This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Underwriter, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 20.    Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 21.    Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i)    In the event that the Underwriter is a Covered Entity (as defined below) and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from the Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii)    In the event that the Underwriter is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against the Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 21:

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)    a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii)    a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii)    a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

33


Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signatures on Following Pages]

 

34


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 Underwriter, the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser in accordance with its terms.

 

  Very truly yours,  
  NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND
  By:                                                            
  Name:  
  Title:  
  NUVEEN FUND ADVISORS, LLC  
  By:                                                            
  Name:  
  Title:  
  NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC  
  By:                                                            
  Name:  
  Title:  

THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT IS HEREBY

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

[NAME]

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

 

(Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement – NVG Series [-])


SCHEDULE A

1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities, determined as provided in Section 2 of the Agreement shall be $1,000.

2. Sales of the Securities shall be made in minimum amounts of twenty-five (25) shares. Sales of the Securities in excess of the minimum amount shall be made only in multiples of five (5) shares.

3. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the Underwriter shall be $[-], being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $[-] per share.

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B

Permitted Communications

Time of Sale Prospectus

 

1.            Preliminary Prospectus dated [DATE], 2021.
2.    The following orally confirmed pricing information:
   Issuer:    Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund
   Securities Offered:    [-] Series [-] MuniFund Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share and liquidation preference of $1,000 per share.
   Initial Offering Price:    $1,000 per share.
   Dividend Rate:    [The dividend rate for [DATE], 2021 will be equal to the sum of [-]% per annum plus the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Swap Index published at approximately 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on [DATE], 2021, or [-]% per annum if the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index is not so published.]
   Pricing Date:    [DATE], 2021
   Settlement Date:    [DATE], 2021
                                            
   Please refer to the preliminary prospectus supplement dated [DATE], 2021 relating to this offering.

 

Sch B-1


SCHEDULE C

Rule 482 Statement

 NONE

 

D-1

Exhibit h.2

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

______________, 2021

Nuveen Securities, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

  Re:

Form of Distribution Agreement Relating to At-the-Market Offerings

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund is a Massachusetts business trust operating as a closed-end management investment company (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”). The Fund has filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-[        ] and 811-[        ]) (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register additional common shares of the Fund, which may be issued and sold from time to time through various specified transactions, including at-the-market (“ATM”) offerings. The Fund also has filed or will file a prospectus supplement (“Prospectus Supplement”) pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the offering of its common shares through an ATM offering.

You have informed us that Nuveen Securities, LLC is registered as a broker-dealer under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. You have indicated your desire to act as distributor for the Fund’s common shares issued pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement. We have been authorized by the Fund to execute and deliver this Agreement to you by a resolution of our Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) adopted at a meeting of the Trustees, at which a majority of Trustees, including a majority of our Trustees who are not otherwise interested persons of our investment manager or its related organizations, were present and voted in favor of said resolution approving this Agreement.

1.        APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. Upon the execution of this Agreement and in consideration of the agreements on your part herein expressed and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, we hereby appoint you as the distributor for common shares of the Fund with an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000, to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement through ATM offerings (the “Shares”) and agree that we will issue such Shares as you may sell. You agree to use reasonable efforts to identify opportunities for the sale of Shares, but you are not obligated to sell any specific number of the Shares. The Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be agreed to by you and the Fund.


2.        SELECTED DEALERS. You may enter into selected dealer agreements, on such terms and conditions as you determine are not inconsistent with this Agreement, with broker-dealers to act as your agent to effect the sale of the Shares. Such selected broker-dealers shall sell Shares only at market prices subject to a minimum price to be established each day by you and the Fund (see paragraph 3 below). This Agreement shall not be construed as authorizing any dealer or other person to accept orders for sale on our behalf or to otherwise act as our agent for any purpose. You shall not be responsible for the acts of other dealers or agents except as and to the extent that they shall be acting for you or under your direction or authority.

3.        SHARE PRICE. The price per Share shall be determined by reference to prevailing market prices through the National Market System. In no event shall the price be less than the current net asset value per share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to you (the “Minimum Price”). You shall suspend the sale of Shares if the per share price of the Shares is less than the Minimum Price.

4.        SALES COMMISSION.

(a)      You shall be entitled to receive a sales commission from the Fund of 1.0% of the gross sales price per Share of the Shares sold.

(b)      You may pay to selected broker-dealers such selling agent commissions (not exceeding 80% of the total sales commission) (the “ATM Sales Agent Commission”) as you shall deem advisable, which shall be payable from the commissions payable to you under Section 4(a) above.

5.      FURNISHING OF INFORMATION. We will furnish you with copies of the Registration Statement, and we warrant that the statements therein contained are true and correct as of the date of the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time. We will also furnish you with such other information that you may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of the Shares, including, at least annually, audited financial statements of our books and accounts certified by independent public accountants.

6.        CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Other than the currently effective Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement, you will not use any sales materials or statements except literature or advertising that conforms to the requirements of federal and state securities laws and regulations and that have been filed, where necessary, with the appropriate regulatory authorities. You will furnish us with copies of all material prior to their use and no such material shall be published if we shall reasonably and promptly object.

You shall comply with the applicable federal and state laws and regulations where our shares are offered for sale and conduct your affairs with us and with dealers, brokers or investors in accordance with the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

7.        OTHER ACTIVITIES. Your services pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive and you may render similar services and act as an underwriter, distributor, or dealer for other investment companies in the offering of their shares.

 

2


8.        SUSPENSION OF SALES. We reserve the right at all times to suspend or limit the offering of the shares upon written notice to you and to reject any order in whole or in part.

9.        PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

(a)      You shall bear all expenses incurred by you in connection with your duties and activities under this Agreement including the payment to selected dealers of any sales commissions for sales of the Fund’s Shares.

(b)      The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including expenses (including legal fees) pertaining to the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto, including the Prospectus Supplement, and expenses pertaining to the preparation, printing and distribution of any reports or communications to shareholders, including Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information, annual and interim reports, or proxy materials.

10.      TERMINATION. This Agreement (i) may be terminated by the Fund at any time without the payment of any penalty and (ii) may be terminated by you at any time without the payment of any penalty. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to this provision or by the mutual agreement of the parties.

11.      MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement shall be subject to the laws of the State of Illinois and shall be interpreted and construed to further and promote the operation of the Fund as a closed-end management investment company.

12.      STANDARD OF CARE. You shall be responsible for exercising reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement.

13.    DECLARATION OF TRUST AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. 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 is hereby given that this Agreement is executed by an officer of the Fund on behalf of the Trustees, as trustees and not individually, and that the obligations of this Agreement with respect to the Fund shall be binding upon the assets and properties of the Fund only and shall not be binding upon the assets or properties of the Trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders of the Fund individually.

 

3


If the foregoing meets with your approval, please acknowledge your acceptance by signing each of the enclosed counterparts hereof and returning such counterparts to us, whereupon this shall constitute a binding agreement as of the date first above written.

Very truly yours,

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND

By:                                                    

Name: Mark Winget

Title: Vice President and Secretary

Agreed to and Accepted:

NUVEEN SECURITIES, LLC

By:                                                    

Name: Christopher Rohrbacher

Title: Managing Director and Assistant Secretary

 

4

Exhibit h.3

FORM OF DEALER AGREEMENT

Nuveen Securities, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

_______________, 2021

[        ]

[        ]

 

RE:

At-the-Market Offerings by Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

Ladies and Gentlemen:

From time to time Nuveen Securities, LLC (the “Manager,” “we” or “us”) will act as manager of registered at-the-market offerings by the Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), of the Fund’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). In the case of such offerings, the Fund has agreed with the Manager to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Fund’s Common Stock in an amount up to a certain maximum aggregate offering price.

We hereby agree to retain [        ] (the “Dealer” or “you”) as a sub-placement agent with respect to such shares as we may specify (the “Shares”) to be issued and sold by the Fund in such offerings of the Shares (the “Offerings”), and you agree to act in such capacity, all upon, and subject to, the terms and conditions set forth below:

SECTION 1. Description of Offerings.

(a) The Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Fund and the Manager on any day (each, an “Offering Date”) that is a trading day for the exchange on which the Fund’s Shares are listed (the “Stock Exchange”) (other than a day on which the Stock Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time). Promptly after the Fund and the Manager have determined the maximum amount of the Shares to be sold by the Manager for any Offering Date, the Manager shall advise the Dealer of such amount, which shall not in any event exceed the amount available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement (as defined below). Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Dealer shall use its reasonable efforts to sell all of the Shares designated in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below). The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 1(a) shall be the market price at which the Dealer sells such Shares.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may instruct the Dealer by telephone (confirmed promptly by telecopy) not to sell the Shares if such sales cannot be effected at or above a price agreed to by the Fund and the Manager with respect to such Shares. In addition, the Manager may, upon notice to the Dealer by telephone (confirmed promptly by telecopy), suspend the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

(c) The Dealer agrees not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Manager pursuant to this Section 1, other than through transactions for which compliance with Rule 153 under the Securities Act will satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act.

(d) The compensation to the Dealer, as a sub-placement agent of the Manager for each sale of the Shares pursuant to this Section 1, shall be the Applicable Selling Agent Commission with respect to the Shares sold, multiplied by the Gross Sales Proceeds, as further described in the Addendum to this Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory


organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Manager for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

(e) The Dealer shall provide written confirmation to the Manager following the close of trading on the Stock Exchange on each Offering Date setting forth for each sale the number of Shares sold, the time of sale, the Gross Sales Price per Share, the Net Proceeds, and the compensation payable by the Manager to the Dealer with respect to such sales.

(f) Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 1 will occur on the second business day following the date on which such sales are made (each such day, a “Settlement Date”). On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through the Dealer for settlement on such date shall be delivered by the Manager to the Dealer against payment of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares to the Dealer’s account at The Depository Trust Company in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the Manager. If the Manager shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Manager shall (A) hold the Dealer harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Manager and (B) pay the Dealer any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If the Dealer breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver proceeds on any Settlement Date for the Shares delivered by the Manager, the Dealer will pay the Manager interest based on the effective overnight Federal Funds rate.

