AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.h(1)
AMENDED
AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT
made as of February 24, 2009 by and between BlackRock Fixed Income Value
Opportunities, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Fund") and BlackRock
Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company
Act"), as a closed-end, management investment company, and it is
affirmatively in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares ("Shares") for sale as
described in the Prospectus (as defined below); and
WHEREAS,
the Distributor is a securities firm engaged in the business of selling shares
of investment companies either directly to purchasers or through financial
intermediaries including, without limitation, brokers, dealers, retirement
plans, financial consultants, registered investment advisers and mutual fund
share markets ("financial
intermediaries"); and
WHEREAS,
the Fund and the Distributor wish to amend and restate the Distribution
Agreement previously entered into with respect to the offering of the Shares and
provision of ongoing investor services to investors in the Shares.
NOW
THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the
Distributor; Offering.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the
Fund hereby appoints the
Distributor as its exclusive distributor in connection with the distribution of
the Shares, and the Distributor hereby accepts
such appointment.
(b) The Distributor agrees to use its
reasonable efforts to sell
Shares to investors that the Distributor reasonably
believes meet the eligibility requirements, if any, set forth in the Fund's currently effective prospectus or
most recently dated offering memorandum (each such prospectus or
offering memorandum, as in
effect and as from time to time and as amended or supplemented, is herein called
a "Prospectus"). The Distributor may solicit subscriptions
for Shares during a subscription period that shall last for such period as may
be agreed upon by the
parties hereto. Upon the termination of the relevant
subscription period the Shares will be issued against payment and the Fund will commence
operations.
(c) The Distributor acknowledges that
Shares will be offered and sold only as set
forth from time to time in the Prospectus including, without limitation, pricing
of Shares, handling of investor funds, subscription dates, payment of sales commissions and
servicing and other fees and investor eligibility standards, if any. To the extent investor
eligibility standards shall
apply with respect to the
Fund, investors eligible to
purchase Shares of the
Fund shall be those persons
so identified in the Prospectus provided by the Fund to the Distributor from
time to time.
(d) The Fund may suspend or terminate the offering of its Shares at any time as to specific classes of
investors (if such separate classes are
established), as to specific jurisdictions or otherwise. Upon notice to the
Distributor of the terms of such suspension or termination, the
Distributor shall suspend
the solicitation of subscriptions for
Shares in accordance with such terms until the
Fund notifies the Distributor that such solicitation may be
resumed.
(e) It is acknowledged and agreed that the
Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific number of Shares or to purchase any Shares for its own
account.
(f) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the Fund, shall be advised of indications of interest and purchase orders for Shares received by
the Distributor. Any order may be rejected by
the Fund, provided, however, that the Fund will not arbitrarily or without
reasonable cause refuse to accept or confirm orders for the purchase of Shares
from eligible investors. The Distributor (directly or through its
financial intermediaries)
will confirm orders upon
the completion of the
offering and payment therefor. The Distributor agrees to cause such
payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its agent).
Section 2. Agency. In
offering Shares, the Distributor shall act solely as an agent of the Fund and
not as principal.
Section 3. Duties of the
Fund.
(a) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject always to any necessary
approval of the board of trustees of the Fund (the "Board") or of its shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number
of authorized Shares and
such steps as may be necessary to register the same under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Securities
Act"), to the end that there will be available for
sale such number of
Shares of each class
as the Distributor
reasonably may be expected to sell.
(b) For purposes of the offering of
Shares, the Fund will furnish to the Distributor copies
of its most recent
amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-2 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Registration
Statement"), its most recent Prospectus and all
amendments and supplements thereto, and the subscription
agreement, if
any, and other
documentation the
Distributor may reasonably request for use in the offering of Shares. The Distributor is authorized to furnish
to prospective investors only such information concerning the
Fund and the offering as may be contained in the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus,
the Fund's formation documents, or
any other documents
(including sales material), approved by the Fund.
(c) The Fund shall furnish to the Distributor
copies of all financial statements of the Fund which the Distributor may
reasonably request for use in connection with its duties hereunder,
and this shall include,
upon request by the Distributor, one certified copy of all financial statements
prepared for the Fund by independent public accountants.
(d) The Fund shall use its best efforts to
qualify and maintain during
the solicitation period,
to the extent required by
applicable law, the
qualification of Shares for sale
under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Distributor and the Fund may approve. Any such qualification may
be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund at any time in its discretion. The expense of
qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish such
information and other material relating to its affairs and activities as may be
required by the
Fund in connection with such
qualification.
(e) The Fund will furnish, in reasonable
quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of its annual and interim
reports.
