Exhibit b.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
of
PIMCO NEW YORK MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND III
(Amended and Restated as of December 16, 2002)
ARTICLE 1
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Principal Office
1.1 Principal Office of the Trust. A principal office of the Trust shall be
located in New York, New York. The Trust may have other principal offices within
or without Massachusetts as the Trustees may determine or as they may authorize.
1.2 Agreement and Declaration of Trust. These Amended and Restated Bylaws
(the "Bylaws") shall be subject to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as
amended or restated from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust"), of PIMCO New
York Municipal Income Fund III, the Massachusetts business trust established by
the Declaration of Trust (the "Trust"). Capitalized terms used in these Bylaws
and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in
the Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE 2
Meetings of Trustees
2.1 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without
call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to
time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any
such determination shall be given to absent Trustees. A regular meeting of the
Trustees may be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same
place as the annual meeting of the Shareholders.
2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Trustees may be held at any
time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting when called by the
Chairman of the Trustees, the President or the Treasurer or by two or more
Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.
2.3 Notice. It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting
to send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours, or by telegram, telex or
telecopy or other electronic facsimile
transmission method at least twenty-four hours, before the meeting addressed to
the Trustee at his or her usual or last known business or residence address or
to give notice to him or her in person or by telephone at least twenty-four
hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Trustee
if a written waiver of notice, executed by him or her, before or after the
meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any Trustee who attends
the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its commencement the lack of
notice to him or her. Neither notice of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need
specify the purposes of the meeting.
2.4 Quorum. At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then
in office shall constitute a quorum. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to
time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum
is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
ARTICLE 3
Officers
3.1 Enumeration; Qualification. The officers of the Trust shall be a
President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers including a
Chairman of the Trustees, if any, as the Trustees from time to time may in their
discretion elect. The Trust may also have such agents as the Trustees from time
to time may in their discretion appoint. Any officer may but need not be a
Trustee or a Shareholder. The Chairman of the Trustees, if one is elected, shall
be a Trustee and may but need not be a Shareholder; and any other officer may
but need not be a Trustee or a Shareholder. Any two or more offices may be held
by the same person.
3.2 Election. The President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary shall be
elected annually by the Trustees. Other officers, if any, may be elected or
appointed by the Trustees at the same meeting at which the President, Treasurer
and Secretary are elected, or at any other time. Vacancies in any office may be
filled at any time.
3.3 Tenure. The Chairman of the Trustees, if one is elected, the President,
the Treasurer and the Secretary shall hold office until their respective
successors are chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner
dies, resigns, is removed with or without cause or becomes disqualified. Each
other officer shall hold office and each agent of the Trust shall retain
authority at the pleasure of the Trustees.
3.4 Powers. Subject to the other provisions of these Bylaws, each officer
shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein and in the Declaration
of Trust set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the
office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Massachusetts
business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from
time to time designate.
3.5 Chairman; President; Vice President. Unless the Trustees otherwise
provide, the Chairman of the Trustees or, if there is none or in the absence of
the Chairman, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders
and of the Trustees. The President shall be the
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chief executive officer. Any Vice President shall have such duties and powers as
may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the President.
3.6 Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief
financial and accounting officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust and to any arrangement made by the
Trustees with a custodian, investment adviser, sub-adviser or manager, or
transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in charge of the valuable
papers, books of account and accounting records of the Trust, and shall have
such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the
Trustees or by the President. Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such duties and
powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the President.
3.7 Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall record all
proceedings of the Shareholders and the Trustees in books to be kept therefor,
which books or a copy thereof shall be kept at the principal office of the
Trust. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the Shareholders or
Trustees, an Assistant Secretary, or if there be none or if he or she is absent,
a temporary secretary chosen at such meeting shall record the proceedings
thereof in the aforesaid books. Any Assistant Secretary shall have such duties
and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Trustees or the
President.
3.8 Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by written instrument
signed by him or her and delivered to the Chairman, if any, the President or the
Secretary, or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such resignation shall be effective
upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time. Except to the
extent expressly provided in a written agreement with the Trust, no officer
resigning and no officer removed shall have any right to any compensation for
any period following his or her resignation or removal, or any right to damages
on account of such removal.
ARTICLE 4
Committees
4.1 Quorum; Voting. Except as provided below or as otherwise specifically
provided in the resolutions constituting a Committee of the Trustees and
providing for the conduct of its meetings, a majority of the members of any
Committee of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and any action of such a Committee may be taken at a meeting by a vote
of a majority of the members present (a quorum being present) or evidenced by
one or more writings signed by such a majority. Members of a Committee may
participate in a meeting of such Committee by means of a conference telephone or
other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other at the same time and participation by such means
shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
With respect to a Valuation Committee of the Trustees, one or more of the
Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
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Except as specifically provided in the resolutions constituting a
Committee of the Trustees and providing for the conduct of its meetings, Article
2, Section 2.3 of these Bylaws relating to special meetings shall govern the
notice requirements for Committee meetings, except that it shall be sufficient
notice to a Valuation Committee of the Trustees to send notice by telegram,
telex or telecopy or other electronic means (including by telephone
voice-message or e-mail) at least fifteen minutes before the meeting.
ARTICLE 5
Reports
5.1 General. The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and
in the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law.
Officers and Committees shall render such additional reports as they may deem
desirable or as may from time to time be required by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 6
Fiscal Year
6.1 General. Except as from time to time otherwise provided by the
Trustees, the initial fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such date as is
determined in advance or in arrears by the Treasurer, and the subsequent fiscal
years shall end on such date in subsequent years.
ARTICLE 7
Seal
7.1 General. The seal of the Trust shall, subject to alteration by the
Trustees, consist of a flat-faced die with the word "Massachusetts", together
with the name of the Trust and the year of its organization cut or engraved
thereon; provided, however, that unless otherwise required by the Trustees, the
seal shall not be necessary to be placed on, and its absence shall not impair
the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and delivered
by or on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE 8
Execution of Papers
8.1 General. Except as the Trustees may generally or in particular cases
authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases,
transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made,
accepted or endorsed by the Trust shall be executed by the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer or by whomever else shall be designated for that
purpose by vote of the Trustees, and need not bear the seal of the Trust.
ARTICLE 9
Issuance of Share Certificates
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9.1 Share Certificates. Except as provided in Article 11 hereof, each
Shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number of Shares
owned by him or her, in such form as shall be prescribed from time to time by
the Trustees. Such certificates shall be signed by the President or any Vice
President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures may
be by facsimile if the certificate is signed by a transfer agent, or by a
registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any
officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such
certificate shall cease to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it
may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he or she were such
officer at the time of its issuance.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of issuing certificates for Shares,
the Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may
keep accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such Shares,
who shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be the
holders of certificates for such Shares as if they had accepted such
certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the
terms hereof.
9.2 Loss of Certificates. In case of the alleged loss or destruction or
the mutilation of a share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in
place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees shall prescribe.
9.3 Issuance of New Certificates to Pledgee. A pledgee of Shares
transferred as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the
instrument of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended
to be secured thereby. Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is
held as collateral security, and the name of pledgor shall be stated thereon,
who alone shall be liable as a Shareholder and entitled to vote thereon.
9.4 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Article 9, the Trustees may at any time discontinue the
issuance of share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder,
require the surrender of share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such
surrender and cancellation shall not effect the ownership of Shares in the
Trust.
ARTICLE 10
Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings
10.1 Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for
the election or removal of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Sections 1 and 3
of the Declaration of Trust and Article 11 hereto, (ii) with respect to any
Manager or sub-adviser as provided in Article IV, Section 8 of the Declaration
of Trust to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) with respect to certain
transactions and other matters to the extent and as provided in Article V,
Sections 2 and 3 of the Declaration of Trust and Article 11 hereto, (iv) with
respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in
Article IX, Section 4 of the Declaration of Trust and Article 11 hereto (for the
avoidance of any doubt, Shareholders shall have no separate right to vote with
respect to the termination of the Trust or a series or class of
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Shares if the Trustees (including the Continuing Trustees) exercise their right
to terminate the Trust or such series or class pursuant to clauses (ii) or (y)
of Article IX, Section 4 of the Declaration of Trust), (v) with respect to any
amendment of the Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article
IX, Section 7 of the Declaration of Trust and Article 11 hereto, (vi) to the
same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to
whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be
brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust
or the Shareholders, and (vii) with respect to such additional matters relating
to the Trust as may be required by law, the Declaration of Trust, these Bylaws
or any registration of the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or
any successor agency) or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or
desirable. Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on
which it is entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a
proportionate fractional vote, except as otherwise provided in the Declaration
of Trust, these Bylaws, or required by applicable law. Except as otherwise
provided in the Declaration of Trust or in respect of the terms of a class of
preferred shares of beneficial interest of the Trust as reflected in these
Bylaws or required by applicable law, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to
vote shall be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to classes
or series of Shares. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of
Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to
Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by any
one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a
specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. The placing of a
Shareholder's name on a proxy pursuant to telephonic or electronically
transmitted instructions obtained pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to
verify that such instructions have been authorized by such Shareholder shall
constitute execution of such proxy by or on behalf of such Shareholder. A proxy
purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid
unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving
invalidity shall rest on the challenger. Until Shares of a particular class or
series are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may
take any action required by law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws to be
taken by Shareholders as to such class or series.
10.2 Voting Power and Meetings. Except as provided in the next sentence,
regular meetings of the Shareholders for the election of Trustees and the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall
be held, so long as Shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, on at least an annual basis, on such day and at such place as shall be
designated by the Trustees. In the event that such a meeting is not held in any
annual period if so required, whether the omission be by oversight or otherwise,
a subsequent special meeting may be called by the Trustees and held in lieu of
such meeting with the same effect as if held within such annual period. Special
meetings of the Shareholders or any or all classes or series of Shares may also
be called by the Trustees from time to time for such other purposes as may be
prescribed by law, by the Declaration of Trust or by these Bylaws, or for the
purpose of taking action upon any other matter deemed by a majority of the
Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees to be necessary or desirable.
A special meeting of Shareholders may be held at any such time, day and place as
is designated by the Trustees. Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders,
stating the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given or
caused to be given by a majority of
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the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees at least seven days
before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote thereat by leaving such
notice with the Shareholder at his or her residence or usual place of business
or by mailing such notice, postage prepaid, to the Shareholder's address as it
appears on the records of the Trust. Such notice may be given by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary or by any other officer or agent designated for such
purpose by the Trustees. Whenever notice of a meeting is required to be given to
a Shareholder under the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, a written waiver
thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such Shareholder or his or her
attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the records of the meeting, shall
be deemed equivalent to such notice. Notice of a meeting need not be given to
any Shareholder who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at
its commencement the lack of notice to such Shareholder. No ballot shall be
required for any election unless required by a Shareholder present or
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote in such election.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.2, no matter shall
be properly before any annual or special meeting of Shareholders and no business
shall be transacted thereat unless in accordance with Section 10.6 of these
Bylaws.
10.3 Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required by
any provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, thirty percent
(30%) of the Shares entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting, except that
where any provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws permits
or requires that holders of any class or series of Shares shall vote as an
individual class or series, then thirty percent (30%) (unless a larger quorum is
required as specified above) of Shares of that class or series entitled to vote
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by
that class or series. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments.
Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after
the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice.
Except when a different vote is required by any provision of law or the
Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, a plurality of the quorum of Shares
necessary for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting shall
decide any questions and a plurality of Shares voted shall elect a Trustee,
provided that where any provision of law or of the Declaration of Trust or these
Bylaws permits or requires that the holders of any class or series of Shares
shall vote as an individual class or series, then a plurality of the quorum of
Shares of that class or series necessary for the transaction of business by that
class or series at a Shareholders' meeting shall decide that matter insofar as
that class or series is concerned.
10.4 Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be
taken without a meeting if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the
matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express
provision of law or the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws) consent to the
action in writing and such written consents are filed with the records of the
meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a
vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
10.5 Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who are
entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are
entitled to receive
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payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the Trustees may from time
to time fix a time, which shall be not more than 90 days before the date of any
meeting of Shareholders or the date for the payment of any dividend or of any
other distribution, as the record date for determining the Shareholders having
the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof
or the right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only
Shareholders of record on such record date shall have the right notwithstanding
any transfer of Shares on the books of the Trust after the record date; or
without fixing such record date the Trustees may for any of such purposes close
the register or transfer books for all or any part of such period.
10.6 Advance Notice of Shareholder Nominees for Trustees and Other
Shareholder Proposals.
(a) As used in this Section 10.6, the term "annual meeting" refers to
any annual meeting of Shareholders as well as any special meeting held in
lieu of an annual meeting as described in the first two sentences of
Section 10.2 of these Bylaws, and the term "special meeting" refers to all
meetings of Shareholders other than an annual meeting or a special meeting
in lieu of an annual meeting.
(b) The matters to be considered and brought before any annual or
special meeting of Shareholders shall be limited to only such matters,
including the nomination and election of Trustees, as shall be brought
properly before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 10.6. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 10.6 shall be eligible for election as
Trustees, and no proposal to fix the number of Trustees shall be brought
before an annual or special meeting of Shareholders or otherwise transacted
unless in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.6,
except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws with respect to the
right of holders of preferred shares of beneficial interest, if any, of the
Trust to nominate and elect a specified number of Trustees in certain
circumstances.
(c) For any matter to be properly before any annual meeting, the
matter must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the
direction of a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing
Trustees pursuant to Section 10.2 of these Bylaws, (ii) otherwise brought
before the meeting by or at the direction of a majority of the Continuing
Trustees (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (iii) brought
before the meeting in the manner specified in this Section 10.6(c) by a
Shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting or by a Shareholder
(a "Beneficial Owner") that holds Shares entitled to vote at the meeting
through a nominee or "street name" holder of record and that can
demonstrate to the Trust such indirect ownership and such Beneficial
Owner's entitlement to vote such Shares, provided that the Shareholder was
the Shareholder of record or the Beneficial Owner held such Shares at the
time the notice provided for in this Section 10.6(c) is delivered to the
Secretary.
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In addition to any other requirements under applicable law and the
Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws, persons nominated by Shareholders for
election as Trustees and any other proposals by Shareholders may be properly
brought before an annual meeting only pursuant to timely notice (the
"Shareholder Notice") in writing to the Secretary. To be timely, the Shareholder
Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive
offices of the Trust not less than forty-five (45) nor more than sixty (60) days
prior to the first anniversary date of the date on which the Trust first mailed
its proxy materials for the prior year's annual meeting; provided, however, with
respect to the annual meeting to be held in the calendar year 2003, the
Shareholder Notice must be so delivered or mailed and so received on or before
May 1, 2003; provided further, however, if and only if the annual meeting is not
scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before the
first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year and ends
thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside
such period being referred to herein as an "Other Annual Meeting Date"), such
Shareholder Notice must be given in the manner provided herein by the later of
the close of business on (i) the date forty-five (45) days prior to such Other
Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth (10/th/) business day following the date
such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed.
Any Shareholder desiring to nominate any person or persons (as the case may
be) for election as a Trustee or Trustees of the Trust shall deliver, as part of
such Shareholder Notice: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A) the name,
age, date of birth, business address, residence address and nationality of the
person or persons to be nominated; (B) the class or series and number of all
Shares of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by each such person or
persons, as reported to such Shareholder by such nominee(s); (C) any other
information regarding each such person required by paragraphs (a), (d), (e) and
(f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101
(Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the
corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency applicable to the
Trust); (D) any other information regarding the person or persons to be
nominated that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other
filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for
election of Trustees or directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether such
Shareholder believes any nominee is or will be an "interested person" of the
Trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and, if not
an "interested person," information regarding each nominee that will be
sufficient for the Trust to make such determination; and (ii) the written and
signed consent of the person or persons to be nominated to be named as nominees
and to serve as Trustees if elected. In addition, the Trustees may require any
proposed nominee to furnish such other information as they may reasonably
require or deem necessary to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee
to serve as a Trustee. Any Shareholder Notice required by this Section 10.6(c)
in respect of a proposal to fix the number of Trustees shall also set forth a
description of and the text of the proposal, which description and text shall
state a fixed
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number of Trustees that otherwise complies with applicable law, these Bylaws and
the Declaration of Trust.
