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HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC.
One Liberty Plaza, 000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-1404
OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH 292,825
OF ITS ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING SHARES
AT NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THIS SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS CERTAIN INFORMATION IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE. TO
UNDERSTAND THE OFFER FULLY AND FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE TERMS OF
THE OFFER, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THIS ENTIRE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE
RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FOR THE FUND. WE HAVE INCLUDED SECTION REFERENCES
TO DIRECT YOU TO A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE TOPICS IN THIS SUMMARY.
o WHAT SECURITIES IS HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC. OFFERING TO
PURCHASE? Hyperion Strategic Bond Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is offering
to purchase up to 292,825 Shares of its common stock ("Shares") that
may be held by you and other stockholders. If more than 292,825 Shares
are surrendered (or "tendered") by stockholders in response to this
Offer, the Fund expects either to extend its Offer period and increase
the number of Shares it is offering to purchase or to purchase the
Shares tendered on a pro rata basis. The Offer is not conditioned upon
the tender of any minimum number of Shares. See Section 1 "Price;
Number of Shares."
o HOW DO I TENDER MY SHARES? See Section 2 "Procedure for Tendering
Shares."
If your Shares are registered in the name of your broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must
contact the entity and request that your Shares be tendered to the
Fund.
If you wish to tender your Shares and your respective Shares are
registered in your name, you may send your a properly completed and
executed Letter of Transmittal and any additional documents required
by the Letter of Transmittal to the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent
must receive these documents prior to the scheduled expiration of the
Offer (currently Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time).
o HOW MUCH IS THE FUND OFFERING TO PAY ME FOR MY SHARES? The Fund will
pay you cash in an amount equal to the Fund's net asset value ("NAV")
per Share as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange
on the expiration date (currently Thursday, September 30, 2004). As of
July 30, 2004, the Fund's NAV, which fluctuates on a monthly basis,
was $6.83 per Share. See Section 1 "Price; Number of Shares."
o WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY FEES OR COMMISSION IF I TENDER MY SHARES? The
Fund will not charge you a fee if you tender your Shares. If you
tender your Shares through a broker, dealer or other nominee, that
broker, dealer or other nominee may charge you a fee for processing
the transaction on your behalf. See Section 2 "Procedure for Tendering
Shares."
o WILL THERE BE ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES TO ME IF I TENDER MY SHARES? If
your tendered Shares are accepted, it will be a taxable transaction
either in the form of a "sale or exchange" or under certain
circumstances as a "dividend." You should consult your tax advisor
regarding the tax consequences to you of tendering your Shares. See
Section 12 "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences."
o WHEN WILL THE OFFER EXPIRE? HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE OFFERING PERIOD IS
EXTENDED OR IF THE OFFER IS TERMINATED? The Offer expires Thursday,
September 30, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless the Fund notifies
you that it is either extending or terminating its Offer. If the Fund
extends its Offer period, the Fund's public announcement will be made
not later than 9:00 a.m. on the next business day after the previously
scheduled expiration date. See Section 1 "Price; Number of Shares" and
Section 13 "Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendment."
o MAY I WITHDRAW MY TENDERED SHARES? You may withdraw your tendered
Shares at any time prior to the expiration date, which, unless
extended, is currently Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time. Additionally, if the Fund has not yet accepted your
tendered Shares for payment, you may withdraw your tendered Shares at
any time after October 28, 2004. To withdraw your tendered Shares, you
should contact your financial advisor or other nominee, or you should
submit proper written notice to the Fund's Transfer Agent. See Section
3 "Withdrawal Rights."
o DOES THE FUND HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PAY ME FOR MY SHARES?
The Fund expects to have adequate money to finance the purchase of its
tendered Shares. See Section 8 "Source and Amount of Funds."
o WHY IS THE FUND MAKING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SHARES OF ITS COMMON
STOCK? No established secondary trading market currently exists for
the Fund's Shares. As a result, the Fund's Board of Directors decided
to provide liquidity for stockholders by making an Offer. The Fund
cannot assure you that you will be provided with sufficient liquidity,
or that the Fund will make a similar tender Offer in the future.
