EXHIBIT (h)(1)
_______ Shares
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
(a Maryland corporation)
Common Stock
(Par Value $0.10 Per Share)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
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May ___, 1997
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx World Headquarters
World Financial Center
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Debt Strategies Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), and Fund
Asset Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Adviser"), each
confirms its agreement with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx &
Xxxxx Incorporated (the "Underwriter"), with respect to the sale by the Fund and
the purchase by the Underwriter of ______ shares of common stock, par value $.10
per share, of the Fund (the "Common Stock"), and, with respect to the grant by
the Fund to the Underwriter of the option described in Section 2 hereof to
purchase all or any part of _____ additional shares of Common Stock to cover
over-allotments. The aforesaid _______ shares (the "Initial Shares"), together
with all or any part of the _______ additional shares of Common Stock subject to
the option described in Section 2 hereof (the "Option Shares"), hereinafter are
referred to collectively as the "Shares".
Prior to the purchase and public offering of the Shares by the Underwriter,
the Fund and the Underwriter shall enter into an agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Pricing Agreement"). The Pricing Agreement may
take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written telecommunication
between the Fund and the Underwriter and shall specify such applicable
information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto. The offering of the Shares
will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the Pricing Agreement.
From and after the date
of the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement, this Agreement shall be
deemed to incorporate the Pricing Agreement.
The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") 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
"Investment Company Act"), and a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-
22645) and a related preliminary prospectus for the registration of the Shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the Investment
Company Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
and the Investment Company Act (together, the "Rules and Regulations"), and has
filed such amendments to such registration statement on Form N-2, if any, and
such amended preliminary prospectuses as may have been required to the date
hereof. The Fund will prepare and file such additional amendments thereto and
such amended prospectuses as hereafter may be required. Such registration
statement (as amended at the time it becomes effective, if applicable) and the
prospectus constituting a part thereof (including in each case the information,
if any, deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A(b) or Rule 434 of the
Rules and Regulations), as from time to time amended or supplemented pursuant to
the 1933 Act, are referred to hereinafter as the "Registration Statement" and
the "Prospectus", respectively; except that if any revised prospectus shall be
provided to the Underwriter by the Fund for use in connection with the offering
of the Shares which differs from the Prospectus on file at the Commission at the
time the Registration Statement becomes effective (whether such revised
prospectus is required to be filed by the Fund pursuant to Rule 497(c) or Rule
497(h) of the Rules and Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to each
such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the
Underwriter for such use. If the Fund elects to rely on Rule 434 under the
Rules and Regulations, all references to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
include, without limitation, the form of prospectus and the term sheet, taken
together, provided to the Underwriter by the Fund in reliance on Rule 434 under
the 1933 Act (the "Rule 434 Prospectus"). If the Fund files a registration
statement to register a portion of the Shares and relies on Rule 462(b) for such
registration statement to become effective upon filing with the Commission (the
"Rule 462 Registration Statement"), then any reference to "Registration
Statement" herein shall be deemed to include both the registration statement
referred to above (No. 333-22645) and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, as
each such registration statement may be amended pursuant to the 1933 Act.
The Fund understands that the Underwriter proposes to make a public
offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable after the
Registration Statement becomes effective and the Pricing Agreement has been
executed and delivered.
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SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties. (a) The Fund and the Adviser
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each severally represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of the date hereof
and as of the date of the Pricing Agreement (such later date hereinafter being
referred to as the "Representation Date") as follows:
(i) At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective and at
the Representation Date, the Registration Statement will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Investment
Company Act and the Rules and Regulations 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. At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, at
the Representation Date and at Closing Time referred to in Section 2, the
Prospectus (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has
been provided to the Underwriter by the Fund for use in connection with the
offering of the Shares which differs from the Prospectus on file with the
Commission at the time the Registration State ment becomes effective, in
which case at the time such prospectus first is provided to the Underwriter
for such use) will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
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; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in
this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Fund in writing by the
Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement or in the
Prospectus.
(ii) The accountants who certified the statement of assets,
liabilities and capital included in the Registration Statement are
independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the Rules
and Regulations.
(iii) The statement of assets, liabilities and capital included in the
Registration Statement presents fairly the financial position of the Fund
as at the date indicated and said statement has been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
(iv) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, except as otherwise
stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, of the Fund, or in the earnings,
business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business, (B) there
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have been no transactions entered into by the Fund which are material to
the Fund other than those in the ordinary course of business 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.
(v) The Fund has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland with
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Fund
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required;
and the Fund has no subsidiaries.
(vi) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the Investment
Company Act as a closed-end, non-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.
(vii) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Fund
is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of Capital
Stock"; the Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Fund pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration
set forth in the Pricing Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid
and nonassessable; the Shares conform in all material respects to all
statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement; and
the issuance of the Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter is not
subject to preemptive rights.
(viii) The Fund is not in violation of its articles of incorporation, as
amended (the "Charter"), or its by-laws, as amended (the "By-Laws"), or in
default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to
which it is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound; and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement and the
Investment Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement referred to in the
Registration Statement (as used herein, the "Advisory Agreement" and the
"Custody Agreement", respectively) and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and therein have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of,
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or a default 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 material contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
other instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it 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 the
By-Laws of the Fund, or, to the best knowledge of the Fund and the Adviser,
any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree; and
no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental
authority or agency is required for the consummation by the Fund of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the
Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement, except such as has been
obtained under the Investment Company Act or as may be required under the
1933 Act or state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriter.
(ix) The Fund owns or possesses or has obtained all material
governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other
authorizations necessary to lease or own, as the case may be, and to
operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as contemplated in
the Prospectus and the Fund has not received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such licenses, permits,
covenants, orders, approvals or authorizations.
(x) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the
knowledge of the Fund, threatened against or affecting, the Fund, which
might result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, or might
materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund; and
there are no material contracts or documents of the Fund which are required
to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the 1933 Act, the
Investment Company Act or the Rules and Regulations which have not been so
filed.
(xi) 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 which have not been so described and filed as required.
(xii) The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms,
adequate trademarks, service marks and trade names necessary to conduct its
business as described
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in the Registration Statement, and the Fund has not received any notice of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to
any trademarks, service marks or trade names which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
would materially adversely affect the conduct of the business, operations,
financial condition or income of the Fund.
(b) The Adviser represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of the date
hereof and as of the Representation Date as follows:
(i) The Adviser has been duly organized as a limited partnership
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.
(ii) The Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers
Act"), and is not prohibited by the Investment Advisers Act or the
Investment Company Act, or the rules and regulations under such acts, from
acting under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(iii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Adviser; the Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Adviser and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable
principles; and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
Advisory 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 the 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, or any
law, order, 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 respective properties or operations.
(iv) The Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary
for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the
Prospectus.
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(v) Any advertisement approved by the Adviser for use in the public
offering of the Shares pursuant to Rule 482 under the Rules and Regulations
(an "Omitting Prospectus") complies with the requirements of such Rule 482.
(c) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Fund or the Adviser and
delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter shall
be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund or the Adviser, as the case
may be, to the Underwriter, as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to the Underwriter; Closing.
(a) 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 the Initial Shares to the Underwriter and the Underwriter agrees to
purchase the Initial Shares from the Fund, at the price per share set forth in
the Pricing Agreement.
(i) If the Fund has elected not to rely upon Rule 430A under the
Rules and Regulations, the initial public offering prices and the purchase
price per share to be paid by the Underwriter for the Shares have been
determined and set forth in the Pricing Agreement, dated the date hereof,
and an amendment to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will be
filed before the Registration Statement becomes effective.
(ii) If the Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Rules and
Regulations, the purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriter for
the Shares shall be an amount equal to the applicable initial public
offering price, less an amount per share to be determined by agreement
between the Underwriter and the Fund. The initial public offering price
per share shall be a fixed price based upon the number of Shares purchased
in a single transaction to be determined by agreement between the
Underwriter and the Fund. The initial public offering price and the
purchase price, when so determined, shall be set forth in the Pricing
Agreement. In the event that such prices have not been agreed upon and the
Pricing Agreement has not been executed and delivered by all parties
thereto by the close of business on the fourth business day following the
date of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate forthwith, without
liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in Section 4,
unless otherwise agreed to by the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter.
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
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the Underwriter to purchase all or any part of the Option Shares at the price
per share set forth above. The option hereby granted will expire 45 days after
the date hereof (or, if the Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the
Rules and Regulations, 45 days after the execution of the Pricing Agreement) and
may be exercised only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be
made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Shares upon
notice by the Underwriter to the Fund setting forth the number of Option Shares
as to which the Underwriter is then exercising the option and the time, date and
place of payment and delivery for such Option Shares. Any such time and date of
delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the Underwriter but shall
not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option,
nor in any event prior to Closing Time, as hereinafter defined, unless otherwise
agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund.
(b) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for,
the Initial Shares shall be made at the office of Xxxxx & Xxxx llp, Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000, or at such other place as shall be
agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund, at 9:00 A.M. on the third business
day following the date the Registration Statement becomes effective or, if the
Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Rules and Regulations, the
third business day after execution of the Pricing Agreement (or, if pricing
takes place after 4:30 P.M. on either the date the Registration Statement
becomes effective or the date of execution of the Pricing Agreement, as
applicable, the fourth business day after such applicable date), or such other
time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by
the Underwriter and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery herein
being referred to as "Closing Time"). In addition, in the event that any or all
of the Option Shares are purchased by the Underwriter, payment of the purchase
price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option Shares shall be made at
the above-mentioned office of Xxxxx & Wood llp, or at such other place as shall
be agreed upon mutually by the Fund and the Underwriter, on each Date of
Delivery as specified in the notice from the Underwriter to the Fund. Payment
shall be made to the Fund by a Federal Funds check or checks or similar same-day
funds payable to the order of the Fund, against delivery to the Underwriter of
certificates for the Shares to be purchased by it. Certificates for the Initial
Shares and Option Shares shall be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two business days
before Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The
certificates for the Initial Shares and the Option Shares will be made available
by the Fund for examination by the Underwriter not later than 10:00 A.M. on the
last business day prior to Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as the case may
be.
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SECTION 3. Covenants of the Fund. The Fund covenants with the Underwriter
as follows:
(a) The Fund will use its best efforts (i) to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act, and will advise the
Underwriter promptly as to the time at which the Registration Statement and
any amendments thereto (including any post-effective amendment) becomes so
effective and (ii) if required, to cause the issuance of any orders
exempting the Fund from any provisions of the Investment Company Act, and
the Fund will advise the Underwriter promptly as to the time at which any
such orders are granted.
(b) The Fund will notify the Underwriter immediately, and will
confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto (including any post-effective
amendment), (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, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, and (v) of the issuance by
the Commission of an order of suspension or revocation of the notification
on Form N-8A of registration of the Fund as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act or the initiation of any proceeding for that
purpose. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order described in subsec tion (vi) hereunder or any
order of suspension or revocation described in subsection (vii) hereunder
and, if any such stop order or order of suspension or revocation is issued,
to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. If the Fund
elects to rely on Rule 434 under the Rules and Regulations, the Fund will
prepare a term sheet that complies with the requirements of Rule 434 under
the Rules and Regulations and the Fund will provide the Underwriter with
copies of the form of Rule 434 Prospectus, in such number as the
Underwriter may reasonably request by the close of business in New York on
the business day immediately succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement.
(c) The Fund will give the Underwriter notice of its intention to
file any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any post-
effective amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
(including any revised prospectus which the Fund proposes for use by the
Underwriter in connection with the offering of the Shares, which differs
from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration
Statement becomes effective,
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whether such revised prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule
497(c) or Rule 497(h) of the Rules and Regulations or any term sheet
prepared in reliance on Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations), whether
pursuant to the Investment Company Act, the 1933 Act, or otherwise, and
will furnish the Underwriter with copies of any such amendment or
supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or
use, as the case may be, and will not file any such amendment or supplement
to which the Underwriter reasonably shall object.
(d) The Fund will deliver to the Underwriter, as soon as practicable,
two signed copies of the notification of registration and registration
statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, in each case
with two sets of the exhibits filed therewith, and also will deliver to the
Underwriter a conformed copy of the registration statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (but without exhibits to the
registration statement or any such amendment) for the Underwriter.
(e) The Fund will furnish to the Underwriter, from time to time
during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the
1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) as the Underwriter reasonably may request for the purposes
contemplated by the 1933 Act, or the Rules and Regulations.
(f) If any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in
the opinion of counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter, to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus not misleading in
the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
purchaser, the Fund forthwith will amend or supplement the Prospectus by
preparing and furnishing to the Underwriter a reasonable number of copies
of an amendment or amendments of or a supplement or supplements to, the
Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the Fund and
the Underwriter), so that, as so amended or supplemented, the Prospectus
will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered
to a purchaser, not misleading.
(g) The Fund will endeavor, in cooperation with the Underwriter, to
qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities
laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the
Underwriter may designate, and will maintain such qualifications in effect
for a period of not less than one year after the date hereof. The Fund
will file such statements and reports as
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may be required by the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Shares have
been qualified as above provided.
(h) The Fund will make generally available to its security holders as
soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after the close of the
period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations) covering a twelve-
month period beginning not later than the first day of the Fund's fiscal
quarter next following the "effective" date (as defined in said Rule 158)
of the Registration Statement.
(i) Between the date of this Agreement and the termination of any
trading restrictions or Closing Time, whichever is later, the Fund will
not, without your prior consent, offer or sell, or enter into any agreement
to sell, any equity or equity related securities of the Fund other than the
Shares and shares of Common Stock issued in reinvestment of dividends or
distributions.
(j) If, at the time that the Registration Statement becomes
effective, any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance
upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, then immediately following the
execution of the Pricing Agreement, the Fund will prepare, and file or
transmit for filing with the Commission in accordance with such Rule 430A
and Rule 497(h) of the Rules and Regulations, copies of the amended
Prospectus, or, if required by such Rule 430A, a post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement (including an amended Prospectus), containing
all information so omitted.
(k) The Fund will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange so that trading on such Exchange will
begin no later than four weeks from the date of the Prospectus.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident
to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including, but not
limited to, expenses relating to (i) the printing and filing of the registration
statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the printing
of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, (iii) the preparation, issuance and
delivery of the certificates for the Shares to the Underwriter, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Fund's counsel and accountants, (v) the qualification
of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section
3(g) of this Agreement, including filing fees and any reasonable fees or
disbursements of counsel in connection therewith and in connection with the
preparation of the Blue Sky Survey, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriter of copies of the registration statement as originally filed and of
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each amendment thereto, of the preliminary prospectus, and of the Prospectus and
any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriter of copies of the Blue Sky Survey, (viii) the fees and expenses
incurred with respect to the filing with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred with respect to the
listing of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriter in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i), the Fund or the Adviser shall
reimburse the Underwriter for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Fund and the
Underwriter. In the event the transactions contemplated hereunder are not
consummated, the Adviser agrees to pay all of the costs and expenses set forth
in the first paragraph of this Section 4 which the Fund would have paid if such
transactions had been consummated.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriter's Obligations. The obligations of
the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Fund and the Adviser herein contained, to the performance by
the Fund and the Adviser of their respective obligations hereunder, and to the
following further conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
than 5:30 P.M., on the date of this Agreement, or at a later time and date
not later, however, than 5:30 P.M. on the first business day following the
date hereof, or at such later time and date as may be approved by the
Underwriter, and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission. If the
Fund has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the
price of the Shares and any price-related information previously omitted
from the effective Registration Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A shall
have been transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 497(h)
of the Rules and Regulations within the prescribed time period, and prior
to Closing Time the Fund shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the
Underwriter of such timely filing, or a post-effective amendment providing
such information shall have been filed promptly and declared effective in
accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.
(b) At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received:
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(1) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Xxxxx &
Wood LLP, counsel to the Fund and the Underwriter, to the effect that:
(i) The Fund has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Maryland.
(ii) The Fund has corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.
(iii) The Fund is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which such qualification is required.
(iv) The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and
sale to the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement and, when
issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement
against payment of the consideration set forth in the Pricing
Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable; the issuance of the Shares is not subject to
preemptive rights; and the authorized capital stock conforms as
to legal matters in all material respects to the description
thereof in the Registration Statement under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock".
(v) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement each has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and each
complies with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company
Act.
(vi) The Registration Statement is effective under the 1933
Act and, to the best of their knowledge and information, no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(vii) At the time the Registration Statement became effective
and at the Representation Date, the Registration Statement (other
than the financial statements included therein, as to which no
opinion need be rendered) complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the Investment
Company Act and
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the Rules and Regulations. The Rule 434 Prospectus conforms to
the requirements of Rule 434 in all material respects.
(viii) To the best of their knowledge and information, there
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
against the Fund which are required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein.
(ix) To the best of their knowledge and information, there
are no contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes,
leases or other instruments of the Fund 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 as exhibits thereto, the descriptions thereof
are correct in all material respects, references thereto are
correct, and no default 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 instrument so described, referred
to or filed.
(x) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any
court or governmental authority or agency is required in
connection with the sale of the Shares to the Underwriter, except
such as has been obtained under the 1933 Act, the Investment
Company Act or the Rules and Regulations or such as may be
required under state securities laws; and to the best of their
knowledge and information, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Advisory Agreement and the
Custody Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or a default 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, loan agreement, note, lease or other
instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it 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 the By-Laws of the Fund, or any law
or administrative regulation, or,
14
to the best of their knowledge and information, administrative or
court decree.
(xi) The Advisory Agreement and the Custody Agreement have
each been duly authorized and approved by the Fund and comply as
to form in all material respects with all applicable provisions
of the Investment Company Act, and each has been duly executed by
the Fund.
(xii) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the
Investment Company Act as a closed-end, non-diversified
management investment company, and all required action has been
taken by the Fund under the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act
and the Rules and Regulations to make the public offering and
consummate the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement; the
provisions of the Charter and the By-Laws of the Fund comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Investment Company Act; and, to the best of their knowledge and
information, no order of suspension or revocation of such
registration under the Investment Company Act, pursuant to
Section 8(e) of the Investment Company Act, has been issued or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(xiii) The information in the Prospectus under the caption
"Taxes", to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or
legal conclusions, has been reviewed by them and is correct in
all material respects.
(2) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq., General Counsel to the Adviser, in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriter, to the effect
that:
(i) The Adviser has been duly organized as a limited
partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power
and authority to conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.
(ii) The Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the
Investment Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act, or the
rules and regulations under such Acts, from acting
15
under the Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(iii) This Agreement and the Advisory Agreement have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser, and the
Advisory Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject,
as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; and, to the best of his knowledge and
information, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or the Advisory 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 the lapse of
time or both, a default under, any agreement or instrument to
which the Adviser is a party or by which the Adviser is bound, or
any law, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Adviser 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.
(iv) To the best of his knowledge and information, the
description of the Adviser in the Registration Statement and in
the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(3) In giving their opinion required by subsection (b)(1) of this
Section, Xxxxx & Wood llp additionally shall state that nothing has come to
their attention that would lead them to believe that the Registration
Statement (other than the financial statements included therein, as to
which no opinion need be rendered), at the time it became effective or at
the Representation Date, 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 (other than the financial statements included therein, as to
which no opinion need be rendered), at the Representation Date (unless the
term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the
Underwriter by the Fund for
16
use in connection with the offering of the Shares which differs from the
Prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective, in which case at the time it first is provided to the
Underwriter for such use) or at Closing Time, included an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted 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. Xxxxx & Xxxx llp may rely, as to
matters of fact, upon certificates and written statements of officers and
employees of and accountants for the Fund and the Adviser and of public
officials.
(c) At Closing Time, (i) the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus shall contain all statements which are required to be stated
therein in accordance with the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act and the
Rules and Regulations and in all material respects shall conform to the
requirements of the 1933 Act, the Investment Company Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus
shall contain any untrue state ment of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and no action,
suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be pending or, to the
knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, threatened against the Fund or the
Adviser which would be required to be set forth in the Prospectus other
than as set forth therein, (ii) there shall not have been, since the date
as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Fund or in its
earnings, business affairs or business prospects, whether or not arising in
the ordinary course of business, from that set forth in the Prospectus,
(iii) the Adviser shall have the financial resources available to it
necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as
contemplated in the Prospectus, and (iv) no proceedings shall be pending
or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, threatened against the
Fund or the Adviser before or by any Federal, state or other commission,
board or administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding would materially and adversely affect the business, property,
financial condition or income of either the Fund or the Adviser other than
as set forth in the Prospectus, and the Underwriter shall have received, at
Closing Time, a certificate of the President or the Treasurer of the Fund
and of the President or a Vice President of the Adviser dated as of Closing
Time, evidencing compliance with the appropriate provisions of this
subsection (c).
17
(d) At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received
certificates, dated as of Closing Time, (i) of the President or the
Treasurer of the Fund to the effect that the representations and warranties
of the Fund contained in Section 1(a) are true and correct with the same
force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time and,
(ii) of the President or a Vice President of the Adviser to the effect that
the representations and warranties of the Adviser contained in Sections
1(a) and (b) are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of Closing Time.
(e) At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriter shall
have received from Deloitte & Touche llp a letter, dated such date in form
and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, to the effect that:
(i) they are independent accountants with respect to the Fund
within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations;
(ii) in their opinion, the statement of assets, liabilities and
capital examined by them and included in the Registration Statement
complies as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the Investment Company Act
and the Rules and Regulations; and
(iii) they have performed specified procedures, not constituting
an audit, including a reading of the latest available interim
financial statements of the Fund, a reading of the minute books of the
Fund, inquiries of officials of the Fund responsible for financial
accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
specified in such letter, and on the basis of such inquiries and
procedures nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
that at the date of the latest available statement of assets,
liabilities and capital read by such accountants, or at a subsequent
specified date not more than three days prior to the date of this
Agreement, there was any change in the capital stock or net assets of
the Fund as compared with amounts shown on the statement of assets,
liabilities and capital included in the Prospectus.
(f) At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received from
Deloitte & Touche llp 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
18
date" referred to shall be a date not more than three days prior to Closing
Time.
(g) At Closing Time, counsel to the Underwriter shall have been
furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require
for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the
Shares as herein contemplated and to pass upon related proceedings, 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 Investment Company Act
and the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein and therein contemplated
shall be satisfactory in form and sub stance to the Underwriter.
(h) In the event the Underwriter exercises its option provided in
Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Shares, the
representations and warranties of the Fund and the Adviser contained herein
and the statements in any certificate furnished by the Fund and the Adviser
hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery, and the
Underwriter shall have received:
(i) Certificates, dated the Date of Delivery, of the President
or the Treasurer of the Fund and of the President or a Vice President
of the Adviser confirming that the information contained in the
certificate delivered by each of them at Closing Time pursuant to
Section 5(c) or 5(d), as the case may be, remains true as of such Date
of Delivery.
(ii) The favorable opinions of Xxxxx & Wood llp, counsel to the
Fund and the Underwriter and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq., General Counsel
of the Adviser, each in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriter, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
Shares and otherwise to the same effect as the opinions required by
Sections 5(b)(1) and (2), respectively.
(iii) A letter from Deloitte & Touche llp, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriter and dated such Date of Delivery,
substantially the same in scope and substance as the letter furnished
to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 5(e), except that the
"specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to this Section 5(h)
shall be a date not more than three days prior to such Date of
Delivery.
If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled
when and as required to be fulfilled, this
19
Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notice to the Fund at any time
at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of
any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4.
SECTION 6. Indemnification. (a) The Fund and the Adviser jointly and
severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each person,
if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act 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 information deemed to be part of
the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 of the Rules
and Regulations, 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 contained 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, provided that
(subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the indemnifying party; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter) reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or
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 does 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
20
with written information furnished to the Fund by the Underwriter expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the
information deemed to be part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
430A or Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, or any preliminary prospectus or
in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
Insofar as this indemnity agreement may permit indemnification for
liabilities under the 1933 Act of any person who is a partner of the Underwriter
or who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
and who, at the date of this Agreement, is a director, officer or controlling
person of the Fund, such indemnity agreement is subject to the undertaking of
the Fund in the Registration Statement.
(b) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the
Adviser, their respective directors, 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, 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) or in any preliminary
prospectus or in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund
by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the information deemed to be part of the
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 of the Rules and
Regulations, 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 by the Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) 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 prejudicial 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. 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
21
liable for the 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.
(d) 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 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 Underwriter on the other hand from the offering
of the Shares 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter on the other hand in
22
connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be
deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from
the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting
expenses) received by the Fund, less the total underwriting commission received
by the Underwriter, and the total underwriting commission received by the
Underwriter, 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 Shares as set forth on such
cover.
The relative fault of the Fund and the Adviser on the one hand and the
Underwriter 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 and the Adviser or by the Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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, the Underwriter shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which the 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.
23
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each officer or director of the
Fund and the Adviser, respectively, each director of the Fund who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund and the
Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Fund.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in
the Pricing Agreement, or contained in certificates of officers of the Fund or
of the Adviser submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser
and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the Underwriter.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement. (a) The Underwriter, may terminate
this Agreement by written 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, 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 Underwriter
impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the
Shares, or (iii) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or materially
limited by the Commission or if trading generally on either 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 for securi ties have been
required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the
Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other
governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by
Federal or New York authorities. As used in this subsection (a), the term
"Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the
Shares.
(b) 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
24
provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10. 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 written telecommunication. Notices to the
Underwriter shall be directed to Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated at Xxxxxxx Xxxxx World Headquarters, World Financial
Center, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Vice President; notices to the Fund or to the Adviser shall be directed to each
of them at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000, Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, President.
SECTION 11. Parties. This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriter, the Fund, the Adviser and
their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement
or in the Pricing Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors 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 the Pricing Agreement and all
conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors, and
said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.
No purchaser of Shares from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
merely by reason of such purchase.
SECTION 12. Governing Law and Time. This Agreement and the Pricing
----------------------
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. Specified times of day refer to New York City time.
25
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 single binding agreement between the
Underwriter and the Fund and the Adviser in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
By: ___________________________
Authorized Officer
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.2
By: ___________________________
Authorized Officer
Confirmed and Accepted, as of the
date first above written:
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: __________________________
Authorized Officer
26
Exhibit A
________ Shares
Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
(a Maryland corporation)
Common Stock
(Par Value $.10 Per Share)
PRICING AGREEMENT
-----------------
June ___, 1997
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx World Headquarters
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Reference is made to the Purchase Agreement, dated June ___, 1997 (the
"Purchase Agreement"), relating to the purchase by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx
Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated (the "Underwriter") of the above
shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Initial Shares"), of Debt
Strategies Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and relating to the option granted to the
Underwriter to purchase up to an additional _______ shares of common stock, par
value $.10 per share, of the Fund to cover over-allotments in connection with
the sale of the Initial Shares (the "Option Shares"). The Initial Shares and all
or any part of the Option Shares collectively are referred to herein as the
"Shares".
Pursuant to Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement, the Fund agrees with the
Underwriter as follows:
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Shares,
determined as provided in said Section 2, and the purchase price per share
for the Shares to be paid by the Underwriter, shall be $15.00.
2. Fund Asset Management, L.P. will pay, or arrange for an affiliate
to pay, a commission to the Underwriter in the amount of $ ___________ per
share for the Shares purchased by the Underwriter.
A-1
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Fund a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the Underwriter and the Fund in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
By:___________________________
Authorized Officer
FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
By: __________________________
Authorized Officer
Confirmed and Accepted, as of the
date first above written:
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: ___________________________
Authorized Officer
A-2
