EXHIBIT (H)(1)
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MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND III, INC.
(A MARYLAND CORPORATION)
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: , 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties......................................................... 2
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser.................... 2
(b) Additional Representations of the Adviser..................................... 7
(c) Officer's Certificates........................................................ 7
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to the Underwriter; Closing.......................................... 7
(a) Initial Shares................................................................ 7
(b) Option Shares................................................................. 8
(c) Payment....................................................................... 8
(d) Denominations; Registration................................................... 8
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Fund.................................................................. 9
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission
Requests...................................................................... 9
(b) Filing of Amendments.......................................................... 9
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements........................................... 9
(d) Delivery of Prospectus........................................................ 10
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws..................................... 10
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications....................................................... 10
(g) Rule 158...................................................................... 10
(h) Use of Proceeds............................................................... 11
(i) Subchapter M.................................................................. 11
(j) Listing....................................................................... 11
(k) Restrictions on Sale of Shares................................................ 11
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.................................................................... 11
(a) Expenses....................................................................... 11
(b) Termination of Agreement....................................................... 12
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriter's Obligations................................................ 12
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement....................................... 12
(b) Opinion of Counsel for the Fund and the Underwriter........................... 12
(c) Opinion of General Counsel of the Adviser..................................... 12
(d) Officers' Certificates........................................................ 12
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter................................................... 13
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter..................................................... 13
(g) Approval of Listing........................................................... 13
(h) No Objection.................................................................. 13
(i) Conditions to Purchase Option Shares.......................................... 13
(j) Additional Documents.......................................................... 14
(k) Termination of Agreement...................................................... 14
(i)
SECTION 6. Indemnification........................................................................... 14
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriter............................................... 14
(b) Indemnification of Fund, Adviser, Directors, General Partner and Officers........ 15
(c) Actions against Parties, Notification............................................ 15
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse............................... 16
SECTION 7. Contribution.............................................................................. 16
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery............................ 17
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.................................................................. 17
(a) Termination; General............................................................. 17
(b) Liabilities...................................................................... 18
SECTION 10. Notices.................................................................................. 18
SECTION 11. Parties.................................................................................. 19
SECTION 12. Governing Law and Time................................................................... 19
SECTION 13. Effect of Headings....................................................................... 19
SCHEDULE A. ......................................................................................... 21
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Fund's Counsel
Exhibit B Form of Opinion of General Counsel of the Investment Adviser
Exhibit C - Form of Accountant's Comfort Letter
(ii)
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND III, INC.
(a Maryland corporation)
_________ Shares of Common Stock
(Par Value $.10 Per Share)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
____________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
MuniHoldings Insured Fund III, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"),
and Fund Asset Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Adviser"),
each confirms its agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated (the "Underwriter"), with respect to the issue and
sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriter of _______ shares of common
stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Fund (the "Common Stock"), and, with
respect to the grant by the Fund to the Underwriter of the option described in
Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of ________ additional shares of
Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The aforesaid ____________ shares
of Common Stock (the "Initial Shares") to be purchased by the Underwriter and
all or any part of the ____________ shares of Common Stock subject to the option
described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "Option Shares"), are hereinafter called,
collectively, the "Shares."
The Fund understands that the Underwriter proposes to make a public
offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable after this
Agreement has been executed and delivered.
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
"Investment Company Act"), and a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333- ),
including the related preliminary prospectus, for the registration of the Shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the Investment
Company Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
and the Investment Company Act (together, the "Rules and Regulations"), and has
filed such amendments to such registration statement on Form N-2, if any, and
such amended preliminary
prospectuses as may have been required to the date hereof. Promptly after
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Fund will either (i) prepare and
file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c) of Rule 497
("Rule 497(c)") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933
Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") or a certificate in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph (j) of Rule 497 ("Rule 497(j)") of the 1933 Act
Regulations, (ii) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the 1933 Act Regulations and paragraph
(h) of Rule 497 ("Rule 497(h)") of the 1933 Act Regulations, or (iii) if the
Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations,
prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions
of Rule 434 and Rule 497(h). The information included in any such prospectus or
in any such Term Sheet, as the case may be, that was omitted from such
registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be
part of such registration statement at the time it became effective (a) pursuant
to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b)
pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information."
