pre14a
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12 |
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals
Invesco New York Quality Municipal Securities
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary proxy materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date
of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals
Invesco New York Quality Municipal Securities
1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 341-2929
NOTICE OF JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on July 17, 2012
Notice is hereby given to holders of preferred shares of beneficial interest designated as
Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares (VMTP Shares) of Invesco New York Quality Municipal
Securities (the Target Fund or IQN) and Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York
Municipals (the Acquiring Fund or VTN) that the Funds will hold a joint annual meeting of
shareholders (the Meeting) on July 17, 2012, at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia
30309. The Meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Target Fund and at 2:00 p.m.
Eastern time for the Acquiring Fund. The Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund collectively are
referred to as the Funds and each is referred to individually as a Fund. At the Meeting,
holders of VMTP Shares (VMTP Shareholders) will be asked to vote on the following proposals:
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For each Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for
the reorganization of such Fund as a Delaware statutory trust. |
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Approval of the merger of the Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, which shall require
the following shareholder actions: |
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For the Target Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the
Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund. |
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(b) |
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For the Acquiring Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for
the Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund. |
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For the Target Fund, the election of six Trustees to its Board of Trustees by the
holders of VMTP Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class. |
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For the Acquiring Fund, the election of Trustees to its Board of Trustees, as follows: |
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The election of one Trustee to its Board of Trustees by the holders of VMTP Shares and
Common Shares voting together as a single class. |
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The election of one Trustee to its Board of Trustees solely by the holders of VMTP
Shares. |
Each Fund may also transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
VMTP Shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 25, 2012, are entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of the
Funds common shares of beneficial interest, whose voting instructions are being separately
solicited, will also vote on certain matters at the Meeting.
The Board of Trustees of each Fund requests that you vote your shares by either (i)
completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage paid return envelope,
or (ii) voting by telephone or via the internet using the instructions on the proxy card. Please
vote your shares promptly regardless of the number of shares you own.
The Target Funds governing documents provide that shareholders do not have dissenters
appraisal rights, and the Target Fund does not believe that its shareholders are entitled to
appraisal rights in connection with its merger.
Each Funds Board unanimously recommends that you cast your vote FOR the above proposals and
FOR ALL the Trustee nominees as described in the Joint Proxy Statement.
For the Target Fund:
Mr. Philip Taylor
President and Principal Executive Officer
June [ ], 2012
For the Acquiring Fund:
by order of the Board of Trustees:
John M. Zerr
Senior Vice President, Secretary and
Chief Legal Officer
June [ ], 2012
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE JOINT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012:
The proxy statement and annual report to shareholders are available at www.invesco.com/us.
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals
Invesco New York Quality Municipal Securities
1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 341-2929
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
June [ ], 2012
Introduction
This Joint Proxy Statement (the Proxy Statement) contains information that holders of
preferred shares of beneficial interest designated as Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares
(VMTP Shares) of Invesco New York Quality Municipal Securities (the Target Fund or IQN) and
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals (the Acquiring Fund or VTN)
should know before voting on the proposals that are described herein. The Target Fund and the
Acquiring Fund collectively are referred to as the Funds and each is referred to individually as
a Fund.
A joint annual meeting of the shareholders of the Funds (the Meeting) will be held on July
17, 2012 at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. The Meeting will begin at 1:00
p.m. Eastern time for the Target Fund and at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time for the Acquiring Fund. The
following describes the proposals to be voted on by holders of VMTP Shares (VMTP Shareholders) at
the Meeting:
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For each Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for
the reorganization of such Fund as a Delaware statutory trust. |
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Approval of the merger of the Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, which shall require
the following shareholder actions: |
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For the Target Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the
Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund. |
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For the Acquiring Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for
the Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund. |
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For the Target Fund, the election of six Trustees to its Board of Trustees by the
holders of VMTP Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class. |
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For the Acquiring Fund, the election of Trustees to its Board of Trustees, as follows: |
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The election of one Trustee to its Board of Trustees by the holders of VMTP Shares and
Common Shares voting together as a single class. |
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The election of one Trustee to its Board of Trustees solely by the holders of VMTP
Shares. |
Each Fund may also transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
The redomestications contemplated by Proposal 1 are referred to herein each individually as a
Redomestication and together as the Redomestications. The merger contemplated by Proposal 2 is
referred to herein as the Merger.
The Boards of Trustees of the Funds (the Boards) have fixed the close of business on May 25,
2012, as the record date (Record Date) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice
of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders will be
entitled to one vote for each share held (and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional
share). Holders of the common shares of beneficial interest (Common Shares) of the Funds, whose
voting instructions are being separately solicited, will also vote on certain matters at the
Meeting.
This Proxy Statement, the enclosed Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and the
enclosed proxy card will be mailed on or about June [30], 2012, to all VMTP Shareholders eligible
to vote at the Meeting. Each Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Common Shares of each Fund
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Common Shares of the Acquiring Fund are also
listed on the Chicago Stock Exchange (together with the New York Stock Exchange, the Exchanges).
The Meeting is scheduled as a joint meeting of the shareholders of the Funds and certain
affiliated funds, whose votes on proposals applicable to such funds are being solicited separately,
because the shareholders of the funds are expected to consider and vote on similar matters.
A joint Proxy Statement is being used in order to reduce the preparation, printing, handling
and postage expenses that would result from the use of separate proxy materials for each Fund. You
should retain this Proxy Statement for future reference, as it sets forth concisely information
about the Funds that you should know before voting on the proposals. Additional information about
each Fund is available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders of such Fund. Each
Funds most recent annual report to shareholders, which contains audited financial statements for
the Funds most recently completed fiscal year, and each Funds most recent semi-annual report to
shareholders, have been previously mailed to shareholders and are available on the Funds website
at www.invesco.com/us. These documents are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC). Copies of all of these documents are also available upon request without
charge by writing to the Funds at 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77046, or by
calling (800) 341-2929.
You also may view or obtain these documents from the SECs Public Reference Room, which is
located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, or from the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC
at (202) 551-8090. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment at the prescribed
rates of the duplicating fee, by electronic request to the SECs e-mail address
(publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing to the Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer Affairs and
Information Services, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You
may also inspect reports, proxy material and other information concerning each of the Funds at the
Exchanges.
The VMTP Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act) or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or
sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, VMTP Shares
to be issued in the Merger are not offered for sale hereby, and may not be transferred or resold
except in compliance with the Securities Act. No person has been authorized to give any
information or make any representations not contained herein and, if so given or made, such
information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROPOSAL 1: APPROVAL OF REDOMESTICATION |
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On what am I being asked to vote? |
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Has my Funds Board of Trustees
approved the Redomestication? |
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Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with
the Redomestications be the same as my
current VMTP Shares? |
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What are the reasons for the proposed
Redomestications? |
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What effect will a Redomestication have on
me as a shareholder? |
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How do the laws governing each Fund pre-
and post-Redomestication compare? |
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How do the governing documents of each
Fund pre- and post-Redomestication compare? |
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Will there be any tax consequences resulting
from a Redomestication? |
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What is the Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund? |
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When are the Redomestications expected to occur? |
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What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve Proposal 1? |
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PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF THE MERGER |
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On what am I being asked to vote? |
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Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Merger? |
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What are the reasons for the proposed Merger? |
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What effect will the Merger have on me as a VMTP shareholder? |
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How do the Funds investment objectives and principal investment strategies compare? |
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How do the Funds principal risks compare? |
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How do the Funds expenses compare? |
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How do the management, investment adviser and other service providers of the Funds compare? |
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Does the Acquiring Fund have the same portfolio managers as the Target Fund? |
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How do the distribution policies of the Funds compare? |
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Will there be any tax consequences resulting from the Merger? |
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When is the Merger expected to occur? |
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What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve the Merger? |
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Where can I find more information about the Funds and the Merger? |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THE MERGER |
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Principal Investment Strategies |
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Principal Risks of an Investment in the Funds |
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Portfolio Managers |
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Trading of VMTP Shares |
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Capital Structures of the Funds |
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Description of Securities to be Issued |
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Pending Litigation |
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Portfolio Turnover |
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Terms and Conditions of the Merger |
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Additional Information About the Funds |
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Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds |
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State Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds |
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Board Considerations in Approving the Merger |
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Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Merger |
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Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund |
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Where to Find More Information |
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PROPOSAL 3: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY THE TARGET FUND |
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PROPOSAL 4: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY THE ACQUIRING FUND |
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VOTING INFORMATION |
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How to Vote Your Shares |
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Why are you sending me the Proxy Statement? |
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About the Proxy Statement and the Meeting |
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Quorum Requirement and Adjournment |
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Votes Necessary to Approve the Proposals |
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Proxy Solicitation |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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Share Ownership by Large Shareholders, Management and Trustees |
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Annual Meetings of the Funds |
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Shareholder Proposals |
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Shareholder Communications |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
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Other Meeting Matters |
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WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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Exhibits
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Exhibit A Form of Agreement and Plan of Redomestication |
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A-1 |
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Exhibit B Comparison of Governing Documents |
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B-1 |
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Exhibit C Comparison of State Laws |
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Exhibit D Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger |
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D-1 |
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Exhibit E Executive Officers of the Funds |
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E-1 |
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Exhibit F Information Regarding the Target Fund Trustees |
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F-1 |
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Exhibit G Target Fund Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight and
Committees and Meetings |
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G-1 |
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Exhibit H Remuneration of Target Fund Trustees |
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H-1 |
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Exhibit I Information on the Funds Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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I-1 |
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Exhibit J Information Regarding the Acquiring Fund Trustees |
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J-1 |
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Exhibit K Acquiring Fund Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight and Committees and Meetings |
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K-1 |
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Exhibit L Remuneration of Acquiring Fund Trustees |
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L-1 |
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Exhibit M Outstanding Shares of the Funds |
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M-1 |
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Exhibit N Ownership of the Funds |
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N-1 |
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Exhibit O Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund |
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O-1 |
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No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to
make any representations other than those contained in this Proxy Statement or related solicitation
materials on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and you should not rely on such
other information or representations.
ii
PROPOSAL 1: APPROVAL OF REDOMESTICATION
On what am I being asked to vote?
Each Funds shareholders are being asked to approve an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication
(a Plan of Redomestication) providing for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory
trust (referred to herein as a DE Fund). Each Fund is currently a Massachusetts business trust.
Each Funds Plan of Redomestication provides for the Fund to transfer all of its assets and
liabilities to a newly formed Delaware statutory trust whose capital structure will be
substantially the same as the Funds current structure, after which Fund shareholders will own
shares of the Delaware statutory trust and the Massachusetts business trust will be liquidated and
terminated. The Redomestication is only a change to your Funds legal form of organization and
there will be no change to the Funds investments, management, fee levels, or federal income tax
status as a result of the Redomestication.
Each Funds Redomestication may proceed even if other Redomestications are not approved by
shareholders or are for any other reason not completed. A form of the Plan of Redomestication is
available in Exhibit A.
By voting for this Proposal 1, you will be voting to become a shareholder of a fund organized
as a Delaware statutory trust with portfolio characteristics, investment objective(s), strategies,
risks, trustees, advisory agreements, subadvisory arrangements and other arrangements that are
substantially the same as those currently in place for your Fund.
Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Redomestication?
Yes. Each Funds Board has reviewed and unanimously approved the Plan of Redomestication and
this Proposal 1. The Board of each Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR
Proposal 1.
Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with the Redomestications be the same as my current VMTP
Shares?
Yes. In connection with each Redomestication, the applicable DE Fund will issue VMTP Shares
with terms that are substantially identical to the terms of the Funds currently outstanding VMTP
Shares. Important information regarding the VMTP Shares to be issued in connection with the
Redomestication is set forth below.
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It is a condition of closing of each Redomestication that the Fund will have
satisfied all of its obligations set forth in certain documents related to the VMTP
Shares immediately prior to the Redomestication and that the DE Fund will satisfy all
of the obligations of the corresponding documents related to the VMTP Shares to be
issued by the DE Fund immediately after the Redomestication. |
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The terms of the Declaration of Trust of a DE Fund are identical to those terms
agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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The terms of the bylaws of a DE Fund are identical to those terms agreed upon
by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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The terms of the VMTP Shares issued by a DE Fund, as set forth in the Statement
of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund, are identical to those terms agreed upon
by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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In the Redomestication, VMTP Shareholders of a Fund will receive VMTP Shares of
the DE Fund and no VMTP Shares of the DE Fund will be issued to persons who are not
holders of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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It is a condition of closing of each Redomestication that upon closing of such
Redomestication the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating
agency that is rating, at the request of the DE Fund, such VMTP Shares. |
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The Redomestications are scheduled to occur on or prior to December 31, 2012. |
A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund is attached hereto
as Exhibit O. The Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund for each Target Fund will
be identical in
1
all material respects. The description of VMTP Shares of the DE Funds included herein is
subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed description of the VMTP
Shares set forth in such form of Statement of Preferences.
What are the reasons for the proposed Redomestications?
The Redomestications will serve to standardize the governing documents and certain agreements
of the Funds with each other and with other funds managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. (the
Adviser). This standardization is expected to streamline the administration of the Funds, which
may result in cost savings and more effective administration by eliminating differences in
governing documents or controlling law. In addition, the legal requirements governing business
trusts under Massachusetts law are less certain and less developed than those under Delaware law,
which sometimes necessitates the Funds bearing the cost to engage counsel to advise on the
interpretation of such law.
The Redomestications are also a necessary step for the completion of the Merger described in
Proposal 2 because, as Delaware statutory trusts, the Funds may merge with no delay in transactions
that are expected to qualify as tax-free reorganizations. However, the Redomestications may
proceed even if the Merger described in Proposal 2 is not approved.
What effect will a Redomestication have on me as a shareholder?
A Redomestication will have no direct economic effect on Fund shareholders investments, other
than the cost savings described herein. Each redomesticated Fund will have investment advisory
agreements, subadvisory arrangements, administration agreements, custodian agreements, transfer
agency agreements, and other service provider arrangements that are identical in all material
respects to those in place immediately before the Redomestication, with certain non-substantive
revisions to standardize such agreements across the Funds. For example, after the
Redomestications, the investment advisory agreements of the Funds will contain standardized
language describing how investment advisory fees are calculated, but there will be no change to the
actual calculation methodology. Each Fund will continue to be served by the same individuals as
trustees and officers, and each Fund will continue to retain the same independent registered public
accounting firm. The portfolio characteristics, investment objective(s), strategies and risks of
each Fund will not change as a result of the Redomestications. Each Funds new governing documents
will be similar to its current governing documents, but will contain certain material differences.
These changes are intended to benefit shareholders by streamlining and promoting the efficient
administration and operation of the Funds. However, as a result of these changes, shareholders
will have fewer rights to vote on certain matters affecting the Fund and, therefore, less control
over the operations of the Fund. These changes to shareholder voting rights, and the benefits that
management believes will result from these changes, are described below.
Each Fund will distribute to VMTP Shareholders all accrued but unpaid dividends on the VMTP
Shares through the closing date for its Redomestication. Dividends will begin accruing on the
VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund as of the closing date for the Redomestication at the same rate
that was in effect immediately prior to the Redomestication. Agreements of each Fund related to
the VMTP Shares, including the purchase agreement, the redemption and paying agent agreement and
the registration rights agreement, will be assigned to the corresponding DE Fund.
In addition, each Funds capital structure will be substantially the same as its current
capital structure. The Common Shares of each Fund will continue to have equal rights to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, and each Fund may not declare
distributions on Common Shares unless all accrued dividends on the Funds preferred have been paid,
and unless asset coverage with respect to the Funds preferred shares would be at least 200% after
giving effect to the distributions. In addition, under the terms of each Funds VMTP Shares, the
Fund will continue to be required to maintain minimum asset coverage of 225%.
Shareholder approval of a Redomestication will be deemed to constitute approval of the
advisory and subadvisory agreements, as well as a vote for the election of the trustees, of the
Delaware statutory trust. Accordingly, each Plan of Redomestication provides that the sole initial
shareholder of each Delaware statutory trust will vote to approve the advisory and subadvisory
agreements (which, as noted above, will be identical in all material respects to the Funds current
agreements) and to elect the trustees of the Delaware statutory trust (which, as noted above, will
be the same as the Funds current Trustees) after shareholder approval of the Redomestication but
prior to the closing of the Redomestication.
2
How do the laws governing each Fund pre- and post-Redomestication compare?
After the Redomestications, each Fund will be a Delaware statutory trust governed by the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act (DE Statute). The DE Statute is similar in many respects to the
laws governing the Funds current structure, a Massachusetts business trust, but they differ in
certain respects. Both the Massachusetts business trust law (MA Statute) and the DE Statute
permit a trusts governing instrument to contain provisions relating to shareholder rights and
removal of trustees, and provide trusts with the ability to amend or restate the trusts governing
instruments. However, the MA Statute is silent on many of the salient features of a Massachusetts
business trust whereas the DE Statute provides guidance and offers a significant amount of
operational flexibility to Delaware statutory trusts. The DE Statute provides explicitly that the
shareholders and trustees of a Delaware statutory trust are not liable for obligations of the trust
to the same extent as under corporate law. While the governing documents of each Fund contain an
express disclaimer of liability of shareholders, certain Massachusetts judicial decisions have
determined that shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust may, in certain circumstances, be
assessed or held personally liable as partners for the obligations of a Massachusetts business
trust. Therefore, the Funds believe that shareholders will benefit from the express statutory
protections of the DE Statute. The DE Statute authorizes the trustees to take various actions
without requiring shareholder approval if permitted by a Funds governing instruments. For
example, trustees of a Delaware statutory trust may have the power to amend the trusts governing
instrument, merge or consolidate a Fund with another entity, and to change the Delaware statutory
trusts domicile, in each case without a shareholder vote. The Funds believe that the guidance and
flexibility afforded by the DE Statute and the explicit limitation on liability contained in the DE
Statute will benefit the Funds and shareholders. A more detailed comparison of certain provisions
of the DE Statute and the MA Statute is included in Exhibit C.
How do the governing documents of each Fund pre- and post-Redomestication compare?
The governing documents of each Fund before and after its Redomestication will be similar, but
will contain certain material differences. In general, these changes to a Funds new governing
documents are intended to benefit shareholders by streamlining the administration and operation of
each Fund to save shareholders money and by making it more difficult for short-term speculative
investors to engage in practices that benefit such short-term investors at the expense of the Fund
and to the detriment of its long-term investors. For example, the new governing documents permit
termination of a Fund without shareholder approval, provided that at least 75% of the Trustees have
approved such termination, thereby avoiding the expense of a shareholder meeting in connection with
a termination of a Fund, which expense would reduce the amount of assets available for distribution
to shareholders. The current governing documents require shareholder approval to terminate a Fund
regardless of whether the Trustees have approved such termination. Also, the Target Funds new
bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the Trustees, without the vote or approval of
shareholders. The Target Funds current bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the
Trustees, provided that bylaws adopted by the shareholders may only be altered, amended, or
repealed by the shareholders. None of the Funds currently have any bylaws that were adopted by
shareholders. As a result of these changes, shareholders will generally have fewer rights to vote
on certain matters affecting the Fund and, therefore, less control over the operations of the Fund.
The new governing documents include new procedures intended to provide the Board the
opportunity to better evaluate proposals submitted by shareholders and provide additional
information to shareholders for their consideration in connection with such proposals. For
example, the new governing documents require shareholders to provide additional information with
respect to shareholder proposals, including nominations, brought before a meeting of shareholders.
These additional procedures include, among others, deadlines for providing advance notice of
shareholder proposals, certain required information that must be included with such advance notice
and a requirement that the proposing shareholder appears before the annual or special meeting of
shareholders to present about the nomination or proposed business. Trustees of the Funds will be
elected by a majority vote (i.e., nominees must receive the vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares present and entitled to vote at a shareholder meeting at which a quorum is present), while
under the current governing documents, Trustees of the Acquiring Fund are generally elected by a
plurality vote (i.e., the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes are elected). The new
governing documents will not provide shareholders the ability to remove Trustees or to call special
meetings of shareholders, which powers are provided under the current governing documents.
The new governing documents contain provisions the Trustees believe will benefit shareholders
by deterring frivolous lawsuits and actions by short-term, speculative investors that are contrary
to the long-term best
3
interests of the Fund and long-term shareholders and limiting the extent to which Fund assets will
be expended defending against such lawsuits. These provisions include a different shareholder
voting standard with respect to a Funds merger, consolidation, or conversion to an open-end
company that, in certain circumstances, may be a lower voting standard than under the current
governing documents. The new governing documents also impose certain obligations on shareholders
seeking to initiate a derivative action on behalf of a Fund that are not imposed under the current
governing documents, which may make it more difficult for shareholders to initiate derivative
actions and are intended to save the Fund money by requiring reimbursement of the Fund for
frivolous lawsuits brought by shareholders. To further protect a Fund and its shareholders from
frivolous lawsuits, the new governing documents also provide that shareholders will indemnify the
Fund for all costs, expenses, penalties, fines or other amounts arising from any action against the
Fund to the extent that the shareholder is not the prevailing party and that the Fund is permitted
to redeem shares of and/or set off against any distributions due to the shareholder for such
amounts.
A comparison of the current and proposed governing documents of the Funds is available in
Exhibit B and a form of the Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund is
available in Exhibit O.
Will there be any tax consequences resulting from a Redomestication?
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of
the Redomestications and is based upon the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code), the existing U.S. Treasury Regulations thereunder, current administrative
rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and published judicial decisions, all of which are
subject to change. These considerations are general in nature and individual shareholders should
consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local, and foreign tax considerations
applicable to them and their individual circumstances. These same considerations generally do not
apply to shareholders who hold their shares in a tax-deferred account.
Each Redomestication is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of
the Code. Each Fund is currently a Massachusetts business trust. Each Redomestication will be
completed pursuant to a Plan of Redomestication that provides for the applicable Fund to transfer
all of its assets and liabilities to a newly formed Delaware statutory trust (DE-Fund), after
which Fund shareholders will own shares of the Delaware statutory trust and the Massachusetts
business trust will be liquidated. Even though the Redomestication of a Fund is part of an overall
plan to effect the Merger of the Target Fund with the Acquiring Fund, the Redomestications will be
treated as separate transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The principal federal
income tax considerations that are expected to result from the Redomestication of an applicable
Fund are as follows:
|
|
|
no gain or loss will be recognized by the Fund or the shareholders of the Fund
as a result of the Redomestication; |
|
|
|
|
no gain or loss will be recognized by the DE-Fund as a result of the
Redomestication; |
|
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|
|
the aggregate tax basis of the shares of the DE-Fund to be received by a
shareholder of the Fund will be the same as the shareholders aggregate tax basis
of the shares of the Fund; and |
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|
|
the holding period of the shares of the DE-Fund received by a shareholder of the
Fund will include the period that a shareholder held the shares of the Fund
(provided that such shares of the Fund are capital assets in the hands of such
shareholder as of the Closing (as defined herein)). |
Neither the Funds nor the DE-Funds have requested or will request an advance ruling from the
IRS as to the federal tax consequences of the Redomestications. As a condition to Closing,
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP will render a favorable opinion to each Fund and DE-Fund as to
the foregoing federal income tax consequences of each Redomestication, which opinion will be
conditioned upon, among other things, the accuracy, as of the Closing Date (as defined herein), of
certain representations of each Fund and DE-Fund upon which Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
will rely in rendering its opinion. A copy of the opinion will be filed with the SEC and will be
available for public inspection. See Where to Find Additional Information. Opinions of counsel
are not binding upon the IRS or the courts. If a Redomestication is consummated but the IRS or the
courts determine that the Redomestication does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization under the
Code, and thus is taxable, each Fund would recognize gain or loss on the transfer of its assets to
its corresponding DE-Fund and each shareholder of the Fund would recognize a taxable gain or loss
equal to the difference between its tax basis in its
4
Fund shares and the fair market value of the shares of the DE-Fund it receives. The failure
of one Redomestication to qualify as a tax-free reorganization would not adversely affect any other
Redomestication.
What is the Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund?
Each Fund expects that the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with its
Redomestication will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Each Fund has received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that VMTP Shares issued
by it prior to its Redomestication will be treated as equity of such Fund for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Special VMTP Federal Income Tax Counsel)
is of the opinion that, and as a condition to the closing of the redomestications will deliver to
the Funds an opinion that, the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with a
Redomestication will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An
opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, no assurance can be given that
the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to Special VMTP
Federal Income Tax Counsels opinion.
The discussion herein assumes that the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with
the Redomestications will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
When are the Redomestications expected to occur?
If shareholders of a Fund approve Proposal 1, it is anticipated that such Funds
Redomestication will occur in the third quarter of 2012.
What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve Proposal 1?
If Proposal 1 is not approved by a Funds shareholders or if a Redomestication is for other
reasons not able to be completed, that Fund would not be redomesticated. In addition, the Fund
would not participate in the Merger, even if that Funds shareholders approve the Merger under
Proposal 2. If Acquiring Fund Shareholders do not approve Proposal 1 or if the Acquiring Funds
Redomestication is for any other reason not completed, the Merger will not be completed. If
Proposal 1 is not approved by shareholders, the applicable Funds Board will consider other
possible courses of action for that Fund.
THE BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF
PROPOSAL 1.
PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF THE MERGER
On what am I being asked to vote?
Shareholders of the Target Fund are being asked to consider and approve the Merger of the
Target Fund with and into the Acquiring Fund, as summarized below. Shareholders of the Acquiring
Fund are also being asked to consider and approve the Merger, which involves the issuance of new
Common Shares and VMTP Shares by the Acquiring Fund. If the Merger is approved, VMTP Shares of the
Target Fund will be exchanged on a one-for-one basis for newly issued Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares
with substantially identical terms, including equal aggregate liquidation preferences; and Common
Shares of the Target Fund will be exchanged for newly issued Acquiring Fund Common Shares of equal
aggregate net asset value. VMTP Shareholders are not expected to bear any costs of the Mergers.
The Merger will be completed pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger Agreement)
that provides for the Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund pursuant to the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act. A form of the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit D. The
Merger can proceed only if both the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund have also approved their
respective Redomestications.
SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGER
The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement
and in the Merger Agreement. Shareholders should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully for
more complete information.
5
Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Merger?
Yes. Each Funds Board has reviewed and unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and this
Proposal 2. Each Funds Board determined that the Merger is in the best interest of each Fund and
will not dilute the interests of the existing shareholders of any Fund. Each Funds Board
recommends that shareholders vote FOR Proposal 2.
Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with the Merger be the same as my current VMTP Shares?
Yes. In connection with the Merger, the Acquiring Fund will issue VMTP Shares in exchange for
Target Fund VMTP Shares. The terms of the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares will be substantially
identical to the terms of the Target Funds VMTP Shares outstanding immediately prior to the
closing of the Merger. Important information regarding the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares to be
issued in connection with the Merger is set forth below.
(1) It is a condition of closing of the Merger that the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund
will have satisfied all of its obligations set forth in certain documents related to its respective
VMTP Shares immediately prior to the Merger and that the Acquiring Fund will satisfy all of the
obligations of such documents related to the VMTP Shares immediately after giving effect to the
Merger.
(2) The terms of the Declaration of Trust of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to the
Merger) are identical to those terms agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the
Fund.
(3) The terms of the bylaws of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to the Merger) are
identical to those terms agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund.
(4) The terms of the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund, as set forth in the Statement
of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund, are identical to those terms agreed upon by the
initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund.
(5) In the Merger, VMTP Shares of the Target Fund will be exchanged for VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund and after giving effect to the Merger, all VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be
held by the current holders of the VMTP Shares of the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund.
(6) It is a condition of closing of the Merger that upon the closing of such Merger the VMTP
Shares of the Acquiring Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating agency that is rating, at the
request of the Acquiring Fund, such VMTP Shares.
(7) The Merger is scheduled to occur on or prior to December 31, 2012.
A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to
its Redomestications) is attached hereto as Exhibit O. The description of VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund included herein is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more
detailed description of the VMTP Shares set forth in such form of Statement of Preferences.
What are the reasons for the proposed Merger?
The Merger proposed in this Proxy Statement is part of a larger group of transactions across
the Advisers fund platform that began in early 2011. The Merger is being proposed to reduce the
number of closed-end funds with similar investment processes and investment philosophies managed by
the Adviser. The Merger seeks to combine Funds with investment objectives, strategies and related
risks that are similar and that are managed by the same portfolio management team.
VMTP Shareholders are expected to benefit from the larger size of the combined fund due to a
larger funds ability to invest in a larger pool of securities.
In considering the Merger and the Merger Agreement, the Board of each Fund considered that the
Common Shareholders of each Fund may benefit from the Merger by becoming shareholders of a larger
fund that may have a
6
more diversified investment portfolio, greater market liquidity, more analyst coverage, smaller
spreads and trading discounts, improved purchasing power and lower transaction costs.
The Board of the Acquiring Fund also considered that, in addition to the benefits mentioned
above, the combined fund is anticipated to have a management fee and total expense ratio
approximately the same as the Acquiring Fund and a pro forma distribution yield approximately 0.25%
higher (when calculated either on a net asset value or market value basis) than the Acquiring Fund.
The Board of the Target Fund also considered that, in addition to the benefits mentioned
above:
the combined fund on a pro forma basis had a more than 1.90% higher Common Share distribution
yield (as a percentage of net asset value) than the Target Fund, even after giving effect to the
higher management fees and total expense ratio that will apply to the combined fund before and
after the expiration of fee waivers, as well as the higher leverage ratio anticipated to be used by
the combined fund;
as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares had traded at an average premium of 1.51%
to its net asset value over the preceding 52 week period and, over the same period, the Target
Funds Common Shares had traded at an average discount of -7.21%;
as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares traded at an average discount of -2.4% to
its net asset value for the preceding month and, over the same period, the Target Funds Common
Shares had traded at an average discount of -8.4%;
the average daily trading volume for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares was more than three times
the average daily trading volume of the Target Funds Common Shares; and
as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Fund owned 152 different municipal bonds and the Target Fund
owned 119, which means that the combined fund would provide shareholders with a more diverse
investment portfolio.
In addition, each Board considered the Advisers agreement to limit the Acquiring Funds total
expenses if the Merger is completed through at least two years from the closing date of the Merger
and the allocation of expenses of the Merger, including the Adviser paying all of the Merger costs.
Common Shareholders may benefit from the Merger by becoming shareholders of a larger Fund that
may have a more diversified portfolio, greater market liquidity, more analyst coverage, and smaller
spreads and trading discounts, although there is no guarantee that this will occur.
The Board of each Fund considered these and other factors in concluding that the Merger would
be in the best interest of the Funds and would not dilute the interests of the existing
shareholders of any Fund. The Boards considerations are described in more detail below in the
section entitled Additional Information About the Funds and the Merger Board Considerations in
Approving the Merger.
What effect will the Merger have on me as a VMTP shareholder?
If you own Target Fund VMTP Shares, you will, after the Merger, own VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to, and other terms that are
substantially identical to, the Target Fund VMTP Shares you held immediately before the Merger. As
discussed under Proposal 1, before the closing of the Merger, the Funds will be reorganized as
Delaware statutory trusts, each of which will have substantially identical Statements of
Preferences of VMTP Shares. A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the Acquiring
Fund (after giving effect to its Redomestication) is attached hereto as Exhibit O. The Statement
of Preferences of VMTP Shares of each Fund (after giving effect to each Funds Redomestication)
will be identical in all material respects.
If you are a VMTP Shareholder of the Acquiring Fund, your VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
will not be changed by the Merger.
The principal differences between the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund are described in the
following sections.
7
How do the Funds investment objectives and principal investment strategies compare?
The Funds have similar investment objectives, as described in the table below. For each Fund,
the investment objective may be changed only with shareholder approval.
|
|
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Target Fund (IQN) |
|
Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
To provide current income which is
exempt from federal, New York State
and New York City income taxes.
|
|
To provide common shareholders with
a high level of current income
exempt from federal as well as from
New York State and New York City
income taxes, consistent with
preservation of capital. |
The principal investment strategies of the Acquiring Fund are similar to the principal
investment strategies of the Target Fund. The differences in the Funds principal investment
strategies include how the Funds define investment grade municipal securities and the types of
non-investment grade securities, including temporary investments, in which the Funds can invest.
The section below entitled Additional Information About the Funds and the Merger Principal
Investment Strategies provides more information on the principal investment strategies of the
Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund and highlights certain key differences.
How do the Funds principal risks compare?
The principal risks that may affect each Funds investment portfolio are similar. The
material difference in the principal risks of the Funds is that the Acquiring Fund is subject to
swaps risk.
Investment in the Funds involves risks, including the risk that shareholders may receive
little or no return on their investment, and the risk that shareholders may lose part or all of the
money they invest. There can be no guarantee against losses resulting from an investment in a
Fund, nor can there be any assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective(s). Whether
a Fund achieves its investment objective(s) depends on market conditions generally and on the
Advisers analytical and portfolio management skills. As with any managed fund, the Adviser may
not be successful in selecting the best-performing securities or investment techniques, and a
Funds performance may lag behind that of similar funds. The risks associated with an investment
in each Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility. An investment in a Fund
is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency. Before investing in a Fund, potential shareholders
should carefully evaluate the risks.
The risks associated with an investment in VMTP Shares are identical for the Target Fund and
the Acquiring Fund.
Additional information on the principal risks of each Fund is included in such Funds
shareholder reports.
How do the Funds expenses compare?
The table below provides a summary comparison of the expenses of the Funds. The table also
shows estimated expenses on a pro forma basis giving effect to the proposed Merger with the Target
Fund. The pro forma expense ratios show projected estimated expenses, but actual expenses may be
greater or less than those shown. Note that pro forma total expenses of the Acquiring Fund are
expected to be higher than the current total expenses of the Target Fund. The Board of the
Target Fund concluded that the higher management and total expenses of the combined fund were
justified in light of the anticipated benefits of the Merger noted above, including that the
combined fund on a pro forma basis had a more than 1.90% higher distribution yield (as a percentage
of net asset value) than the Target Fund, even after giving effect to the higher management fees
and total expense ratio that will apply to the Acquiring Fund before and after the expiration of
fee waivers, as well as the higher leverage ratio anticipated to be used by the Acquiring Fund.