Without limiting the foregoing, any Shareholder who gives a Shareholder
Notice of any matter proposed to be brought before a Shareholder meeting
(whether or not involving nominees for Trustees) shall deliver, as part of such
Shareholder Notice: (i) the description of and text of the proposal to be
presented; (ii) a brief written statement of the reasons why such Shareholder
favors the proposal; (iii) such Shareholder's name and address as they appear on
the Trust's books; (iv) any other information relating to the Shareholder that
would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required
to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies with respect to the
matter(s) proposed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder; (v) the class or series and number of all
Shares of the Trust owned beneficially and of record by such Shareholder; (vi)
any material interest of such Shareholder in the matter proposed (other than as
a Shareholder); (vii) a representation that the Shareholder intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the Shareholder meeting to act on the matter(s) proposed;
(viii) if the proposal involves nominee(s) for Trustees, a description of all
arrangements or understandings between the Shareholder and each proposed nominee
and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the
nomination(s) are to be made by the Shareholder; and (ix) in the case of a
Beneficial Owner, evidence establishing such Beneficial Owner's indirect
ownership of, and entitlement to vote, Shares at the meeting of Shareholders. As
used in this Section 10.6, Shares "beneficially owned" shall mean all Shares
which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Exchange Act.
(d) For any matter to be properly before any special meeting, the matter
must be specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of a
majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees pursuant to
Section 10.2 of these Bylaws. In the event the Trust calls a special meeting for
the purpose of electing one or more Trustees, any Shareholder may nominate a
person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as
specified in the Trust's notice of meeting if and only if the Shareholder
provides a notice containing the information required in the Shareholder Notice
to the Secretary required with respect to annual meetings by Section 10.6(c)
hereof, and such notice is delivered to or mailed and received at the principal
executive office of the Trust not later than the close of business on the tenth
(10th) day following the day on which the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Trustees to be elected at such meeting are publicly
announced or disclosed.
(e) For purposes of this Section 10.6, a matter shall be deemed to have
been "publicly announced or disclosed" if such matter is disclosed in a press
release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated Press or comparable
national news service, in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or in a Web site accessible to the public
maintained by the Trust or by its investment adviser or an affiliate of such
investment adviser with respect to the Trust.
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(f) In no event shall an adjournment or postponement (or a public
announcement thereof) of a meeting of Shareholders commence a new time
period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as provided in
this Section 10.6.
(g) The person presiding at any meeting of Shareholders, in addition
to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct
of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to (i) determine whether a
nomination or proposal of other matters to be brought before a meeting and
notice thereof have been duly made and given in the manner provided in this
Section 10.6 and elsewhere in these Bylaws and the Declaration of Trust and
(ii) if not so made or given, to direct and declare at the meeting that
such nomination and/or such other matters shall be disregarded and shall
not be considered. Any determination by the person presiding shall be
binding on all parties absent manifest error.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.6 or
otherwise in these Bylaws, unless required by federal law, no matter shall
be considered at or brought before any annual or special meeting unless
such matter has been approved for these purposes by a majority of the
Continuing Trustees and, in particular, no Beneficial Owner shall have any
rights as a Shareholder except as may be required by federal law.
Furthermore, nothing in this Section 10.6 shall be construed as creating
any implication or presumption as to the requirements of federal law.
ARTICLE 11
Statement Creating One Series of Auction Preferred Shares
Auction Preferred Shares, Series A: 1,880 shares of beneficial interest of
Preferred Shares, par value $0.00001 per share, liquidation preference $_____
per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends (whether or
not earned or declared) thereon, is hereby designated "Auction Preferred Shares,
Series A." Each share of Auction Preferred Shares, Series A (sometimes referred
to herein as "Series A APS") may be issued on a date to be determined by the
Board of Trustees of the Trust or pursuant to their delegated authority; have an
Initial Dividend Rate and an Initial Dividend Payment Date as shall be
determined in advance of the issuance thereof by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust or pursuant to their delegated authority; and have such other preferences,
voting powers, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and
conditions of redemption as are set forth in these Bylaws. The Series A APS
shall constitute a separate series of Preferred Shares of the Trust, and each
share of Series A APS shall be identical.
11.1 Definitions. (a) Unless the context or use indicates another or
different meaning or intent, in Article 11 of these Bylaws the following terms
have the following meanings, whether used in the singular or plural:
"AA" Composite Commercial Paper Rate," on any Valuation Date, means (i)
the Interest Equivalent of the rate on commercial paper placed on behalf of
issuers whose corporate bonds are rated "AA" by S&P or "Aa" by Moody's or the
equivalent of such rating by another Rating Agency, as such rate is made
available on a discount basis or otherwise by the Federal Reserve
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Bank of New York for the Business Day immediately preceding such date, or (ii)
in the event that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not make available
such a rate, then the arithmetic average of the Interest Equivalent of the rate
on commercial paper placed on behalf of such issuers, as quoted on a discount
basis or otherwise by UBS Warburg LLC or its successors that are Commercial
Paper Dealers, to the Auction Agent for the close of business on the Business
Day immediately preceding such date. If one of the Commercial Paper Dealers does
not quote a rate required to determine the "AA" Composite Commercial Paper Rate,
the "AA" Composite Commercial Paper Rate will be determined on the basis of the
quotation or quotations furnished by any Substitute Commercial Paper Dealer or
Substitute Commercial Paper Dealers selected by the Trust to provide such rate
or rates not being supplied by the Commercial Paper Dealer. If the number of
Dividend Period days shall be (i) 7 or more but fewer than 49 days, such rate
shall be the Interest Equivalent of the 30-day rate on such commercial paper;
(ii) 49 or more but fewer than 70 days, such rate shall be the Interest
Equivalent of the 60-day rate on such commercial paper; (iii) 70 or more days
but fewer than 85 days, such rate shall be the arithmetic average of the
Interest Equivalent on the 60-day and 90-day rates on such commercial paper;
(iv) 85 or more days but fewer than 99 days, such rate shall be the Interest
Equivalent of the 90-day rate on such commercial paper; (v) 99 or more days but
fewer than 120 days, such rate shall be the arithmetic average of the Interest
Equivalent of the 90-day and 120-day rates on such commercial paper; (vi) 120 or
more days but fewer than 141 days, such rate shall be the Interest Equivalent of
the 120-day rate on such commercial paper; (vii) 141 or more days but fewer than
162 days, such rate shall be the arithmetic average of the Interest Equivalent
of the 120-day and 180-day rates on such commercial paper; and (viii) 162 or
more days but fewer than 183 days, such rate shall be the Interest Equivalent of
the 180-day rate on such commercial paper.
"Accountant's Confirmation" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.7(c) of
these Bylaws.
"Adviser" means the Trust's investment adviser which initially shall be
PIMCO Advisors Fund Management LLC.
"Affiliate" means any Person, other than UBS Warburg LLC or its successors,
known to the Auction Agent to be controlled by, in control of, or under common
control with, the Trust.
"Agent Member" means a member of the Securities Depository that will act on
behalf of a Beneficial Owner of one or more APS or on behalf of a Potential
Beneficial Owner.
"Applicable Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10(a)(vii)
of these Bylaws.
"Applicable Rate" means the rate per annum at which cash dividends are
payable on the APS for any Dividend Period.
"APS" means the Series A APS.
"APS Basic Maintenance Amount," as of any Valuation Date, means the dollar
amount equal to the sum of (i)(A) the product of the number of shares of APS
Outstanding on such date
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multiplied by $25,000 (plus the product of the number of shares of any other
series of Preferred Shares Outstanding on such date multiplied by the
liquidation preference of such shares), plus any redemption premium applicable
to APS (or other Preferred Shares) then subject to redemption; (B) the aggregate
amount of dividends that will have accumulated at the respective Applicable
Rates (whether or not earned or declared) to (but not including) the first
respective Dividend Payment Dates for each series of APS Outstanding that follow
such Valuation Date (plus the aggregate amount of dividends, whether or not
earned or declared, that will have accumulated in respect of other Outstanding
Preferred Shares to (but not including) the first respective dividend payment
dates for such other shares that follow such Valuation Date); (C) the aggregate
amount of dividends that would accumulate on shares of each series of APS
Outstanding from such first respective Dividend Payment Date therefor through
the 49th day after such Valuation Date, at the Maximum Applicable Rate
(calculated as if such Valuation Date were the Auction Date for the Dividend
Period commencing on such Dividend Payment Date) for a 7-Day Dividend Period of
shares of such series to commence on such Dividend Payment Date, assuming,
solely for purposes of the foregoing, that if on such Valuation Date the Trust
shall have delivered a Notice of Special Dividend Period to the Auction Agent
with respect to shares of such series, such Maximum Applicable Rate shall be the
higher of (a) the Maximum Applicable Rate for the Special Dividend Period of
shares of such series to commence on such Dividend Payment Date and (b) the
Maximum Applicable Rate for a 7-Day Rate Period of shares of such series to
commence on such Dividend Payment Date, multiplied by the Moody's Volatility
Factor applicable to a 7-Day Dividend Period, or, in the event the Trust shall
have delivered a Notice of Special Dividend Period to the Auction Agent with
respect to shares of such series designating a Special Dividend Period
consisting of 49 days or more, the Moody's Volatility Factor applicable to a
Special Dividend Period of that length (plus the aggregate amount of dividends
that would accumulate at the maximum dividend rate or rates on any other
Preferred Shares Outstanding from such respective dividend payment dates through
the 49th day after such Valuation Date, as established by or pursuant to the
respective statements establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of such
other Preferred Shares) (except that (1) if such Valuation Date occurs during a
Non-Payment Period (or, in the case of Preferred Shares other than APS, a period
similar to a Non-Payment Period), the dividend for purposes of calculation would
accumulate at the then current Non-Payment Period Rate (or similar rate for
Preferred Shares other than APS) and (2) for those days during the period
described in this subparagraph (C) in respect of which the Applicable Rate in
effect immediately prior to such Dividend Payment Date will remain in effect
(or, in the case of Preferred Shares other than APS, in respect of which the
dividend rate or rates in effect immediately prior to such respective dividend
payment dates will remain in effect), the dividend for purposes of calculation
would accumulate at such Applicable Rate (or other rate or rates, as the case
may be) in respect of those days); (D) the amount of anticipated expenses of the
Trust for the 90 days subsequent to such Valuation Date; (E) the amount of the
Trust's Maximum Potential Gross-up Dividend Liability in respect of shares of
APS (and similar amounts payable in respect of other Preferred Shares) as of
such Valuation Date; and (F) any current liabilities as of such Valuation Date
to the extent not reflected in any of (i)(A) through (i)(E) (including, without
limitation, any payables for Municipal Obligations purchased as of such
Valuation Date and any liabilities incurred for the purpose of clearing
securities transactions) less (ii) the value (i.e., the face value of cash,
short-term Municipal Obligations rated XXX-0, XXXX-0 xx X-0, and short-term
securities that are the
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direct obligation of the U.S. government, provided in each case that such
securities mature on or prior to the date upon which any of (i)(A) through
(i)(F) become payable, otherwise the Moody's Discounted Value) of any of the
Trust's assets irrevocably deposited by the Trust for the payment of any of
(i)(A) through (i)(F).
"APS Basic Maintenance Cure Date," with respect to the failure by the
Trust to satisfy the APS Basic Maintenance Amount (as required by Section
11.7(a) of these Bylaws) as of a given Valuation Date, means the sixth Business
Day following such Valuation Date.
"APS Basic Maintenance Report" means a report signed by any of the
President, Treasurer, any Senior Vice President or any Vice President of the
Trust which sets forth, as of the related Valuation Date, the assets of the
Trust, the Market Value and the Discounted Value thereof (seriatim and in
aggregate), and the APS Basic Maintenance Amount.
"Auction" means a periodic operation of the Auction Procedures.
"Auction Agent" means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas unless and
until another commercial bank, trust company or other financial institution
appointed by a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust or a duly
authorized committee thereof enters into an agreement with the Trust to follow
the Auction Procedures for the purpose of determining the Applicable Rate and to
act as transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent
for the APS.
"Auction Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10(a)(ii) of
these Bylaws.
"Auction Procedures" means the procedures for conducting Auctions set
forth in Section 11.10 of these Bylaws.
"Beneficial Owner" means a customer of a Broker-Dealer who is listed on
the records of that Broker-Dealer (or, if applicable, the Auction Agent) as a
holder of APS or a Broker-Dealer that holds APS for its own account.
"Broker-Dealer" means any broker-dealer, or other entity permitted by
law to perform the functions required of a Broker-Dealer pursuant to Section
11.10 of these Bylaws, that has been selected by the Trust and has entered into
a Broker-Dealer Agreement with the Auction Agent that remains effective.
"Broker-Dealer Agreement" means an agreement between the Auction Agent
and a Broker-Dealer pursuant to which such Broker-Dealer agrees to follow the
procedures specified in Section 11.10 of these Bylaws.
"Business Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in
New York City are authorized or obligated by law to close.
"Closing Transactions" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.8(a) of
these Bylaws.
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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commercial Paper Dealers" means UBS Warburg LLC and such other
commercial paper dealer or dealers as the Trust may from time to time appoint
or, in lieu thereof, their respective affiliates or successors.
"Common Shares" means the shares of beneficial interest designated as
common shares, no par value, of the Trust.
"Cure Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(a)(ii) of these
Bylaws.
"Date of Original Issue" means, with respect to any share of APS, the
date on which the Trust first issues such share.
"Declaration of Trust" means the Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated September 17, 2002, as from time to time
amended and supplemented.
"Deposit Securities" means cash and Municipal Obligations rated at
least A2 (having a remaining maturity of 12 months or less), X-0, XXXX-0 xx
XXX-0 by Moody's or A (having a remaining maturity of 12 months or less), A-1+
or SP-1+ by S&P.
"Discount Factor" means a Moody's Discount Factor.
"Discounted Value" of any asset of the Trust means, with respect to a
Moody's Eligible Asset, the quotient of the Market Value thereof divided by the
applicable Moody's Discount Factor.
"Dividend Payment Date," with respect to APS, has the meaning set forth
in Section 11.2(b)(i) of these Bylaws.
"Dividend Period" means the Initial Dividend Period, any 7-Day Dividend
Period and any Special Dividend Period.
"Eligible Assets" means Moody's Eligible Assets.
"Existing Holder" means a Broker-Dealer, or any such other Person that
may be permitted by the Trust, that is listed as the holder of record of APS in
the Share Books.
"Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(c)(iii) of
these Bylaws.
"Federal Tax Rate Increase" has the meaning set forth under the
definition of "Moody's Volatility Factor" below.
"Forward Commitment" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.8(d) of
these Bylaws.
"Gross-Up Dividend" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(e) of
these Bylaws.
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"Holder" means a Person identified as a holder of record of APS in the
Share Register.
"Independent Accountant" means a nationally recognized accountant, or
firm of accountants, that is, with respect to the Trust, an independent public
accountant or firm of independent public accountants under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and serving as such for the Trust.
"Initial Dividend Payment Date" means, with respect to a series of APS,
the Initial Dividend Payment Date as determined by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust or pursuant to their delegated authority with respect to such series.
"Initial Dividend Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(c)(i) of these Bylaws.
"Initial Dividend Rate" means, with respect to a series of APS, the
rate per annum applicable to the Initial Dividend Period for such series of APS.
"Interest Equivalent" means a yield on a 360-day basis of a discount
basis security which is equal to the yield on an equivalent interest-bearing
security.
"Issue Type Category" means, with respect to a Municipal Obligation
acquired by the Trust, for purposes of calculating Moody's Eligible Assets as of
any Valuation Date, one of the following categories into which such Municipal
Obligation falls based upon a good faith determination by the Trust: health care
issues (including issues related to teaching and non-teaching hospitals, public
or private, and elder-care facilities, including nursing homes); housing issues
(including issues related to single- and multi-family housing projects);
educational facilities issues (including issues related to public and private
schools); student loan issues; resource recovery issues; transportation issues
(including issues related to mass transit, airports and highways); industrial
development bond issues (including issues related to pollution control
facilities); utility issues (including issues related to the provision of gas,
water, sewers and electricity); general obligation issues; lease obligations
(including certificates of participation); escrowed bonds; and other issues
("Other Issues") not falling within one of the aforementioned categories. The
general obligation issue category includes any issue that is directly or
indirectly guaranteed by any state or any political subdivision of a state.
Utility issues are included in the general obligation issue category if the
issue is directly or indirectly guaranteed by a state or any political
subdivision of a state. Municipal Obligations in the utility issue category will
be classified within one of the three following sub-categories: (i) electric,
gas and combination issues (if the combination issue includes an electric
issue); (ii) water and sewer utilities and combination issues (if the
combination issues does not include an electric issue); and (iii) irrigation,
resource recovery, solid waste and other utilities. Municipal Obligations in the
transportation issue category will be classified within one of the two following
sub-categories: (i) streets and highways, toll roads, bridges and tunnels,
airports and multi-purpose port authorities (multiple revenue streams generated
by toll roads, airports, real estate, bridges); (ii) mass transit, parking
seaports and others.
"Long Term Dividend Period" means a Special Dividend Period consisting
of a specified period of one whole year or more but not greater than five years.
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"Liens" shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of "Moody's
Eligible Asset" below.
"Mandatory Redemption Price" means $25,000 per share of APS plus an
amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or
declared) to the date fixed for redemption, but excluding Gross-up Dividends.
"Marginal Tax Rate" means the maximum marginal regular federal
individual income tax rate applicable to an individual's or a corporation's
ordinary income, whichever is greater.
"Market Value" of any asset of the Trust shall be the market value
thereof determined by the Pricing Service. Market Value of any asset shall
include any interest accrued thereon. The Pricing Service shall value portfolio
securities at the quoted bid prices or the mean between the quoted bid and asked
price or the yield equivalent when quotations are not readily available.
Securities for which quotations are not readily available shall be valued at
fair value as determined by the Pricing Service using methods which include
consideration of: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, type of
issue, coupon, maturity and rating; indications as to value from dealers; and
general market conditions. The Pricing Service may employ electronic data
processing techniques and/or a matrix system to determine valuations. In the
event the Pricing Service is unable to value a security, the security shall be
valued at the lower of two dealer bids obtained by the Trust from dealers who
are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and who make
a market in the security, at least one of which shall be in writing. Futures
contracts and options are valued at closing prices for such instruments
established by the exchange or board of trade on which they are traded, or if
market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value on a
consistent basis using methods determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees
of the Trust.
"Maximum Applicable Rate," with respect to APS, has the meaning set
forth in Section 11.10(a)(vii) of these Bylaws.
"Maximum Potential Gross-Up Dividend Liability" means, as of any
Valuation Date, the aggregate amount of Gross-Up Dividends that would be due if
the Trust were to make Retroactive Taxable Allocations, with respect to any
fiscal year, estimated based upon dividends paid and the amount of undistributed
realized net capital gains and other taxable income earned by the Trust, as of
the end of the calendar month immediately preceding such Valuation Date and
assuming such Gross-Up Dividends are fully taxable.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. or its successors.
"Moody's Discount Factor" shall mean, for purposes of determining the
Discounted Value of any Moody's Eligible Asset, the percentage determined by
reference to the rating on such asset and the shortest Exposure Period set forth
opposite such rating that is the same length as or is longer than the Moody's
Exposure Period, in accordance with the table set forth below:
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Exposure Period Aaa* Aa* A* Baa* Other** (V)MIG-1*** SP-1+**** Unrated*****
--------------- ---- --- -- ---- ------- ----------- --------- ------------
7 weeks 151% 159% 166% 173% 187% 136% 148% 225%
8 weeks or less but greater 154 161 168 176 190 137 149 231
than seven weeks.
9 weeks or less but greater 158 163 170 177 192 138 150 240
than eight weeks
* Xxxxx'x rating.
** Municipal Obligations not rated by Moody's but rated BBB by S&P.
*** Municipal Obligations rated MIG-1 or VMIG-1, which do not mature or have a
demand feature at par exercisable in 30 days and which do not have a
long-term rating.
**** Municipal Obligations not rated by Moody's but rated SP-1+ by S&P, which
do not mature or have a demand feature at par exercisable in 30 days and
which do not have a long-term rating.
***** Municipal Obligations rated less than Baa3 or not rated by Moody's and
less than BBB or not rated by S&P, not to exceed 10% of Moody's Eligible
Assets.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) except as provided in clause (ii) below, the
Moody's Discount Factor for short-term Municipal Obligations will be 115%, so
long as such Municipal Obligations are rated at least MIG-1, VMIG-l or P-1 by
Moody's and mature or have a demand feature at par exercisable in 30 days or
less, or 125%, as long as such Municipal Obligations are rated at least A-1+/AA
or SP-1+/AA by S&P and mature or have a demand feature at par exercisable in 30
days or less, (ii) the Moody's Discount Factor for residual interest municipal
bonds and structured notes shall be the product of (x) the percentage determined
by reference to the rating on the security underlying such residual interest
municipal bond multiplied by (y) 1.25 (provided that the trust in which such
residual interest municipal bond is held may be terminated within five business
days), and (iii) except as provided in clause (ii) above, no Moody's Discount
Factor will be applied to cash, Receivables for Municipal Obligations Sold, or
futures, options and similar instruments (to the extent such securities are
Moody's Eligible Assets); provided, however, that for purposes of determining
the Moody's Discount Factor applicable to a Municipal Obligation, any Municipal
Obligation (excluding any short-term Municipal Obligation) not rated by Moody's
but rated by S&P shall be deemed to have a Xxxxx'x rating which is one full
rating category lower than its S&P rating.
"Moody's Eligible Asset" shall mean cash, Receivables for Municipal
Obligations Sold, futures and options (to the extent entered into in Moody's
Hedging Transactions) and similar instruments (including residual interest
municipal bonds (provided that the trust in which such residual interest
municipal bond is held may be terminated within five business days) and
structured notes), or a Municipal Obligation that (i) pays interest in cash,
(ii) does not have its Xxxxx'x rating, as applicable, suspended by Moody's, and
(iii) is part of an issue of Municipal Obligations of at least $5,000,000,
except for Municipal Obligations rated below A by Moody's or Municipal
Obligations within the healthcare Issue Type Category, in which case the minimum
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issue size is $10,000,000. Except for general obligation bonds, Municipal
Obligations issued by any one issuer and rated BBB or lower or not rated by S&P
and rated Ba or B or not rated by Moody's ("Other Securities") may comprise no
more than 4% of total Moody's Eligible Assets; such Other Securities, if any,
together with any Municipal Obligations issued by the same issuer and rated Baa
by Moody's or A by S&P, may comprise no more than 6% of total Moody's Eligible
Assets; such Other Securities, Baa and A-rated Municipal Obligations, if any,
together with any Municipal Obligations issued by the same issuer and rated A by
Moody's or AA by S&P, may comprise no more than 10% of total Moody's Eligible
Assets; and such Other Securities, Baa, A and AA-rated Municipal Obligations, if
any, together with any Municipal Obligations issued by the same issuer and rated
Aa by Moody's or AAA by S&P, may comprise no more than 20% of total Moody's
Eligible Assets. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, any Municipal
Obligation backed by the guaranty, letter of credit or insurance issued by a
third party shall be deemed to be issued by such third party if the issuance of
such third party credit is the sole determinant of the rating on such Municipal
Obligation. Other Securities falling within a particular Issue Type Category may
comprise no more than 12% of total Moody's Eligible Assets; such Other
Securities, if any, together with any Municipal Obligations falling within a
particular Issue Type Category and rated Baa by Moody's or A by S&P, may
comprise no more than 20% of total Moody's Eligible Assets; such Other
Securities, Baa and A-rated Municipal Obligations, if any, together with any
Municipal Obligations falling within a particular Issue Type Category and rated
A by Moody's or AA by S&P, may comprise no more than 40% of total Moody's
Eligible Assets; and such Other Securities, Baa, A and AA-rated Municipal
Obligations, if any, together with any Municipal Obligations falling within a
particular Issue Type Category and rated Aa by Moody's or AAA by S&P, may
comprise no more than 60% of total Moody's Eligible Assets. For purposes of this
definition, a Municipal Obligation shall be deemed to be rated BBB by S&P if
rated BBB-, BBB or BBB+ by S&P. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
definition, (A) in the case of general obligation Municipal Obligations only,
Other Securities issued by issuers located within any one county may comprise no
more than 4% of Moody's Eligible Assets; such Other Securities, if any, together
with any Municipal Obligations issued by issuers located within the same county
and rated Baa by Moody's or A by S&P, may comprise no more than 6% of Moody's
Eligible Assets; such Other Securities, Baa and A-rated Municipal Obligations,
if any, together with any Municipal Obligations issued by issuers located within
the same county and rated A by Moody's or AA by S&P, may comprise no more than
10% of Moody's Eligible Assets; and such Other Securities, Baa, A and AA-rated
Municipal Obligations, if any, together with any Municipal Obligations issued by
issuers located within the same county and rated Aa by Moody's or AAA by S&P,
may comprise no more than 20% of Moody's Eligible Assets; and (B) in no event
may (i) student loan Municipal Obligations comprise more than 10% of Moody's
Eligible Assets; (ii) resource recovery Municipal Obligations comprise more than
10% of Moody's Eligible Assets; and (iii) Other Issues comprise more than 10% of
Moody's Eligible Assets. For purposes of applying the foregoing requirements,
Municipal Obligations rated XXX-0, XXXX-0 or P-1 or, if not rated by Moody's,
rated A-1+/AA or SP-1+/AA by S&P, shall be considered to have a long-term rating
of A. When the Trust sells a Municipal Obligation and agrees to repurchase such
Municipal Obligation at a future date, such Municipal Obligation shall be valued
at its Discounted Value for purposes of determining Moody's Eligible Assets, and
the amount of the repurchase price of such Municipal Obligation shall be
included as a liability for purposes of calculating the APS Basic Maintenance
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Amount. When the Trust purchases a Moody's Eligible Asset and agrees to sell it
at a future date, such Eligible Asset shall be valued at the amount of cash to
be received by the Trust upon such future date, provided that the counterparty
to the transaction has a long-term debt rating of at least A2 from Moody's and
the transaction has a term of no more than 30 days, otherwise such Eligible
Asset shall be valued at the Discounted Value of such Eligible Asset.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an asset will not be considered a
Moody's Eligible Asset to the extent it is (i) subject to any material lien,
mortgage, pledge, security interest or security agreement of any kind
(collectively, "Liens"), except for (A) Liens which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and which Moody's has indicated to the Trust
will not affect the status of such asset as a Moody's Eligible Asset, (B) Liens
for taxes that are not then due and payable or that can be paid thereafter
without penalty, (C) Liens to secure payment for services rendered or cash
advanced to the Trust by its investment manager or portfolio manager, the
Trust's custodian, transfer agent or registrar or the Auction Agent and (D)
Liens arising by virtue of any repurchase agreement; (ii) deposited irrevocably
for the payment of any liabilities for purposes of determining the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount; or (iii) held in a margin account.
"Xxxxx'x Exposure Period" means the period commencing on a given
Valuation Date and ending 49 days thereafter.
"Xxxxx'x Hedging Transactions" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.8(a) of these Bylaws.
"Xxxxx'x Volatility Factor" means as of any Valuation Date, (i) in the
case of any 7-Day Dividend Period, any Special Dividend Period of 28 days or
fewer, or any Special Dividend Period of 57 days or more, a multiplicative
factor equal to 275% , except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of this
definition; (ii) in the case of any Special Dividend Period of more than 28 but
fewer than 36 days, a multiplicative factor equal to 203%; (iii) in the case of
any Special Dividend Period of more than 35 but fewer than 43 days, a
multiplicative factor equal to 217%; (iv) in the case of any Special Dividend
Period of more than 42 but fewer than 50 days, a multiplicative factor equal to
226%; and (v) in the case of any Special Dividend Period of more than 49 but
fewer than 57 days, a multiplicative factor equal to 235%. If, as a result of
the enactment of changes to the Code, the Marginal Tax Rate will increase, such
increase being rounded up to the next five percentage points (the "Federal Tax
Rate Increase"), until the effective date of such increase, the Xxxxx'x
Volatility Factor in the case of any Dividend Period described in (i) above in
this definition instead shall be determined by reference to the following table:
Volatility
Federal Tax Rate Increase Factor
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5% ....................................................... 295%
10% ....................................................... 317%
15% ....................................................... 341%
20% ....................................................... 369%
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25% ................................................ 400%
30% ................................................ 436%
35% ................................................ 477%
40% ................................................ 525%
"Municipal Obligations" means municipal obligations, including
municipal bonds and short-term municipal obligations, the interest from which is
exempt from federal income taxes.
"Municipal Index" means the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index or any
successor index approved by Xxxxx'x.
"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from
time to time.
"1940 Act APS Asset Coverage" means asset coverage, as defined in
section 18(h) of the 1940 Act, of at least 200% with respect to all Outstanding
senior securities of the Trust which are shares of beneficial interest,
including APS (or such other asset coverage as may in the future be specified in
or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which
are shares of beneficial interest of a closed-end investment company as a
condition of paying dividends on its common shares).
"1940 Act Cure Date," with respect to the failure by the Trust to
maintain the 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage (as required by these Bylaws) as of the
last Business Day of each month, means the last Business Day of the following
month.
"Non-Call Period" has the meaning set forth under the definition of
"Specific Redemption Provisions."
"Non-Payment Period" means a period commencing on and including a
Dividend Payment Date or redemption date for which the Trust shall fail to (i)
declare, prior to the close of business on the second Business Day preceding
such Dividend Payment Date, for payment on or (to the extent permitted by
Section 11.2(c)(i) of these Bylaws) within three Business Days after such
Dividend Payment Date to the Holders as of 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
the Business Day preceding such Dividend Payment Date, the full amount of any
dividend on APS payable on such Dividend Payment Date, provided, however, that
if the Trust is not able to make such declaration in compliance with the
foregoing because an unforeseen event or unforeseen events causes or cause a day
that otherwise would have been a Business Day not to be a Business Day, then the
Trust may make such declaration on the Business Day immediately preceding the
Dividend Payment Date, if possible, or, if not possible, on the Dividend Payment
Date, and in such case the Trust shall not be deemed to have failed to declare a
dividend otherwise required to be declared, or (ii) deposit, irrevocably in
trust, in same-day funds, with the Auction Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City
time, (A) on such Dividend Payment Date the full amount of any cash dividend on
such shares payable (if declared) on such Dividend Payment Date or (B) on any
such redemption date for any shares of APS called for redemption, the Mandatory
Redemption Price per share of such APS or, in the case of an optional
redemption, the Optional Redemption Price per share, and ending on and including
the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, all unpaid cash
dividends and unpaid redemption prices shall have been so
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deposited or shall have otherwise been made available to Holders in same-day
funds; provided that, a Non-Payment Period shall not end unless the Trust shall
have given at least five days' but no more than 30 days' written notice of such
deposit or availability to the Auction Agent, all Existing Holders (at their
addresses appearing in the Share Books) and the Securities Depository.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure by the Trust to deposit funds as
provided for by clauses (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above within three Business Days
after any Dividend Payment Date or redemption date, as the case may be, in each
case to the extent contemplated by Section 11.2(c)(i) of these Bylaws, shall not
constitute a "Non-Payment Period."
"Non-Payment Period Rate" means, initially, 200% of the applicable
Reference Rate (or 275% of such rate if the Trust has provided notification to
the Auction Agent prior to the Auction establishing the Applicable Rate for any
dividend that net capital gains or other taxable income will be included in such
dividend the APS), provided that the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall have
the authority to adjust, modify, alter or change from time to time the initial
Non-Payment Period Rate if the Board of Trustees of the Trust determines and
Xxxxx'x (and any Substitute Rating Agency in lieu of Xxxxx'x in the event
Xxxxx'x shall not rate the APS) advise the Trust in writing that such
adjustment, modification, alteration or change will not adversely affect its
then current ratings on the APS.
"Normal Dividend Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(b)(i) of these Bylaws.
"Notice of Redemption" means any notice with respect to the redemption
of shares of APS pursuant to Section 11.4 of these Bylaws.
"Notice of Revocation" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(c)(iii) of these Bylaws.
"Notice of Special Dividend Period" has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.2(c)(iii) of these Bylaws.
"Optional Redemption Price" means $25,000 per share plus an amount
equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) to
the date fixed for redemption plus any applicable redemption premium
attributable to the designation of a Premium Call Period, but excluding Gross-up
Dividends.
"Other Issues" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Issue
Type Category."
"Other Securities" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
"Xxxxx'x Eligible Asset."
"Outstanding" means, as of any date (i) with respect to APS, shares of
APS theretofore issued by the Trust except, without duplication, (A) any shares
of APS theretofore canceled or delivered to the Auction Agent for cancellation,
or redeemed by the Trust, or as to which a Notice of Redemption shall have been
given and Deposit Securities shall have been deposited in trust or segregated by
the Trust pursuant to Section 11.4(c) hereto and (B) any shares of APS as to
which the Trust or any Affiliate (other than an Affiliate that is a
Broker-Dealer) thereof shall
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be a Beneficial Owner, provided that shares of APS held by an Affiliate shall be
deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating the APS Basic Maintenance Amount
and (ii) with respect to other Preferred Shares, has the equivalent meaning.
"Parity Shares" means the APS and each other outstanding series of
Preferred Shares the holders of which, together with the holders of the APS,
shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case may be, in proportion to the
full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled, without
preference or priority one over the other.
"Person" means and includes an individual, a partnership, a trust, an
unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Potential Beneficial Owner" means a customer of a Broker-Dealer or a
Broker-Dealer that is not a Beneficial Owner of APS but that wishes to purchase
such shares, or that is a Beneficial Owner that wishes to purchase additional
APS.
"Potential Holder" means any Broker-Dealer or any such other Person as
may be permitted by the Trust, including any Existing Holder, who may be
interested in acquiring APS (or, in the case of an Existing Holder, additional
APS).
"Preferred Shares" means preferred shares of beneficial interest of the
Trust, and includes APS.
"Premium Call Period" has the meaning set forth under the definition of
"Specific Redemption Provisions."
"Pricing Service" means Standard & Poor's/X.X. Xxxxx or any pricing
service designated by the Board of Trustees of the Trust for purposes of
determining whether the Trust has Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets with an aggregate
Discounted Value that equals or exceeds the APS Basic Maintenance Amount.
"Quarterly Valuation Date" means the last Business Day of the last
month of each fiscal quarter of the Trust in each fiscal year of the Trust,
commencing November 29, 2002.
"Rating Agency" means a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization.
"Receivables for Municipal Obligations Sold" shall mean for purposes of
calculation of Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets as of any Valuation Date, no more than
the aggregate of the following: (i) the book value of receivables for Municipal
Obligations sold as of or prior to such Valuation Date if such receivables are
due within five business days of such Valuation Date, and if the trades which
generated such receivables are (x) settled through clearing house firms with
respect to which the Fund has received prior written authorization from Xxxxx'x
or (y) with counterparties having a Xxxxx'x long-term debt rating of at least
Baa3; and (ii) the Xxxxx'x Discounted Value of Municipal Obligations sold as of
or prior to such Valuation Date which
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generated receivables, if such receivables are due within five business days of
such Valuation Date but do not comply with either of the conditions specified in
(i) above.
"Reference Rate" means: (i) with respect to a Dividend Period or a
Short Term Dividend Period having 28 or fewer days, the higher of the applicable
"AA" Composite Commercial Paper Rate and the Taxable Equivalent of the
Short-Term Municipal Obligation Rate, (ii) with respect to any Short Term
Dividend Period having more than 28 but fewer than 183 days, the applicable "AA"
Composite Commercial Paper Rate, (iii) with respect to any Short Term Dividend
Period having 183 or more but fewer than 364 days, the applicable U.S. Treasury
Xxxx Rate and (iv) with respect to any Long Term Dividend Period, the applicable
U.S. Treasury Note Rate.
"Request for Special Dividend Period" has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.2(c)(iii) of these Bylaws.
"Response" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(c)(ii) of these
Bylaws.
"Retroactive Taxable Allocation" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(e) of these Bylaws.
"Right" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.2(e) of these Bylaws.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc., or its successors.
"Securities Depository" means The Depository Trust Company and its
successors and assigns or any successor securities depository selected by the
Trust as securities depository for the APS that agrees to follow the procedures
required to be followed by such securities depository in connection with the
APS.
"Service" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
"Series A APS" means the Auction Preferred Shares, Series A.
"7-Day Dividend Period" means a Dividend Period consisting of seven
days.
"Share Books" means the books maintained by the Auction Agent setting
forth at all times a current list, as determined by the Auction Agent, of
Existing Holders of the APS.
"Share Register" means the register of Holders maintained on behalf of
the Trust by the Auction Agent in its capacity as transfer agent and registrar
for the APS.
"Short Term Dividend Period" means a Special Dividend Period consisting
of a specified number of days, evenly divisible by seven and not fewer than
fourteen nor more than 364.
"Special Dividend Period" means a Short Term Dividend Period or a Long
Term Dividend Period.
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"Specific Redemption Provisions" means, with respect to a Special
Dividend Period either, or both of, (i) a period (a "Non-Call Period")
determined by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, after consultation with the
Auction Agent and the Broker-Dealers, during which the APS subject to such
Dividend Period shall not be subject to redemption at the option of the Trust
and (ii) a period (a "Premium Call Period"), consisting of a number of whole
years and determined by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, after consultation
with the Auction Agent and the Broker-Dealers, during each year of which the APS
subject to such Dividend Period shall be redeemable at the Trust's option at a
price per share equal to $25,000 plus accumulated but unpaid dividends plus a
premium expressed as a percentage of $25,000, as determined by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust after consultation with the Auction Agent and the
Broker-Dealers.
"Subsequent Dividend Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(c)(i) of these Bylaws.
"Substitute Commercial Paper Dealers" means such substitute commercial
paper dealer or dealers as the Trust may from time to time appoint or, in lieu
of any thereof, their respective affiliates or successors.
"Substitute Rating Agency" means a Rating Agency selected by UBS
Warburg LLC or its affiliates and successors, after consultation with the Trust,
to act as the substitute Rating Agency to determine the credit ratings of the
APS.
"Sufficient Clearing Bids" has the meaning set forth in Section
11.10(a)(xv) of these Bylaws.
"Taxable Equivalent of the Short-Term Municipal Obligations Rate" on
any date means 90% of the quotient of (A) the per annum rate expressed on an
interest equivalent basis equal to the Xxxxx S&P 30 day High Grade Index or any
successor index (the "Xxxxx Index"), made available for the Business Day
immediately preceding such date but in any event not later than 8:30 A.M., New
York City time, on such date by Xxxxx Information Systems Inc. or any successor
thereto, based upon 30-day yield evaluations at par of short-term bonds the
interest on which is excludable for regular federal income tax purposes under
the Code of "high grade" component issuers selected by Xxxxx Information Systems
Inc. or any such successor from time to time in its discretion, which component
issuers shall include, without limitation, issuers of general obligation bonds
but shall exclude any bonds the interest on which constitutes an item of tax
preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals,
divided by (B) 1.00 minus the Marginal Tax Rate (expressed as a decimal);
provided, however, that if the Xxxxx Index is not made so available by 8:30
A.M., New York City time, on such date by Xxxxx Information Systems Inc. or any
successor, the Taxable Equivalent of the Short-Term Municipal Obligation Rate
shall mean the quotient of (A) the per annum rate expressed on an interest
equivalent basis equal to the most recent Xxxxx Index so made available for any
preceding Business Day, divided by (B) 1.00 minus the Marginal Tax Rate
(expressed as a decimal). The Trust may not utilize a successor index to the
Xxxxx Index unless Xxxxx'x provides the Trust with written confirmation that the
use of such successor index will not adversely affect the then-current Xxxxx'x
rating of the APS.
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"Treasury Bonds" means United States Treasury Bonds or Notes.
"U.S. Treasury Xxxx Rate" on any date means (i) the Interest Equivalent
of the rate on the actively traded Treasury Xxxx with a maturity most nearly
comparable to the length of the related Dividend Period, as such rate is made
available on a discount basis or otherwise by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York in its Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities report
for such Business Day, or (ii) if such yield as so calculated is not available,
the Alternate Treasury Xxxx Rate on such date. For purposes of determining the
"U.S. Treasury Xxxx Rate" the "Alternate Treasury Xxxx Rate" on any date means
the Interest Equivalent of the yield as calculated by reference to the
arithmetic average of the bid price quotations of the actively traded Treasury
Xxxx with a maturity most nearly comparable to the length of the related
Dividend Period, as determined by bid price quotations as of any time on the
Business Day immediately preceding such date, obtained from at least three
recognized primary U.S. Government securities dealers selected by the Auction
Agent.
"U.S. Treasury Note Rate" on any date means (i) the yield as calculated
by reference to the bid price quotation of the actively traded, current coupon
Treasury Note with a maturity most nearly comparable to the length of the
related Dividend Period, as such bid price quotation is published on the
Business Day immediately preceding such date by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York in its Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities report
for such Business Day, or (ii) if such yield as so calculated is not available,
the Alternate Treasury Note Rate on such date. For purposes of determining the
U.S. Treasury Note Rate, the "Alternate Treasury Note Rate" on any date means
the yield as calculated by reference to the arithmetic average of the bid price
quotations of the actively traded, current coupon Treasury Note with a maturity
most nearly comparable to the length of the related Dividend Period, as
determined by the bid price quotations as of any time on the Business Day
immediately preceding such date, obtained from at least three recognized primary
U.S. Government securities dealers selected by the Auction Agent.
"Valuation Date" means, for purposes of determining whether the Trust
is maintaining the APS Basic Maintenance Amount, the last Business Day of each
week commencing with the Date of Original Issue.
"Voting Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(b) of these
Bylaws.
(b) The foregoing definitions of Accountant's Confirmation, APS Basic
Maintenance Amount, APS Basic Maintenance Cure Date, APS Basic Maintenance
Report, Closing Transactions, Deposit Securities, Discounted Value, Forward
Commitment, Independent Accountant, Market Value, Maximum Applicable Rate,
Maximum Potential Gross-Up Dividend Liability, Xxxxx'x Discount Factor, Xxxxx'x
Eligible Asset, Xxxxx'x Exposure Period, Xxxxx'x Hedging Transactions, Xxxxx'x
Volatility Factor, Municipal Index, 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage, 1940 Act Cure
Date, Treasury Bonds and Valuation Date (and any terms defined within such
definitions) have been determined by the Board of Trustees of the Trust in order
to obtain a "Aaa" rating from Xxxxx'x on the APS on their Date of Original
Issue; and the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall have the authority, without
shareholder approval, to amend,
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alter or repeal from time to time the foregoing definitions and the restrictions
and guidelines set forth thereunder if Xxxxx'x or any Substitute Rating Agency
advises the Trust in writing that such amendment, alteration or repeal will not
adversely affect its then current rating on the APS.
11.2 Dividends. (a) The Holders of a particular series of APS shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust, out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative dividends each
consisting of (i) cash at the Applicable Rate, (ii) a Right to receive cash as
set forth in Section 11.2(e) below, and (iii) any additional amounts as set
forth in Section 11.2(f) below, and no more, payable on the respective dates set
forth below. Dividends on the shares of each series of APS so declared and
payable shall be paid (i) in preference to and in priority over any dividends
declared and payable on the Common Shares, and (ii) to the extent permitted
under the Code and to the extent available, out of net tax-exempt income earned
on the Trust's investments. To the extent permitted under the Code, dividends on
APS will be designated as exempt-interest dividends. For the purposes of this
section, the term "net tax-exempt income" shall exclude capital gains of the
Trust.
(b) (i) Cash dividends on shares of each series of APS shall accumulate
from the Date of Original Issue and shall be payable, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, out of funds legally available therefor,
commencing on the Initial Dividend Payment Date. Following the Initial Dividend
Payment Date for a series of APS, dividends on that series of APS will be
payable, at the option of the Trust, either (i) with respect to any 7-Day
Dividend Period and any Short Term Dividend Period of 35 or fewer days, on the
day next succeeding the last day thereof, or (ii) with respect to any Short Term
Dividend Period of more than 35 days and with respect to any Long Term Dividend
Period, monthly on the first Business Day of each calendar month during such
Short Term Dividend Period or Long Term Dividend Period and on the day next
succeeding the last day thereof (each such date referred to in clause (i) or
(ii) being herein referred to as a "Normal Dividend Payment Date"), except that
if such Normal Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the Dividend
Payment Date shall be the first Business Day next succeeding such Normal
Dividend Payment Date. Although any particular Dividend Payment Date may not
occur on the originally scheduled date because of the exceptions discussed
above, the next succeeding Dividend Payment Date, subject to such exceptions,
will occur on the next following originally scheduled date. If for any reason a
Dividend Period for a series of APS is scheduled to begin on the same day and
end on the same day as a Dividend Period for another series of APS, then the
last day of such Dividend Period for such other series of APS shall be the
second Business Day next succeeding such scheduled day unless the Trust obtains
the opinion of tax counsel referred to in this paragraph. Subject to the
limitation in the next sentence, if for any reason a Dividend Payment Date
cannot be fixed as described above, then the Board of Trustees of the Trust
shall fix the Dividend Payment Date. However, no Dividend Period of any series
of APS shall be co-extensive with any Dividend Period of any other series of APS
unless the Trust has received an opinion of tax counsel that having such
co-extensive periods will not affect the deductibility, for federal income tax
purposes, of dividends paid on the different series of APS. The Board of
Trustees of the Trust before authorizing a dividend may change a Dividend
Payment Date if such change does not adversely affect the contract rights of the
Holders of APS set forth in the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws. The Initial
Dividend Period, 7-Day Dividend Periods and Special Dividend Periods with
respect to a
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series of APS are hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Dividend Periods." Each
dividend payment date determined as provided above is hereinafter referred to as
a "Dividend Payment Date."
(ii) Each dividend shall be paid to the Holders as they appear in the
Stock Register as of 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Dividend Payment
Date. Dividends in arrears for any past Dividend Period may be declared and paid
at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to the
Holders as they appear on the Stock Register on a date, not exceeding 15 days
prior to the payment date therefor, as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust.
(c) (i) During the period from and including the Date of Original Issue
to but excluding the Initial Dividend Payment Date for a series of APS (the
"Initial Dividend Period"), the Applicable Rate for such series of APS shall be
the Initial Dividend Rate. Commencing on the Initial Dividend Payment Date for a
series of APS, the Applicable Rate on that series for each subsequent dividend
period (hereinafter referred to as a "Subsequent Dividend Period"), which
Subsequent Dividend Period shall commence on and include a Dividend Payment Date
and shall end on and include the calendar day prior to the next Dividend Payment
Date (or last Dividend Payment Date in a Dividend Period if there is more than
one Dividend Payment Date), shall be equal to the rate per annum that results
from implementation of the Auction Procedures.
For a series of APS, the Applicable Rate for such series for each
Dividend Period commencing during a Non-Payment Period shall be equal to the
Non-Payment Period Rate; and each Dividend Period, commencing after the first
day of, and during, but not after the end of, a Non-Payment Period shall be a
7-Day Dividend Period. Except in the case of the willful failure of the Trust to
pay a dividend on a Dividend Payment Date or to redeem any shares of APS on the
date set for such redemption, any amount of any dividend due on any Dividend
Payment Date (if, prior to the close of business on the second Business Day
preceding such Dividend Payment Date, the Trust has declared such dividend
payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the Holders of such shares of APS as of
12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day preceding such Dividend
Payment Date) or redemption price with respect to any shares of APS not paid to
such Holders when due may be paid to such Holders in the same form of funds by
12:00 noon, New York City time, on any of the first three Business Days after
such Dividend Payment Date or due date, as the case may be, provided that, such
amount is accompanied by a late charge calculated for such period of non-payment
at the Non-Payment Period Rate applied to the amount of such non-payment based
on the actual number of days comprising such period (excluding any days that
would have been Business Days but for the occurrence of any unforeseen event or
unforeseen events that caused such days not to be Business Days) divided by 365,
and in such case such period shall not constitute a Non-Payment Period;
provided, however, that the Trust shall not be required to pay any late charge
if it declares a dividend on the Dividend Payment Date or the Business Day
immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date in accordance with clause (i)
of the definition of "Non-Payment Period" and deposits payment for such dividend
as contemplated by clause (ii)(A) of the definition of "Non-Payment Period" on
or before the second Business Day succeeding the day on which the dividend was
declared. In the case of a willful failure of the Trust to pay a dividend on a
Dividend Payment
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Date or to redeem any shares of APS on the date set for such redemption, the
preceding sentence shall not apply and the Applicable Rate for the Dividend
Period commencing during the Non-Payment Period resulting from such failure
shall be the Non-Payment Period Rate. For the purposes of the foregoing, payment
to a person in same-day funds on any Business Day at any time shall be
considered equivalent to payment to such person in New York Clearing House
(next-day) funds at the same time on the preceding Business Day, and any payment
made after 12:00 noon, New York City time, on any Business Day shall be
considered to have been made instead in the same form of funds and to the same
person before 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the next Business Day.
(ii) The amount of cash dividends per share of any series of APS
payable (if declared) on the Initial Dividend Payment Date, each 7-Day Dividend
Period and each Dividend Payment Date of each Short Term Dividend Period shall
be computed by multiplying the Applicable Rate for such Dividend Period by a
fraction, the numerator of which will be the number of days in such Dividend
Period or part thereof that such share was outstanding and the denominator of
which will be 365, multiplying the amount so obtained by $25,000, and rounding
the amount so obtained to the nearest cent. During any Long Term Dividend
Period, the amount of cash dividends per share of a series of APS payable (if
declared) on any Dividend Payment Date shall be computed by multiplying the
Applicable Rate for such Dividend Period by a fraction, the numerator of which
will be such number of days in such part of such Dividend Period that such share
was outstanding and for which dividends are payable on such Dividend Payment
Date and the denominator of which will be 360, multiplying the amount so
obtained by $25,000, and rounding the amount so obtained to the nearest cent.
(iii) The Trust may, at its sole option and to the extent permitted by
law, by telephonic and written notice (a "Request for Special Dividend Period")
to the Auction Agent and to each Broker-Dealer, request that the next succeeding
Dividend Period for a series of APS be a number of days (other than seven),
evenly divisible by seven and not fewer than fourteen nor more than 364 in the
case of a Short Term Dividend Period or one whole year or more but not greater
than five years in the case of a Long Term Dividend Period, specified in such
notice, provided that the Trust may not give a Request for Special Dividend
Period for a Dividend Period of greater than 28 days (and any such request shall
be null and void) unless, for any Auction occurring after the initial Auction,
Sufficient Clearing Bids were made in the last occurring Auction and unless full
cumulative dividends, any amounts due with respect to redemptions, and any
Gross-Up Dividends payable prior to such date have been paid in full. Such
Request for Special Dividend Period, in the case of a Short Term Dividend
Period, shall be given on or prior to the second Business Day but not more than
seven Business Days prior to an Auction Date for a series of APS and, in the
case of a Long Term Dividend Period, shall be given on or prior to the second
Business Day but not more than 28 days prior to an Auction Date for a series of
APS. Upon receiving such Request for Special Dividend Period, the
Broker-Dealer(s) shall jointly determine the Optional Redemption Price of the
APS during such Special Dividend Period and the Specific Redemption Provisions
and shall give the Trust and the Auction Agent written notice (a "Response") of
such determination by no later than the second Business Day prior to such
Auction Date. In making such determination the Broker-Dealer(s) will consider
(1) existing short-term and long-term market rates and indices of such
short-term and long-term rates, (2)
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existing market supply and demand for short-term and long-term securities, (3)
existing yield curves for short-term and long-term securities comparable to the
APS, (4) industry and financial conditions which may affect the APS, (5) the
investment objective of the Trust, and (6) the Dividend Periods and dividend
rates at which current and potential beneficial holders of the APS would remain
or become beneficial holders. After providing the Request for Special Dividend
Period to the Auction Agent and each Broker-Dealer as set forth above, the Trust
may by no later than the second Business Day prior to such Auction Date give a
notice (a "Notice of Special Dividend Period") to the Auction Agent, the
Securities Depository and each Broker-Dealer which notice will specify (i) the
duration of the Special Dividend Period, (ii) the Optional Redemption Price as
specified in the related Response and (iii) the Specific Redemption Provisions,
if any, as specified in the related Response. The Trust also shall provide a
copy of such Notice of Special Dividend Period to Xxxxx'x. The Trust shall not
give a Notice of Special Dividend Period and, if the Trust has given a Notice of
Special Dividend Period, the Trust is required to give telephonic and written
notice of its revocation (a "Notice of Revocation") to the Auction Agent, each
Broker-Dealer, and the Securities Depository on or prior to the Business Day
prior to the relevant Auction Date if (x) either the 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage
is not satisfied or the Trust shall fail to maintain Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets
with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the APS Basic Maintenance
Amount, on each of the two Valuation Dates immediately preceding the Business
Day prior to the relevant Auction Date on an actual basis and on a pro forma
basis giving effect to the proposed Special Dividend Period (using as a pro
forma dividend rate with respect to such Special Dividend Period the dividend
rate which the Broker-Dealers shall advise the Trust is an approximately equal
rate for securities similar to the APS with an equal dividend period) or (y)
sufficient funds for the payment of dividends payable on the immediately
succeeding Dividend Payment Date have not been irrevocably deposited with the
Auction Agent by the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the
Auction Date immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date. The Trust also
shall provide a copy of such Notice of Revocation to Xxxxx'x. If the Trust is
prohibited from giving a Notice of Special Dividend Period as a result of any of
the factors enumerated in clause (x) or (y) above or if the Trust gives a Notice
of Revocation with respect to a Notice of Special Dividend Period for any series
of APS, the next succeeding Dividend Period will be a 7-Day Dividend Period. In
addition, in the event Sufficient Clearing Bids are not made in an Auction, or
if an Auction is not held for any reason, such next succeeding Dividend Period
will be a 7-Day Dividend Period and the Trust may not again give a Notice of
Special Dividend Period for the APS (and any such attempted notice shall be null
and void) until Sufficient Clearing Bids have been made in an Auction with
respect to a 7-Day Dividend Period. If an Auction is not held because an
unforeseen event or unforeseen events cause a day that otherwise would have been
a Dividend Payment Date or an Auction Date not to be a Business Day, then the
length of the Dividend Period relating to such Dividend Payment Date shall be
extended by seven days (or a multiple thereof if necessary because of such
unforeseen event or events) (an "Extension Period"), the Applicable Rate for
such Extension Period shall be the Applicable Rate for the Dividend Period so
extended and the Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period shall be the
first Business Day next succeeding the end of such Extension Period.
(d) (i) Holders shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable
in cash, property or shares on APS, in excess of full cumulative dividends as
herein provided (except for Gross-up
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Dividends as provided in Section 11.2(e) hereof). Except for the late charge
payable pursuant to Section 11.2(c)(i) hereof, no interest, or sum of money in
lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment on the
shares of APS that may be in arrears.
(ii) For so long as any share of APS is Outstanding, the Trust shall
not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or other distribution
(other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of, or options, warrants
or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Common Shares or other shares of
beneficial interest, if any, ranking junior to the shares of APS as to dividends
or upon liquidation) in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of
beneficial interest of the Trust ranking junior to or on a parity with the
shares of APS as to dividends or upon liquidation, or call for redemption,
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of the Common
Shares or any other such junior shares (except by conversion into or exchange
for shares of the Trust ranking junior to the shares of APS as to dividends and
upon liquidation) or any other such Parity Shares (except by conversion into or
exchange for stock of the Trust ranking junior to or on a parity with the shares
of APS as to dividends and upon liquidation), unless (A) immediately after such
transaction, the Trust shall have Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets with an aggregate
Discounted Value equal to or greater than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount and
the Trust shall maintain the 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage, (B) full cumulative
dividends on shares of APS due on or prior to the date of the transaction have
been declared and paid or shall have been declared and sufficient funds for the
payment thereof deposited with the Auction Agent, (C) any Gross-up Dividend
required to be paid pursuant to Section 11.2(e) below on or before the date of
such declaration or payment has been paid and (D) the Trust has redeemed the
full number of APS required to be redeemed by any provision for mandatory
redemption contained herein.
(e) Each dividend shall consist of (i) cash at the Applicable Rate,
(ii) an uncertificated right (a "Right") to receive a Gross-up Dividend (as
defined below), and (iii) any additional amounts as set forth in Section 11.2(f)
below. Each Right shall thereafter be independent of the share or shares of APS
on which the dividend was paid. The Trust shall cause to be maintained a record
of each Right received by the respective Holders. A Right may not be transferred
other than by operation of law. If the Trust retroactively allocates any net
capital gains or other income subject to regular federal income taxes to shares
of APS solely by reason of the fact that such allocation is made as a result of
the redemption of all or a portion of the outstanding shares of APS or the
liquidation of the Trust (the amount of such allocation referred to herein as a
"Retroactive Taxable Allocation"), the Trust will, if it has not given advance
notice thereof to the Auction Agent as described in Section 11.2(f) hereof,
within 90 days (and generally within 60 days) after the end of the Trust's
fiscal year for which a Retroactive Taxable Allocation is made, provide notice
thereof to the Auction Agent and to each holder of a Right applicable to such
shares of APS (initially as nominee of The Depository Trust Company) during such
fiscal year at such holder's address as the same appears or last appeared on the
Stock Books of the Trust. The Trust will, within 30 days after such notice is
given to the Auction Agent, pay to the Auction Agent (who will then distribute
to such holders of Rights), out of funds legally available therefor, an amount
equal to the aggregate Gross-up Dividends with respect to all Retroactive
Taxable Allocations made to such holders during the fiscal year in question.
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A "Gross-Up Dividend" means payment to a present or former Holder of
shares of APS of an amount which, giving effect to the Retroactive Taxable
Allocation, if any, made to such Holder with respect to the fiscal year in
question, would cause such Holder's after-tax return (taking into account both
the Retroactive Taxable Allocation and the Gross-up Dividend) to be equal to the
after-tax return such holder would have received if there had been no
Retroactive Taxable Allocation. Such Gross-up Dividend shall be calculated (i)
without consideration being given to the time value of money; (ii) assuming that
no holder of shares of APS is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax
with respect to dividends received from the Trust; and (iii) assuming that each
Retroactive Taxable Allocation would be taxable in the hands of each holder of
APS at the greater of: (x) the maximum combined effective marginal regular
federal, New York State and New York City individual income tax rate applicable
to ordinary income or capital gains depending on the taxable character of the
distribution (including any surtax); or (y) the maximum combined effective
marginal regular federal, New York State and New York City corporate income tax
rate applicable to ordinary income or capital gains depending on the taxable
character of the distribution (disregarding in both (x) and (y) the effect of
any other local taxes and the phase out of, or provision limiting, personal
exemptions, itemized deductions, or the benefit of lower tax brackets).
(f) Except as provided below, whenever the Trust is aware that it will
include any net capital gains or other income subject to regular federal income
taxes in any dividend on shares of APS, the Trust will notify the Auction Agent
of the amount to be so included at least five Business Days prior to the Auction
Date on which the Applicable Rate for such dividend is to be established. The
Trust may also include such income in a dividend on shares of a series of APS
without giving advance notice thereof if it increases the dividend by an
additional amount calculated as if such income were the subject of a Retroactive
Taxable Allocation and the additional amount were a Gross-up Dividend, provided
that the Trust will notify the Auction Agent of the additional amounts to be
included in such dividend at least five Business Days prior to the applicable
Dividend Payment Date. The Trust shall not be required to pay Gross-up Dividends
with respect to any net capital gain or other taxable income determined by the
Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner different from that
allocated by the Trust.
(g) No fractional shares of APS shall be issued.
(h) Solely for purposes of the proviso in clause (i) under the
definition of "Non-Payment Period," the second parenthetical in the second
sentence of the second paragraph of Section 11.2(c)(i) of these Bylaws and the
last sentence of Section 11.2(c)(iii) of these Bylaws, any day on which banks in
New York City generally are closed, for any reason, while the New York Stock
Exchange remains open for trading and any day which otherwise would be a
Business Day as defined in these Bylaws on which the Auction Agent is closed for
business, for any reason, shall be considered a day which is not a Business Day.
11.3 Liquidation Rights. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Trust, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Holders shall be entitled
to receive, out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
shareholders, before any distribution or payment is made upon any Common Shares
or any other shares of beneficial interest ranking junior in right of payment
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upon liquidation to the APS, the sum of $25,000 per share plus accumulated but
unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) thereon to the date of
distribution, and after such payment the Holders will be entitled to no other
payments other than Gross-up Dividends as provided in Section 11.2(e) hereof. If
upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust, the amounts
payable with respect to the APS and any other Outstanding class or series of
Preferred Shares of the Trust ranking on a parity with the APS as to payment
upon liquidation are not paid in full, the Holders and the holders of such other
class or series will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in
proportion to the respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled.
After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they
are entitled, the Holders will not be entitled to any further participation in
any distribution of assets by the Trust except for any Gross-up Dividends. A
consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange of the Trust with or into any
other Trust or entity or a sale, whether for cash, shares of stock, securities
or properties, of all or substantially all or any part of the assets of the
Trust shall not be deemed or construed to be a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Trust.
11.4 Redemption. (a) Shares of APS shall be redeemable by the
Trust as provided below:
(i) To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law,
upon giving a Notice of Redemption, the Trust at its option may redeem shares of
any series of APS, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor,
at the Optional Redemption Price per share, on any Dividend Payment Date;
provided that no share of APS may be redeemed at the option of the Trust during
(A) the Initial Dividend Period with respect to a series of shares or (B) a
Non-Call Period to which such share is subject. In addition, holders of APS
which are redeemed shall be entitled to receive Gross-Up Dividends to the extent
provided herein.
(ii) The Trust shall redeem, out of funds legally available therefor,
at the Mandatory Redemption Price per share, shares of APS to the extent
permitted under the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law, on a date fixed by the Board
of Trustees of the Trust, if the Trust fails to maintain Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets
with an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount as provided in Section 11.7(a) or to satisfy the 1940 Act APS
Asset Coverage as provided in Section 6 and such failure is not cured on or
before the APS Basic Maintenance Cure Date or the 1940 Act Cure Date (herein
collectively referred to as a "Cure Date"), as the case may be. In addition,
holders of APS so redeemed shall be entitled to receive Gross-Up Dividends to
the extent provided herein. The number of APS to be redeemed shall be equal to
the lesser of (i) the minimum number of APS the redemption of which, if deemed
to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the Cure Date,
together with all shares of other Preferred Shares subject to redemption or
retirement, would result in the Trust having Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets with an
aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than the APS Basic Maintenance
Amount or satisfaction of the 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage, as the case may be,
on such Cure Date (provided that, if there is no such minimum number of shares
of APS and shares of other Preferred Shares the redemption of which would have
such result, all shares of APS and shares of other Preferred Shares then
Outstanding shall be redeemed), and (ii) the maximum number of shares of APS,
together with all shares of other Preferred Shares subject to redemption or
retirement, that can be redeemed out of funds expected
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to be legally available therefor on such redemption date. In determining the
number of APS required to be redeemed in accordance with the foregoing, the
Trust shall allocate the number required to be redeemed which would result in
the Trust having Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value
equal to or greater than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount or satisfaction of the
1940 Act APS Asset Coverage, as the case may be, pro rata among shares of APS of
all series and other Preferred Shares subject to redemption pursuant to
provisions similar to those contained in this Section 11.4(a)(ii); provided
that, shares of APS which may not be redeemed at the option of the Trust due to
the designation of a Non-Call Period applicable to such shares (A) will be
subject to mandatory redemption only to the extent that other shares are not
available to satisfy the number of shares required to be redeemed and (B) will
be selected for redemption in an ascending order of outstanding number of days
in the Non-Call Period (with shares with the lowest number of days to be
redeemed first) and by lot in the event of shares having an equal number of days
in such Non-Call Period. The Trust shall effect such redemption on a Business
Day which is not later than 35 days after such Cure Date, except that if the
Trust does not have funds legally available for the redemption of all of the
required number of APS and other Preferred Shares which are subject to mandatory
redemption or the Trust otherwise is unable to effect such redemption on or
prior to 35 days after such Cure Date, the Trust shall redeem those APS which it
is unable to redeem on the earliest practicable date on which it is able to
effect such redemption out of funds legally available therefor.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 11.4, no shares
of APS may be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.4(a)(i) of these Bylaws (i) unless
all dividends in arrears on all remaining outstanding shares of Parity Shares
shall have been or are being contemporaneously paid or declared and set apart
for payment and (ii) if redemption thereof would result in the Trust's failure
to maintain Xxxxx'x Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value equal to
or greater than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount. In the event that less than
all the outstanding shares of a series of APS are to be redeemed and there is
more than one Holder, the shares of that series of APS to be redeemed shall be
selected by lot or such other method as the Trust shall deem fair and equitable.
(c) Whenever shares of APS are to be redeemed, the Trust, not less than
17 nor more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, shall mail a
notice ("Notice of Redemption") by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each
Holder of APS to be redeemed and to the Auction Agent. The Notice of Redemption
shall set forth (i) the redemption date, (ii) the amount of the redemption
price, (iii) the aggregate number of APS of such series to be redeemed, (iv) the
place or places where APS of such series are to be surrendered for payment of
the redemption price, (v) a statement that dividends on the shares to be
redeemed shall cease to accumulate on such redemption date (except that holders
may be entitled to Gross-up Dividends) and (vi) the provision of these Bylaws
pursuant to which such shares are being redeemed. No defect in the Notice of
Redemption or in the mailing or publication thereof shall affect the validity of
the redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.
If the Notice of Redemption shall have been given as aforesaid and,
concurrently or thereafter, the Trust shall have deposited in trust with the
Auction Agent, or segregated in an account at the Trust's custodian bank for the
benefit of the Auction Agent, Deposit Securities
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(with a right of substitution) having an aggregate Discounted Value equal to the
redemption payment for the APS as to which such Notice of Redemption has been
given with irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to
the Holders of such shares, then upon the date of such deposit or, if no such
deposit is made, then upon such date fixed for redemption (unless the Trust
shall default in making the redemption payment), all rights (including without
limitation voting rights) of the Holders of such shares as shareholders of the
Trust by reason of the ownership of such shares will cease and terminate (except
their right to receive the redemption price in respect thereof and any Gross-up
Dividends, but without interest), and such shares shall no longer be deemed
Outstanding. The Trust shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the
Auction Agent the interest, if any, on such Deposit Securities deposited with it
and the Holders of any shares so redeemed shall have no claim to any of such
interest. In case the Holder of any shares so called for redemption shall not
claim the redemption payment for his shares within one year after the date of
redemption, the Auction Agent shall, upon demand, pay over to the Trust such
amount remaining on deposit and the Auction Agent shall thereupon be relieved of
all responsibility to the Holder of such shares called for redemption and such
Holder thereafter shall look only to the Trust for the redemption payment.
11.5 Voting Rights. (a) General. Except as otherwise provided in the
Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, each Holder of APS shall be entitled to one vote
for each share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the
Trust, and the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Shares, including APS,
and of shares of Common Shares shall vote together as a single class; provided
that, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Trust held for the election of
trustees, the holders of outstanding shares of Preferred Shares, including APS,
shall be entitled, as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other
securities and classes of capital stock of the Trust, to elect two trustees of
the Trust. Subject to Section 11.5(b) hereof, the holders of outstanding shares
of beneficial interest of the Trust, including the holders of outstanding shares
of Preferred Shares, including APS, voting as a single class, shall elect the
balance of the trustees.
(b) Right to Elect Majority of Board of Trustees of the Trust. During
any period in which any one or more of the conditions described below shall
exist (such period being referred to herein as a "Voting Period"), the number of
trustees constituting the Board of Trustees of the Trust shall be automatically
increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two trustees elected
exclusively by the holders of shares of Preferred Shares, would constitute a
majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust as so increased by such smallest
number; and the holders of Preferred Shares shall be entitled, voting separately
as one class (to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and
classes of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust), to elect such smallest
number of additional trustees, together with the two trustees that such holders
are in any event entitled to elect.
A Voting Period shall commence:
(i) if at any time accumulated dividends (whether or not earned or
declared, and whether or not funds are then legally available in an amount
sufficient therefor) on the outstanding APS equal to at least two full years'
dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified
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securities shall not have been deposited with the Auction Agent for the payment
of such accumulated dividends; or
(ii) if at any time holders of any Preferred Shares, including the
holders of APS, are entitled to elect a majority of the trustees of the Trust
under the 1940 Act.
Upon the termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in
this Section 11.5(b) shall cease, subject always, however, to the reverting of
such voting rights in the Holders upon the further occurrence of any of the
events described in Section 11.5(b).
(c) Right to Vote with Respect to Certain Other Matters. So long as any
shares of APS are outstanding, the Trust shall not, without the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares of Preferred Shares Outstanding at
the time, voting separately as one class: (i) authorize, create or issue any
class or series of shares of beneficial interest ranking prior to the APS or any
other series of Preferred Shares with respect to payment of dividends or the
distribution of assets on liquidation; provided, however, that no vote is
required to authorize the issuance of another series of APS or another class of
Preferred Shares that is substantially identical in all respects to the APS, or
(ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Declaration of Trust or
Bylaws, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely affect
any of the contract rights expressly set forth in the Declaration of Trust or
Bylaws of holders of APS or any other Preferred Shares. To the extent permitted
under the 1940 Act, in the event shares of more than one series of APS are
outstanding, the Trust shall not approve any of the actions set forth in clause
(i) or (ii) which adversely affects the contract rights expressly set forth in
the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws of a Holder of a series of APS differently
than those of a Holder of any other series of APS without the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least a majority of the APS of each series adversely
affected and Outstanding at such time (each such adversely affected series
voting separately as a class). Unless a higher percentage is provided for under
the Declaration of Trust, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Preferred Shares, including APS, voting together as a
single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization (including
bankruptcy proceedings) adversely affecting such shares or any action requiring
a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. To the extent
permitted under the 1940 Act, in the event shares of more than one series of APS
are outstanding, with respect to any action requiring Shareholder approval
pursuant to the operation of Section 2 or Section 3 of Article V of the
Declaration of Trust, the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent of
the APS of each series Outstanding at such time (each such series voting
separately as a class) shall also be required. The class (and where applicable,
series) vote of holders of Preferred Shares, including APS, described above will
in each case be in addition to a separate vote of the requisite percentage of
Common Shares and Preferred Shares, including APS, voting together as a single
class necessary to authorize the action in question.
(d) Voting Procedures.
-----------------
(i) As soon as practicable after the accrual of any right of the
holders of Preferred Shares to elect additional trustees as described in Section
11.5(b) above, the Trust shall call a special meeting of such holders and
instruct the Auction Agent and any other registrar for Preferred
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Shares to mail a notice of such special meeting to such holders, such meeting to
be held not less than 10 nor more than 20 days after the date of mailing of such
notice. If the Trust fails to send such notice to the Auction Agent and any
other applicable registrar, or if the Trust does not call such a special
meeting, it may be called by any such holder on like notice. The record date for
determining the holders entitled to notice of and to vote at such special
meeting shall be the close of business on the fifth Business Day preceding the
day on which such notice is mailed. At any such special meeting and at each
meeting held during a Voting Period, such holders, voting together as a class
(to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares
of beneficial interest of the Trust), shall be entitled to elect the number of
directors prescribed in Section 11.5(b) above. At any such meeting or
adjournment thereof in the absence of a quorum, a majority of such holders
present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting
without notice, other than by an announcement at the meeting, to a date not more
than 120 days after the original record date.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by applicable law, for purposes of
determining any rights of the Holders to vote on any matter or the number of
shares required to constitute a quorum, whether such right is created by these
Bylaws, by the other provisions of the Declaration of Trust, by statute or
otherwise, a share of APS which is not Outstanding shall not be counted.
(iii) The terms of office of all persons who are trustees of the Trust
at the time of a special meeting of Holders and holders of other Preferred
Shares to elect trustees shall continue, notwithstanding the election at such
meeting by the Holders and such other holders of the number of trustees that
they are entitled to elect, and the persons so elected by the Holders and such
other holders, together with the two incumbent trustees elected by the Holders
and such other holders of Preferred Shares and the remaining incumbent trustees
elected by the holders of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, shall
constitute the duly elected trustees of the Trust.
(iv) Simultaneously with the expiration of a Voting Period, the terms
of office of the additional trustees elected by the Holders and holders of other
Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 11.5(b) above shall terminate, the
remaining trustees shall constitute the trustees of the Trust and the voting
rights of the Holders and such other holders to elect additional trustees
pursuant to Section 11.5(b) above shall cease, subject to the provisions of the
last sentence of Section 11.5(b).
(e) Exclusive Remedy. Unless otherwise required by law, the Holders of
APS shall not have any rights or preferences other than those specifically set
forth herein. The Holders of APS shall have no preemptive rights or rights to
cumulative voting. In the event that the Trust fails to pay any dividends on the
APS, the exclusive remedy of the Holders shall be the right to vote for trustees
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.5.
11.6 1940 Act APS Asset Coverage. The Trust shall maintain, as of the
last Business Day of each month in which any APS are outstanding, the 1940 Act
APS Asset Coverage.
11.7 APS Basic Maintenance Amount. (a) The Trust shall maintain, on
----------------------------
each Valuation Date, and shall verify to its satisfaction that it is maintaining
on such Valuation Date Xxxxx'x
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Eligible Assets having an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than
the APS Basic Maintenance Amount. Upon any failure to maintain the required
Discounted Value, the Trust will use its best efforts to alter the composition
of its portfolio to retain a Discounted Value at least equal to the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount on or prior to the APS Basic Maintenance Cure Date.
(b) On or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business
Day after a Valuation Date on which the Trust fails to satisfy the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount, the Trust shall complete and deliver to the Auction Agent
and Moody's a complete APS Basic Maintenance Report as of the date of such
failure, which will be deemed to have been delivered to such recipient if the
recipient receives a copy or telecopy, telex or other electronic transcription
thereof and on the same day the Trust mails to the recipient for delivery on the
next Business Day the complete APS Basic Maintenance Report. The Trust will
deliver an APS Basic Maintenance Report to the Auction Agent and Moody's, on or
before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day after a
Valuation Date on which the Trust cures its failure to maintain Moody's Eligible
Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount or on which the Trust fails to maintain Moody's Eligible
Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value which exceeds the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount by 5% or more. The Trust will also deliver an APS Basic
Maintenance Report to the Auction Agent and Moody's as of each Quarterly
Valuation Date on or before the third Business Day after such date.
Additionally, on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business
Day after the first day of a Special Dividend Period, the Trust will deliver an
APS Basic Maintenance Report to Moody's and the Auction Agent. The Trust shall
also provide Moody's with an APS Basic Maintenance Report when specifically
requested by Moody's.
(c) Within ten Business Days after the date of delivery of an APS Basic
Maintenance Report in accordance with Section 11.7(b) above relating to a
Quarterly Valuation Date, the Independent Accountant will confirm in writing to
the Auction Agent and Moody's (i) the mathematical accuracy of the calculations
reflected in such Report (and in any other APS Basic Maintenance Report,
randomly selected by the Independent Accountant, that was delivered by the Trust
during the quarter ending on such Quarterly Valuation Date), (ii) that, in such
Report (and in such randomly selected Report), the Trust correctly determined
the assets of the Trust which constitute Moody's Eligible Assets at such
Quarterly Valuation Date in accordance with these Bylaws, (iii) that, in such
Report (and in such randomly selected Report), the Trust determined whether the
Trust had, at such Quarterly Valuation Date (and at the Valuation Date addressed
in such randomly selected Report) in accordance with these Bylaws, Moody's
Eligible Assets of an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount, (iv) with respect to the S&P ratings on Municipal
Obligations, the issuer name, issue size and coupon rate listed in such Report,
that the Independent Accountant has requested that S&P verify such information
and the Independent Accountant shall provide a listing in its letter of any
differences, (v) with respect to the Moody's ratings on Municipal Obligations,
the issuer name, issue size and coupon rate listed in such Report, that such
information has been verified by Moody's (in the event such information is not
verified by Moody's, the Independent Accountant will inquire of Moody's what
such information is, and provide a listing in its letter of any differences) and
(vi) with respect to the bid or mean price (or such alternative permissible
factor
-38-
used in calculating the Market Value) provided by the custodian of the Trust's
assets to the Trust for purposes of valuing securities in the Trust's portfolio,
the Independent Accountant has traced the price used in such Report to the bid
or mean price listed in such Report as provided to the Trust and verified that
such information agrees (in the event such information does not agree, the
Independent Accountant will provide a listing in its letter of such differences)
(such confirmation is herein called the "Accountant's Confirmation").
(d) Within ten Business Days after the date of delivery to the Auction
Agent and Moody's of an APS Basic Maintenance Report in accordance with Section
11.7(b) above relating to any Valuation Date on which the Trust failed to
maintain Moody's Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or
greater than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount, and relating to the APS Basic
Maintenance Cure Date with respect to such failure, the Independent Accountant
will provide to the Auction Agent and Moody's an Accountant's Confirmation as to
such APS Basic Maintenance Report.
(e) If any Accountant's Confirmation delivered pursuant to subparagraph
(c) or (d) of this Section 11.7 shows that an error was made in the APS Basic
Maintenance Report for a particular Valuation Date for which such Accountant's
Confirmation as required to be delivered, or shows that a lower aggregate
Discounted Value for the aggregate of all Moody's Eligible Assets of the Trust
was determined by the Independent Accountant, the calculation or determination
made by such Independent Accountant shall be final and conclusive and shall be
binding on the Trust, and the Trust shall accordingly amend and deliver the APS
Basic Maintenance Report to the Auction Agent and promptly following receipt by
the Trust of such Accountant's Confirmation.
(f) On or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the first Business
Day after the Date of Original Issue of the APS, the Trust will complete and
deliver to Moody's an APS Basic Maintenance Report as of the close of business
on such Date of Original Issue. Also, on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the first Business Day after shares of Common Shares are repurchased by
the Trust, the Trust will complete and deliver to Xxxxx'x an APS Basic
Maintenance Report as of the close of business on such date that Common Shares
are repurchased.
11.8 Certain Other Restrictions. (a) For so long as any APS are rated
by Xxxxx'x, the Trust will not buy or sell financial futures contracts, write,
purchase or sell call options on financial futures contracts or purchase put
options on financial futures contracts or write call options (except covered
call options) on portfolio securities unless it receives written confirmation
from Moody's that engaging in such transactions would not impair the ratings
then assigned to the APS by Moody's, except that the Trust may purchase or sell
exchange-traded financial futures contracts based on the Municipal Index or
Treasury Bonds, and purchase, write or sell exchange-traded put options on such
financial futures contracts, the Municipal Index or Treasury Bonds, and
purchase, write or sell exchange-traded call options on such financial futures
contracts, the Municipal Index or Treasury Bonds (collectively "Moody's Hedging
Transactions"), subject to the following limitations:
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(i) the Trust will not engage in any Moody's Hedging Transaction
based on the Municipal Index (other than transactions that terminate a
futures contract or option held by the Trust by the Trust's taking the
opposite position thereto ("Closing Transactions")) that would cause
the Trust at the time of such transaction to own or have sold:
(A) outstanding financial futures contracts based on the
Municipal Index exceeding in number 10% (or such higher percentage
as Moody's may approve) of the average number of daily traded
financial futures contracts based on the Municipal Index in the 30
days preceding the time of effecting such transaction as reported
by The Wall Street Journal; or
(B) outstanding financial futures contracts based on the
Municipal Index having a Market Value exceeding 50% (or such
higher percentage as Moody's may approve) of the Market Value of
all Municipal Obligations constituting Moody's Eligible Assets
owned by the Trust (other than Moody's Eligible Assets already
subject to a Moody's Hedging Transaction);
(ii) the Trust will not engage in any Moody's Hedging Transaction
based on Treasury Bonds (other than Closing Transactions) that would
cause the Trust at the time of such transaction to own or have sold:
(A) outstanding financial futures contracts based on Treasury
Bonds with such contracts having an aggregate Market Value
exceeding 20% (or such higher percentage as Moody's may approve)
of the aggregate Market Value of Moody's Eligible Assets owned by
the Trust and rated Aa or higher by Moody's (or, if not rated by
Moody's but rated by S&P, rated AAA by S&P); or
(B) outstanding financial futures contracts based on Treasury
Bonds with such contracts having an aggregate Market Value
exceeding 80% of the aggregate Market Value of all Municipal
Obligations constituting Moody's Eligible Assets owned by the
Trust (other than Moody's Eligible Assets already subject to a
Moody's Hedging Transaction) and rated Baa or A by Moody's (or, if
not rated by Moody's but rated by S&P, rated A or AA by S&P)
(for purposes of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Trust shall be
deemed to own the number of financial futures contracts that underlie
any outstanding options written by the Trust);
(iii) the Trust will engage in Closing Transactions to close out
any outstanding financial futures contract based on the Municipal Index
if the amount of open interest in the Municipal Index as reported by
The Wall Street Journal is less than 5,000 (or such lower number as
Moody's may approve);
(iv) the Trust will engage in a Closing Transaction to close out
any outstanding financial futures contract by no later than the fifth
Business Day of the month in which such contract expires and will
engage in a Closing Transaction to close out any
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outstanding option on a financial futures contract by no later than
the first Business Day of the month in which such option expires;
(v) the Trust will engage in Moody's Hedging Transactions only
with respect to financial futures contracts or options thereon having
the next settlement date or the settlement date immediately thereafter;
(vi) the Trust (A) will not engage in options and futures
transactions for leveraging or speculative purposes, except that an
option or futures transaction shall not for these purposes be
considered a leveraged position or speculative so long as the
combination of the Fund's non-derivative positions, together with the
relevant option or futures transaction, produces a synthetic investment
position, or the same economic result, that could be achieved by an
investment, consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
policies, in a security that is not an option or futures transaction,
and (B) will not write any call options or sell any financial futures
contracts for the purpose of hedging the anticipated purchase of an
asset prior to completion of such purchase; and
(vii) while the Trust may use options and futures transactions for
hedging and risk management purposes, it will not enter into an option
or futures transaction unless, after giving effect thereto, the Trust
would continue to have Moody's Eligible Assets with an aggregate
Discounted Value equal to or greater than the APS Basic Maintenance
Amount.
(b) For purposes of determining whether the Trust has Moody's Eligible
Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value that equals or exceeds the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount, the Discounted Value of Moody's Eligible Assets that the
Trust is obligated to deliver or receive pursuant to an outstanding futures
contract or option shall be as follows:
(i) assets subject to call options written by the Trust that are
either exchange-traded and "readily reversible" or that expire within
49 days after the date as of which such valuation is made shall be
valued at the lesser of (A) Discounted Value and (B) the exercise price
of the call option written by the Trust;
(ii) assets subject to call options written by the Trust not
meeting the requirements of clause (i) of this sentence shall have no
value;
(iii) assets subject to put options written by the Trust shall be
valued at the lesser of (A) the exercise price and (B) the Discounted
Value of the assets subject to the option;
(iv) futures contracts shall be valued at the lesser of (A)
settlement price and (B) the Discounted Value of the assets subject to
the futures contract, provided that, if a contract matures within 49
days after the date as of which such valuation is made, where the Trust
is the seller the contract may be valued at the settlement price and
where the Trust is the buyer the contract may be valued at the
Discounted Value of the assets subject to the futures contract; and
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(v) where delivery may be made to the Trust with any security of a
class of securities, the Trust shall assume that it will take delivery
of the security with the lowest Discounted Value.
(c) For purposes of determining whether the Trust has Moody's Eligible
Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value that equals or exceeds the APS Basic
Maintenance Amount, the following amounts shall be subtracted from the aggregate
Discounted Value of the Moody's Eligible Assets held by the Trust to the extent
the relevant asset is a Moody's Eligible Asset:
(i) 10% of the exercise price of a written call option;
(ii) the exercise price of any written put option;
(iii) where the Trust is the seller under a financial futures
contract, 10% of the settlement price of the financial futures
contract;
(iv) where the Trust is the purchaser under a financial futures
contract, any amounts payable by the Trust under such financial futures
contract;
(v) the settlement price of the underlying financial futures
contract if the Trust writes put options on a financial futures
contract; and
(vi) 105% of the Market Value of the underlying financial futures
contract if the Trust writes call options on a financial futures
contract and does not own the underlying contract.
(d) For so long as any APS are rated by Moody's, the Trust will not
enter into any "Forward Commitment," herein defined as any contract to purchase
securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time
(other than such contracts that constitute Moody's Hedging Transactions), except
that the Trust may enter into Forward Commitments subject to the following
limitations:
(i) for each Forward Commitment, the Trust will maintain with its
custodian (A) cash, cash equivalents or short-term, fixed-income
securities rated X-0, XXX-0 xx XXXX-0 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P and
maturing in one year or less with a fair market value that equals or
exceeds the amount by which the Trust's obligations under any Forward
Commitments to which it is from time to time a party exceed obligations
to the Trust arising from securities sales by the Trust that are
scheduled to settle at a future date, or (B) long-term, fixed-income
securities with a then current market value that equals or exceeds the
amount by which the Trust's obligations under any Forward Commitments
to which it is from time to time a party exceed obligations to the
Trust arising from securities sales by the Trust that are scheduled to
settle on a future date, or (C) a combination of assets described in
(A) and (B) above that in the aggregate equals or exceeds the amount by
which the Trust's obligations under any Forward Commitments to which it
is from time to time a party exceed obligations to the Trust arising
from securities sales by the Trust that are scheduled to settle on a
future date; and
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(ii) the Trust will not enter into a Forward Commitment unless,
after giving effect thereto, the Trust would continue to have Moody's
Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater
than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount.
For purposes of determining whether the Trust has Moody's Eligible Assets with
an aggregate Discounted Value that equals or exceeds the APS Basic Maintenance
Amount, the Discounted Value of all Forward Commitments to which the Trust is a
party and of all securities deliverable to the Trust pursuant to such Forward
Commitments shall be zero.
(e) For so long as APS are Outstanding and rated by Moody's, the Trust,
unless it has received written confirmation from Moody's that such action would
not impair the ratings then assigned to the APS by Moody's, will not:
(i) borrow money except for the purpose of clearing transactions
in portfolio securities (which borrowings under any circumstances shall
be limited to an amount equal to 5% of the Market Value of the Trust's
assets at the time of such borrowings and which borrowings shall be
repaid within 60 days and not be extended or renewed and shall not
cause the aggregate Discounted Value of Moody's Eligible Assets to be
less than the APS Basic Maintenance Amount);
(ii) engage in short sales of securities;
(iii) lend any securities;
(iv) issue any class or series of shares of beneficial interest
ranking prior to or on a parity with the APS with respect to the
payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Trust;
(v) merge or consolidate into or with any other corporation or
entity; and
(vi) change the Trust's Pricing Service.
11.9 Notice. All notices or communications, unless otherwise specified
in these Bylaws, shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in
person or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Notice shall be deemed
given on the earlier of the date received or the date seven days after which
such notice is mailed.
11.10 Auction Procedures. (a) Certain Definitions. As used in this
Section 11.10, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the
context otherwise requires:
(i) "APS" means the shares of APS being auctioned pursuant to
this Section 11.10.
(ii) "Auction Date" means the first Business Day preceding the
first day of a Dividend Period.
(iii) "Available APS" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
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(iii) "Bid" has the meaning specified in Section 11.10(b)(i)
below.
(iv) "Bidder" has the meaning specified in Section 11.10(b)(i)
below.
(v) "Hold Order" has the meaning specified in Section 11.10(b)(i)
below.
(vi) "Maximum Applicable Rate" for any Dividend Period will be the
Applicable Percentage of the Reference Rate. The Auction Agent will
round each applicable Maximum Applicable Rate to the nearest
one-thousandth (0.001) of one percent per annum, with any such number
ending in five ten-thousandths of one percent being rounded upwards to
the nearest one-thousandth (0.001) of one percent. The Auction Agent
will not round the applicable Reference Rate as part of its calculation
of the Maximum Applicable Rate. The "Applicable Percentage" shall be
the percentage determined based on (i) the credit rating assigned on
such date to such shares by Moody's (or, if Moody's shall not make such
rating available, the equivalent of such rating by a Substitute Rating
Agency) and (ii) whether the Trust has provided notification to the
Auction Agent prior to the Auction establishing the Applicable Rate for
any dividend that net capital gains or other taxable income will be
included in such dividend on shares of APS as follows:
Percentage of Percentage of
Reference Rate - Reference Rate -
Moody's Credit Ratings on APS No Notification Notification
----------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
Aa3 or higher 110% 150%
A 125% 160%
Baa 150% 250%
Below Baa 200% 275%
The Trust shall take all reasonable action necessary to enable Moody's
to provide a rating for each series of APS. If Moody's shall not make such a
rating available, UBS Warburg LLC or its affiliates and successors, after
consultation with the Trust, shall select another Rating Agency to act as a
Substitute Rating Agency.
(viii) "Order" has the meaning specified in Section 11.10(b)(i)
below.
(ix) "Sell Order" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(b)(i) below.
(x) "Submission Deadline" means 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on
any Auction Date or such other time on any Auction Date as may be
specified by the Auction Agent from time to time as the time by which
each Broker-Dealer must submit to the Auction Agent in writing all
Orders obtained by it for the Auction to be conducted on such Auction
Date.
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(xi) "Submitted Bid" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
(xii) "Submitted Hold Order" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
(xiii) "Submitted Order" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
(xiv) "Submitted Sell Order" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
(xv) "Sufficient Clearing Bids" has the meaning specified in
Section 11.10(d)(i) below.
(xvi) "Winning Bid Rate" has the meaning specified in Section
11.10(d)(i) below.
(b) Orders by Beneficial Owners, Potential Beneficial Owners, Existing
Holders and Potential Holders.
(i) Unless otherwise permitted by the Trust, Beneficial Owners and
Potential Beneficial Owners may only participate in Auctions through
their Broker-Dealers. Broker-Dealers will submit the Orders of their
respective customers who are Beneficial Owners and Potential Beneficial
Owners to the Auction Agent, designating themselves as Existing Holders
in respect of shares subject to Orders submitted or deemed submitted to
them by Beneficial Owners and as Potential Holders in respect of shares
subject to Orders submitted to them by Potential Beneficial Owners. A
Broker-Dealer may also hold shares of APS in its own account as a
Beneficial Owner. A Broker-Dealer may thus submit Orders to the Auction
Agent as a Beneficial Owner or a Potential Beneficial Owner and
therefore participate in an Auction as an Existing Holder or Potential
Holder on behalf of both itself and its customers. On or prior to the
Submission Deadline on each Auction Date:
(A) each Beneficial Owner may submit to its Broker-Dealer
information as to:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS held
by such Beneficial Owner which such Beneficial Owner desires
to continue to hold without regard to the Applicable Rate for
the next succeeding Dividend Period for such shares;
(2) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS held
by such Beneficial Owner which such Beneficial Owner desires
to continue to hold, provided that the Applicable Rate for the
next succeeding Dividend Period for such shares shall not be
less than the rate per annum specified by such Beneficial
Owner; and/or
(3) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS held
by such Beneficial Owner which such Beneficial Owner offers to
sell without regard to the Applicable Rate for the next
succeeding Dividend Period; and
(B) each Broker-Dealer, using a list of Potential Beneficial
Owners that shall be maintained in good faith for the purpose of
conducting a competitive Auction, shall
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contact Potential Beneficial Owners, including Persons that are
not Beneficial Owners, on such list to determine the number of
Outstanding shares, if any, of APS which each such Potential
Beneficial Owner offers to purchase, provided that the Applicable
Rate for the next succeeding Dividend Period shall not be less
than the rate per annum specified by such Potential Beneficial
Owner.
For the purposes hereof, the communication by a Beneficial
Owner or Potential Beneficial Owner to a Broker-Dealer, or the
communication by a Broker-Dealer acting for its own account to the
Auction Agent, of information referred to in clause (A) or (B) of
this Section 11.10(b)(i) is hereinafter referred to as an "Order"
and each Beneficial Owner and each Potential Beneficial Owner
placing an Order, including a Broker-Dealer acting in such
capacity for its own account, is hereinafter referred to as a
"Bidder"; an Order containing the information referred to in
clause (A)(1) of this Section 11.10(b)(i) is hereinafter referred
to as a "Hold Order"; an Order containing the information referred
to in clause (A)(2) or (B) of this Section 11.10(b)(i) is
hereinafter referred to as a "Bid"; and an Order containing the
information referred to in clause (A)(3) of this Section
11.10(b)(i) is hereinafter referred to as a "Sell Order". Inasmuch
as a Broker-Dealer participates in an Auction as an Existing
Holder or a Potential Holder only to represent the interests of a
Beneficial Owner or Potential Beneficial Owner, whether it be its
customers or itself, all discussion herein relating to the
consequences of an Auction for Existing Holders and Potential
Holders also applies to the underlying beneficial ownership
interests represented.
(ii) (A) A Bid by an Existing Holder shall constitute an
irrevocable offer to sell:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS specified in
such Bid if the Applicable Rate determined on such Auction
Date shall be less than the rate per annum specified in such
Bid; or
(2) such number or a lesser number of Outstanding shares
of APS to be determined as set forth in Section 11.10(e)(i)(D)
if the Applicable Rate determined on such Auction Date shall
be equal to the rate per annum specified therein; or
(3) a lesser number of Outstanding shares of APS to be
determined as set forth in Section 11.10(e)(ii)(C) if such
specified rate per annum shall be higher than the Maximum
Applicable Rate and Sufficient Clearing Bids do not exist.
(B) A Sell Order by an Existing Holder shall constitute an
irrevocable offer to sell:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS specified in
such Sell Order; or
(2) such number or a lesser number of Outstanding shares
of APS to be determined as set forth in Section
11.10(e)(ii)(C) if Sufficient Clearing Bids do not exist.
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(C) A Bid by a Potential Holder shall constitute an
irrevocable offer to purchase:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS specified in
such Bid if the Applicable Rate determined on such Auction
Date shall be higher than the rate per annum specified in such
Bid; or
(2) such number or a lesser number of Outstanding shares
of APS to be determined as set forth in Section 11.10(e)(i)(E)
if the Applicable Rate determined on such Auction Date shall
be equal to the rate per annum specified therein.
(c) Submission of Orders by Broker-Dealers to Auction Agent.
(i) Each Broker-Dealer shall submit in writing or through the
Auction Agent's auction processing system to the Auction Agent prior to
the Submission Deadline on each Auction Date all Orders obtained by
such Broker-Dealer, designating itself (unless otherwise permitted by
the Trust) as an Existing Holder in respect of shares subject to Orders
submitted or deemed submitted to it by Beneficial Owners and as a
Potential Holder in respect of shares subject to Orders submitted to it
by Potential Beneficial Owners, and specifying with respect to each
Order:
(A) the name of the Bidder placing such Order (which shall be
the Broker-Dealer unless otherwise permitted by the Trust);
(B) the aggregate number of Outstanding shares of APS that
are the subject of such Order;
(C) to the extent that such Bidder is an Existing Holder:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS
subject to any Hold Order placed by such Existing Holder;
(2) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS
subject to any Bid placed by such Existing Holder and the rate
per annum specified in such Bid; and
(3) the number of Outstanding shares, if any, of APS
subject to any Sell Order placed by such Existing Holder;
and
(D) to the extent such Bidder is a Potential Holder, the rate
per annum specified in such Potential Holder's Bid.
(ii) If any rate per annum specified in any Bid contains more than
three figures to the right of the decimal point, the Auction Agent
shall round such rate up to the next highest one-thousandth (.001) of
1%.
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(iii) If an Order or Orders covering all of the Outstanding shares
of APS held by an Existing Holder are not submitted to the Auction
Agent prior to the Submission Deadline, the Auction Agent shall deem a
Hold Order (in the case of an Auction relating to a Special Dividend
Period of 91 days or less) or a Sell Order (in the case of an Auction
relating to a Special Dividend Period of longer than 91 days) to have
been submitted on behalf of such Existing Holder covering the number of
Outstanding shares of APS held by such Existing Holder and not subject
to Orders submitted to the Auction Agent.
(iv) If one or more Orders on behalf of an Existing Holder
covering in the aggregate more than the number of Outstanding shares of
APS held by such Existing Holder are submitted to the Auction Agent,
such Order shall be considered valid as follows and in the following
order of priority:
(A) any Hold Order submitted on behalf of such Existing Holder
shall be considered valid up to and including the number of
Outstanding shares of APS held by such Existing Holder; provided
that if more than one Hold Order is submitted on behalf of such
Existing Holder and the number of shares of APS subject to such
Hold Orders exceeds the number of Outstanding shares of APS held
by such Existing Holder, the number of shares of APS subject to
each of such Hold Orders shall be reduced pro rata so that such
Hold Orders, in the aggregate, will cover exactly the number of
Outstanding shares of APS held by such Existing Holder;
(B) any Bids submitted on behalf of such Existing Holder shall
be considered valid, in the ascending order of their respective
rates per annum if more than one Bid is submitted on behalf of
such Existing Holder, up to and including the excess of the number
of Outstanding shares of APS held by such Existing Holder over the
number of shares of APS subject to any Hold Order referred to in
Section 11.10(c)(iv)(A) above (and if more than one Bid submitted
on behalf of such Existing Holder specifies the same rate per
annum and together they cover more than the remaining number of
shares that can be the subject of valid Bids after application of
Section 11.10(c)(iv)(A) above and of the foregoing portion of this
Section 11.10(c)(iv)(B) to any Bid or Bids specifying a lower rate
or rates per annum, the number of shares subject to each of such
Bids shall be reduced pro rata so that such Bids, in the
aggregate, cover exactly such remaining number of shares); and the
number of shares, if any, subject to Bids not valid under this
Section 11.10(c)(iv)(B) shall be treated as the subject of a Bid
by a Potential Holder; and
(C) any Sell Order shall be considered valid up to and
including the excess of the number of Outstanding shares of APS
held by such Existing Holder over the number of shares of APS
subject to Hold Orders referred to in Section 11.10(c)(iv)(A) and
Bids referred to in Section 11.10(c)(iv)(B); provided that if more
than one Sell Order is submitted on behalf of any Existing Holder
and the number of shares of APS subject to such Sell Orders is
greater than such excess, the number of shares of APS subject to
each of such Sell Orders shall be reduced pro rata so that such
Sell Orders, in the aggregate, cover exactly the number of shares
of APS equal to such excess.
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(v) If more than one Bid is submitted on behalf of any Potential
Holder, each Bid submitted shall be a separate Bid with the rate per
annum and number of shares of APS therein specified.
(vi) Any Order submitted by a Beneficial Owner as a Potential
Beneficial Owner to its Broker-Dealer, or by a Broker-Dealer to the
Auction Agent, prior to the Submission Deadline on any Auction Date
shall be irrevocable.
(vii) The Trust shall not be responsible for a Broker-Dealer's
failure to act in accordance with the instructions of Beneficial Owners
or Potential Beneficial Owners or failure to comply with the provisions
of this Section 11.10.
(d) Determination of Sufficient Clearing Bids, Winning Bid Rate and
Applicable Rate.
(i) Not earlier than the Submission Deadline on each Auction Date,
the Auction Agent shall assemble all Orders submitted or deemed
submitted to it by the Broker-Dealers (each such Order as submitted or
deemed submitted by a Broker-Dealer being hereinafter referred to
individually as a "Submitted Hold Order", a "Submitted Bid" or a
"Submitted Sell Order", as the case may be, or as a "Submitted Order")
and shall determine:
(A) the excess of the total number of Outstanding shares of
APS over the number of Outstanding shares of APS that are the
subject of Submitted Hold Orders (such excess being hereinafter
referred to as the "Available APS");
(B) from the Submitted Orders whether the number of
Outstanding shares of APS that are the subject of Submitted Bids
by Potential Holders specifying one or more rates per annum equal
to or lower than the Maximum Applicable Rate exceeds or is equal
to the sum of:
(1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS that are the
subject of Submitted Bids by Existing Holders specifying one
or more rates per annum higher than the Maximum Applicable
Rate, and
(2) the number of Outstanding shares of APS that are
subject to Submitted Sell Orders (if such excess or such
equality exists (other than because the number of Outstanding
shares of APS in clause (1) above and this clause (2) are each
zero because all of the Outstanding shares of APS are the
subject of Submitted Hold Orders), such Submitted Bids by
Potential Holders being hereinafter referred to collectively
as "Sufficient Clearing Bids"); and
(C) if Sufficient Clearing Bids exist, the lowest rate per
annum specified in the Submitted Bids (the "Winning Bid Rate")
that if:
(1) each Submitted Bid from Existing Holders specifying
the Winning Bid Rate and all other Submitted Bids from
Existing Holders specifying lower rates
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per annum were rejected, thus entitling such Existing
Holders to continue to hold the shares of APS that are the
subject of such Submitted Bids, and
(2) each Submitted Bid from Potential Holders specifying
the Winning Bid Rate and all other Submitted Bids from
Potential Holders specifying lower rates per annum were
accepted, thus entitling the Potential Holders to purchase
the shares of APS that are the subject of such Submitted
Bids, would result in the number of shares subject to all
Submitted Bids specifying the Winning Bid Rate or a lower
rate per annum being at least equal to the Available APS.
(ii) Promptly after the Auction Agent has made the determinations
pursuant to Section 11.10(d)(i), the Auction Agent shall advise the
Trust of the Maximum Applicable Rate and, based on such determinations,
the Applicable Rate for the next succeeding Dividend Period as follows:
(A) if Sufficient Clearing Bids exist, that the Applicable
Rate for the next succeeding Dividend Period shall be equal to the
Winning Bid Rate;
(B) if Sufficient Clearing Bids do not exist (other than
because all of the Outstanding shares of APS are the subject of
Submitted Hold Orders), that the Applicable Rate for the next
succeeding Dividend Period shall be equal to the Maximum
Applicable Rate; or
(C) if all of the Outstanding shares of APS are the subject
of Submitted Hold Orders, that the Dividend Period next succeeding
the Auction shall automatically be the same length as the
immediately preceding Dividend Period and the Applicable Rate for
the next succeeding Dividend Period shall be equal to 40% of the
Reference Rate (or 60% of such rate if the Trust has provided
notification to the Auction Agent prior to the Auction
establishing the Applicable Rate for any dividend pursuant to
Section 11.2(f) hereof that net capital gains or other taxable
income will be included in such dividend on shares of APS) on the
date of the Auction.
(e) Acceptance and Rejection of Submitted Bids and Submitted Sell
Orders and Allocation of Shares. Based on the determinations made pursuant to
Section 11.10(d)(i), the Submitted Bids and Submitted Sell Orders shall be
accepted or rejected and the Auction Agent shall take such other action as set
forth below:
(i) If Sufficient Clearing Bids have been made, subject to the
provisions of Section 11.10(e)(iii) and Section 11.10(e)(iv), Submitted
Bids and Submitted Sell Orders shall be accepted or rejected in the
following order of priority and all other Submitted Bids shall be
rejected:
(A) the Submitted Sell Orders of Existing Holders shall be
accepted and the Submitted Bid of each of the Existing Holders
specifying any rate per annum that is higher than the Winning Bid
Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Existing
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Holder to sell the Outstanding shares of APS that are the subject
of such Submitted Sell Order or Submitted Bid;
(B) the Submitted Bid of each of the Existing Holders
specifying any rate per annum that is lower than the Winning Bid
Rate shall be rejected, thus entitling each such Existing Holder
to continue to hold the Outstanding shares of APS that are the
subject of such Submitted Bid;
(C) the Submitted Bid of each of the Potential Holders
specifying any rate per annum that is lower than the Winning Bid
Rate shall be accepted;
(D) the Submitted Bid of each of the Existing Holders
specifying a rate per annum that is equal to the Winning Bid Rate
shall be rejected, thus entitling each such Existing Holder to
continue to hold the Outstanding shares of APS that are the
subject of such Submitted Bid, unless the number of Outstanding
shares of APS subject to all such Submitted Bids shall be greater
than the number of Outstanding shares of APS ("Remaining Shares")
equal to the excess of the Available APS over the number of
Outstanding shares of APS subject to Submitted Bids described in
Section 11.10(e)(i)(B) and Section 11.10(e)(i)(C), in which event
the Submitted Bids of each such Existing Holder shall be accepted,
and each such Existing Holder shall be required to sell
Outstanding shares of APS, but only in an amount equal to the
difference between (1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS
then held by such Existing Holder subject to such Submitted Bid
and (2) the number of shares of APS obtained by multiplying (x)
the number of Remaining Shares by (y) a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the number of Outstanding shares of APS held by
such Existing Holder subject to such Submitted Bid and the
denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of Outstanding
shares of APS subject to such Submitted Bids made by all such
Existing Holders that specified a rate per annum equal to the
Winning Bid Rate; and
(E) the Submitted Bid of each of the Potential Holders
specifying a rate per annum that is equal to the Winning Bid Rate
shall be accepted but only in an amount equal to the number of
Outstanding shares of APS obtained by multiplying (x) the
difference between the Available APS and the number of Outstanding
shares of APS subject to Submitted Bids described in Section
11.10(e)(i)(B), Section 11.10(e)(i)(C) and Section 11.10(e)(i)(D)
by (y) a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of
Outstanding shares of APS subject to such Submitted Bid and the
denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of Outstanding
shares of APS subject to such Submitted Bids made by all such
Potential Holders that specified rates per annum equal to the
Winning Bid Rate.
(ii) If Sufficient Clearing Bids have not been made (other than
because all of the Outstanding shares of APS are subject to Submitted
Hold Orders), subject to the provisions of Section 11.10(e)(iii),
Submitted Orders shall be accepted or rejected as follows in the
following order of priority and all other Submitted Bids shall be
rejected:
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(A) the Submitted Bid of each Existing Holder specifying any
rate per annum that is equal to or lower than the Maximum
Applicable Rate shall be rejected, thus entitling such Existing
Holder to continue to hold the Outstanding shares of APS that are
the subject of such Submitted Bid;
(B) the Submitted Bid of each Potential Holder specifying any
rate per annum that is equal to or lower than the Maximum
Applicable Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring such Potential
Holder to purchase the Outstanding shares of APS that are the
subject of such Submitted Bid; and
(C) the Submitted Bids of each Existing Holder specifying any
rate per annum that is higher than the Maximum Applicable Rate
shall be accepted and the Submitted Sell Orders of each Existing
Holder shall be accepted, in both cases only in an amount equal to
the difference between (1) the number of Outstanding shares of APS
then held by such Existing Holder subject to such Submitted Bid or
Submitted Sell Order and (2) the number of shares of APS obtained
by multiplying (x) the difference between the Available APS and
the aggregate number of Outstanding shares of APS subject to
Submitted Bids described in Section 11.10(e)(ii)(A) and Section
11.10(e)(ii)(B) by (y) a fraction the numerator of which shall be
the number of Outstanding shares of APS held by such Existing
Holder subject to such Submitted Bid or Submitted Sell Order and
the denominator of which shall be the number of Outstanding shares
of APS subject to all such Submitted Bids and Submitted Sell
Orders.
(iii) If, as a result of the procedures described in Section
11.10(e), any Existing Holder would be entitled or required to sell, or
any Potential Holder would be entitled or required to purchase, a
fraction of a share of APS on any Auction Date, the Auction Agent
shall, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall determine,
round up or down the number of shares of APS to be purchased or sold by
any Existing Holder or Potential Holder on such Auction Date so that
each Outstanding share of APS purchased or sold by each Existing Holder
or Potential Holder on such Auction Date shall be a whole share of APS.
(iv) If, as a result of the procedures described in Section
11.10(e), any Potential Holder would be entitled or required to
purchase less than a whole share of APS on any Auction Date, the
Auction Agent shall, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall
determine, allocate shares of APS for purchase among Potential Holders
so that only whole shares of APS are purchased on such Auction Date by
any Potential Holder, even if such allocation results in one or more of
such Potential Holders not purchasing any shares of APS on such Auction
Date.
(v) Based on the results of each Auction, the Auction Agent shall
determine, with respect to each Broker-Dealer that submitted Bids or
Sell Orders on behalf of Existing Holders or Potential Holders, the
aggregate number of Outstanding shares of APS to be purchased and the
aggregate number of the Outstanding shares of APS to be sold by such
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Potential Holders and Existing Holders and, to the extent that such
aggregate number of Outstanding shares to be purchased and such
aggregate number of Outstanding shares to be sold differ, the Auction
Agent shall determine to which other Broker-Dealer or Broker-Dealers
acting for one or more purchasers such Broker-Dealer shall deliver, or
from which other Broker-Dealer or Broker-Dealers acting for one or
more sellers such Broker-Dealer shall receive, as the case may be,
Outstanding shares of APS.
(f) Miscellaneous.
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(i) The Trust may interpret the provisions of this Section 11.10
to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity, remedy any formal defect or
make any other change or modification that does not substantially
adversely affect the rights of Beneficial Owners of APS.
(ii) A Beneficial Owner or an Existing Holder (A) may sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of APS only pursuant to a Bid
or Sell Order in accordance with the procedures described in this
Section 11.10 or to or through a Broker-Dealer or to such other persons
as may be permitted by the Fund, provided that in the case of all
transfers other than pursuant to Auctions such Beneficial Owner or
Existing Holder, its Broker-Dealer, if applicable, or its Agent Member
advises the Auction Agent of such transfer and (B) except as otherwise
required by law, shall have the ownership of the shares of APS held by
it maintained in book entry form by the Securities Depository in the
account of its Agent Member, which in turn will maintain records of
such Beneficial Owner's beneficial ownership. The Trust may not submit
an Order in any Auction.
(iii) All of the Outstanding shares of APS of a series shall be
registered in the name of the nominee of the Securities Depository
unless otherwise required by law or unless there is no Securities
Depository. If there is no Securities Depository, at the Trust's option
and upon its receipt of such documents as it deems appropriate, any
shares of APS may be registered in the Stock Register in the name of
the Beneficial Owner thereof and such Beneficial Owner thereupon will
be entitled to receive certificates therefor and required to deliver
certificates therefor upon transfer or exchange thereof.
11.11 Securities Depository; Stock Certificates. (a) If there is a
Securities Depository, all of the shares of APS of each series shall be issued
to the Securities Depository and registered in the name of the Securities
Depository or its nominee. Certificates may be issued as necessary to represent
shares of APS. All such certificates shall bear a legend to the effect that such
certificates are issued subject to the provisions restricting the transfer of
shares of APS contained in these Bylaws. Unless the Trust shall have elected,
during a Non-Payment Period, to waive this requirement, the Trust will also
issue stop-transfer instructions to the Auction Agent for the shares of APS.
Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the Securities Depository or its
nominee will be the Holder, and no Beneficial Owner shall receive certificates
representing its ownership interest in such shares.
(b) If the Applicable Rate applicable to all shares of APS of a series
shall be the Non-Payment Period Rate or there is no Securities Depository, the
Trust may at its option issue one or
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more new certificates with respect to such shares (without the legend referred
to in Section 11.11(a)) registered in the names of the Beneficial Owners or
their nominees and rescind the stop-transfer instructions referred to in Section
11.11(a) with respect to such shares.
ARTICLE 12
Amendment to the Bylaws
12.1 General. Except to the extent that the Declaration of Trust or
applicable law requires a vote or consent of Shareholders or a higher vote or
consent by the Trustees and/or the Continuing Trustees, these Bylaws may be
amended, changed, altered or repealed, in whole or part, only by resolution
of a majority of the Trustees and a majority of the Continuing Trustees then
in office at any meeting of the Trustees, or by one or more writings signed
by such Trustees and Continuing Trustees.
12.2 Article 11. Without limiting the provisions of Section 12.1, the
Board of Trustees of the Trust may, by resolution duly adopted, without
shareholder approval (except as otherwise required by Article 11 or required
by applicable law), amend Article 11 to (a) reflect any amendments hereto
which the Board of Trustees of the Trust is entitled to adopt pursuant to the
terms of Article 11 without shareholder approval or (b) add additional series
of APS or additional shares of a series of APS (and terms relating thereto)
to the series and shares of APS described herein. Each such additional series
and all such additional APS shall be governed by the terms of Article 11.
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