Neither the Fund nor its Board of Directors makes any recommendation
as to whether or not you should tender you Shares. See Section 6
"Purpose of the Offer."
o WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER? The Offer is
not conditioned upon the tender of any minimum number of Shares. The
Fund is not required to accept or pay for any Shares tendered. Under
certain circumstances, the Fund may terminate or amend its Offer or
postpone the acceptance of the Shares for payment. See Section 5
"Certain Conditions of the Offer."
o IF I DECIDE NOT TO TENDER MY SHARES, HOW WILL THE OFFER AFFECT MY
SHARES? If you do not tender your Shares, you may be subject to
certain risks resulting from the Fund reducing its assets to pay for
tendered Shares. These risks include increased volatility in the
Fund's NAV and higher expenses. These risks should be reduced to the
extent that the Fund sells new Shares. See Section 7 "Certain Effects
of the Offer."
o WHO SHOULD I CALL IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION? Questions and requests
for assistance may be directed to your financial advisor or other
nominee, or to the Transfer Agent at the address and telephone number
set forth below. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to
Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal should be directed to the
transfer agent as set forth below.
Transfer Agent:
American Stock Transfer & Trust
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Hyperion Strategic Bond Fund, Inc.
(000) 000-0000
HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC.
One Liberty Plaza, 000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-1404
OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH 292,825
OF ITS ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING SHARES
AT NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
THE EXPIRATION DATE AND THE WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE ARE 4:00 P.M.,
EASTERN TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004, UNLESS EXTENDED.
To the Holders of Shares of
HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC.:
Hyperion Strategic Bond Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is offering to purchase up
to 292,825 of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Shares"), for cash at a price equal to their net asset value
("NAV") as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday,
September 30, 2004, the Expiration Date, unless extended, upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase (the "Offer") and the related
Letter of Transmittal. The Shares are not currently traded on an established
secondary market. The NAV on July 30, 2004 was $6.83 per Share.
If more than 292,825 Shares of the Fund are duly tendered prior to the
expiration of the Offer, assuming no changes in the factors originally
considered by the Fund's Board of Directors when it determined to make the
Offer, the Fund will either (1) extend its Offer period, if necessary, and
increase the number of Shares that the Fund is offering to purchase to an amount
which it believes will be sufficient to accommodate the excess Shares tendered,
as well as any Shares tendered during the extended Offer period, or (2) purchase
the Shares tendered on a pro rata basis.
THE FUND'S OFFER IS BEING MADE TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND
AND IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON ANY MINIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES BEING TENDERED.
IMPORTANT
If you desire to tender all or any portion of your Shares, you should
either (1) request your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee to effect the transaction for you, or (2) if you own your Shares
directly, complete and sign the Fund's Letter of Transmittal and mail or deliver
it along with any Share certificate(s) and any other required documents to the
Fund's Transfer Agent. If your Shares are registered in the name of a broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact such
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if you desire to
tender your Shares.
NEITHER THE FUND NOR ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION TO
ANY STOCKHOLDER AS TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN FROM TENDERING SHARES. EACH
STOCKHOLDER MUST MAKE HIS OR HER OWN DECISION WHETHER TO TENDER SHARES, AND IF
SO, HOW MAY SHARES TO TENDER.
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE
FUND AS TO WHETHER STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD TENDER SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. NO
PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED HEREIN
OR IN THE FUND'S LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH RECOMMENDATION
AND SUCH INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND. THIS TRANSACTION HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF SUCH TRANSACTION NOR UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE COMPANY IS
UNLAWFUL.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to your financial
advisor or other nominee, or to the Transfer Agent at the address and telephone
number set forth below. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to Purchase
and the Fund's Letter of Transmittal should be directed to the Transfer Agent as
set forth below.
August 31, 2004 HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC.
Transfer Agent:
American Stock and Transfer
00 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Hyperion Strategic Bond Fund, Inc.
(000) 000-0000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. Price; Number of Shares 6
2. Procedure for Tendering Shares 7
3. Withdrawal Rights 8
4. Payment for Shares 9
5. Certain Conditions of the Offer 9
6. Purpose of the Offer 10
7. Certain Effects of the Offer 10
8. Source and Amount of Funds 10
9. Financial Information 10
10. Certain Information About the Fund 11
11. Additional Information 11
12. Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences 11
13. Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendments 13
14. Miscellaneous 13
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1. Price; Number of Shares. The Fund will purchase up to 292,825 of its
issued and outstanding Shares which are tendered and not withdrawn prior to 4:00
p.m., Eastern time, on September 30, 2004 (such time and date being hereinafter
called the "Initial Expiration Date") unless it determines to accept none of
them. The Fund reserves the right to extend its Offer. See Section 13 "Extension
of Tender Period; Termination; Amendments." The later of the Initial Expiration
Date or the latest time and date to which an Offer is extended is hereinafter
called the "Expiration Date." The purchase price of the Fund's Shares will be
its NAV as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the Expiration Date.