Each prospectus used before such registration statement became effective, and
any prospectus that omitted, as applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the
Rule 434 Information, that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary
prospectus." Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto and
schedules thereto, if any, at the time it became effective and including the
Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein
called the "Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed pursuant
to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the term "Registration
Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final
prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriter for use in connection
with the offering of the Shares is herein called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434
is relied on, the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus
dated __________, 1999, together with the applicable Term Sheet and all
references in this Agreement to the date of such Prospectus shall mean the date
of the applicable Term Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any
Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("▇▇▇▇▇").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and
other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
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(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser. The Fund
and the Adviser each severally represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of
the date hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof and
as of the Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and
agrees with the Underwriter, as follows:
2
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Fund meets the
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requirements for use of Form N-2 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the
Fund, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of
the Commission for additional information has been complied with. If
required, the Fund has received any orders exempting the Fund from any
provisions of the Investment Company Act.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Shares are purchased,
at the Date of Delivery) the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto complied
and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933
Act, the Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not
and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus, nor any
amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto were issued and at the Closing Time (and,
if any Option Shares are purchased, at the Date of Delivery) included or
will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not
apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Fund in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use in
the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus. If Rule 434 is used, the
Fund will comply with the requirements of Rule 434.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 497(c) or Rule 497(h) under the 1933
Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and
Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to
the Underwriter for use in connection with this offering was identical to
the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
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financial statements and supporting schedules, if any, included in the
Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by
the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(iii) Financial Statements. The financial statements, included in the
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Registration Statement and Prospectus, together with the related schedules
and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Fund at the date
indicated and said statements
3
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the period
involved. The supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration
Statement present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required
to be stated therein.
(iv) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective
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dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and in
the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse
Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund,
other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Fund and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution
of any kind declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its capital
stock.
(v) Good Standing of the Fund. The Fund has been duly organized and
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is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Maryland and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and the Fund is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so
to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(vi) Subsidiaries. The Fund has no subsidiaries.
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(vii) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
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stock of the Fund is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock."
(viii) Investment Company Act. The Fund is registered with the
----------------------
Commission under the Investment Company Act as a closed-end, non-
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.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement been duly
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authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund.
(x) Authorization and Description of Shares. The Shares 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 in this Agreement will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares conform to all statements
relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms
to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; no holder of
the Shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a
holder; and the issuance of the
4
Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Fund.
(xi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Fund is not in
---------------------------------
violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Fund
is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound, or to which any
of the property or assets of the Fund is subject (collectively, "Agreements
and Instruments"), except for such defaults that would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement
referred to in the Registration Statement (as used herein, the "Advisory
Agreement" and the "Custody Agreement," respectively) and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration
Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the
proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under
the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance by the Fund with its
obligations under this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the
giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or a default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of the Fund pursuant to the Agreements and
Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens,
charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
the charter or the by-laws of the Fund, or any applicable law, statute,
rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its assets, properties or operations.
As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which
gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness
(or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the
repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such
indebtedness by the Fund.
(xii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
----------------------
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Fund, threatened against or affecting, the Fund, which is required to
be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed
therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and
adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the
Fund of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or
governmental proceedings to which the Fund is a party or of which any of
its respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in
the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation
incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
5
(xiii) Subchapter M Compliance. The Fund intends to, and will, direct
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the investment of proceeds of the offering described in the Registration
Statement in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Subchapter M of the
Code"), and intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code.
(xiv) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents
--------------------
which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so
described and filed as required.
(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Fund owns or
-----------------------------------
possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent
rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets
and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names
or other intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual Property")
necessary to carry on the business now operated by it, and the Fund has not
received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or
of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property
invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Fund therein, and
which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate,
would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
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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 Shares
under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be
required under the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations
and foreign or state securities or blue sky laws.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Fund possesses such
----------------------------------
permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct
the business now operated by it; the Fund is in compliance with the terms
and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure
so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and
effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the
failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would
not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Fund has not received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
6
(b) Additional Representations of the Adviser. The Adviser represents and
warrants to the Underwriter as of the date hereof and as of the Representation
Date as follows:
(i) Organization and Authority of Adviser. The Adviser has been
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duly organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with power and authority to conduct its business as described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(ii) Investment Advisers Act. The Adviser is duly registered as an
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investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Advisers Act"), and is not prohibited by the Investment
Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act, or the rules and regulations
under such acts, from acting under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund as
contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(iii) Authorization of Agreements. This Agreement has been duly
---------------------------
authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser; the Advisory Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Adviser, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equitable principles; and neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Advisory Agreement, nor the
performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will
conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of,
or constitute, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
both, a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is
a party or by which it is bound, or any law, order, rule or regulation
applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, Federal or state regulatory
body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or
securities association having jurisdiction over the Adviser or its
respective properties or operations.