(g) In connection with this Agreement and the Offering, the Manager shall provide to the Dealer such certificates and other documents as the Dealer may reasonably request no more than once per calendar quarter relating to authorization, capacity, enforceability and compliance matters.

SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties by the Manager. The Manager represents, warrants to and agrees with the Dealer, as of the date hereof and as of each Offering Date and Settlement Date, that:

(a) An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-[            ] and 811-[            ]) (the “Registration Statement”) (i) has been prepared by the Fund in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the “Securities Act”), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the “1940 Act”); and (ii) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act; the Registration Statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains additional information concerning the Fund and its business; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Fund; the Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, became effective upon filing; no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Basic Prospectus (as defined below), the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) or the Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Fund’s knowledge after due inquiry, are contemplated by the Commission. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means, collectively, the various parts of the Registration Statement, as amended at the time of effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the Manager, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the Registration Statement at the Effective Time, and (3) any registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, “Basic Prospectus,” as used herein, means the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the related statement of additional information, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of the Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus Supplement,” as used herein, means the final prospectus supplement, including the related statement of additional information, relating to the Shares, filed by the Fund with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Securities Act), in the form furnished by the Fund to the Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement and the then-issued Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the

 

2


Prospectus Supplement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Shares, including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Fund, (2) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) under the Securities Act whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the Securities Act because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Fund’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

(b) The Fund is duly registered under the 1940 Act as a closed-end management investment company. A notification of registration of the Fund as an investment company under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A (the “1940 Act Notification”) has been prepared by the Fund in conformity with the 1940 Act and has been filed with the Commission and, at the time of filing thereof and at the time of filing any amendment or supplement thereto, conformed in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund has not received any notice from the Commission pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act with respect to the 1940 Act Notification or the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement to either of them). No person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(c) The Registration Statement, the 1940 Act Notification, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as from time to time amended or supplemented each complied when it became effective or was filed, complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, will comply, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act; the Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Time, 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; the 1940 Act Notification did not, as of the Effective Time, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of the Basic Prospectus and the date such Basic Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the later of the time of purchase in connection with any sale of Shares, the latest additional time of purchase in connection with any sale of Shares, if any, and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or 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; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date, as of each time of purchase in connection with any sale of Shares and during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of the Basic Prospectus and the date such Basic Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the later of the time of purchase and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material, did not and will not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

(d) The financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the 1940 Act and the Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus or the

 

3


Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; the Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto).

(e) As of the date of this Agreement, the Fund has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus entitled “The Fund” and “Description of Shares,” and, with respect to any issuance and sale under this Agreement, the Fund shall have as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the sections of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus entitled “The Fund” and “Description of Shares” (and any similar sections or information, if any, contained in the Final Term Sheet, if any) (subject, in each case, to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of any stock options and warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, and to the grant of options under any existing stock option plans described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus); all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock, including the Common Stock, of the Fund have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right; the Shares are duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, on the Stock Exchange.

(f) The Fund has been duly organized and is validly existing as a business trust in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Final Term Sheet, if any, and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares as contemplated herein. The Fund is duly qualified to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, (i) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Fund (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (iii) result in the delisting of shares of Common Stock from the Stock Exchange (the occurrence of any such effect or any such prevention or interference or any such result described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(g) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights; the Shares, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be free of any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to the Fund’s charter or bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Fund is a party. The capital stock of the Fund, including the Shares, conforms in all material respects to each description thereof, if any, contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Final Term Sheet, if any; and the certificates for the Shares, if any, are in due and proper form. The Fund is in compliance with the rules of the Stock Exchange, including, without limitation, the requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on the Stock Exchange and the Fund has not received any notice from the Stock Exchange regarding the delisting of the Common Stock from the Stock Exchange.

(h) The Manager has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Manager. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Manager and is enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof and thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and moratorium laws in effect from time to time and by equitable principles restricting the availability of equitable remedies.

(i) No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the Stock Exchange), or approval of the stockholders of the Fund that has not already been obtained, is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Fund of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than

 

4


(i) registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act, which has been effected, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Manager or (iii) under the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(j) Prior to the execution of the Distribution Agreement, the Fund has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Shares by means of any “prospectus” or “free writing prospectus” (in each case within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus” or “free writing prospectus” (in each case within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, and from and after the execution of this Agreement, the Fund will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus” or “free writing prospectus” (in each case within the meaning of the Securities Act) or use any “prospectus” or “free writing prospectus” (in each case within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, other than the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Manager and the Dealer have consented; and the Fund is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement.

SECTION 3. Additional Covenants.

(a) The Dealer hereby confirms that it undertakes to comply with all applicable sections of the regulations of FINRA’s Rules of Fair Practice in connection with the Offerings.

(b) The Dealer agrees that it will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) concerning any Offering, other than the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Manager and the Dealer have consented.

(c) The Manager shall not be under any obligation to the Dealer except for obligations assumed hereunder or in writing by the Manager in connection with any Offering. Nothing contained herein or in any communication in writing from us shall constitute the Manager and the Dealer an association or partners with one another. If such parties should be deemed to constitute a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, then the Dealer elects to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and agrees not to take any position inconsistent with that election. The Dealer authorizes the Manager, in its discretion, to execute and file on its behalf such evidence of that election as may be required by the Internal Revenue Service. In connection with any Offering, each party shall be liable for its proportionate amount of any tax, claim, demand or liability that may be asserted against it alone, based upon the claim that either of them constitute an association, an unincorporated business or other entity, including, in each case, its proportionate amount of any expense incurred in defending against any such tax, claim, demand or liability.

(d) The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split effected with respect to the Shares.

SECTION 4. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Manager agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Dealer, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls the Dealer within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with and the rules and regulations thereunder, the “Exchange Act”), and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which the Dealer or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Manager contained in this Agreement, (ii) any violation by the Manager of any law, rule or regulation (including any rule of any self-regulatory organization), or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact appearing in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except to the extent such statements were provided in writing by the Dealer for inclusion in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

5


(b) The Dealer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Manager, the Fund, their partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls the Manager or the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which the Manager or any such person may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Dealer contained in this Agreement or (ii) any violation by the Dealer of any law, rule or regulation (including any rule of any self-regulatory organization).

(c) An indemnified person under Section 4 of this Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give written notice to the other party (the “Indemnifying Party”) of any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim in respect of which the Indemnifying Party has a duty to indemnify such Indemnified Party under Section 4(a) or (b) of this Agreement (a “Claim”), specifying in reasonable detail the nature of the loss, damage, expense, liability or claim for which indemnification is sought, except that any delay or failure so to notify such other party shall only relieve such other party of its obligations hereunder to the extent, if at all, that you are actually prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure.

(d) If a Claim results from any action, suit or proceeding brought or asserted against an Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party 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) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Indemnifying Party has 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 Indemnifying Party and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by its counsel that representation of such Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party 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 the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party (in which case the Indemnifying Party 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 the Indemnifying Party 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 the Indemnifying Party or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by an authorized representative of such parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding effected without its 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, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Party from and against any loss, liability, damage or expense by reason by such settlement or judgment.

(e) With respect to any Claim not within Paragraph (d) of Section 4 hereof, the Indemnifying Party shall have 20 days from receipt of notice from the Indemnified Party of such Claim within which to respond thereto. If the Indemnifying Party does not respond within such twenty-day period, it shall be deemed to have accepted responsibility to make payment and shall have no further right to contest the validity of such Claim. If the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within such twenty-day period that it rejects 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.

(f) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each applicable Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates (treated jointly as one person for this purpose), on the one hand, and the Indemnifying Party and its Affiliates, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares; or (ii) if, but only if, the allocation provided for in 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) but also the

 

6


relative fault of the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates (treated jointly as one person for this purpose), on the one hand, and of the Indemnifying Party and its Affiliates, on the other, in connection with any statements or omissions or other matters which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates (treated jointly as one person for this purpose), on the one hand, and the Indemnifying Party and its Affiliates, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the Offering received by each such party and its Affiliates bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the parties and their Affiliates shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by such party or its Affiliate, on one hand, or by the other party or its Affiliate on the other hand and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding.

(g) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (f) above. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(h) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 4 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the parties contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer, its partners, directors or officers or any person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls the Dealer within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Manager, its directors or officers or any person who controls the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares.

SECTION 5. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the indemnity agreement contained in Section 4 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any party or any person controlling any party, or their directors or officers, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor and (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 6. Termination.

(a) 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 pursuant to this Agreement, this Agreement may not be terminated by you with respect to such Offering.

(b) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Section 6(a) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 4 and Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect.

(c) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Dealer, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Agreement.

SECTION 7. Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand, overnight courier, mail or facsimile and, if to the Manager, it shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to:

Nuveen Securities, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Suite 3300

 

7


Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attn: Manager, Closed-End Products

with a copy for information purposes to:

333 West Wacker Drive

Suite 3300

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attn: General Counsel

and if to the Dealer, it shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to:

[        ]

[        ]

[        ]

Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

SECTION 8. Parties at Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Manager, the Fund, and the Dealer and to the extent provided in Section 4 of this Agreement the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in such section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from the Manager) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

SECTION 9. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Manager hereby acknowledges that the Dealer is acting solely as sub-sales agent in connection with the sale of the Shares and that the Dealer is acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis, and in no event do the parties intend that the Dealer act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Manager or the Fund, their respective management, stockholders or creditors, or any other person in connection with any activity that the Dealer may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the sale of the Shares, either before or after the date hereof.

SECTION 10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 11. Counterparts; Heading. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

SECTION 12. Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (“Claim “), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 13. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and each of the Manager and the Dealer consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Manager and the Dealer hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Manager or any indemnified party. Each of the Manager and the Dealer (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Manager and the Dealer agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall

 

8


be conclusive and binding upon the Manager and the Dealer and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Manager or the Dealer is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

SECTION 14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Manager, the Fund and the Dealer and their successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Manager’s, the Fund’s and the Dealer’s respective businesses and/or assets.

 

9


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Manager and the Dealer, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Dealer. Alternatively, the execution of this Agreement by the Manager and the acceptance by or on behalf of the Dealer may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written communications.