The Fund's Offer is being made to all stockholders of the Fund and is not
conditioned upon any minimum number of Shares being tendered. If more than
292,825 Shares are duly tendered prior to the expiration of the Offer, assuming
no changes in the factors originally considered by the Fund's Board of Directors
when it determined to make the Offer, the Fund will either (1) extend its Offer
period, if necessary, and increase the number of Shares that the Fund is
offering to purchase to an amount which it believes will be sufficient to
accommodate the excess Shares tendered as well as any Shares tendered during the
extended Offer period, or (2) purchase the Shares on a pro rata basis.
As of June 30, 2004 there were approximately 20,297,543.329 million Shares
issued and outstanding and there were 111 holders of record of Shares. The Fund
has been informed that none of the Directors, officers or affiliates of the Fund
intends to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Fund's Shares are not
currently traded on any established secondary market.
2. Procedure for Tendering Shares. In order for you to tender any of your
Shares, you may either: (a) request your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
company or other nominee to effect the transaction for you, in which case a
Letter of Transmittal is not required, or (b) if the Shares are registered in
your name, send the Transfer Agent, at the address set forth on page 5, any
certificate(s) for such Shares, a properly completed and executed Letter of
Transmittal for the Fund and any other required documents. Please contact
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx at (000) 000-0000 for any additional document which may be
required.
A. Procedures for Beneficial Owners Holding Shares Through Brokers or Nominees.
If your Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial
bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact such broker, dealer,
commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if you desire to tender your
Shares. You should contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company
or other nominee in sufficient time to permit notification of your desire to
tender to reach the Transfer Agent by the Expiration Date. No brokerage
commission will be charged on the purchase of Shares by the Fund pursuant to the
Offer. However, a broker or dealer may charge a fee for processing the
transaction on your behalf.
B. Procedures for Registered Stockholders.
If you will be mailing or delivering a Letter of Transmittal and any other
required documents to the Transfer Agent in order to tender your Shares, they
must be received on or prior to the Expiration Date by the Transfer Agent at its
address set forth on page 5 of this Offer to Purchase.
Signature on a Letter of Transmittal MUST be guaranteed by a member firm of
a registered national securities exchange, or a commercial bank or trust company
having an office, branch or agency in the United States, the existence and
validity of which may be verified by the Transfer Agent through the use of
industry publications. Notarized signatures are not sufficient.
Payment for Shares tendered and purchased will be made only after receipt
by the Transfer Agent on or before the Expiration Date of a properly completed
and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents. If
your Shares are evidenced by certificates, those certificates also must be
received by the Transfer Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of any documents, including certificates for shares,
is at the election and risk of the party tendering the shares. If documents are
sent by mail, it is recommended that they sent by registered mail, properly
insured, with return receipt requested.
C. Determinations of Validity.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance of tenders will be determined by the Fund, in its sole
discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding. The Fund reserves
the absolute right to reject any or all tenders determined by it not to be in
appropriate form or the acceptance of or payment for which would, in the opinion
of counsel for the Fund, be unlawful. The Fund also reserves the absolute right
to waive any of the conditions of the Offer or any defect in any tender with
respect to any particular Shares or any particular stockholder, and the Fund's
interpretations of the terms and conditions of its Offer will be final and
binding. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders
must be cured within such times as the Fund shall determine. Tenders will not be
deemed to have been made until the defects or irregularities have been cured or
waived. Neither the Fund, the administrator for the Fund, Hyperion Capital
Management, Inc. ("HCM"), nor the Transfer Agent, nor any other person shall be
obligated to give notice of any defects or irregularities, nor shall any of them
incur any liability for failure to give such notice.
D. Tender Constitutes an Agreement.
A tender of Shares made pursuant to any one of the procedures set forth
above will constitute an agreement between the tendering stockholder and the
Fund in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the
applicable Offer.
3. Withdrawal Rights. You may withdraw Shares tendered at any time prior to
the Expiration Date and, if the Shares have not been accepted for payment by the
Fund, at any time after October 28, 2004.
Stockholders whose accounts are maintained through broker, dealer,
commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee should notify such nominee
prior to the Expiration Date. Stockholders whose accounts are maintained
directly through the Transfer Agent should submit written notice to the Transfer
Agent.