(f) The Fund will furnish the Distributor with
such other documents as it may reasonably require, from time to time, for the purpose of
enabling it to perform its duties as contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 4. Duties of the
Distributor.
(a) The Distributor shall devote reasonable
time and effort to its duties hereunder. The services of the Distributor to the Fund hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive
and nothing herein contained shall prevent the Distributor from entering into
like arrangements with other investment companies so long as the performance of
its obligations with
respect to the Fund hereunder is not impaired
thereby.
(b) In performing its duties hereunder, the
Distributor shall use its best efforts in all respects to duly conform with the
requirements of all applicable laws relating to the sale of
securities. Neither the
Distributor nor any
financial intermediary having an agreement to offer and sell shares pursuant to
Section 5 hereof nor any other person is authorized by the Fund to give any information or to make
any representations, other than those contained in its Registration Statement, Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information, if any, and any sales literature specifically
approved by the
Fund.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow
procedures, as approved by the officers of the Fund, for the confirmation of sales to investors and selected dealers (as defined
below), the collection of amounts payable by investors and selected dealers on such sales,
and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be necessary to comply
with the requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
("FINRA") applicable to sales of
Shares, as such
requirements may from time to time exist.
(d) The Distributor agrees to appoint
financial intermediaries to provide distribution
services with respect to the Shares and personal investor services and account maintenance
services ("Investor
Services") to investors that are customers of such financial
intermediaries and to
assist the financial intermediaries in the provision of such services and for
the Distributor to provide such services to investors that are its
customers. Such
services shall include, but not be limited to:
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1.
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handling inquiries from investors
regarding the Fund, including but not limited to questions concerning
their investments in the Fund, repurchase offers and reports and tax information
provided by the Funds;
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2.
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assisting in the enhancement of
communications between investors and the
Fund;
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3.
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assisting in the preparation of
reports and transaction statements to
investors;
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4.
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providing sub-accounting
services for common
shares held beneficially;
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5.
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forwarding reports of the Fund and
other information to
investors;
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6.
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receiving, tabulating and
transmitting proxies; and
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7.
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providing such other information and
Investor Services as may be reasonably
requested by the
Fund.
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(e) The Distributor represents and warrants to the
Fund that it has all
necessary licenses to perform the services contemplated hereunder and will
perform such services in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations
and it shall obtain
adequate assurances from the financial intermediaries with respect to their
licensing and performance of services contemplated by this
Agreement, including
without limitation applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations of the
United States and
any jurisdiction in which
investors are
solicited.
Section 5. Agreements with Financial
Intermediaries.
(a) The Distributor shall have the right to
enter into agreements with financial intermediaries that are members in good standing of FINRA and who agree to abide by the Conduct Rules of FINRA
for the sale of
Shares and the provision of
Investor Services; provided
that the Distributor shall periodically inform the Fund’s Board of the nature and substance of such
agreements and that the Fund shall approve the forms of agreements with such
financial
intermediaries.
Shares sold to such financial intermediaries shall be for resale by such financial intermediaries only.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell
shares only to such financial intermediaries who are acting as brokers or dealers who
are members in good
standing of FINRA and who
agree to abide by the Conduct Rules of FINRA.
(c) The Distributor shall obtain adequate
assurance from any financial intermediary which it engages of the compliance by such financial
intermediary with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Conduct
Rules of FINRA.
Section 6. Fees.
(a) The Distributor and the financial intermediaries
shall be entitled to charge sales compensation to investors on the purchase price of Shares of the Fund and receive other sales and service
compensation from investors in the Fund or from other sources, including
without limitation the
Fund and affiliates of the
Distributor, if, and only to the extent, specified in the Fund's Prospectus; provided that the Distributor shall have
the authority to adjust or waive such sales compensation and services
fees, if any, in particular
cases, at its sole discretion, in consultation with
the Fund and as generally described in the Prospectus. The Distributor
may
pay or allow such portion of
any sales compensation and service fees to
financial intermediaries that sold the Shares as may be agreed to from
time to time by the Fund and the Distributor and disclosed in the
Fund's
Prospectus; provided,
however, the such financial intermediaries must be members in good standing of FINRA and agree to abide by the Conduct
Rules of FINRA.
(b) The Distributor may pay amounts pursuant
to this Section 6 to any affiliated person of the Distributor that sells Shares or provides
Investor Services.
Section 7. Payment of
Expenses.
