Ex-99.2(K)(4)
Broker-Dealer Agreement
FIRST AMERICAN MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND II, INC.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Auction Agent
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BROKER-DEALER AGREEMENT
dated as of ____________, 2003
Relating to
Auction Preferred Shares ("Preferred Shares")
of
FIRST AMERICAN MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND II, INC.
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BROKER-DEALER AGREEMENT
This Broker-Dealer Agreement dated as of __________, 2003, is between The
Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation (the "Auction Agent") (not in
its individual capacity, but solely as agent of FIRST AMERICAN MINNESOTA
MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND II, INC. (the "Fund"), pursuant to authority granted to it
in the Auction Agency Agreement dated as of _________, 2003, between the Fund
and the Auction Agent (the "Auction Agency Agreement") and ___________ (together
with its successors and assigns, "BD").
The Fund proposes to issue one series of auction preferred shares, par
value $.01 per share, designated Preferred Shares, liquidation preference
$25,000 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), pursuant to the Fund's Terms and
Conditions (as defined below).
The Fund's Terms and Conditions provide that for each Subsequent Rate
Period of Preferred Shares then outstanding, the Applicable Rate for the
Preferred Shares for each Subsequent Rate Period shall generally be equal to the
rate per annum that results from an Auction for Outstanding Preferred Shares on
the respective Auction Date therefor next preceding such subsequent Rate Period.
The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted a resolution appointing The Bank
of New York as Auction Agent for purposes of the Auction Procedures, and
pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Auction Agency Agreement, the Fund has requested
and directed the Auction Agent to execute and deliver this Agreement.
The Auction Procedures require the participation of one or more
Broker-Dealers.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein, the Auction Agent and BD agree as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 Terms Defined by Reference to the Terms and Conditions.
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Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings
specified in the Terms and Conditions.
1.2 Terms Defined Herein.
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As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings,
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Terms and Conditions" shall mean the Statement Establishing and
Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Preferred Shares of the Fund dated as of
March 1, 2003 specifying the powers, preferences and rights of the Preferred
Shares.
(b) "Auction" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1 of the
Auction Agency Agreement.
(c) "Auction Procedures" shall mean the Auction Procedures that are
set forth in Part II of the Terms and Conditions.
(d) "Authorized Officer" of the Auction Agent shall mean each Vice
President, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the Dealing and
Trading Group of the Corporate Trust Department of the Auction Agent and every
other officer or employee of the Auction Agent designated as an "Authorized
Officer" for purposes of this Agreement in a written communication to BD.
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(e) "BD Officer" shall mean each officer or employee of BD designated
as a "BD Officer" for purposes of this Agreement in a written communication to
the Auction Agent.
(f) "Broker-Dealer Agreement" shall mean this Agreement and any
substantially similar agreement between the Auction Agent and a Broker-Dealer.
1.3 Rules of Construction.
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Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent,
the following rules shall apply to the construction of this Agreement:
(a) Words importing the singular number shall include the plural
number and vice versa.
(b) The captions and headings herein are solely for convenience of
reference and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they
affect its meaning, construction or effect.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereto," and other words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole.
(d) All references herein to a particular time of day shall be to New
York City time.
II. NOTIFICATION OF DIVIDEND.
The provisions contained in Section 4 of Part I of the Terms and Conditions
concerning the notification of a Special Rate Period will be followed by the
Auction Agent and BD, and the provisions contained therein are incorporated
herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this
Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth fully herein.
In the case of any conflict between the terms of any document incorporated
herein by reference and the terms hereof, the Auction Agent shall not be liable
for its actions or inaction in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
provided it shall have complied with the standards of conduct in the Auction
Agency Agreement.
III. THE AUCTION.
3.1 Purpose; Incorporation by Reference of Auction Procedures.
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(a) On each Auction Date, the provisions of the Auction Procedures
will be followed by the Auction Agent for the purpose of determining the
Applicable Rate for the Preferred Shares, for each Dividend Period. Each
periodic operation of such procedures is hereinafter referred to as an
"Auction."
(b) All of the provisions contained in the Auction Procedures are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth
fully herein. In the case of any conflict between the terms of any document
incorporated herein by reference and the terms hereof, the Auction Agent shall
not be liable for its actions or inaction in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, provided it shall have complied with the standards of conduct in the
Auction Agency Agreement.
(c) BD agrees to act as, and assumes the obligations of and
limitations and restrictions placed upon, a Broker-Dealer under this Agreement.
BD understands that other Persons meeting the requirements specified in the
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definition of "Broker-Dealer" contained in Part I of the Terms and Conditions
may execute a Broker-Dealer Agreement and participate as Broker-Dealers in
Auctions.
(d) BD and other Broker-Dealers may participate in Auctions for their
own accounts. However, the Fund, by notice to BD and all other Broker Dealers,
may prohibit all Broker-Dealers from submitting Bids in Auctions for their own
accounts, provided that Broker-Dealers may continue to submit Hold Orders and
Sell Orders. At the request of the Fund, the Auction Agent will seek written
certification from the Broker-Dealer that none of its orders are for its own
account, other than Hold Orders or Sell Orders and will provide to the Fund such
written certifications as it receives. The Auction Agent shall have no other
responsibility for and shall have no liability with respect to the enforcement
of this Section 3.1(d).
3.2 Preparation for Each Auction.
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(a) Not later than 9:30 A.M. on each Auction Date for the Preferred
Shares, the Auction Agent shall advise BD by telephone or other electronic means
of communication acceptable to the parties of the Maximum Rate in effect on such
Auction Date.
(b) The Auction Agent from time to time may, but shall not be
obligated to, request BD to provide it with a list of the respective customers
BD believes are Beneficial Owners of Preferred Shares. BD shall comply with any
such request, and the Auction Agent shall keep confidential any such
information, including information received as to the identity of Bidders in any
Auction, and shall not disclose any such information so provided to any Person
other than the Fund; and such information shall not be used by the Auction Agent
or its officers, employees, agents or representatives for any purpose other than
such purposes as are described herein or in the Auction Agency Agreement;
provided, however, that the Auction Agent reserves the right and is authorized
to disclose any such information if (a) it is ordered to do so by a court of
competent jurisdiction or a regulatory body, judicial or quasi-judicial agency
or authority having the authority to compel such disclosure, (b) it is advised
by its counsel that its failure to do so would be unlawful or (c) failure to do
so would expose the Auction Agent to loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
for which it has not received indemnity or security satisfactory to it. In the
event that the Auction Agent is required to disclose information in accordance
with the foregoing sentence, it shall provide written notice of such requirement
to BD as promptly as practicable. The Auction Agent shall, subject to the terms
of the Auction Agency Agreement, transmit any list of customers BD believes are
Beneficial Owners of Preferred Shares and information related thereto only to
its officers, employees, agents or representatives who need to know such
information for the purposes of acting in accordance with this Agreement, and
the Auction Agent shall prevent the transmission of such information to others
and shall cause its officers, employees, agents and representatives to abide by
the foregoing confidentiality restrictions; provided, however, that the Auction
Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for the actions of any of its
officers, employees, agents or representatives after they have left the employ
of the Auction Agent.
3.3 Auction Schedule; Method of Submission of Orders.
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(a) The Fund and the Auction Agent shall conduct Auctions for
Preferred Shares in accordance with the schedule set forth below. Such schedule
may be changed at any time by the Auction Agent with the consent of the Fund,
which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. The Auction Agent shall give
notice of any such change to BD. Such notice shall be received prior to the
first Auction Date on which any such change shall be effective.
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Time Event
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By 9:30 A.M. Auction Agent shall advise the Fund and the
Broker-Dealers of the Maximum Rate as set forth in
Section 3.2(a) hereof.
9:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Auction Agent shall assemble information
communicated to it by Broker-Dealers as provided
in Section 3(a) of Part II of the Terms and
Conditions. Submission Deadline is 1:00 P.M.
Not earlier than 1:00 P.M. Auction Agent shall make determinations pursuant
to Section 4(a) of Part II of the Terms and
Conditions.
By approximately 3:30 P.M. Auction Agent shall advise the Fund of the results
(and not later than the of the Auction as provided in Section 4(b) of Part
close of business) II of the Terms and Conditions.
Submitted Bids and Submitted Sell Orders will be
accepted and rejected in whole or in part and
Preferred Shares will be allocated as provided in
Section 5 of Part II of the Terms and Conditions.
Auction Agent shall give notice of the Auction
results as set forth in Section 3.4(a) hereof.
(b) BD agrees to maintain a list of Potential Beneficial Owners and
to contact the Potential Beneficial Owners on such list on or prior to each
Auction Date for the purposes set forth in Section 2 of Part II of the Terms and
Conditions.
(c) BD shall submit Orders to the Auction Agent in writing in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. BD shall submit separate
Orders to the Auction Agent for each Potential Beneficial Owner or Beneficial
Owner on whose behalf BD is submitting an Order and shall not net or aggregate
the Orders of Potential Beneficial Owners or Beneficial Owners on whose behalf
BD is submitting Orders.
(d) BD shall deliver to the Auction Agent (i) a written notice,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, of transfers of
Preferred Shares, made through BD by an Existing Holder to another Person other
than pursuant to an Auction, and (ii) a written notice, substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C, of the failure of Preferred Shares to be
transferred to or by any Person that purchased or sold Preferred Shares through
BD pursuant to an Auction. The Auction Agent is not required to accept any
notice delivered pursuant to the terms of the foregoing sentence with respect to
an Auction unless it is received by the Auction Agent by 3:00 P.M. on the
Business Day next preceding the applicable Auction Date.
3.4 Notice of Auction Results.
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(a) On each Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall notify BD by
telephone or other electronic means acceptable to the parties of the Auction
results. On the Business Day next succeeding such Auction Date, the Auction
Agent shall notify BD in writing of the disposition of all Orders submitted by
BD in the Auction held on such Auction Date.
(b) BD shall notify each Beneficial Owner, Potential Beneficial
Owner, Existing Holder or Potential Holder on whose behalf BD has submitted an
Order of the Auction results and take such other action as is required of BD.
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If any Beneficial Owner or Existing Holder selling Preferred Shares in an
Auction fails to deliver such shares, the Broker-Dealer of any Person that was
to have purchased Preferred Shares in such Auction may deliver to such Person a
number of whole Preferred Shares that is less than the number of shares that
otherwise was to be purchased by such Person. In such event, the number of
Preferred Shares to be so delivered shall be determined by such Broker-Dealer.
Delivery of such lesser number of shares shall constitute good delivery. Upon
the occurrence of any such failure to deliver shares, such Broker-Dealer shall
deliver to the Auction Agent the notice required by Section 3.3(d)(ii) hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this Section 3.4(b), any delivery or
non-delivery of Preferred Shares which represents any departure from the results
of an Auction, as determined by the Auction Agent, shall be of no effect unless
and until the Auction Agent shall have been notified of such delivery or
non-delivery in accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(d) hereof. The Auction
Agent shall have no duty or liability with respect to enforcement of this
Section 3.4(b). Any delivery or non-delivery of Preferred Shares that represents
any departure from the results of an Auction shall not affect the results of the
Auction.
3.5 Service Charge to be Paid to BD.
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On the Business Day next succeeding each Auction Date, the Auction Agent
shall pay to BD from moneys received from the Fund an amount equal to: (a) in
the case of any Auction Date immediately preceding a Rate Period of less than
one year, the product of (i) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
days in such Dividend Period (calculated by counting the first day of such
Dividend Period but excluding the last day thereof) and the denominator of which
is 360, times (ii) 1/4 of 1%, times (iii) $25,000, times (iv) the sum of (A) the
aggregate number of Preferred Shares placed by BD in the applicable Auction that
were (x) the subject of a Submitted Bid of a Beneficial Owner submitted by BD
and continued to be held as a result of such submission and (y) the subject of a
Submitted Bid of a Potential Beneficial Owner submitted by BD and were purchased
as a result of such submission plus (B) the aggregate number of Preferred Shares
subject to valid Hold Orders (determined in accordance with Section 2 of Part II
of the Terms and Conditions) submitted to the Auction Agent by BD plus (C) the
number of Preferred Shares deemed to be subject to Hold Orders by Beneficial
Owners pursuant to Section 2 of Part II of the Terms and Conditions that were
acquired by BD for its own account or were acquired by such Beneficial Owners
through BD; and (b) in the case of any Auction Date immediately preceding a
Special Rate Period of one year or longer, that amount as mutually agreed upon
by the Fund and BD, based on the selling concession that would be applicable to
an underwriting of fixed or variable rate preferred shares with a similar final
maturity or variable rate dividend period, at the commencement of such Special
Rate Period.
For purposes of subclause (a)(iv)(C) of the foregoing sentence, if any
Beneficial Owner who acquired Preferred Shares through BD transfers those shares
to another Person other than pursuant to an Auction, then the Broker-Dealer for
the shares so transferred shall continue to be BD, provided, however, that if
the transfer was effected by, or if the transferee is, a Broker-Dealer other
than BD, then such Broker-Dealer shall be the Broker-Dealer for such shares.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS.
4.1 Termination.
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Any party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon five days' prior
written notice to the other party; provided, however, that if the Broker-Dealer
is _________ neither ___________ nor the Auction Agent may terminate this
Agreement without first obtaining the prior written consent of the Fund to such
termination, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. The Auction Agent
is without discretion to terminate this Agreement and will move to terminate it
only pursuant to written direction from the Fund. This Agreement shall
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automatically terminate upon the redemption of all outstanding Preferred Shares
or upon termination of the Auction Agent Agreement.
4.2 Force Majeure.
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Neither party to this Agreement shall be responsible or liable for any
failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement
arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its
reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes;
fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; acts of
terrorism; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions or utilities;
computer (hardware or software) or communications services (provided that the
Auction Agent has not been grossly negligent with respect to the selection,
operation or maintenance of such utilities, or computer (hardware or software)
or communications services); accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or
military authority or governmental actions; it being understood that the parties
shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the
banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the
circumstances.
4.3 Participant in Securities Depository; Payment of Dividends in Same-Day
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Funds.
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(a) BD is, and shall remain for the term of this Agreement, a member
of, or a participant in, the Securities Depository (or an affiliate of such a
member or participant).
(b) BD represents that it (or if BD does not act as Agent Member, one
of its affiliates) shall make all dividend payments on the Preferred Shares
available in same-day funds on each Dividend Payment Date to customers that use
BD (or its affiliate) as Agent Member.
4.4 Intentionally Omitted.
4.5 Communications.
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Except for (i) communications authorized to be made by telephone pursuant
to this Agreement or the Auction Procedures and (ii) communications in
connection with the Auctions (other than those expressly required to be in
writing), all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder
shall be in writing (including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given
to such party at its address or telecopier number set forth below:
If to the Auction Agent,
addressed to: The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Administration
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Dealing and Trading
Group - Auction Desk
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
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If to the BD,
addressed to: Attn:
Telecopier No.:
Telephone No.:
or such other address or telecopier number as such party hereafter may
specify for such purpose by notice to the other party. Each such
notice, request or communication shall be effective when delivered at
the address specified herein. Communications shall be given on behalf
of BD by a BD Officer and on behalf of the Auction Agent by an
Authorized Officer. BD may record telephone communications with the
Auction Agent.
4.6 Entire Agreement.
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This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating
to the subject matter hereof, and there are no other representations,
endorsements, promises, agreements or understandings, oral, written or implied,
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
4.7 Benefits.
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Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall give to any person,
other than the Fund, the Auction Agent and BD and their respective successors
and permitted assigns, any benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement.
4.8 Amendment; Waiver.
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(a) This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified,
amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a
written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party
to be charged.
(b) Failure of either party to this Agreement to exercise any right
or remedy hereunder in the event of a breach of this Agreement by the other
party shall not constitute a waiver of any such right or remedy with
respect to any subsequent breach.
4.9 Successors and Assigns.
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This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of BD
and the Auction Agent. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto
absent the prior written consent of the other party and the Fund.
4.10 Severability.
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If any clause, provision or section of this Agreement shall be ruled
invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity
or unenforceability of such clause, provision or section shall not affect any
remaining clause, provision or section hereof.
4.11 Execution in Counterparts.
--------------------------
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall
be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
4.12 Governing Law.
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This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed
wholly in said state.
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4.13 Jurisdiction.
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The parties agree that all actions and proceedings arising out of this
Broker-Dealer Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
brought in the County of New York, and, in connection with any such action or
proceeding, submit to the jurisdiction of, and venue in, such County. Each of
the parties hereto also irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any
action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of
the date first above written.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, As Auction Agent
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
----------------
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AUCTION BID FORM
Submit To: Issue:
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The Bank of New York First American Minnesota Municipal
Corporate Trust Administration Income Fund II, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx Auction Preferred Shares ("Preferred
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Shares")
Attention: Corporate Trust Dealing
and Trading Group - Auction Desk
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
The undersigned Broker-Dealer submits the following Order on behalf of the
Bidder listed below:
Name of Bidder:
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BENEFICIAL OWNER
Preferred Shares now held HOLD
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BID at rate of
-------
SELL
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POTENTIAL BENEFICIAL OWNER
# of Preferred
Shares
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BID at rate of
-------
Notes:
(1) If submitting more than one Bid for one Bidder, use additional Auction
Bid Forms.
(2) If one or more Bids covering in the aggregate more than the number of
outstanding shares held by any Beneficial Owner are submitted, such
bid shall be considered valid in the order of priority set forth in
the Auction Procedures on the above issue.
(3) A Hold or Sell Order may be placed only by a Beneficial Owner covering
a number of shares not greater than the number of shares currently
held.
(4) Potential Beneficial Owners may make only Bids, each of which must
specify a rate. If more than one Bid is submitted on behalf of any
Potential Beneficial Owner, each Bid submitted shall be a separate Bid
with the rate specified.
(5) Bids may contain no more than three figures to the right of the
decimal point (.001 of 1%). Fractions will not be accepted.
(6) An Order must be submitted in whole Preferred Shares with an aggregate
liquidation preference of $25,000.
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Authorized Signature
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A-1
EXHIBIT B
(Note: To be used only for transfers made other than pursuant to an Auction)
TRANSFER FORM
Re: FIRST AMERICAN MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND II, INC.
Auction Preferred Shares ("Preferred Shares")
We are (check one):
[ ] the Existing Holder named below;
[ ] the Broker-Dealer for such Existing Holder; or
[ ] the Agent Member for such Existing Holder.
We hereby notify you that such Beneficial Owner has transferred _________
Preferred Shares to ________________________
--------------------------------
(Name of Existing Holder)
--------------------------------
(Name of Broker-Dealer)
--------------------------------
(Name of Agent Member)
By:
---------------------------------
Printed Name:
Title:
B-1
EXHIBIT C
(Note: To be used only for failures to deliver or to pay for
Preferred Shares sold pursuant to an Auction)
NOTICE OF A FAILURE TO DELIVER
We are a Broker-Dealer for _____________________ (the "Purchaser"), which
purchased _______ Preferred Shares of FIRST AMERICAN MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL INCOME
FUND II, INC. in the Auction held on ____________________ from the seller of
such shares.
We hereby notify you that (check one):
______ the Seller failed to deliver such shares to the Purchaser.
______ the Purchaser failed to make payment to the Seller upon delivery of such
shares.
Name:
-----------------------------------
By:
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Printed Name:
Title:
C-1