To be effective, any notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the
Transfer Agent at the address set forth on page 5 of this Offer to Purchase. Any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person having deposited the
Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn, and, if any
certificate representing such Shares have been delivered or otherwise identified
to the Transfer Agent, the name of the registered holder(s) of such Shares as
set forth in such certificates and the number of Shares to be withdrawn. If any
certificates have been delivered to the Transfer Agent, then, prior to the
release of such certificate, you must also submit the certificate numbers shown
on the particular certificates evidencing such Shares and the signature on the
notice of the withdrawal must be guaranteed by an eligible institution. All
questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of notices of
withdrawal will be determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, whose
determination shall be final and binding. Shares properly withdrawn shall not
thereafter be deemed to be tendered for purposes of the Offer. However,
withdrawn Shares may be tendered by following one of the procedures described in
Section 2 "Procedure for Tendering Shares."
4. Payment for Shares. For purposes of its Offer, the Fund will be deemed
to have accepted for payment (and thereby purchased) its Shares that are
tendered as, if and when it give oral or written notice to the Transfer Agent of
its election to purchase such Shares.
Payment for Shares will be made promptly by the Transfer Agent to tendering
stockholders as directed by the Fund. Any certificates for Shares not purchased
(see Section 1 "Price; Number of Shares" and Section 5 "Certain Conditions of
the Offer"), or for Shares not tendered included in certificates forwarded to
the Transfer Agent, will be returned promptly following the termination,
expiration or withdrawal of the relevant Offer, without expense to the tendering
stockholder.
The Fund will pay all transfer taxes, if any, payable on the transfer to it
of its Shares purchased pursuant to its Offer. If any tendered certificates are
registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the Letter of
Transmittal, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the
registered holder or such other person) payable on account of the transfer to
such person will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory
evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted. The
Fund will not pay any interest on the purchase price under any circumstances.
5. Certain Conditions of the Offer. The Fund shall not be required to
accept for payment or pay for any of its Shares tendered, and may terminate or
amend its Offer or may postpone the acceptance for payment of, or payment for,
its Shares tendered, if: (1) such purchases would impair the Fund's status as a
regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code") (which would cause the Fund's income to be taxed at the corporate
level in addition to the taxation of stockholders who receive dividends from the
Fund); (2) the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in a
manner which is orderly and consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
policies in order to enable the Fund to purchase Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer; or (3) there is, in the Board of Director's judgment, any (a) legal
action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging the Offer or otherwise
materially adversely affecting the Fund, (b) declaration of a banking moratorium
by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by banks in the
United States or New York State, which is material to the Fund, (c) limitation
imposed by Federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending
institutions, (d) commencement of war, armed hostilities, acts of terrorism or
other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the
United States, which is material to the Fund, or (e) other event or condition
which would have a material adverse effect on the Fund or its stockholders if
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer were purchased.
If the Fund determines to amend its Offer or to postpone the acceptance for
payment of or payment for Shares tendered, it will, to the extent necessary,
extend the period of time during which the Offer is open. Moreover, in the event
any of the foregoing conditions are modified or waived in whole or in part at
any time, the Fund will promptly make a public announcement of such waiver and
may, depending on the materiality of the modification or waiver, extend the
Offer period. See Section 13 "Extension of Tender Period; Termination;
Amendments."
6. Purpose of the Offer. Currently there is no secondary market for the
Fund's Shares. The Fund's Board of Directors has determined that it would be in
the best interest of stockholders for the Fund to take action to attempt to
provide liquidity to stockholders. The Fund will not at any time be required to
make tender offers in the future.
7. Certain Effects of the Offer. The purchase of Shares pursuant to the
Fund's Offer will have the effect of increasing the proportionate interest in
the Fund of stockholders who do not tender their Shares. If you retain your
Shares, however, you will be subject to any increased risks that may result from
the reduction in the Fund's aggregate assets resulting from payment for the
Shares, including, for example, the potential for greater volatility due to
decreased diversification and higher expenses. However, the Fund believes that
those risks will be reduced to the extent new Shares are sold. All Shares
purchased by the Fund pursuant to its Offer will be retired by the Fund's Board
of Directors.
8. Source and Amount of Funds. The price to be paid by the Fund for Shares
tendered in its Offer will equal its NAV as of the close of the New York Stock
Exchange on the Expiration Date. Based on the NAV on July 30, 2004, the
aggregate purchase price if (i) 292,825 Shares are tendered and accepted for
payment will be approximately $2,000,000 million. The Fund anticipates that the
purchase price for shares acquired by the Fund pursuant to its Offer may be
derived by the Fund from (i) cash on hand, (ii) the proceeds from the sale of
cash equivalents held by the Fund, (iii) the proceeds of sales of portfolio
investments held by the Fund, and /or (iv) borrowings by the Fund.
The Fund has sufficient cash to purchase the tendered shares; however the
Fund may borrow all or part of the funds necessary to complete the tender offer
by executing a 90 day reverse repurchase agreement between the Fund and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx and Company. The collateral for the agreement would consist of a portion
of a Credit Suisse First Boston 2003-C5 A2 bond, and the rate of the agreement
would be set at LIBOR plus 10 basis points. The Fund would continue to finance
the reverse repurchase agreement, which is consistent with the Fund's investment
strategy.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not declare any dividend or other
distribution upon any class of its capital stock, or purchase any such capital
stock, unless the aggregate indebtedness of the Fund has at the time of the
declaration of any such dividend or distribution or at the time of any such
purchase an asset coverage of at least 300% for the Fund after deducting the
amount of such dividend, distribution, or purchase price, as the case may be.
Also, certain types of borrowings by the Fund may result in the Fund being
subject to covenants in credit agreements, including those relating to the
Fund's asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements and those
restricting the Fund's payment of dividends and distributions.
9. Financial Information. Comprehensive financial information is included
in the Fund's financial statements, copies of which have been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and are incorporated herein by
reference. You may request a copy the Fund's Annual Reports or the Fund's 2004
Semi-Annual Report at no charge by calling 0-000-XXXXXXXX between 8:30 a.m. and
5:30 p.m., Eastern time, on any business day.
10. Certain Information About the Fund.
The Fund was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on
September 12, 1995 and is a non-diversified, closed-end, management investment
company registered under the 1940 Act.
The Fund's investment objective is to provide high total return by
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its assets in securities
backed by interests in real estate. The investment objective of the Fund is
fundamental and may not be changed without approval by the holders of more than
75% of the shares of the Fund's common stock. No assurance can be given that the
Fund's objective will be achieved. Like all investors in interest bearing
securities, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the prices of individual
securities held by the portfolio may fluctuate, in some cases significantly, in
response to changes in credit conditions and prevailing levels of interest
rates. At least 80% of the Fund's assets are invested in debt. This policy is
not fundamental and can be changed with at least 60 days prior notice to
shareholders.
There have not been any transactions involving the Fund's Shares that were
effected during the past 60 business days by any executive officer or Director
of the Fund, by any person controlling the Fund, by any executive officer or
director of any corporation ultimately in control of the Fund or by any
associate or subsidiary of any of the foregoing including any executive officer
or director of any such subsidiary. On July 1, 2004, the Virginia Retirement
System purchased 4,016,064.257 Shares from the Fund at a price of $7.47 per
Share.
The principal executive offices of the Fund are located at One Liberty
Plaza, 000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000.
11. Additional Information. The Fund has filed an issuer tender offer
statement on Schedule TO with the SEC which includes certain additional
information relating to its Offer. Such material may be inspected and copied at
prescribed rates at the SEC's public reference facilities at Judiciary Plaza,
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000. Copies of such material may also
be obtained by mail at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Branch of the
SEC at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. The SEC maintains a web
site (xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx) that contains the Fund's Schedule TO and other
information regarding the Fund.
12. Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences. The following discussion is a
general summary of the Federal income tax consequences of a sale of Shares
pursuant to the Offer. You should consult your own tax advisor for a complete
description of the tax consequences to you of a sale of Shares pursuant to the
Offer.
The sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer will be a taxable transaction for
Federal income tax purposes, either as a "sale or exchange," or under certain
circumstances, as a "dividend." In general, the transaction should be treated as
a sale or exchange of the Shares under Section 302 of the Code, if the receipt
of cash (a) is "substantially disproportionate" with respect to the stockholder,
(b) results in a "complete redemption" of the stockholder's interest, or (c) is
"not essentially equivalent to a dividend" with respect to the stockholder. A
"substantially disproportionate" distribution generally requires a reduction of
at least 20% in the stockholder's proportionate interest in the Fund after all
shares are tendered. A "complete redemption" of a stockholder's interest
generally requires that all Shares of the Fund directly owned or attributed to
such stockholder under Section 318 of the Code be disposed of. A distribution
"not essentially equivalent to a dividend" requires that there be a "meaningful
reduction" in the stockholder's interest in the Fund, which should be the case
if the stockholder has a minimal interest in the Fund, exercises no control over
Fund affairs and suffers a reduction in his proportionate interest in the Fund.
If the sale of your Shares meets any of these three tests for "sale or
exchange" treatment, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount of cash received pursuant to the Offer and the adjusted tax
basis of the Shares sold. Such gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if
the Shares sold have been held by you as a capital asset. In general, capital
gain or loss with respect to Shares sold will be long-term capital gain or loss
if the holding period for such Shares is more than one year. The maximum capital
gains rate currently applicable to such a sale of Shares would be 15% for
individuals.
If none of the Code Section 302 tests described above is met, you may be
treated as having received, in whole or in part, a dividend, return of capital
or capital gain, depending on (i) whether there are sufficient earnings and
profits to support a dividend and (ii) your tax basis in the relevant Shares.
The tax basis in the Shares tendered to the Fund will be transferred to any
remaining Shares held by you in the Fund. In addition, if the sale of Shares
pursuant to the Offer is treated as a "dividend" to a tendering stockholder, a
constructive dividend under Code Section 305(c) may result to a non-tendering
stockholder whose proportionate interest in the earnings and assets of the Fund
has been increased as a result of such tender.
Accordingly, the differentiation between "dividend" and "sale or exchange"
treatment can be important with respect to the amount and character of income
that tendering stockholders are deemed to receive. While the marginal tax rates
for dividends and capital gains remain the same for corporate stockholders, the
top income tax rate applicable to ordinary income dividends of the Fund paid to
individual shareholders currently exceeds the maximum tax rate on capital gains
(15%).
The gross proceeds paid to a stockholder or other payee pursuant to the
Offer will be subject to a withholding tax unless either: (a) the stockholder
has provided the stockholder's taxpayer identification number/social security
number, and certifies under penalty of perjury: (i) that such number is correct,
and (ii) either that (A) the stockholder is exempt from backup withholding, (B)
the stockholder is not otherwise subject to backup withholding as a result of a
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (C) the Internal Revenue Service
has notified the stockholder that the stockholder is no longer subject to backup
withholding; or (b) an exception applies under applicable law and Treasury
regulations. Foreign stockholders may be required to provide the Transfer Agent
with a completed Form W-8BEN, available from the Transfer Agent, in order to
avoid backup withholding.
Unless a reduced rate of withholding or a withholding exemption is
available under an applicable tax treaty, a stockholder who is a nonresident
alien or a foreign entity may be subject to a 30% United States withholding tax
on the gross proceeds received by such stockholder, if the proceeds are treated
as a "dividend" under the rules described above. Foreign stockholders should
consult their tax advisers regarding application of these withholding rules.
13. Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendments. The Fund reserves
the right, at any time and from time to time, to extend the period of time
during which its Offer is pending by making an announcement thereof. Such
announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next
business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date and will disclose
the approximate number of relevant Shares tendered as of that date. In the event
that the Fund elects to extend its Offer period, the NAV for the Fund's Shares
tendered will be determined as of the close of business of the New York Stock
Exchange on the Expiration Date, as extended. During any such extension, all
Shares previously tendered and not purchased or withdrawn will remain subject to
the Fund's Offer. The Fund also reserves the right, at any time and from time to
time up to and including the Expiration Date, to (a) terminate its Offer and not
to purchase or pay for any Shares, and (b) amend its Offer in any respect,
including but not limited to, amending the number of its Shares subject to its
Offer. If a material change is made to the terms of the relevant Offer, the Fund
will promptly make a public announcement of any such change. Without limiting
the manner in which the Fund may choose to make a public announcement of an
extension, termination or amendment of the Offer, except as provided by
applicable law (including Rule 13e-4(e)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934), the Fund shall have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise
communicate any such public announcement, other than by making a press release.
14. Miscellaneous. The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be
accepted from, stockholders in any jurisdiction in which each Offer or its
acceptance would not comply with the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The
Fund is not aware of any jurisdiction in which its Offer or tenders pursuant
thereto would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However,
the Fund reserves the right to exclude stockholders from its Offer in any
jurisdiction in which it is asserted that the Offer cannot lawfully be made. The
Fund believes such exclusion is permissible under applicable tender offer rules,
provided the Fund makes a good faith effort to comply with any state law deemed
applicable to its Offer.
HYPERION STRATEGIC BOND FUND, INC.
August 31, 2004