(iv) Financial Resources. The Adviser has the financial resources
-------------------
available to it necessary for the performance of its services and
obligations as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(v) Rule 482 Compliance. Any advertisement approved by the Adviser
-------------------
for use in the public offering of the Shares pursuant to Rule 482 under the
1933 Act Regulations (an "Omitting Prospectus") complies with the
requirements of such Rule 482.
(c) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Fund or any officer of the Adviser delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel
for the Fund and the Underwriter shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Fund or the Adviser, as the case may be, to the Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to the Underwriter; Closing.
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(a) Initial Shares. 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
7
Underwriter and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Fund the Initial
Shares at the price per share set forth in Schedule A.
(b) Option Shares. In addition, on the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Fund hereby grants an option to the Underwriter to purchase up to an
additional ________ shares of Common Stock at the price per share set forth in
Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions
declared by the Fund and payable on the Initial Shares but not payable on the
Option Shares. The option hereby granted will expire 45 days after the date
hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the
purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the
offering and distribution of the Initial Shares upon notice by the Underwriter
to the Fund setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the
Underwriter is then exercising the option and the time, date and place of
payment and delivery for such Option Shares. Any such time and date of delivery
for the Option Shares (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the
Underwriter, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the
exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to Closing Time, as hereinafter
defined.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Shares shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, or at such
other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund, at 9:00
A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M.
(Eastern time) on any given day) business day following the date 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
herein being referred to as "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Shares are
purchased by the Underwriter, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, such Option Shares shall be made at the above-mentioned
offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ & Wood LLP, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by
the Underwriter and the Fund, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the
notice from the Underwriter to the Fund.
Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to the
Underwriter of certificates for the Shares to be purchased by it.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial Shares and
the Option Shares, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the Underwriter may request in writing at least one full business day
before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
The certificates for the Initial Shares and the Option Shares will be made
available by the Fund for examination by the Underwriter not later than 10:00
A.M. on the last business day prior to Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as
the case may be.
8
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Fund. The Fund covenants 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 430A or
Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Underwriter immediately, and
confirm the notice in writing, (i) if any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement shall have become effective, or any supplement to the
Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt
of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for
any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to
the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering
or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes, and (v) of the issuance by the Commission
of an order of suspension or revocation of the notification on Form N-8A of
registration of the Fund as an investment company under the Investment Company
Act or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose. The Fund will make
every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order described in
subsection (iv) hereunder or any order of suspension or revocation described in
subsection (v) hereunder and, if any such stop order or order of suspension or
revocation is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
moment. The Fund will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule
497(c), Rule 497(j) or Rule 497(h) and will take such steps as it deems
necessary to ascertain promptly whether the certificate transmitted for filing
under Rule 497(j) or the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule
497(c) or Rule 497(h) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the
event that it was not, it will promptly file such certificate or prospectus.
(b) Filing of Amendments. The Fund will give the Underwriter notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement
(including any post-effective amendment or filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term
Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included
in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the
Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Investment Company Act, the 1933 Act, or
otherwise, and will furnish the Underwriter with copies of any such documents a
reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may
be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Underwriter or
counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund shall object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has furnished or will
deliver to the Underwriter and counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund, without
charge, signed copies of the notification of registration on Form N-8A and
Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto,
(including exhibits filed therewith, or incorporated by reference therein) and
signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver
to the Underwriter a conformed copy, without charge, of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits)
for the Underwriter. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto furnished to the Underwriter will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
9
(d) Delivery of Prospectus. The Fund has delivered to the Underwriter,
without charge, as many copies of each 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 the Prospectus is 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
field with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Fund will comply with
the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations so as to
permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by
the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event
shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in
the opinion of counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund, to amend the
Registration Statement or amend or supplement any Prospectus in order that the
Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is
delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such
counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or
supplement any Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with
the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be
necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Fund will
furnish to the Underwriter such number of copies of such amendment or supplement
as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the Underwriter, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale
under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions 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 and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided,
however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any general consent to
service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
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 Shares have been
so qualified, the Fund will file such statements and reports as may be required
by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a
period of not less than one year from the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(g) Rule 158. The Fund will timely file such reports pursuant to the
Investment Company Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to
its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the
purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of
Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
10
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it
from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under "Use
of Proceeds."