VMTP Shareholders are not expected to bear any of the costs of the Mergers.
8
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Current(a) |
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Pro Forma(b) |
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Invesco Van Kampen |
|
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Target Fund (IQN) |
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Invesco New York |
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Trust for Investment |
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+ |
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Quality Municipal |
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Grade New York |
|
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Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
|
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Securities |
|
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Municipals |
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|
(assumes the Merger is |
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(IQN) |
|
|
(VTN) |
|
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completed) |
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Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly
from your investment) |
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of
offering price) (c) |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan (d) |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a
percentage of the value of your
investment) |
|
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Management Fees |
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0.38 |
% |
|
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0.91 |
% |
|
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0.91 |
% |
Interest and Related Expenses (e) |
|
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0.59 |
% |
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0.74 |
% |
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0.74 |
% |
Other Expenses |
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0.31 |
% |
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0.15 |
% |
|
|
0.15 |
% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
|
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1.28 |
% |
|
|
1.80 |
% |
|
|
1.80 |
% |
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
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0.00 |
% |
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|
0.00 |
% |
|
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0.37 |
%(f) |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
after Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement |
|
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1.28 |
% |
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1.80 |
% |
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1.43 |
% |
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(a) |
|
Expense ratios reflect estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. VMTP Shares do not
bear any transaction or operating expenses of the Funds. |
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(b) |
|
Pro forma numbers are estimated as if the Merger had been completed as of March 1, 2011 and
do not include estimated Merger costs. The Funds are not bearing any Merger costs. |
|
(c) |
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Common Shares of each Fund purchased on the secondary market are not subject to sales
charges, but may be subject to brokerage commissions or other charges. |
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(d) |
|
Each participant in a Funds dividend reinvestment plan pays a proportionate share of the
brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases in connection with such
plan. For each Funds last fiscal year, participants in the plan incurred brokerage
commissions representing $0.03 per Common Share. |
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(e) |
|
Interest and Related Expenses includes interest and other costs of providing leverage to the
Funds, such as the costs to maintain lines of credit, issue and administer preferred shares,
and establish and administer floating rate note obligations. |
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(f) |
|
Effective upon the closing of the Merger, the Adviser has contractually agreed, for at least
two years from the closing date of the Merger, to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse
expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Acquiring Funds Total Annual Fund Operating
Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (which excludes certain items discussed
below) to 0.69% of average daily net assets. In determining the Advisers obligation to waive
advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses, the following expenses are not taken into account,
and could cause Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense
Reimbursement to exceed the limit reflected above: (i) interest; (ii) taxes; (iii) dividend
expense on short sales; (iv) extraordinary or non-routine items, including litigation
expenses; and (v) expenses that the Fund has incurred but did not actually pay because of an
expense offset arrangement. Unless the Board and the Adviser mutually agree to amend or
continue the fee waiver agreement, it will terminate two years from the closing date of the
Merger. |
How do the management, investment adviser and other service providers of the Funds
compare?
Each Fund is overseen by a Board that includes many of the same individuals (described in
Proposals 3 and 4) and each Funds affairs are managed by the same officers with minor exceptions,
as described in Exhibit E. The Adviser, a registered investment adviser, serves as investment
adviser for each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement that contains substantially
identical terms (except for fees) for each Fund. The Adviser oversees the management of each
Funds portfolio, manages each Funds business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping
and other administrative services. The Adviser has acted as an investment adviser since its
organization in 1976. As of March 31, 2012, the Adviser had $309.2 billion in assets under
management. The Adviser is located at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
The Adviser is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. (Invesco). Invesco is a
leading independent global investment management company, dedicated to helping people worldwide
build their financial security. Invesco provides a comprehensive array of enduring solutions for
retail, institutional and high-net-worth clients around the world. Invesco had $672.8 billion in
assets under management as of March 31, 2012. Invesco is organized under the laws of Bermuda, and
its common shares are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ.
Invesco is located at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
All of the ordinary business expenses incurred in the operations of a Fund are borne by the
Fund unless specifically provided otherwise in the advisory agreement. Expenses borne by the Funds
include but are not limited to brokerage commissions, taxes, legal, accounting, auditing, or
governmental fees, the cost of preparing share certificates, custodian, transfer and shareholder
service agent costs, expenses of registering and qualifying shares for sale, expenses relating to
Trustee and shareholder meetings, the cost of preparing and distributing reports and
9
notices to
shareholders, and the fees and other expenses incurred by the Funds in connection with membership
in investment company organizations.
A discussion of the basis for each Boards 2011 approval of each Funds investment advisory
agreements is included in the Funds semiannual report for the six months ended August 31, 2011. A
discussion of the basis for each Boards most recent approval of each Funds investment advisory
agreements will be included in the Funds semiannual report for the six months ending August 31,
2012, if any.
The contractual advisory fee rate of the Acquiring Fund is higher than the contractual
advisory fee rate of the Target Fund. The following table compares the advisory fee rates of the
Funds.
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Target Fund (IQN) |
|
Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
Contractual Fee Rate
|
|
0.27% of managed assets
|
|
0.55% of managed assets
|
Net Effective Fee Rate*
|
|
|
0.38 |
% |
|
|
0.91 |
% |
|
|
|
* |
|
Varies based on the amount of financial leverage used by the Fund. |
Each of the Funds calculates its advisory fee as a percentage of its managed assets, which
for this purpose means the Funds net assets, plus assets attributable to outstanding preferred
shares and the amount of any borrowings incurred for the purpose of leverage (whether or not such
borrowed amounts are reflected in the Funds financial statements for purposes of generally
accepted accounting principles). As a result, the actual amount paid by each Fund, as a percentage
of NAV, will typically exceed the contractual rate. For more information, see the table above
under How do the Funds expenses compare?
Contingent on the completion of the Merger, the Adviser has contractually agreed for two years
from the closing date of the Merger to waive advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent
necessary to limit total annual operating expenses of the Acquiring Fund to 0.69%, subject to
certain exclusions.
Each Funds advisory agreement provides that the Adviser may delegate any and all of its
rights, duties, and obligations to one or more wholly-owned affiliates of Invesco as sub-advisers
(the Invesco Sub-Advisers). Pursuant to each Funds Master Intergroup Sub-Advisory Contract, the
Invesco Sub-Advisers may be appointed by the Adviser from time to time to provide discretionary
investment management services, investment advice, and/or order execution services. Each Invesco
Sub-Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser.
Other key service providers to the Target Fund, including the administrator, transfer agent,
custodian, and auditor, provide substantially the same services to the Acquiring Fund. Each Fund
has entered into a master administrative services agreement with the Adviser, pursuant to which the
Adviser performs or arranges for the provision of accounting and other administrative services to
the Funds that are not required to be performed by the Adviser under its investment advisory
agreements with the Funds. The custodian for the Funds is State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225
Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2801. The transfer agent and dividend paying agent
for the Funds is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island
02940-3078.
Does the Acquiring Fund have the same portfolio managers as the Target Fund?
Yes. The portfolio management team for the Target Fund is the same as the portfolio
management team for the Acquiring Fund. Information on the portfolio managers of the Funds is
included below under Additional Information About the Funds and the Merger Portfolio Managers.
How do the distribution policies of the Funds compare?
Each Fund declares and pays monthly dividends from net investment income to Common
Shareholders. Each Fund declares daily and pays monthly dividends from net investment income to
VMTP Shareholders. Distributions from net realized capital gain, if any, are generally paid
annually and are distributed on a pro rata basis to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders.
Each Fund may also declare and pay capital gains distributions more frequently, if necessary, in
order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. Each Fund offers a
dividend reinvestment plan for Common Shareholders, which is more fully described in the Funds
shareholder reports.
10
Will there be any tax consequences resulting from the Merger?
The Merger is designed to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes
and each Fund anticipates receiving a legal opinion to that effect (although there can be no
assurance that the IRS will adopt a similar position). This means that the shareholders of the
Target Fund will recognize no gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon the exchange of all
of their shares in the Target Fund for shares in the Acquiring Fund. Shareholders should consult
their tax advisor about state and local tax consequences of the Merger, if any, because the
information about tax consequences in this Proxy Statement relates only to the federal income tax
consequences of the Merger.
Prior to the closing of the Merger, the Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
In addition, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will deliver an opinion to the Funds,
subject to certain representations, assumptions and conditions, to the effect that the Acquiring
Fund VMTP Shares received in the Merger by holders of VMTP Shares of the Target Fund will qualify
as equity of the Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes.
When is the Merger expected to occur?
If shareholders of the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund approve the Merger and the
Redomestication (Proposal 1), it is anticipated that the Merger will occur in the third quarter of
2012.
What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve the Merger?
If the Merger is not approved by shareholders or is for other reasons unable to be completed,
each Fund will continue to operate and each Funds Board will consider other possible courses of
action for the Fund.
Where can I find more information about the Funds and the Merger?
The remainder of this Proxy Statement contains additional information about the Funds and the
Merger, as well as information on the other proposals to be voted on at the Meeting. You are
encouraged to read the entire document. Additional information about each Fund can be found in the
statement of additional information (SAI) to the registration statement for the Acquiring Funds
Common Shares on Form N-14, dated June 8, 2012 (which is not part of this Proxy Statement and is
not incorporated by reference herein), and in each Funds shareholder reports. If you need any
assistance, or have any questions regarding the Merger or how to vote, please call Invesco Client
Services at (800) 341-2929.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THE MERGER
Principal Investment Strategies
The following section compares the principal investment strategies of the Target Fund with the
principal investment strategies of the Acquiring Fund and highlights any key differences. In
addition to the principal investment strategies described below, each Fund may use other investment
strategies and is also subject to certain additional investment policies and limitations, which are
described in the SAI and in each Funds shareholder reports. The cover page of this Proxy
Statement describes how you can obtain copies of these documents.
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Investment Strategies. The principal investment strategies of the Acquiring Fund and the
Target Fund are similar with respect to investing in municipal securities. Under normal market
conditions, at least 80% of the Acquiring Funds total assets will be invested in municipal
securities. Similarly, the Target Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in Municipal
Obligations, except during temporary defensive periods. For the Target Fund, Municipal Obligations
consist of Municipal Bonds, Municipal Notes and Municipal Commercial Paper, including such
obligations purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. The remaining portion of the
Target Funds total assets may be invested in temporary investments and in options and futures.
Each Funds 80% policy described in the foregoing is fundamental and may not be changed without
approval of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act.
The Funds also have similar principal investment strategies with respect to investing in New
York municipal securities. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser seeks to achieve the
Acquiring Funds investment objective by investing at least 80% of the Acquiring Funds total
assets in New York municipal securities rated investment grade at the time of investment.
Normally, the Target Fund expects that substantially greater than 80% of its total assets will be
invested in Municipal Obligations, the interest on which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the
issuer, is exempt from federal, New York State and New York City income taxes (New York Municipal
Obligations). Unless otherwise indicated, references herein to Municipal Obligations with respect
to the Target Fund shall be deemed to include New York Municipal Obligations. The definition of
Municipal Obligations used in connection with the strategies of the Target Fund is included
below.
The Funds strategies with respect to investing in investment grade municipal securities are
also similar. For purposes of the Acquiring Funds 80% investment policy stated in the preceding
paragraph, investment grade securities are: (i) securities rated BBB- or higher by Standard &
Poors Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P) or Baa3 or
higher by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) or an equivalent rating by another nationally
recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), (ii) comparably rated short-term securities,
or (iii) unrated municipal securities determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the
time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Acquiring Fund may invest up to 20% of its
total assets in municipal securities rated below investment grade or that are unrated but
determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase. Lower-grade
securities are commonly referred to as junk bonds and involve greater risks than investments in
higher-grade securities. The Acquiring Fund does not purchase securities that are in default or
that are rated in categories lower than B- by S&P or B3 by Moodys or unrated securities of
comparable quality.
Similarly, except during temporary defensive periods, the Target Fund will invest at least 80%
of its total assets in: (a) Municipal Bonds which are rated at the time of purchase within the
four highest grades by Moodys (Aaa, Aa, A, Baa) or S&P (AAA, AA, A, BBB) or, if not rated, are
determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality; (b) Municipal Notes which at the time of
purchase are rated in the two highest grades by Moodys (MIG 1, MIG 2) or S&P (SP-1, SP-2) or, if
not rated, whose issuers have outstanding one or more issues of Municipal Bonds rated as set forth
in clause (a) of this paragraph; and (c) Municipal Commercial Paper which at the time of purchase
is rated P-1 or higher by Moodys or A-1 or higher by S&P. For purposes of the Target Funds
foregoing percentage limitation, any Municipal Bond or Municipal Note which depends directly or
indirectly on the credit of the federal government shall be considered to have a Moodys rating of
Aaa or an S&P rating of AAA.
Certain of the municipal securities in which each Fund may invest without limit may subject
certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax and, therefore, a substantial portion of
the income produced by each Fund may be taxable for such investors under the federal alternative
minimum tax. Accordingly, each Fund may not be a suitable investment for investors who are already
subject to the federal alternative minimum tax or could become subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax as a result of an investment in the Funds.
The Funds have no limitation as to the maturity of municipal securities in which they may
invest. However, the Target Fund intends to emphasize investments in Municipal Obligations with
long-term maturities because such long-term obligations generally produce a higher yield than
short-term obligations, although such longer-term obligations are more susceptible to market
fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates than shorter-term obligations. The average
weighted maturity of the Target Funds portfolio, as well as the emphasis on longer-term
obligations, may vary depending upon market conditions.
Both Funds may invest in temporary investments for defensive purposes. In taking a defensive
position, the Funds would temporarily not be pursuing their principal investment strategies and may
not achieve their investment objective(s).
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With respect to the Acquiring Fund, when market conditions dictate a more defensive investment
strategy, the Fund may, on a temporary basis, hold cash or invest a portion or all of its assets in
high-quality, short-term municipal securities. If such municipal securities are not available or,
in the judgment of the Adviser, do not afford sufficient protection against adverse market
conditions, the Acquiring Fund may invest in taxable instruments. Such taxable securities may
include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
other investment grade quality fixed income securities; prime commercial paper; certificates of
deposit; bankers acceptances and other obligations of domestic banks; repurchase agreements; and
money market funds (including money market funds affiliated with the Adviser).
Similarly, the Target Fund may invest more than 20% of its total assets in temporary
investments for defensive purposes (e.g., investments made during times where temporary imbalances
of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the Municipal Obligations market adversely
affect the price at which Municipal Bonds, Notes and Commercial Paper are available) and in order
to keep cash on hand fully invested. Temporary investments are short-term, high quality securities
which may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The Target Fund will invest only in temporary
investments which are certificates of deposit of U.S. domestic banks, including foreign branches of
domestic banks, with assets of $1 billion or more; bankers acceptances; time deposits; U.S.
Government securities; or debt securities rated within the two highest grades by Moodys or S&P or,
if not rated, are of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser, and which mature within one
year from the date of purchase. Temporary investments of the Target Fund may also include
repurchase agreements. Except during temporary defensive periods, the Target Fund may not invest
more than 20% of its total assets in temporary investments, the income from which may be subject
to federal income taxes.
The foregoing percentage and rating limitations apply at the time of acquisition of a security
based on the last previous determination of each Funds net asset value. Except as provided in the
next sentence with respect to the Target Fund, any subsequent change in any rating by an NRSRO or
change in percentages resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in a Funds total assets
will not require elimination of any security from the Funds portfolio. For the Target Fund, any
subsequent change in any rating of any security below investment grade will result in the
elimination of that security from the Target Funds portfolio as soon as practicable without
adverse market or tax consequences to the Target Fund. The Target Fund does not anticipate
retaining within its portfolio non-investment grade securities in excess of 5% of its total assets.
Except as otherwise noted, the foregoing investment policies of the Target Fund are
fundamental policies and may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Target Fund as defined in the 1940 Act.
The Adviser buys and sells securities for each Fund with a view towards seeking a high level
of current income exempt from federal income tax, as well as from New York State and New York City
income taxes, subject to reasonable credit risk, and, for the Acquiring Fund, consistent with
preservation of capital. As a result, each Fund will not necessarily invest in the highest yielding
New York municipal securities or Municipal Obligations permitted by its respective investment
policies if the Adviser determines that market risks or credit risks associated with such
investments would subject the Funds portfolio to undue risk. The potential realization of capital
gains or losses resulting from possible changes in interest rates will not be a major consideration
and frequency of portfolio turnover generally will not be a limiting factor if the Adviser
considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities.
The Adviser employs a bottom-up, research-driven approach to identify securities that have
attractive risk/reward characteristics for the sectors in which each Fund invests. The Adviser
also integrates macroeconomic analysis and forecasting into its evaluation and ranking of various
sectors and individual securities. Finally, each Fund employs leverage in an effort to enhance
income and total return. Sell decisions are based on: (i) a deterioration or likely deterioration
of an individual issuers capacity to meet its debt obligations on a timely basis; (ii) a
deterioration or likely deterioration of the broader fundamentals of a particular industry or
sector; and (iii) opportunities in the secondary or primary market to purchase a security with
better relative value.
The types of municipal securities in which the Acquiring Fund invests are obligations issued
by or on behalf of states, territories or possessions of the United States, the District of
Columbia and their cities, counties, political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the
interest on which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other counsel to the issuers of such
securities, is, at the time of issuance, exempt from federal income tax. The Adviser does not
conduct its own analysis of the tax status of the interest paid by municipal securities held by
each Fund, but will rely on the opinion of counsel to the issuer of each such instrument.
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With respect to the Target Fund, Municipal Bonds and Municipal Notes are debt obligations of
states or territories, cities, counties, municipalities and other agencies or instrumentalities
which generally have maturities, at the time of their issuance, of either one year or more (Bonds)
or from six months to three years (Notes). Municipal Commercial Paper, as presently constituted,
while having a final maturity of more than one year, is subject to periodic rate changes and
short-term put or tender dates selected at the holders option, prior to final maturity. Municipal
Obligations in which the Target Fund will primarily invest bear interest that, in the opinion of
bond counsel to the issuer, is exempt from federal income tax.
In the discussion below, the term municipal securities also includes Municipal Obligations.
The issuers of municipal securities obtain funds for various public purposes, including the
construction of a wide range of public facilities, such as airports, highways, bridges, schools,
hospitals, housing, mass transportation, streets and water and sewer works. Other public purposes
for which municipal securities may be issued include refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining
funds for general operating expenses and obtaining funds to lend to other public institutions and
facilities. Certain types of municipal securities are issued to obtain funding for privately
operated facilities.
The yields of municipal securities depend on, among other things, general money market
conditions, general conditions of the municipal securities market, size of a particular offering,
the maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue. The ratings of NRSROs such as S&P and
Moodys represent their opinions of the quality of the municipal securities they undertake to rate.
These ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal
securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields, while municipal
securities of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.
The two principal classifications of municipal securities are general obligation and revenue
or special delegation securities. General obligation securities are secured by the issuers pledge
of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities
are usually payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of
facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue
source. Industrial development bonds are usually revenue securities, the credit quality of which is
normally directly related to the credit standing of the industrial user involved.
Within these principal classifications of municipal securities, there are a variety of types
of municipal securities, including:
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Variable rate securities, which bear rates of interest that are adjusted periodically
according to formulae intended to reflect market rates of interest. |
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Municipal notes, including tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes of short maturity,
generally less than three years, which are issued to obtain temporary funds for various public
purposes. |
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Variable rate demand notes, which are municipal obligations that contain a floating or
variable interest rate adjustment formula and which are subject to a right of demand for
payment of the principal balance plus accrued interest either at any time or at specified
intervals. The interest rate on a variable rate demand note may be based on a known lending
rate, such as a banks prime rate, and may be adjusted when such rate changes, or the interest
rate may be a market rate that is adjusted at specified intervals. The adjustment formula
maintains the value of the variable rate demand note at approximately the par value of such
note at the adjustment date. |
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Municipal leases, which are obligations issued by state and local governments or
authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. Certain municipal lease
obligations may include non-appropriation clauses which provide that the municipality has no
obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is
appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. |
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Private activity bonds, which are issued by, or on behalf of, public authorities to finance
privately operated facilities. |
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Participation certificates, which are obligations issued by state or local governments or
authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. They may represent
participations in a lease, an installment purchase contract or a conditional sales contract. |
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Municipal securities that may not be backed by the faith, credit and taxing power of the
issuer. |
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Municipal securities that are privately placed and that may have restrictions on a Funds
ability to resell, such as timing restrictions or requirements that the securities only be
sold to qualified institutional investors. |
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Municipal securities that are insured by financial insurance companies. |
Derivatives. Each Fund may use derivative instruments for a variety of purposes. The Acquiring
Fund principally uses derivatives for hedging and risk management, and (other than for futures or
swaps) for portfolio management or to earn income. Similarly, the Target Fund principally uses
derivatives for hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. Derivatives are
financial instruments whose value is based on the value of another underlying asset, interest rate,
index or financial instrument.
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to buy or
sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specific price at a specific future time.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the
underlying instrument. Futures contracts are bilateral agreements, with both the purchaser and the
seller equally obligated to complete the transaction. Depending on the terms of the particular
contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery of the underlying
instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date.
Swaps. A swap contract is an agreement between two parties pursuant to which the
parties exchange payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified notional amount, with the
payments calculated by reference to specified securities, indexes, reference rates, currencies or
other instruments. Most swap agreements provide that when the period payment dates for both parties
are the same, the payments are made on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out,
with only the net amount paid by one party to the other). A Funds obligations or rights under a
swap contract entered into on a net basis will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid
or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each
counterparty. The Target Fund may not invest in swaps.
Inverse Floating Rate Obligations. Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate obligations.
Inverse floating rate obligations are variable debt instruments that pay interest at rates that
move in the opposite direction of prevailing interest rates. Because the interest rate paid to
holders of such obligations is generally determined by subtracting a variable or floating rate from
a predetermined amount, the interest rate paid to holders of such obligations will decrease as such
variable or floating rate increases and increase as such variable or floating rate decreases. The
inverse floating rate obligations in which each Fund may invest include derivative instruments such
as residual interest bonds (RIBs) or tender option bonds (TOBs). Such instruments are typically
created by a special purpose trust that holds long-term fixed rate bonds and sells two classes of
beneficial interests: short-term floating rate interests, which are sold to third party investors,
and inverse floating residual interests, which are purchased by a Fund. The short-term floating
rate interests have first priority on the cash flow from the bond held by the special purpose trust
and a Fund (as holder of the inverse floating residual interests) is paid the residual cash flow
from the bond held by the special purpose trust.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. Each Fund may purchase and sell securities on a
when-issued and delayed delivery basis, which means that the Fund buys or sells a security with
payment and delivery taking place in the future. The payment obligation and the interest rate are
fixed at the time the Fund enters into the commitment. No income accrues on such securities until
the date the Fund actually takes delivery of the securities.
Preferred Shares. Each Fund uses leverage in the form of preferred shares. Dividends on the
preferred shares will typically be comparable to the yields on investment grade short-term
municipal securities, although the assets attributable to the preferred shares will generally be
invested in longer-term municipal securities, which typically have higher yields than short-term
municipal securities. Assuming such a yield differential, this leveraged capital structure enables
each Fund to pay a potentially higher yield on the Common Shares than similar investment companies
that do not use leverage.
As required by the 1940 Act, each Fund will generally maintain an asset coverage of the value of
the Funds total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund not represented by
preferred shares, of 200% of the aggregate liquidation value of the preferred shares. In addition,
under the terms of each Funds outstanding VMTP Shares, the Fund is required to maintain minimum
asset coverage of 225%.
Zero Coupon/PIK Bonds. Each Fund may invest in securities not producing immediate cash income,
including zero coupon securities or pay-in-kind (PIK) securities, when their effective yield over
comparable instruments producing cash income makes these investments attractive. PIK securities are
debt securities that pay interest through the
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issuance of additional securities. Zero coupon securities are debt securities that do not entitle
the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date when the
securities begin paying current interest. They are issued and traded at a discount from their face
amounts or par value, which discount varies depending on the time remaining until cash payments
begin, prevailing interest rates, liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the
issuer. The securities do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to
maturity, which prevents any reinvestment of interest payments at prevailing interest rates if
prevailing interest rates rise. On the other hand, because there are no periodic interest payments
to be reinvested prior to maturity, zero coupon securities eliminate the reinvestment risk and may
lock in a favorable rate of return to maturity if interest rates drop. In addition, each Fund
would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund
will not receive all of the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell
other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to
the Common Shareholders.
Portfolio Turnover. The Acquiring Fund generally will not engage in the trading of securities for
the purpose of realizing short-term profits, but it will adjust its portfolio as it deems advisable
in view of prevailing or anticipated market conditions to accomplish the Funds investment
objectives. For example, the Acquiring Fund may sell portfolio securities in anticipation of a
movement in interest rates. The Target Fund may sell securities without regard to the length of
time they have been held to take advantage of new investment opportunities, yield differentials, or
for other reasons, including in anticipation of a movement in interest rates. Other than for tax
purposes, frequency of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor if a Fund considers it
advantageous to purchase or sell securities. Each Funds portfolio turnover rate may vary from
year to year. The Acquiring Fund does not anticipate that the annual portfolio turnover rate of
the Fund will be in excess of 100%. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly
greater brokerage commissions and transaction expenses than a lower rate, which expenses must be
borne by a Fund and its shareholders. High portfolio turnover may also result in the realization
of substantial net short-term capital gains, and any distributions resulting from such gains will
be taxable at ordinary income rates for federal income tax purposes.
Principal Risks of an Investment in the Funds
A comparison of the principal risks associated with the Funds investment strategies is
included above under How do the Funds principal risks compare? The following table provides
further information on the principal risks that apply to the Funds investment portfolios.
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
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Risk |
Municipal Securities Risk. Under
normal market conditions,
longer-term municipal securities
generally provide a higher yield
than shorter-term municipal
securities. To the extent
consistent with each Funds
investment policies, the Adviser may
adjust the average maturity of each
Funds portfolio from time to time
depending on its assessment of the
relative yields available on
securities of different maturities
and its expectations of future
changes in interest rates. The
yields of municipal securities may
move differently and adversely
compared to the yields of the
overall debt securities markets.
Certain kinds of municipal
securities are subject to specific
risks that could cause a decline in
the value of those securities:
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Both Funds |
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Lease Obligations.
Certain lease
obligations contain
non-appropriation clauses that
provide that the governmental issuer
has no obligation to make future
payments under the lease or contract
unless money is appropriated for
that purpose by the appropriate
legislative body on an annual or
other periodic basis. Consequently,
continued lease payments on those
lease obligations containing
non-appropriation clauses are
dependent on future legislative
actions. If these legislative
actions do not occur, the holders of
the lease obligation may experience
difficulty in exercising their
rights, including disposition of the
property. |
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Private Activity Bonds.
The issuers
of private activity bonds in which
each Fund may invest may be
negatively impacted by conditions
affecting either the general credit
of the user of the private activity
project or the project itself.
Conditions such as regulatory and
environmental restrictions and
economic downturns may lower the
need for these facilities and the
ability of users of the project to
pay for the facilities. Private
activity bonds may also pay interest
subject to the alternative minimum
tax. |
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
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Risk |
In 2011, S&P lowered its long-term
sovereign credit rating on the U.S.
to AA+ from AAA with a negative
outlook. Following S&Ps downgrade
of the long-term sovereign credit
rating on the U.S., the major rating
agencies have also placed many
municipalities on review for
potential downgrades, which could
impact the market price, liquidity
and volatility of the municipal
securities held by each Fund in its
portfolio. If the universe of
municipal securities meeting a
Funds ratings and credit quality
requirements shrinks, it may be more
difficult for the Fund to meet its
investment objective and the Funds
investments may become more
concentrated in fewer issues.
Future downgrades by other rating
agencies could have significant
adverse effects on the economy
generally and could result in
significant adverse impacts on
municipal issuers and the Funds. |
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Many state and municipal governments
that issue securities are under
significant economic and financial
stress and may not be able to
satisfy their obligations. In
response to the national economic
downturn, governmental cost burdens
have been and may continue to be
reallocated among federal, state and
local governments. The ability of
municipal issuers to make timely
payments of interest and principal
may be diminished during general
economic downturns and as
governmental cost burdens are
reallocated among federal, state and
local governments. Also, as a
result of the downturn and related
unemployment, declining income and
loss of property values, many state
and local governments have
experienced significant reductions
in revenues and consequently
difficulties meeting ongoing
expenses. As a result, certain of
these state and local governments
may have difficulty paying or
default in the payment of principal
or interest on their outstanding
debt, may experience ratings
downgrades of their debt. The taxing
power of any governmental entity may
be limited by provisions of state
constitutions or laws, and an
entitys credit will depend on many
factors, including the entitys tax
base, the extent to which the entity
relies on federal or state aid, and
other factors which are beyond the
entitys control. In addition, laws
enacted in the future by Congress or
state legislatures or referenda
could extend the time for payment of
principal and/or interest, or impose
other constraints on enforcement of
such obligations or on the ability
of municipalities to levy taxes. |
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In addition, municipalities might
seek protection under the bankruptcy
laws, thereby affecting the
repayment of their outstanding debt.
Issuers of the municipal securities
might seek protection under the
bankruptcy laws. In the event of
bankruptcy of such an issuer,
holders of municipal securities
could experience delays in
collecting principal and interest
and such holders may not be able to
collect all principal and interest
to which they are entitled. Certain
provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code governing such bankruptcies are
unclear. Further, the application
of state law to municipal securities
issuers could produce varying
results among the states or among
municipal securities issuers within
a state. These uncertainties could
have a significant impact on the
prices of the municipal securities
in which the Funds invest. The value
of municipal securities generally
may be affected by uncertainties in
the municipal markets as a result of
legislation or litigation, including
legislation or litigation that
changes the taxation of municipal
securities or the rights of
municipal securities holders in the
event of a bankruptcy. To enforce
its rights in the event of a default
in the payment of interest or
repayment of principal, or both, a
Fund may take possession of and
manage the assets securing the
issuers obligations on such
securities, which may increase the
Funds operating expenses. Any
income derived from a Funds
ownership or operation of such
assets may not be tax-exempt and
could jeopardize the Funds status
as a regulated investment company
under the Code. |
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The U.S. economy may be in the
process of deleveraging, with
individuals, companies and
municipalities reducing expenditures
and paying down borrowings. In such
event, the number of municipal
borrowers and the amount of
outstanding municipal securities may
contract, potentially without
corresponding reductions in investor
demand for municipal securities. As
a result, a Fund may have fewer
investment alternatives, may invest
in securities that it previously
would have declined and may
concentrate its investments in a
smaller number of issuers. |
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17
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
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Risk |
Insurance Risk. Financial insurance
guarantees that interest payments on
a bond will be made on time and that
principal will be repaid when the
bond matures. Insured municipal
obligations would generally be
assigned a lower rating if the
rating were based primarily on the
credit quality of the issuer without
regard to the insurance feature. If
the claims-paying ability of the
insurer were downgraded, the ratings
on the municipal obligations it
insures may also be downgraded.
Insurance does not protect the Funds
against losses caused by declines in
a bonds value due to a change in
market conditions.
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Both Funds |
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Market Risk. Market risk is the
possibility that the market values
of securities owned by a Fund will
decline. The net asset value of a
Fund will change with changes in the
value of its portfolio securities,
and the value of the Funds
investments can be expected to
fluctuate over time. The financial
markets in general are subject to
volatility and may at times
experience extreme volatility and
uncertainty, which may affect all
investment securities, including
debt securities and derivative
instruments. Volatility may be
greater during periods of general
economic uncertainty.
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Both Funds |
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Interest Rate Risk. Because each
Fund invests primarily in fixed
income municipal securities, the net
asset value of a Fund can be
expected to change as general levels
of interest rates fluctuate. When
interest rates decline, the value of
a portfolio invested in fixed income
securities generally can be expected
to rise. Conversely, when interest
rates rise, the value of a portfolio
invested in fixed income securities
generally can be expected to
decline. The prices of longer term
municipal securities generally are
more volatile with respect to
changes in interest rates than the
prices of shorter term municipal
securities. These risks may be
greater in the current market
environment because certain interest
rates are near historically low
levels.
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Both Funds |
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Credit Risk. Credit risk refers to
an issuers ability to make timely
payments of interest and principal
when due. Municipal securities,
like other debt obligations, are
subject to the credit risk of
nonpayment. The ability of issuers
of municipal securities to make
timely payments of interest and
principal may be adversely affected
by general economic downturns and as
relative governmental cost burdens
are allocated and reallocated among
federal, state and local
governmental units. Private activity
bonds used to finance projects, such
as industrial development and
pollution control, may also be
negatively impacted by the general
credit of the user of the project.
Nonpayment would result in a
reduction of income to a Fund, and a
potential decrease in the net asset
value of the Fund. The Adviser
continuously monitors the issuers of
securities held in each Fund.
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Both Funds |
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Each Fund will rely on the Advisers
judgment, analysis and experience in
evaluating the creditworthiness of
an issuer. In its analysis, the
Adviser may consider the credit
ratings of NRSROs in evaluating
securities, although the Adviser
does not rely primarily on these
ratings. Credit ratings of NRSROs
evaluate only the safety of
principal and interest payments, not
the market risk. In addition,
ratings are general and not absolute
standards of quality, and the
creditworthiness of an issuer may
decline significantly before an
NRSRO lowers the issuers rating.
For the Acquiring Fund, a rating
downgrade does not require the Fund
to dispose of a security. |
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Medium-grade obligations (for
example, bonds rated BBB by S&P)
possess speculative characteristics,
so that changes in economic
conditions or other circumstances
are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the issuer to
make principal and interest payments
than in the case of higher-rated
securities. Securities rated below
investment grade are considered
speculative by NRSROs with respect
to the issuers continuing ability
to pay interest and principal. |
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Income Risk. The income received
from each Fund is based primarily on
prevailing interest rates, which can
vary widely over the short and long
term. If interest rates decrease,
your income from a Fund may decrease
as well.