(a) The Fund shall bear all of its own costs and
expenses, including fees and disbursements of its counsel and auditors, in
connection with the preparation of its Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information, if any, the preparation and filing of any required registration
statements under the Securities Act and/or the Investment Company Act, and all
amendments and supplements thereto, and in connection with any fees and expenses incurred with respect
to any filings with the FINRA and preparing and mailing annual and
interim reports and proxy materials to shareholders (including but not limited
to the expense of setting in type any such Registration Statement,
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information
or interim reports or proxy
materials).
(b) The Fund shall bear any cost and expenses of
qualification of Shares for sale pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 8. Indemnification.
(a) The Fund severally shall indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor
and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor, against any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of
investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense and reasonable counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith), as incurred, arising by reason of any person
acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the Securities
Act, or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information,
if any, of the Fund, as
from time to time amended and supplemented, or an annual or interim report to
shareholders of the Fund, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Distributor; provided,
however, that in no case
(i) is the indemnity of the
Fund in favor of the
Distributor and any such controlling persons to be deemed to protect the
Distributor or any such controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which the Distributor or any such
controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
the reckless disregard of
their obligations and duties under this Agreement or (ii) is the Fund to be liable under its indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the
Distributor or any such controlling persons, unless the Distributor or such controlling
persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Fund in writing within a reasonable time
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim or claims that have been served
upon the Distributor or such controlling
persons (or after the Distributor or such controlling persons shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify
the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve
it from any liability which
it may have to the person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The Fund will be entitled to participate at
its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such liability, but if the Fund elects to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the
Distributor, or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any
such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor, or such controlling person
or persons, defendant or
defendants in the suit,
shall bear the fees and expenses, as incurred, of any additional counsel retained
by them, but in case the
Fund does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Distributor, or such controlling person
or persons, defendant or
defendants in the suit,
for the reasonable fees and expenses, as incurred, of any
counsel retained by them.
The Fund shall promptly notify the Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or trustees in connection with the issuance
or sale of any of Shares.
(a) The Fund shall not indemnify any person
pursuant to this Section 8 unless the court or other body before which the
proceeding was brought has rendered a final decision on the merits that such
person was not liable by
reason of his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of his or her duties, or his or her reckless disregard of any
obligations and duties, under this Agreement ("disabling conduct") or, in the
absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination
(based upon a review of the facts) that such person was not liable by reason of
disabling conduct has been made by the vote of a majority of a quorum of the
trustees of the Fund who are neither interested persons nor
parties to the proceeding,
or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
(c) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Fund and each of its trustees and officers and each person, if any,
who controls the Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as incurred,
described in the foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section
8, but only with respect to statements or
omissions made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished
to the Fund in writing by
or on behalf of the Distributor for use in connection with the Registration
Statement, Prospectus,
Statement of Additional Information, if any, or other offering materials, as from
time to time amended, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders. In case any action shall be brought against
the Fund or any person so indemnified, in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Distributor, the
Distributor shall have the rights and duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so indemnified shall have the rights
and duties given to the Distributor by the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 8.
Section 9. Duration and Termination of
this Agreement.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective as
of the date first above written and shall remain in force for
two years thereafter and thereafter continue from year to year, but only so long
as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by
the trustees or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting
securities of the
Fund, and (ii) by the vote of
a
majority of those trustees who are not parties to this Agreement
or interested persons of any such party cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without
the payment of any penalty by the trustees or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on sixty
days' written notice to the other party. This
Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment. The
provisions of Section 8, 11 and 12 of this Agreement shall survive its
termination.
(c) The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities," "assignment," "affiliated person" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company
Act.
Section 10. Amendments of this
Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such
amendment is specifically approved (i) by the trustees or by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) by the vote
of a majority of those trustees of the Fund who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Section 11. Governing
Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York as at the time
in effect and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the
extent that the applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act, the latter shall control.
Section 12. Proprietary and Confidential
Information. The Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and
its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Fund
all records and other information relative to the Fund and prior, present or
potential shareholders, and not to use such records and information for any
purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder,
except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, records and information shall not be subject to the foregoing
obligations set forth in this Section 12 if they are required to be disclosed by
the Distributor pursuant to a requirement of a court order, subpoena,
governmental or regulatory agency or law (provided by the Distributor will
provide the Fund written notice of such requirement, to the extent such notice
is permitted). The provisions of this Section 12 shall survive
termination of this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written. This Agreement may be executed by the parties
hereto in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
BLACKROCK
FIXED INCOME VALUE
OPPORTUNITIES
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By:
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Name:
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Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief
Financial Officer
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BLACKROCK
INVESTMENTS, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
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Title:
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Managing
Director
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