(i) Subchapter M. The Fund will use its best efforts to maintain its
qualification as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
(j) Listing. The Fund will use its best efforts to effect the listing of
the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange so that trading on such Exchange will
begin no later than two weeks from the date of the Prospectus.
(k) Restrictions on Sale of Shares. During a period of 180 days from the
date of the Prospectus, the Fund will not, without your prior written consent,
directly or indirectly offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any share of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with
respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other
agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether
any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock of such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold
hereunder or (B) any shares or Common Stock issued pursuant to any dividend
reinvestment plan.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
-------------------
(a) Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing
and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and
exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriter of this Agreement and such
other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase,
sale issuance or delivery of the Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and
delivery of the certificates for the Shares 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 Shares to the Underwriter, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Fund's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the
qualification of the Shares under the securities laws in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund in connection
therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any
supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriter of copies
of each preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery
to the Underwriter of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto,
(viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares
and (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund in connection with the review by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of
the sale of the Shares and (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the listing of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
11
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Underwriter in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i)
hereof, the Fund or the Adviser shall reimburse the Underwriter for all of its
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter. In the event the transactions
contemplated hereunder are not consummated, the Adviser agrees to pay all of the
costs and expenses set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 4 which the Fund
would have paid if such transactions had been consummated.
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 Adviser contained in Section 1 hereof, or in the
certificates of any officer of the Fund and the Adviser delivered pursuant to
the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund and the Adviser of their
respective covenants and obligations hereunder, and to the following further
conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement
including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become effective and at
Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriter and the Fund. Either (i) a
certificate has been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497(j) or
a prospectus has been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497(c),
or (ii) a prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed
with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497(h) (or a post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if the Fund has
elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been filed with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 497(h).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for the Fund and the Underwriter. At Closing Time,
the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter, to the
effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
(c) Opinion of General Counsel of the Adviser. At Closing Time, the
Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time,
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., General Counsel to the Adviser, or a senior
attorney of the Adviser, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the
Underwriter, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further
effect as counsel to the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(d) Officers' Certificates. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the
Underwriter shall have received (A) a certificate of the President or a Vice
President of the Fund, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there
has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and
warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and
effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time,
12
(iii) the Fund has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or are contemplated by the Commission and (B) a certificate of the President or
a Vice President of the Adviser, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that
(i) the representations and warranties in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) hereof are true
and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Time, and (ii) the Adviser has complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to
Closing Time.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Underwriter shall have received from ____________________ a
letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto and to
such further effect as counsel to the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have
received from _______________ a letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect
that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter, furnished pursuant to
subsection (e) of this Section, except that the "specified date" referred to
shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.
(g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Shares shall have been
approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official
notice of issuance.
(h) No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.
(i) Conditions to Purchase Option Shares. In the event that the
Underwriter exercises its option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all
or any portion of the Option Shares, the representations and warranties of the
Fund and the Adviser contained herein and the statements in any certificates
furnished by the Fund and the Adviser hereunder shall be true and correct as of
each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Underwriter
shall have received:
(i) Officers' Certificates. Certificates, dated such Date of
----------------------
Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Fund and of the
President or a Vice President of the Adviser confirming that the respective
certificates delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof
remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinions of Counsel. The favorable opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP,
-------------------
counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter, and of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Esq., General Counsel of the Adviser, or a senior attorney of the Adviser,
each in form and substance satisfactory to the counsel for the Underwriter,
dated such Date of Delivery, relating to
13
the Option Shares to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to
the same effect as the opinions required by Sections 5(b) and 5(c) hereof,
respectively.
(iii) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from _______________ in
-------------------------
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter and dated such Date of
Delivery, substantially the same in form and substance as the letter
furnished to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 5(e), except that the
"specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall
be a date not more than five days prior to such Date of Delivery.
(j) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter shall have been furnished with such
documents and opinions as it may require for the purpose of enabling it to pass
upon the issuance and sale of the Shares 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 in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares as
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Underwriter and counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter.
(k) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Shares on
a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the
Underwriter to purchase the relevant Option Shares, may be terminated by the
Underwriter by notice to the Fund at any time at or prior to Closing Time or
such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and
except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain
in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
---------------
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriter. (1) The Fund and the Adviser
jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the
Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any
preliminary prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
14
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, provided that
(subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the indemnifying party; and
(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 written information furnished to the Fund by the
Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if
applicable, or any preliminary prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(2) Insofar as this indemnity agreement may permit indemnification for
liabilities under the 1933 Act of any person who is a partner of the Underwriter
or who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
and who, at the date of this Agreement, is a director or officer of the Fund or
controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, such
indemnity agreement is subject to the undertaking of the Fund in the
Registration Statement under Item 29 thereof.
(b) Indemnification of Fund, Adviser, Directors, General Partner and
Officers. The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Adviser, the directors of the Fund, the general partner of the Adviser, each of
the Fund's officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if
any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as
incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or in any preliminary prospectus, any Omitting
Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund
by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), or any preliminary prospectus, any Omitting Prospectus or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(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
15
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and
in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise
than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be
selected by the Underwriter, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the
Fund and the Adviser. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense
in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the
indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party)
also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying
parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in
addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
(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
Section 6 (a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
16
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
------------
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund and the
Adviser on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand from the offering
of the Shares 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 Adviser 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 Adviser on the one hand
and the Underwriter on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant
to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund, and the
total underwriting commission received by the Underwriter, in each case as set
forth or otherwise indicated on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is
used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the sum of the
aggregate initial public offering price of the Shares and the total underwriting
commission received by the Underwriter as set forth or otherwise indicated on
such cover.
The relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser 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 and the Adviser 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 Adviser and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The
aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred
by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed
to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, the Underwriter shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares 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 any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
17
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each director of the Fund and the
Adviser, respectively, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Fund and the Adviser within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Fund and the Adviser.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
-----------------------------------------------------
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
--------
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund or of the Adviser submitted
pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or controlling
person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser and shall survive delivery
of the Shares to the Underwriter.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
------------------------
(a) Termination; General. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement by
notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has
been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Fund or the Adviser, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the
international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation
thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a
prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic
conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the
judgment of the Underwriter, impracticable to market the Shares or to enforce
contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iii) if trading in any securities of
the Fund has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New
York Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or
the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended
or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed,
or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by any of said
exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other governmental authority, or
(iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York
authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
-------
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard
18
form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriter shall be directed to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated at
North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1201, Attention:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President; notices to the Fund or to the Adviser shall be
directed to each of them at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, President.
SECTION 11. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
-------
binding upon the Underwriter, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriter, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective successors and the
controlling persons and officers, directors and general partner referred to in
Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriter,
the Fund and the Adviser and their respective successors, and said controlling
persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives,
and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of
Shares from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason
of such purchase.
SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
----------------------
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED
TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 13. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein
------------------
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
19
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Fund a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the Underwriter and the Fund and the Adviser in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND III, INC.
By: ___________________________
Authorized Officer
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By: ___________________________
Authorized Officer
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By: ____________________________
Authorized Signatory
20
SCHEDULE A
----------
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND III, INC.
(a Maryland corporation)
_____________ Shares of Common Stock
(Par Value $.10 Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Shares,
determined as provided in Section 2 hereof, and the purchase price per share for
the Shares to be paid by the Underwriter, shall be $15.00.
2. The Adviser will pay, or arrange for an affiliate to pay, a
commission to the Underwriter in the amount of $ per share for the Shares
purchased by the Underwriter.
21
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF FUND'S COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(i) The Fund has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.
(ii) The Fund has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to
enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Fund is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or
to be in good standing would not result in a material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business (a "Material Adverse Effect").
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Fund is
as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Capital Stock."
(v) The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter from the Fund have
been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriter pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth in the
Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and
no holder of the Shares is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of
being such a holder.
(vi) The issuance of the Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other
similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(vii) To the best of our knowledge, the Fund does not have any
subsidiaries.
(viii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Fund and complies with all applicable provisions of the
Investment Company Act.
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing
of the certificate pursuant to Rule 497(j) or the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
497(c) or Rule 497(h), as the case may be, has been made in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 497(j), Rule 497(c) or Rule 497(h), as
the case may be; and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has been
A-1
issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as
applicable, the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, as of their respective effective or issue dates
(other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein
or omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion) complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the
Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(xi) The form of certificate used to evidence the Common Stock complies
in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements, with any
applicable requirements of the charter and by-laws of the Fund and the
requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
(xii) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Fund is a
party, or to which the property of the Fund is subject, before or brought by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which might
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might
reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or
assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the
Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Fund of its obligations thereunder,
other than those disclosed in the Prospectus.