 

Very truly yours,
NUVEEN SECURITIES, LLC
By:  

                 

Name:   Christopher Rohrbacher
Title:   Managing Director and Assistant Secretary

ACCEPTED as of the date first above written

[        ]

(as sub-placement agent)
By: _________________________________
Name: _______________________________
Title: ________________________________

 

10


ADDENDUM

TO

SUB-PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

NUVEEN SECURITIES, LLC

AND

[            ]

Compensation payable to the Dealer for acting as a sub-placement agent on behalf of the Manager with respect to a specified sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be determined by multiplying the Gross Sales Proceeds by the Applicable Selling Agent Commission as set forth in the table below:

 

Gross Sales

Commission

       

Manager Retention

       

Applicable

Selling Agent

Commission

 
  1.0%         0.20%         0.80%  

Where:

“Gross Sales Proceeds” with respect to each sale of Shares shall be the Gross Sales Price multiplied by the number of Shares sold;

“Gross Sales Price” with respect to each sale of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be the gross sales price per share of such Shares.

 

11

LOGO

Exhibit l.1

November 18, 2021

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

RE:    Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Massachusetts counsel to Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), in connection with the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about November 18, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”), with respect to the Fund’s (i) common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), and (ii) MuniFund Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share (the “MFP Shares,” and collectively with the Common Shares, the “Shares”).

In connection with the furnishing of this opinion, we have examined the following documents:

(a)    a certificate dated as of a recent date of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence of the Fund;

(b)    copies of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust dated July 12, 1999, the amendment thereto dated as of October 6, 2009, and the name change amendments effective as of January 2, 2012, April 11, 2016, and December 28, 2016, each as on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (as so amended, the “Declaration”);

(c)    a copy of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 1 Variable Rate Demand Preferred

 

  Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP   
 

One Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1726

United States

  

LOGO  +1.617.341.7700

LOGO  +1.617.341.7701


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  2

 

Shares and the Notice of Subsequent Rate Period as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 20, 2019;

(d)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 2 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on April 7, 2016;

(e)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares as modified by Amendment No. 1 to Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 19, 2018, the Notice of Subsequent Rate Period as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 21, 2018 and Amendment No. 2 to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 4 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on June 19, 2019;

(f)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 5 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on November 9, 2016;

(g)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series 6 Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on November 9, 2016;

(h)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Adjustable Rate MuniFund Preferred Shares, Series 2028, as filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on November 14, 2019;

(i)    a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series A MuniFund Preferred Shares and the Supplement attached as Appendix A thereto, as filed at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on January 26, 2018, and as amended on October 1, 2018 and November 13, 2020,

(j)     a copy of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series B MuniFund Preferred Shares and the Supplement


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  3

 

attached as Appendix A thereto, as filed at the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on March 6, 2019, and together with the Statements referred to in subparagraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) above, the “Existing Preferred Statements”);

(k)    the form of the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares (the “New MFP Statement”), and (i) the form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode, (ii) the form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode, and (iii) the form of Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of MuniFund Preferred Shares Designating the Variable Rate Mode (Adjustable Rate) (each, a “Mode Supplement”), each as filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

(l)    a certificate executed by the Secretary of the Fund, certifying as to the Declaration, the Existing Preferred Statements, the Fund’s By-Laws, certain resolutions adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees at meetings held on August 2-4, 2021 and November 16-17, 2021 (the “Prior Resolutions,” and together with the Declaration, the Existing Preferred Statements, and the By-laws, the “Existing Governing Instruments”); and

(m)     a printer’s proof of the Registration Statement received on November 17, 2021.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the originals of all of the documents reviewed by 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 also assumed that the Registration Statement, when filed with the Commission, will be in substantially the form of the printer’s proof referenced in subparagraph (m) above.

We understand that the Shares to be registered under the Registration Statement will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”). In this regard, we have assumed that in connection with any such offering of the Common Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement (a “Common Offering”) and any offering of MFP Shares


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  4

 

pursuant to the Registration Statement (an “MFP Offering”) (in each case, a “Share Offering”):

(i)     the Fund will file with the Commission a prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act relating to such Share Offering (each, an “Offering Supplement”) and that each such Offering Supplement will identify (a) the number of Shares to be offered pursuant to such Share Offering, (b) any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of the Shares pursuant to such Share Offering (the “Distributors”), (c) the applicable purchase price of the Shares offered in the Share Offering or the basis on which such amount may be calculated, (d) any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangement between any Distributor named in the Offering Supplement and the Fund, or among such one or more Distributors, or the basis on which such amount may be calculated, (e) any other material terms of any agreement by and between the Fund and any such Distributor relating to the conditions under which the Shares will be issued and sold (in each case, a “Distribution Agreement”) and (f) any other specific terms of the Share Offering.

(ii)    if not taken, as established in the Prior Resolutions, the Board of Trustees or the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, acting pursuant to delegated authority (the “Trustees”) will have taken, by resolution (the “Subsequent Resolutions”, such Subsequent Resolutions and the Prior Resolutions referred to herein as the “Resolutions”), all appropriate action as contemplated by the Existing Governing Instruments (a) to authorize the issuance of the number of Shares to be offered pursuant to such Share Offering and the applicable purchase price of such Shares, (b) to appoint the Distributors and authorize the entering into, by the Fund, of the Distribution Agreements, (c) to authorize any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangement between the Distributors and the Fund, (d) with respect to an MFP Offering, to authorize the final terms and conditions, execution and filing of the New MFP Statement and the applicable Mode Supplement, which New MFP Statement and Mode Supplement will be in substantially the form referenced in subparagraph (k) above with such changes as shall have been approved by the Trustees (together, an “Operative MFP Statement”), and the entering into of agreements with a remarketing agent, if applicable, and a tender and paying agent consistent with such Operative MFP Statement and (e) any other actions, including the entering into of such other agreements as may be considered appropriate or necessary in connection with such Share Offering (the “Offering Actions”), and in each case as described in the Offering Supplement;


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  5

 

(iii)    if applicable, the Fund will have duly entered into such Distribution Agreements, and with respect to an MFP Offering, will have executed and delivered the Operative MFP Statement with respect to such offering and, in each case, will have duly taken all of the other Offering Actions in accordance with the Existing Governing Instruments, the Operative MFP Statement, any other statements or similar instruments with respect to preferred shares of the Fund then in effect, and the Resolutions (collectively, the “Governing Instruments”);

(iv)     that the activities of the Fund have been and will be conducted in accordance with the Governing Instruments and applicable Massachusetts law;

(v)     that no event has occurred that would cause a termination of the Fund;

(vi)    that the required consideration for the Shares is paid in accordance with the terms, conditions, requirements and procedures set forth in the Governing Instruments and the Distribution Agreements and that the Shares are otherwise issued in accordance with the terms, conditions, requirements, limitations and procedures set forth in the Governing Instruments, the Distribution Agreements and Massachusetts law;

(vii)     that, with respect to the Shares, (a) there will be no changes in applicable law between the date of this opinion and any date of issuance or delivery of any Shares and (b) at the time of delivery of any Shares, all contemplated additional actions shall have been taken and the authorization of the issuance of the Shares will not have been modified or rescinded; and

(viii)     that the Fund’s Governing Instruments will be in full force and effect and the Existing Governing Instruments will not have been modified, supplemented or otherwise amended in any manner that would affect the issuance of the 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. We have further assumed that there are no other documents that are contrary to or inconsistent with the opinions expressed herein. As to our opinion below relating to the valid existence of the Fund, our opinion relies


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  6

 

entirely upon and is limited by the certificate referenced in subparagraph (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 Governing Instruments 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. Further, we express no opinion with respect to, and we assume no responsibility for, any offering documentation relating to the Fund, including the Registration Statement and any Offering Supplement, any Share Offering or the Shares.

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:

1.        The Fund has been formed and is validly existing under the Fund’s Declaration 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 terms, conditions, requirements and procedures set forth in the Governing Instruments, and following the due adoption by the Trustees of the Resolutions, as well as the accuracy of our other assumptions, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, except that, as set forth 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


Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

November 18, 2021

Page  7

 

the reference to our name in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof under the heading “Legal Matters” and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In rendering this opinion and giving this consent, we do not concede that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

Exhibit n.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use of our report dated December 28, 2020, with respect to the financial statements and financial highlights of Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, as of October 31, 2020, incorporated herein by reference, and to the references to our firm under the headings “Financial Highlights” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Prospectus, filed on Form N-2.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chicago, Illinois

November 18, 2021

Exhibit s.1

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Jack B. Evans                                       
Jack B. Evans  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ William C. Hunter                                   
William C. Hunter  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in her capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on her behalf and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 she 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set her hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Amy B.R. Lancellotta                   
Amy B.R. Lancellotta  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in her capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on her behalf and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 she 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set her hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Joanne T. Medero                   
Joanne T. Medero  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Albin F. Moschner                                   
Albin F. Moschner  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ John K. Nelson                                   
John K. Nelson  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in her capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on her behalf and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 she 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set her hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Judith M. Stockdale                                   
Judith M. Stockdale  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in her capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on her behalf and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 she 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set her hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Carole E. Stone                                   
Carole E. Stone  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Matthew Thornton III                               
Matthew Thornton III  


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Terence J. Toth

 

                

Terence J. Toth

 


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in her capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on her behalf and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 she 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set her hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Margaret L. Wolff

 

                

Margaret L. Wolff

 


Exhibit s.1

 

NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUNDS

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the undersigned, in his capacity as a director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations listed on Appendix A hereto (the “Funds”), hereby constitutes and appoints MARK CZARNIECKI, DIANA R. GONZALEZ, KEVIN J. McCARTHY, CHRISTOPHER M. ROHRBACHER, 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 and on his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file the Funds’ Registration Statements on Form N-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 registering shares of the Funds, including any pre-effective and post-effective 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 director/trustee of the above-referenced organizations has hereunto set his hand this 10th day of August 2021.