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Both Funds |
18
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
|
Risk |
Call Risk. If interest rates fall,
it is possible that issuers of
securities with high interest rates
will prepay or call their securities
before their maturity dates. In this
event, the proceeds from the called
securities would likely be
reinvested by each Fund in
securities bearing the new, lower
interest rates, resulting in a
possible decline in a Funds income
and distributions to shareholders.
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Both Funds |
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Market Segment Risk. Each Fund
generally considers investments in
municipal securities issued by
governments or political
subdivisions not to be subject to
industry concentration policies
(because such issuers are not in any
industry). Each Fund may, however,
invest in municipal securities
issued by entities having similar
characteristics. For example, the
issuers may be located in the same
geographic area or may pay their
interest obligations from revenue of
similar projects, such as hospitals,
airports, utility systems and
housing finance agencies. This may
make a Funds investments more
susceptible to similar economic,
political or regulatory occurrences,
which could increase the volatility
of the Funds net asset value.
Except as otherwise provided herein,
each Fund may invest more than 25%
of its total assets in a segment of
the municipal securities market with
similar characteristics if the
Adviser determines that the yields
available from obligations in a
particular segment justify the
additional risks of a larger
investment in that segment. Each
Fund may not, however, invest more
than 25% of its total assets in
municipal securities, such as many
private activity bonds or industrial
development revenue bonds, issued
for non-governmental entities that
are in the same industry.
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Both Funds |
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Tax Risk. To qualify for the
favorable U.S. federal income tax
treatment generally accorded to
regulated investment companies,
among other things, each Fund must
derive in each taxable year at least
90% of its gross income from certain
prescribed sources. If for any
taxable year a Fund does not qualify
as a regulated investment company,
all of its taxable income (including
its net capital gain) would be
subject to federal income tax at
regular corporate rates without any
deduction for distributions to
shareholders, and all distributions
from a Fund (including underlying
distributions attributable to
tax-exempt interest income) would be
taxable to shareholders as ordinary
dividends to the extent of a Funds
current and accumulated earnings and
profits.
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Both Funds |
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The value of each Funds investments
and its net asset value may be
adversely affected by changes in tax
rates and policies. Because interest
income from municipal securities is
normally not subject to regular
federal income taxation, the
attractiveness of municipal
securities in relation to other
investment alternatives is affected
by changes in federal income tax
rates or changes in the tax-exempt
status of interest income from
municipal securities. Any proposed
or actual changes in such rates or
exempt status, therefore, can
significantly affect the demand for
and supply, liquidity and
marketability of municipal
securities. This could, in turn,
affect a Funds net asset value and
ability to acquire and dispose of
municipal securities at desirable
yield and price levels.
Additionally, a Fund may not be a
suitable investment for individual
retirement accounts, for other
tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts
or for investors who are not
sensitive to the federal income tax
consequences of their investments. |
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A Fund may invest all or a
substantial portion of its total
assets in municipal securities
subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax. Accordingly, an
investment in each Fund could cause
shareholders to be subject to (or
result in an increased liability
under) the federal alternative
minimum tax. As a result, a Fund
may not be a suitable investment for
investors who are already subject to
the federal alternative minimum tax
or who could become subject to the
federal alternative minimum tax as a
result of an investment in the Fund. |
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Subsequent to a Funds acquisition
of a municipal security, the
security may be determined to pay,
or to have paid, taxable income. As
a result, the treatment of dividends
previously paid or to be paid by the
Fund as exempt-interest dividends
could be adversely affected,
subjecting the Funds shareholders
to increased federal income tax
liabilities. |
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19
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
|
Risk |
For federal income tax purposes,
distributions of ordinary taxable
income (including any net short-term
capital gain) will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income (and
not eligible for favorable taxation
as qualified dividend income), and
capital gain dividends will be taxed
at long-term capital gain rates. In
certain circumstances, the Fund will
make payments to holders of VMTP
Shares to offset the tax effects of
a taxable distribution. |
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Generally, to the extent a Funds
distributions are derived from
interest on municipal securities of
a particular state (and, in some
cases qualifying obligations of U.S.
territories and possessions), its
distributions are exempt from the
personal income tax of that state.
In some cases, each Funds shares
may (to the extent applicable) also
be exempt from personal property
taxes of such state. However, some
states require that the Fund meet
certain thresholds with respect to
the portion of its portfolio
consisting of municipal securities
of such state in order for such
exemption to apply. |
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Risks of Using Derivative
Instruments. A derivative instrument
often has risks similar to its
underlying instrument and may have
additional risks, including
imperfect correlation between the
value of the derivative and the
underlying instrument or instrument
being hedged, risks of default by
the other party to certain
transactions, magnification of
losses incurred due to changes in
the market value of the securities,
instruments, indices or interest
rates to which they relate, and
risks that the derivatives may not
be liquid. The use of derivatives
involves risks that are different
from, and potentially greater than,
the risks associated with other
portfolio investments. Derivatives
may involve the use of highly
specialized instruments that require
investment techniques and risk
analyses different from those
associated with other portfolio
investments. Certain derivative
transactions may give rise to a form
of leverage. Leverage associated
with derivative transactions may
cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio
positions when it may not be
advantageous to do so to satisfy its
obligations or to meet earmarking or
segregation requirements, pursuant
to applicable SEC rules and
regulations, or may cause a Fund to
be more volatile than if the Fund
had not been leveraged. A Fund
could suffer losses related to its
derivative positions as a result of
unanticipated market movements,
which losses may potentially be
unlimited. Although the Adviser may
seek to use derivatives to further a
Funds investment objective, a Fund
is not required to use derivatives
and may choose not to do so and
there is no assurance that the use
of derivatives will achieve this
result.
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Both Funds (except that Swaps Risk
does not apply to the Target Fund) |
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Counterparty Risk.
Each Fund will
be subject to credit risk with
respect to the counterparties to the
derivative transactions entered into
by the Fund. If a counterparty
becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails
to perform its obligations under a
derivative contract due to financial
difficulties, a Fund may experience
significant delays in obtaining any
recovery under the derivative
contract in bankruptcy or other
reorganization proceeding. A Fund
may obtain only a limited recovery
or may obtain no recovery in such
circumstances. |
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Futures Risk.
A decision as to
whether, when and how to use futures
involves the exercise of skill and
judgment and even a well-conceived
futures transaction may be
unsuccessful because of market
behavior or unexpected events. In
addition to the derivatives risks
discussed above, the prices of
futures can be highly volatile,
using futures can lower total
return, and the potential loss from
futures can exceed a Funds initial
investment in such contracts. |
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Swaps Risk.
Swap agreements are not
entered into or traded on exchanges
and there is no central clearing or
guaranty function for swaps.
Therefore, swaps are subject to
credit risk or the risk of default
or non-performance by the
counterparty. Swaps could result in
losses if interest rate or credit
quality changes are not correctly
anticipated by a Fund or if the
reference index, security or
investments do not perform as
expected. |
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Tax Risk.
The use of derivatives may
generate taxable income. In
addition, each Funds use of
derivatives may be limited by the
requirements for taxation as a
regulated investment company or the
Funds intention to pay dividends
that are exempt from federal and New
York State and New York City income
taxes. The tax treatment of
derivatives may be adversely
affected by changes in legislation,
regulations or other legal
authority, subjecting a Funds
shareholders to increased federal
income tax liabilities. |
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20
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
|
Risk |
Inverse Floating Rate Obligations
Risk. Like most other fixed-income
securities, the value of inverse
floating rate obligations will
decrease as interest rates increase.
They are more volatile, however,
than most other fixed-income
securities because the coupon rate
on an inverse floating rate
obligation typically changes at a
multiple of the change in the
relevant index rate. Thus, any rise
in the index rate (as a consequence
of an increase in interest rates)
causes a correspondingly greater
drop in the coupon rate of an
inverse floating rate obligation,
while a drop in the index rate
causes a correspondingly greater
increase in the coupon of an inverse
floating rate obligation. Some
inverse floating rate obligations
may also increase or decrease
substantially because of changes in
the rate of prepayments. Inverse
floating rate obligations tend to
underperform the market for fixed
rate bonds in a rising interest rate
environment, but tend to outperform
the market for fixed rate bonds when
interest rates decline or remain
relatively stable. Inverse floating
rate obligations have varying
degrees of liquidity.
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Both Funds |
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Each Fund generally invests in
inverse floating rate obligations
that include embedded leverage, thus
exposing the Fund to greater risks
and increased costs. The market
value of a leveraged inverse
floating rate obligation generally
will fluctuate in response to
changes in market rates of interest
to a greater extent than the value
of an unleveraged investment. The
extent of increases and decreases in
the value of inverse floating rate
obligations generally will be larger
than changes in an equal principal
amount of a fixed rate security
having similar credit quality,
redemption provisions and maturity,
which may cause the Funds net asset
value to be more volatile than if it
had not invested in inverse floating
rate obligations. |
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In certain instances, the short-term
floating rate interests created by a
special purpose trust may not be
able to be sold to third parties or,
in the case of holders tendering (or
putting) such interests for
repayment of principal, may not be
able to be remarketed to third
parties. In such cases, the special
purpose trust holding the long-term
fixed rate bonds may be collapsed.
In the case of inverse floating rate
obligations created by a Fund, the
Fund would then be required to repay
the principal amount of the tendered
securities. During times of market
volatility, illiquidity or
uncertainty, the Fund could be
required to sell other portfolio
holdings at a disadvantageous time
to raise cash to meet that
obligation. |
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The use of short-term floating rate
obligations may require the Funds to
segregate or earmark cash or liquid
assets to cover its obligations.
Securities so segregated or
earmarked will be unavailable for
sale by the Funds (unless replaced
by other securities qualifying for
segregation requirements), which may
limit a Funds flexibility and may
require that the Fund sell other
portfolio investments at a time when
it may be disadvantageous to sell
such assets. |
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Risks of Investing in Lower-Grade
Securities. Securities that are in
the lower-grade categories generally
offer higher yields than are offered
by higher-grade securities of
similar maturities, but they also
generally involve greater risks,
such as greater credit risk, market
risk, volatility and liquidity risk.
In addition, the amount of
available information about the
financial condition of certain
lower-grade issuers may be less
extensive than other issuers, making
a Fund more dependent on the
Advisers credit analysis than a
fund investing only in higher-grade
securities. To minimize the risks
involved in investing in lower-grade
securities, the Acquiring Fund does
not purchase securities that are in
default or rated in categories lower
than B- by S&P or B3 by Moodys or
unrated securities of comparable
quality.
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Both Funds |
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Secondary market prices of
lower-grade securities generally are
less sensitive than higher-grade
securities to changes in interest
rates and are more sensitive to
general adverse economic changes or
specific developments with respect
to the particular issuers. A
significant increase in interest
rates or a general economic downturn
may significantly |
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21
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
|
Risk |
affect the ability
of municipal issuers of lower-grade
securities to pay interest and to
repay principal, or to obtain
additional financing, any of which
could severely disrupt the market
for lower-grade municipal securities
and adversely affect the market
value of such securities. Such
events also could lead to a higher
incidence of default by issuers of
lower-grade securities. In
addition, changes in credit risks,
interest rates, the credit markets
or periods of general economic
uncertainty can be expected to
result in increased volatility in
the price of the lower-grade
securities and the net asset value
of a Fund. Adverse publicity and
investor perceptions, whether or not
based on rational analysis, may
affect the value, volatility and
liquidity of lower-grade securities. |
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In the event that an issuer of
securities held by a Fund
experiences difficulties in the
timely payment of principal and
interest and such issuer seeks to
restructure the terms of its
borrowings, the Fund may incur
additional expenses and may
determine to invest additional
assets with respect to such issuer
or the project or projects to which
the Funds securities relate.
Further, the Fund may incur
additional expenses to the extent
that it is required to seek recovery
upon a default in the payment of
interest or the repayment of
principal on its portfolio holdings
and the Fund may be unable to obtain
full recovery on such amounts.
Investments in debt obligations that
are at risk of or in default present
special tax issues for a Fund.
Federal income tax rules are not
entirely clear about issues such as
when a Fund may cease to accrue
interest, original issue discount or
market discount, when and to what
extent deductions may be taken for
bad debts or worthless securities,
how payments received on obligations
in default should be allocated
between principal and interest and
whether certain exchanges of debt
obligations in a workout context are
taxable. These and other issues will
be addressed by each Fund, in the
event it invests in or holds such
securities, in order to seek to
ensure that the Fund distributes
sufficient income to preserve its
status as a regulated investment
company. |
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Liquidity Risk. Liquidity relates
to the ability of each Fund to sell
a security in a timely manner at a
price which reflects the value of
that security. The amount of
available information about the
financial condition of municipal
securities issuers is generally less
extensive than that for corporate
issuers with publicly traded
securities, and the market for
municipal securities is generally
considered to be less liquid than
the market for corporate debt
obligations. Certain municipal
securities in which a Fund may
invest, such as special obligation
bonds, lease obligations,
participation certificates and
variable rate instruments, may be
particularly less liquid. To the
extent a Fund owns or may acquire
illiquid or restricted securities,
these securities may involve special
registration requirements,
liabilities and costs, and liquidity
and valuation difficulties.
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Both Funds |
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The effects of adverse publicity and
investor perceptions may be more
pronounced for securities for which
no established retail market exists
as compared with the effects on
securities for which such a market
does exist. An economic downturn or
an increase in interest rates could
severely disrupt the market for such
securities and adversely affect the
value of outstanding securities or
the ability of the issuers to repay
principal and interest. Further, a
Fund may have more difficulty
selling such securities in a timely
manner and at their stated value
than would be the case for
securities for which an established
retail market does exist. |
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The markets for lower-grade
securities may be less liquid than
the markets for higher-grade
securities. To the extent that
there is no established retail
market for some of the lower-grade
securities in which a Fund may
invest, trading in such securities
may be relatively inactive. Prices
of lower-grade securities may
decline rapidly in the event a
significant number of holders decide
to sell. Changes in expectations
regarding an individual issuer of
lower-grade securities generally
could reduce market liquidity for
such securities and make their sale
by a Fund at their current valuation
more difficult. |
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22
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
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Risk |
From time to time, each Funds
investments may include securities
as to which the Fund, by itself or
together with other funds or
accounts managed by the Adviser,
holds a major portion or all of an
issue of municipal securities.
Because there may be relatively few
potential purchasers for such
investments and, in some cases,
there may be contractual
restrictions on resales, the Fund
may find it more difficult to sell
such securities at a time when the
Adviser believes it is advisable to
do so. |
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Preferred Shares Risk. Each Funds
use of leverage through preferred
shares may result in higher
volatility of the net asset value of
the Common Shares, and fluctuations
in the dividend rates on the Funds
preferred shares (which are expected
to reflect yields on short-term
municipal securities) may affect the
yield to the Common Shareholders.
So long as a Fund is able to realize
a higher net return on its
investment portfolio than the then
current dividend rate of the
preferred shares, the effect of the
leverage provided by the preferred
shares will be to cause the Common
Shareholders to realize a higher
current rate of return than if the
Fund were not so leveraged. On the
other hand, to the extent that the
then current dividend rate on the
preferred shares approaches the net
return on a Funds investment
portfolio, the benefit of leverage
to the Common Shareholders will be
reduced, and if the then current
dividend rate on the preferred
shares were to exceed the net return
on the Funds portfolio, the Funds
leveraged capital structure would
result in a lower rate of return to
the Common Shareholders than if the
Fund were not so structured.
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Both Funds |
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Similarly, because any decline in
the net asset value of a Funds
investments will be borne entirely
by the Common Shareholders, the
effect of leverage in a declining
market would result in a greater
decrease in net asset value to the
Common Shareholders than if the Fund
were not so leveraged. Any such
decrease would likely be reflected
in a decline in the market price for
Common Shares. If a Funds current
investment income were not
sufficient to meet dividend
requirements on the preferred
shares, the Fund might have to
liquidate certain of its investments
in order to meet required dividend
payments, thereby reducing the net
asset value attributable to the
Funds Common Shares. |
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The amount of preferred shares
outstanding from time to time may
vary, depending on the Advisers
analysis of conditions in the
municipal securities market and
interest rate movements. Management
of the amount of outstanding
preferred shares places greater
reliance on the ability of the
Adviser to predict trends in
interest rates than if a Fund did
not use leverage. In the event the
Adviser later determines that all or
a portion of such preferred shares
should be reissued so as to increase
the amount of leverage, no assurance
can be given that a Fund will
subsequently be able to reissue
preferred shares on terms and/or
with dividend rates that are
beneficial to the Common
Shareholders. Further, redemption
and reissuance of the preferred
shares, and any related trading of a
Funds portfolio securities, results
in increased transaction costs to
the Fund and its Common
Shareholders. Because the Common
Shareholders bear these expenses,
changes to the Funds outstanding
leverage and any losses resulting
from related portfolio trading will
have a proportionately larger impact
on the Common Shares net asset
value and market price. |
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In addition, a Fund is not permitted
to declare any cash dividend or
other distribution on its Common
Shares unless, at the time of such
declaration, the Fund has an asset
coverage of at least 200%, as
required by the 1940 Act (determined
after deducting the amount of such
dividend or distribution). In
addition, under the terms of each
Funds outstanding VMTP Shares, the
Fund is required to maintain minimum
asset coverage of 225%. This
prohibition on the payment of
dividends or other distributions
might impair the ability of a Fund
to maintain its qualification as a
regulated investment company for
federal income tax purposes. Each
Fund intends, however, to the extent
possible, to purchase or redeem VMTP
Shares from time to time to maintain
an asset coverage of the VMTP Shares
of at least 225%. |
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If a determination were made by the
IRS to treat the preferred shares as
debt rather than equity for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, the
Common Shareholders might be subject
to increased federal income tax
liabilities. |
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23
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Funds Subject to |
Principal Risk |
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Risk |
Unrated Securities Risk. Many
lower-grade securities are not
listed for trading on any national
securities exchange, and many
issuers of lower-grade securities
choose not to have a rating assigned
to their obligations by any NRSRO.
As a result, each Funds portfolio
may consist of a higher portion of
unlisted or unrated securities as
compared with an investment company
that invests solely in higher-grade,
listed securities. Unrated
securities are usually not as
attractive to as many buyers as are
rated securities, a factor which may
make unrated securities less
marketable. These factors may limit
the ability of a Fund to sell such
securities at their fair value. The
Funds may be more reliant on the
Advisers judgment and analysis in
evaluating the creditworthiness of
an issuer of unrated securities.
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Both Funds |
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When-Issued and Delayed Delivery
Risks. When-issued and delayed
delivery transactions are subject to
market risk, as the value or yield
of a security at delivery may be
more or less than the purchase price
or the yield generally available on
securities when delivery occurs. In
addition, each Fund is subject to
counterparty risk because it relies
on the buyer or seller, as the case
may be, to consummate the
transaction, and failure by the
other party to complete the
transaction may result in the Fund
missing the opportunity of obtaining
a price or yield considered to be
advantageous.
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Both Funds |
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Special Risk Considerations
Regarding New York State and New
York City Municipal Securities.
Because each Fund invests a
substantial portion of its assets in
a portfolio of New York municipal
securities, the Fund is more
susceptible to political, economic,
regulatory or other factors
affecting issuers of New York
municipal securities than a fund
which does not limit its investments
to such issuers. These risks include
possible legislative, state
constitutional or regulatory
amendments that may affect the
ability of state and local
governments or regional governmental
authorities to raise money to pay
principal and interest on their
municipal securities. Economic,
fiscal and budgetary conditions
throughout the state may also
influence the Funds performance.
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Both Funds |
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Zero Coupon/PIK Bond Risk. Prices
on non-cash-paying instruments may
be more sensitive to changes in the
issuers financial condition,
fluctuations in interest rates and
market demand/supply imbalances than
cash-paying securities with similar
credit ratings, and thus may be more
speculative than are securities that
pay interest periodically in cash.
These securities are also subject to
the risk of default. These
securities may subject a Fund to
greater market risk than a fund that
does not own these types of
securities. Special tax
considerations are associated with
investing in non-cash-paying
instruments, such as zero coupon or
pay-in-kind securities. The Adviser
will weigh these concerns against
the expected total returns from such
instruments.
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Both Funds |
The risks associated with an investment in VMTP Shares are identical for the Target Fund and
the Acquiring Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Thomas Byron, Robert Stryker, Julius Williams and Robert Wimmel are the portfolio managers for
the Funds.
Mr. Byron, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Byron was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1981 to 2010 and began managing the
Funds in 2009. Mr. Byron earned a B.S. in finance from Marquette University and an M.B.A. in
finance from DePaul University.
Mr. Stryker, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Stryker was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1994 to 2010 and began managing the
Funds in 2009. Mr. Stryker earned a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
24
Mr. Williams, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Williams was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 2000 to 2010 and began managing the
Funds in 2011. Mr. Williams earned a
B.A. in economics and sociology, and a Master of Education degree in educational psychology from
the University of Virginia.
Mr. Wimmel, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Wimmel was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1996 to 2010 and began managing the
Acquiring Fund in 2001 and the Target Fund in 2009. Mr. Wimmel earned a B.A. in anthropology from
the University of Cincinnati and an M.A. in economics from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers compensation, other
accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers ownership of securities in
each Fund.
Trading of VMTP Shares
VMTP Shares are a new issue of securities and there is currently no established trading market
for such shares. Neither Fund intends to apply for a listing of the VMTP Shares on a securities
exchange or an automated dealer quotation system or to seek to facilitate transfers by retaining a
remarketing or other similar agent with respect to the VMTP Shares. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the VMTP Shares. The VMTP Shares
are not registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. Accordingly,
the VMTP Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale. The VMTP Shares are
offered for sale only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold
or otherwise transferred except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities
Act or any other applicable securities law, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction
not subject thereto and in each case in compliance with contractual conditions applicable to
transfers of VMTP Shares.
Capital Structures of the Funds
Each Fund is currently organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Acquiring Fund was
organized on January 21, 1992, and the Target Fund was organized on March 3, 1993. As discussed
under Proposal 1, before the closing of the Merger, the Funds will be reorganized as Delaware
statutory trusts, which will have identical governing documents and capital structures. (Proposal
1 discusses the material differences between each Funds current Massachusetts business trust
structure and its proposed Delaware statutory trust structure.) The Funds governing documents
will therefore be substantially identical immediately prior to the Merger. Because each such
Delaware statutory trust will have the same structure, each Funds capital structure will not be
affected by the Merger except that, after the Merger, each Funds shareholders will hold shares of
a single, larger fund.
Description of Securities to be Issued
Before the Merger can be completed, each Fund must have completed a redomestication to a
Delaware statutory trust, as discussed in Proposal 1. Accordingly, the following discussion
reflects that each Fund would be a Delaware statutory trust as of the time of the Merger. A
discussion of the changes a Fund would undergo as part of a Redomestication is included under
Proposal 1.
VMTP Shares. Each Fund has an outstanding class of VMTP Shares. The terms of the VMTP Shares
of each Fund are identical. As of the closing of the Merger, the Acquiring Fund will be authorized
by its Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust to issue an unlimited number of
preferred shares. In the Merger, VMTP Shares of the Target Fund will be exchanged for VMTP Shares
of the Acquiring Fund.
The Funds have entered into a Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement with Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas. The Redemption and Paying Agent serves as the Funds transfer agent, registrar,
dividend disbursing agent, paying agent and redemption price disbursing agent and calculation agent
in connection with the payment of dividends with respect to VMTP Shares, and carry out certain
other procedures provided in the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement.
25
The currently outstanding VMTP Shares of each Fund have a long-term issue credit rating of Aa2
from Moodys and AAA from Fitch Ratings, a part of the Fitch Group, which is a majority-owned
subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A. (Fitch), and it is a condition of closing of the Merger that the VMTP
Shares of the Acquiring Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating agency that is rating, at the
request of the Acquiring Fund, such VMTP Shares. An
explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained from the rating agencies. Generally,
rating agencies base their ratings on such material and information, and such of their own
investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate. The ratings of the VMTP Shares
should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other securities. A rating of a security
is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision,
suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.
Dividends on the VMTP Shares are declared daily and generally paid monthly on the first (1st)
business day of each month. For each rate period, the dividend rate on VMTP Shares will, except as
otherwise provided in the Statement of Preferences, be equal to the rate per annum that results
from the sum of the (1) Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal
Swap Index and (2) the ratings spread as determined pursuant to the rate determination process set
forth in the Statement of Preferences. VMTP Shares rank on a parity with each other, with shares
of any other Series of VMTP Shares and with shares of any other series of preferred shares as to
the payment of dividends by the Fund.
The Fund does not intend to apply for a listing of the VMTP Shares on a securities exchange or
an automated dealer quotation system or to seek to facilitate transfers by retaining a remarketing
or other similar agent with respect to the VMTP Shares. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as
to the development or liquidity of any market for the VMTP Shares. The VMTP Shares are not
registered under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the VMTP Shares are subject to restrictions on
transferability and resale.
Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Fund, VMTP Shareholders may sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of VMTP Shares only in whole shares and only to persons it reasonably believes
are either (i) qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) that are registered closed-end management
investment companies, the shares of which are traded on a national securities exchange (Closed-End
Funds), banks (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), insurance companies,
Broker-Dealers (as defined the Statement of Preferences), Foreign Entities (as defined in the
Statement of Preferences) (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), companies that
are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or
registered open-end management investment companies or (ii) tender option bond trusts in which all
Beneficial Owners are QIBs that are Closed-End Funds, banks (and their direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiaries), insurance companies, Broker-Dealers, Foreign Entities (and their direct
or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), companies that are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their
direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or registered open-end management investment
companies, in each case, in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act or another available
exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in a manner not involving any public offering
within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Any transfer in violation of the
foregoing restrictions will be void ab initio and any transferee of VMTP Shares transferred in
violation of the foregoing restrictions shall be deemed to agree to hold all payments it received
on any such improperly transferred VMTP Shares in trust for the benefit of the transferor of such
VMTP Shares. The foregoing restrictions on transfer will not apply to any VMTP Shares registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to the registration rights agreement entered into by the Fund or
any subsequent transfer of such VMTP Shares thereafter.
The Fund is required to redeem, out of funds legally available therefor under applicable law
and otherwise in accordance with applicable law, all outstanding VMTP Shares on June 1, 2015 or
such later date to which it may be extended, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the
Statement of Preferences.
Subject to certain conditions, VMTP Shares may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the
Fund (as a whole or from time to time, in part), out of funds legally available therefor under
applicable law and otherwise in accordance with applicable law, at a redemption price equal to the
sum of (i) the liquidation preference, (ii) accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or
not declared) to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption and (iii) the redemption
premium, if any, in respect of such VMTP Share.
VMTP Shares will rank on a parity with each other and with shares of any other series of
preferred shares as to the distribution of assets upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up
of the affairs of the Fund, whether
26
voluntary or involuntary. After the payment of the full
preferential amounts, VMTP Shareholders as such will have no right or claim to any of the remaining
assets of the Fund.
Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust or as otherwise required by law, (i)
each VMTP Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each VMTP Share held by such VMTP Shareholder on
each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund, and (ii) the holders of outstanding
preferred shares, including each VMTP Share, and Common Shares will vote together as a single
class; provided, however, that the holders of outstanding preferred shares, including VMTP Shares,
voting as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of
beneficial interests of the Fund, will be entitled to elect two trustees of the Fund at all times,
each preferred share, including each VMTP Share, entitled to one vote. Subject to the rights of
the holders of preferred shares during a Voting Period (as defined in the Statement of
Preferences), the holders of outstanding preferred shares, including VMTP Shares, and outstanding
Common Shares, voting together as a single class, will elect the balance of the trustees.
The VMTP Shares, including the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares to be issued in the Merger, are
issued in book-entry form, as global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or
on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the
nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be held only through DTC and
any of its participants.
The foregoing is a brief description of the terms of the VMTP Shares. This description does
not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more
detailed description of the VMTP Shares in the Statement of Preferences of each Fund, which is
available upon request by any VMTP Shareholder, and the form of Statement of Preferences of the
Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to its Redomestication) attached hereto as Exhibit O.
Common Shares. Each Common Share represents an equal proportionate interest with each other
Common Share of the Fund, with each such share entitled to equal dividend, liquidation, redemption
and voting rights. Each Fund also has outstanding VMTP Shares that vote separately from Common
Shares in some circumstances. Each Funds Common Shares have no preemptive, conversion or exchange
rights, nor any right to cumulative voting.
As of the closing of the Merger, the Acquiring Fund will be authorized by its Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust to issue an unlimited number of Acquiring Fund Common
Shares, with no par value.
Dividends and Distributions. The dividend and distribution policies of the Target Fund are
identical to those of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund intends to make regular monthly
distributions of all or a portion of its net investment income after payment of dividends on the
Acquiring Funds preferred shares outstanding to holders of the Acquiring Funds Common Shares. The
Acquiring Funds net investment income consists of all interest income accrued on portfolio assets
less all expenses of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund is required to allocate net capital
gains and other taxable income, if any, received by the Acquiring Fund among its shareholders on a
pro rata basis in the year for which such capital gains and other income is realized. In certain
circumstances, the Acquiring Fund will make additional payments to preferred shareholders to offset
the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
While there are any preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund outstanding, the Acquiring Fund may
not declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares, unless at the time of
such declaration, (i) all accrued preferred shares dividends have been paid, (ii) to the extent
necessary, the Fund has redeemed all of the preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption under
the terms of the preferred shares, and (iii) the value of the Acquiring Funds total assets
(determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution), less all
liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund, is at least 200% of the liquidation preference of the
outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the aggregate original purchase price of the
outstanding preferred shares plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned
or declared on a cumulative basis) as required by the 1940 Act. This limitation on the Acquiring
Funds ability to make distributions on its Common Shares could in certain circumstances impair the
ability of the Acquiring Fund to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment
company under the Code. The Acquiring Fund intends, however, to the extent possible, to purchase or
redeem preferred shares from time to time to maintain compliance with such asset coverage
requirements and may
27
pay special dividends to the preferred shareholders in certain circumstances
in connection with any such impairment of the Acquiring Funds status as a regulated investment
company under the Code.
The tax treatment and characterization of the Acquiring Funds distributions may vary
significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of its investments. The Acquiring Fund
will indicate the proportion of its capital gains distributions that constitute long-term and
short-term gains annually. The ultimate tax characterization of the Acquiring Funds distributions
made in a calendar or fiscal year cannot finally be determined until after the end of that fiscal
year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Acquiring Fund may make total distributions
during a calendar or fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the Acquiring Funds net investment
income and net capital gains for the relevant fiscal year and its previously undistributed earnings
and profits from prior years. In such situations, the amount by which the Acquiring Funds total
distributions exceed its net investment income and net capital gains generally will be treated as a
tax-free return of capital reducing the amount of a shareholders tax basis in such shareholders
shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of shares.
Various factors will affect the level of the Acquiring Funds net investment income, such as
the rate at which dividends are payable on outstanding VMTP Shares, the Acquiring Funds asset mix,
its level of retained earnings, the amount of leverage utilized by it and the effects thereof and
the movement of interest rates for municipal bonds. These factors, among others, may result in the
Acquiring Funds level of net investment income being different from the level of net investment
income for the Target Fund if the Merger was not completed. To permit the Acquiring Fund to
maintain more stable monthly distributions, it may from time to time distribute less than the
entire amount earned in a particular period. The income would be available to supplement future
distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Acquiring Fund for any particular month
may be more or less than the amount actually earned by the Fund during that month. Undistributed
earnings will add to the Acquiring Funds net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from
undistributed earnings and from capital, if any, will deduct from the Funds net asset value.
Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board may change the Acquiring Funds dividend policy
and the amount or timing of the distributions based on a number of factors, including the amount of
the Funds undistributed net investment income and historical and projected investment income and
the amount of the expenses and dividend rates on the outstanding VMTP Shares.
Provisions for Delaying or Preventing Changes in Control. As of the time of the Merger, each
Funds governing documents will provide that such Funds governing documents contain provisions
designed to prevent or delay changes in control of that Fund. Each Funds Board of Trustees may
cause the Fund to merge or consolidate with or into other entities; cause the Fund to sell, convey
and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund; cause the Fund to convert to a
different type of entity; or cause the Fund to convert from a closed-end fund to an open-end fund,
each only so long as such action has previously received the approval of either (i) the Board,
followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote; or (ii) the affirmative vote of at least two thirds (66 2/3%) of the Board and an
affirmative Majority Shareholder Vote (which generally means the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities as defined in the 1940 Act of the Fund, with each class and series
of shares voting together as a single class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940
Act). Under each Funds governing documents that will be applicable as of the time of the Merger,
shareholders will have no right to call special meetings of shareholders or to remove Trustees. In
addition, each Funds Board is divided into three classes, each of which stands for election only
once in three years. As a result of this system, only those Trustees in one class may be changed
in any one year, and it would require two years or more to change a majority of the Trustees.
Pending Litigation
The Acquiring Fund received a shareholder demand letter dated March 25, 2011, from one of the
Acquiring Funds shareholders, alleging that the Board and the officers of the Acquiring Fund
breached their fiduciary duty and duty of loyalty and wasted Acquiring Fund assets by causing the
Acquiring Fund to redeem Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPS) at their liquidation value.
Specifically, the shareholder claims that the Board and officers had no obligation to provide
liquidity to the ARPS shareholders, the redemptions were improperly motivated to benefit the prior
adviser by preserving business relationships with the ARPS holders, i.e., institutional investors,
and the market value and fair value of the ARPS were less than par at the time they were redeemed.
