INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated April 19, 2002, between BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond
Trust (the "Trust"), a Delaware business trust, and BlackRock Advisors, Inc.
(the "Advisor"), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, Advisor has agreed to furnish investment advisory services to
BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (the "Trust"), a closed-end management
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved in accordance with the provisions
of the 1940 Act, and the Advisor is willing to furnish such services upon the
terms and conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. In General. The Advisor agrees, all as more fully set forth herein, to
act as investment advisor to the Trust with respect to the investment of the
Trust's assets and to supervise and arrange for the day-to-day operations of the
Trust and the purchase of securities for and the sale of securities held in the
investment portfolio of the Trust.
2. Duties and Obligations of the Advisor with Respect to Investment of
Assets of the Trust. Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section and
subject to the direction and control of the Trust's Board of Trustees, the
Advisor shall (i) act as investment advisor for and supervise and manage the
investment and reinvestment of the Trust's assets and in connection therewith
have complete discretion in purchasing and selling securities and other assets
for the Trust and in voting, exercising consents and exercising all other rights
appertaining to such securities and other assets on behalf of the Trust; (ii)
supervise continuously the investment program of the Trust and the composition
of its investment portfolio; (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of
paragraph 4 hereof, for the purchase and sale of securities and other assets
held in the investment portfolio of the Trust; and (iv) provide investment
research to the Trust.
3. Duties and Obligations of Advisor with Respect to the Administration of
the Trust. The Advisor also agrees to furnish office facilities and equipment
and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services,
if any, provided by the Trust's Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend
Disbursing Agent and other service providers) for the Trust. To the extent
requested by the Trust, the Advisor agrees to provide the following
administrative services:
(a) Oversee the determination and publication of the Trust's net asset
value in accordance with the Trust's policy as adopted from time to time by the
Board of Trustees;
(b) Oversee the maintenance the Trust's Custodian and Transfer Agent and
Dividend Disbursing Agent of certain books and records of the Trust as required
under Rule 31a-1(b)(4) of the 1940 Act and maintain (or oversee maintenance by
such other persons as approved by the Board of Trustees) such other books and
records required by law or for the proper operation of the Trust;
(c) Oversee the preparation and filing of the Trust's federal, state and
local income tax returns and any other required tax returns;
(d) Review the appropriateness of and arrange for payment of the Trust's
expenses;
(e) Prepare for review and approval by officers of the Trust financial
information for the Trust's semi-annual and annual reports, proxy statements and
other communications with shareholders required or otherwise to be sent to Trust
shareholders, and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports and
communications to shareholders;
(f) Prepare for review by an officer of the Trust the Trust's periodic
financial reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") on Form N-SAR and such other reports, forms and filings, as
may be mutually agreed upon;
(g) Prepare reports relating to the business and affairs of the Trust as
may be mutually agreed upon and not otherwise appropriately prepared by the
Trust's custodian, counsel or auditors;
(h) Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any stock
exchange or exchanges on which the Trust's shares are listed;
(i) Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees
concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Board of
Trustees may reasonably request or deems appropriate;
(j) Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees
concerning the performance and fees of the Trust's Custodian and Transfer and
Dividend disbursing agent as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request or
deems appropriate;
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(k) Oversee and review calculations of fees paid to the Trust's service
providers;
(l) Oversee the Trust's portfolio and perform necessary calculations as
required under Section 18 of the 1940 Act;
(m) Consult with the Trust's officers, independent accountants, legal
counsel, custodian, accounting agent and transfer and dividend disbursing agent
in establishing the accounting policies of the Trust and monitor financial and
shareholder accounting services;
(n) Review implementation of any share purchase programs authorized by the
Board of Trustees;
(o) Determine the amounts available for distribution as dividends and
distributions to be paid by the Trust to its shareholders; prepare and arrange
for the printing of dividend notices to shareholders; and provide the Trust's
dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for
such parties to effect the payment of dividends and distributions and to
implement the Trust's dividend reinvestment plan;
(p) Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any banks
from which the Trust borrows funds;
(q) Provide such assistance to the Custodian and the Trust's counsel and
auditors as generally may be required to properly carry on the business and
operations of the Trust;
(r) Assist in the preparation and filing of Forms 3, 4, and 5 pursuant to
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 30(f)
of the 1940 Act for the officers and trustees of the Trust, such filings to be
based on information provided by those persons;
(s) Respond to or refer to the Trust's officers or transfer agent,
shareholder (including any potential shareholder) inquiries relating to the
Trust.
(t) Supervise any other aspects of the Trust's administration as may be
agreed to by the Trust and the Advisor.
All services are to be furnished through the medium of any directors,
officers or employees of the Advisor or its affiliates as the Advisor deems
appropriate in order to fulfill its obligations hereunder.
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The Trust will reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with the performance of
the administrative services described in this paragraph 3.
4. Covenants. In the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the
Advisor shall at all times conform to, and act in accordance with, any
requirements imposed by:
(a) (i) the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended, and all applicable Rules and Regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); (ii) any other applicable provision of law;
(iii) the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended and
restated, and By-Laws of the Trust, as such documents are amended from time to
time; (iv) the investment objectives and policies of the Trust as set forth in
its Registration Statement on Form N-2; and (v) any policies and determinations
of the Board of Trustees of the Trust;
(b) will place orders either directly with the issuer or with any broker or
dealer. Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, in placing orders
with brokers and dealers, the Advisor will attempt to obtain the best price and
the most favorable execution of its orders. In placing orders, the Advisor will
consider the experience and skill of the firm's securities traders as well as
the firm's financial responsibility and administrative efficiency. Consistent
with this obligation, the Advisor may select brokers on the basis of the
research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Trust and other
clients of the Advisor. Information and research received from such brokers will
be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by
the Advisor hereunder. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that
which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same
transaction, provided that the Advisor determines in good faith that such
commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall
responsibility of the Advisor to the Trust and its other clients and that the
total commissions paid by the Trust will be reasonable in relation to the
benefits to the Trust over the long-term. In addition, the Advisor is authorized
to take into account the sale of shares of the Trust in allocating purchase and
sale orders for portfolio securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers
and dealers that are affiliated with the Advisor), provided that the Advisor
believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable
to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will
the Trust's securities be purchased from or sold to the Advisor, or any
affiliated person thereof, except to the extent permitted by the SEC or by
applicable law;
(c) will maintain a policy and practice of conducting its investment
advisory services hereunder independently of the commercial banking operations
of its affiliates. When the Advisor makes investment recommendations for the
Trust, its investment advisory personnel will not inquire or take into
consideration whether the
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issuer of securities proposed for purchase or sale for the Trust's account are
customers of the commercial department of its affiliates; and
(d) will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust
all records and other information relative to the Trust, and the Trust's prior,
current or potential shareholders, and will not 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
Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld
where the Advisor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for
failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
5. Services Not Exclusive. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the
Advisor or any officer, employee or other affiliate thereof from acting as
investment advisor for any other person, firm or corporation, or from engaging
in any other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or restrict the
Advisor or any of its officers, employees or agents from buying, selling or
trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of
others for whom it or they may be acting; provided, however, that the Advisor
will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
6. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Advisor hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Trust any such records upon the Trust's request. The
Advisor further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2
under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the
1940 Act.
7. Agency Cross Transactions. From time to time, the Advisor or brokers or
dealers affiliated with it may find themselves in a position to buy for certain
of their brokerage clients (each an "Account") securities which the Advisor's
investment advisory clients wish to sell, and to sell for certain of their
brokerage clients securities which advisory clients wish to buy. Where one of
the parties is an advisory client, the Advisor or the affiliated broker or
dealer cannot participate in this type of transaction (known as a cross
transaction) on behalf of an advisory client and retain commissions from one or
both parties to the transaction without the advisory client's consent. This is
because in a situation where the Advisor is making the investment decision (as
opposed to a brokerage client who makes his own investment decisions), and the
Advisor or an affiliate is receiving commissions from both sides of the
transaction, there is a potential conflicting division of loyalties and
responsibilities on the Advisor's part regarding the advisory client. The
Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a rule under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, which permits the Advisor or its affiliates to
participate on behalf of an Account in agency cross transactions if the advisory
client has given written
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consent in advance. By execution of this Agreement, the Trust authorizes the
Advisor or its affiliates to participate in agency cross transactions involving
an Account. The Trust may revoke its consent at any time by written notice to
the Advisor.
8. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Advisor will bear all
costs and expenses of its employees and any overhead incurred in connection with
its duties hereunder and shall bear the costs of any salaries or trustees fees
of any officers or trustees of the Trust who are affiliated persons (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of the Advisor; provided that the Board of Trustees of the
Trust may approve reimbursement to the Advisor of the pro rata portion of the
salaries, bonuses, health insurance, retirement benefits and all similar
employment costs for the time spent on Trust operations (other than the
provision of investment advice and administrative services required to be
provided hereunder) of all personnel employed by the Advisor who devote
substantial time to Trust operations or the operations of other investment
companies advised by the Advisor.
9. Compensation of the Advisor. (a) The Trust agrees to pay to the Advisor
and the Advisor agrees to accept as full compensation for all services rendered
by the Advisor as such, a monthly fee (the "Investment Advisory Fee") in arrears
at an annual rate equal to 0.65 % of the average weekly value of the Trust's
Managed Assets. "Managed Assets" means the total assets of the Trust minus the
sum of the accrued liabilities (other than the aggregate indebtedness
constituting financial leverage). For any period less than a month during which
this Agreement is in effect, the fee shall be prorated according to the
proportion which such period bears to a full month of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, as
the case may be.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the net assets of the Trust shall be
calculated pursuant to the procedures adopted by resolutions of the Trustees of
the Trust for calculating the value of the Trust's assets or delegating such
calculations to third parties.
10. Indemnity. (a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify the Advisor, and
each of the Advisor's directors, officers, employees, agents, associates and
controlling persons and the directors, partners, members, officers, employees
and agents thereof (including any individual who serves at the Advisor's request
as director, officer, partner, member, trustee or the like of another entity)
(each such person being an "Indemnitee") against any liabilities and expenses,
including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines
and penalties, and counsel fees (all as provided in accordance with applicable
state law) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense
or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or
criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which such
Indemnitee may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with
which such Indemnitee may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any
capacity set forth herein or thereafter by reason of such Indemnitee having
acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any
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matter as to which such Indemnitee shall have been adjudicated not to have acted
in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Indemnitee's action was in the
best interest of the Trust and furthermore, in the case of any criminal
proceeding, so long as such Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe that
the conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that (1) no Indemnitee shall be
indemnified hereunder against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders or
any expense of such Indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance,
(ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of such Indemnitee's position (the conduct referred to
in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as
"disabling conduct"), (2) as to any matter disposed of by settlement or a
compromise payment by such Indemnitee, pursuant to a consent decree or
otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses
shall be provided unless there has been a determination that such settlement or
compromise is in the best interests of the Trust and that such Indemnitee
appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such
Indemnitee's action was in the best interest of the Trust and did not involve
disabling conduct by such Indemnitee and (3) with respect to any action, suit or
other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as plaintiff,
indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit
or other proceeding by such Indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the full
Board of Trustees of the Trust.
(b) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses
of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought
hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation of the Indemnitee's good
faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been
met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently
determined that such Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if the
trustees of the Trust determine that the facts then known to them would not
preclude indemnification. In addition, at least one of the following conditions
must be met: (A) the Indemnitee shall provide a security for such
Indemnitee-undertaking, (B) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by
reason of any lawful advance, or (C) a majority of a quorum consisting of
trustees of the Trust who are neither "interested persons" of the Trust (as
defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding
("Disinterested Non-Party Trustees") or an independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts
(as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that
the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(c) All determinations with respect to indemnification hereunder shall be
made (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom
the proceeding was brought that such Indemnitee is not liable or is not liable
by reason of disabling conduct, or (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i)
a majority vote of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees of the
Trust, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a
majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written
opinion. All determinations that advance payments in connection with the expense
of defending any proceeding shall be authorized shall be made in accordance with
the immediately preceding clause (2) above.
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The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these provisions shall not
exclude any other right to which such Indemnitee may be lawfully entitled.
11. Limitation on Liability. (a) The Advisor will not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by Advisor or by
the Trust in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a loss
resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of
compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from
reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, as provided in Section 5.1 of
Article V of the Declaration of Trust, as amended and restated, this Agreement
is executed by the Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, not individually but
as such Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, and the obligations hereunder are
not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually but bind only
the estate of the Trust.
12. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective as of
the date hereof and, unless sooner terminated with respect to the Trust as
provided herein, shall continue in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter,
if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the
Trust for successive periods of 12 months, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by both (a) the vote of a majority of
the Trust's Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Trust at the time outstanding and entitled to vote, and
(b) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, upon giving the Advisor 60 days' notice
(which notice may be waived by the Advisor), provided that such termination by
the Trust shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting securities of the Trust at the time outstanding and
entitled to vote, or by the Advisor on 60 days' written notice (which notice may
be waived by the Trust). This Agreement will also immediately terminate in the
event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the
outstanding voting securities," "interested person" and "assignment" shall have
the same meanings of such terms in the 1940 Act.)
13. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing to the
other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time
for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier
of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such
notice is mailed first class postage prepaid. 1.
14. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in
writing
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signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge
or termination is sought. Any amendment of this Agreement shall be subject to
the 1940 Act.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York for contracts to be performed
entirely therein without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
16. Use of the name BlackRock. The Advisor has consented to the use by the
Trust of the name or identifying word "BlackRock" in the name of the Trust. Such
consent is conditioned upon the employment of the Advisor as the investment
advisor to the Trust. The name or identifying word "BlackRock" may be used from
time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Advisor and any
of its affiliates. The Advisor may require the Trust to cease using "BlackRock"
in the name of the Trust if the Trust ceases to employ, for any reason, the
Advisor, any successor thereto or any affiliate thereof as investment advisor of
the Trust.
17. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be
affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the
parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all
of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument
to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and the year
first above written.
BLACKROCK VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL BOND TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Secretary
BLACKROCK ADVISORS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
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