 

/s/ Robert L. Young

 

                

Robert L. Young

 


Exhibit s.1

 

APPENDIX A

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND (NVG)

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL VALUE FUND (NUW)

NUVEEN AMT-FREE QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NEA)

NUVEEN ARIZONA QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NAZ)

NUVEEN CALIFORNIA AMT-FREE QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NKX)

NUVEEN CALIFORNIA QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NAC)

NUVEEN CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL VALUE FUND, INC. (NCA)

NUVEEN CALIFORNIA SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO (NXC)

NUVEEN CORE EQUITY ALPHA FUND (JCE)

NUVEEN CREDIT STRATEGIES INCOME FUND (JQC)

NUVEEN DOW 30 DYNAMIC OVERWRITE FUND (DIAX)

NUVEEN DYNAMIC MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND (NDMO)

NUVEEN ENHANCED MUNICIPAL VALUE FUND (NEV)

NUVEEN FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND (JFR)

NUVEEN FLOATING RATE INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND (JRO)

NUVEEN HIGH INCOME 2020 TARGET TERM FUND (JHY)

NUVEEN MINNESOTA QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NMS)

NUVEEN MUNICIPAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND (NMCO)

NUVEEN MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND (NMZ)

NUVEEN MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND, INC. (NMI)

NUVEEN MUNICIPAL VALUE FUND, INC. (NUV)

NUVEEN NASDAQ 100 DYNAMIC OVERWRITE FUND (QQQX)

NUVEEN PREFERRED & INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND (JPC)

NUVEEN PREFERRED & INCOME SECURITIES FUND (JPS)

NUVEEN REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND (JRS)

NUVEEN S&P BUY-WRITE INCOME FUND (BXMX)

NUVEEN S&P 500 DYNAMIC OVERWRITE FUND (SPXX)

NUVEEN SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO (NXP)

NUVEEN SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO 2 (NXQ)

NUVEEN SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO 3 (NXR)

NUVEEN SENIOR INCOME FUND (NSL)

NUVEEN SHORT DURATION CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND (JSD)

NUVEEN TAXABLE MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NBB)

NUVEEN TEXAS QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NTX)

NUVEEN VIRGINIA QUALITY MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND (NPV)

Exhibit s.2

 

 

 

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND (NVG)

AND

NUVEEN FUND ADVISORS, LLC

AND

[]

REMARKETING AGREEMENT

Dated as of []

Series [] MuniFund Preferred Shares

Variable Rate Remarketed Mode

 

 

 

(NVG – Series [] MFP)


Table of Contents

 

          Page  

Section 1.

  

Definitions

     1  

Section 2.

  

Appointment and Obligations of the Remarketing Agent

     3  

Section 3.

  

Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Remarketing Agent and the Fund

     6  

Section 4.

  

Fees and Expenses

     7  

Section 5.

  

Resignation, Suspension and Removal of the Remarketing Agent

     7  

Section 6.

  

Dealing in the VRRM-MFP Shares

     7  

Section 7.

  

Information

     8  

Section 8.

  

Conditions to Obligations of the Remarketing Agent

     9  

Section 9.

  

Indemnification

     9  

Section 10.

  

Termination of Remarketing Agreement

     12  

Section 11.

  

Remarketing Agent’s Performance; Duty of Care

     13  

Section 12.

  

Amendment, Supplement or Modification of Agreements

     13  

Section 13.

  

Books and Records

     13  

Section 14.

  

Governing Law

     13  

Section 15.

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     14  

Section 16.

  

Certain Provisions to Survive Termination of Agreement

     14  

Section 17.

  

Successors and Assigns

     14  

Section 18.

  

Headings

     14  

Section 19.

  

Severability

     14  

Section 20.

  

Counterparts

     14  

Section 21.

  

Remarketing Agent Not Acting as Underwriter

     15  

Section 22.

  

Amendment

     15  

 

i


Section 23.

  

Benefits

     15  

Section 24.

  

Notices and Wire Instructions

     15  

Section 25.

  

Liability of Officers, Trustees and Shareholders

     16  

Section 26.

  

Nonpetition Covenant

     16  

Exhibit A      Form of Tender Notice (Optional Tenders)

Exhibit B      Form of Remarketing Notice (Optional and Mandatory Tenders, Mode Transition)

Exhibit C      Form of Failed Remarketing Notice (Optional and Mandatory Tenders, Mode Transition)

Exhibit D      Form of Retention Notice (Mandatory Tenders)

 

ii


REMARKETING AGREEMENT

This REMARKETING AGREEMENT, dated as of [●] (this “Agreement”), by and among Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, a closed-end investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust (the “Fund”), Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (the “Investment Adviser”), and [●] (the “Remarketing Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Fund is issuing Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares, par value $.01 per share (the “MFP Shares”), with a liquidation preference of $[●] per share, pursuant to and with the preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption assigned to them in the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Statement”), as modified with respect to the Initial Mode by the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Supplement”; references in this Agreement to the Supplement shall be deemed to include the Statement);

WHEREAS, the Fund has requested [●] to act as the Remarketing Agent under this Agreement while the MFP Shares are in the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode in accordance with the provisions of the Supplement (and the Board of Trustees of the Fund has adopted a resolution appointing [●] as the Remarketing Agent) to perform the duties set forth herein and to perform such other duties as are assigned to the Remarketing Agent herein and in the Supplement, all pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Supplement and this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Remarketing Agent is willing to assume such duties on the terms and conditions expressly set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.        Definitions.   Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Supplement.

1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

1933 Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act.

1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

1940 Act Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

 

1


1940 Act Regulations” means the rules and regulations under the 1940 Act.

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Calculation and Paying Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon acting pursuant to the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement or any successor thereto.

Commission” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) hereof.

Fund” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) hereof.

Indemnifying Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(c) hereof.

Investment Adviser” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(b) hereof.

MFP Shares” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Mode” has the meaning set forth in the Statement.

Prospectus” means the final prospectus, including the statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein, each dated [●], and the prospectus supplement, dated [●], relating to the initial offering of the VRRM-MFP Shares.

Registration Statement” means the Fund’s registration statement (No. 333-226136 and No. 811-09475), relating to the MFP Shares and other securities of the Fund, declared effective by order of the Commission on October [●], 2018, as it may be amended from time to time.

Remarketing Agent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Remarketing Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b) hereof.

Remarketing Memorandum” means the Prospectus or any other written communication describing the Fund and/or the terms of the VRRM-MFP Shares, which has been approved by the Fund in writing for use in connection with remarketing prior to its use, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

Representation Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

Statement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Supplement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Transition Remarketing” means a remarketing in connection with a Mode change pursuant to Article 3 of the Supplement.

 

2


VRRM-MFP Shares” means the MFP Shares while in the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode pursuant to the Supplement.

Section 2.        Appointment and Obligations of the Remarketing Agent.

(a)        Appointment. The Fund hereby appoints [●], and [●] hereby accepts such appointment, as the exclusive Remarketing Agent of the VRRM-MFP Shares for the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the purpose of establishing on each Business Day the Dividend Rate in respect of the VRRM-MFP Shares and, in connection with a tender, remarketing such VRRM-MFP Shares on behalf of the Beneficial Owners or Holders thereof, as applicable, and calculating the Purchase Price therefor, among other things; and performing such other duties as are assigned to the Remarketing Agent in the Supplement, all pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Supplement and this Agreement.

(b)        General Duties. The Remarketing Agent agrees with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares to:

(i)       use its best efforts to remarket Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares in connection with an optional tender or mandatory tender of VRRM-MFP Shares as provided in the Supplement, but shall in no way be liable if no purchasers are found, provided it has otherwise performed its obligations as set forth in this Agreement and the Supplement;

(ii)      calculate the Purchase Price to be paid in connection with a remarketing of VRRM-MFP Shares.

(iii)     establish the Dividend Rate as provided in the Supplement; provided, that the Dividend Rate may not exceed the Maximum Rate;

(iv)     notify the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent of the Dividend Rate by Electronic Means and post the Dividend Rate on Bloomberg promptly on each date of determination of the Dividend Rate as provided in the Supplement; in the case of the notice to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent with respect to the Step-Up Dividend Rate, such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for and calculation of the highest rate as determined by the Remarketing Agent;

(v)      provide any other notices to be provided by the Remarketing Agent to the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent, Holders and Beneficial Owners as set forth in the Supplement;

(vi)     make available to a Beneficial Owner, upon request by such Beneficial Owner in connection with a remarketing, a copy of the Contact Notification Form (as such term is defined in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement);

(vii)    make available to a Beneficial Owner or a former Beneficial Owner, upon request by such Beneficial Owner or former Beneficial Owner (as the case may be) in

 

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connection with a remarketing, a copy of the Cancellation Form (as such term is defined in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement); and

(viii)    carry out such other duties as are assigned to the Remarketing Agent herein and in the Supplement, or as are reasonably requested by the Fund and agreed to by the Remarketing Agent, all in accordance with the provisions in this Agreement and the Supplement.

(c)        Remarketing at Purchase Price; Principal to Principal Basis.   It is further understood and agreed by and between the parties that, in connection with any attempted remarketing, all Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares shall be remarketed at the Purchase Price of such VRRM-MFP Shares. With respect to the Remarketing Agent’s responsibilities, but without affecting the Calculation and Paying Agent’s role as intermediary (if applicable), the Remarketing Agent hereby agrees that, if the Remarketing Agent obtains a bid at the Purchase Price for any VRRM-MFP Shares being remarketed, which, if accepted, would be binding on the bidder for the consummation of the sale of such VRRM-MFP Shares (an “actionable bid”), and the Remarketing Agent elects in its sole discretion to accept such actionable bid, the Remarketing Agent shall (i) purchase the Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares, as a principal and not as an agent, from the Beneficial Owner or Holder thereof on the Purchase Date at the Purchase Price, (ii) resell such VRRM-MFP Shares, as a principal and not as an agent, to the Person making such actionable bid at the Purchase Price, and (iii) record such purchase and resale on its books and records in accordance with this provision. Any such purchases by the Remarketing Agent from the Beneficial Owner or Holder shall be made with the Remarketing Agent’s own funds.