The letter alleges that the redemption of the ARPS occurred at the expense of the Acquiring Fund
and its common shareholders. The letter demands that: 1) the Board take action against the prior
adviser and trustees/officers to
28
recover damages; 2) the Board refrain from authorizing further
redemptions or repurchases of ARPS by the Acquiring Fund at prices in excess of fair value or
market value at the time of the transaction; and 3) if the Acquiring Fund does not commence
appropriate action, the shareholder will commence a shareholder derivative
action on behalf of the Acquiring Fund. The Board formed a Special Litigation Committee (SLC) to
investigate these claims and to make a recommendation to the Board regarding whether pursuit of
these claims is in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund. Upon completion of its evaluation,
the SLC recommended that the Board reject the demands specified in the shareholder demand letters,
after which the Board announced on June 24, 2011, that it had adopted the SLCs recommendation and
voted to reject the demands. Management of the Adviser and the Acquiring Fund believe that the
outcome of the demand letter described above will have no material adverse effect on the Acquiring
Fund or on the ability of the Adviser to provide ongoing services to the Acquiring Fund.
Portfolio Turnover
The Funds historical portfolio turnover rates are similar. Because the Funds have similar
investment policies, management does not expect to dispose of a material amount of portfolio
securities of any Fund in connection with the Merger. No securities of the Target Fund need be
sold in order for the Acquiring Fund to comply with its investment restrictions or policies. The
Funds will continue to buy and sell securities in the normal course of their operations.
Terms and Conditions of the Merger
The terms and conditions under which the Merger may be consummated are set forth in the Merger
Agreement. Significant provisions of the Merger Agreement are summarized below; however, this
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a form of which is
attached as Exhibit D.
In the Merger, the Target Fund will merge with and into the Acquiring Fund pursuant to the
Merger Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. As a result of the
Merger, all of the assets and liabilities of the Target Fund will become assets and liabilities of
the Acquiring Fund, and the Target Funds shareholders will become shareholders of the Acquiring
Fund.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will issue new Acquiring Fund
Common Shares in exchange for Target Fund Common Shares. The number of Acquiring Fund Common
Shares issued will be based on the relative NAVs and shares outstanding of the Acquiring Fund and
the Target Fund as of the business day immediately preceding the Mergers closing date. All
Acquiring Fund Common Shares issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement will be fully paid and
non-assessable, and will be listed for trading on the Exchanges. The terms of the Acquiring Fund
Common Shares to be issued in the Merger will be identical to the terms of the Acquiring Fund
Common Shares already outstanding.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will also issue new Acquiring Fund
VMTP Shares in exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares. The number of additional Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares issued for the Merger will equal the number of outstanding Target Fund VMTP Shares, and such
Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares will have liquidation preferences, rights, and privileges substantially
identical to those of the then outstanding VMTP Shares for the Target Fund.
Prior to the closing of the Merger, the Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
29
If shareholders approve the Merger and if all of the closing conditions set forth in the
Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived, including the condition that each Fund complete its
Redomestication (Proposal 1), the
Closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2012 on a date mutually agreed upon by the
Funds (the Closing Date).
Each Fund will be required to make representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement that
are customary in matters such as the Merger.
If shareholders of a Fund do not approve the Merger or if the Merger does not otherwise close,
the Board will consider what additional action to take, including allowing the Fund to continue
operating as it currently does. The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be
abandoned at any time by mutual agreement of the parties. The Merger Agreement may be amended or
modified in a writing signed by the parties.
Additional Information About the Funds
As of the time of the Merger, each Fund will be a newly organized Delaware statutory trust, as
discussed in Proposal 1. Each Fund is registered under the 1940 Act, as a closed-end management
investment company. Each Fund is a diversified management investment company. A closed-end fund
(unlike an open-end or mutual fund) does not continuously sell and redeem its shares; in the
case of the Funds, Common Shares are bought and sold on the New York Stock Exchange and, for the
Acquiring Fund, the Chicago Stock Exchange. A management investment company is managed by an
investment adviser the Adviser in the case of the Funds that buys and sells portfolio
securities on behalf of the investment company.
Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds
The following information is meant as a general summary of certain federal income tax matters
for U.S. shareholders. Investors should rely on their own tax advisor for advice about the
particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Funds (for
purposes of this section, the Fund).
The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year (including the taxable
year in which the Merger occurs) as a regulated investment company (RIC) under Subchapter M of
the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the
sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. As a
RIC, the Fund is not expected to be subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it
distributes to its shareholders. If, for any taxable year, the Fund does not qualify for taxation
as a RIC, it will be treated as a U.S. corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, thereby
subjecting any income earned by the Fund to tax at the corporate level and to a further tax at the
shareholder level when such income is distributed. In lieu of losing its status as a RIC, the Fund
is permitted to pay a tax for certain failures to satisfy the asset diversification test or income
requirement, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful
neglect, for taxable years of the Fund with respect to which the extended due date of the return is
after December 22, 2010.
The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent it does not
distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its taxable ordinary
income for that year, and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term)
for the one-year period ending, as a general rule, on October 31 of that year. For this purpose,
however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund that is subject to
corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the
minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or
decreased to reflect any underdistribution or overdistribution, as the case may be, from the
previous year. The Fund anticipates that it will pay such dividends and will make such
distributions as are necessary in order to avoid or minimize the application of this excise tax.
The Fund primarily invests in municipal securities. Thus, substantially all of the Funds
dividends paid to you from net investment income should qualify as exempt-interest dividends. A
shareholder treats an exempt-interest dividend as interest on state and local bonds exempt from
regular federal income tax. Exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities
of a state, or its political subdivisions, generally are exempt
30
from that states personal income
tax. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest from municipal securities
of other states.
Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations,
individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain municipal obligations, such as certain private
activity bonds, is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayers
alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that the Fund receives income from such municipal
obligations, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund, although exempt from regular federal
income tax, will be taxable to shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined
under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund will annually provide a report indicating the
percentage of the Funds income attributable to municipal obligations subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax. Corporations are subject to special rules in calculating their federal
alternative minimum taxable income with respect to interest from such municipal obligations.
In addition to exempt-interest dividends, the Fund may also distribute to its shareholders
amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain or ordinary income (which may include short-term
capital gains). These distributions may be subject to federal, state and local taxation, depending
on a shareholders situation. If so, they are taxable whether or not such distributions are
reinvested. Net capital gain distributions (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss) are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains
regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are currently
taxable to noncorporate shareholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%. Absent further
legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will cease to apply to taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2012. The Fund does not expect that any part of its distributions to
shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to
corporate shareholders or as qualified dividend income available to noncorporate shareholders.
Distributions by the Fund in excess of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits
will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders tax basis in its shares
and will reduce such basis. Any such amount in excess of that basis will be treated as gain from
the sale of shares, as discussed below.
As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year on the income
and gains it distributes to shareholders provided that it meets certain distribution requirements.
The Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any
net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular
corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate
the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject
to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for
federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount;
(ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the
Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii)
may claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax
purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount
equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the
shareholders gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence.
The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each
such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as exempt interest, ordinary
income and capital gains). Accordingly, the Fund designates dividends made with respect to the
Common Shares and the VMTP Shares as consisting of particular types of income (e.g., exempt
interest, net capital gain and ordinary income) in accordance with each classs proportionate share
of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the year. A classs proportionate share of a
particular type of income is determined according to the percentage of total dividends paid by the
RIC to such class.
Dividends declared by the Fund to shareholders of record in October, November or December and
paid during the following January may be treated as having been received by shareholders in the
year the distributions were declared.
At the time of an investors purchase of Fund shares, a portion of the purchase price may be
attributable to realized or unrealized appreciation in the Funds portfolio or to undistributed
ordinary income or capital gains of the Fund. Consequently, subsequent distributions by the Fund
with respect to these shares from such appreciation,
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income or gains may be taxable to such
investor even if the net asset value of the investors shares is, as a result of the
distributions, reduced below the investors cost for such shares and the distributions economically
represent a return of a portion of the investment.
Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the shareholders dividend and
capital gains distributions.
The redemption, sale or exchange of shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to
shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholders gain or loss will
be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. The gain or
loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or
loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same
rates applicable to ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are currently taxable to noncorporate
shareholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%. As noted above, absent further
legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will cease to apply to taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2012. Any loss on the sale of shares that have been held for six
months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends
received with respect to such shares and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital
loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.
Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of a Fund will be disallowed to the extent those
shares of the Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Fund or other
substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the
original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to
reflect the disallowed loss.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund shares of
$2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate
shareholder, in any single taxable year (or of certain greater amounts over a combination of
years), generally the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.
Shareholders that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, such as retirement plans that are
qualified under Section 401 of the Code, generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on
otherwise-taxable Fund dividends or distributions, or on sales or exchanges of Fund shares unless
the Fund shares are debt-financed property within the meaning of the Code.
Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Funds shares to
which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules,
the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even
though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of the shares. In addition,
if you receive Social Security or certain railroad retirement benefits, you may be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving investment income,
including exempt-interest dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund.
Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues
for the Fund. Federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund
may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent
deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations
in default should be allocated between principal and interest and whether certain exchanges of debt
obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund,
in the event it invests in or holds such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes
sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC.
If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred
interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with
market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must
accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the
receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at
least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined
without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such accrued income, to qualify as a
RIC and to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its
portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage
itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
32
The Fund may hold or acquire municipal obligations that are market discount bonds. A market
discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value
(or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in
a market discount bond, it will be required to treat
any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income
to the extent of the accrued market discount.
By law, if you do not provide the Fund with your proper taxpayer identification number and
certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of
income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale of your shares. The Fund also must withhold if the
IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any
distributions or proceeds paid, including exempt interest dividends (for distributions and proceeds
paid after December 31, 2012, the rate is scheduled to rise to 31% unless the 28% rate is extended
or made permanent).
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be
imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain
distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions
of Fund shares) of US individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such persons modified
adjusted gross income (in the case of an individual) or adjusted gross income (in the case of an
estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
The description of certain federal tax provisions above relates only to U.S. federal income
tax consequences for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e., generally, U.S. citizens or residents
or U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates, and who are subject to U.S. federal income
tax and hold their shares as capital assets. Except as otherwise provided, this description does
not address the special tax rules that may be applicable to particular types of investors, such as
financial institutions, insurance companies, securities dealers, other regulated investment
companies, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts or entities. Investors other than U.S.
persons may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including a non-resident
alien U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% or any lower applicable treaty rate on amounts
treated as ordinary dividends from the Fund, special certification requirements to avoid U.S.
backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits and U.S. estate tax. Shareholders should consult
their own tax advisors on these matters and on state, local, foreign and other applicable tax laws.
Under recently enacted legislation and administrative guidance, the relevant withholding agent
may be required to withhold 30% of any (a) income dividends paid after December 31, 2013 and (b)
certain capital gains distributions and the proceeds of a sale of shares paid after December 31,
2014 to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to
verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and meets certain other specified
requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment
unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner and such entity
meets certain other specified requirements.
State Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds
Shareholders of each Fund may exclude any exempt interest dividends paid to you by each Fund
from your taxable income for purposes of the New York state income taxes and the New York City
income tax, if the dividends can be excluded from your gross income for federal income tax purposes
and if the dividends are attributable to interest on:
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obligations of the State of New York or its political subdivisions; or |
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qualifying obligations of possessions of the United States. |
Dividends from (or the value of) the Fund, including exempt interest dividends, may be taken
into account in determining the New York State and New York City income and franchise taxes on
business corporations, banking corporations and insurance companies when paid to (or held by)
shareholders subject to such taxes.
33
Board Considerations in Approving the Merger
On June 1, 2010, Invesco acquired the retail fund management business of Morgan Stanley, which
included 32 Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen branded closed-end funds. This transaction filled gaps
in Invescos product line and has enabled Invesco to expand its investment offerings to retail
customers. The transaction also resulted in
product overlap. The Merger proposed in this Proxy Statement is part of a larger group of mergers
across Invescos fund platform that began in early 2011. The larger group of mergers is designed
to put forth Invescos most compelling investment processes and strategies, reduce product overlap
and create scale in the resulting funds.
Considerations of the Board of the Acquiring Fund
The Board of the Acquiring Fund (the Acquiring Fund Board) considered the Merger over a
series of meetings. The Nominating Committee of the Acquiring Fund Board, which consists solely
of trustees who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the
Acquiring Fund (the Independent Trustees), met on November 1, 2011 to consider the Merger and to
assist the Acquiring Fund Board in its consideration of the Merger. The Nominating Committee
considered presentations from the Adviser on the proposed Merger and identified to the Adviser
certain supplemental information to be prepared in connection with the presentation of the proposed
Merger to the full Acquiring Fund Board. Prior to the November 15, 2011 meeting of the full
Acquiring Fund Board, the Acquiring Fund Board met in executive session with the Nominating
Committee to discuss the Committees consideration and review of the proposed Merger. The full
Acquiring Fund Board met twice, on November 15, 2011 and November 28, 2011, to review and consider
the Merger. The Acquiring Fund Board requested and received from the Adviser written materials
containing relevant information about the Funds and the proposed Merger, including fee and expense
information on an actual and pro forma estimated basis, and comparative portfolio composition and
performance data.
The Acquiring Fund Board reviewed, among other information they deemed relevant, information
comparing the following for each Fund on a current and pro forma basis: (1) investment objectives,
policies and restrictions; (2) portfolio management; (3) portfolio composition; (4) comparative
short-term and long-term investment performance and distribution yields; (5) expense ratios and
expense structures, including contractual investment advisory fees and fee waiver agreements; (6)
expected federal income tax consequences to the Funds, including any impact on capital loss carry
forwards; (7) relative asset size; (8) trading information such as trading premiums/discounts for
the Funds Common Shares; and (9) use of leverage and outstanding VMTP Shares. The Acquiring Fund
Board discussed with the Adviser the Advisers process for selecting and analyzing the Funds that
had been proposed to participate in the Merger and possible alternatives to the Merger, including
liquidation and maintaining stand-alone funds, among other alternatives. The Acquiring Fund Board
also discussed with the Adviser the Merger in the context of the larger group of completed and
proposed reorganizations of funds in the fund complex, which were designed to rationalize the
Invesco funds to seek to enhance visibility in the market place.
The potential benefits to the Acquiring Fund of the Merger considered by the Acquiring Fund
Board, included (1) potential benefits resulting from the larger size of the combined fund,
including the potential for (i) increased attention from the investment community, (ii) increased
trading volume and tighter spreads and improved premium/discount levels for the combined funds
Common Shares, (iii) improved purchasing power and more efficient transaction costs, and (iv)
increased diversification of portfolio investments; (2) maintaining consistent portfolio management
teams, processes and investment objectives and (3) reducing market confusion caused by similar
product offerings.
The Acquiring Fund Board also considered the anticipated economic effects of the Merger on the
combined funds fees and expenses, earnings, distribution rates, undistributed net investment
company income and market price of Common Shares. The Board considered that (1) the Acquiring
Funds management fee schedule will apply to the combined fund and, during the period the Advisers
expense limitation is in effect, the Merger is anticipated to result in the combined fund having a
lower total expense ratio than the Acquiring Fund, (2) the investment objective, strategies and
related risks of the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund are substantially similar; (3) the Funds
have the same portfolio management teams; (4) shareholders would become shareholders of the larger
combined fund; and (5) the allocation of expenses of the Merger, including the Adviser paying all
of the Merger costs. The Acquiring Fund Board also considered the expected tax free nature of the
Merger for each Fund and its shareholders for federal income tax purposes.
Based upon the information and considerations summarized above, the Acquiring Fund Board
unanimously concluded that the Merger is in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund
34
and the
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and that no dilution of net asset value would result to the
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund from the Merger. Consequently, on November 28, 2011, the
Acquiring Fund Board, including the Independent Trustees voting
separately, unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger and unanimously recommended
that the shareholders of Acquiring Fund vote in favor of the Merger.
Considerations of the Board of the Target Fund
The Board of the Target Fund (the Target Fund Board) created an ad hoc committee (the Ad
Hoc Merger Committee) to consider the Merger and to assist the Target Fund Board in consideration
of such Merger. The Ad Hoc Merger Committee met separately two times, on October 17, 2011 and
November 18, 2011, to discuss the proposed Merger. Two separate meetings of the Target Fund Board
were also held to review and consider the Merger, including presentations by the Ad Hoc Merger
Committee on its deliberations and, ultimately, recommendations. The trustees who are not
interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Funds (the Independent
Trustees) held a separate meeting in conjunction with the November 29-30, 2011 meeting of the full
Target Fund Board to consider these matters. The Independent Trustees have been advised on this
matter by independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees. The Target Fund Board requested
and received from the Adviser written materials containing relevant information about the Funds and
the proposed Merger, including fee and expense information on an actual and pro forma estimated
basis, and comparative portfolio composition and performance data.
The Target Fund Board reviewed, among other information they deemed relevant, information
comparing the following: (1) investment objectives, policies and restrictions; (2) portfolio
management; (3) portfolio composition; (4) comparative short-term and long-term investment
performance and distribution yields; (5) current expense ratios and expense structures, including
contractual investment advisory fees on a net asset basis and on a managed assets basis; (6)
expected federal income tax consequences to the Target Fund, including any impact on capital loss
carry forwards; (7) relative asset size; and (8) trading information such as trading
premiums/discounts and bid/ask spreads.
The Target Fund Board considered the benefits to the Target Fund of (i) combining with a
similar fund to create a larger fund, (ii) the Advisers paying all of the Merger costs, and (iii)
the expected tax free nature of the Merger for the Target Fund and its shareholders for federal
income tax purposes. The Target Fund Board also considered that the potential benefits to the Fund
of the Merger might include (1) benefits resulting from the larger size of the combined fund,
including the potential for (i) increased attention from the investment community, (ii) increased
trading volume and tighter spreads and improved premium/discount levels for the combined funds
Common Shares, (iii) improved purchasing power and more efficient transaction costs, and (iv)
increased diversification of portfolio investments; (2) maintaining consistent portfolio management
teams, processes and investment objectives; and (3) reducing market confusion caused by similar
product offerings. In addition, the Target Fund Board considered the Acquiring Funds contractual
advisory fee rate in light of the benefits of retaining the Adviser as the Acquiring Funds
investment adviser, the services provided, and those expected to be provided, to the Acquiring Fund
by the Adviser, and the terms and conditions of the Acquiring Funds advisory agreement.
After considering the foregoing, the Board of the Target Fund noted that:
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the combined fund on a pro forma basis had a more than 1.90% higher Common Share
distribution yield (as a percentage of net asset value) than the Target Fund, even
after giving effect to the higher management fees and total expense ratio that will
apply to the combined fund before and after the expiration of fee waivers; |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares had traded at an average
premium of 1.51% to its net asset value over the preceding 52 week period and, over the
same period, the Target Funds Common Shares had traded at an average discount of
-7.21%; |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Fund Common Shares traded at an average discount
of -2.4% to its net asset value for the preceding month and, over the same period, the
Target Funds Common Shares had traded at an average discount of -8.4%; |
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the average daily trading volume for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares was more
than three times the average daily trading volume of the Target Funds Common Shares;
and |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Fund owned 152 different municipal bonds and the
Target Fund owned 119, which means that the combined fund would provide shareholders with a more
diverse investment portfolio. |
The Target Fund Board also considered the Merger in the context of the larger group of
mergers, which were designed to rationalize the Invesco funds in a way that can enhance visibility
in the market place. The Target Fund Board discussed with the Adviser the possible alternatives to
the Merger, including liquidation and maintaining the status quo, among other alternatives.
The Target Fund Board further considered that (i) the investment objective, strategies and
related risks of the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund are similar; (ii) the Target Fund and the
Acquiring Fund have the same portfolio management team; (iii) shareholders would become
shareholders of a single larger fund; (iv) the Advisers agreement to limit the Acquiring Funds
total expenses if the Merger is completed, as disclosed above on a pro forma basis, for two years
from the closing date of the Merger; and (v) the Advisers representation that, because of the
similarity between the Funds investment objectives and strategies, the costs associated with
repositioning the Target Funds investment portfolio in connection with the Merger would be
minimal.
Based upon the information and considerations described above, the Target Fund Board
unanimously concluded that the Merger is in the best interests of the Target Fund and that no
dilution of net asset value would result to the shareholders of the Target Fund from the Merger.
Consequently, the Target Fund Board unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger on
November 29, 2011.
The discussion above summarizes certain information regarding the Funds considered by the
Boards of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund, respectively, which was accurate as of the time
of the Boards consideration of the Merger. There can be no assurance that the information
considered by the Boards, including with respect to a Funds trading at a premium or discount,
remains accurate as of the date hereof or at the closing of the Merger.
Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Merger
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of
the Merger and is based upon the current provisions of the Code, the existing U.S. Treasury
Regulations thereunder, current administrative rulings of the IRS and published judicial decisions,
all of which are subject to change. These considerations are general in nature and individual
shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local, and foreign tax
considerations applicable to them and their individual circumstances. These same considerations
generally do not apply to shareholders who hold their shares in a tax-deferred account.
The Merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Code.
As described above, the Merger will occur following the Redomestication of the Target Fund and the
Acquiring Fund. The principal federal income tax considerations that are expected to result from
the Merger of the Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund are as follows:
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund or the shareholders of the
Target Fund as a result of the Merger; |
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund as a result of the
Merger; |
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the aggregate tax basis of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be received by a
shareholder of the Target Fund will be the same as the shareholders aggregate tax
basis of the shares of the Target Fund; and |
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the holding period of the shares of the Acquiring Fund received by a
shareholder of the Target Fund will include the period that a shareholder held the
shares of the Target Fund (provided that such shares of the Target Fund are
capital assets in the hands of such shareholder as of the Closing). |
Neither the Target Fund nor the Acquiring Fund have requested or will request an advance
ruling from the IRS as to the federal tax consequences of the Merger. As a condition to Closing,
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young,
36
LLP will render a favorable opinion to the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund as to the
foregoing federal income tax consequences of the Merger, which opinion will be conditioned upon,
among other things, the accuracy, as of the Closing Date, of certain representations of the Target
Fund and the Acquiring Fund upon which Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP will rely in rendering
its opinion. Such opinion of counsel may state that no opinion is expressed as to the effect of
the Merger on the Target Fund, Acquiring Fund, or any Target Fund shareholder with respect to any
transferred asset as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized for federal
income tax purposes at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination or transfer thereof) under
a mark-to-market system of accounting. A copy of the opinion will be filed with the SEC and will
be available for public inspection. See Where to Find Additional Information. In addition,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will deliver an opinion to the Funds, subject to certain
representations, assumptions and conditions, to the effect that the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares
received in the Mergers by holders of VMTP Shares of the Target Fund will qualify as equity in the
Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes.
Opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or the courts. If the Merger is consummated
but the IRS or the courts determine that the Merger does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization
under the Code, and thus is taxable, the Target Fund would recognize gain or loss on the transfer
of its assets to the Acquiring Fund and each shareholder of the Target Fund would recognize a
taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between its tax basis in its Target Fund shares and
the fair market value of the shares of the Acquiring Fund it receives.
Prior to the closing of the Merger, the Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
Each Fund may invest all or a substantial portion of its total assets in municipal securities
that may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT bonds) and,
therefore, a substantial portion of the income produced by each Fund may be taxable for such
investors under the federal alternative minimum tax. If the Acquiring Fund following the Merger
has a greater portion of its portfolio investments in AMT bonds than the Target Fund, a greater
portion of the dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund to shareholders of the Target Fund,
post-Closing, may be taxable under the federal alternative minimum tax. However, the portion of a
Funds total assets invested in AMT Bonds on the Closing Date or in the future and the portion of
income subject to federal alternative minimum tax cannot be known in advance. See the Schedule of
Investments available in each Funds Annual Report for the portion of a Funds total assets that
are invested in AMT Bonds at February 29, 2012.
The tax attributes, including capital loss carryovers, of the Target Fund move to the
Acquiring Fund in the Merger. The capital loss carryovers of the Target Fund and the Acquiring
Fund are available to offset future gains recognized by the combined fund, subject to limitations
under the Code. Where these limitations apply, all or a portion of a Funds capital loss
carryovers may become unavailable the effect of which may be to accelerate the recognition of
taxable gain to the combined fund and its shareholders post-Closing. Under one such limitation, if
a Fund has built-in gains at the time of Closing that are realized by the combined fund in the
five-year period following the Merger, such built-in gains, when realized, may not be offset by the
losses (including any capital loss carryovers and built in losses) of the other Fund. It is not
anticipated that other limitations on use of a Funds capital loss carryovers, if any, would be
material, although that depends on the facts at the time of closing of the Merger. At February 29,
2012, the Target Fund has aggregate capital loss carryovers of $0.7 million and the Acquiring Fund
has aggregate capital loss carryovers of $28.5 million. For more information with respect to each
Funds capital loss carryovers, please refer to the Funds shareholder report.
Shareholders of the Target Fund will receive a proportionate share of any taxable income and
gains realized by the Acquiring Fund and not distributed to its shareholders prior to the Merger
when such income and gains are
37
eventually distributed by the Acquiring Fund. As a result, shareholders of the Target Fund may
receive a greater amount of taxable distributions than they would have had the Merger not occurred.
In addition, if the Acquiring Fund following the Merger has proportionately greater unrealized
appreciation in its portfolio investments as a percentage of its net asset value than the Target
Fund, shareholders of the Target Fund, post-Closing, may receive greater amounts of taxable gain as
such portfolio investments are sold than they otherwise might have if the Merger had not occurred.
At February 29, 2012, the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of the portfolio
investments of the Target Fund on a tax basis as a percentage of its net asset value is 11% for the
Target Fund, compared to that of the Acquiring Fund of 12%, and 11% on a combined basis.
After the Merger, shareholders will continue to be responsible for tracking the adjusted tax
basis and holding period of their shares for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
The Fund expects that the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in the Merger in exchange
for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Each Fund has received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that VMTP
Shares issued by it prior to the Redomestication and Merger will be treated as equity of such Fund
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Special VMTP
Federal Income Tax Counsel) is of the opinion that, and as a condition to the closing of the
Merger will deliver to the Funds an opinion that, the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in
the Merger in exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or any
court. Thus, no assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not
sustain, a position contrary to Special VMTP Federal Income Tax Counsels opinion.
The discussion herein assumes that the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in the Merger
in exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
Where to Find More Information
The SAI and each Funds shareholder reports contain further information on the Funds,
including their investment policies, strategies and risks.
THE BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF
PROPOSAL 2.
PROPOSAL 3: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY THE TARGET FUND
At the Meeting, VMTP Shareholders and Common Shareholders of the Target Fund, voting together
as a single class, will vote on the election of the following six nominees for election as
Trustees: James T. Bunch, Bruce L. Crockett, Rodney F. Dammeyer, Jack M. Fields, Martin L. Flanagan
and Carl Frischling. All nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and have
agreed to serve if elected.
The following table indicates the Trustees and the period for which each group currently
serves:
|
|
|
|
|
Group I* |
|
Group II** |
|
Group III*** |
Albert R. Dowden
|
|
David C. Arch
|
|
James T. Bunch |
Prema Mathai-Davis
|
|
Frank S. Bayley
|
|
Bruce L. Crockett |
Hugo F. Sonnenschein
|
|
Larry Soll
|
|
Rodney F. Dammeyer |
Raymond Stickel, Jr.
|
|
Philip A. Taylor
|
|
Jack M. Fields |
|
|
Wayne W. Whalen
|
|
Martin L. Flanagan |
|
|
|
|
Carl Frischling |
|
|
|
* |
|
Currently serving until the year 2013 Annual Meeting or until their successors have been
duly elected and qualified. |
|
** |
|
Currently serving until the year 2014 Annual Meeting or until their successors have been duly
elected and qualified. |
38
|
|
|
*** |
|
If elected, to serve until the year 2015 Annual Meeting or until their successors have been
duly elected and qualified. |
If elected, each nominee will serve until the later of the Target Funds annual meeting
of shareholders in 2015 or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or his
or her earlier retirement, resignation or removal. As in the past, only one class of Trustees is
being submitted to shareholders of the Target Fund for election at the Meeting. The Declaration of
Trust of the Target Fund provides that the Board shall be divided into three classes, which must be
as nearly equal in number as possible. For the Target Fund, the Trustees of only one class are
elected at each annual meeting, so that the regular term of only one class of Trustees will expire
annually and any particular Trustee stands for election only once in each three-year period. This
type of classification may prevent replacement of a majority of Trustees of the Target Fund for up
to a two-year period. The foregoing is subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable state
law, each Funds Declaration of Trust and the Target Funds bylaws.
Prema Mathai-Davis and Frank S. Bayley, who are not part of the group of Trustees standing for
election at the Meeting, have been designated to be elected solely by the holders of the VMTP
Shares of the applicable Fund.
Common Shares of each Fund are also expected to vote on the election of the Trustee nominees,
and their votes will be counted together as a single class with the VMTP Shares.
The business and affairs of the Target Fund are managed under the direction of its Board of
Trustees. Below is information on the Trustees qualifications and experience.
Interested Trustees.
Martin L. Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan is president and chief executive officer of Invesco Ltd., a
position he has held since August 2005. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Invesco
Ltd. Mr. Flanagan joined Invesco Ltd. from Franklin Resources, Inc., where he was president and
co-chief executive officer from January 2004 to July 2005. Previously he had been Franklins
co-president from May 2003 to January 2004, chief operating officer and chief financial officer
from November 1999 to May 2003, and senior vice president and chief financial officer from 1993
until November 1999. Mr. Flanagan served as director, executive vice president and chief operating
officer of Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger, Ltd. before its acquisition by Franklin in 1992.
Before joining Templeton in 1983, he worked with Arthur Anderson & Co. Mr. Flanagan is a chartered
financial analyst and a certified public accountant. He serves as vice chairman of the Investment
Company Institute and is a member of the executive board at the SMU Cox School of Business. The
Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Flanagans long experience as an executive in the investment
management area benefits the Target Fund.
Philip A. Taylor. Mr. Taylor has been the head of Invescos North American retail business as
Senior Managing Director since April 2006. He previously served as chief executive officer of
Invesco Trimark Investments since January 2002. Mr. Taylor joined Invesco in 1999 as senior vice
president of operations and client services and later became executive vice president and chief
operating officer. Mr. Taylor was president of Canadian retail broker Investors Group Securities
from 1994 to 1997 and managing partner of Meridian Securities, an execution and clearing broker,
from 1989 to 1994. He held various management positions with Royal Trust, now part of Royal Bank
of Canada, from 1982 to 1989. He began his career in consumer brand management in the U.S. and
Canada with Richardson-Vicks, now part of Procter & Gamble. The Target Fund Board believes that
Mr. Taylors long experience in the investment management business benefits the Target Fund.
Wayne W. Whalen. Mr. Whalen is Of Counsel and, prior to 2010, was a partner in the law firm
of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Whalen is a Director of the Mutual Fund Directors
Forum, a nonprofit membership organization for investment company directors, Chairman and Director
of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, and Director of the Stevenson Center for
Democracy. From 1995 to 2010, Mr. Whalen served as Director and Trustee of investment companies in
the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Whalens experience as a law
firm partner and his experience as a director of investment companies benefits the Target Fund.
39
Independent Trustees.
David C. Arch. Formerly, Mr. Arch was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blistex,
Inc., a consumer health care products manufacturer. Mr. Arch is a member of the Heartland Alliance
Advisory Board, a nonprofit organization serving human needs based in Chicago and member of the
Board of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. Mr. Arch is also a member of the Board of
Visitors, Institute for the Humanities, University of Michigan. From 1984 to 2010, Mr. Arch served
as Director or Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen funds complex. The Target Fund
Board believes that Mr. Archs experience as the CEO of a public company and his experience with
investment companies benefits the Target Fund.
Frank S. Bayley. Mr. Bayley is a business consultant in San Francisco. He is Chairman and a
Director of the C. D. Stimson Company, a private investment company in Seattle. Mr. Bayley serves
as a Trustee of the Seattle Art Museum, a Trustee of San Francisco Performances, and a Trustee and
Overseer of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He also serves on the East Asian Art
Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Visiting Committee for Art of Asia, Oceana and
Africa of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Mr. Bayley is a retired partner of the international
law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP, where his practice focused on business acquisitions and venture
capital transactions. Prior to joining Baker & McKenzie LLP in 1986, he was a partner of the San
Francisco law firm of Chickering & Gregory. He received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1961, his
LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1964, and his LL.M. from Boalt Hall at the University of
California, Berkeley, in 1965. Mr. Bayley served as a Trustee of the Badgley Funds from inception
in 1998 until dissolution in 2007. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Bayleys experience as
a business consultant and a lawyer benefits the Target Fund.
James T. Bunch. From 1988 to 2010, Mr. Bunch was Founding Partner of Green Manning & Bunch,
Ltd., a leading investment banking firm located in Denver, Colorado. Green Manning & Bunch is a
FINRA-registered investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private financing of
middle-market companies and corporate finance advisory services. Immediately prior to forming
Green Manning & Bunch, Mr. Bunch was Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and a Director of
Boettcher & Company, then the leading investment banking firm in the Rocky Mountain region. Mr.
Bunch began his professional career as a practicing attorney. He joined the prominent Denver-based
law firm of Davis Graham & Stubbs in 1970 and later rose to the position of Chairman and Managing
Partner of the firm. At various other times during his career, Mr. Bunch has served as Chair of
the NASD Business District Conduct Committee, and Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Ethics
Committee. In June 2010, Mr. Bunch became the Managing Member of Grumman Hill Group LLC, a family
office private equity investment manager. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Bunchs
experience as an investment banker and investment management lawyer benefits the Target Fund.
Bruce L. Crockett. Mr. Crockett has more than 30 years of experience in finance and general
management in the banking, aerospace and telecommunications industries. From 1992 to 1996, he
served as president, chief executive officer and a director of COMSAT Corporation, an international
satellite and wireless telecommunications company. Mr. Crockett has also served, since 1996, as
chairman of Crockett Technologies Associates, a strategic consulting firm that provides services to
the information technology and communications industries. Mr. Crockett also serves on the Board of
Directors of ACE Limited, a Zurich-based insurance company. He is a life trustee of the University
of Rochester Board of Directors. The Target Fund Board elected Mr. Crockett to serve as its
Independent Chair because of his extensive experience in managing public companies and familiarity
with investment companies.
Rodney F. Dammeyer. Since 2001, Mr. Dammeyer has been Chairman of CAC, LLC, a private company
offering capital investment and management advisory services. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer served as
Managing Partner at Equity Group Corporate Investments; Chief Executive Officer of Anixter
International; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Household International, Inc.;
and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Industries, Inc. Mr.
Dammeyer was a Partner of Arthur Andersen & Co., an international accounting firm. Mr. Dammeyer
currently serves as a Director of Quidel Corporation and Stericycle, Inc. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer
served as a Trustee of The Scripps Research Institute; and a Director of Ventana Medical Systems,
Inc.; GATX Corporation; TheraSense, Inc.; TeleTech Holdings Inc.; and Arris Group, Inc. From 1987
to 2010, Mr. Dammeyer served as Director or Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen funds
complex. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Dammeyers experience in executive positions at a
number of
40
public companies, his accounting experience and his experience serving as a director of investment
companies benefits the Target Fund.
Albert R. Dowden. Mr. Dowden retired at the end of 1998 after a 24-year career with Volvo
Group North America, Inc. and Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. Mr. Dowden joined Volvo as general
counsel in 1974 and was promoted to increasingly senior positions until 1991 when he was appointed
president, chief executive officer and director of Volvo Group North America and senior vice
president of Swedish parent company AB Volvo. Since retiring, Mr. Dowden continues to serve on the
board of the Reich & Tang Funds and also serves on the boards of Homeowners of America Insurance
Company and its parent company, as well as Natures Sunshine Products, Inc. and The Boss Group.
Mr. Dowdens charitable endeavors currently focus on Boys & Girls Clubs where he has been active
for many years, as well as several other not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Dowden began his career
as an attorney with a major international law firm, Rogers & Wells (1967-1976), which is now
Clifford Chance. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Dowdens extensive experience as a
corporate executive benefits the Target Fund.
Jack M. Fields. Mr. Fields served as a member of Congress, representing the 8th Congressional
District of Texas from 1980 to 1997. As a member of Congress, Mr. Fields served as Chairman of the
House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction and oversight of the
Federal Communications Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Fields
co-sponsored the National Securities Markets Improvements Act of 1996, and played a leadership role
in enactment of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Mr. Fields currently serves
as Chief Executive Officer of the Twenty-First Century Group in Washington, D.C., a bipartisan
Washington consulting firm specializing in Federal government affairs. Mr. Fields also serves as a
Director of Insperity (formerly known as Administaff) (NYSE: ASF), a premier professional employer
organization with clients nationwide. In addition, Mr. Fields sits on the Board of the Discovery
Channel Global Education Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational
resources to people in need around the world through the use of technology. The Target Fund Board
believes that Mr. Fields experience in the House of Representatives, especially concerning
regulation of the securities markets, benefits the Target Fund.
Carl Frischling. Mr. Frischling is senior partner of the Financial Services Group of Kramer
Levin. He is a pioneer in the field of bank-related mutual funds and has counseled clients in
developing and structuring comprehensive mutual fund complexes. Mr. Frischling also advises mutual
funds and their independent trustees/directors on their fiduciary obligations under federal
securities laws. Prior to his practicing law, he was chief administrative officer and general
counsel of a large mutual fund complex that included a retail and institutional sales force,
investment counseling and an internal transfer agent. During his ten years with the organization,
he developed business expertise in a number of areas within the financial services complex. He
served on the Investment Company Institute board and was involved in ongoing matters with all of
the regulatory areas overseeing this industry. Mr. Frischling is a board member of the Mutual Fund
Directors Forum. He also serves as a Trustee of the Reich & Tang Funds, a registered investment
company. Mr. Frischling serves as a Trustee of the Yorkville Youth Athletic Association and is a
member of the Advisory Board of Columbia University Medical Center. The Target Fund Board believes
that Mr. Frischlings experience as an investment management lawyer and his long involvement with
investment companies benefits the Target Fund.
Dr. Prema Mathai-Davis. Prior to her retirement in 2000, Dr. Mathai-Davis served as Chief
Executive Officer of the YWCA of the USA. Prior to joining the YWCA, Dr. Mathai-Davis served as
the Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging. She was a Commissioner of the New
York Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, the largest regional transportation network
in the U.S. Dr. Mathai-Davis also serves as a Trustee of the YWCA Retirement Fund, the first and
oldest pension fund for women, and on the advisory board of the Johns Hopkins Bioethics Institute.
Dr. Mathai-Davis was the president and chief executive officer of the Community Agency for Senior
Citizens, a non-profit social service agency that she established in 1981. She also directed the
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine-Hunter College Long-Term Care Gerontology Center, one of the first of
its kind. The Target Fund Board believes that Dr. Mathai-Davis extensive experience in running
public and charitable institutions benefits the Target Fund.
Dr. Larry Soll. Formerly, Dr. Soll was chairman of the board (1987 to 1994), chief executive
officer (1982 to 1989; 1993 to 1994), and president (1982 to 1989) of Synergen Corp., a
biotechnology company, in Boulder,
41
Colorado. He was also a faculty member at the University of Colorado (1974-1980). The Target Fund
Board believes that Dr. Solls experience as a chairman of a public company and in academia
benefits the Target Fund.
Hugo F. Sonnenschein. Mr. Sonnenschein is the Distinguished Service Professor and President
Emeritus of the University of Chicago and the Adam Smith Distinguished Service Professor in the
Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. Until July 2000, Mr. Sonnenschein served as
President of the University of Chicago. Mr. Sonnenschein is a Trustee of the University of
Rochester and a member of its investment committee. He is also a member of the National Academy of
Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. From 1994 to 2010, Mr. Sonnenschein served as Director or Trustee of investment
companies in the Van Kampen funds complex. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Sonnenscheins
experiences in academia and in running a university, and his experience as a director of investment
companies benefits the Target Fund.
Raymond Stickel, Jr. Mr. Stickel retired after a 35-year career with Deloitte & Touche. For
the last five years of his career, he was the managing partner of the investment management
practice for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region. In addition to his management role,
he directed audit and tax services to several mutual fund clients. Mr. Stickel began his career
with Touche Ross & Co. in Dayton, Ohio, became a partner in 1976 and managing partner of the office
in 1985. He also started and developed an investment management practice in the Dayton office that
grew to become a significant source of investment management talent for Touche Ross & Co. In Ohio,
he served as the audit partner on numerous mutual funds and on public and privately held companies
in other industries. Mr. Stickel has also served on Touche Ross & Co.s Accounting and Auditing
Executive Committee. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Stickels experience as a partner in
a large accounting firm working with investment managers and investment companies, and his status
as an Audit Committee Financial Expert, benefits the Target Fund.
Additional biographical information regarding the Trustees can be found in Exhibit F.
Information on the Target Fund Boards leadership structure, role in risk oversight, and committees
and meetings can be found in Exhibit G. Information on the remuneration of Trustees can be found
in Exhibit H. Information on the executive officers of the Target Fund is available in Exhibit E.
Information on the Target Funds independent registered public accounting firm is available in
Exhibit I.
THE BOARD OF THE TARGET FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES.
PROPOSAL 4: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY THE ACQUIRING FUND
(a) At the Meeting, VMTP Shareholders and Common Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, voting
together as a single class, will vote to elect one Class II Trustee (Wayne W. Whalen is the
nominee).
(b) At the Meeting, the VMTP Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will vote as a separate class
on the election of one Class II Trustee (Linda Hutton Heagy is the nominee) designated to be
elected solely by VMTP Shareholders.
If elected, each nominee will serve until the later of the Funds annual meeting of
shareholders in 2015 or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or his or
her earlier retirement, resignation or removal. As in the past, only one class of Trustees is
being submitted to shareholders of the Acquiring Fund for election at the Meeting. The Declaration
of Trust of the Acquiring Fund provides that the Board shall be divided into three classes, which
must be as nearly equal in number as possible. For the Acquiring Fund, the Trustees of only one
class are elected at each annual meeting, so that the regular term of only one class of Trustees
will expire annually and any particular Trustee stands for election only once in each three-year
period. This type of classification may prevent replacement of a majority of Trustees of the
Acquiring Fund for up to a two-year period. The foregoing is subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, applicable state law, the Acquiring Funds Declaration of Trust, and the Acquiring Funds
bylaws.
The Trustees who make up the various classes of the Board of the Acquiring Fund are shown in
the chart below:
42
|
|
|
|
|
Class I |
|
Class II |
|
Class III |
David C. Arch
|
|
Wayne W. Whalen
|
|
Colin D. Meadows |
Jerry D. Choate
|
|
Rodney Dammeyer (2)
|
|
R. Craig Kennedy |
Howard J Kerr(2)
|
|
Linda Hutton Heagy (1)
|
|
Jack E. Nelson (2) |
Suzanne H. Woolsey, Ph.D.
|
|
|
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein (1) |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Linda Hutton Heagy and Hugo F. Sonnenschein are designated to be elected solely
by the Preferred Shareholders voting as a separate class. |
|
(2) |
|
Pursuant to the Acquiring Funds Trustee retirement policy, Howard J Kerr and
Jack E. Nelson are retiring from the Board effective as of the Meeting. Rodney
Dammeyer is not standing for reelection as Trustee of the Acquiring Fund and his term
of office will expire at the Meeting. The Acquiring Funds Board has reduced the size
of the Board to eight Trustees effective as of the Meeting. |
The business and affairs of the Acquiring Fund are managed under the direction of its Board of
Trustees. The Acquiring Fund Board seeks to provide shareholders with a highly qualified, highly
capable and diverse group of Board members reflecting the diversity of investor interests
underlying the Acquiring Fund and with a diversity of backgrounds, experience and skills that the
Acquiring Fund Board considers desirable and necessary to its primary goal protecting and
promoting shareholders interests. While the Acquiring Fund Board does not require that its
members meet specific qualifications, the Acquiring Fund Board has historically sought to recruit
and continues to value individual Board members that add to the overall diversity of the Acquiring
Fund Board the objective is to bring varied backgrounds, experience and skills reflective of the
wide range of the shareholder base and provide both contrasting and complementary skills relative
to the other Board members to best protect and promote shareholders interests. Board diversity
means bringing together different viewpoints, professional experience, investment experience,
education, and other skills. As can be seen in the individual biographies below, the Acquiring
Fund Board brings together a wide variety of business experience (including chairman/chief
executive officer-level and director-level experience, including board committee experience, of
several different types of organizations); varied public and private investment-related experience;
not-for-profit experience; customer service and other back office operations experience; a wide
variety of accounting, finance, legal, and marketing experience; academic experience; consulting
experience; and government, political and military service experience. All of this experience
together results in important leadership and management knowledge, skills and perspective that
provide the Acquiring Fund Board understanding and insight into the operations of the Acquiring
Fund and add range and depth to the Acquiring Fund Board. As part of its governance oversight, the
Acquiring Fund Board conducts an annual self-effectiveness survey which includes, among other
things, evaluating the Acquiring Fund Boards (and each committees) agendas, meetings and
materials, conduct of the meetings, committee structures, interaction with management, strategic
planning, etc., and also includes evaluating the Acquiring Fund Boards (and each committees)
size, composition, qualifications (including diversity of characteristics, experience and subject
matter expertise) and overall performance.
The Acquiring Fund Board evaluates all of the foregoing and does not believe any single factor
or group of factors controls or dominates the qualifications of any individual trustee or the
qualifications of the trustees as a group. After considering all factors together, the Acquiring
Fund Board believes that each Trustee is qualified to serve as a Trustee.
Independent Trustees.
David C. Arch. Formerly, Mr. Arch was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blistex,
Inc., a consumer health care products manufacturer. Mr. Arch is a member of the Heartland Alliance
Advisory Board, a nonprofit organization serving human needs based in Chicago and member of the
Board of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. Mr. Arch is also a member of the Board of
Visitors, Institute for the Humanities, University of Michigan. From 1984 to 2010, Mr. Arch served
as Director or Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Board believes
that Mr. Archs experience as the CEO of a public company and his experience with investment
companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
43
Jerry D. Choate. Mr. Choate has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the
Invesco fund complex since 2003. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Mr. Choates experience as
the chairman and chief executive officer of a public company and a director of several public
companies, his service as a Trustee of funds in the Invesco fund complex and his experience as a
director of other investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
Rodney F. Dammeyer. Since 2001, Mr. Dammeyer has been Chairman of CAC, LLC, a private company
offering capital investment and management advisory services. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer served as
Managing Partner at Equity Group Corporate Investments; Chief Executive Officer of Anixter
International; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Household International, Inc.;
and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Industries, Inc. Mr. Dammeyer
was a Partner of Arthur Andersen & Co., an international accounting firm. Mr. Dammeyer currently
serves as a Director of Quidel Corporation and Stericycle, Inc. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer served as
a Trustee of The Scripps Research Institute; and a Director of Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.; GATX
Corporation; TheraSense, Inc.; TeleTech Holdings Inc.; and Arris Group, Inc. From 1987 to 2010, Mr.
Dammeyer served as Director or Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen Funds complex.
The Board believes that Mr. Dammeyers experience in executive positions at a number of public
companies, his accounting experience and his experience serving as a director of investment
companies benefits the Acquiring Fund. Mr. Dammeyer is not standing for reelection and his term
of office as Trustee of the Acquiring Fund will expire at the Meeting.
Linda Hutton Heagy. Ms. Heagy has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the
Invesco fund complex since 2003. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Ms. Heagys experience in
executive positions at a number of bank and trust companies and as a member of the board of several
organizations, her service as a Trustee of funds in the Invesco fund complex and her experience
serving as a director of other investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
R. Craig Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the
Invesco fund complex since 2003. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Mr. Kennedys experience
in executive positions at a number of foundations, his investment experience, his service as a
Trustee of funds in the Invesco fund complex and his experience serving as a director of other
investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
Howard J Kerr. Mr. Kerr has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 1992. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Mr. Kerrs experience in executive
positions at a number of companies, his experience in public service, his service as a Trustee of
funds in the Invesco fund complex and his experience serving as a director of other investment
companies benefits the Acquiring Fund. Pursuant to the Acquiring Fund Boards Trustee retirement
policy, Mr. Kerr is retiring from the Acquiring Fund Board effective as of the Meeting.
Jack E. Nelson. Mr. Nelson has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2003. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Mr. Nelsons experience in
executive positions at a number of companies and as a member of several financial and investment
industry organizations, his service as a Trustee of funds in the Invesco fund complex and his
experience serving as a director of other investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
Pursuant to the Acquiring Fund Boards Trustee retirement policy, Mr. Nelson is retiring from the
Acquiring Fund Board effective as of the Meeting.
Hugo F. Sonnenschein. Mr. Sonnenschein is the Distinguished Service Professor and President
Emeritus of the University of Chicago and the Adam Smith Distinguished Service Professor in the
Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. Until July 2000, Mr. Sonnenschein served as
President of the University of Chicago. Mr. Sonnenschein is a Trustee of the University of
Rochester and a member of its investment committee. He is also a member of the National Academy of
Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. From 1994 to 2010, Mr. Sonnenschein served as Director or Trustee of investment companies
in the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Board believes that Mr. Sonnenscheins experiences in
academia and in running a university, and his experience as a director of investment companies
benefits the Acquiring Fund.
44
Suzanne H. Woolsey. Ms. Woolsey has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the
Invesco fund complex since 2003. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Ms. Woolseys experience
as a director of numerous organizations, her service as a Trustee of funds in the Invesco fund
complex and her experience as a director of other investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund.
Interested Trustees.
Colin D. Meadows. Mr. Meadows has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the
Invesco fund complex since 2010. The Acquiring Fund Board believes that Mr. Meadows financial
services and asset management experience benefits the Acquiring Fund.
Wayne W. Whalen. Mr. Whalen is Of Counsel and, prior to 2010, was a partner in the law firm
of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Whalen is a Director of the Mutual Fund Directors
Forum, a nonprofit membership organization for investment company directors, Chairman and Director
of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, and Director of the Stevenson Center for
Democracy. From 1995 to 2010, Mr. Whalen served as Director and Trustee of investment companies in
the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Whalens experience as a law
firm partner and his experience as a director of investment companies benefits the Target Fund.
Additional biographical information regarding the Trustees can be found in Exhibit J.
Information on the Acquiring Fund Boards leadership structure, role in risk oversight, and
committees and meetings can be found in Exhibit K. Information on the remuneration of Trustees can
be found in Exhibit L Information on the executive officers of the Acquiring Fund is available in
Exhibit E. Information on the Acquiring Funds independent registered public accounting firm is
available in Exhibit I.
THE BOARD OF THE ACQUIRING FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
NOMINEE.
VOTING INFORMATION
How to Vote Your Shares
There are several ways you can vote your shares, including in person at the Meeting, by mail,
by telephone, or via the Internet. The proxy card that accompanies this Proxy Statement provides
detailed instructions on how you may vote your shares.
If you properly fill in and sign your proxy card and send it to us in time to vote at the
Meeting, your proxy (the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as you have
directed. If you sign your proxy card but do not make specific choices, your proxy will vote your
shares FOR each Proposal and for all of the Trustee nominees, in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board of your Fund, and in the proxys best judgment on other matters.
Why are you sending me the Proxy Statement?
You are receiving this Proxy Statement because you own VMTP Shares of a Fund as of the Record
Date and have the right to vote on the very important proposals described herein concerning your
Fund. This Proxy Statement contains information that shareholders of the Funds should know before
voting on the proposals.
About the Proxy Statement and the Meeting
We are sending you this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board is
soliciting your proxy to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the
Meeting. This Proxy Statement gives you information about the business to be conducted at the
Meeting. Fund shareholders may vote by appearing in person at the Meeting and following the
instructions below. You do not need to attend the Meeting to vote, however. Instead, you may
simply complete, sign, and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by following the instructions on
the enclosed proxy card to vote via telephone or the Internet.
45
Shareholders of record of the Funds as of the close of business on the Record Date are
entitled to vote at the Meeting. The number of outstanding shares of each class of each Fund on
the Record Date can be found at Exhibit M. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full
share held and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. The Funds expect
that Common Shares will also be voted at the Meeting. This Proxy Statement is not a solicitation
for any votes of the Common Shares of any Fund.
Attendance at the Meeting is generally limited to shareholders and their authorized
representatives. All shareholders must bring an acceptable form of identification in order to
attend the Meeting in person.
Proxies will have the authority to vote and act on behalf of shareholders at any adjournment
of the Meeting. It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote the
shares represented by them for each proposal and for all of the Trustee nominees, unless the proxy
card is marked otherwise. If a shareholder gives a proxy, the shareholder may revoke the
authorization at any time before it is exercised by sending in another proxy card with a later date
or by notifying the Secretary of the Fund in writing at the address of the Fund set forth on the
cover page of this Proxy Statement before the Meeting that the shareholder has revoked its proxy.
In addition, although merely attending the Meeting will not revoke your proxy, if a shareholder is
present at the Meeting, the shareholder may withdraw the proxy and vote in person.
Quorum Requirement and Adjournment
A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid shareholder meeting of each Fund. Under
the governing documents of the Target Fund, the holders of a majority of the Funds shares issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Under the governing
documents of the Acquiring Fund, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class
or series or combined class entitled to vote thereat of the Fund present in person or by proxy
shall constitute a quorum at the Meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, it may be adjourned, with the vote of the majority
of the votes present or represented by proxy, to allow additional solicitations of proxies in order
to attain a quorum. For the Target Fund, the shareholders present in person or represented by
proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting will also have the power to adjourn the Meeting from time
to time if the vote required to approve or reject any proposal described herein is not obtained,
with proxies, including abstentions and broker non-votes, being voted for or against adjournment
consistent with the votes for and against the proposal for which the required vote has not been
obtained. For the Acquiring Fund, the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote at the Meeting will also have the power to adjourn the Meeting from time to time
if the vote required to approve or reject any proposal described herein is not obtained, with
proxies, including abstentions and broker non-votes, being voted for adjournment, provided the
proxies determine that such an adjournment and additional solicitation is reasonable and in the
interest of shareholders based on a consideration of all relevant factors, including the nature of
the relevant proposal, the percentage of votes then cast, the percentage of negative votes then
cast, the nature of the proposed solicitation activities and the nature of the reasons for such
further solicitation. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of a Funds shares then
present in person or represented by proxy shall be required to so adjourn the Meeting.
In the event that a shareholder of a Fund present at the Meeting objects to the holding of a
joint meeting and moves for an adjournment of the meeting of such Fund to a time immediately after
the Meeting so that such Funds meeting may be held separately, the persons named as proxies will
vote in favor of such adjournment.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (described below) are counted as present and will be included
for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for each Fund at the Meeting, but are not
considered votes cast at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect
as a vote against Proposals 1, 2, or 3, because their approval requires the affirmative vote of a
percentage of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund or of a certain proportion of the
shares present at the Meeting, as opposed to a percentage of votes cast. For Proposal 4,
abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect because only a plurality of votes is required
to elect a Trustee nominee. A proxy card marked withhold with respect to the election of
Trustees would have the same effect as an abstention.
46
Broker non-votes occur when a proposal that is routine (such as the election of trustees) is
voted on at a meeting alongside a proposal that is non-routine (such as the Redomestication or
Merger proposals). Under New York Stock Exchange rules, brokers may generally vote in their
discretion on routine proposals, but are generally not able to vote on a non-routine proposal in
the absence of express voting instructions from beneficial owners. As a result, where both routine
and non-routine proposals are voted on at the same meeting, proxies voted by brokers on the routine
proposals are considered votes present but are not votes on non-routine proposals. Because both
routine and non-routine proposals will be voted on at the Meeting, the Funds anticipate receiving
broker non-votes with respect to Proposals 1 and 2. No broker non-votes are anticipated with
respect to Proposals 3 and 4 because they are considered routine proposals on which brokers
typically may vote in their discretion.
Votes Necessary to Approve the Proposals
Common Shares and VMTP Shares of each Fund are entitled to vote at the Meeting. This Proxy
Statement is not a solicitation for any votes of the Common Shares of any Fund. Each Fund will
solicit the vote of its Common Shares via a separate proxy statement. VMTP Shares are subject to a
voting trust requiring that certain voting rights of the VMTP Shares must be exercised as directed
by an unaffiliated third party. Votes by VMTP Shares to elect Trustees are subject to the voting
trust, but votes regarding the Redomestications and the Merger are not subject to the voting trust.
Each Funds Board has unanimously approved the Funds Plan of Redomestication discussed in
Proposal 1. Shareholder approval of each Funds Plan of Redomestication requires the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares and the VMTP Shares outstanding and entitled
to vote, voting as separate classes, of such Fund. Proposal 1 may be approved and implemented for
a Fund regardless of whether shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to the Fund.
Each Funds Board has unanimously approved the Funds Plan of Merger discussed in Proposal 2.
Shareholder approval of the Plan of Merger requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of each of the Common Shares and VMTP Shares outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as
separate classes, of the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund. Proposal 2 may be approved and
implemented only if Proposal 1 is also approved by both the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund and
regardless of whether shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to the Funds.
With respect to Proposal 3, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common
Shares and VMTP Shares, voting as a single class, of the Target Fund represented in person or by
proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting is required to elect each nominee for Trustee of the
Target Fund. Proposal 3 may be approved and implemented for the Target Fund regardless of whether
shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to the Fund.
With respect to Proposal 4(a), the affirmative vote of a plurality of the Common Shares and
VMTP Shares, voting as a single class, of the Acquiring Fund present at the Meeting in person or by
proxy is required to elect the nominee for Trustee for the Acquiring Fund. With respect to
Proposal 4(b), the affirmative vote of a plurality of the VMTP Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund,
voting as a separate class, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy is required to elect the
Trustees designated to be elected solely by the VMTP Shareholders. Proposal 4 may be approved and
implemented for the Acquiring Fund regardless of whether shareholders approve any other Proposal
applicable to the Fund.
Proxy Solicitation
The Funds have engaged the services of Computershare Fund Services (the Solicitor) to assist
in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. The costs of this proxy solicitation are estimated
to be $10,000 for the Target Fund and $20,000 for the Acquiring Fund. The VMTP Sharesholders are
not expected to bear any of these costs. The Funds officers may also solicit proxies but will not
receive any additional or special compensation for any such solicitation.
Under the agreement with the Solicitor, the Solicitor will be paid a project management fee as
well as telephone solicitation expenses incurred for reminder calls, outbound telephone voting,
confirmation of telephone votes, inbound telephone contact, obtaining shareholders telephone
numbers, and providing additional materials upon shareholder request. The agreement also provides
that the Solicitor shall be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses, including
liabilities under the federal securities laws.
47
OTHER MATTERS
Share Ownership by Large Shareholders, Management and Trustees
Information on each person who as of the Record Date, to the knowledge of each Fund, owned 5%
or more of the outstanding shares of a class of such Fund can be found at Exhibit N. Information
regarding Target Fund Trustee ownership of shares of the Target Fund and of shares of all
registered investment companies in the Fund Complex overseen by such Trustee can be found at
Exhibit F. Information regarding Acquiring Fund Trustee ownership of shares of the Acquiring Fund
and of shares of all registered investment companies in the Fund Complex overseen by such Trustee
can be found at Exhibit J. To the best of the knowledge of each Fund, the ownership of shares of
any Fund by executive officers and Trustees of such Fund as a group constituted less than 1% of
each outstanding class of shares of such Fund as of the Record Date.
Annual Meetings of the Funds
If the Merger is completed, the Target Fund will not hold an annual meeting in 2013. If the
Merger does not take place, the Target Funds Board will announce the date of the Target Funds
2013 annual. The Acquiring Fund will hold an annual meeting in 2013 regardless of whether the
Merger is consummated.
Shareholder Proposals
Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the year 2013 annual meeting of shareholders
for a Fund pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), must be received by the Funds Secretary at the Funds principal executive offices
by February 18, 2013 in order to be considered for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and
proxy card relating to that meeting. Timely submission of a proposal does not necessarily mean
that such proposal will be included in the Funds proxy statement. Pursuant to each Funds
governing documents as anticipated to be in effect before the 2013 annual meeting, if a shareholder
wishes to make a proposal at the year 2013 annual meeting of shareholders without having the
proposal included in a Funds proxy statement, then such proposal must be received by the Funds
Secretary at the Funds principal executive offices not earlier than March 19, 2013 and not later
than April 18, 2013. If a shareholder fails to provide timely notice, then the persons named as
proxies in the proxies solicited by the Board for the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders may
exercise discretionary voting power with respect to any such proposal. Any shareholder who wishes
to submit a proposal for consideration at a meeting of such shareholders Fund should send such
proposal to the Funds Secretary at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attn:
Secretary.
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders may send communications to each Funds Board. Shareholders should send
communications intended for a Board or for a Trustee by addressing the communication directly to
the Board or individual Trustee and/or otherwise clearly indicating that the communication is for
the Board or individual Trustee and by sending the communication to either the office of the
Secretary of the applicable Fund or directly to such Trustee at the address specified for such
Trustee in Exhibits F and K. Other shareholder communications received by a Fund not directly
addressed and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will
be forwarded to the Board only at managements discretion based on the matters contained therein.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act require each of the Funds
Trustees, officers, and investment advisers, affiliated persons of the investment advisers, and
persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of a Funds equity securities, to file forms
with the SEC and the Exchanges, reporting their affiliation with the Fund and reports of ownership
and changes in ownership of such securities. These persons and entities are required by SEC
regulations to furnish such Fund with copies of all such forms they file. Based on a review of
these forms furnished to each Fund, the Fund believes that during its last fiscal year, its
Trustees, its officers, the Adviser and affiliated persons of the Adviser complied with the
applicable filing requirements.
48
Other Meeting Matters
Management of each Fund does not intend to present, and does not have reason to believe that
others will present, any other items of business at the Meeting. The Funds know of no business,
other than the proposals described in this Proxy Statement, that will, or are proposed to, be
presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented, the
persons named on the enclosed proxy cards shall vote proxies in accordance with their best
judgment.
WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement does not contain all the information set forth in the annual and
semi-annual reports filed by the Funds as such documents have been filed with the SEC. The
financial highlights of each Fund for the year ended February 29, 2012 are available in the Funds
annual report for the year ended February 29, 2012 on Form N-CSR. The SAI (which is part of the
registration statement for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares and is not incorporated herein by
reference or deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement) includes additional information about the
Funds. The SEC file number of each Fund, which contains the Funds shareholder reports and other
filings with the SEC, is 811-06537 for the Acquiring Fund, and 811-07562 for the Target Fund.
Each Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act
and in accordance therewith, each Fund files reports and other information with the SEC. Reports,
proxy materials, registration statements and other information filed may be inspected without
charge and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1580, 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material may also be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at the prescribed
rates. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains information regarding the Funds
and other registrants that file electronically with the SEC. Reports, proxy materials and other
information concerning the Funds can also be inspected at the Exchanges.
49
Exhibit A
Form of Agreement and Plan of Redomestication
A-1
Exhibit B
Comparison of Governing Documents
The Target Fund is a Massachusetts business trust (the MA Trust). Under Proposal 1, if
approved, the MA Trust will reorganize into a newly formed Delaware statutory trust (a DE Trust).
The following is a discussion of certain provisions of the governing instruments and governing
laws of the MA Trust and its corresponding DE Trust, but is not a complete description thereof.
Further information about the Funds governance structure is contained in the Funds shareholder
reports and its governing documents.
Shares. The Trustees of the MA Trust have the power to issue shares, including preferred
shares, without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the MA Trust indicate that the
amount of common shares that the MA Trust may issue is unlimited. Preferred shares are limited to
the amount set forth in the Declarations (defined below). Shares of the MA Trust have no
preemptive rights.
The Trustees of the DE Trust have the power to issue shares, including preferred shares,
without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the DE Trust indicate that the amount of
common and preferred shares that the DE Trust may issue is unlimited. Shares of the DE Trust have
no preemptive rights.
Organization. The MA Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust, under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The MA Trust is governed by its Declaration of Trust (a
Declaration) and its bylaws, each as may be amended, and its business and affairs are managed
under the supervision of its Board of Trustees.
The DE Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act (Delaware Act). The DE Trust is governed by its Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust (also, a Declaration and together with the Declaration of the MA Trust, the
Declarations) and its bylaws, and its business and affairs are managed under the supervision of
its Board of Trustees.
Composition of the Board of Trustees. The Boards of Trustees of both the MA Trust and the DE
Trust are divided into three classes, with the election of each class staggered so that each class
is only up for election once every three years.
Shareholder Meetings and Rights of Shareholders to Call a Meeting. The stock exchanges on
which the MA Trust shares are currently, and DE Trusts shares will be, listed require annual
meetings to elect trustees.
The governing instruments for each MA Trust provide that special meetings of shareholders may
be called by the Chair or a majority of the Trustees. In addition, special meetings of
shareholders may also be called by the Secretary of a MA Trust upon written request of shareholders
holding and entitled to vote not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such
meeting for matters that do not require a separate vote by each class of shares.
The bylaws of the DE Trust authorize the Trustees to call a meeting of the shareholders for
the election of Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trust also authorize a meeting of shareholders held
for any purpose determined by the Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trust state that shareholders
have no power to call a special meeting of shareholders.
Submission of Shareholder Proposals. The federal securities laws, which apply to the MA Trust
and the DE Trust, require that certain conditions be met to present any proposal at a shareholder
meeting. The matters to be considered and brought before an annual or special meeting of
shareholders of the MA Trust and the DE Trust are limited to only those matters, including the
nomination and election of Trustees, that are properly brought before the meeting. For proposals
submitted by shareholders, the bylaws of the MA Trust and the DE Trust contain provisions which
require that notice be given to the DE Trust or MA Trust, respectively, by an otherwise eligible
shareholder in advance of the annual or special shareholder meeting in order for the shareholder to
present a proposal at any such meeting and requires shareholders to provide certain information in
connection with the proposal. These requirements are intended to provide the Board the opportunity
to better evaluate the proposal and provide
B-1
additional information to shareholders for their consideration in connection with the proposal.
Failure to satisfy the requirements of these advance notice provisions means that a shareholder may
not be able to present a proposal at the annual or special shareholder meeting.
In general, for nominations and any other proposals to be properly brought before an annual
meeting of shareholders by a shareholder of the MA Trust, written notice must be delivered to the
Secretary of the MA Trust not less than 60 days, nor more than 90 days, prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting. If the annual meeting is not scheduled to be
held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary and ends 30 days after such
anniversary, the written notice must be delivered by the later of the 60th day prior to
the meeting or the 10th day following the public announcement or disclosure of the
meeting date. If the number of Trustees to be elected to the Board is increased and either all of
the nominees for Trustee or the size of the increased Board are not publicly announced or disclosed
at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, written
notice will be considered timely if delivered to the Secretary of the MA Trust no later than the
10th date of such public announcement or disclosure. With respect to the nomination of
individuals for election to the Board of Trustees at a special shareholder meeting, written notice
must be delivered by a shareholder of the MA Trust to the Secretary of the MA Trust no later than
the 10th date after such meeting is publicly announced or disclosed.
For nominations and any other proposals to be properly brought before an annual meeting of
shareholders by a shareholder of the DE Trust, written notice must be delivered to the Secretary of
the DE Trust not less than 90 days, nor more than 120 days, prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding years annual meeting. If the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period
that commences 30 days before such anniversary and ends 30 days after such anniversary (an Other
Annual Meeting Date), the written notice must be delivered by the later of the 90th day prior to
the meeting or the 10th day following the public announcement or disclosure of the meeting date
provided, however, that if the Other Annual Meeting Date was disclosed in the proxy statement for
the prior years annual meeting, the dates for receipt of the written notice shall be calculated
based on the Other Annual Meeting Date and disclosed in the proxy statement for the prior years
annual meeting. If the number of Trustees to be elected to the Board is increased and either all
of the nominees for Trustee or the size of the increased Board are not publicly announced or
disclosed at least 70 days prior the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting,
written notice will be considered timely if delivered to the Secretary of the DE Trust no later
than the 10th date of such public announcement or disclosure. With respect to the
nomination of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees at a special shareholder meeting,
written notice must be delivered by a shareholder of the DE Trust to the Secretary of the DE Trust
no later than the 10th date after such meeting is publicly announced or disclosed.
Specific information, as set forth in the bylaws, about the nominee, the shareholder making the
nomination, and the proposal must also be delivered, and updated as necessary if proposed at an
annual meeting, by the shareholder of the DE Trust. The shareholder or a qualified representative
must also appear at the annual or special meeting of shareholders to present about the nomination
or proposed business.
Quorum. The governing instruments of the MA Trust provide that a quorum will exist if
shareholders representing a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at a
shareholder meeting are present in person or represented by proxy.
The bylaws of the DE Trust provide that a quorum will exist if shareholders representing a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are present or represented by proxy, except
when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange
on which shares are listed for trading, in which case the quorum must comply with such
requirements.
Number of Votes; Aggregate Voting. The governing instruments of the MA Trust and the
Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trust provide that each shareholder is entitled to one vote for
each whole share held as to any matter on which the shareholder is entitled to vote, and a
proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. The MA Trust and the DE Trust do not
provide for cumulative voting for the election or removal of Trustees.
The governing instruments of the MA Trust generally provide that all share classes vote by
class or series of the MA Trust, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the governing
instruments or resolution of the Trustees.
B-2
The Declaration for the DE Trust generally provides that all shares are voted as a single
class, except when required by applicable law, the governing instruments, or when the Trustees have
determined that the matter affects the interests of one or more classes, then only the shareholders
of all such affected classes are entitled to vote on the matter.
Derivative Actions. Shareholders of the MA Trust have the power to vote 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 MA Trust or its shareholders.
The Declaration for the DE Trust states that a shareholder may bring a derivative action on
behalf of the DE Trust only if several conditions are met. These conditions include, among other
things, a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees and, unless a demand is not required,
shareholders who hold at least a majority of the outstanding shares must join in the demand for the
Board of Trustees to commence an action, and the Board of Trustees must be afforded a reasonable
amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of the claim.
Right to Vote. The 1940 Act provides that shareholders of a fund have the power to vote with
respect to certain matters: specifically, for the election of trustees, the selection of auditors
(under certain circumstances), approval of investment advisory agreements and plans of
distribution, and amendments to policies, goals or restrictions deemed to be fundamental.
Shareholders also have the right to vote on certain matters affecting a fund or a particular share
class thereof under their respective governing instruments and applicable state law. The following
summarizes the matters on which shareholders have the right to vote as well as the minimum
shareholder vote required to approve the matter. For matters on which shareholders of the MA Trust
or DE Trust do not have the right to vote, the Trustees may nonetheless determine to submit the
matter to shareholders for approval. Where referenced below, the phrase Majority Shareholder
Vote means the vote required by the 1940 Act, which is the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares are present
or represented by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares.
Election and Removal of Trustees. The shareholders of the MA Trust are entitled to
vote, under certain circumstances, for the election and the removal of the Trustees. Subject to
the rights of the preferred shareholders, if any, the Trustees of the MA Trust are elected by an
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy.
However, the preferred shareholders, if any, voting as a class elect at least two Trustees at all
times. Preferred shareholders, if any, may also elect a majority of Trustees if dividends on the
preferred shares have been unpaid for an amount equal to two full years of dividends. Any
Trustees of the MA Trust may be removed at any meeting of shareholders by a vote of 80% of the
outstanding shares of the class or classes of shares of beneficial interest that elected such
Trustee.
With regard to the DE Trust, Trustees are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the DE Trust present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting
of the shareholders at which a quorum is present. Preferred shareholders, voting as a separate
class, solely elect at least two Trustees by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, as set forth by the Trustees in accordance with the
Declaration, holders of preferred shares may elect at least a majority of the Boards Trustees.
The Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trust do not provide shareholders with the ability to remove
Trustees.
Amendment of Governing Instruments. Except as described below, the Trustees of the MA
Trust and DE Trust have the right to amend, from time to time, the governing instruments. For the
MA Trust, the Trustees have the power to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws, or adopt new bylaws
provided that bylaws adopted by shareholders may only be altered, amended or repealed by the
shareholders, or by a majority of shares represented in person or by proxy. For the DE Trust, the
bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the Trustees, without the vote or approval of
shareholders.
For the MA Trusts, shareholder approval is required to amend the Declaration, except that the
Trustees may make changes necessary to comply with applicable law and to effect provisions
regarding preferred shares, and may make certain other non-material changes, such as to correct a
mistake, without shareholder approval. When shareholder approval is required, the vote needed to
effect an amendment is a majority of the common shares and
B-3
preferred shares outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, or by an instrument
in writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders
of not less than a majority of each of such common shares and preferred shares. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any amendment to the Declaration that would reduce the amount payable upon
liquidation of the MA Trusts or diminishing or eliminating shareholder voting rights pertaining
thereto requires the approval of two-thirds of the class or classes of shareholders so affected.
In addition, any amendment that would change or repeal the sections in the Declaration governing
merger of the MA Trusts or conversion of the MA Trusts to open-end funds requires the affirmative
vote of 80% of each of the common shares and preferred shares, voting as separate classes.
For the DE Trust, the Board generally may amend the Declaration without shareholder approval,
except: (i) any amendment to the Declaration approved by the Board that would reduce the
shareholders rights to indemnification requires the vote of shareholders owning at least 75% of
the outstanding shares; (ii) any amendments to the Declaration that would change the shareholder
voting rights, declassify the Board or change the minimum or maximum number of Trustees permitted
require the affirmative vote or consent by the Board of Trustees followed by the affirmative vote
or consent of shareholders owning at least 75% of the outstanding shares, unless such amendments
have been previously approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of
the Board of Trustees, in which case an affirmative Majority Shareholder Vote is required (the DE
Trusts Voting Standard).
Mergers, Reorganizations, and Conversions. The governing instruments of the MA Trust
provide that a merger, consolidation, conversion to an open-end company, or sale of assets requires
the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the common shares and preferred shares, if any,
outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes. Reorganization or incorporation
requires the approval of the holders of a majority of each of the common shares and preferred
shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes. If the merger,
consolidation, sale, lease or exchange is recommended by the Trustees, the vote or written consent
of the holders of a majority of the common shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and
entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, is sufficient authorization.
For the DE Trust, any such merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or
reclassification requires approval pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The vote required
is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by the terms of
any class of preferred shares or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities
exchange.
Principal Shareholder Transactions. The MA Trust requires a vote or consent of 80% of
the common shares or preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate
classes, where a principal shareholder of the fund (i.e., any corporation, person or other entity
which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the funds outstanding
shares) is the party to certain transactions.
The DE Trust requires a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard for certain principal
shareholder transactions. The vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders
otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between
the Trust and any national securities exchange.
Termination of the Trust. With respect to the MA Trust, the termination of the MA
Trust requires the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the common shares and preferred shares,
if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, at any meeting of
shareholders, or an instrument in writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees
and consented to by an affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the MA Trust.
The DE Trust may be dissolved upon a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The
vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by
the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between the DE Trust and any national
securities exchange. In addition, to spare shareholders the expense of a shareholder meeting in
connection with the dissolution of a Fund, if the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Board
approves the dissolution, shareholder approval is not required.
Liability of Shareholders. The Massachusetts statute governing business trusts does not
include an express provision relating to the limitation of liability of the shareholders of a
Massachusetts business trust. However, the
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Declarations for the MA Trust provide that no shareholder will be personally liable in connection
with the acts, obligations or affairs of the MA Trust. Consistent with Section 3803 of the
Delaware Act, the Declaration of the DE Trust generally provides that shareholders will not be
subject to personal liability for the acts or obligations of the DE Trust.
Liability of Trustees and Officers. Consistent with the 1940 Act, the governing instruments
for both the DE Trust and the MA Trust generally provide that no Trustee or officer of the DE Trust
and no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the MA Trust is subject to any personal liability in
connection with the assets or affairs of the DE Trust and the MA Trust, respectively, except for
liability arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office (Disabling Conduct).
Indemnification. The MA Trust generally indemnifies every person who is or has been a Trustee
or officer of the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against
all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding in which they becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or
having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement
thereof.
The Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the DE Trust (Covered Persons) are
indemnified by the DE Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, the bylaws and
other applicable law. The bylaws provide that every Covered Person is indemnified by the DE Trust
for expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in
any proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party or is threatened to be made a party, or
is involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such person is a Covered Person. For
proceedings not by or in the right of the DE Trust (i.e., derivative lawsuits), every Covered
Person is indemnified by the DE Trust for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in the
investigation, defense or settlement in any proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party
or is threatened to be made a party, or is involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such
person is a Covered Person. No Covered Person is indemnified for any expenses, judgments, fines,
amounts paid in settlement, or other liability or loss arising by reason of Disabling Conduct or
for any proceedings by such Covered Person against the Trust. The termination of any proceeding by
conviction, or a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation
prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the person engaged in Disabling Conduct.
A DE Trust is indemnified by any common shareholder who brings an action against the Trust for
all costs, expenses, penalties, fines or other amounts arising from such action to the extent that
the shareholder is not the prevailing party. The DE Trust is permitted to redeem shares of and set
off against any distributions to the shareholder for such amounts liable by the shareholder to the
DE Trust.
The Acquiring Fund is a Massachusetts business trust (the IVK Trust). Under Proposal
1, if approved, the IVK Trust will reorganize into a newly formed Delaware statutory trust (the DE
Trust). The following is a discussion of certain provisions of the governing instruments and
governing laws of the IVK Trust and its corresponding DE Trust, but is not a complete description
thereof. Further information about the Acquiring Funds governance structure is contained in the
Funds shareholder reports and its governing documents.
Shares. The Trustees of the IVK Trust have the power to issue shares, including preferred
shares, without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the IVK Trust indicate that the
amount of common shares that the IVK Trust may issue is unlimited. Preferred shares are limited to
the amount set forth in the Declarations (defined below). Shares of the IVK Trust have no
preemptive rights.
The Trustees of the DE Trust have the power to issue shares, including preferred shares,
without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the DE Trust indicate that the amount of
common and preferred shares that a DE Trust may issue is unlimited. Shares of the DE Trust have no
preemptive rights.
Organization. The IVK Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust, under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The IVK Trust is governed by its Declaration of Trust (the
Declaration) and its bylaws, each as may be amended, and its business and affairs are managed
under the supervision of its Board of Trustees.
B-5
The DE Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act (Delaware Act). The DE Trust is governed by its Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust (also, a Declaration and, together with the Declaration of the IVK Trust,
the Declarations) and its bylaws, and its business and affairs are managed under the supervision
of its Board of Trustees.
Composition of the Board of Trustees. The Boards of Trustees of both the IVK Trust and the DE
Trust are divided into three classes, with the election of each class staggered so that each class
is only up for election once every three years.
Shareholder Meetings and Rights of Shareholders to Call a Meeting. The IVK Trust is required
to hold annual shareholder meetings under its governing documents. The stock exchanges on which
the IVK Trust shares are currently, and DE Trusts shares will be, listed require annual meetings
to elect trustees.
The governing instruments for the IVK Trust provide that special meetings of shareholders may
be called by a majority of the Trustees. In addition, special meetings of shareholders may also be
called by any Trustee upon written request from shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than
51% of the outstanding common and/or preferred shares, if any (depending on whether they are voting
as a single class or separately).
The bylaws of the DE Trust authorize the Trustees to call a meeting of the shareholders for
the election of Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trust also authorize a meeting of shareholders for
any purpose determined by the Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trust state that shareholders have no
power to call a special meeting of shareholders.
Submission of Shareholder Proposals. The IVK Trust does not have provisions in its governing
instruments that require shareholders to provide advance notice to the IVK Trust in order to
present a proposal at a shareholder meeting. Nonetheless, the federal securities laws, which apply
to the IVK Trust and the DE Trust, require that certain conditions be met to present any proposal
at a shareholder meeting.
The matters to be considered and brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders
of the DE Trust are limited to only those matters, including the nomination and election of
Trustees, that are properly brought before the meeting. For proposals submitted by shareholders,
the bylaws of the DE Trust contain provisions which require that notice be given to the DE Trust by
an otherwise eligible shareholder in advance of the annual or special shareholder meeting in order
for the shareholder to present a proposal at any such meeting and requires shareholders to provide
certain information in connection with the proposal. These requirements are intended to provide
the Board the opportunity to better evaluate the proposal and provide additional information to
shareholders for their consideration in connection with the proposal. Failure to satisfy the
requirements of these advance notice provisions means that a shareholder may not be able to present
a proposal at the annual or special shareholder meeting.
In general, for nominations and any other proposals to be properly brought before an annual
meeting of shareholders by a shareholder of the DE Trust, written notice must be delivered to the
Secretary of the DE Trust not less than 90 days, nor more than 120 days, prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting. If the annual meeting is not scheduled to be
held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary and ends 30 days after such
anniversary (an Other Annual Meeting Date), the written notice must be delivered by the later of
the 90th day prior to the meeting or the 10th day following the public announcement or disclosure
of the meeting date provided, however, that if the Other Annual Meeting Date was disclosed in the
proxy statement for the prior years annual meeting, the dates for receipt of the written notice
shall be calculated based on the Other Annual Meeting Date and disclosed in the proxy statement for
the prior years annual meeting. If the number of Trustees to be elected to the Board is increased
and either all of the nominees for Trustee or the size of the increased Board are not publicly
announced or disclosed at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years
annual meeting, written notice will be considered timely if delivered to the Secretary of the DE
Trust no later than the 10th date after such public announcement or disclosure. With
respect to the nomination of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees at a special
shareholder meeting, written notice must be delivered by a shareholder of the DE Trust to the
Secretary of the DE Trust no later than the 10th date after such meeting is publicly
announced or disclosed. Specific information, as set forth in the bylaws, about the nominee, the
shareholder making the nomination, and the proposal must also be delivered, and updated as
necessary if proposed at an annual meeting, by
B-6
the shareholder of the DE Trust. The shareholder or a qualified representative must also appear at
the annual or special meeting of shareholders to present about the nomination or proposed business.
Quorum. The governing instruments of the IVK Trust provide that a quorum will exist if
shareholders representing a majority of the outstanding shares of each class or series or combined
class entitled to vote are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
The bylaws of the DE Trust provide that a quorum will exist if shareholders representing a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are present or represented by proxy, except
when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange
on which shares are listed for trading, in which case the quorum must comply with such
requirements.
Number of Votes; Aggregate Voting. The governing instruments of the IVK Trust and the
Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trust provide that each shareholder is entitled to one vote for
each whole share held as to any matter on which the shareholder is entitled to vote, and a
proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. The IVK Trust and the DE Trust do
not provide for cumulative voting for the election or removal of Trustees.
The governing instruments of the IVK Trust generally provide that all share classes vote by
class or series of the IVK Trust, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the governing
instruments or resolution of the Trustees.
The Declaration for the DE Trust generally provides that all shares are voted as a single
class, except when required by applicable law, the governing instruments, or when the Trustees have
determined that the matter affects the interests of one or more classes, in which case only the
shareholders of all such affected classes are entitled to vote on the matter.
Derivative Actions. Shareholders of the IVK Trust have the power to vote 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 IVK Trust or its shareholders. Such shareholders have the power
to vote to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts corporation.
The Declaration for the DE Trust states that a shareholder may bring a derivative action on
behalf of the DE Trust only if several conditions are met. These conditions include, among other
things, a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees and, unless a demand is not required,
shareholders who hold at least a majority of the outstanding shares must join in the demand for the
Board of Trustees to commence an action, and the Board of Trustees must be afforded a reasonable
amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of the claim.
Right to Vote. The 1940 Act provides that shareholders of a fund have the power to vote with
respect to certain matters: specifically, for the election of trustees, the selection of auditors
(under certain circumstances), approval of investment advisory agreements and plans of
distribution, and amendments to policies, goals or restrictions deemed to be fundamental.
Shareholders also have the right to vote on certain matters affecting a fund or a particular share
class thereof under their respective governing instruments and applicable state law. The following
summarizes the matters on which shareholders have the right to vote as well as the minimum
shareholder vote required to approve the matter. For matters on which shareholders of the IVK
Trust or DE Trust do not have the right to vote, the Trustees may nonetheless determine to submit
the matter to shareholders for approval. Where referenced below, the phrase Majority Shareholder
Vote means the vote required by the 1940 Act, which is the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares
present at the meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares are present
or represented by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares.
Election and Removal of Trustees. The shareholders of the IVK Trust are entitled to
vote, under certain circumstances, for the election and the removal of Trustees. Subject to the
rights of the preferred shareholders, if any, the Trustees of the IVK Trust are elected by a
plurality vote (i.e., the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes are elected). Any
Trustee of the IVK Trust may be removed at any meeting of shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of the class or classes of shares of beneficial interest that elected such
Trustee.
B-7
With regard to the DE Trust, Trustees are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the DE Trust present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting
of the shareholders at which a quorum is present. Preferred shareholders, voting as a separate
class, solely elect at least two Trustees by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, as set forth by the Trustees in accordance with the
Declaration, holders of preferred shares may elect at least a majority of the Boards Trustees.
The Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trust do not provide shareholders with the ability to remove
Trustees.
Amendment of Governing Instruments. Except as described below, the Trustees of the
IVK Trust and DE Trust have the right to amend, from time to time, the governing instruments. For
the IVK Trust, the Trustees have the power to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws, or adopt new
bylaws, provided that bylaws adopted by shareholders may only be altered, amended or repealed by
the shareholders. For the DE Trust, the bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the
Trustees, without the vote or approval of shareholders.
For the IVK Trust, shareholder approval is required to amend the Declaration, except that the
Trustees may make changes necessary to comply with applicable law and to effect the provisions
regarding preferred shares, and may make certain other non-material changes, such as to correct a
mistake, without shareholder approval. When shareholder approval is required, the vote needed to
effect an amendment is a Majority Shareholder Vote of the common shares and the preferred shares,
if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, or by an instrument in
writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders of
not less than a majority of each of such common shares and preferred shares. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any amendment to the Declaration that would reduce the amount payable upon liquidation
of the IVK Trust or diminishing or eliminating shareholder voting rights pertaining thereto
requires the approval of two-thirds of the class or classes of shareholders so affected. In
addition, any amendment that would change or repeal the sections in the Declaration governing
termination or merger of the IVK Trust or conversion of the IVK Trust to open-end funds requires
the affirmative vote of 75% of each of the common shares and preferred shares, voting as separate
classes.
For the DE Trust, the Board generally may amend the Declaration without shareholder approval,
except: (i) any amendment to the Declaration approved by the Board that would reduce the
shareholders rights to indemnification requires the vote of shareholders owning at least 75% of
the outstanding shares; (ii) any amendments to the Declaration that would change shareholder voting
rights, declassify the Board or change the minimum or maximum number of Trustees permitted require
the affirmative vote or consent by the Board of Trustees followed by the affirmative vote or
consent of shareholders owning at least 75% of the outstanding shares, unless such amendments have
been previously approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
Board of Trustees, in which case an affirmative Majority Shareholder Vote is required (the DE
Trusts Voting Standard).
Mergers, Reorganizations, and Conversions. The governing instruments of the IVK Trust
provide that a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange requires the affirmative vote of not
less than 66 2/3% of the common shares and the preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled
to vote, voting as separate classes. If the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange is
recommended by the Trustees, the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the common
shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes,
is sufficient authorization. Conversion to an open-end company is required to be approved by at
least a majority of the Trustees, including those who are not interested persons as defined in the
1940 Act, and a Majority Shareholder Vote of each of the common shares and preferred shareholders,
if any, voting as separate classes. An incorporation or reorganization requires the approval of a
majority of the common shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote,
voting as separate classes.
For the DE Trust, any such merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or
reclassification requires approval pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The vote required
is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by the terms of
any class of preferred shares or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities
exchange.
Principal Shareholder Transactions. The IVK Trust requires a vote or consent of 75%
of the common shares or preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as
separate classes, where a
B-8
principal shareholder of a fund (i.e., any corporation, person or other entity which is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the funds outstanding shares) is the
party to certain transactions.
The DE Trust requires a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard for certain principal
shareholder transactions. The vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders
otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between
the Trust and any national securities exchange. |
Termination of a Trust. With respect to the IVK Trust, the affirmative vote of not
less than 75% of the common shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote,
voting as separate classes, at any meeting of shareholders, or by an instrument in writing, without
a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders of not less than
75% of each of such common shares and preferred shares, is required for termination of the IVK
Trust.
The DE Trust may be dissolved upon a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The
vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by
the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between the DE Trust and any national
securities exchange. In addition, to spare shareholders the expense of a shareholder meeting in
connection with the dissolution of a Fund, if the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Board
approves the dissolution, shareholder approval is not required.
Liability of Shareholders. The Massachusetts statute governing business trusts does not
include an express provision relating to the limitation of liability of the shareholders of a
Massachusetts business trust. However, the Declaration for the IVK Trust provides that no
shareholder will be personally liable in connection with the acts, obligations or affairs of the
IVK Trust. Consistent with Section 3803 of the Delaware Act, the Declaration of the DE Trust
generally provides that shareholders will not be subject to personal liability for the acts or
obligations of the DE Trust.
Liability of Trustees and Officers. Consistent with the 1940 Act, the governing instruments
for both the DE Trust and the IVK Trust generally provide that no Trustee or officer of a DE Trust
and no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the IVK Trust is subject to any personal liability in
connection with the assets or affairs of the DE Trust and the IVK Trust and the, respectively,
except for liability arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence
or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office (Disabling Conduct).
Indemnification. The IVK Trust generally indemnifies every person who is or has been a
Trustee or officer of the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and
against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with any claim, action, suit
or proceeding in which they becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or
having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement
thereof, except otherwise for Disabling Conduct.
The Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the DE Trust (Covered Persons) are
indemnified by the DE Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, the bylaws and
other applicable law. The bylaws provide that every Covered Person is indemnified by the DE Trust
for expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in
any proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party or is threatened to be made a party, or
is involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such person is a Covered Person. For
proceedings not by or in the right of the DE Trust (i.e., derivative lawsuits), every Covered
Person is indemnified by the DE Trust for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in the
investigation, defense or settlement in any proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party
or is threatened to be made a party, or is involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such
person is a Covered Person. No Covered Person is indemnified for any expenses, judgments, fines,
amounts paid in settlement, or other liability or loss arising by reason of Disabling Conduct or
for any proceedings by such Covered Person against the Trust. The termination of any proceeding by
conviction, or a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation
prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the person engaged in Disabling Conduct.
A DE Trust is indemnified by any common shareholder who brings an action against the Trust for
all costs, expenses, penalties, fines or other amounts arising from such action to the extent that
the shareholder is not the
B-9
prevailing party. The DE Trust is permitted to redeem shares of and set off against any
distributions to the shareholder for such amounts liable by the shareholder to the DE Trust.
B-10
Exhibit C
Comparison of State Laws
The laws governing Massachusetts business trusts and Delaware statutory trusts have similar
effect, but they differ in certain respects. Both the Massachusetts business trust law (MA
Statute) and the Delaware statutory trust act (DE Statute) permit a trusts governing instrument
to contain provisions relating to shareholder rights and removal of trustees, and provide trusts
with the ability to amend or restate the trusts governing instruments. However, the MA Statute is
silent on many of the salient features of a Massachusetts business trust (a MA Trust) whereas the
DE Statute provides guidance and offers a significant amount of operational flexibility to Delaware
statutory trusts (a DE Trust). The DE Statute provides explicitly that the shareholders and
trustees of a Delaware Trust are not liable for obligations of the trust to the same extent as
under corporate law, while under the MA Statute, shareholders and trustees could potentially be
liable for trust obligations. The DE Statute authorizes the trustees to take various actions
without requiring shareholder approval if permitted by a Funds governing instruments. For
example, trustees may have the power to amend the Delaware trust instrument, merge or consolidate a
Fund with another entity, and to change the Delaware trusts domicile, in each case without a
shareholder vote.
The following is a discussion of only certain material differences between the DE Statute and
MA Statute, as applicable, and is not a complete description of them. Further information about
each Funds current trust structure is contained in such Funds organizational documents and in
relevant state law.
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
Governing Documents/Governing
Body
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A DE Trust is formed by the filing of a
certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State. A DE Trust is an
unincorporated association organized
under the DE Statute whose operations are
governed by its governing document (which
may consist of one or more documents).
Its business and affairs are managed by
or under the direction of one or more
trustees. As described in this chart, DE
Trusts are granted a significant amount
of organizational and operational
flexibility. Delaware law makes it easy
to obtain needed shareholder approvals,
and also permits the management of a DE
Trust to take various actions without
being required to make state filings or
obtain shareholder approval.
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A MA Trust is created by the trustees
execution of a written declaration of
trust. A MA Trust is required to file
the declaration of trust with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the clerk of every
city or town in Massachusetts where the
trust has a usual place of business. A
MA Trust is a voluntary association with
transferable shares of beneficial
interests, organized under the MA
Statute. A MA Trust is considered to be
a hybrid, having characteristics of both
corporations and common law trusts. A MA
Trusts operations are governed by a
trust document and bylaws. The business
and affairs of a MA Trust are managed by
or under the direction of a board of
trustees.
MA Trusts are also granted a significant
amount of organizational and operational
flexibility. The MA Statute is silent on
most of the salient features of MA
Trusts, thereby allowing trustees to
freely structure the MA Trust. The MA
Statute does not specify what information
must be contained in the declaration of
trust, nor does it require a registered
officer or agent for service of process. |
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Ownership Shares of
Interest |
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Under both the DE Statute and the MA Statute, the ownership interests in a DE Trust and
MA Trust are denominated as beneficial interests and are held by beneficial owners. |
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Series and Classes
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may provide for classes, groups
or series of shares,
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The MA Statute is silent as to any
requirements for the creation of such
series or classes. |
C-1
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
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having such relative
rights, powers and duties as shareholders
set forth in the governing document.
Such classes, groups or series may be
described in a DE Trusts governing
document or in resolutions adopted by its
trustees. |
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Shareholder Voting
Rights
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may set forth any provision
relating to trustee and shareholder
voting rights, including the withholding
of such rights from certain trustees or
shareholders. If voting rights are
granted, the governing document may
contain any provision relating to the
exercise of voting rights. No state
filing is necessary and, unless required
by the governing document, shareholder
approval is not needed.
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There is no provision in the MA Statute
addressing voting by the shareholders of
a MA Trust. |
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Quorum
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may set forth any provision
relating to quorum requirements at
meetings of shareholders.
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There is no provision in the MA Statute
addressing quorum requirements at
meetings of shareholders of a MA Trust. |
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Shareholder Meetings |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute mandates an annual shareholders meeting. |
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Organization of
Meetings |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions relating to the organization
of shareholder meetings. |
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Record Date
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may provide for record dates.
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There is no record date provision in the
MA Statute. |
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Qualification and
Election of
Trustees
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
documents may set forth the manner in
which trustees are elected and qualified.
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The MA Statute does not contain
provisions relating to the election and
qualification of trustees of a MA Trust. |
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Removal of Trustees
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
documents of a DE Trust may contain any
provision relating to the removal of
trustees; provided, however, that there
shall at all times be at least one
trustee of a DE Trust.
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The MA Statute does not contain
provisions relating to the removal of
trustees. |
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Restrictions on
Transfer |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions relating to the ability of a
DE Trust or MA Trust, as applicable, to restrict transfers of beneficial interests. |
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Preemptive Rights
and Redemption of
Shares |
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Under each of the DE Statute and the MA Statute, a governing document may contain any
provision relating to the rights, duties and obligations of the shareholders. |
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Liquidation Upon
Dissolution or
Termination Events
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Under the DE Statute, a DE Trust that has
dissolved shall first pay or make
reasonable provision to pay all known
claims and obligations, including those
that are contingent, conditional and
unmatured, and all known claims and
obligations for which the claimant is
unknown. Any remaining assets shall be
distributed to the shareholders or as
otherwise provided in the governing
document.
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The MA Statute has no provisions
pertaining to the liquidation of a MA
Trust. |
C-2
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
Shareholder
Liability
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Under the DE Statute, except to the
extent otherwise provided in the
governing document of a DE Trust,
shareholders of a DE Trust are entitled
to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to shareholders of a
private corporation organized for profit
under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
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The MA Statute does not include an
express provision relating to the
limitation of liability of the
shareholders of a MA Trust. The
shareholders of a MA Trust could
potentially be held personally liable for
the obligations of the trust,
notwithstanding an express provision in
the governing document stating that the
shareholders are not personally liable in
connection with trust property or the
acts, obligations or affairs of the MA
Trust. |
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Trustee/Director
Liability
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Subject to the provisions in the
governing document, the DE Statute
provides that a trustee or any other
person managing the DE Trust, when acting
in such capacity, will not be personally
liable to any person other than the DE
Trust or a shareholder of the DE Trust
for any act, omission or obligation of
the DE Trust or any trustee. To the
extent that at law or in equity a trustee
has duties (including fiduciary duties)
and liabilities to the DE Trust and its
shareholders, such duties and liabilities
may be expanded or restricted by the
governing document.
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The MA Statute does not include an
express provision limiting the liability
of the trustee of a MA Trust. The
trustees of a MA Trust could potentially
be held personally liable for the
obligations of the trust. |
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Indemnification
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Subject to such standards and
restrictions as may be contained in the
governing document of a DE Trust, the DE
Statute authorizes a DE Trust to
indemnify and hold harmless any trustee,
shareholder or other person from and
against any and all claims and demands.
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The MA Statute is silent as to the
indemnification of trustees, officers and
shareholders. |
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Insurance |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions regarding insurance. |
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Shareholder Right
of Inspection
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Under the DE Statute, except to the
extent otherwise provided in the
governing document of a DE Trust and
subject to reasonable standards
established by the trustees, each
shareholder has the right, upon
reasonable demand for any purpose
reasonably related to the shareholders
interest as a shareholder, to obtain from
the DE Trust certain information
regarding the governance and affairs of
the DE Trust, including a current list of
the name and last known address of each
beneficial owner and trustee. In
addition, the DE Statute permits the
trustees of a DE Trust to keep
confidential from shareholders for such
period of time as deemed reasonable any
information that the trustees in good
faith believe would not be in the best
interest of the DE Trust to disclose or
that could damage the DE Trust or that
the DE Trust is required by law or by
agreement with a third party to keep
confidential.
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There is no provision in the MA Statute
relating to shareholder inspection
rights. |
C-3
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
Derivative Actions
|
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Under the DE Statute, a shareholder may
bring a derivative action if trustees
with authority to do so have refused to
bring the action or if a demand upon the
trustees to bring the action is not
likely to succeed. A shareholder may
bring a derivative action only if the
shareholder is a shareholder at the time
the action is brought and: (a) was a
shareholder at the time of the
transaction complained about or (b)
acquired the status of shareholder by
operation of law or pursuant to the
governing document from a person who was
a shareholder at the time of the
transaction. A shareholders right to
bring a derivative action may be subject
to such additional standards and
restrictions, if any, as are set forth in
the governing document.
|
|
There is no provision under the MA
Statute regarding derivative actions. |
|
|
|
|
|
Arbitration of
Claims
|
|
The DE Statute provides flexibility as to
providing for arbitration pursuant to the
governing documents of a DE Trust.
|
|
There is no provision under the MA
Statute regarding arbitration. |
|
|
|
|
|
Amendments to
Governing Documents
|
|
The DE Statute provides broad flexibility
as to the manner of amending and/or
restating the governing document of a DE
Trust. Amendments to the declaration
that do not change the information in the
DE Trusts certificate of trust are not
required to be filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State.
|
|
The MA Statute provides broad flexibility
as to the manner of amending and/or
restating the governing document of a MA
Trust. The MA Statute provides that the
trustees shall, within thirty days after
the adoption of any amendment to the
declaration of trust, file a copy with
the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the clerk of every
city or town in Massachusetts where the
trust has a usual place of business. |
C-4
Exhibit D
Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger
D-1
Exhibit E
Executive Officers of the Funds
The following information relates to the executive officers of the Funds. Each officer also
serves in the same capacity for all or a number of the other investment companies advised by the
Adviser or affiliates of the Adviser. The officers of the Funds are appointed annually by the
Trustees and serve for one year or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified. The
address of each officer is 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Year of Birth and |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
|
Officer Since |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Russell C. Burk 1958
Senior Vice President and Senior
Officer (with respect only to
the Target Fund)
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Senior Vice President and Senior Officer, The Invesco Funds. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Zerr 1962
Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Director, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Invesco
Management Group, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco Aim Management Group,
Inc.) and Van Kampen Exchange Corp.; Senior Vice President, Invesco
Advisers, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc.)
(registered investment adviser); Senior Vice President and Secretary,
Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco Aim Distributors,
Inc.); Director, Vice President and Secretary, Invesco Investment
Services, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco Aim Investment Services,
Inc.) and IVZ Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as INVESCO
Distributors, Inc.); Director and Vice President, INVESCO Funds Group,
Inc.; Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, The
Invesco Funds; Manager, Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC;
Director, Secretary and General Counsel, Invesco Investment Advisers
LLC (formerly known as Van Kampen Asset Management); Secretary and
General Counsel, Van Kampen Funds Inc. and Chief Legal Officer,
PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, PowerShares Exchange-Traded
Fund Trust II, PowerShares India Exchange-Traded Fund Trust and
PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust.
Formerly: Director and Secretary, Van Kampen Advisors Inc.; Director
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Van Kampen Investor
Services Inc.; Director, Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.); Director, Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary, Invesco Advisers, Inc.; and Van Kampen
Investments Inc.; Director, Vice President and Secretary, Fund
Management Company; Director, Senior Vice President, Secretary, General
Counsel and Vice President, Invesco Aim Capital Management, Inc.; Chief
Operating Officer and General Counsel, Liberty Ridge Capital, Inc. (an
investment adviser); Vice President and Secretary, PBHG Funds (an
investment company) and PBHG Insurance Series Fund (an investment
company); Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Secretary, Old
Mutual Investment Partners (a broker-dealer); General Counsel and
Secretary, Old Mutual Fund Services (an administrator) and Old Mutual
Shareholder Services (a shareholder servicing center); Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary, Old Mutual Capital, Inc. (an
investment adviser); and Vice President and Secretary, Old Mutual
Advisors Funds (an investment company). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheri Morris 1964
Vice President, Treasurer and
Principal Financial Officer
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, The Invesco
Funds; Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc.) (registered investment adviser);
Treasurer, PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, PowerShares
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II, PowerShares India Exchange-Traded Fund
Trust and PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust. |
E-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Year of Birth and |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
|
Officer Since |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco Aim Capital
Management, Inc. and Invesco Aim Private Asset Management, Inc.;
Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, The Invesco Funds and
Assistant Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco Aim Capital
Management, Inc. and Invesco Aim Private Asset Management, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen Dunn Kelley 1960
Vice President
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Head of Invescos World Wide
Fixed Income and Cash Management
Group; Senior Vice President,
Invesco Management Group, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Aim
Management Group, Inc.) and
Invesco Advisers, Inc. (formerly
known as Invesco Institutional
(N.A.), Inc.) (registered
investment adviser); Executive
Vice President, Invesco
Distributors, Inc. (formerly
known as Invesco Aim
Distributors, Inc.); Director,
Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc.;
Vice President, The Invesco
Funds (other than AIM
Treasurers Series Trust
(Invesco Treasurers Series
Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust); and
President and Principal
Executive Officer, The Invesco
Funds (AIM Treasurers Series
Trust (Invesco Treasurers
Series Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust only).
Formerly: Senior Vice
President, Van Kampen
Investments Inc.; Vice
President, Invesco Advisers,
Inc. (formerly known as Invesco
Institutional (N.A.), Inc.);
Director of Cash Management and
Senior Vice President, Invesco
Advisers, Inc. and Invesco Aim
Capital Management, Inc.;
President and Principal
Executive Officer, Tax-Free
Investments Trust; Director and
President, Fund Management
Company; Chief Cash Management
Officer, Director of Cash
Management, Senior Vice
President, and Managing
Director, Invesco Aim Capital
Management, Inc.; Director of
Cash Management, Senior Vice
President, and Vice President,
Invesco Advisers, Inc. and The
Invesco Funds (AIM Treasurers
Series Trust (Invesco
Treasurers Series Trust),
Short-Term Investments Trust and
Tax-Free Investments Trust
only). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yinka Akinsola 1977
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
Officer
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, Invesco Advisers, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc.) (registered
investment adviser); Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.), Invesco Investment Services, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Aim Investment Services, Inc.), Invesco
Management Group, Inc., The Invesco Funds, Invesco Van Kampen
Closed-End Funds, Van Kampen Exchange Corp. and Van Kampen Funds Inc.
Formerly: Regulatory Analyst III, Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Todd L. Spillane 1958
Chief Compliance Officer
(with respect to the Target Fund)
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Senior Vice President, Invesco Management Group, Inc. (formerly known
as Invesco Aim Management Group, Inc.) and Van Kampen Exchange Corp.;
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Invesco Advisers,
Inc. (registered investment adviser) (formerly known as Invesco
Institutional (N.A.), Inc.); Chief Compliance Officer, The Invesco
Funds; Vice President, Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.) and Invesco Investment Services, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Aim Investment Services, Inc.).
Formerly: Chief Compliance Officer, Invesco Van Kampen Closed-End
Funds, PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, PowerShares
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II, PowerShares India Exchange-Traded Fund
Trust, and PowerShares Actively Managed Exchange-Traded Fund Trust;
Senior Vice President, Van Kampen Investments Inc.; Senior Vice
President and Chief Compliance Officer, Invesco Advisers, Inc. and
Invesco Aim Capital Management, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, INVESCO
Private Capital Investments, Inc. (holding company), Invesco |
E-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Year of Birth and |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
|
Officer Since |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private Capital, Inc. (registered investment advisers), Invesco Global Asset
Management (N.A.), Inc., Invesco Senior Secured Management, Inc.
(registered investment adviser) and Van Kampen Investor Services Inc.;
Vice President, Invesco Aim Capital Management, Inc. and Fund
Management Company. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valinda Arnett-Patton
1959
Chief Compliance Officer
(with respect to the Acquiring
Fund)
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer, Invesco Van Kampen Closed-End Funds.
Formerly: Compliance Director, Invesco Fixed Income, Invesco; Deputy
Compliance Officer, AIG Sun America Asset Management Corp. |
E-3
Exhibit F
Information Regarding the Trustees of the Target Fund
The following information pertains to the Target Fund. Not all funds advised by the Adviser
are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Target Fund is overseen by the Board of Trustees
discussed below (the Invesco Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit F refer solely to
the Invesco Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit F refer solely to those funds advised
by the Adviser, including the Target Fund, overseen by the Invesco Board.
The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Board. The tables
below list the incumbent Trustees and nominees for Trustee, their principal occupations, other
directorships held by them during the past five years, and any affiliations with the Adviser or its
affiliates. The term Fund Complex includes each of the investment companies advised by the
Adviser as of the Record Date. Trustees of the Funds generally serve three-year terms or until
their successors are duly elected and qualified. The address of each Trustee is 1555 Peachtree
Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
Other Trusteeship(s) |
and Position(s) Held |
|
Trustee |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Overseen by |
|
Held by Trustee Over |
with the Target Fund |
|
Since |
|
5 Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Past 5 Years |
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin L.
Flanagan(1)
1960
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Executive Director, Chief
Executive Officer and President,
Invesco Ltd. (ultimate parent of
Invesco and a global investment
management firm); Advisor to the
Board, Invesco Advisers, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco
Institutional (N.A.), Inc.);
Trustee, The Invesco Funds; Vice
Chair, Investment Company
Institute; and Member of Executive
Board, SMU Cox School of Business.
Formerly: Chairman, Invesco
Advisers, Inc. (registered
investment adviser); Director,
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President, IVZ Inc. (holding
company), INVESCO Group Services,
Inc. (service provider) and
Invesco North American Holdings,
Inc. (holding company); Director,
Chief Executive Officer and
President, Invesco Holding Company
Limited (parent of Invesco and a
global investment management
firm); Director, Invesco Ltd.;
Chairman, Investment Company
Institute and President, Co-Chief
Executive Officer, Co-President,
Chief Operating Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, Franklin
Resources, Inc. (global investment
management organization).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip A.
Taylor(2)
1954
Trustee, President and
Principal Executive
Officer
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Head of North American Retail and
Senior Managing Director, Invesco
Ltd.; Director, Co-Chairman,
Co-President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer, Invesco
Advisers, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Institutional (N.A.),
Inc.) (registered investment
adviser); Director, Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and
President, Invesco Management
Group,
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
None. |
F-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
Other Trusteeship(s) |
and Position(s) Held |
|
Trustee |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Overseen by |
|
Held by Trustee Over |
with the Target Fund |
|
Since |
|
5 Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inc. (formerly Invesco Aim
Management Group, Inc.) (financial
services holding company);
Director and President, INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. (registered
investment adviser and registered
transfer agent); Director and
Chairman, Invesco Investment
Services, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Investment Services,
Inc.) (registered transfer agent)
and IVZ Distributors, Inc.
(formerly known as INVESCO
Distributors, Inc.) (registered
broker dealer); Director,
President and Chairman, Invesco
Inc. (holding company) and Invesco
Canada Holdings Inc. (holding
company); Chief Executive Officer,
Invesco Corporate Class Inc.
(corporate mutual fund company)
and Invesco Canada Fund Inc.
(corporate mutual fund company);
Director, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Invesco Canada
Ltd. (formerly known as Invesco
Trimark Ltd./Invesco Trimark Ltèe)
(registered investment adviser and
registered transfer agent);
Trustee, President and Principal
Executive Officer, The Invesco
Funds (other than AIM Treasurers
Series Trust (Invesco Treasurers
Series Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust); Trustee and
Executive Vice President, The
Invesco Funds (AIM Treasurers
Series Trust (Invesco Treasurers
Series Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust only); Director,
Invesco Investment Advisers LLC
(formerly known as Van Kampen
Asset Management); Director, Chief
Executive Officer and President,
Van Kampen Exchange Corp. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Director and Chairman,
Van Kampen Investor Services Inc.: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director, Chief Executive Officer
and President, 1371 Preferred Inc.
(holding company); and Van Kampen
Investments Inc.; Director and
President, AIM GP Canada Inc.
(general partner for limited
partnerships); and Van Kampen
Advisors, Inc.; Director and Chief
Executive Officer, Invesco Trimark
Dealer Inc. (registered broker
dealer); Director, Invesco
Distributors, Inc. (formerly known
as Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.)
(registered broker dealer);
Manager, Invesco PowerShares
Capital Management LLC; Director,
Chief Executive Officer and
President, Invesco Advisers, Inc.;
Director, Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President,
Invesco Aim Capital Management,
Inc.; President, Invesco Trimark
Dealer Inc. and Invesco Trimark
Ltd./Invesco Trimark Ltèe;
Director and President, AIM
Trimark Corporate Class Inc. and
AIM Trimark Canada Fund Inc.;
Senior Managing Director, Invesco
Holding Company Limited; Trustee
and Executive Vice President,
Tax-Free Investments Trust;
Director and Chairman, Fund
Management Company (former
registered broker dealer);
President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
Other Trusteeship(s) |
and Position(s) Held |
|
Trustee |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Overseen by |
|
Held by Trustee Over |
with the Target Fund |
|
Since |
|
5 Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Principal Executive
Officer, The Invesco Funds (AIM
Treasurers Series Trust (Invesco
Treasurers Series Trust),
Short-Term Investments Trust and
Tax-Free Investments Trust only);
President, AIM Trimark Global Fund
Inc. and AIM Trimark Canada Fund
Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne W.
Whalen(3)
1939
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Of Counsel, and prior to 2010,
partner in the law firm of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP, legal counsel to certain
funds in the Fund Complex.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing
General Partner of
funds in the Fund
Complex. Director
of the Mutual Fund
Directors Forum, a
nonprofit
membership
organization for
investment company
directors.
Chairman and
Director for the
Abraham Lincoln
Presidential
Library Foundation
and Director of the
Stevenson Center
for Democracy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce L. Crockett
1944
Trustee and Chair
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Chairman, Crockett Technology
Associates (technology consulting
company).
Formerly: Director, Captaris
(unified messaging provider);
Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer COMSAT
Corporation; and Chairman, Board
of Governors of INTELSAT
(international communications
company).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
ACE Limited
(insurance
company); and
Investment Company
Institute. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch 1945
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Retired. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Blistex Inc.,
a consumer health care products
manufacturer.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Member of the
Heartland Alliance
Advisory Board, a
nonprofit
organization
serving human needs
based in Chicago.
Board member of the
Illinois
Manufacturers
Association. Member
of the Board of
Visitors, Institute
for the Humanities,
University of
Michigan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank S. Bayley 1939
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Retired.
Formerly: Director, Badgley Funds,
Inc. (registered investment
company) (2 portfolios) and
Partner, law firm of Baker &
McKenzie.
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
Director and
Chairman, C.D.
Stimson Company (a
real estate
investment
company). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James T. Bunch 1942
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Managing Member, Grumman Hill
Group LLC (family office private
equity management).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
Vice Chairman of
Board of Governors,
Western Golf
Association; Chair Elect |
F-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
Other Trusteeship(s) |
and Position(s) Held |
|
Trustee |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Overseen by |
|
Held by Trustee Over |
with the Target Fund |
|
Since |
|
5 Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Founder, Green, Manning
& Bunch
Ltd. (investment banking
firm) (1988-2010); Executive
Committee, United States Golf
Association; and Director, Policy
Studies, Inc. and Van Gilder
Insurance Corporation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Evans
Scholars Foundation
and Director,
Denver Film
Society. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rodney F. Dammeyer
1940
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Chairman of CAC, LLC, a private
company offering capital
investment and management advisory
services.
Formerly: Prior to January 2004,
Director of TeleTech Holdings
Inc.; Prior to 2002, Director of
Arris Group, Inc.; Prior to 2001,
Managing Partner at Equity Group
Corporate Investments. Prior to
1995, Vice Chairman of Anixter
International. Prior to 1985,
experience includes Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial
Officer of Household
International, Inc., Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Northwest Industries,
Inc. and Partner of Arthur
Andersen & Co.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Director of Quidel
Corporation and
Stericycle, Inc.
Prior to May 2008,
Trustee of The
Scripps Research
Institute. Prior to
February 2008,
Director of Ventana
Medical Systems,
Inc. Prior to April
2007, Director of
GATX Corporation.
Prior to April
2004, Director of
TheraSense, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert R. Dowden
1941
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Director of a number of public and
private business corporations,
including the Boss Group, Ltd.
(private investment and
management); Reich & Tang Funds (5
portfolios) (registered investment
company); and Homeowners of
America Holding Corporation/Homeowners
of America Insurance
Company (property casualty
company).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
Board of Natures
Sunshine Products,
Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Director, Continental
Energy Services, LLC (oil and gas
pipeline service); Director,
CompuDyne Corporation (provider of
product and services to the public
security market) and Director,
Annuity and Life Re (Holdings),
Ltd. (reinsurance company);
Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Volvo Group
North America, Inc.; Senior Vice
President, AB Volvo; Director of
various public and private
corporations; Chairman, DHJ Media,
Inc.; Director Magellan Insurance
Company; and Director, The Hertz
Corporation, Genmar Corporation
(boat manufacturer), National
Media Corporation; Advisory Board
of Rotary Power International
(designer, manufacturer, and
seller of rotary power engines);
and Chairman, Cortland Trust, Inc.
(registered investment company). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack M. Fields 1952
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, Twenty
First Century Group, Inc.
(government affairs company); and
Owner and Chief Executive Officer,
Dos Angelos Ranch, L.P. (cattle,
hunting, corporate entertainment),
Discovery Global Education Fund
(non-profit) and Cross Timbers
Quail Research Ranch (non-profit).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
Insperity (formerly
known as
Administaff). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Chief Executive Officer,
Texana Timber LP (sustainable
forestry company) and member of
the U.S. House of Representatives. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
Other Trusteeship(s) |
and Position(s) Held |
|
Trustee |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Overseen by |
|
Held by Trustee Over |
with the Target Fund |
|
Since |
|
5 Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Past 5 Years |
Carl Frischling 1937
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Partner, law firm of Kramer Levin
Naftalis and Frankel LLP.
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
Director, Reich &
Tang Funds (6
portfolios). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prema Mathai-Davis
1950
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Retired.
Formerly: Chief Executive Officer,
YWCA of the U.S.A.
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry Soll 1942
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Retired.
Formerly, Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President,
Synergen Corp. (a biotechnology
company).
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
None. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein
1940
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Distinguished Service Professor
and President Emeritus of the
University of Chicago and the Adam
Smith Distinguished Service
Professor in the Department of
Economics at the University of
Chicago. Prior to July 2000,
President of the University of
Chicago.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee of the
University of
Rochester and a
member of its
investment
committee. Member
of the National
Academy of
Sciences, the
American
Philosophical
Society and a
fellow of the
American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raymond Stickel, Jr.
1944
Trustee
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Retired.
Formerly, Director, Mainstay VP
Series Funds, Inc. (25 portfolios)
and Partner, Deloitte & Touche.
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
None. |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Flanagan is considered an interested person of the Funds because he is an adviser to
the board of directors of the Adviser, and an officer and a director of Invesco Ltd., the
ultimate parent company of the Adviser. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Taylor is considered an interested person of the Funds because he is an officer and a
director of the Adviser. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Whalen is considered an interested person of the Funds because he is Of Counsel at the
law firm that serves as legal counsel to the Invesco Van Kampen closed-end funds, for which
the Adviser also serves as investment adviser. |
Trustee Ownership of Target Fund Shares
The following table shows each Board members ownership of shares of the Target Fund and of
shares of all registered investment companies overseen by such Board member in the Fund Complex as
of December 31, 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Range of Equity |
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All |
|
|
Securities in the Target Fund |
|
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Board |
Name |
|
(IQN) |
|
Member in Family of Investment Companies |
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
Martin L. Flanagan |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Philip A. Taylor |
|
None |
|
None |
Wayne W. Whalen |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
Bruce L. Crockett |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
David C. Arch |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Frank S. Bayley |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
James T. Bunch |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
F-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Range of Equity |
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All |
|
|
Securities in the Target Fund |
|
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Board |
Name |
|
(IQN) |
|
Member in Family of Investment Companies |
Rodney Dammeyer |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Prema Mathai Davis |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Albert R. Dowden |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Jack M. Fields |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Carl Frischling |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Larry Soll |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Hugo F. Sonnenschein |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Raymond Stickel, Jr. |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
F-6
Exhibit G
Target Fund Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight,
and Committees and Meetings
Board Leadership Structure for the Target Fund
The following information pertains to the Target Fund. Not all funds advised by the Adviser
are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Target Fund is overseen by the Board of Trustees
discussed below (the Invesco Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit G refer solely to
the Invesco Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit G refer solely to those funds advised
by the Adviser, including the Target Fund, overseen by the Invesco Board.
The Board will be composed of fifteen Trustees, including twelve Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Funds, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (collectively, the
Independent Trustees and each an Independent Trustee). In addition to eight regularly scheduled
meetings per year, the Board holds special meetings or informal conference calls to discuss
specific matters that may require action prior to the next regular meeting. The Board met twelve
times during the twelve months ended February 29, 2012. As discussed below, the Board has
established committees to assist the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities.
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee to serve in the role of Chairman. The
Chairmans primary role is to participate in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the
Board and the identification of information to be presented to the Board and matters to be acted
upon by the Board. The Chairman also presides at all meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison
with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Trustees generally between meetings. The
Chairman may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time.
Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to a Funds charter documents, the designation
of Chairman does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that
is greater than the duties, obligations or liability otherwise imposed on such person as a member
of the Board.
The Board believes that its leadership structure, which includes an Independent Trustee as
Chairman, allows for effective communication between the Trustees and fund management, among the
Boards Trustees and among its Independent Trustees. The existing Board structure, including its
committee structure, provides the Independent Trustees with effective control over Board governance
while also providing insight from the two non-Independent Trustees who are active officers of the
Funds investment adviser. The Boards leadership structure promotes dialogue and debate, which
the Board believes will allow for the proper consideration of matters deemed important to the Funds
and their shareholders and result in effective decision-making.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
The Board considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities
throughout the year at regular meetings of the Investments Committee, Audit Committee, Compliance
Committee, and Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee (each as defined and further
described below). These committees in turn report to the full Board and recommend actions and
approvals for the full Board to take.
Invesco prepares regular reports that address certain investment, valuation and compliance
matters, and the Board as a whole or the committees may also receive special written reports or
presentations on a variety of risk issues at the request of the Board, a committee or the Senior
Officer. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with Invesco Ltd.s internal
audit group to review reports on their examinations of functions and processes within the Adviser
that affect the Funds.
The Investments Committee and its sub-committees receive regular written reports describing
and analyzing the investment performance of the Funds. In addition, the portfolio managers of the
Funds meet regularly with the sub-committees of the Investments Committee to discuss portfolio
performance, including investment risk, such as the impact on the Funds of the investment in
particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives. To the extent that a Fund changes a
particular investment strategy that could have a material impact on the Funds risk profile, the
Board generally is consulted in advance with respect to such change.
G-1
The Adviser provides regular written reports to the Valuation, Distribution and Proxy
Oversight Committee that enable the Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee to
monitor the number of fair valued securities in a particular portfolio, the reasons for the fair
valuation and the methodology used to arrive at the fair value. Such reports also include
information concerning illiquid securities within a Funds portfolio. In addition, the Audit
Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Funds independent auditors in
connection with the Audit Committees review of the results of the audit of the Funds year-end
financial statement.
The Compliance Committee receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisers
compliance group and meets regularly with the Funds Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss
compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) rules, the Independent Trustees meet at least quarterly in executive session with
the CCO, and the Funds CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board.
The Compliance Committee recommends and the Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the
Funds and approves such procedures for the Funds service providers. The compliance policies and
procedures are specifically designed to detect, prevent and correct violations of the federal
securities laws.
Board Committees and Meetings
The standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Compliance Committee, the
Governance Committee, the Investments Committee, and the Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Voting
Oversight Committee (the Committees).
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. David C. Arch, Frank S. Bayley, James T. Bunch,
Bruce L. Crockett, Rodney Dammeyer (Vice Chair), Raymond Stickel, Jr. (Chair) and Dr. Larry Soll.
The Audit Committees primary purposes are to: (i) oversee qualifications, independence and
performance of the independent registered public accountants; (ii) appoint independent registered
public accountants for the Funds; (iii) pre-approve all permissible audit and non-audit services
that are provided to Funds by their independent registered public accountants to the extent
required by Section 10A(h) and (i) of the Exchange Act; (iv) pre-approve, in accordance with Rule
2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X, certain non-audit services provided by the Funds independent
registered public accountants to the Adviser and certain affiliates of the Adviser; (v) review the
audit and tax plans prepared by the independent registered public accountants; (vi) review the
Funds audited financial statements; (vii) review the process that management uses to evaluate and
certify disclosure controls and procedures in Form N-CSR; (viii) review the process for preparation
and review of the Funds shareholder reports; (ix) review certain tax procedures maintained by the
Funds; (x) review modified or omitted officer certifications and disclosures; (xi) review any
internal audits of the Funds; (xii) establish procedures regarding questionable accounting or
auditing matters and other alleged violations; (xiii) set hiring policies for employees and
proposed employees of the Funds who are employees or former employees of the independent registered
public accountants; and (xiv) remain informed of (a) the Funds accounting systems and controls,
(b) regulatory changes and new accounting pronouncements that affect the Funds net asset value
calculations and financial statement reporting requirements, and (c) communications with regulators
regarding accounting and financial reporting matters that pertain to the Funds. Each member of the
Audit Committee is an Independent Trustee and each meets the additional independence requirements
for audit committee members as defined by Exchange listing standards. The Audit Committee held
eight meetings during the twelve months ended February 29, 2012.
The members of the Compliance Committee are Messrs. Bayley, Bunch, Dammeyer (Vice Chair),
Stickel and Dr. Soll (Chair). The Compliance Committee is responsible for: (i) recommending to the
Board and the Independent Trustees the appointment, compensation and removal of the Funds CCO;
(ii) recommending to the Independent Trustees the appointment, compensation and removal of the
Funds Senior Officer appointed pursuant to the terms of the Assurances of Discontinuance entered
into by the New York Attorney General, Invesco and INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.; (iii) reviewing any
report prepared by a third party who is not an interested person of the Adviser, upon the
conclusion by such third party of a compliance review of the Adviser; (iv) reviewing all reports on
compliance matters from the Funds CCO, (v) reviewing all recommendations made by the Senior
Officer regarding the Advisers compliance procedures, (vi) reviewing all reports from the Senior
Officer of any violations of state and federal securities laws, the Colorado Consumer Protection
Act, or breaches of the Advisers fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders and of the Advisers Code
of Ethics; (vii) overseeing all of the compliance policies and
G-2
procedures of the Funds and their service providers adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act;
(viii) from time to time, reviewing certain matters related to redemption fee waivers and
recommending to the Board whether or not to approve such matters; (ix) receiving and reviewing
quarterly reports on the activities of the Advisers Internal Compliance Controls Committee; (x)
reviewing all reports made by the Advisers CCO; (xi) reviewing and recommending to the Independent
Trustees whether to approve procedures to investigate matters brought to the attention of the
Advisers ombudsman; (xii) risk management oversight with respect to the Funds and, in connection
therewith, receiving and overseeing risk management reports from Invesco Ltd. that are applicable
to the Funds or their service providers; and (xiii) overseeing potential conflicts of interest that
are reported to the Compliance Committee by the Adviser, the CCO, the Senior Officer and/or the
Compliance Consultant. The Compliance Committee held six meetings during the twelve months ended
February 29, 2012.
The members of the Governance Committee are Messrs. Arch, Crockett, Albert R. Dowden (Chair),
Jack M. Fields (Vice Chair), Carl Frischling, Hugo F. Sonnenschein and Dr. Prema Mathai-Davis. The
Governance Committee is responsible for: (i) nominating persons who will qualify as Independent
Trustees for (a) election as Trustees in connection with meetings of shareholders of the Funds that
are called to vote on the election of Trustees, (b) appointment by the Board as Trustees in
connection with filling vacancies that arise in between meetings of shareholders; (ii) reviewing
the size of the Board, and recommending to the Board whether the size of the Board shall be
increased or decreased; (iii) nominating the Chair of the Board; (iv) monitoring the composition of
the Board and each committee of the Board, and monitoring the qualifications of all Trustees; (v)
recommending persons to serve as members of each committee of the Board (other than the Compliance
Committee), as well as persons who shall serve as the chair and vice chair of each such committee;
(vi) reviewing and recommending the amount of compensation payable to the Independent Trustees;
(vii) overseeing the selection of independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees; (viii)
reviewing and approving the compensation paid to independent legal counsel to the Independent
Trustees; (ix) reviewing and approving the compensation paid to counsel and other advisers, if any,
to the Committees of the Board; and (x) reviewing as they deem appropriate administrative and/or
logistical matters pertaining to the operations of the Board. Each member of the Governance
Committee is an Independent Trustee and each meets the additional independence requirements for
nominating committee members as defined by Exchange listing standards. The Governance Committees
charter is available at www.invesco.com/us.
The Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by a shareholder to serve as
Trustee, provided: (i) that such person is a shareholder of record at the time he or she submits
such names and is entitled to vote at the meeting of shareholders at which Trustees will be
elected; and (ii) that the Governance Committee or the Board, as applicable, shall make the final
determination of persons to be nominated. Notice procedures set forth in each Funds bylaws require
that any shareholder of a Fund desiring to nominate a Trustee for election at a shareholder meeting
must submit to the Funds Secretary the nomination in writing not later than the close of business
on the later of the 60th day prior to such shareholder meeting or the tenth day following the day
on which public announcement is made of the shareholder meeting and not earlier than the close of
business on the 90th day prior to the shareholder meeting. The Governance Committee held six
meetings during the twelve months ended February 29, 2012.
The members of the Investments Committee are Messrs. Arch, Bayley (Chair), Bunch (Vice Chair),
Crockett, Dammeyer, Dowden, Fields, Martin L. Flanagan, Frischling, Sonnenschein (Vice Chair),
Stickel, Philip A. Taylor, Wayne W. Whalen, and Drs. Mathai-Davis (Vice Chair) and Soll. The
Investments Committees primary purposes are to: (i) assist the Board in its oversight of the
investment management services provided by the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers; and (ii) review all
proposed and existing advisory and sub-advisory arrangements for the Funds, and to recommend what
action the full Boards and the Independent Trustees take regarding the approval of all such
proposed arrangements and the continuance of all such existing arrangements.
The Investments Committee has established three sub-committees (the Sub-Committees). The
Sub-Committees are responsible for: (i) reviewing the performance, fees and expenses of the Funds
that have been assigned to a particular Sub-Committee (for each Sub-Committee, the Designated
Funds), unless the Investments Committee takes such action directly; (ii) reviewing with the
applicable portfolio managers from time to time the investment objective(s), policies, strategies
and limitations of the Designated Funds; (iii) evaluating the investment advisory, sub-advisory and
distribution arrangements in effect or proposed for the Designated Funds, unless the Investments
Committee takes such action directly; (iv) being familiar with the registration statements and
periodic shareholder reports applicable to their Designated Funds; and (v) such other
investment-related matters as the
G-3
Investments Committee may delegate to the Sub-Committees from time to time. The Investments
Committee held six meetings during the twelve months ended February 29, 2012.
The members of the Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee are Messrs. Dowden,
Fields, Frischling (Chair), Sonnenschein (Vice Chair), Whalen and Dr. Mathai-Davis. The primary
purposes of the Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee are: (a) to address issues
requiring action or oversight by the Board (i) in the valuation of the Funds portfolio securities
consistent with the Pricing Procedures, (ii) in oversight of the creation and maintenance by the
principal underwriters of the Funds of an effective distribution and marketing system to build and
maintain an adequate asset base and to create and maintain economies of scale for the Funds, (iii)
in the review of existing distribution arrangements for the Funds under Rule 12b-1 and Section 15
of the 1940 Act, and (iv) in the oversight of proxy voting on portfolio securities of the Funds;
and (b) to make regular reports to the full Board.
The Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee is responsible for: (a) with regard
to valuation, (i) developing an understanding of the valuation process and the Pricing Procedures,
(ii) reviewing the Pricing Procedures and making recommendations to the full Board with respect
thereto, (iii) reviewing the reports described in the Pricing Procedures and other information from
the Adviser regarding fair value determinations made pursuant to the Pricing Procedures by the
Advisers internal valuation committee and making reports and recommendations to the full Board
with respect thereto, (iv) receiving the reports of the Advisers internal valuation committee
requesting approval of any changes to pricing vendors or pricing methodologies as required by the
Pricing Procedures and the annual report of the Adviser evaluating the pricing vendors, approving
changes to pricing vendors and pricing methodologies as provided in the Pricing Procedures, and
recommending annually the pricing vendors for approval by the full Board; (v) upon request of the
Adviser, assisting the Advisers internal valuation committee or the full Board in resolving
particular fair valuation issues; (vi) reviewing the reports described in the Procedures for
Determining the Liquidity of Securities (the Liquidity Procedures) and other information from the
Adviser regarding liquidity determinations made pursuant to the Liquidity Procedures by the Adviser
and making reports and recommendations to the full Board with respect thereto, and (vii) overseeing
actual or potential conflicts of interest by investment personnel or others that could affect their
input or recommendations regarding pricing or liquidity issues; (b) with regard to distribution and
marketing, (i) developing an understanding of mutual fund distribution and marketing channels and
legal, regulatory and market developments regarding distribution, (ii) reviewing periodic
distribution and marketing determinations and annual approval of distribution arrangements and
making reports and recommendations to the full Board with respect thereto, and (iii) reviewing
other information from the principal underwriters to the Funds regarding distribution and marketing
of the Funds and making recommendations to the full Board with respect thereto; and (c) with regard
to proxy voting, (i) overseeing the implementation of the Proxy Voting Guidelines (the
Guidelines) and the Proxy Policies and Procedures (the Proxy Procedures) by the Adviser and the
Sub-Advisers, reviewing the Quarterly Proxy Voting Report and making recommendations to the full
Board with respect thereto, (ii) reviewing the Guidelines and the Proxy Procedures and information
provided by the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers regarding industry developments and best practices in
connection with proxy voting and making recommendations to the full Board with respect thereto, and
(iii) in implementing its responsibilities in this area, assisting the Adviser in resolving
particular proxy voting issues. The Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee was
formed effective January 1, 2008. It succeeded the Valuation Committee, which existed prior to
2008. The Valuation, Distribution and Proxy Oversight Committee held six meetings during the
twelve months ended February 29, 2012.
Trustees are encouraged to attend shareholder meetings, but the Board has no set policy
requiring Board member attendance at meetings. During each Funds last fiscal year, each of the
Trustees during the period such Trustee served as a Trustee attended at least 75% of the meetings
of the Board and all committee meetings thereof of which such Trustee was a member.
G-4
Exhibit H
Remuneration of Target Fund Trustees
The following information pertains to the Target Fund. Not all funds advised by the Adviser
are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Target Fund is overseen by the Board of Trustees
discussed below (the Invesco Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit H refer solely to
the Invesco Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit H refer solely to those funds advised
by the Adviser, including the Target Fund, overseen by the Invesco Board.
Remuneration of Trustees
Each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Adviser is compensated for his or her services
according to a fee schedule that recognizes the fact that such Trustee also serves as a Trustee of
other Invesco Funds. Each such Trustee receives a fee, allocated among the Invesco Funds for which
he or she serves as a Trustee, that consists of an annual retainer component and a meeting fee
component. The Chair of the Board and Chairs and Vice Chairs of certain committees receive
additional compensation for their services.
The Trustees have adopted a retirement plan funded by the Funds for the Trustees who are not
affiliated with the Adviser. The Trustees also have adopted a retirement policy that permits each
non-Invesco-affiliated Trustee to serve until December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns
75. A majority of the Trustees may extend from time to time the retirement date of a Trustee.
Annual retirement benefits are available from the Funds and/or the other Invesco Funds for
which a Trustee serves (each, a Covered Fund), for each Trustee who is not an employee or officer
of the Adviser, who either (a) became a Trustee prior to December 1, 2008, and who has at least
five years of credited service as a Trustee (including service to a predecessor fund) of a Covered
Fund, or (b) was a member of the Board of Trustees of a Van Kampen Fund immediately prior to June
1, 2010 (Former Van Kampen Trustee), and has at least one year of credited service as a Trustee
of a Covered Fund after June 1, 2010.
For Trustees other than Former Van Kampen Trustees, effective January 1, 2006, for
retirements after December 31, 2005, the retirement benefits will equal 75% of the Trustees annual
retainer paid to or accrued by any Covered Fund with respect to such Trustee during the
twelve-month period prior to retirement, including the amount of any retainer deferred under a
separate deferred compensation agreement between the Covered Fund and the Trustee. The amount of
the annual retirement benefit does not include additional compensation paid for Board meeting fees
or compensation paid to the Chair of the Board and the Chairs and Vice Chairs of certain Board
committees, whether such amounts are paid directly to the Trustee or deferred. The annual
retirement benefit is payable in quarterly installments for a number of years equal to the lesser
of (i) sixteen years or (ii) the number of such Trustees credited years of service. If a Trustee
dies prior to receiving the full amount of retirement benefits, the remaining payments will be made
to the deceased Trustees designated beneficiary for the same length of time that the Trustee would
have received the payments based on his or her service or, if the Trustee has elected, in a
discounted lump sum payment. A Trustee must have attained the age of 65 (60 in the event of death
or disability) to receive any retirement benefit. A Trustee may make an irrevocable election to
commence payment of retirement benefits upon retirement from the Board before age 72; in such a
case, the annual retirement benefit is subject to a reduction for early payment.
If the Former Van Kampen Trustee completes at least 10 years of credited service after June 1,
2010, the retirement benefit will equal 75% of the Former Van Kampen Trustees annual retainer paid
to or accrued by any Covered Fund with respect to such Trustee during the twelve-month period prior
to retirement, including the amount of any retainer deferred under a separate deferred compensation
agreement between the Covered Fund and such Trustee. The amount of the annual retirement benefit
does not include additional compensation paid for Board meeting fees or compensation paid to the
Chair of the Board and the Chairs and Vice Chairs of certain Board committees, whether such amounts
are paid directly to the Trustee or deferred. The annual retirement benefit is payable in quarterly
installments for 10 years beginning after the later of the Former Van Kampen Trustees
H-1
termination of service or attainment of age 72 (or age 60 in the event of disability or immediately
in the event of death). If a Former Van Kampen Trustee dies prior to receiving the full amount of
retirement benefits, the remaining payments will be made to the deceased Trustees designated
beneficiary or, if the Trustee has elected, in a discounted lump sum payment.
If the Former Van Kampen Trustee completes less than 10 years of credited service after June
1, 2010, the retirement benefit will be payable at the applicable time described in the preceding
paragraph, but will be paid in two components successively. For the period of time equal to the
Former Van Kampen Trustees years of credited service after June 1, 2010, the first component of
the annual retirement benefit will equal 75% of the compensation amount described in the preceding
paragraph. Thereafter, for the period of time equal to the Former Van Kampen Trustees years of
credited service after June 1, 2010, the second component of the annual retirement benefit will
equal the excess of (x) 75% of the compensation amount described in the preceding paragraph, over
(y) $68,041 plus an interest factor of 4% per year compounded annually measured from June 1, 2010
through the first day of each year for which payments under this second component are to be made.
In no event, however, will the retirement benefits under the two components be made for a period of
time greater than 10 years. For example, if the Former Van Kampen Trustee completes 7 years of
credited service after June 1, 2010, he or she will receive 7 years of payments under the first
component and thereafter 3 years of payments under the second component, and if the Former Van
Kampen Trustee completes 4 years of credited service after June 1, 2010, he or she will receive 4
years of payments under the first component and thereafter 4 years of payments under the second
component.
Deferred Compensation Agreements. Edward K. Dunn (a former Trustee of funds in the Invesco Funds
complex), Messrs. Crockett, Fields, Frischling and Whalen, and Drs. Mathai-Davis, and Soll (for
purposes of this paragraph only, the Deferring Trustees) have each executed a Deferred
Compensation Agreement (collectively, the Compensation Agreements). Pursuant to the Compensation
Agreements, the Deferring Trustees have the option to elect to defer receipt of up to 100% of their
compensation payable by the Funds, and such amounts are placed into a deferral account and deemed
to be invested in one or more Invesco Funds selected by the Deferring Trustees.
Distributions from these deferral accounts will be paid in cash, generally in equal quarterly
installments over a period of up to ten (10) years (depending on the Compensation Agreement)
beginning on the date selected under the Compensation Agreement. If a Deferring Trustee dies prior
to the distribution of amounts in his or her deferral account, the balance of the deferral account
will be distributed to his or her designated beneficiary. The Compensation Agreements are not
funded and, with respect to the payments of amounts held in the deferral accounts, the Deferring
Trustees have the status of unsecured creditors of the Funds and of each other Invesco Fund from
which they are deferring compensation.
Set forth below is information regarding compensation paid or accrued for each Trustee of the
Target Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or |
|
Estimated Annual |
|
Total Compensation |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
Retirement Benefits |
|
Benefits from Invesco |
|
Before Deferral from |
|
|
Compensation from |
|
Accrued by All |
|
Funds Upon |
|
Invesco Funds Paid to |
Trustee |
|
the Target Fund(1) |
|
Invesco Funds(2) |
|
Retirement(3) |
|
Trustee(4) |
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin L. Flanagan |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
Philip A. Taylor |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
|
None |
Wayne W. Whalen |
|
$ |
1,060 |
|
|
$ |
304,730 |
|
|
$ |
195,000 |
|
|
$ |
399,000 |
|
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch |
|
|
1,116 |
|
|
|
164,973 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
412,250 |
|
Frank S. Bayley |
|
|
1,553 |
|
|
|
236,053 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
420,000 |
|
James T. Bunch |
|
|
1,167 |
|
|
|
302,877 |
|
|
|
195,693 |
|
|
|
385,000 |
|
Bruce L. Crockett |
|
|
2,624 |
|
|
|
227,797 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
693,500 |
|
Rodney F. Dammeyer |
|
|
1,106 |
|
|
|
290,404 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
412,250 |
|
Albert R. Dowden |
|
|
1,858 |
|
|
|
296,156 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
415,000 |
|
Jack M. Fields |
|
|
1,070 |
|
|
|
313,488 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
307,250 |
|
Carl Frischling(5) |
|
|
1,233 |
|
|
|
233,415 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
356,000 |
|
Prema Mathai-Davis |
|
|
1,139 |
|
|
|
302,911 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
330,000 |
|
H-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or |
|
Estimated Annual |
|
Total Compensation |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
Retirement Benefits |
|
Benefits from Invesco |
|
Before Deferral from |
|
|
Compensation from |
|
Accrued by All |
|
Funds Upon |
|
Invesco Funds Paid to |
Trustee |
|
the Target Fund(1) |
|
Invesco Funds(2) |
|
Retirement(3) |
|
Trustee(4) |
Larry Soll |
|
|
1,669 |
|
|
|
342,675 |
|
|
|
216,742 |
|
|
|
375,750 |
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein |
|
|
1,135 |
|
|
|
290,404 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
412,200 |
|
Raymond Stickel, Jr. |
|
|
1,955 |
|
|
|
230,451 |
|
|
|
195,000 |
|
|
|
399,250 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012. The total amount of compensation
deferred by all trustees of the Target Fund during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012,
including earnings, was $4,223. |
|
(2) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2011, the total amount of expenses allocated to the
Target Fund in respect of such retirement benefits was $1,758. |
|
(3) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2011. These amounts represent the estimated annual
benefits payable by the Invesco Funds upon the trustees retirement and assumes each trustee
serves until his or her normal retirement date. |
|
(4) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2011. All trustees except Messrs. Arch, Dammeyer,
Sonnenschein and Whalen currently serve as trustee of 133 portfolios in the Fund Complex
advised by the Adviser. Messrs. Arch, Dammeyer, Sonnenschein and Whalen currently serve as
trustee of 151 portfolios in the Fund Complex advised by the Adviser. |
|
(5) |
|
During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, the Target Fund paid $1,024 in legal
fees to Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP for services rendered by such firm as counsel to the
Independent Trustees of the Target Fund. Mr. Frischling is a partner of such firm. |
H-3
Exhibit I
Information on the Funds Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of each Fund appointed, and the Board of Trustees
ratified and approved, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Fund for fiscal years ending after May 31, 2010. Prior to May 31, 2010, each
Fund was audited by a different independent registered public accounting firm (the Prior
Auditor). The Board of Trustees selected a new independent auditor in connection with the
appointment of Invesco Advisers as investment adviser to the Fund. Effective June 1, 2010, the
Prior Auditor resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund.
The Prior Auditors report on the financial statements of each Fund for the prior two years
did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the period the Prior Auditor was
engaged, there were no disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not
resolved to the Prior Auditors satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter
in connection with its report.
Audit and Other Fees
The Funds and Covered Entities (the Adviser, excluding sub-advisers unaffiliated with the
Adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that
provides ongoing services to the Funds), were billed the amounts listed below by PwC during each
Funds last two fiscal years. Effective February 28, 2011, the fiscal year end of each Fund was
changed to the last day in February.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund |
|
Fiscal Year End |
|
Audit Fees |
|
Non-Audit Fees |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Related |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Non- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees |
|
Tax Fees |
|
All Other |
|
Audit |
|
|
|
|
Target Fund (IQN) |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
$ |
36,300 |
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
4,100 |
(2) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
9,100 |
|
|
$ |
45,400 |
|
|
|
|
11/01/10- 02/28/11 |
|
|
$ |
19,250 |
|
|
$ |
4,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
2,300 |
(2) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
6,300 |
|
|
$ |
25,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
$ |
36,300 |
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
5,900 |
(2) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
10,900 |
|
|
$ |
47,200 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/10-2/28/11 |
|
|
$ |
19,250 |
|
|
$ |
4,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
2,300 |
(2) |
|
$ |
1,667 |
(3) |
|
$ |
7,967 |
|
|
$ |
27,217 |
|
Covered Entities |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Covered Entities |
|
|
11/01/10- 02/28/11 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes fees billed for agreed upon procedures related to auction rate preferred
securities. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes fees billed for reviewing tax returns. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes fees billed for completing professional services related to benchmark analysis. |
The Audit Committee of each Board has considered whether the provision of non-audit services
performed by PwC to such Funds and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining PwCs
independence in performing audit services. Each Funds Audit Committee also is required to
pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a
direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of such Funds. 100% of such services were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the Audit Committees pre-approval policies and
procedures. Each Boards pre-approval policies and procedures are included as part of the Boards
Audit Committee charter, which is available at www.invesco.com/us. The members of the Audit
Committee for the Target Fund are David C. Arch, Frank S. Bayley, James T. Bunch, Bruce L.
Crockett, Rodney Dammeyer, Raymond Stickel, Jr., and Dr. Larry Soll. The members of the Audit
Committee for the Acquiring Fund are Jerry D. Choate, Linda Hutton Heagy and R. Craig Kennedy.
I-1
The Audit Committee of each Fund reviewed and discussed the last audited financial statements
of each Fund with management and with PwC. In the course of its discussions, each Funds Audit
Committee has discussed with PwC its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of
such Funds accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the
Audit Committee by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditors Communication With Those
Charged With Governance). Each Funds Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the
letter from PwC required under Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards Ethics & Independence
Rule 3526 and has discussed with PwC its independence with respect to such Fund. Each Fund knows
of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of PwC in such Fund. Based on this
review, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of each Fund that such Funds audited
financial statements be included in such Funds Annual Report to Shareholders for the most recent
fiscal year for filing with the SEC.
It is not expected that representatives of PwC will attend the Meeting. In the event
representatives of PwC do attend the Meeting, they will have the opportunity to make a statement if
they desire to do so and will be available to answer appropriate questions.
I-2
Exhibit J
Information Regarding the Acquiring Fund Trustees
The following information pertains to the Acquiring Fund. Not all funds advised by the
Adviser are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Acquiring Fund is overseen by the Board of
Trustees discussed below (the IVK Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit J refer
solely to the IVK Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit J refer solely to those funds
advised by the Adviser, including the Acquiring Fund, overseen by the IVK Board.
The tables below list the incumbent Trustees, their principal occupations, other directorships
held by them and their affiliations, if any, with the Adviser or its affiliates. The term Fund
Complex includes each of the investment companies advised by the Adviser as of the Record Date.
Trustees of the Funds generally serve three year terms or until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
Held with |
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
the |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Acquiring |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Fund |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
Independent Trustees: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch1 1945
Blistex Inc.
1800 Swift Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Blistex
Inc., a consumer health care
products manufacturer.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Member of the Heartland Alliance
Advisory Board, a nonprofit
organization serving human needs
based in Chicago. Board member of
the Illinois Manufacturers
Association. Member of the Board
of Visitors, Institute for the
Humanities, University of
Michigan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry D. Choate1 1938
33971 Selva Road
Suite 130
Dana Point, CA 92629
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
From 1995 to 1999, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the
Allstate Corporation (Allstate)
and Allstate Insurance Company.
From 1994 to 1995, President and
Chief Executive Officer of
Allstate. Prior to 1994, various
management positions at Allstate.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director since 1998 and member of
the governance and nominating
committee, executive committee,
compensation and management
development committee and equity
award committee, of Amgen Inc., a
biotechnological company.
Director since 1999 and member of
the nominating and governance
committee and compensation and
executive committee, of Valero
Energy Corporation, a crude oil
refining and marketing company.
Previously, from 2006 to 2007,
Director and member of the
compensation committee and audit
committee, of H&R Block, a tax
preparation services company. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rodney F.
Dammeyer***2,4 1940
CAC, LLC
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
President of CAC, LLC, a private
company offering capital
investment and management
advisory services. Prior to
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of Quidel Corporation
and Stericycle, |
J-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
Held with |
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
the |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Acquiring |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Fund |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
4370 La Jolla Village Drive
Suite 685
San Diego, CA 92122-1249
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 2004, Director of
TeleTech Holdings, Inc. Prior to
2002, Director of Arris Group,
Inc. Prior to 2001, Managing
Partner at Equity Group Corporate
Investments. Prior to 1995, Vice
Chairman of Anixter
International. Prior to 1985,
experience includes Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial
Officer of Household
International, Inc., Executive
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Northwest
Industries, Inc. and Partner of
Arthur Andersen & Co.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inc. Prior to May 2008, Trustee of The Scripps
Research Institute. Prior to
February 2008, Director of
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Prior to April 2007, Director of
GATX Corporation. Prior to April
2004, Director of TheraSense,
Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Hutton Heagy2,4
1948
4939 South Greenwood
Chicago, IL 60615
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Prior to June 2008,
Managing Partner of Heidrick &
Struggles, the second largest
global executive search firm, and
from 2001-2004, Regional Managing
Director of U.S. operations at
Heidrick & Struggles. Prior to
1997, Managing Partner of Ray &
Berndtson, Inc., an executive
recruiting firm. Prior to 1995,
Executive Vice President of ABN
AMRO, N.A., a bank holding
company, with oversight for
treasury management operations
including all non-credit product
pricing. Prior to 1990,
experience includes Executive
Vice President of The Exchange
National Bank with oversight of
treasury management including
capital markets operations, Vice
President of Northern Trust
Company and a trainee at Price
Waterhouse.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Prior to 2010, Trustee on the
University of Chicago Medical
Center Board, Vice Chair of the
Board of the YMCA of Metropolitan
Chicago and a member of the
Womens Board of the University
of Chicago. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Craig Kennedy3
1952
1744 R Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Director and President of the
German Marshall Fund of the
United States, an independent
U.S. foundation created to deepen
understanding, promote
collaboration and stimulate
exchanges of practical experience
between Americans and Europeans.
Formerly, advisor to the Dennis
Trading Group Inc., a managed
futures and option company that
invests money for individuals and
institutions. Prior to 1992,
President and Chief Executive
Officer, Director and member of
the Investment Committee of the
Joyce Foundation, a private
foundation.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of First Solar, Inc.
Advisory Board, True North
Ventures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard J Kerr***1
1935
14 Huron Trace
Galena, IL 61036
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Previous member of the
City Council and Mayor of Lake
Forest, Illinois from 1988
through 2002. Previous business
experience from 1981 through 1996
includes President and Chief
Executive Officer of Pocklington
Corporation, Inc., an investment
holding company, President and
Chief Executive Officer of
Grabill Aerospace, and President
of Custom Technologies
Corporation. United States Naval
Officer from 1960 through 1981,
with
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of the Lake Forest Bank
& Trust. Director of the Marrow
Foundation. |
J-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) |
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
Held with |
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth |
|
the |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Acquiring |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Fund |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
responsibilities including
Commanding Officer of United
States Navy destroyers and
Commander of United States Navy
Destroyer Squadron Thirty-Three,
White House experience in 1973
through 1975 as military aide to
Vice Presidents Agnew and Ford
and Naval Aid to President Ford,
and Military Fellow on the
Council of Foreign Relations in
1978-through 1979. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack E. Nelson***3
1936
423 Country Club Drive
Winter Park, FL 32789
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
President of Nelson Investment
Planning Services, Inc., a
financial planning company and
registered investment adviser in
the State of Florida. President
of Nelson Ivest Brokerage
Services Inc., a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA), Securities
Investors Protection Corp. and
the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board. President of
Nelson Sales and Services
Corporation, a marketing and
services company to support
affiliated companies.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hugo F.
Sonnenschein3,4 1940
1126 E. 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Distinguished Service Professor
and President Emeritus of the
University of Chicago and the
Adam Smith Distinguished Service
Professor in the Department of
Economics at the University of
Chicago. Prior to July 2000,
President of the University of
Chicago.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Trustee of the University of
Rochester and a member of its
investment committee. Member of
the National Academy of Sciences,
the American Philosophical
Society and a fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. |
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Suzanne H. Woolsey,
Ph.D.
1 1941
815 Cumberstone Road
Harwood, MD 20776
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Trustee
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Chief Executive Officer of
Woolsey Partners LLC. Chief
Communications Officer of the
National Academy of Sciences and
Engineering and Institute of
Medicine/National Research
Council, an independent,
federally chartered policy
institution, from 2001 to
November 2003 and Chief Operating
Officer from 1993 to 2001.
Executive Director of the
Commission on Behavioral and
Social Sciences and Education at
the National Academy of
Sciences/National Research
Council from 1989 to 1993. Prior
to 1980, experience includes
Partner of Coopers & Lybrand
(from 1980 to 1989), Associate
Director of the US Office of
Management and Budget (from 1977
to 1980) and Program Director of
the Urban Institute (from 1975 to
1977).
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18 |
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Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Independent Director and audit
committee chairperson of Changing
World Technologies, Inc., an
energy manufacturing company,
since July 2008. Independent
Director and member of audit and
governance committees of Fluor
Corp., a global engineering,
construction and management
company, since January 2004.
Director of Intelligent Medical
Devices, Inc., a private company
which develops symptom-based
diagnostic tools for viral
respiratory infections. Advisory
Board member of ExactCost LLC, a
private company providing
activity-based costing for
hospitals, laboratories, clinics,
and physicians, since 2008.
Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees of the Institute for
Defense Analyses, a federally
funded research and development
center, since 2000. Trustee from
1992 to 2000 and 2002 to present,
current chairperson of the
finance committee, current member
of the audit committee, strategic
growth |
J-3
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Term of |
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Number of |
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Position(s) |
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Office |
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Portfolios in |
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Held with |
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and |
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Fund |
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Name, Year of Birth |
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the |
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Length of |
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Complex |
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and Address of |
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Acquiring |
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Time |
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Principal Occupation(s) During the |
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Overseen by |
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Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
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Fund |
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Served |
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Past Five Years |
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Trustee |
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Trustee During the Past Five Years |
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committee and executive
committee, and former Chairperson
of the Board of Trustees (from
1997 to 1999), of the German
Marshall Fund of the United
States, a public foundation. Lead
Independent Trustee of the Rocky
Mountain Institute, a non-profit
energy and environmental
institute; Trustee since 2004.
Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees of the Colorado College;
Trustee since 1995. Trustee of
California Institute of
Technology. Previously,
Independent Director and member
of audit committee and governance
committee of Neurogen Corporation
from 1998 to 2006; and
Independent Director of Arbros
Communications from 2000 to 2002. |
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Interested Trustees: |
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Colin D.
Meadows*3
1971
1555 Peachtree
Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
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Trustee;
President
and Principal
Executive
Officer
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Senior Managing
Director and Chief
Administrative
Officer of Invesco
Advisers, Inc.
since 2006. Chief
Administrative
Officer of Invesco,
Ltd. since 2006.
Prior
to 2006, Senior
Vice President of
business
development and
mergers and
acquisitions at GE
Consumer Finance.
Prior to 2005,
Senior Vice
President of
strategic planning
and technology at
Wells Fargo Bank.
From 1996 to 2003,
associate principal
with McKinsey &
Company, focusing
on the financial
services and
venture capital
industries, with
emphasis in the
banking and asset
management sectors.
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18 |
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None. |
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Wayne W.
Whalen**2
1939
155 North Wacker
Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
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Trustee
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Of Counsel, and
prior to 2010,
partner in the law
firm of Skadden,
Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP,
legal counsel to
certain funds in
the Fund Complex.
|
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151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing
General Partner of
funds in the Fund
Complex. Director
of the Mutual Fund
Directors Forum, a
nonprofit
membership
organization for
investment company
directors.
Chairman and
Director for the
Abraham Lincoln
Presidential
Library Foundation
and Director of the
Stevenson Center
for Democracy. |
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1 |
|
Designated as a Class I trustee. |
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2 |
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Designated as a Class II trustee. |
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3 |
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Designated as a Class III trustee. |
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4 |
|
With respect to Funds with VMTP Shares outstanding, Mr. Sonnenschein and Ms. Heagy are elected by the VMTP Shareholders. |
|
* |
|
Mr. Meadows is an interested person (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act)
of the funds in the Fund Complex because he is an officer of the Adviser. The Board of
Trustees of the Funds appointed Mr. Meadows as Trustee of the Funds effective June 1, 2010. |
|
** |
|
Mr. Whalen is an interested person (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the
1940 Act) of certain funds in the Fund Complex because he and his firm currently provide legal
services as legal counsel to such funds in the Fund Complex. |
|
*** |
|
Pursuant to the Boards Trustee retirement policy, Howard J Kerr and Jack E. Nelson are
retiring from the Board effective as of the Meeting. Rodney Dammeyer is not standing for
reelection and his term of office as Trustee of the Acquiring Fund will expire at the Meeting.
The Board has reduced the size of the Board to eight Trustees effective as of the Meeting. |
J-4
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Each Trustee generally serves a three-year term from the date of election. Each Trustee has
served as a Trustee of each respective Fund since the year shown in the following table. |
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Independent Trustees |
|
Interested Trustees |
Fund |
|
Arch |
|
Choate |
|
Dammeyer |
|
Heagy |
|
Kennedy |
|
Kerr |
|
Nelson |
|
Sonnenschein |
|
Woolsey |
|
Meadows |
|
Whalen |
VTN |
|
|
1992 |
|
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2003 |
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1992 |
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2003 |
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2003 |
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1992 |
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2003 |
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1994 |
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2003 |
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2010 |
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1992 |
|
Trustee Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares
The following table shows each Board members ownership of shares of the Acquiring Fund and of
shares of all registered investment companies overseen by such Board member in the Fund Complex as
of December 31, 2011.
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Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All |
|
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities |
|
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Board |
Name |
|
in the Acquiring Fund |
|
Member in Family of Investment Companies |
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Jerry D. Choate |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Rodney F. Dammeyer |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Linda Hutton Heagy |
|
None |
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
|
R. Craig Kennedy |
|
None |
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
|
Howard J Kerr |
|
None |
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
|
Jack E. Nelson |
|
None |
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
Suzanne H. Woolsey |
|
None |
|
|
$10,001-$50,000 |
|
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin D. Meadows |
|
None |
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
|
Wayne W. Whalen |
|
None |
|
Over $100,000 |
J-5
Exhibit K
Acquiring Fund Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight,
and Committees and Meetings
The following information pertains to the Acquiring Fund. Not all funds advised by the
Adviser are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Acquiring Fund is overseen by the Board of
Trustees discussed below (the IVK Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit K refer
solely to the IVK Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit K refer solely to those funds
advised by the Adviser, including the Acquiring Fund, overseen by the IVK Board.
Board Leadership Structure
The Boards leadership structure consists of a Chairman of the Board and three standing
committees, each described below (and ad hoc committees when necessary), with each committee
staffed by Independent Trustees and an Independent Trustee as Committee Chairman. The Chairman of
the Board is not the principal executive officer of the Funds. The Chairman of the Board is not an
interested person (as that term is defined by the 1940 Act) of the Adviser. However, the Chairman
of the Board is an interested person (as that term is defined by the 1940 Act) of the Funds for
the reasons described in the Trustee biographies in Exhibit J. The Board, including the independent
trustees, periodically reviews the Boards leadership structure for the Invesco Van Kampen Funds,
including the interested person status of the Chairman, and has concluded the leadership structure
is appropriate for the Funds. In considering the chairman position, the Board has considered and/or
reviewed (i) the Funds organizational documents, (ii) the role of a chairman (including, among
other things, setting the agenda and managing information flow, running the meeting and setting the
proper tone), (iii) the background, experience and skills of the Chairman (including his
independence from the Adviser), (iv) alternative structures (including combined principal executive
officer/chairman, selecting one of the Independent Trustees as chairman and/or appointing an
independent lead trustee), (v) rule proposals in recent years that would have required all fund
complexes to have an independent chairman, (vi) the Chairmans past and current performance, and
(vii) the potential conflicts of interest of the Chairman (and noted their periodic review as part
of their annual self-effectiveness survey and as part of an independent annual review by the Funds
Audit Committee of fund legal fees related to such potential conflict). In conclusion, the Board
and the Independent Trustees have expressed their continuing support of Mr. Whalen as Chairman.
Board Committees and Meetings
Each Funds Board of Trustees has two standing committees (an Audit Committee and a Governance
Committee). Each committee is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, which is defined for
purposes herein as trustees who: (1) are not interested persons of the Fund as defined by the
1940 Act and (2) are independent of the respective Fund as defined by Exchange listing standards.
Each Boards Audit Committee consists of Jerry D. Choate, Linda Hutton Heagy and R. Craig
Kennedy. In addition to being Independent Trustees as defined above, each of these Trustees also
meets the additional independence requirements for Audit Committee members as defined by Exchange
listing standards. The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning
the selection of each Funds independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with such
independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of each Funds annual audit and
considers any comments which the independent registered public accounting firm may have regarding
each Funds financial statements, accounting records or internal controls. Each Board of Trustees
has adopted a formal written charter for the Audit Committee which sets forth the Audit Committees
responsibilities. The Audit Committees charter is available at www.invesco.com/us. Each member of
the Audit Committee is deemed an audit committee financial expert.
Each Boards Governance Committee consists of David C. Arch, Rodney Dammeyer, Howard J Kerr,
Jack E. Nelson, Hugo F. Sonnenschein and Suzanne H. Woolsey. In addition to being Independent
Trustees as defined above, each of these Trustees also meets the additional independence
requirements for nominating committee
K-1
members as defined by Exchange listing standards. The Governance Committee identifies individuals
qualified to serve as Independent Trustees on the Board and on committees of the Board, advises the
Board with respect to Board composition, procedures and committees, develops and recommends to the
Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the respective Fund, monitors
corporate governance matters and makes recommendations to the Board, and acts as the administrative
committee with respect to Board policies and procedures, committee policies and procedures and
codes of ethics. The Governance Committee charter for each of the Funds, which includes each Funds
nominating policies, is available at www.invesco.com/us. The Independent Trustees of the respective
Fund select and nominate nominee Independent Trustees for the respective Fund. While the
Independent Trustees of the respective Fund expect to be able to continue to identify from their
own resources an ample number of qualified candidates for the Board of Trustees as they deem
appropriate, they will consider nominations from shareholders to the Board. Nominations from
shareholders should be in writing and sent to the Independent Trustees as described herein.
During the Funds last fiscal year, the Board held seven meetings, the Boards Audit Committee
held seven meetings, and the Boards Governance Committee met five times. The Board previously had
a brokerage and services committee, which met two times during the Funds last fiscal year.
During the Funds last completed fiscal year, each of the Trustees of the Fund during the
period such Trustee served as a Trustee attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of
Trustees and all committee meetings thereof of which such Trustee was a member.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
The management of the fund complex seeks to provide investors with disciplined investment
teams, a research-driven culture, careful long-term perspective and a legacy of experience. The
goal for each Fund is attractive long-term performance consistent with the objectives and
investment policies and risks for such Fund, which in turn means, among other things, good security
selection, reasonable costs and quality shareholder services. An important sub-component of
delivering this goal is risk management understanding, monitoring and controlling the various
risks in making investment decisions at the individual security level as well as portfolio
management decisions at the overall fund level. The key participants in the risk management process
of the Funds are each Funds portfolio managers, the Advisers senior management, the Advisers
risk management group, the Advisers compliance group, the Funds chief compliance officer, and the
various support functions (i.e. the custodian, the Funds accountants (internal and external), and
legal counsel). While Funds are subject to other risks such as valuation, custodial, accounting,
shareholder servicing, etc., a Funds primary risk is understanding, monitoring and controlling the
various risks in making portfolio management decisions consistent with the Funds objective and
policies. The Boards role is oversight of managements risk management process. At regular
quarterly meetings, the Board reviews Fund performance and factors, including risks, affecting such
performance by Fund with the Advisers senior management, and the Board typically meets at least
once a year with the portfolio managers of each Fund. At regular quarterly meetings, the Board
reviews reports showing monitoring done by the Advisers risk management group, by the Advisers
compliance group, the Funds chief compliance officer and reports from the Funds support
functions.
K-2
Exhibit L
Remuneration of Acquiring Fund Trustees
The following information pertains to the Acquiring Fund. Not all funds advised by the
Adviser are overseen by the same board of trustees. The Acquiring Fund is overseen by the Board of
Trustees discussed below (the IVK Board). References to the Board in this Exhibit L refer
solely to the IVK Board and references to Funds in this Exhibit L refer solely to those funds
advised by the Adviser, including the Acquiring Fund, overseen by the IVK Board.
Remuneration of Trustees
Set forth below is information regarding compensation paid or accrued for each Trustee of the
Acquiring Fund during the year ended December 31, 2011. The Funds do not accrue or pay retirement
or pension benefits to Trustees.
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Portfolios in |
|
|
Aggregate Compensation from |
|
Total Compensation from |
|
Fund Complex Overseen |
Name |
|
the Acquiring Fund(1) |
|
Funds in the Fund Complex |
|
by Trustee |
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne W. Whalen |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
399,000 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Colin D. Meadows |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
412,250 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Jerry D. Choate |
|
$ |
3,328 |
|
|
$ |
83,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Rodney F. Dammeyer |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
412,250 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Linda Hutton Heagy |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
R. Craig Kennedy |
|
$ |
3,572 |
|
|
$ |
89,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Howard J Kerr |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Jack E. Nelson |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
412,200 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Suzanne H. Woolsey |
|
$ |
3,807 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For the year ended December 31, 2011. |
L-1
Exhibit M
Outstanding Shares of the Funds
As of the Record Date, there were the following number of shares outstanding of each Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund |
|
Share Class |
|
Number of Shares Outstanding |
IQN |
|
Common Shares |
|
|
4,030,280 |
|
IQN |
|
VMTP Shares |
|
|
136 |
|
VTN |
|
Common Shares |
|
|
15,249,928 |
|
VTN |
|
VMTP Shares |
|
|
768 |
|
M-1
Exhibit N
Ownership of the Funds
Significant Holders
Listed below are the name, address and percent ownership of each person who, as of the Record
Date, to the best knowledge of the Funds owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a class of a
Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Name and Address |
|
Fund |
|
Class of Shares |
|
Shares Owned |
|
Percent Owned* |
|
Karpus Investment Management
183 Sullys Trail
Pittsford, New York 14534 |
|
Target Fund (IQN) |
|
Common Shares |
|
|
425,544 |
|
|
|
10.56 |
% |
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.,
First Trust
Advisors L.P.,
The
Charger
Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187 |
|
Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
|
Common Shares |
|
|
1,089,236 |
|
|
|
6.7 |
% |
|
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Three World Financial Center
200 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281-8098 |
|
Target Fund (IQN) |
|
VMTP |
|
|
136 |
** |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Three World Financial Center
200 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281-8098 |
|
Acquiring Fund (VTN) |
|
VMTP |
|
|
768 |
** |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
* |
|
Each Fund has no knowledge of whether all or any portion of the shares owned of record are
also owned beneficially. |
|
** |
|
VMTP Shares are subject to a voting trust requiring that certain voting
rights of the VMTP Shares must be exercised as directed by an unaffiliated third party. |
N-1
Exhibit O
Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
O-1
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
|
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|
EASY
VOTING OPTIONS: |
|
|
|
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|
VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours |
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|
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
|
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|
|
VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope |
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
|
|
|
|
|
INVESCO VAN KAMPEN TRUST FOR INVESTMENT GRADE NEW YORK MUNICIPALS (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012 |
|
PREFERRED SHARES |
|
|
The undersigned holder of Preferred Shares of the Fund hereby appoints Colin D. Meadows, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and Stephen R.
Rimes, and any one of them separately, proxies with full power of substitution in each, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the
reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on July 17, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement
thereof, all of the Preferred Shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. IF THIS PROXY IS SIGNED AND RETURNED
WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL, FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN
THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
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VOTE VIA THE INTERNET:
www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
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NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS
PROXY CARD. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please
give full title as such. If a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, please sign in full entity name
and indicate the signers position with the entity.
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Signature
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2012 |
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Date |
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PLEASE VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at: [ ]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and
FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO
VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: n
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the
reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust.
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Proposal 2(b): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for
Invesco New York Quality Municipal Securities to merge with and into the Fund.
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FOR |
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WITHHOLD
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Proposal 4(a): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Wayne W. Whalen |
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FOR |
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Proposal 4(b): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Linda Hutton Heagy |
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PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET FORTH
IN THE PROXY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
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EASY
VOTING OPTIONS: |
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VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours |
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VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
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VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope |
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
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INVESCO NEW YORK QUALITY MUNICIPAL SECURITIES (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012 |
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PREFERRED SHARES |
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The undersigned holder of Preferred Shares of the Fund
hereby appoints Philip A. Taylor, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and Stephen R. Rimes, and any
one of them separately, proxies with full power of substitution in each, and hereby authorizes them to represent
and to vote, as designated on the reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on
July 17, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, all of the Preferred
Shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. IF THIS PROXY IS
SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL,
FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING.
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VOTE VIA THE INTERNET:
www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
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NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME
APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a
minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, please sign in full
entity name and indicate the signers position with the entity.
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Signature
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2012 |
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Date |
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PLEASE VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at: [ ]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and
FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO
VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: n
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust.
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Proposal 2(a): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the Fund to merge with and into Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals.
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FOR
ALL
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WITHHOLD
ALL
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FOR ALL
EXCEPT |
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Proposal 3: Election of Trustees The Board recommends a vote FOR ALL of the nominees listed:
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01. James T. Bunch 03. Rodney F. Dammeyer 05. Martin L. Flanagan
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02. Bruce L. Crockett 04. Jack M. Fields 06. Carl Frischling
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INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the
box FOR ALL EXCEPT
and write each nominees number on the line provided below. |
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PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE
PROXY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE