Evergreen Income Advantage Fund
(a Delaware statutory trust)
[ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
(No Par Value)
FORM OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT
[ ], 2003
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
[Other Underwriters]
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Evergreen Income Advantage Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the
"Fund") and the Fund's investment adviser, Evergreen Investment Management
Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Adviser"), each
confirms its agreement with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated (together, "Xxxxxxx Xxxxx") and each of the
other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted
as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and
[Co-Managers] are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the
"Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the Fund and the
purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective number of common shares of beneficial interest, no par value, of
the Fund ("Common Shares") set forth in said Schedule A, and with respect
to the grant by the Fund to the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or
any part of [ ] additional Common Shares to cover over-allotments, if any.
The aforesaid [ ] Common Shares (the "Initial Securities") to be purchased
by the Underwriters and all or any part of the [ ] Common Shares subject to
the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "Option Securities") are
hereinafter called, collectively, the "Securities."
The Fund understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable
after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-[ ] and No.
811-[ ]) covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary
prospectus or prospectuses, and a notification on Form N-8A of registration
of the Fund as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (the "Rules and
Regulations"). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Fund will either (i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the
provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the Rules and Regulations and
paragraph (c) or (h) of Rule 497 ("Rule 497") of the Rules and Regulations
or (ii) if the Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the
Rules and Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 497. The information
included in any such prospectus, that was omitted from such registration
statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of
such registration statement at the time it became effective, if applicable,
(a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as "Rule 430A
Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is referred to as
"Rule 434 Information." Each prospectus used before such registration
statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as applicable,
the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used after
such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, including in each case any statement of additional information
incorporated therein by reference, is herein called a "preliminary
prospectus." Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto
and schedules thereto at the time it became effective and including the
Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein
called the "Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations is herein referred to
as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the term
"Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities,
including the statement of additional information incorporated therein by
reference, is herein called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on, the
term "Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus dated [ ], 2002
together with the Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the
date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes
of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment
or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy
filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis and Retrieval system ("XXXXX").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all
such financial statements and schedules and other information which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser. The
Fund and the Adviser jointly and severally represent and warrant to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in
Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to
in Section 2(b) hereof, and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, or order of suspension or
revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and no
proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, are contemplated by the
Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are
purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement, the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, the notification of Form N-8A and any
amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules
and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither
the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the
Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the
Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of
Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. If Rule 434 is used, the Fund will comply with
the requirements of Rule 434 and the Prospectus shall not be "materially
different", as such term is used in Rule 434, from the prospectus included
in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations and each
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
If a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is required in connection with
the offering and sale of the Securities, the Fund has complied or will
comply with the requirements of Rule 111 under the 1933 Act Regulations
relating to the payment of filing fees thereof.
(ii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
statement of assets and liabilities included in the Registration Statement
are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the
Rules and Regulations.
(iii) Financial Statements. The statement of assets and liabilities
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with
the related notes, presents fairly the financial position of the Fund at
the date indicated; said statement has been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").
(iv) Expense Summary. The information set forth in the Prospectus in
the Fee Table has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form
N-2 and to the extent estimated or projected, such estimates or projections
are reasonably believed to be attainable and reasonably based.
(v) No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there
have been no transactions entered into by the Fund, other than those in the
ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Fund,
and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared,
paid or made by the Fund on any class of its capital stock.
(vi) Good Standing of the Fund. The Fund has been duly organized and
is validly existing as a trust in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware and has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and
to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the
Fund is duly qualified as a foreign trust to transact business and is in
good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in
good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(vii) No Subsidiaries. The Fund has no subsidiaries. ---------------
(viii) Investment Company Status. The Fund is duly registered with the
Commission under the 1940 Act as a closed-end diversified management
investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such
registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or
threatened by the Commission.
(ix) Officers and Trustees. No person is serving or acting as an
officer, trustee or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance
with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Advisers Act
(the "Advisers Act Rules and Regulations"). Except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
to either of them), no trustee of the Fund is an "interested person" (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund or an "affiliated person" (as defined
in the 0000 Xxx) of any Underwriter.
(x) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund is as set forth in the Prospectus as of the
date thereof under the caption "Description of Shares." All issued and
outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, except
as provided for in the Fund's declaration of trust, and have been offered
and sold or exchanged by the Fund in compliance with all applicable laws
(including, without limitation, federal and state securities laws); none of
the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund was issued in
violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder
of the Fund.
(xi) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when
issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement against payment
of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully
paid and non-assessable, except as provided for in the Fund's declaration
of trust. The Common Shares conform to all statements relating thereto
contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set
forth in the instruments defining the same; no holder of the Securities
will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and
the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other
similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(xii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Fund is not in violation
of its declaration of trust or bylaws, or in default in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by
which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Fund is subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for
such violations or defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement
and the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Registrar Agreement
referred to in the Registration Statement (as used herein, the "Management
Agreement," the "Administration Agreement," the "Custodian Agreement" and
the "Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar Agreement,"
respectively) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein
and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as
described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and
compliance by the Fund with its obligations hereunder have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not,
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both,
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Fund pursuant to,
the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or
defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
the provisions of the declaration of trust or bylaws of the Fund or any
applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree
of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its assets, properties
or operations. As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or
condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence
of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to
require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such
indebtedness by the Fund.
(xiii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Fund or the Adviser, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which
is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as
disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the
performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all
pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Fund is a party or
of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not
described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits thereto by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act
or by the Rules and Regulations which have not been so described and filed
as required.
(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Fund owns or possesses,
or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights,
licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names
or other intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual Property")
necessary to carry on the business now operated by the Fund, and the Fund
has not received any notice or is not otherwise aware of any infringement
of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any
Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render
any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of
the Fund therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy,
singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency
is necessary or required for the performance by the Fund of its obligations
hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the
Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be
required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or under the rules of the American Stock
Exchange ("AMEX") or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc
("NASD") or state securities laws.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Fund possesses such
permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate
its properties and to conduct the business as contemplated in the
Prospectus; the Fund is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all
such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would
not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the
Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when
the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such
Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not have a
Material Adverse Effect; and the Fund has not received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Advertisements. Any advertising, sales literature or other
promotional material (including "prospectus wrappers", "broker kits," "road
show slides" and "road show scripts" and "electronic road show
presentations") authorized in writing by or prepared by the Fund or the
Advisers used in connection with the public offering of the Securities
(collectively, "sales material") does not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
Moreover, all sales material complied and will comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act,
the Rules and Regulations and the rules and interpretations of the NASD.
(xix) Subchapter M. The Fund intends to direct the investment of the
proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement in such a
manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Subchapter M of the Code" and the
"Code," respectively), and intends to qualify as a regulated investment
company under Subchapter M of the Code.
(xx) Distribution of Offering Materials. The Fund has not distributed
and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time and (B) completion
of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering
material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than
the Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or
other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act or the
Rules and Regulations.
(xxi) Accounting Controls. The Fund maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization and with the applicable requirements of the 1940
Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Code; (B) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
accountability for assets and to maintain compliance with the books and
records requirements under the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations; (C)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with the management's
general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(xxii) Absence of Undisclosed Payments. To the Fund's knowledge,
neither the Fund nor any employee or agent of the Fund has made any payment
of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which payment,
receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in
the Prospectus.
(xxiii) Material Agreements. This Agreement, the Management Agreement,
the Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer and
Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar Agreement have each been duly
authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund and executed and
delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein, and each complies
with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. Assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by the other parties thereto with respect to the
Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement
and the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar Agreement,
each of the Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the
Custodian Agreement and the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and
Registrar Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Fund,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(xxiv) Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration
rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant
to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Fund under the
1933 Act.
(xxv) AMEX Listing. The Securities have been duly authorized for
listing, upon notice of issuance, on the AMEX and the Fund's registration
statement on Form 8-A under the 1934 Act has become effective.
(b) Representations and Warranties by the Adviser. The Adviser represents and
warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time
referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any)
referred to in Section 2(b) hereof as follows:
(i) Good Standing of the Adviser. The Adviser has been duly organized
and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company
under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign company to
transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in
which such qualification is required.
(ii) Investment Adviser Status. The Adviser is duly registered and in
good standing with the Commission as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act, or
the rules and regulations under such acts, from acting under the Management
Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(iii) Description of Adviser. The description of the Adviser in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
to either of them) complied and comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and
Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and is true and
correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(iv) Capitalization. The Adviser has the financial resources available
to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as
contemplated in the Prospectus, this Agreement and under the Management
Agreement to which it is a party.
(v) Authorization of Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.
This Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Additional Compensation
Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Adviser, and the Management Agreement and the Additional Compensation
Agreement each constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Adviser,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law); and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Management Agreement or the Additional Compensation Agreement nor the
performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will
conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of,
or constitute, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both, a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is
a party or by which it is bound, the agreement and articles of
organization, the bylaws or other organizational documents of the Adviser,
or to the Adviser's knowledge, by any law, order, decree, rule or
regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or state
regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock
exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over the Adviser or
its properties or operations; and no consent, approval, authorization or
order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the
consummation by the Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Additional Compensation
Agreement, except as have been obtained or may be required under the 1933
Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act or state securities laws.
(vi) No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred any
event which should reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the ability of the Adviser to perform its respective obligations under
this Agreement and the Management Agreement to which it is a party.
(vii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Adviser, threatened against or affecting the Adviser or any "affiliated
person" of the Adviser (as such term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) or any
partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably be
expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects
of the Adviser, materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of
the Adviser or materially impair or adversely affect the ability of the
Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations
under the Management Agreement, or which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(viii) Absence of Violation or Default. The Adviser is not in
violation of its agreement and articles of organization, bylaws or other
organizational documents or in default under any agreement, indenture or
instrument.
(c) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Fund or the Adviser delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund or the
Adviser, as the case may be, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered
thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Fund agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not
jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Fund, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, the
number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of
such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which
such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the
provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms
and conditions herein set forth, the Fund hereby grants an option to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [
] Common Shares in the aggregate at the price per share set forth in
Schedule B, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or
distributions declared by the Fund and payable on the Initial Securities
but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted will
expire 45 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in
part from time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments
which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the
Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the Fund setting
forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters
are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and
delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a
"Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall
not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said
option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined.
If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option
Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly,
will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then
being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in
Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number
of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of a
fractional number of Option Securities.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of
Xxxxxxxx Chance US LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing
occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after
the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such
date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Fund (such time
and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are
purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and
delivery of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the
above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by
the Representatives and the Fund, on each Date of Delivery as specified in
the notice from the Representatives to the Fund.
Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery
to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood
that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account,
to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has
agreed to purchase. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, individually and not as representative
of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of
the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if
any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received
by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be,
but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations
hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time
or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for
the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, will be made
available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in the City
of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day
prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may
be.
SECTION 3. Covenants.
(a) The Fund and the Adviser, jointly and severally, covenant with each
Underwriter as follows:
(i) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
The Fund, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), will comply with the requirements of
Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representatives
immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any
supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been
filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of
any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus,
or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or
sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes. The Fund will promptly effect the
filings necessary pursuant to Rule 497 and will take such steps as it deems
necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted
for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the Commission and, in
the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Fund
will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop
order, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to
Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and, if any such stop order or order of
suspension or revocation of registration is issued, to obtain the lifting
thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(ii) Filing of Amendments. The Fund will give the Representatives
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term
Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or
to the Prospectus, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use,
as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the
Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall object.
(iii) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has furnished or
will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives,
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each
of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(iv) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Fund has delivered to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus
as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Fund hereby consents to
the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Fund
will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when
the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented)
as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T.
(v) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time when a
prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as
a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters or for the Fund, to amend the Registration Statement or amend
or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include
any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at
any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement
the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or
the Rules and Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), such amendment or supplement as
may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and
the Fund will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such
amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(vi) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering
and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other
jurisdictions of the United States as the Representatives may designate and
to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one
year from the later of the effective date of the Registration Statement and
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Fund
shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or
to qualify as a foreign trust or as a dealer in securities in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is
not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have
been so qualified, the Fund will file such statements and reports as may be
required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in
effect for a period of not less than one year from the effective date of
the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(vii) Rule 158. The Fund will timely file such reports pursuant to the
1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the
purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last
paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(viii) Use of Proceeds. The Fund will use the net proceeds received by
it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the
Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds".
(ix) Listing. The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts to effect
the listing of the Securities on the AMEX, subject to notice of issuance,
concurrently with the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
(x) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 180 days
from the date of the Prospectus, the Fund will not, without the prior
written consent of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, (A) directly or indirectly, offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant
to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of Common Shares or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common
Shares or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect
to any of the foregoing or (B) enter into any swap or any other agreement
or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Shares,
whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above
is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (1) the
Securities to be sold hereunder or (2) Common Shares issued pursuant to any
dividend reinvestment plan.
(xi) Reporting Requirements. The Fund, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant
to the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the
1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, respectively.
(xii) Subchapter M. The Fund will comply with the requirements of
Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a regulated investment company under
the Code.
(xiii) No Manipulation of Market for Securities. The Fund will not (a)
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in,
or that might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Securities, and (b) until the Closing Date, or the
Date of Delivery, if any, (i) sell, bid for or purchase the Securities or
pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities
or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting
another to purchase any other securities of the Fund.
(xiv) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. If the Fund elects to rely
upon Rule 462(b), the Fund shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M.,
Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Fund shall at
the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the
payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the 0000 Xxx.
(b) The Adviser covenants with each Underwriter that for a period of 180
days from the date of the Prospectus, the Adviser will not, without your prior
written consent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, act as
investment adviser to any other closed end registered investment company having
an investment objective, policies and restrictions substantially similar to
those of the Fund.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing
and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and
exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any
Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the
Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for
the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes
and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Fund's
counsel, accountants and other advisers, (v) the qualification of the Securities
under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(vi)
hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the
preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing
and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus,
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation,
printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and
any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or
registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection
with, the review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on
the AMEX and (xi) the printing of any sales material. Also, the Fund shall pay
to Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, on behalf of the Underwriters, $.005 per share of the
securities purchased pursuant to this agreement as partial reimbursement of
expenses incurred in connection with the offering. The Adviser has agreed to pay
organizational expenses and offering costs (other than sales load) of the Fund
that exceed $.03 per Common Share.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)
hereof, the Fund and the Adviser, jointly and severally, agree that they shall
reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund and the Adviser
contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Fund or
the Adviser delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by
the Fund and the Adviser of their respective covenants and other obligations
hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement,
including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at
Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act, no notice or order pursuant
to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act shall have been issued, and no proceedings with
respect to either shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if the Fund has
elected to rely on upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been filed with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 497.
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Fund and the Adviser. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing
Time, from Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP, counsel for the Fund and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Esq., counsel for the Adviser, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for
the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letters for
each of the other Underwriters substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit
A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Xxxxxxxx Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with
signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters
with respect to the matters set forth in clauses (A) (i), (ii), (vi), (vii)
(solely as to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law or
under the charter or bylaws of the Fund), (viii) through (x), inclusive, (xiv)
(solely as to the information in the Prospectus under "Description of Shares")
and the last paragraph of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel
may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the
law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon the
opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also
state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied,
to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Fund and
certificates of public officials.
(d) Officers' Certificates. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the
Representatives shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer
of the Fund and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund
and of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director of the Adviser,
dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material
adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Sections 1(a) and (b)
hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly
made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) each of the Fund and the Adviser,
respectively, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or order
of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940
Act, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been
instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from [ ] a letter dated such
date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with
signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representatives shall
have received from [ ] a letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that
they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection
(e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date
not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.
(g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Securities shall have been
approved for listing on the AMEX, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(h) Execution of Additional Compensation Agreement. At Closing Time,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx shall have received the Additional Compensation Agreement, dated
the date of the Closing Time, as executed by the Adviser.
(i) No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.
(j) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the
Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase
all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties
of the Fund contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by
the Fund hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at
the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:
(i) Officers' Certificates. Certificates, dated such Date of Delivery,
of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the chief financial or
chief accounting officer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice
President or Managing Director of the Adviser confirming that the
information contained in the certificate delivered by each of them at the
Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of
such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinions of Counsel for the Fund and the Adviser. The favorable
opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Worcester LLP, counsel for the Fund and for the
Adviser, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the
same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. The favorable opinion
of Xxxxxxxx Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of
Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of
Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by
Section 5(c) hereof.
(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from [ ], in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of
Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter
furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof, except
that the "specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to this
paragraph shall be a date not more than five days prior to such Date of
Delivery.
(k) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and
opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to
evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Fund and the Adviser in connection with the organization and
registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the
Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(l) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option
Securities, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option
Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Fund at
any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may
be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 13
shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Fund and the Adviser, jointly and
severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and any director, officer, employee
or affiliate thereof as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the
Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section
6(e) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Fund; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx), reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation,
or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to
the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Fund or the Adviser by any Underwriter through Xxxxxxx Xxxxx expressly
for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including
the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Fund, Adviser, Trustees and Officers. Each
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the
Adviser, their respective trustees, each of the Fund's officers who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the
Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the
1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as
incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Fund or the Adviser by such Underwriter
through Xxxxxxx Xxxxx expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) Indemnification for Marketing Materials. In addition to the foregoing
indemnification, the Fund and the Adviser also, jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 6(a), as limited by
the proviso set forth therein, with respect to any sales material.