(d)        Optional Tender for Remarketing Notices. If, in connection with an optional tender for remarketing in accordance with Section 2.2(a) of the Supplement, a Beneficial Owner tendering VRRM-MFP Shares for remarketing delivers to the Remarketing Agent a Tender Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit A hereto and the Remarketing Agent identifies a purchaser for the Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares during the related Remarketing Window, the Remarketing Agent shall deliver a Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit B hereto to the Beneficial Owner of the Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares, with a copy to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 2.2(a) of the Supplement. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Failed Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit C hereto to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 2.2(b) of the Supplement.

(e)        Mandatory Tender for Remarketing Notices. In connection with a mandatory tender for remarketing in accordance with Section 2.2(c) of the Supplement, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit B hereto to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 2.2(c) of the Supplement. Each Beneficial Owner wishing (and eligible) to retain its VRRM-MFP Shares shall provide a Retention Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit D hereto to the Remarketing Agent

 

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and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 2.2(c) of the Supplement. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Failed Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit C hereto to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 2.2(c) of the Supplement.

(f)        Mode Change Notices.   In connection with a mandatory tender for remarketing for a transition to a new Mode in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Supplement, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit B hereto to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 3.2(c) of the Supplement. Upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing Event, the Remarketing Agent shall provide a Failed Remarketing Notice in substantially the form of and containing the information set forth in Exhibit C hereto to the Holders, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent as provided in Section 3.2(c) of the Supplement.

(g)        Book-Entry Procedures.   Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the purchase and delivery of Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares and the remarketing thereof, and payments with respect to the foregoing, will be accomplished in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Securities Depository.

(h)        Return of Unsold VRRM-MFP Shares.   Any VRRM-MFP Shares unsold in a remarketing will be returned to the relevant tendering Beneficial Owners or their Agent Members, or the relevant tendering Holders, as the case may be, by the Remarketing Agent; provided that such tender will continue until the earlier of the occurrence of a successful remarketing or the Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date.

(i)        Timing Requirements.   The Remarketing Agent agrees to the remarketing timing requirements applicable to it in the Supplement. The Remarketing Agent may, in its sole discretion, modify the settlement procedures set forth therein with respect to any Remarketing upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent, provided any such modification does not adversely affect the Holders, the Beneficial Owners, the Calculation and Paying Agent or the Fund.

(j)        Purchases by Remarketing Agent.   If the Remarketing Agent in its sole discretion decides to purchase unsold VRRM-MFP Shares for its own account, on each Purchase Date, the Remarketing Agent will settle such purchase through delivery against payment of the Purchase Price for such VRRM-MFP Shares to be received by the Remarketing Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Purchase Date. The Remarketing Agent is not obligated to purchase any VRRM-MFP Shares that would otherwise remain unsold in a remarketing.

(k)        Sales by Remarketing Agent for its Own Account.   It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that VRRM-MFP Shares as to which the Remarketing Agent is the Beneficial Owner may be held by the Remarketing Agent for its own account or for the account of others, and may be sold in a remarketing or otherwise sold by the Remarketing Agent. The Remarketing Agent may sell VRRM-MFP Shares for its own account outside of a remarketing at a price other than the Purchase Price.

 

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(l)        Notice of Taxable Allocations. Whenever the Fund intends or expects to include any Taxable Allocation in any dividend on VRRM-MFP Shares, the Fund shall provide a Notice of Taxable Allocation in accordance with Section 2.7(a) of the Supplement. Whenever such advance notice is received from the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent will notify each Holder and the Remarketing Agent. The Remarketing Agent shall promptly notify each potential Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member after receipt of such advance notice by the Remarketing Agent.

Section 3.        Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Remarketing Agent and the Fund.

(a)        The Remarketing Agent hereby represents, warrants and agrees that it has, and during the term of this Agreement shall maintain, all licenses, consents and other rights required for the use of any index or other data in connection with calculation of the Dividend Rate or dissemination thereof.

(b)        The Fund represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Remarketing Agent as as of each Purchase Date, Remarketing Date or New Mode Commencement Date, as applicable (each, a “Representation Date”), that (i) the Fund has made all the filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) that are required to be made under the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations (collectively, the “1940 Act Documents”), (ii) each 1940 Act Document complies in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations, and each 1940 Act Document did not at the time of filing with the Commission include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 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 and (iii) the applicable Remarketing Materials, as amended or supplemented, including by any subsequently filed 1940 Act Document on or prior to such Representation Date (or, if applicable, by any document filed pursuant to the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations), as provided by the Fund, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 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; provided, however, that the Fund makes no representations or warranties with respect to information provided by the Remarketing Agent specifically for use in the Remarketing Materials.

(c)        The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the 1940 Act Documents, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly the financial position of the Fund as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Fund for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by reference in the 1940 Act Documents are accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Fund.

(d)        The Fund agrees (i) to deliver to the Remarketing Agent, within fifteen (15) calendar days following the last day of each calendar month beginning with [●], a report of

 

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portfolio holdings of the Fund as of the close of business as of the last Business Day of such calendar month, listing portfolio holdings of the Fund by CUSIP and principal amount, and (ii) that, on or after such fifteenth calendar day (or earlier, with the Fund’s prior approval) the Remarketing Agent may provide such report and/or the information therein to investors in the VRRM-MFP Shares, upon the investor’s request.

Section 4.        Fees and Expenses.   For the performance of its services as Remarketing Agent hereunder, the Fund shall pay to the Remarketing Agent in arrears on the first day of each calendar month (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) a monthly fee for each MFP Share Outstanding on the first calendar day of the preceding calendar month (or the date hereof in the case of the first such payment), in an amount, rounded upward to the nearest dollar, equal to (a) the product of (i) the rate of compensation as then in effect, as shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing by the Fund and the Remarketing Agent, times $[●] multiplied by (ii) the actual number of days from and including such first calendar day of the preceding calendar month (or the date hereof in the case of the first such payment) to and including the last calendar day of such preceding calendar month or, if applicable, the date of termination of this Agreement, if earlier, or the date of any prior redemption or liquidation for such share (as the case may be), divided by (b) 360. The obligation of the Fund to make the payments required by this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect until all such payments shall have been made in full.

Section 5.        Resignation, Suspension and Removal of the Remarketing Agent.

(a)        The Remarketing Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares by giving 90 days’ prior written notice to the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent.

(b)        The Fund may remove the Remarketing Agent with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares by giving at least 60 days’ prior written notice to the Remarketing Agent (and will provide prior notice also to the Calculation and Paying Agent, if any); provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective for an additional 30 days unless the Fund shall have appointed at least one nationally recognized securities dealer with expertise in remarketing variable rate securities as a successor Remarketing Agent for the VRRM-MFP Shares and the successor Remarketing Agent shall have entered into a remarketing agreement with the Fund, in form and substance satisfactory to the Fund, in which it shall have agreed to, among other duties, conduct remarketings in respect of VRRM-MFP Shares and determine the Dividend Rate on each Business Day for the VRRM-MFP Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Supplement.

In each of the occurrences described in clause (a) or (b), the Fund shall use its best efforts to appoint a successor Remarketing Agent for such VRRM-MFP Shares and enter into a remarketing agreement with such Person as soon as reasonably practicable.

Section 6.        Dealing in the VRRM-MFP Shares.   The Remarketing Agent in its sole discretion may purchase for its own account VRRM-MFP Shares in a remarketing; however, subject to the last two sentences in Section 2(c) above, the Remarketing Agent shall not be obligated to purchase any VRRM-MFP Shares that would otherwise remain unsold in a

 

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remarketing. None of the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent nor the Remarketing Agent (subject to the last sentence in Section 2(c) above) shall be obligated in any case to provide funds to make payment to a Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member or a Holder upon such Beneficial Owner’s or Holder’s tender of its VRRM-MFP Shares in a remarketing unless, in each case, such VRRM-MFP Shares were acquired for the account of the Fund, the Calculation and Paying Agent or the Remarketing Agent, as applicable. The Remarketing Agent may exercise any vote or join in any action which any Holder of VRRM-MFP Shares may be entitled to exercise or take pursuant to the Statement with like effect as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder. The Remarketing Agent, in its individual capacity, either as principal or agent, may also engage in or have an interest in any financial or other transaction with the Fund as freely as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder.

Section 7.        Information.

(a)        The Fund agrees to furnish to the Remarketing Agent: (i) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Statement, the Supplement and its bylaws and any amendment thereto and each report or other document mailed or made available to Holders (including annual reports to shareholders) or filed by the Fund with the Commission (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) as the Remarketing Agent may reasonably request from time to time; (ii) notice of the creation of any subsidiary by the Fund; (iii) notice of the purchase of VRRM-MFP Shares by a subsidiary or affiliate of the Fund as soon as the Fund shall become aware of such purchase; (iv) notice of any change (including being put on Credit Watch or Watchlist), suspension or termination in or of the ratings on the VRRM-MFP Shares by any NRSRO then rating the VRRM-MFP Shares or any change of an NRSRO rating the VRRM-MFP Shares as promptly as practicable upon the occurrence thereof or the occurrence of any of the events set forth in clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii) of Section 8 hereof (with the occurrence of any of the events described in clause (b)(ii) to be determined without regard to the opinion of the Remarketing Agent referred to therein); and (v) in connection with a remarketing, a Remarketing Memorandum, and such other remarketing information, as the Remarketing Agent may reasonably request from time to time, including but not limited to the financial condition of the Fund. The Fund agrees to provide the Remarketing Agent with as many copies of the foregoing materials and information as the Remarketing Agent may reasonably request for use in connection with a remarketing or Transition Remarketing, as the case may be, of VRRM-MFP Shares and consents to the use thereof for such purpose.

(b)        If at any time during the term of this Agreement any event or condition known to the Fund relating to or affecting the Fund or the VRRM-MFP Shares shall occur which might affect the accuracy or completeness of any statement of a material fact contained in any of the reports, documents, materials and information referred to in clause (a)(v) above or any document incorporated therein by reference (collectively, the “Remarketing Materials”) or any other materials or information made publicly available by the Fund, the Fund shall promptly notify the Remarketing Agent in writing of the circumstances and details of such event or condition and the Fund shall promptly prepare or cause to be prepared and delivered to the Remarketing Agent, at the Fund’s expense, a supplement or amendment to the Remarketing Materials describing the circumstances and details of such event or condition.