(xiii) The information in the Prospectus under "Description of Capital
Stock" and "Taxes" and in the Registration Statement under Item 29, to the
extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the
Fund's charter and bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been
reviewed by us and is correct in all material respects.
(xiv) To the best of our knowledge, there are no statutes or regulations
that are required to be described in the Prospectus that are not described as
required.
(xv) All descriptions in the Prospectus of contracts and other documents
to which the Fund is a party are accurate in all material respects; to the best
of our knowledge, there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages,
loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments of the Fund required to be
described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as
exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed or
incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, and the descriptions thereof or
references thereto are correct in all material respects.
(xvi) To the best of our knowledge, the Fund is not in violation of its
charter or by-laws and no default by the Fund exists in the due performance or
observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
other agreement or instrument that is described or referred to in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
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(xvii) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license,
order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than under the 1933 Act, the
Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations, which have been obtained,
or as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
states, as to which we need express no opinion) is necessary or required in
connection with the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase
Agreement, the Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement or for the offering,
issuance, sale or delivery of the Shares.
(xviii) The Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement have each been
duly authorized and approved by the Fund and comply as to form in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, and each
has been duly executed by the Fund.
(xix) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the Investment
Company Act as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company, and
all required action has been taken by the Fund under the 1933 Act, the
Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations to make the public offering
and consummate the sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; the
provisions of the charter and the by-laws of the Fund comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Investment Company Act; and, to
the best of their knowledge and information, no order of suspension or
revocation of such registration under the Investment Company Act, pursuant to
Section 8(e) of the Investment Company Act, has been issued or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(xx) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement
and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Shares, and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in
the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance by the Fund
with its obligations under the Purchase Agreement do not and will not, whether
with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined in Section
1(a)(xi) of the Purchase Agreement) under or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Fund pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument, known to us,
to which the Fund is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Fund is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches
or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a Material
Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the charter or by-laws of the Fund, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known to us, of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Fund or any of its properties, assets or operations.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need
A-3
make no statement), at the time such Registration Statement or any such
amendment became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and schedules
and other financial data included or incorporated by reference therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no statement), at the time the
Prospectus was issued, at the time any such amended or supplemented prospectus
was issued or at the Closing Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits 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.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact (but
not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on certificates
and written statements of responsible officers of and accountants for the Fund
and the Adviser and public officials. Such opinion shall not state that it is to
be governed or qualified by, or that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise,
written policy or other document relating to legal opinions, including, without
limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991).
A-4
Exhibit B
FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE
INVESTMENT ADVISER TO BE DELIVERED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)
(i) The Adviser has been duly organized as a limited partnership under
the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.
(ii) The Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Investment Advisers Act or
the Investment Company Act, or the rules and regulations under such Acts, from
acting under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(iii) This Agreement and the Advisory Agreement have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Adviser, and the Advisory Agreement constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles; and, to the best of his knowledge and information, neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Advisory Agreement nor the
performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will
conflict with, or result in a breach of, any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, a
default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is a party or by
which the Adviser is bound, or any law, order, rule or regulation applicable to
the Adviser of any jurisdiction, court, Federal or state regulatory body,
administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or securities
association having jurisdiction over the Adviser or its properties or
operations.
(iv) To the best of his knowledge and information, the description of the
Adviser in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
B-1
Exhibit C
FORM OF ACCOUNTANTS'
COMFORT LETTER PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(e)
1. We are independent public accountants with respect to the Company
within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
2. In our opinion the financial statements audited by us and included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act, the
Investment Company Act and the Rules and Regulations.
Such accountants shall also state that they have performed specified
procedures, not constituting an audit, including a reading of the latest
available interim financial statements of the Fund, a reading of the minute
books of the Fund, made inquiries of officials of the Fund responsible for
financial accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
specified in such letter, and on the basis of such inquiries and procedures
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that at the date of
the latest available financial statements read by such accountants, or at a
subsequent specified date not more than three days prior to the date of the
Purchase Agreement, there was any change in the capital stock or net assets of
the Fund as compared with amounts shown on the financial statements included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
C-1