(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Fund and the Adviser. An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such
action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not
(except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the
indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees
and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
SECTION 7. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified
party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to
this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted
by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other
hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Fund and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters
(whether from the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of
the Prospectus or, if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location on the Term
Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as
set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Fund or the Adviser or by the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each trustee of the Fund and each director of the Adviser, respectively, each
officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if
any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser, within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Fund and the Adviser, respectively. The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement
or in certificates of officers of the Fund or the Adviser submitted pursuant
hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or
by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser, and shall survive delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement,
by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has
been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Fund or the Adviser, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the
international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation
thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a
prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic
conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the
judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if
trading in the Common Shares of the Fund has been suspended or materially
limited by the Commission or the AMEX, or if trading generally on the New York
Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market
has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for
trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any
of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the NASD or
any other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in
commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or
New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7, 8 and 13 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of
Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase
under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall
have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more
of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all,
but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number
of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full
amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any
Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and of the Fund to sell the Option Securities to be
purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing
Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase and the Fund to sell the relevant Option Securities, as
the case may be, either the Representatives or the Fund shall have the right to
postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for
a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.
As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an
Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard
form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representatives, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., North Tower, 4 World Financial Center, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, attention of Equity Capital Markets; and notices to the
Fund or the Adviser shall be directed, as appropriate, to the office of
[Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX0000,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, attention of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx].
SECTION 12. Parties.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective partners and
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and their respective successors and the
controlling persons and officers and trustees referred to in Sections 6 and 7
and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended
to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund, the
Adviser and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling
persons and officers, trustees and directors and their heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.
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
IN SAID STATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY
REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument,
along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the
Underwriters, the Fund and the Adviser in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
EVERGREEN INCOME ADVANTAGE FUND
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EVERGREEN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By: ------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
[other Underwriters]
By: Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
By:
------------------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
For itself and as
Representatives of the
other Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto.
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Name of Underwriter Initial Securities
-------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE B
Evergreen Fund
[ ] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
(Par Value $[ ] Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $15.00.
2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the
several Underwriters shall be $14.325, being an amount equal to the initial
public offering price set forth above less $.675 per share; provided that the
purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the exercise
of the over-allotment option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an
amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Fund
and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF FUND'S
COUNSEL TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(A) With respect to the Fund:
(i) The Fund has been duly organized and is validly existing as a statutory
trust in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(ii) The Fund has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and
to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Fund is duly qualified as a foreign trust to transact business
and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify
or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) To the best of our knowledge, the Fund does not have any subsidiaries.
(v) The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description
of Shares--Common Shares" (except for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement); all issued and outstanding shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, except as provided for in the
Fund's declaration of trust, and have been offered and sold or exchanged by
the Fund in compliance with all applicable laws (including, without
limitation, federal and state securities laws); the Common Shares conform
as to legal matters to all statements relating thereto contained in the
Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the
instruments defining the same; and none of the outstanding shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund was issued in violation of the preemptive
or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(vi) The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have
been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth in
the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable, except as provided for in the Fund's declaration of trust,
and no holder of the Securities is or will be subject to personal liability
by reason of being such a holder.
(vii) The issuance of the Securities is not subject to preemptive or other
similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
(viii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Fund.
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act;
any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497(c) or Rule
497(h) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by
Rule 497; and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, and, to the best of our
knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to
Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act has been issued, and no proceedings for any
such purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the
Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as
applicable, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement and Prospectus as of their respective effective or
issue dates (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules
included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no
opinion), and the notification on Form N-8A complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and
the Rules and Regulations.
(xi) If Rule 434 has been relied upon, the Prospectus was not "materially
different" as such term is used in Rule 434, from the prospectus included
in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective.
(xii) The form of certificate used to evidence the Common Shares complies
in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements, with
any applicable requirements of the declaration of trust and bylaws of the
Fund and the requirements of the [American Stock Exchange].
(xiii) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Fund is a
party, or to which the property of the Fund is subject, before or brought
by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which
might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
properties or assets of the Fund or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Fund of
its obligations thereunder.
(xiv) The information in the Prospectus under "Description of Shares" and
"Tax Matters" and in the Registration Statement under Item 29
(Indemnification), to the extent that it constitutes matters of law,
summaries of legal matters, the Fund's declaration of trust and bylaws or
legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by us and is
correct in all material respects.
(xv) Each of the Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the
Custodian Agreement, the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and
Registrar Agreement and the Purchase Agreement comply in all material
respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, Advisers Act, the
Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations.
(xvi) The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as
a closed-end diversified management investment company; and, to the best of
our knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such registration
has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the
Commission.
(xvii) To the best of our knowledge, no person is serving as an officer,
trustee or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the
1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Investment Advisers Act and
the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations. Except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to
either of them), to the best of our knowledge, no trustee of the Fund is an
"interested person" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Fund or an
"affiliated person" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of an Underwriter.
(xviii) There are no statutes or regulations that are required to be
described in the Prospectus that are not described as required.
(xix) All descriptions in the Registration Statement of contracts and other
documents to which the Fund is a party are accurate in all material
respects. To the best of our knowledge, there are no franchises, contracts,
indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to
be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to
therein or filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, and the
descriptions thereof or references thereto are correct in all material
respects.
(xx) To the best of our knowledge, the Fund is not in violation of its
declaration of trust or bylaws and no default by the Fund exists in the due
performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant
or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument that is described
or referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or filed or
incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
(xxi) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order,
registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency (other than under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940
Act and the Rules and Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may be
required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to
which we need express no opinion) is necessary or required in connection
with the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase
Agreement or for the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(xxii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase
Agreement and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and
sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the
Securities as described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of
Proceeds") and compliance by the Fund with its obligations under the
Purchase Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving
of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach
of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined in Section 1(a)(xii) of the
Purchase Agreement) under or result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Fund
pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument, known
to us, to which the Fund is a party or by which it or any of them may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Fund is subject,
nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
charter or bylaws of the Fund, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known to us, of any
government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Fund or any of its properties, assets or
operations.
(xxiii) The Purchase Agreement, the Management Agreement, the
Administration Agreement, the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer and
Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar Agreement have each been duly
authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund, executed and
delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein. Assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto with
respect to the Administration Agreement, Custodian Agreement and the
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar Agreement, each of
the Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Custodian
Agreement and the Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agency and Registrar
Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Fund,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
FORM OF OPINION OF ADVISER'S
COUNSEL TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(B) With respect to the Adviser:
(i) The Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
(ii) The Adviser has full power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to
enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Adviser is duly qualified as a foreign company to transact
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment
adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the
Advisers Act Rules and Regulations, the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations
from acting under the Management Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(v) The Purchase Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Additional
Compensation Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Adviser, and the Management Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(vi) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Adviser is a
party, or to which the property of the Adviser is subject, before or brought by
any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which might
reasonably be expected to result in any material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Adviser, materially and adversely affect the properties or
assets of the Adviser or materially impair or adversely affect the ability of
the Adviser to function as an investment adviser or perform its obligations
under the Management Agreement or which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(vii) To the best of our knowledge, there are no franchises, contracts,
indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be
filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or
filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, and the descriptions
thereof or references thereto are correct in all material respects.
(viii) To the best of our knowledge, the Adviser is not in violation of its
articles of organization, bylaws or other organizational documents and no
default by the Adviser exists in the due performance or observance of any
material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
(ix) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order,
registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or
agency, domestic or foreign (other than under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the
Rules and Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may be required under the
securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to which we need express
no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement.
(x) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement and
in the Registration Statement and compliance by the Adviser with their
obligations under the Purchase Agreement do not and will not, whether with or
without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined in Section
1(a)(xii) of the Purchase Agreement) under or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Adviser pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or
credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument, known to us,
to which the Adviser is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or
to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser is subject (except for
such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that
would not have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws of the Adviser, or any
applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree,
known to us, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser or any of its properties, assets
or operations.
In addition, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and participated in discussions with certain
officers, trustees and employees of the Fund, representatives of [ ], the
independent accountants who examined the statement of assets and liabilities of
the Fund included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, and you and your representatives and we have reviewed certain
Fund records and documents. While we have not independently verified and are not
passing upon, and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, except to the extent necessary to enable us to
give the opinions with respect to the Fund in paragraphs (A)(v), (xiv) and
(xix), on the basis of such participation and review, nothing has come to our
attention that would lead us to believe that the Registration Statement (except
for financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial data included
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we do not express any belief), at the
time such Registration Statement became effective, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus (except for financial statements, supporting schedules and other
financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we do not
express any belief), at the time the Prospectus was issued, or at the Closing
Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