 

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Section 8.        Conditions to Obligations of the Remarketing Agent.   The obligations of the Remarketing Agent with respect to VRRM-MFP Shares under this Agreement have been undertaken in reliance on, and shall be subject to: (a) the due performance in all material respects by the Fund of its obligations and agreements as set forth in this Agreement (including Sections 3(c) and 7(b) hereof); and (b) the non-occurrence of any of the following events: (i) all of the VRRM-MFP Shares shall have been redeemed by the Fund; (ii) without the prior written consent of the Remarketing Agent, the Supplement, the Statement, the Declaration, the by-laws of the Fund, or the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement shall either not be in full force and effect or have been amended in any manner that in the reasonable opinion of the Remarketing Agent materially changes the nature of the VRRM-MFP Shares or the remarketing procedures; (iii) legislation, or a decision by a court of the United States shall be rendered, or a stop order, ruling, regulation or official statement by, or on behalf of, the Commission or other governmental agency having jurisdiction of the subject matter shall be made, to the effect that the offering or sale of the VRRM-MFP Shares is or would be in violation of any provision of the 1933 Act as then in effect, or the 1934 Act as then in effect, or with the purpose or effect of otherwise prohibiting the offering or sale of the VRRM-MFP Shares, as contemplated hereby, without registration under the 1933 Act; (iv) any legislation, resolution, ordinance, rule or regulation shall be enacted by, any governmental body, department or agency of the United States or the State of New York, or a decision by any court of competent jurisdiction within the United States or the State of New York shall be rendered, which, in the Remarketing Agent’s reasonable opinion, materially adversely affects the marketability of the VRRM-MFP Shares; (v) additional material restrictions not in force as of the date hereof shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by any governmental authority or by any national securities exchange, which, in the Remarketing Agent’s reasonable opinion, would cause the performance of the Remarketing Agent’s obligations hereunder to violate applicable law; (vi) any litigation shall be instituted and be outstanding, to restrain or enjoin the sale or remarketing of the VRRM-MFP Shares or in any way protesting or affecting any authority of the Fund with respect to the validity of the VRRM-MFP Shares or this Agreement, or the existence or powers of the Fund to perform its obligations hereunder; (vii) a general banking moratorium has been declared by federal or New York authorities having jurisdiction, a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services or a force majeure event shall have occurred which in the reasonable opinion of the Remarketing Agent materially adversely affects the settlement or clearance of the VRRM-MFP Shares; or (viii) a material misstatement or omission in the Remarketing Materials has occurred, so that it is not advisable, in the reasonable judgment of the Remarketing Agent, to attempt to remarket the VRRM-MFP Shares, provided that the Remarketing Agent, upon identifying any such material misstatement or omission in the Remarketing Materials, shall promptly notify the Fund. In the event of the failure of any such conditions with respect to the VRMM-MFP Shares, the Remarketing Agent may terminate its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the VRMM-MFP Shares as provided in Section 10(b).

Section 9.        Indemnification.

(a)        The Fund and the Investment Adviser, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Remarketing Agent and its respective officers, directors, employees and control persons within the meaning of the 1934 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Persons

 

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and individually, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any Indemnified Person may become subject insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any of the Remarketing Materials or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading (except with respect to information provided by the Remarketing Agent specifically for use therein), or arise out of, or are based upon, any violation by the Fund or the Investment Adviser of, or any failure by the Fund or the Investment Adviser to perform, any of its obligations under, this Agreement. The Fund and the Investment Adviser agree to promptly reimburse each Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action or claim; provided, however, that neither the Fund nor the Investment Adviser shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of the use by the Remarketing Agent of any information that is not contained in the Remarketing Materials (in the form provided for use in connection with the remarketing). The indemnity agreement in this paragraph shall be in addition to any liability or obligation which the Fund or the Investment Adviser may otherwise have to any Indemnified Person and shall extend upon the same terms and conditions to each Person, if any, who controls any Indemnified Person within the meaning of the 1934 Act.

(b)        The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Persons from and against every loss, liability or expense, including without limitation, damages, fines, suits, actions, demands, costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and reasonable legal fees and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, any Indemnified Person for or in respect of its (1) execution and delivery of this Agreement, (2) compliance or attempted compliance with or reliance upon any instruction or other direction upon which the Remarketing Agent is authorized to rely pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (3) performance under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Loss resulted from such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, violations of law or violations of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Losses that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, any Indemnified Person for or in respect of the failure of the Remarketing Agent to deliver Remarketing Materials during the course of a remarketing, if such failure is due to the failure by the Fund to provide to the Remarketing Agent such Remarketing Materials for delivery (regardless of whether the Remarketing Agent has requested such Remarketing Materials), notwithstanding that such failure by the Remarketing Agent to deliver Remarketing Materials during the course of a Remarketing could be deemed a violation of law by an Indemnified Person. The indemnity agreement in this paragraph shall be in addition to any liability or obligation which the Fund may otherwise have to any Indemnified Person.

(c)        Each Indemnified Person shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser (collectively, the “Indemnifying Persons” and individually, an “Indemnifying Person”) of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Persons

 

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shall not relieve any Indemnifying Person from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. No settlement or compromise of any such action shall be made without the consent of the Indemnifying Persons, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(d)         In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Person, and it notifies each Indemnifying Person from which it seeks indemnification of the commencement thereof, such Indemnifying Person (which may be the Fund and/or the Investment Adviser, in the case of notification of either) will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other Indemnifying Person, similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof so long as its interests are not adverse to those of the Indemnified Person, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, and after notice from each Indemnifying Person to such Indemnified Person of its election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Person will not be liable to such Indemnified Person under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Upon assumption by any Indemnifying Person of the defense of any such action or proceeding, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such action or proceeding and to retain its own counsel but the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any legal expenses of other counsel subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the Indemnifying Person has agreed to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person in a timely manner, or (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have been advised by counsel that there are actual or potential conflicting interests between the Indemnifying Persons and the Indemnified Person, including situations in which there are one or more legal defenses available to the Indemnified Person that are different from or additional to those available to each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser. If the Indemnifying Person elects not to assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Indemnified Persons for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. In the event that the parties to any such action (including impleaded parties) include one or more Indemnifying Persons and one or more Indemnified Persons, and one or more Indemnified Persons shall have been advised by counsel reasonably satisfactory to each Indemnifying Person that there may be one or more legal defenses available to any of the Indemnified Persons, which are different from, additional to, or in conflict with those available to any of the Indemnifying Persons, the Indemnifying Persons will reimburse the Indemnified Persons for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Indemnified Persons (it being understood that the Indemnifying Persons shall not, 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, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (plus local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, which firm shall be designated by the Indemnified Persons, the Remarketing Agent or each Indemnifying Person, as the case may be). Each Indemnifying Person agrees promptly to notify each Indemnified Person of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it in connection with the remarketing of the VRRM-MFP Shares. No Indemnifying Person shall consent to the terms of any compromise or settlement of any action defended by any Indemnifying Person in accordance with the foregoing without the prior consent of the Indemnified Person. No Indemnifying Person shall be liable under this Section 9 for the amount of any compromise or settlement of any action

 

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unless such compromise or settlement has been approved in writing by such Indemnifying Person, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(e)        If the indemnification provided for in subparagraph (a) of this Section 9 is unavailable, because of limitations imposed by securities laws or for any other reason, to a party that would otherwise have been an Indemnified Person under subparagraph (a) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then the party that would have been an Indemnifying Person thereunder shall, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion so that the Remarketing Agent is responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the Remarketing Agent’s fee (calculated for a one year period) with respect to such remarketing bears to the aggregate liquidation preference of such VRRM-MFP Shares being remarketed but will not exceed the amount of such fee (calculated for a one year period) and each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser is responsible for the balance; provided, however, that 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 within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereon referred to above in this subparagraph (e)) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claims (which shall be limited as provided in this subparagraph (e) above if the Indemnifying Person has assumed the defense of any such action in accordance with the provisions thereof).

(f)        The indemnity agreements contained in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 9 shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Remarketing Agent, and shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement and the remarketing of any VRRM-MFP Shares hereunder.

Section 10.        Termination of Remarketing Agreement. (a) This Agreement shall terminate as to the Remarketing Agent and its obligations hereunder with respect to VRRM-MFP Shares upon the earliest to occur of (a) the effective date of the resignation or removal of such Remarketing Agent pursuant to Section 5(a) and Section 5(b), respectively, (b) the completion of a successful Transition Remarketing on a New Mode Commencement Date in connection with transition to a new Mode, or (c) the date on which no VRRM-MFP Shares are Outstanding.

(b) In addition, the Remarketing Agent may terminate this Agreement and all of its obligations hereunder with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares, by notifying the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent of its election to do so, if any of the conditions referred to or set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares have not been met or satisfied in full and such failure shall have continued for a period of 30 days after the Remarketing Agent has given notice thereof to the Fund specifying the condition which has not been met and requiring it to be met; provided, however, that termination of this Agreement with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares by the Remarketing Agent after giving the required notices with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares shall be immediate in the event of the occurrence and continuation of

 

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any event set forth in Section 8(b)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) hereof with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares, or in the event the Remarketing Agent determines, in its sole discretion, that it shall not have received all of the information, whether or not specifically referenced herein, necessary to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the VRRM-MFP Shares.

Section 11.        Remarketing Agents Performance; Duty of Care.

(a)        The duties and obligations of the Remarketing Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement and the Supplement. No implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement, or the Supplement. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Remarketing Agent, the Remarketing Agent may conclusively rely upon any document furnished to it, which purports to conform to the requirements of this Agreement and the Statement, as to the truth of the statements expressed in any of such documents. The Remarketing Agent shall be protected in acting upon any document or communication reasonably believed by it to have been signed, presented or made by the proper party or parties. The Remarketing Agent shall incur no liability to the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Calculation and Paying Agent or to any Beneficial Owner (or its Agent Member) or any Holder of the VRRM-MFP Shares in its individual capacity or as Remarketing Agent for any action or failure to act, in connection with its duties under this Agreement and the Supplement or otherwise, except as a result of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part.

