AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT,
dated as of March 31, 2008, between Anthracite Capital, Inc. (the "Company"),
a
Maryland corporation, and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (the "Investment
Manager"), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS,
the Company is a real estate finance company that generates income based on
the
spread between the interest income on its mortgage loans and securities
investments and the interest expense from borrowings used to finance its
investments. The Company seeks to earn high returns on a risk-adjusted basis
to
support a consistent quarterly dividend. The Company expects to qualify for
the
tax benefits accorded by Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to retain the Investment Manager to acquire, sell and
otherwise manage the investments of the Company and to perform certain
supervisory services for the Company in the manner and on the terms set forth
herein;
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Investment Manager entered into that certain Amended and
Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2007 (the "Prior
Agreement");
WHEREAS,
the Investment Manager and the Company desire to amend and restate the Prior
Agreement, as amended, in its entirety as set forth below;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements 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. |
Certain
Definitions
|
(a) |
"Adjusted
Operating Earnings" means Operating
Earnings plus realized gains, net foreign currency gains and decreases
in
expense associated with reversals of credit impairments on commercial
mortgage loans; less realized losses, net foreign currency losses
and
increases in expense associated with credit impairments on commercial
mortgage loans.
|
(b) |
"Affiliate"
means, when used with reference to a specified person,
|
(i) |
any
person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or
is
under common control with the specified
person,
|
(ii) |
any
person that is an officer of, partner in or trustee of, or serves
in a
similar capacity with respect to, the specified person or of which
the
specified person is an officer, partner or trustee, or with respect
to
which the specified person serves in a similar capacity and
|
(iii) |
any
person that, directly or indirectly, is the beneficial owner of 5%
or more
of any class of equity securities of the specified person or of which
the
specified person is directly or indirectly the owner of 5% or more
of any
class of equity securities; provided,
however,
that neither the Company nor any of its controlled Affiliates will
be
treated as an Affiliate of the Investment Manager or any of its
Affiliates.
|
(c) |
"Agreement"
means this Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, as
amended
from time to time.
|
(d) |
"Board
of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
|
(e) |
"Common
Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company.
|
(f) |
"CDO"
means collateralized debt
obligations.
|
(g) |
"FAS
159" means the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159,
The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
-
Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, promulgated by
the
Financial Accounting Standards Board in February 2007.
|
(h) |
"GAAP"
means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America.
|
(i) |
"Mortgage-Backed
Securities" means debt obligations (bonds) that are secured by Mortgage
Loans or mortgage certificates.
|
(j) |
"Mortgage
Loans" means multifamily, residential and commercial term loans secured
by
real property.
|
(k) |
"Operating
Earnings" means net income after operating expenses and preferred
dividends but before realized and unrealized gains (losses),
incentive fees attributable to other income (loss), net foreign currency
gain (loss), hedge ineffectiveness and income (loss) associated with
credit impairments on commercial mortgage loans, with such other
items as set forth in the Company's applicable Current Report on
Form 8-K announcing quarterly results of
operations.
|
(l) |
"Person"
means and includes any natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust, limited liability company or any other legal
entity.
|
(m) |
"Quarterly
Average Total Stockholders' Equity" means the average of (i) the
Total
Stockholders' Equity at the end of the quarter preceding the applicable
quarter and (ii) the Total Stockholders' Equity at the end of the
applicable quarter, as reported in the Company's publicly filed financial
statements. It is understood that the Company adopted FAS 159
as of January 1, 2008 and elected to apply the fair value option to
the following financial assets and liabilities existing at the time
of
adoption: (1) all securities which were previously accounted for as
available-for-sale; (2) all unsecured long-term liabilities,
consisting of all senior unsecured notes, senior convertible notes,
junior
unsecured notes and junior subordinated notes; and (3) all CDO
liabilities.
|
2
(n) |
"REIT
Provisions of the Code" means Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
|
(o) |
"Ten-Year
U.S. Treasury Rate" means the arithmetic average of the weekly average
yield to maturity for actively traded current coupon U.S. Treasury
fixed
interest rate securities (adjusted to constant maturities of ten
years)
published by the Federal Reserve Board during a quarter, or if such
rate
is not published by the Federal Reserve Board, any Federal Reserve
Bank or
agency or department of the federal government selected by the Company.
If
the Company determines in good faith that the Ten-Year U.S. Treasury
Rate
cannot be calculated as provided above, then the rate shall be the
arithmetic average of the per annum average yields to maturities,
based
upon closing asked prices on each business day during a quarter,
for each
actively traded marketable U.S. Treasury fixed interest rate security
with
a final maturity date not less than eight nor more than twelve years
from
the date of the closing asked prices as chosen and quoted for each
business day in each such quarter in New York City by at least three
recognized dealers in U.S. government securities selected by the
Company.
|
(p) |
"Unaffiliated
Directors" shall mean those directors serving on the Board of Directors
who (a) do not own greater than a de minimis interest in the Investment
Manager or any of its Affiliates, other than the Company and
any Person controlled by the Company or (b) within the last two years,
have not directly or indirectly (i) been an officer of or employed
by the
Company or the Investment Manager or any of their respective Affiliates,
(ii) been a director of the Investment Manager or any of its
Affiliates other
than the Company and any Person controlled by the Company, (iii)
performed
more than a de minimis amount of services for the Investment Manager
or
any of its Affiliates or (iv) had any material business or professional
relationship with the Investment Manager or any of its
Affiliates other
than as a director of the Company and any Person controlled by the
Company.
|
(q) |
"Window
Period" shall mean the first 20 trading days of the Common Stock
on the
New York Stock Exchange commencing on the first full trading day
after the
release of the Operating Earnings, as that period may be shortened,
prolonged or altered by the Company.
|
2. |
In
General
|
The
Investment Manager agrees, as more fully set forth herein, to act as investment
adviser to the Company with respect to the investment of the Company's assets
and to supervise and arrange the purchase of securities and loans for and the
sale of securities and loans held in the investment portfolio of the Company.
The Investment Manager shall manage the investment assets of the Company in
conformity with the policies that are approved and monitored by the Board of
Directors. The Investment Manager shall prepare regular reports for the Board
of
Directors that will review the Company's acquisitions of assets, portfolio
composition and characteristics, credit quality, performance and compliance
with
the policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Investment Manager shall
allocate investment and disposition opportunities in accordance with policies
and procedures the Investment Manager considers fair and equitable, including,
without limitation, such considerations as investment objectives, restrictions
and time horizons, availability of cash and the amount of existing holdings.
3
3. |
Duties
and Obligations of the Investment Manager with Respect to Investment
of
Assets of the Company
|
(a) |
Subject
to the succeeding provisions of this Section and subject to the direction
and control of the Board of Directors, the Investment Manager will
be
responsible for the day-to-day investment management of the Company
and
will perform (or cause to be performed) such services and activities
relating to the investment of assets of the Company as may be appropriate,
including, but not limited to:
|
(i) |
providing
a complete program of investing and reinvesting the capital and assets
of
the Company in pursuit of the Company's investment objectives and
in
accordance with the policies adopted by the Board of Directors from
time
to time;
|
(ii) |
serving
as the Company's consultant with respect to formulation of investment
criteria and preparation of policy guidelines by the Board of Directors;
|
(iii) |
assisting
the Company in developing criteria for mortgage asset purchase commitments
that are specifically tailored to the Company's investment objectives
and
making available to the Company the Investment
Manager's knowledge and experience with respect to mortgage assets
and
other real estate related assets;
|
(iv) |
counseling
the Company in connection with investment policy decisions made by
the
Board of Directors;
|
(v) |
evaluating
and recommending hedging strategies to the Board of Directors in
accordance with hedging guidelines and policies adopted by the Board
of
Directors, and engaging in hedging activities on behalf of the Company,
consistent with the Company's status as a REIT;
|
(vi) |
maintaining
the Company's exemption from regulation as an investment company
under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company
Act");
|
(vii) |
representing
the Company in connection with the purchase and commitment to purchase
or
sell mortgage assets, including the accumulation of Mortgage Loans
for
securitization and the incurrence of debt;
|
4
(viii) |
arranging
for the issuance of Mortgage-Backed Securities from pools of Mortgage
Loans owned by the Company;
|
(ix) |
acquiring
and managing Mortgage-Backed
Securities;
|
(x) |
furnishing
reports and statistical and economic research to the Company regarding
the
Company's activities and the services performed for the Company by
the
Investment Manager; and
|
(xi) |
monitoring
and providing to the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis price
information and other data, obtained from certain nationally recognized
dealers that maintain markets in mortgage assets identified by the
Board
of Directors from time to time, and providing data and advice to
the Board
of Directors in connection with the identification of such dealers.
|
(b) |
In
the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Investment
Manager
shall at all times use all reasonable efforts to conform to and act
in
accordance with any requirements imposed by (i) the status of the
Company
as a REIT as defined in the REIT Provisions of the Code; (ii) the
Company's status as an entity exempt from regulation under the Investment
Company Act; (iii) any other applicable provision of law; (iv) the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company,
as
such documents are amended from time to time; (v) the investment
objectives and policies of the Company as set forth in its Registration
Statement on Form S-11, as such objectives and policies may thereafter
be
amended from time to time; and (vi) any policies and determinations
of the
Board of Directors.
|
(c) |
The
Investment Manager will bear all costs and expenses of the Investment
Manager's officers and employees and any overhead incurred in connection
with the Investment Manager's duties hereunder, the cost of office
space
and equipment required for performance of the Investment Manager's
duties
and shall bear the costs of any salaries or directors' fees of any
officers or directors of the Company who are Affiliates of the Investment
Manager, except that the Board of Directors may approve reimbursement
to
the Investment Manager of the Company's pro rata portion of the salaries,
bonuses, health insurance, retirement benefits and all similar employment
costs for the time spent on Company operations and administration
(other
than the provision of services covered by Section 3(a) above) of
all
personnel employed by the Investment Manager who devote substantial
time
to Company operations and administration or the operations and
administration of other companies advised by the Investment Manager;
provided
that the Investment Manager shall not be expected to bear the following
expenses: issuance and transaction costs incident to the acquisition,
disposition and financing of investments, legal, accounting and auditing
fees and expenses, the compensation and expenses of the Company's
Unaffiliated Directors, the costs of printing and mailing proxies
and
reports to stockholders, costs incurred by employees of the Investment
Manager for travel on behalf of the Company, costs associated with
any
computer software or hardware that is used solely for the Company,
costs
to obtain liability insurance to indemnify the Company's directors
and
officers, the Investment Manager and its employees and directors
and any
underwriters, and the compensation and expenses of the Company's
custodian
and transfer agent, if any. The Company will also be required to
pay all
expenses incurred in connection with due diligence, the accumulation
of
Mortgage Loans, the master and special servicing of Mortgage Loans,
the
issuance and administration of Mortgage-Backed Securities from pools
of
Mortgage Loans or otherwise, the raising of capital, the incurrence
of
debt, the acquisition of assets, interest expenses, taxes and license
fees, non-cash costs, litigation, the base and incentive management
fee
and extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.
|
5
(d) |
The
Investment Manager shall give the Company the benefit of its best
judgment
and effort in rendering services hereunder.
|
(e) |
Nothing
in this Agreement shall prevent the Investment Manager or any partner,
officer, employee or other Affiliate of the Investment Manager from
acting
as investment adviser 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 Investment Manager or any of its shareholders, 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 Investment Manager will not undertake activities which,
in its
judgment, will substantially and adversely affect the performance
of its
obligations under this Agreement.
|
(f) |
The
Investment Manager shall maintain appropriate books of accounts and
records relating to services performed under this Agreement, and
such
books of accounts and records shall be accessible for inspection
by
representatives of the Company or any of its subsidiaries at any
time
during normal business hours. The Investment Manager shall keep
confidential any and all information obtained in connection with
the
services rendered under this Agreement and shall not disclose any
such
information to nonaffiliated third parties except with the prior
written
consent of the Board of Directors or as may be required by law or
order of
a court or other tribunal having requisite jurisdiction.
|
(g) |
The
Investment Manager shall require each seller or transferor of assets
to be
acquired by the Company to make such representations and warranties
regarding such assets as may be directed by the Board of Directors,
or, if
no such directions are given, as may, in the judgment of the Investment
Manager, be necessary and appropriate. In addition, the Investment
Manager
shall take such other action as may be directed by the Board of Directors,
or, if no such directions are given, as it deems necessary or appropriate
with regard to the protection of the Company's assets.
|
6
4. |
Portfolio
Transactions and Brokerage
|
The
Investment Manager is authorized, for the purchase and sale of the Company's
assets, to employ such securities dealers as may, in the judgment of the
Investment Manager, implement the policy of the Company to obtain the best
net
results taking into account such factors as price, including dealer spread,
the
size, type and difficulty of the transaction involved, the firm's general
execution and operational facilities and the firm's risk in positioning the
securities involved and is authorized to direct the execution of such
transactions, in compliance with applicable law to dealers and brokers that
are
affiliates of, or have a financial interest in, the Investment Manager or its
affiliates ("Affiliated Broker-Dealers"). The Investment Manager and any
Affiliated Broker-Dealers are also hereby authorized by the Company to execute
agency cross transactions on the Company's behalf. Agency cross transactions
may
facilitate a purchase or sale of a block of securities at a predetermined price
and may avoid unfavorable price movements which might otherwise be suffered
if
the purchase or sale order were exposed to the market. However, the Manager
and
its Affiliated Broker-Dealers may receive commissions from, and therefore may
have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities
regarding, both parties to an agency cross transaction. The Company understands
that its authority to the Investment Manager to effect agency cross transactions
for the Company is terminable at will without penalty, effective upon receipt
by
the Investment Manager of written notice from the Company. If the Company's
assets are subject to Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and Rule 11a2-2(T) thereunder, the Company
authorizes the Investment Manager's Affiliated Broker-Dealers that may be
members of a U.S. securities exchange, or have the right to trade on such an
exchange, to execute transactions on such exchange for the Company. Consistent
with this policy, the Investment Manager is authorized to direct the execution
of the Company's portfolio transactions to dealers and brokers furnishing
statistical information or research deemed by the Investment Manager to be
useful or valuable to the performance of the Investment Manager's investment
advisory functions for the Company.
5. |
Compensation
of the Investment Manager
|
(a) |
The
Company agrees to pay to the Investment Manager and the Investment
Manager
agrees to accept,
the fees specified in this Section 5(a) and Section 5(f) below, as
full
compensation for all services rendered by the Investment Manager
as such:
|
(i)
|
a
quarterly base management fee based on Quarterly Average Total
Stockholders' Equity, calculated as follows:
|
Quarterly
Average Total
|
Base
|
|||
Stockholders'
Equity
|
Management
Fee
|
|||
Less
than or equal to $400 million
|
0.3750
|
%
|
||
Greater
than $400 million, but less than or equal to $800 million
|
0.3125
|
%
|
||
Greater
than $800 million
|
0.2500
|
%
|
||
and
|
7
(ii)
|
an
incentive fee in an amount equal to the product of 25% of the dollar
amount by which:
|
(1) |
Adjusted
Operating Earnings
of
the Company (before incentive fee) for the applicable quarterly period
exceeds
|
(2) |
an
amount equal to (A) the weighted average of the price per share of
the
Common Stock in the initial public offering and the prices per share
of
Common Stock in any secondary offerings of Common Stock by the Company,
including, without limitation, issuances of Common Stock pursuant
to the
Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, private
placements, public offerings and exercises of options granted under
the
Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan, multiplied by (B) the Ten-Year
U.S.
Treasury Rate plus 4.0% per annum (expressed as a quarterly percentage)
multiplied by (C) the weighted average number of shares of Common
Stock
outstanding during such quarter.
|
(b) |
Calculation
of the incentive fee payable to the Investment Manager shall be calculated
using a rolling four-quarter high watermark (the "Watermark"). In
determining the Watermark, the Investment Manager shall calculate
the
incentive fee based upon the current and prior three quarters' Adjusted
Operating Earnings and/or net income (the "Yearly Incentive Fee"),
as the
case may be, as follows: (i)
for the 1st quarter of fiscal 2008 and all prior quarters, net income,
and
(ii) for the 2nd quarter of fiscal 2008 and all subsequent quarters,
Adjusted Operating Earnings. For clarification purposes only, in
calculating the incentive fee at: (i) June 30, 2008, the Investment
Manager shall calculate the Watermark based upon: 2nd quarter of
fiscal
2008 Adjusted Operating Earnings, and 1st quarter of fiscal 2008
and 3rd
and 4th quarters of fiscal 2007 net income; and (ii) at September
30,
2008, the Investment Manager shall calculate the Watermark based
upon: 2nd
and 3rd quarters of fiscal 2008 Adjusted Operating Earnings and 1st
quarter of fiscal 2008 and 4th quarter of fiscal 2007 net income.
The
Company shall pay the Investment Manager an incentive fee in the
current
quarter if the Yearly Incentive Fee is greater than the amount the
Company
paid to the Investment Manager in the prior three quarters cumulatively.
In calculating the incentive fee, Adjusted Operating Earnings may
exclude
special one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP accounting
pronouncements, or other one-time events, after discussion between
the
Investment Manager and the Unaffiliated Directors. In calculating
the
incentive fee, net income shall be based on GAAP and adjusted to
exclude
special one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP accounting
pronouncements, or other one-time events, after discussion between
the
Investment Manager and the Unaffiliated Directors. For any period
less
than a fiscal quarter during which this Agreement is in effect, the
fee
shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears
to a
full quarter of 90, 91 or 92 days, as the case may
be.
|
8
(c) |
One
hundred percent (100%) of the base management fee and the incentive
fee
shall (subject to the other provisions of this Section 5) be payable
to
the Investment Manager in Common Stock. Any shares issued pursuant
to this
provision shall be issued pursuant to any applicable stock plan approved
by the Company's stockholders.
|
(d) |
The
management fees earned under Section 5(a) will be payable in arrears.
The
amount of Common Stock payable for the base management fee and the
incentive fee for a quarter shall be calculated by dividing the applicable
fee by the average of the opening and closing prices of the Common
Stock
on the New York Stock Exchange during the first 10 days of the Window
Period in the subsequent quarter. Payment of such fees shall be made
as
soon as practicable following such calculation.
|
(e) |
The
base management fee is intended to compensate the Investment Manager
for
its costs in providing investment management services to the Company.
The
Board of Directors may adjust the base management fee with the consent
of
the Investment Manager in the future if necessary to align the fee
more
closely with the costs of such services.
|
(f) |
The
Company shall pay to the Investment Manager, which payment shall
be part
of the base management fee, a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to
one half of one percent (0.5%) of the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of the tenth trading day of the Window Period
that
commences in the fourth quarter of each year or, if there is no such
Window Period, as of December 31 of each year. The Company shall
pay such
shares as soon as practicable after calculation of the shares payable.
Any
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this provision shall be
issued
pursuant to any applicable stock plan approved by the Company's
stockholders.
|
(g) |
The
Investment Manager's receipt of Common Stock in accordance herewith
shall
be subject to all applicable securities laws (including, without
limitation, prohibitions on xxxxxxx xxxxxxx), and all further restrictions
as shall be deemed necessary or advisable by the Board of Directors.
To
the extent that the Investment Manager may be deemed a director of
the
Company, all acquisitions of Company equity securities, including
Common
Stock, made by the Investment Manager pursuant to and in accordance
with
the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall constitute exempt
acquisitions by the Investment Manager pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under
the
Exchange Act. The Investment Manager shall have the right to allocate
such
shares in its sole and absolute discretion to its officers, employees
and
other individuals who provide services to the Investment Manager,
subject
to the same restrictions as above.
|
9
6. |
Indemnity
|
(a) |
The
Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Investment Manager and each
of the
Investment Manager's shareholders, officers, employees, agents, associates
and controlling persons and the shareholders, officers, employees
and
agents thereof (including any individual who serves at the Investment
Manager's request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like
of
another corporation) (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 corporate 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 he may
be or
may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may
be or
may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth
above in
this Section 6 or thereafter by reason of his having acted in any
such
capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall
have been
adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that
his action was in the best interests of the Company and furthermore,
in
the case of any criminal proceeding, so long as he 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 Company or its stockholders 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 his 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 such 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 Company and that such
indemnitee appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable
belief
that his action was in the best interests of the Company 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 Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing contained in this paragraph or elsewhere in this Agreement
shall
constitute a waiver by the Company of any of its legal rights to
the
extent they may not be waived.
|
(b) |
The
Company shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses
of
defending any action with respect to which indemnification might
be sought
hereunder if the Company 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
Company unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled
to such
indemnification and if a majority of the Board of Directors 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 his undertaking, (B) the
Company
shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances
or (C) a majority of a quorum consisting of directors of the Company
who
are neither affiliated persons of the Company nor parties to the
proceeding ("Disinterested Non-Party Directors") 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.
|
10
(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 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 Directors
of the
Company or (ii) 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 (b).
|
(d) |
The
rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not
exclude
any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.
|
7. |
Duration
and Termination
|
This
Agreement shall commence on the date hereof for an initial term expiring on
March 31, 2009. Thereafter, successive extensions, each for a period not to
exceed one year, may be made by agreement between the Company and the Investment
Manager, with the approval of a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors until
terminated or assigned under the provisions of this Section 7 or Section 9,
as
the case may be, of this Agreement.
Upon
termination of this Agreement by the Company, the Company is obligated to pay
the Investment Manager a termination fee that will be determined by independent
appraisal other than in the case of termination by the Company for cause (as
described below). The
Company may terminate, or decline to renew the term of, this Agreement without
cause at any time upon 60 days' written notice by a majority vote of the
Unaffiliated Directors; provided
that the
Company shall pay the Investment Manager a termination fee determined by
independent appraisal of the value of this Agreement. Such appraisal is to
be
conducted by a nationally recognized appraisal firm mutually agreed upon by
the
Company and the Investment Manager. If the Company and the Investment Manager
are unable to agree upon an appraisal firm, then each of the Company and the
Manager is to choose an independent appraisal firm to conduct an appraisal.
In
such event, (i) if the appraisals prepared by the two appraisers so selected
are
the same or differ by an amount that does not exceed 20% of the higher of the
two appraisals, the termination fee is to be deemed to be the average of the
appraisals as prepared by each party's chosen appraiser and (ii) if these two
appraisals differ by more than 20% of such higher amount, the two appraisers
together are to select a third appraisal firm to conduct an appraisal. If the
two appraisers are unable to agree as to the identity of such third appraiser,
either of the Investment Manager and the Company may request that the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") select the third appraiser. The termination
fee
then is to be the amount determined by such third appraiser, but in no event
shall the termination fee be less than the lower of the two initial appraisals
or more than the higher of such two initial appraisals. Each party shall pay
the
costs of the appraisers chosen by it, and each party shall pay one half of
the
costs of the third appraiser. Any appraisal hereunder shall be performed no
later than 45 days following selection of the appraiser or appraisers.
11
At
the
option of the Company, this Agreement, or any extension hereof, shall be and
become terminated with cause upon 60 days' prior written notice of termination
from the Board of Directors to the Investment Manager, without payment of any
termination fee, if any of the following events occur: (i) if the Investment
Manager commits a material breach of any provision of this Agreement (including
any material breach of the provisions contained in Section 3(a) and (b) herein)
and, after notice of such violation, shall not cure such violation within 30
days; or (ii) there is entered an order for relief or similar decree or order
with respect to the Investment Manager by a court having competent jurisdiction
in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter
constituted or under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency
or
other similar laws; or the Investment Manager (A) ceases, or admits in writing
its inability, to pay its debts as they become due and payable, or makes a
general assignment for the benefit of, or enters into any composition or
arrangement with, creditors; (B) applies for, or consents (by admission of
material allegations of a petition or otherwise) to the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, assignee, custodian, liquidator or sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Investment Manager or of any substantial part of its
properties or assets, or authorizes such an application or consent, or
proceedings seeking such appointment are commenced without such authorization,
consent or application against the Investment Manager and continue undismissed
for 30 days; or (C) authorizes or files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy,
or
applies for or consents (by admission of material allegations of a petition
or
otherwise) to the application of any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
readjustment of debt, insolvency, dissolution, liquidation or other similar
law
of any jurisdiction, or authorizes such application or consent, of proceedings
to such end are instituted against application or consent, or proceedings to
such end are instituted against the Investment Manager without such
authorization, application or consent and are approved as properly instituted
and remain undismissed for 30 days or result in adjudication of bankruptcy
or
insolvency; or (D) permits or suffers all or any substantial part of its
properties or assets to be sequestered or attached by court order and the order
remains undismissed for 30 days.
The
Investment Manager agrees that if any of the events specified above occur,
it
will give prompt written notice thereof to the Board of Directors after the
occurrence of such event.
Upon
written request from the Company, the Investment Manager shall prepare, execute
and deliver to a successor manager any and all documents and other instruments,
place in such successor manager's possession all files and do or cause to be
done all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes
of
such notice of termination, to the successor manager at the Investment Manager's
sole expense; provided,
however,
that the
Investment Manager shall be entitled to retain copies of all such documents
and
other instruments as it may be required by federal or state law. The Investment
Manager agrees to cooperate with Company and such successor manager in effecting
the termination of the Investment Manager's responsibilities and rights under
this Agreement.
12
8. |
Action
Upon Termination
|
From
and
after the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
7
hereof, the Investment Manager shall not be entitled to compensation for further
services under this Agreement, but shall be paid all compensation accruing
to
the date of termination and, if such termination is not for cause, the
termination fee determined pursuant to Section 7. The Investment Manager shall
forthwith upon such termination deliver to the Board of Directors all funds
and
property, documents, corporate records, reports and software of the Company
or
any subsidiary of the Company then in the custody of Investment Manager;
provided,
however,
that the
Investment Manager shall be entitled to retain copies of all such documents
and
other instruments as it may be required by federal or state law.
9. |
Assignment
|
This
Agreement may not be assigned without the prior written consent of all the
parties to this Agreement. For the foregoing purposes, "assigned" shall have
the
meaning ascribed to it under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended,
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
10. |
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.
11. |
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement shall be 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.
12. |
Amendments
|
This
Agreement shall not be amended, changed, modified, terminated or discharged
in
whole or in part except by an instrument in writing signed by all parties
hereto, or their respective successors or assigns, or otherwise as provided
herein.
13. |
Severability
|
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not
affect the validity of any other provision, and all other provisions shall
remain in full force and effect.
14. |
Entire
Agreement
|
This
instrument contains the entire agreement between the parties as to the rights
granted and the obligations assumed in this instrument.
13
15. |
Counterparts
|
This
Agreement may be signed by the parties in counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.
16. |
Manager
Brochure
|
The
Company hereby acknowledges that it has received from the Investment Manager
a
copy of the Investment Manager's Form ADV, Part II, at least forty-eight hours
prior to entering into this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument to
be
executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the date and the year
first above written.
ANTHRACITE
CAPITAL, INC.
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
BLACKROCK
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Title:
President
|
14