(b)        The Remarketing Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out or caused by the failure of any other party (other than an affiliate of the Remarketing Agent) to provide any notice, statement or document required to be delivered pursuant to any Related Document in connection with performance by the Remarketing Agent of the relevant obligation.

Section 12.        Amendment, Supplement or Modification of Agreements. Without the prior written consent of the Remarketing Agent, the Fund will not agree or consent to any amendment, supplement or modification of the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement, this Agreement or the Supplement, nor waive any provision thereof, if such amendment, supplement, modification or waiver would materially adversely affect the interests of the Remarketing Agent, in the Remarketing Agent’s sole discretion; provided, that, for purposes of this Section 12, any changes or amendments to the rating agency criteria provided in the Supplement for the VRRM-MFP Shares shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the interests of the Remarketing Agent.

Section 13.        Books and Records. The Remarketing Agent shall keep such books and records with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder as shall be consistent with prudent industry practice and shall, to the extent permitted by law, make such books and records available for inspection by the Fund on reasonable notice during normal business hours. Any costs and expenses associated with such inspections shall be for the account of the party requesting such inspection.

Section 14.        Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, except Section 25 below, which shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

 

13


in each case without regard to conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE COURTS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 15.        Waiver of Jury Trial. The Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Remarketing Agent hereby waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by any of the parties hereto against the other on any matters whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Agreement.

Section 16.        Certain Provisions to Survive Termination of Agreement. Regardless of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 hereof, the obligations of the Fund and the Investment Adviser pursuant to Sections 3, 4 and 9 hereof and of the Remarketing Agent pursuant to Section 9 hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect until fully satisfied.

Section 17.        Successors and Assigns. The rights and obligations of the Fund and the Investment Adviser hereunder may not be assigned or delegated to any other person without the prior written consent of the Remarketing Agent. The rights and obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder may not be assigned or delegated to any other person without the prior written consent of the Fund. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Fund, the Investment Adviser and the Remarketing Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and, subject to Section 23, will not confer any benefit upon any other person, partnership, association or corporation other than persons, if any, controlling any Remarketing Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, or any Indemnified Person to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof. As used in this Section 17, the terms “successors” and “assigns” shall not include any purchaser of VRRM-MFP Shares merely because of such purchase.

Section 18.        Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, and it is agreed that such section headings are not a part of this Agreement and will not be used in the interpretation of any provisions of this Agreement.

Section 19.        Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be or shall, in fact, be invalid, inoperative or unenforceable as applied in any particular case in any or all jurisdiction or jurisdictions, because it conflicts with any provision of any constitution, statute, rule of public policy, or for any other reason, such circumstances shall not have the effect of rendering the provision in question invalid, inoperative or unenforceable in any other case, circumstance or jurisdiction, or of rendering any other provision or provisions of this Agreement invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent whatsoever.

Section 20.        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be regarded as an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same document.

 

14


Section 21.        Remarketing Agent Not Acting as Underwriter. It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the only obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder are as set forth in Sections 2, 3, 9 and 13 hereof. When engaged in remarketing any properly-Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares, the Remarketing Agent shall act only as agent for and on behalf of each owner of the VRRM-MFP Shares so tendered. The Remarketing Agent shall not act as an underwriter for the Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares and shall in no way be obligated to advance its own funds to purchase any Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares (except as provided in Section 2(c) or to the extent that in its individual capacity as purchaser of those VRRM-MFP Shares it may elect, in accordance with Section 6 hereof, to purchase, in its sole discretion) or to otherwise expend or risk its own funds or incur or become exposed to financial liability in the performance of its duties hereunder.

Section 22.        Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by any instrument in writing signed by all of the parties hereto so long as this Agreement as amended is not inconsistent with the Supplement in effect as of the date of any such amendment. The parties acknowledge that amendments to this Agreement (including with respect to Section 2(c)) are subject to prior notice requirements as set forth in the Tender and Paying Agent Agreement.

Section 23.        Benefits. Nothing herein, express of implied, shall give to any person, other than the Fund, the Remarketing Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Holder or Beneficial Owner (or their Agent Member) of VRRM-MFP Shares shall have or be deemed to have any right in respect of, or shall in any event be entitled to enforce or to seek recourse against any person in respect of, any provision of this Agreement, and any and all rights of holders of VRRM-MFP Shares or obligations of the Fund in respect thereof arise only under and as governed solely by the Declaration, the Supplement and by-laws of the Fund as they are in effect from time to time.

Section 24.        Notices and Wire Instructions.     Unless otherwise specified, any notices, requests, consents or other communications given or made hereunder or pursuant hereto shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly given or made upon receipt, if given by mail, or when delivered, if given by prepaid courier service, in each case addressed as follows: if to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, to either of them at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: [●]; if to the Remarketing Agent, to [●], [●], Attention: [●], Telephone: [●], Fax: [●], Email: [●]; and if to the Calculation and Paying Agent, to [●], [●], Attention: [●], Telephone: [●], Fax: [●], Email: [●]; or to such other address as any of the foregoing persons shall specify to the parties hereto in writing.

The Purchase Price of remarketed VRRM-MFP Shares, if paid through the Calculation and Paying Agent, shall be paid by the Remarketing Agent in immediately available funds by wire transfer to the Calculation and Paying Agent in accordance with the following instructions:

[●]

ABA# [●]

 

15


For Further Credit to Account # [●]

Ref: [●]

Attn: [●]

Tel: [●]

The remarketing fee shall be paid by the Fund in immediately available funds by wire transfer to the Remarketing Agent in accordance with the following instructions:

[●]

ABA# [●]

For Further Credit to Account # [●]

Ref: [●]

Attn: [●]

Tel: [●]

Email transmissions shall be deemed to have been validly given or made when sent to the following email addresses; if to the Fund or the Investment Adviser, to [●] and [●]; if to the Remarketing Agent, to [●]; or to such other address as any such parties shall specify to the other party in writing; and, if to the Calculation and Paying Agent, to [●].

Section 25.        Liability of Officers, Trustees and Shareholders. A copy of the Declaration is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Fund in such capacity and not individually and the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon such officer, any of the trustees or the shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

Section 26.        Nonpetition Covenant. Notwithstanding any prior termination of this Agreement, [●], solely in its capacity as Remarketing Agent, hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the redemption and the payment in full of the VRRM-MFP Shares and all accumulated dividends, petition or otherwise invoke the process of any court or government authority for the purpose of commencing a case against, the Fund under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Fund or any substantial part of the property of the Fund; provided, however, that nothing in this provision shall preclude, or be deemed to stop, the Remarketing Agent from taking any action prior to the expiration of the aforementioned one year and one day period in (x) any case or proceeding voluntarily filed or commenced by the Fund, (y) any involuntary insolvency proceeding filed or commenced against the Fund by a Person other than the Remarketing Agent, or (z) with respect to its rights or preferences as a Beneficial Owner or Holder of VRRM-MFP Shares.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by one of its duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

 

   NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND
   By_________________________________________________
   Name:
   Title:     
   NUVEEN FUND ADVISORS, LLC
   By_________________________________________________
   Name:
   Title:
   [NAME]
   By_________________________________________________
   Name:
   Title:

 

 

Signature Page to Remarketing Agreement (NVG Series [] MFP)


Exhibit A – Form of Tender Notice

NUVEEN AMT-FREE QUALITY MUNICIPAL

INCOME FUND (NVG) (THE “FUND”)

SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES IN THE VARIABLE RATE

REMARKETED MODE (“VRRM–MFP SHARES”)

TENDER NOTICE

 

  

Note:    The substance of this notice must be given by the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member to [●], as Remarketing Agent (the “Remarketing Agent”), appointed under the Remarketing Agreement, dated as of [●], between Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and the Remarketing Agent, in the manner provided in Schedule 1 hereto by Electronic Means prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day. Any Tender Notice delivered at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, shall be deemed to have been received by the Remarketing Agent on the next succeeding Business Day and the Purchase Date specified in this Tender Notice shall be postponed accordingly by one Business Day. The determination of the Remarketing Agent as to whether a Tender Notice has been properly delivered shall be conclusive and binding upon the Beneficial Owner and its Agent Member.

  

TO: [●], as Remarketing Agent

1.        In accordance with the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●] (the “Statement”), as modified with respect to the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode (the Initial Mode) by the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Supplement”); the undersigned, [●], [Beneficial Owner] [Agent Member of the Beneficial Owner] of the following VRRM–MFP Shares:

 

    VRRM–MFP Shares Series    

  

CUSIP Number

  

Number of VRRM–
MFP Shares    

tendered for remarketing (the    

         

“Designated Amount”)1    

[●]    [●]   

hereby notifies you of the election by the Beneficial Owner of the referenced VRRM–MFP Shares to tender such VRRM–MFP Shares for remarketing of the Designated Amount on the seventh calendar day following the date on which this Tender Notice is delivered to the

 

 

1 VRRM-MFP Shares may be tendered only in whole shares.


Remarketing Agent, or if such seventh calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day (the “Purchase Date”).

The name and DTC Participant No. of the Agent Member tendering on behalf of the Beneficial Owner is: ________________________________________

Name of Agent Member: _____________________________________

DTC Participant No. of Agent Member: _________________________

Name of Beneficial Owner: ___________________________________

Beneficial Owner’s account number: ____________________________

The person to contact at the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member and the related contact information are as follows:

Name: ________________________________________

Telephone No: _________________________________

Email address: _________________________________

The Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member acknowledges and agrees that the Person or Persons to whom or to whose order the Purchase Price of the tendered VRRM–MFP Shares is to be paid is/are the same as identified above.

2.        The undersigned acknowledges the obligation of the tendering Beneficial Owner to deliver the VRRM–MFP Shares that are the subject of this Tender Notice on or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the Purchase Date, and, in accordance with such obligation, the undersigned hereby undertakes to deliver or to cause to be delivered the VRRM–MFP Shares being sold [directly] or [through an Agent Member] to the Remarketing Agent, through the “funds against delivery” procedures of the Securities Depository, no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Purchase Date. The undersigned hereby also assigns and transfers and directs the Securities Depository or its nominee or the Remarketing Agent to transfer the tendered VRRM–MFP Shares to the purchaser in accordance with the procedures described in the Supplement, and otherwise according to the Securities Depository’s procedures, in exchange for the payment of the Purchase Price thereof on the Purchase Date.

3.        The undersigned confirms its agreement that it hereby transfers to the purchaser of the VRRM–MFP Shares tendered pursuant to this Tender Notice the right to receive from the Fund any dividends declared and unpaid for each day prior to the purchaser becoming the Beneficial Owner of the VRRM–MFP Shares in exchange for payment of the Purchase Price for such VRRM–MFP Share by the purchaser.

4.        The undersigned hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Remarketing Agent, the Fund and the Calculation and Paying Agent, that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the VRRM–MFP Shares to be


tendered hereby, and that the transferee will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim, when the same are tendered.

5.        The undersigned acknowledges that this Tender Notice is irrevocable and effective upon the receipt by the Remarketing Agent.

6.        Terms used herein and not otherwise defined will have the meanings given to such terms in the Supplement.

Dated:  ____________________________

[Complete applicable signature block below.]

_________________________________________

Print name of Beneficial Owner

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:

[OR]

_________________________________________

Print name of Agent Member

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:


SCHEDULE 1

TENDER NOTICE DELIVERY INFORMATION FOR

THE REMARKETING AGENT

This Tender Notice must be delivered by the Beneficial Owner or its Agent Member to [●] (the “Remarketing Agent”) by email transmission at the email address listed below or such other email address as the Remarketing Agent shall designate (or, if email transmission shall be unavailable, by facsimile transmission to the fax number listed below or such other fax number as the Remarketing Agent will designate) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day. If this Tender Notice is delivered after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, it will be deemed to have been received by the Remarketing Agent on the next succeeding Business Day, and the Purchase Date will be postponed accordingly by one Business Day:

Attention: [●]

[●]

Phone: [●]

Email: [●]

This Tender Notice will not be deemed to be delivered unless and until the Remarketing Agent actually receives it by the above-described means.


Exhibit B – Form of Remarketing Notice

TO [BENEFICAL OWNERS] [HOLDERS] OF

SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES IN THE VARIABLE RATE

REMARKETED MODE (“VRRM-MFP SHARES”)

OF NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND (NVG) (THE

“FUND”)

REMARKETING NOTICE

[Date]

 

  Re:

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares (the “VRRM-MFP Shares”)

Pursuant to [Section 2(d)] [Section 2(e)] [Section 2(f)] of the Remarketing Agreement dated [●] (the “Remarketing Agreement”), by and among Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund, a closed-end investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc., and [●] (the “Remarketing Agent”), the undersigned Remarketing Agent hereby notifies you of the following information regarding the remarketing of the VRRM-MFP Shares as of the date hereof:

1.        Information regarding the VRRM-MFP Shares is as follows:

VRRM-MFP Shares Series: A

CUSIP number: __________

2.        Remarketing Results:

Populate fields in the applicable section; delete inapplicable sections.

[For Optional Tenders]

 

  (i)

A purchaser or purchasers have been identified for the purchase of all of the Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares on the Purchase Date.

 

  (ii)

Number of Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares sold, subject to settlement: ___________.

 

  (iii)

The Purchase Date will be: _________________.


  (iv)

The Purchase Price per Tendered VRRM-MFP Share is: ______________.

[For Mandatory Tenders]

 

  (i)

A purchaser or purchasers have been identified for the purchase of all of the VRRM-MFP Shares on the Remarketing Date.

 

  (ii)

Number of VRRM-MFP Shares sold, subject to settlement: ___________.

 

  (iii)

The Remarketing Date will be: _________________.

 

  (iv)

The Regular Dividend Rate to be applicable to the VRRM-MFP Shares on the Remarketing Date will be: _________________.

 

  (v)

All VRRM-MFP Shares will be subject to mandatory tender for purchase on the Remarketing Date at a Purchase Price per VRRM-MFP Share of: _________________.

[For Transition to a New Mode]

(i)          A purchaser or purchasers have been identified for the purchase of all of the VRRM-MFP Shares on the New Mode Commencement Date.

 

  (ii)

Number of VRRM-MFP Shares sold, subject to settlement: ___________.

 

  (iii)

The New Mode Commencement Date will be: _________________.

 

  (iv)

The Regular Dividend Rate to be applicable to the VRRM-MFP Shares on the New Mode Commencement Date will be: _________________.

 

  (v)

All VRRM-MFP Shares will be subject to mandatory tender for purchase on the New Mode Commencement Date at a Purchase Price per share of: _________________

3.      Capitalized terms used herein will have the meanings given to them in or by reference to the Remarketing Agreement.


[●]

as Remarketing Agent

By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Cc:    [●]

 

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund


Exhibit C – Form of Failed Remarketing Notice

TO HOLDERS OF

SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES IN THE VARIABLE RATE

REMARKETED MODE (“VRRM-MFP SHARES”) OF

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND (NVG) (THE “FUND”)

CUSIP NO. []*

FAILED REMARKETING NOTICE

In accordance with the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●] (the “Statement”), as modified with respect to the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode (the Initial Mode) by the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Supplement”), the Fund hereby notifies Holders that:

Retain only the applicable section; delete inapplicable sections.

[For Optional Tender]

A Failed Remarketing Event has occurred with respect to Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares optionally tendered for remarketing. All Tendered VRRM-MFP Shares shall be retained by their respective Beneficial Owners.

[For Mandatory Tender]

A Failed Remarketing Event has occurred with respect to a mandatory tender of all Outstanding VRRM-MFP Shares for remarketing. All VRRM-MFP Shares shall be retained by their respective Holders.

[For Transition to New Mode]

A Failed Remarketing Event has occurred with respect to a mandatory tender of all Outstanding VRRM-MFP Shares for transition to a new Mode on the New Mode Commencement Date. All VRRM-MFP Shares shall be retained by their respective Holders. By not later than the Business Day immediately following the occurrence of the Failed Remarketing Event, the Fund will make an election, and provide a Failed Transition Election Notice in writing by Electronic Means to the Holders, the Remarketing Agent and the Calculation and Paying Agent, to either (i) cancel the

 

 

*  NOTE:   None of the Fund, the Remarketing Agent or the Calculation and Paying Agent will be responsible for the selection or use of the CUSIP Numbers selected, nor is any representation made as to its correctness indicated in any notice or as printed on any VRRM-MFP Share certificate.   It is included solely as a convenience to VRRM-MFP Shareholders.


attempted transition to a new Mode or (ii) continue to attempt to transition to a new Mode.

The Failed Remarketing Event [commences] [continues] a Failed Remarketing Period. During the Failed Remarketing Period, the Remarketing Agent will no longer determine the Regular Dividend Rate on a daily basis; dividends on all VRRM-MFP Shares will be payable at the Step-Up Dividend Rate (as determined by the Remarketing Agent commencing on the date of the Failed Remarketing Event); the right of Beneficial Owners to make optional tenders of their MuniFund Preferred Shares for remarketing is suspended; and all of the Outstanding VRRM-MFP Shares is subject to mandatory tender for remarketing. All Outstanding VRRM-MFP Shares are subject to mandatory redemption on [●] (the “Failed Remarketing Mandatory Redemption Date”).

This notice will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holders or Beneficial Owners receive this notice.

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined will have the meanings given to such terms in the Supplement.

Dated: ______________________

 

[NAME],
as Remarketing Agent
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

Cc:     [●]

   Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund


Exhibit D – Form of Retention Notice

NUVEEN AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL CREDIT INCOME FUND (NVG) (THE “FUND”)

SERIES [●] MUNIFUND PREFERRED SHARES IN THE VARIABLE RATE

REMARKETED MODE (“VRRM-MFP SHARES”)

CUSIP No. [●]*

RETENTION NOTICE

TO: [●], as Remarketing Agent

Further to the Remarketing Notice dated [●] (the “Remarketing Notice”) all VRRM-MFP Shares will be subject to mandatory tender for purchase at a price equal to [●] (the “Purchase Price”) on [●] (the “Remarketing Date”).

As set forth in the Fund’s Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●] (the “Statement”), as modified with respect to the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode (the Initial Mode) by the Supplement to the Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares Initially Designating the Variable Rate Remarketed Mode for the Series [●] MuniFund Preferred Shares effective [●], as amended, revised or supplemented from time to time (the “Supplement”), any Beneficial Owner of a VRRM-MFP Share that is not a Tendered VRRM-MFP Share that was part of the Failed Remarketing Event to which the Remarketing Notice relates, as determined by the Remarketing Agent, may deliver written notice to the Remarketing Agent and the Calculation and Paying Agent by Electronic Means at least three Business Days prior to the Remarketing Date that it wishes to retain its VRRM-MFP Shares (each such Beneficial Owner, a “Retaining Beneficial Owner”).

On the Remarketing Date, the VRRM-MFP Shares held by each Retaining Beneficial Owner will be subject to mandatory tender and repurchased by the Retaining Beneficial Owner at a price equal to the Purchase Price on the Remarketing Date.

For purposes of the foregoing, the undersigned Beneficial Owner of VRRM-MFP Shares hereby provides notice of its wish to retain VRRM-MFP Shares of which it is Beneficial Owner, in the following amount: [●]. The undersigned person electing to retain its VRRM-MFP Shares represents that it is the Beneficial Owner of the number of VRRM-MFP Shares set forth above, and such number constitutes all of the VRRM-MFP Shares owned by the undersigned.

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined will have the meanings given to such terms in the Supplement.

Dated:                                                  

 

 

*  NOTE:  None of the Fund, the Remarketing Agent or the Calculation and Paying Agent will be responsible for the selection or use of the CUSIP Numbers selected, nor is any representation made as to its correctness indicated in any notice or as printed on any VRRM-MFP Share certificate. It is included solely as a convenience to VRRM-MFP Shareholders.


[Complete applicable signature block below.]

___________________________________

Print name of Beneficial Owner

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:

[OR]

_________________________________

Print name of Agent Member

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:

Cc:     [●]

   Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund