UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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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 §240.14a-12
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BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc.
(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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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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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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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary 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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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALSSUBJECT TO COMPLETION
, 2010
Dear Shareholder:
The annual meeting of BlackRock California Investment Quality
Municipal Trust, Inc. (the Fund) will be held at the offices of BlackRock Advisors, LLC, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10055, on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern time), to consider and
vote on the proposals discussed in the enclosed proxy statement.
The purpose of the meeting is to seek shareholder approval of (i) the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund pursuant to the Plan of
Liquidation and Dissolution and (ii) the four nominees named in the enclosed proxy statement to the Board of Directors (the Board, the members of which are referred to as Board Members) of the Fund. The Board has
unanimously approved the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund and the four proposed nominees named in the enclosed proxy statement on behalf of the Fund (the Board Nominees), subject to approval by the Funds shareholders. The
Board has reviewed the available alternatives and circumstances and determined that a proposal to liquidate and dissolve the Fund would be advisable and in the best interests of the Fund. The Board has also reviewed the qualifications and
backgrounds of the Board Nominees and believes that they are experienced in overseeing investment companies and are familiar with the Fund and its investment advisers and that their election is in your best interests.
The Board Members recommend that you vote FOR
(i) the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund and (ii) the Board Nominees for the Fund.
In connection with your vote, we urge you to read the full text of the enclosed proxy statement.
Your vote is important. Even if you plan to attend the meeting,
please promptly follow the enclosed instructions to submit voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. Alternatively, you may submit voting instructions by signing and dating each proxy card you receive, and if received by mail, returning
it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope.
You have received this proxy statement because you were a shareholder of record of the Fund on July 6, 2010. Certain other BlackRock Closed-End
Funds will also hold their annual meetings at the place and on the date stated above. If you were also a shareholder of record on July 6, 2010 of one or more of those other funds, you will receive a separate proxy statement and proxy card relating
to those funds. Please be certain to sign, date and return each proxy card you receive.
If you have any questions about the proposals to be voted on, please call The Altman Group, Inc., the firm assisting us in the solicitation of
proxies, at 1-866-796-7185.
Sincerely,
Howard B. Surloff
Secretary of the Fund
BlackRock Closed-End Funds
100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
(800) 441-7762
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FUND SHAREHOLDERS
While we encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed proxy
statement, for your convenience we have provided a brief overview of the matters to be voted on.
Questions and Answers
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Why am I receiving the proxy statement?
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The Fund is required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders for the election of Board Members and to vote on any other matters requiring shareholder approval. This proxy
statement describes a proposal to liquidate and dissolve the Fund (the Liquidation) and to approve the nominees to the Board of the Fund and provides you with other information relating to the meeting.
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Why is the liquidation and dissolution being proposed?
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The Board of the Fund, after careful deliberation and a review of the available alternatives and circumstances, determined that the Liquidation would be advisable and in the best
interests of the Fund, and unanimously adopted and approved a Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution for the Fund, subject to the approval of the Funds shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders.
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What will happen if the Liquidation is approved at the meeting?
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If the Liquidation is approved by the Funds shareholders, the Funds investment adviser will proceed to liquidate and dissolve the Fund. The Plan of Liquidation and
Dissolution would become effective as of the date of its approval by shareholders. As soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the Board would determine a cessation date after which the Fund would cease its business as an investment
company and would not engage in any business activity except for the purpose of winding up its business and affairs, preserving the value of its assets, liquidating portfolio securities, discharging or making reasonable provision or the payment of
all liabilities and distributing its remaining assets to shareholders.
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What will happen if the Liquidation is not approved at the meeting?
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If the Liquidation is not approved by shareholders, the Fund will continue to operate as an investment company with the same investment objectives as in the past, while the Board
considers whether another course of action would benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
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How does the Board recommend that I vote for the liquidation proposal?
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The Board recommends that you vote
FOR
the Liquidation. The Board has reviewed the available alternatives and circumstances and determined that the Liquidation
would be advisable and in the best interests of the Fund.
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Why are Board Members being elected?
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The Fund is required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders for the election of Board Members. In addition, if the Liquidation is not approved, the Board Members elected at
this meeting will continue to serve and consider whether another course of action would benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
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How does the Board recommend that I vote for the Board Nominees?
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The Board has reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of the Board Nominees and believes that they are experienced in overseeing investment companies and are familiar with
the Fund and its investment advisers. The Board has approved the Board Nominees named in the proxy statement, believes their election is in your best interests and recommends that you vote
FOR
each Board Nominee.
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How do I vote my shares?
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You can provide voting instructions by telephone by calling the toll-free number on the proxy card, or by computer by going to the Internet address provided on the proxy card and
following the instructions. Alternatively, you can vote your shares by signing and dating the proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
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You may also attend the meeting and vote by ballot in person; however,
even if you intend to do so, we encourage you to provide voting instructions by one of the methods discussed above.
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Will my vote make a difference?
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Your vote is very important and can make a difference in the governance and management of the Fund, no matter how many shares you own. We encourage all shareholders to
participate in the governance of their Fund.
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Is the Fund paying for the cost of the proxy statement?
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The costs associated with the proxy statement, including the mailing and the proxy solicitation costs, will be borne by the Fund. Additional out-of-pocket costs, such as legal
expenses and auditor fees, incurred in connection with the preparation of the proxy statement, also will be borne by the Fund.
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The Fund and BlackRock, Inc. have retained The Altman Group, Inc. (Altman), 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 916, New York, NY 10165, a proxy
solicitation firm, to assist in the printing and distribution of proxy materials and the solicitation and tabulation of proxies. In addition, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge), 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, will
assist the Fund in the distribution of proxy materials. It is anticipated that Altman and Broadridge will be paid approximately $8,500 and $1,875, respectively, for such services (including reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses).
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Whom do I call if I have questions?
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If you need more information, or have any questions about voting, please call Altman, the Funds proxy solicitor, at 1-866-796-7185.
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Please vote
now
. Your vote is important.
To avoid the wasteful and unnecessary expense of
further solicitation, we urge you to indicate your voting instructions on the proxy card, and date and sign it and return it promptly in the postage-paid envelope provided, or record your voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet, no
matter how large or small your holdings may be. If your shares are held through a broker, you must provide voting instructions to your broker about how to vote your shares in order for your broker to vote your shares as you instruct at the
meeting.
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALSSUBJECT TO COMPLETION
, 2010
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
The annual meeting of the shareholders of BlackRock California
Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. (the Fund) will be held at the offices of BlackRock Advisors, LLC, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10055, on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.
(Eastern time), to consider and vote on the proposals, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
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PROPOSAL 1.
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To approve the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution.
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PROPOSAL 2.
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To elect the four nominees named in the accompanying proxy statement to the Board of the Fund.
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PROPOSAL 3.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments, postponements or delays thereof.
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The purpose of the meeting is to seek shareholder approval of
(i) the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution and (ii) the four nominees named in the accompanying proxy statement to the Board of Directors (the Board, the members of which
are referred to as Board Members) of the Fund. The Board has unanimously approved (i) the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund (the Liquidation) and (ii) the four proposed nominees named in the accompanying proxy
statement on behalf of the Fund (the Board Nominees), each subject to approval by the Funds shareholders. The Board has reviewed the available alternatives and circumstances and determined that the Liquidation would be advisable
and in the best interests of the Fund. The Board has also reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of the Board Nominees and believes that they are experienced in overseeing investment companies and are familiar with the Fund and its investment
advisers and that their election is in your best interests.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the Liquidation and FOR the Board Nominees.
Shareholders of record of the Fund as of the close of business on July
6, 2010 are entitled to vote at the meeting and at any adjournments, postponements or delays thereof.
Certain other BlackRock Closed-End Funds will also hold their annual meetings at the place and on the date stated above. If you were also a
shareholder of record on July 6, 2010 of one or more of those other funds, you will receive a separate proxy statement and proxy card relating to those funds. Please be certain to sign, date and return each proxy card you receive.
If you have any questions about the proposals to be voted on, please
call The Altman Group, Inc., the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, at 1-866-796-7185.
By Order of the Board,
Howard B. Surloff
Secretary of the Fund
BlackRock Closed-End Funds
100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
(800) 441-7762
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALSSUBJECT TO COMPLETION
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
September 2, 2010
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement (this Proxy Statement) is furnished in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the Board, the members of which are referred to as Board Members) of BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. (the Fund).
The proxies will be voted at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Fund and at any and all adjournments, postponements or delays thereof. The meeting will be held at the offices of BlackRock Advisors, LLC, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd
Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10055, on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern time). The meeting will be held for the purposes set forth in the accompanying notice.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying materials are being mailed to
shareholders on or about , 2010.
The Fund is organized as a Maryland corporation. The Fund is a closed-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the 1940 Act).
Shareholders of record of the
Fund as of the close of business on July 6, 2010 (the Record Date) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting
rights. Holders of the auction rate municipal preferred shares (the AMPS) of the Fund will have equal voting rights with the shares of common stock (the common shares) of the Fund and, except as otherwise noted in this Proxy
Statement, will vote together with the holders of common shares as a single class on each proposal in the Proxy Statement.
As of the close of business on the Record Date the Fund had common shares
and preferred shares outstanding and net assets of $ . Except as set forth below, to the knowledge of the
Fund, as of , 2010, no person was the beneficial owner of five percent or more of a class of the Funds outstanding shares.
Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please sign, date and return
the proxy card you receive or provide voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. If you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you will be asked to enter a unique code that has been assigned to you, which is printed on your proxy card.
This code is designed to confirm your identity, provide access into the voting site and confirm that your voting instructions are properly recorded.
All properly executed proxies received prior to the meeting will be voted at the meeting. On any matter coming before the meeting as to which a
shareholder has specified a choice on that shareholders proxy, the shares will be voted accordingly. If a proxy card is properly executed and returned and no choice is specified with respect to the proposals, the shares will be voted
FOR
each proposal. Shareholders who execute proxies or provide voting instructions by telephone or the Internet may revoke them with respect to each proposal at any time before a vote is taken on the proposal by filing with the
Fund a written notice of revocation (addressed to the Secretary of the Fund at the principal executive offices of the Fund at the address above), by delivering a duly
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executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the meeting and voting in person by ballot, in all cases prior to the exercise of the authority granted in the proxy card. Merely attending the
meeting, however, will not revoke any previously executed proxy. If you hold shares through a bank or other intermediary, please consult your bank or intermediary regarding your ability to revoke voting instructions after such instructions have been
provided.
Certain other BlackRock Closed-End Funds will
also hold their annual meetings at the place and date stated above. If you were also a shareholder of record on the Record Date of one or more of those other funds, you will receive a separate proxy statement and proxy card relating to those funds.
Photographic identification will be required for
admission to the meeting. For directions to the meeting, please contact The Altman Group, Inc., the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, at 1-866-796-7185.
The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report
and most recent semi-annual report succeeding the annual report, if any, to a shareholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the Fund at Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, or by calling toll free at
1-800-441-7762. Copies of annual and semi-annual reports of the Fund are also available on the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commissions website at www.sec.gov.
BlackRock will update performance data and certain other data for the
Fund on a monthly basis on its website in the Closed-End Funds section of www.blackrock.com. Investors and others are advised to periodically check the website for updated performance information and other information about the Fund.
Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or
Proxy Statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of the Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or semi-annual report or this Proxy Statement or
for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of these documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, shareholders should contact the Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
To avoid the wasteful and
unnecessary expense of further solicitation, we urge you to indicate voting instructions on the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it and return it promptly in the envelope provided, or record your voting instructions by telephone or via the
Internet, no matter how large or small your holdings may be. If you submit a properly executed proxy card but do not indicate how you wish your shares to be voted, your shares will be voted FOR each proposal. If your shares are held
through a broker, you must provide voting instructions to your broker about how to vote your shares in order for your broker to vote your shares as you instruct at the meeting.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE
HELD ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
The Proxy Statement is
available at www.proxyonline.com/BlackRockFunds2010.
BlackRock
Closed-End Funds
100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
(800) 441-7762
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SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL 1TO LIQUIDATE AND DISSOLVE THE FUND
The purpose of Proposal 1 is to approve the liquidation and
dissolution of the Fund pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution. In determining to recommend to shareholders the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund, the Board considered a variety of factors, including (1) the Funds asset
size and its relative expenses and expense ratio; (2) the Funds relatively low trading volume; (3) that common shareholders would benefit from the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund by realizing the current discount between
stock price and net asset value; (4) that preferred shareholders would benefit from the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund by realizing liquidity of their shares which currently remain illiquid; and (5) other alternatives available to
the Fund. After deliberation and consideration, the Board unanimously approved the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Funds shareholders.
PROPOSAL 2ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES
The purpose of Proposal 2 is to elect Board Member nominees for the
Fund. The Board Members are divided into three classes and only one class of Board Members stands for election each year. This year, the Class III Board Members are standing for election. The Class III Board Member nominees are Richard E. Cavanagh,
Kathleen F. Feldstein, Henry Gabbay and Jerrold B. Harris. Each of the Board Member nominees are voted upon by the common and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class. Please see the description below under PROPOSAL
2ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES for a more detailed discussion regarding the AMPS Nominees.
PROPOSAL 1TO LIQUIDATE AND DISSOLVE THE FUND
The purpose of Proposal 1 is to approve the liquidation and
dissolution of the Fund pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution.
Introduction.
The Board has unanimously approved the recommendation of the Funds investment adviser that the
Fund be liquidated and dissolved (the Liquidation) pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution (the Plan), subject to the approval of the Funds shareholders. A copy of the form of Plan is attached hereto as
Appendix F
. If shareholders approve the Liquidation pursuant to the Plan, the Funds investment adviser will begin the orderly liquidation of the Funds assets, determine and pay, or set aside in cash or cash equivalents, the amount
of all known or reasonably ascertainable liabilities and obligations of the Fund, including liabilities associated with the Funds financial leverage, redeem the Funds AMPS and make one or more liquidating distributions to the Funds
common shareholders. Such distributions will be paid in cash. If shareholders do not approve the Liquidation pursuant to the Plan, the Fund will continue to operate as an investment company with the same investment objectives as in the past, while
the Board considers whether another course of action would benefit the Fund and its shareholders.
Reasons for the Liquidation.
In determining to recommend to shareholders the Liquidation, the
Board considered a variety of factors, including (in no particular order):
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The Funds asset size and its relative expenses and expense ratio.
The Funds asset size is relatively small compared to
other closed-end funds, and the Funds shareholders bear the impact of certain fixed costs more acutely than if they were invested in a larger fund. As a result, the Fund has historically had higher operating expenses when compared to larger
funds. A higher expense ratio further reduces the investment returns to shareholders.
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The Funds relatively low trading volume.
Given the Funds relatively small size compared to other closed-end funds, the
Fund has a substantially lower trading volume than larger funds. A low trading volume potentially makes entering and exiting the Fund on the stock exchange difficult for common shareholders.
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Common shareholders would benefit from the Liquidation by realizing the current discount between stock price and net asset
value.
The Fund has historically traded with a lower distribution yield than other similar funds, which has generally translated into a relatively wide discount to net asset value. As of June 7, 2010, prior to the
announcement of the Boards decision to approve the Liquidation, the Funds net asset value was $13.78 and its market price was $12.34, for a discount of -10.45%. Following the announcement of the proposed Liquidation of the Fund, as of
, 2010, the Funds net asset value was $ and its market price was $ , for a
discount of %. The failure of shareholders to approve the Liquidation may adversely affect the market price of the Funds common stock, which may cause the Funds trading discount to net asset value to widen.
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Preferred shareholders would benefit from the Liquidation by realizing liquidity of their shares which currently remain
illiquid.
The Funds AMPS have been unable to hold successful auctions and AMPS holders have suffered reduced liquidity. The Liquidation would provide the AMPS holders liquidity at their liquidation preference.
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Other alternatives available to the Fund.
The Board also discussed with the investment adviser other courses of action potentially
available to the Fund, including merging the Fund into another closed-end fund, converting the Fund into an open-end fund and merging the Fund into an open-end fund. The Board considered the projected costs and feasibility of each option and other
information provided by the investment adviser, including the investment advisers analysis of the impact of such options on shareholders. The Board noted that shareholders had recently failed to approve a proposal to merge the Fund into
another closed-end fund.
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Based on the
foregoing, the Board, including all of the Board Members who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), unanimously approved the proposed Liquidation and Plan.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the Liquidation
of the Fund.
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SUMMARY OF THE PLAN OF LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
The following summary of the Plan does not purport to be complete and
is subject in all respects to the provision of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Plan, the form of which is attached hereto as
Appendix F
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Description of the Liquidation and Related
Transactions.
The Plan will become effective on the date of its approval by shareholders (the Effective Date). Following shareholder approval, the Funds investment adviser will begin (i) settling and
closing the Funds business in an organized and deliberate manner, including notifying the Funds service providers of the termination of their agreements with the Fund and otherwise providing for the Funds obligations;
(ii) disposing of, conveying and liquidating the remaining property of the Fund; (iii) applying and distributing the proceeds of the liquidation to discharge or make reasonable provision for the Funds debts and liabilities;
(iv) declaring and paying final dividends on the outstanding preferred shares and paying all cumulative declared dividends thereon that remain unpaid, if any, and redeeming the outstanding preferred shares in accordance with their terms and
applicable law; (v) holding the proceeds of the orderly liquidation of the Funds assets in cash or cash equivalents during the liquidation period; (vi) distributing any remaining property among the holders of outstanding shares of
common stock in accordance with the provisions of the charter of the Fund; and (vii) filing necessary or appropriate paperwork to dissolve the Fund and to cease the Funds registration as an investment company and as may otherwise be
determined to be necessary or desirable to dissolve the Fund and wind-up its affairs.
Amendment of the Plan.
The Plan provides that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect by a majority vote of the
Board Members and may abandon the Plan by similar vote.
Expenses of the Liquidation and Dissolution.
The Fund will bear all the expenses incurred in connection with carrying
out the Plan, including the cost of unwinding its leverage, liquidating its assets and dissolving its existence.
Federal Income Tax Consequences.
The following is only a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences to
U.S. shareholders of the Funds liquidation and dissolution pursuant to the Plan. It is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial
decisions and administrative pronouncements, all as of the date of this Proxy Statement and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The Fund will not obtain a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the
IRS) with respect to the consequences of its liquidation and dissolution. The statements below, therefore, are not binding on the IRS (or on the courts), and there can be no assurance that the IRS (or a court) will concur with this
summary or that the federal income tax consequences to any shareholder of receiving a liquidating distribution will be as set forth below. Counsel to the Fund has not rendered and will not render any legal opinion regarding any tax consequences to
the Fund or to shareholders of the Fund. Neither state nor local tax consequences thereof are discussed herein, and implementing the Plan may affect certain shareholders differently, depending on their particular tax situations. In addition, this
discussion does not address non-U.S. tax laws or federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. shareholders. Shareholders thus should consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of the federal income tax law to their particular situation
and the state, local, foreign and other tax consequences of the Funds liquidation.
The Fund has continuously qualified, and expects to continue to qualify during the liquidation period, for treatment as a regulated investment
company (RIC) under the Code. It therefore expects not to be taxed on any ordinary income it earns or any of the net capital gains it recognizes from the sale of its assets pursuant to its liquidation. In the unlikely event that the Fund
fails to
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continue to so qualify during the liquidation period, it would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates on its taxable income and net recognized gains without being able to
deduct the distributions it makes to shareholders. This could materially reduce the assets available for distribution to shareholders pursuant to the Liquidation.
The liquidating distribution(s) a common shareholder receives should be
treated as payment in exchange for the shareholders common shares. As a result, each common shareholder would recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the shareholders amount realized on the liquidating
distribution and his or her adjusted tax basis in his or her shares. The amount realized will be equal to the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any non-cash property received by the shareholder. If the shares are held as capital assets,
such gain or loss generally would be characterized as capital gain or loss, which would be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of the liquidating distribution. Gain or loss recognized by
shareholders that have held their shares for one year or less will be short-term capital gain (taxable at ordinary rates) or loss. Corporate shareholders should note that no preferential federal income tax rate applies to a corporations net
capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), so all income and gain a corporate shareholder recognizes pursuant to the Liquidation will be subject to federal income tax at ordinary rates. Capital
losses are generally deductible only to the extent of capital gains. A shareholders tax basis in any non-cash property received will generally equal the fair market value of the property on the date of the liquidating distribution. Payment to
a preferred shareholder in redemption of his or her AMPS, but not cumulative dividends paid on the AMPS, will be taxed in a similar manner.
Impact of the Plan on the Funds Status under the 1940 Act.
If the Plan is approved by shareholders, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, the Fund will cease doing business as a registered investment company and will apply for deregistration under the 1940 Act. It is expected that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC) will issue an order approving deregistration of the Fund if the Fund is no longer doing business as an investment company, although there can be no assurance that the SEC will issue such an order. Accordingly, the Plan provides for
the eventual cessation of the Funds activities as an investment company and the Funds deregistration under the 1940 Act, and a vote in favor of the Plan will constitute a vote in favor of such a course of action. Until the Funds
withdrawal as an investment company becomes effective, the Fund will continue to be subject to and will comply with the 1940 Act.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
In addition to the other information contained in this Proxy Statement, you should consider the following factors in determining whether or not to
vote in favor of Proposal 1:
The Fund is Not Able to
Estimate Net Proceeds to be Received by Common Shareholders.
The actual amount to be received as a liquidating distribution(s) by common shareholders is subject to uncertainties and not possible to predict at this time.
The amount available for distribution to common shareholders will be based, in part, on the value of the Funds assets at the time of liquidation and then-current market conditions; the amount of the Funds actual costs, expenses and
liabilities to be paid in the future; the potential market impact of liquidation of portfolio securities under current and developing market conditions; general business and economic conditions; and the time required to liquidate the Funds
assets, all of which can not be predicted with any certainty at this time.
The Fund is Not Able to Predict at this Time the Length of Time it Would Take to Complete the Liquidation.
If
shareholders approve the Liquidation pursuant to the Plan, the Fund will be
7
authorized to commence the sale and liquidation of its assets and the Fund will cease investment activity other than managing the sale of securities and the Funds cash levels. The Fund is
unable to predict when it will complete the sale of its assets or when it will make liquidating distribution(s) to shareholders under the Plan. In effecting the Liquidation, the investment adviser expects to invest the cash proceeds from the sale of
portfolio securities in tax-exempt money market funds, short-term tax-exempt instruments and/or short-term taxable instruments. However, the Fund will not be managed during the liquidation period in accordance with its investment objectives and
policies or in a manner designed to produce investment returns analogous to that which it attempted to achieve during its investment operations. Instead, the investment adviser will seek to liquidate the Funds investments in an orderly manner.
Further, the market value of the Funds portfolio securities may decline during the liquidation period resulting in a reduction in the amounts available for ultimate liquidation distribution, and the length of the liquidation period can not be
predicted at this time as described above.
The Liquidity
and Market Price of Common Stock Could Decrease.
As the Fund sells its assets and distributes liquidating distribution(s) to shareholders, the Funds market capitalization may diminish. Market interest in the
Funds common stock may also diminish. This could reduce the market demand for and liquidity of the common stock, which may adversely affect the market price of the common stock. The Fund currently intends to maintain its listing on the NYSE
Amex until such time as the common stock is no longer eligible for listing and trading.
The Failure to Approve the Liquidation May Cause the Funds Discount to Net Asset Value to Increase.
The Fund has
historically traded with a lower distribution yield than other similar funds, which has generally translated into a relatively wide discount to net asset value. As of June 7, 2010, prior to the announcement of the Boards decision to approve
the Liquidation, the Fund was trading at a discount of -10.45% to its net asset value. Following the announcement of the proposed liquidation of the Fund, as of
, 2010, the Funds was trading at a discount of % to its net asset value. The failure of
shareholders to approve the Liquidation may adversely affect the market price of the Funds common stock, which may cause the Funds trading discount to net asset value to widen.
The Fund will Terminate Its Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
During the Liquidation.
If shareholders approve the Liquidation pursuant to the Plan, the Fund will terminate its automatic dividend reinvestment plan so that distributions of dividends and capital gains will be paid to
shareholders rather than reinvested in the Fund on the shareholders behalf.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the Liquidation.
To vote for the Liquidation, please vote by
telephone or over the Internet, as described in the proxy card, or date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
VOTE REQUIRED AND MANNER OF VOTING PROXIES
FOR PROPOSAL 1
A quorum of shareholders is required to
take action at the meeting. The holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The affirmative vote of a
majority of the Funds outstanding shares of stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary to approve the Liquidation under Proposal 1. The Liquidation is voted upon by the common and preferred shareholders voting together as a
single class.
Approval of the Liquidation will occur only
if a sufficient number of votes are cast FOR the Liquidation at the Funds meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes
8
cast. Because the Fund requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of its outstanding shares of stock to approve the Liquidation, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the
effect of a vote against Proposal 1. See Additional Information Regarding the Vote Required and Manner of Voting Proxies below for additional information regarding voting.
PROPOSAL 2ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER
NOMINEES
The purpose of Proposal 2 is to elect Board
Member nominees for the Fund.
Nominees for the
Fund.
The Board of the Fund consists of 10 Board Members, eight of whom are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). Prior to December 31, 2009, the Board of the Fund had 12
Board Members. However, on December 31, 2009, Kent Dixon retired from the Board of the Fund pursuant to the Funds mandatory retirement policy, which requires Board Members to retire on December 31 in the year in which they turn 72.
Following the retirement of Mr. Dixon, the Board of the Fund determined to reduce the number of Board Members from 12 to 11. On March 31, 2010, G. Nicholas Beckwith, III resigned from the Board of the Fund. Following
Mr. Beckwiths resignation, the Board of the Fund determined to reduce the number of Board Members from 11 to 10. As such, no persons have been nominated to replace Messrs. Beckwith or Dixon. The Fund divides its Board Members into three
classes: Class I, Class II and Class III and generally only one class of Board Members stands for election each year. Only the Class III Board Members are standing for election this year. Each Class III Board Member elected at the meeting will
serve until the later of the 2013 annual meeting or until his or her successor is elected and qualifies, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal.
The owners of AMPS are entitled to vote as a separate class to elect
two of the Board Members (the AMPS Nominees). This means that owners of common shares are not entitled to vote in connection with the election of the AMPS Nominees. However, the owners of common shares and the owners of AMPS, voting
together as a single class, are entitled to elect the remainder of the Board Member nominees. Frank J. Fabozzi and W. Carl Kester are currently the Board Members elected solely by the owners of AMPS. Messrs. Kesters and Fabozzis terms as
Board Members are scheduled to expire on 2011 and 2012, respectively, and therefore they are not standing for election this year as AMPS Nominees.
The Board recommends a vote
FOR
the election of Richard E. Cavanagh, Kathleen F. Feldstein, Henry Gabbay and Jerrold B. Harris
(the Board Nominees). To vote for the Board Nominees, please vote by telephone or over the Internet, as described in the proxy card, or date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Each of the Board Nominees has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a Board Member if elected.
9
Please refer to the following table which identifies the Board Nominees, including any AMPS Nominees,
for election to the Board of the Fund.
Biographical
Information.
The following table sets forth certain biographical information about the Board Nominees for the Fund. Please note that only the Class III Board Members are standing for election for the Fund. Each Board
Nominee was nominated by the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board. Richard E. Cavanagh was selected to serve as the Chair and Karen P. Robards was selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Board. All of the closed-end registered
investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC, including the Fund, are referred to collectively as the Closed-End Complex.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
|
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
|
|
Length
of Time
Served*
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
|
|
Number
of
BlackRock-Advised
Registered
Investment
Companies (RICs)
Consisting of
Investment Portfolios
(Portfolios)
Overseen**
|
|
Other Public
Company
or
Investment
Company
Directorships
Held During
Past
Five
Years***
|
Non-Interested Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard E. Cavanagh
(1)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1946
|
|
Director and Chair of the Board
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Trustee, Aircraft Finance Trust from 1999 to 2009; Director, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1998; Trustee, Educational Testing Service from 1997 to 2009 and Chairman
thereof from 2005 to 2009; Senior Advisor, the Fremont Group since 2008 and Director thereof since 1996; Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University since 2007; President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conference Board, Inc. (global business research
organization) from 1995 to 2007.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
Arch Chemicals (chemical and allied products)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen P. Robards
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1950
|
|
Director, Vice Chair of the Board
and Chair
of the Audit Committee
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Partner of Robards & Company, LLC (financial advisory firm) since 1987; Co-founder and Director of the Cooke Center for Learning and Development (a not-for-profit organization) since
1987; Director of Enable Medical Corp. from 1996 to 2005; Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley from 1976 to 1987.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
AtriCure, Inc. (medical devices); Care Investment Trust, Inc. (health care REIT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank J. Fabozzi
(2)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1948
|
|
Director and Member of the Audit Committee
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Consultant/Editor of The Journal of Portfolio Management since 2006; Professor in the Practice of Finance and Becton Fellow, Yale University, School of Management since 2006; Adjunct
Professor of Finance and Becton Fellow, Yale University from 1994 to 2006.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
None
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
|
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
|
|
Length
of Time
Served*
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
|
|
Number
of
BlackRock-Advised
Registered
Investment
Companies (RICs)
Consisting of
Investment Portfolios
(Portfolios)
Overseen**
|
|
Other Public
Company or
Investment Company
Directorships
Held
During Past
Five Years***
|
Kathleen F. Feldstein
(1)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1941
|
|
Director
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
President of Economics Studies, Inc. (private economic consulting firm) since 1987; Chair, Board of Trustees, McLean Hospital from 2000 to 2008 and Trustee Emeritus since 2008; Member of the
Board of Partners Community Healthcare, Inc. from 2005 to 2009; Member of the Corporation of Partners HealthCare since 1995; Trustee, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston since 1992; Member of the Visiting Committee to the Harvard University Art Museum since
2003; Director, Catholic Charities of Boston since 2009.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
The McClatchy Company (publishing); BellSouth
(telecommunications);
Knight Ridder
(publishing)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James T. Flynn
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1939
|
|
Director and Member of the Audit Committee
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Chief Financial Officer of JPMorgan & Co., Inc. from 1990 to 1995.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerrold B.
Harris
(1)
55 East 52nd
Street
New York, NY
10055
1942
|
|
Director
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Trustee, Ursinus College since 2000; Director, Troemner LLC (scientific equipment) since 2000; Director of Delta Waterfowl Foundation since 2001; President and Chief Executive Officer, VWR
Scientific Products Corporation from 1990 to 1999.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corp. (business development company)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Glenn Hubbard
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1958
|
|
Director
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Dean, Columbia Business School since 2004; Columbia faculty member since 1988; Co-Director, Columbia Business Schools Entrepreneurship Program from 1997 to 2004; Chairman, U.S. Council
of Economic Advisers under the President of the United States from 2001 to 2003; Chairman Economic Policy Committee of the OECD from 2001 to 2003.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
ADP (data and information services); KKR Financial Corporation (finance); Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (insurance)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Carl Kester
(2)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1951
|
|
Director and Member of the Audit Committee
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs since 2006; Unit Head, Finance, Harvard Business School from 2005 to
2006; Senior Associate Dean and Chairman of the MBA Program of Harvard Business School from 1999 to 2005; Member of the Faculty of Harvard Business School since 1981; Independent Consultant since 1978.
|
|
99 RICs consisting of
97
Portfolios
|
|
None
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address
and Year of Birth
|
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
|
|
Length
of Time
Served*
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
|
|
Number
of
BlackRock-Advised
Registered
Investment
Companies (RICs)
Consisting of
Investment Portfolios
(Portfolios)
Overseen**
|
|
Other Public
Company
or
Investment
Company
Directorships
Held During
Past
Five
Years***
|
Interested Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard S. Davis
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1945
|
|
Director
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. since 2005; Chief Executive Officer, State Street Research & Management Company from 2000 to 2005; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, State Street
Research Mutual Funds from 2000 to 2005; Chairman, SSR Realty from 2000 to 2004.
|
|
169 RICs consisting of 291 Portfolios
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henry Gabbay
(1)
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1947
|
|
Director
|
|
2007 to present
|
|
Consultant, BlackRock, Inc. from 2007 to 2008; Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. from 1989 to 2007; Chief Administrative Officer, BlackRock Advisors, LLC from 1998 to 2007; President of
BlackRock Funds and BlackRock Bond Allocation Target Shares from 2005 to 2007; Treasurer of certain closed-end funds in the Closed-End Complex from 1989 to 2006.
|
|
169 RICs consisting of 291 Portfolios
|
|
None
|
*
|
|
Following the combination of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (MLIM) and BlackRock in September 2006, the various legacy MLIM and legacy BlackRock fund boards
were realigned and consolidated into three new fund boards in 2007. As a result, although the chart shows certain Board Members as joining the Board in 2007, each Board Member first became a member of the Board of Directors/Trustees of other legacy
MLIM or legacy BlackRock funds as follows: Richard E. Cavanagh since 1994; Richard S. Davis since 2007; Frank J. Fabozzi since 1988; Kathleen F. Feldstein since 2005; James T. Flynn since 1996; Henry Gabbay since 2007; Jerrold B. Harris
since 1999; R. Glenn Hubbard since 2004; W. Carl Kester since 1998; and Karen P. Robards since 1998. Board Members serve until their resignation, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 72.
|
**
|
|
For purposes of this chart, RICs refers to the legal investment companies into which investors invest and Portfolios refers to the investment programs of
the Funds. The Closed-End Complex is comprised of 99 RICs. Some of the RICs have the same investment program because they invest through a master-feeder structure, which results in the smaller number of Portfolios than RICs.
|
***
|
|
Directorships disclosed under this column do not include directorships disclosed under the column Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years.
|
|
|
Messrs. Davis and Gabbay are interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund by virtue of their current or former positions with BlackRock Advisors, LLC,
BlackRock Capital Management, Inc. or BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (collectively, BlackRock Advisors), each a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc., and their ownership of BlackRock, Inc. and The PNC Financial Service Group,
Inc. securities.
|
(1)
|
|
Class III Board Member and Board Nominee.
|
(2)
|
|
Board Member elected solely by the owners of AMPS.
|
The Independent Board Members have adopted a statement of policy that describes the experiences, qualifications, skills and attributes that are
necessary and desirable for potential Independent Board Member candidates (the Statement of Policy). The Board believes that each Independent Board Member satisfied, at the time he or she was initially elected or appointed a Board
Member, and continues to satisfy, the standards contemplated by the Statement of Policy. Furthermore, in determining that a particular Board Member was and continues to be qualified to serve as a Board Member, the Board has considered a variety of
criteria, none of which, in isolation, was controlling. The Board believes that, collectively, the Board Members have balanced and diverse experiences, skills, attributes and qualifications, which allow the Board to operate effectively in
12
governing the Fund and protecting the interests of shareholders. Among the attributes common to all Board Members is their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information
provided to them, to interact effectively with the Funds investment adviser, sub-advisers, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Board
Members. Each Board Members ability to perform his or her duties effectively is evidenced by his or her educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a
board member of the Fund or other funds in the BlackRock fund complexes (and any predecessor funds), other investment funds, public companies, or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; ongoing commitment and participation in Board and
committee meetings, as well as their leadership of standing and
ad hoc
committees throughout the years; or other relevant life experiences.
The table below discusses some of the experiences, qualifications and skills of each of our Board Members that support the conclusion that they
should serve (and in the case of the Board Nominees, continue to serve) on the Board.
|
|
|
Director
|
|
Experience, Qualifications and Skills
|
Richard E. Cavanagh*
|
|
Mr. Cavanagh brings to the Board a wealth of practical business knowledge and leadership as an experienced director/trustee of various public and private companies. In particular, because
Mr. Cavanagh served for over a decade as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board, Inc., a global business research organization, he is able to provide the Board with expertise about business and economic trends and governance
practices. Mr. Cavanagh created the blue ribbon Commission on Public Trust and Private Enterprise in 2002, which recommended corporate governance enhancements. Mr. Cavanaghs service as a director of The Guardian Life Insurance
Company of America and as a senior advisor and director of The Fremont Group provides added insight into investment trends and conditions. Mr. Cavanaghs long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the
Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Mr. Cavanaghs independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser enhances his service as Chair of the Board, Chair of the
ad hoc
AMPS
Committee, and as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee, Performance Oversight Committee and Executive Committee.
|
|
|
Karen P. Robards
|
|
The Board benefits from Ms. Robardss many years of experience in investment banking and the financial advisory industry where she obtained extensive knowledge of the capital markets
and advised clients on corporate finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and the issuance of debt and equity securities. Ms. Robardss prior position as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley provides useful oversight of the
Funds investment decisions and investment valuation processes. Additionally, Ms. Robardss experience derived from serving as a director of Care Investment Trust, Inc., a health care real estate investment trust, provides the Board with
the benefit of her experience with the management practices of other financial companies. Ms. Robardss long-standing service on the Board also provides her with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and
regulatory issues they face. Ms. Robardss knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies her to serve as Vice Chair of the Board and as the Chair of the Funds Audit Committee. Ms. Robardss independence from the Fund and
the Funds investment adviser enhances her service as a member of the Performance Oversight Committee, Executive Committee and
ad hoc
AMPS Committee. In addition, Ms. Robards is a member of the Joint Product Pricing
Committee.
|
13
|
|
|
Director
|
|
Experience, Qualifications and Skills
|
Frank J. Fabozzi
|
|
Dr. Fabozzi holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant. Dr. Fabozzi was inducted into the Fixed Income Analysts Societys Hall of Fame and is
the 2007 recipient of the C. Stewart Sheppard Award given by the CFA Institute. The Board benefits from Dr. Fabozzis experiences as a professor and author in the field of finance. Dr. Fabozzis experience as a Professor in
the Practice of Finance and Becton Fellow at the Yale University School of Management and as editor of the Journal of Portfolio Management demonstrate his wealth of expertise in the investment management and structured finance areas.
Dr. Fabozzi has authored and edited numerous books and research papers on topics in management and financial econometrics, and his writings have focused on fixed income securities and portfolio management, many of which are considered standard
references in the investment management industry. Dr. Fabozzis long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Moreover,
Dr. Fabozzis knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve as a member of the Funds Audit Committee. Dr. Fabozzis independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser enhances his service as
Chair of the Performance Oversight Committee and as a member of the
ad hoc
AMPS Committee.
|
|
|
Kathleen F. Feldstein*
|
|
Dr. Feldstein, who serves as President of Economics Studies, Inc., an economic consulting firm, benefits the Board by providing business leadership and experience and knowledge of
economics. The Board benefits from Dr. Feldsteins experience as a director/trustee of publicly traded and private companies, including financial services, technology and telecommunications companies. Dr. Feldsteins long-standing service
on the Board also provides her with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. In addition, Dr. Feldsteins independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser
enhances her service as Chair of the Compliance Committee and a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee and Performance Oversight Committee.
|
|
|
James T. Flynn
|
|
Mr. Flynn brings to the Board a broad and diverse knowledge of business and capital markets as a result of his many years of experience in the banking and financial industry. Mr.
Flynns five years as the Chief Financial Officer of JP Morgan & Co. provide the Board with experience on financial reporting obligations and oversight of investments. Mr. Flynns long-standing service on the Board also provides him
with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Mr. Flynns knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve as a member of the Funds Audit Committee.
Mr. Flynns independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser enhances his service as a member of the Performance Oversight Committee.
|
14
|
|
|
Director
|
|
Experience, Qualifications and Skills
|
Jerrold B.
Harris
*
|
|
Mr. Harriss time as President and Chief Executive Officer of VWR Scientific Products Corporation brings to the Board business leadership and experience and knowledge of the chemicals
industry and national and international product distribution. Mr. Harriss position as a director of BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation brings to the Board the benefit of his experience as a director of a business development company governed
by the 1940 Act and allows him to provide the Board with added insight into the management practices of other financial companies. Mr. Harriss long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the Fund, its
operations and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Mr. Harriss independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser fosters his role as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee and
Performance Oversight Committee. In addition, Mr. Harris is a member of the Joint Product Pricing Committee.
|
|
|
R. Glenn Hubbard
|
|
Dr. Hubbard has served in numerous roles in the field of economics, including as the Chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers of the President of the United States. Dr. Hubbard
serves as the Dean of Columbia Business School, has served as a member of the Columbia Faculty and as a Visiting Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Harvard Business School and the University of Chicago.
Dr. Hubbards experience as an adviser to the President of the United States adds a dimension of balance to the Funds governance and provides perspective on economic issues. Dr. Hubbards service on the boards of KKR Financial
Corporation, ADP and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company provides the Board with the benefit of his experience with the management practices of other financial companies. Dr. Hubbards long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a
specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Dr. Hubbards independence from the Fund and the Funds investment adviser enhances his service as the Chair of the Governance and
Nominating Committee and a member of the Compliance Committee and Performance Oversight Committee.
|
|
|
W. Carl Kester
|
|
The Board benefits from Dr. Kesters experiences as a professor and author in finance, and his experience as the George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration at
Harvard Business School and as Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs at Harvard Business School adds to the Board a wealth of expertise in corporate finance and corporate governance. Dr. Kester has authored and edited numerous books and research papers on
both subject matters, including co-editing a leading volume of finance case studies used worldwide. Dr. Kesters long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business
and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Dr. Kesters knowledge of financial and accounting matters qualifies him to serve as a member of the Funds Audit Committee. In addition, Dr. Kesters independence from the Fund and the
Funds investment adviser enhances his service as a member of the Performance Oversight Committee and
ad hoc
AMPS Committee.
|
15
|
|
|
Director
|
|
Experience, Qualifications and Skills
|
Richard S. Davis
|
|
The Board benefits from Mr. Daviss experience as a Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of State Street Research & Management Company in light of his
business leadership and experience. Mr. Daviss experiences as the Chairman of State Street Research Mutual Funds and SSR Realty provide the Board with practical business knowledge and leadership in the investment management industry. Mr.
Daviss long-standing service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Mr. Davis serves as a member of the Executive
Committee.
|
|
|
Henry
Gabbay
*
|
|
The Board benefits from Dr. Gabbays many years of experience in administration, finance and financial services operations. Dr. Gabbays experience as a Managing Director of
BlackRock, Inc., Chief Administrative Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and President of BlackRock Funds provides the Board with insight into investment company operational, financial and investment matters. Dr. Gabbays former positions as
Chief Administrative Officer of BlackRock Advisors, LLC and as Treasurer of certain funds in the Closed-End Complex provide the Board with direct knowledge of the operations of the Fund and its investment advisers. Dr. Gabbays long-standing
service on the Board also provides him with a specific understanding of the Fund, its operations, and the business and regulatory issues facing the Fund. Dr. Gabbay serves as a member of the
ad hoc
AMPS Committee.
|
*
|
|
Class III Board Member and Board Nominee
|
Compensation.
Information relating to compensation paid to the Independent Board Members for the Funds
most recent fiscal year is set forth in
Appendix A.
Equity Securities Owned by Board Members.
Information relating to the amount of equity securities owned by
Board Members in the Fund, as well as certain other funds in the Closed-End Complex, as of May 31, 2010 is set forth in
Appendix B
.
Attendance of Board Members at Annual Shareholders Meetings.
It is the policy of the Fund to encourage
Board Members to attend the annual shareholders meeting. All of the Board Members of the Fund attended last years annual shareholders meeting.
Board Meetings.
During the Funds most recent fiscal year, the Board met eight times. During the calendar
year 2009, the Board met six times. No incumbent Board Member attended less than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of each committee of the Board on which the Board Member served.
Standing and Other Operating Committees of the
Board.
Information relating to the various standing and other operating committees of the Board is set forth in
Appendix C
.
The Board established an
ad hoc
Committee on AMPS (the
AMPS Committee) in March 2008. The current members of the AMPS Committee are: Richard E. Cavanagh (Chair), Karen P. Robards, Frank J. Fabozzi, Henry Gabbay and W. Carl Kester. Since February 2008, most auction rate
preferred shares, including the AMPS, have been unable to hold successful auctions and AMPS holders have faced reduced liquidity. The AMPS Committee was formed for the purpose of monitoring issues arising from this recent market turmoil and
overseeing efforts to provide liquidity to the AMPS holders. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the AMPS Committee has met eight times in the last calendar year and 34 times since its formation. It is expected that as of the date of the annual
shareholders meeting, the total amount of redemptions of auction
16
market preferred shares across the Closed-End Complex, including the Fund, will equal $ billion, which represents
approximately % of all auction market preferred shares outstanding for the Closed-End Complex as of February 2008.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the Exchange Act).
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Funds Board Members, executive officers, persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Funds equity
securities, BlackRock Advisors and certain officers of BlackRock Advisors, to file reports on holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares with the SEC and to furnish the Fund with copies of all such reports. Based solely on a review of copies of
such reports furnished to the Fund and representations from these reporting persons, the Fund believes that its Board Members, executive officers, ten percent holders, BlackRock Advisors and certain officers of BlackRock Advisors met all applicable
SEC filing requirements relating to the Funds most recently concluded fiscal year.
Executive Officers of the Fund.
Information about the officers of the Fund, including their year of birth and their
principal occupations during the past five years, is set forth in
Appendix D
.
Indemnification of Board Members and Officers.
The governing documents of the Fund generally provide that, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, the Fund will indemnify its Board Members and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Fund unless, as to
liability to the Fund or its investors, it is finally adjudicated that they engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in their offices. In addition, the Fund will not indemnify Board
Members with respect to any matter as to which Board Members did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interest of the Fund or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which Board Members had
reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. Indemnification provisions contained in a Funds governing documents are subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law.
The Fund has also entered into a separate indemnification agreement
with the Board Members (the Indemnification Agreement). The Indemnification Agreement (i) extends the indemnification provisions contained in the Funds governing documents to Board Members who leave the Funds Board and
serve on an advisory board of a different fund in the Closed-End Complex; (ii) sets in place the terms of the indemnification provisions of the Funds governing documents once a Board Member retires from a Board; and (iii) in the case
of Board Members who left the Board of the Fund in connection with or prior to the board consolidation that occurred in 2007 as a result of the merger of BlackRock and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.s investment management business,
clarifies that the Fund continues to indemnify the Board Member for claims arising out of his or her past service to the Fund.
The Board recommends that you vote FOR the election of each Board Nominee to the Board of the Fund.
VOTE REQUIRED AND MANNER OF VOTING PROXIES FOR PROPOSAL 2
A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at the meeting. The
holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares present at
the meeting at which a quorum is present and entitled to vote on a Board Nominee is necessary to elect each of the respective Board Nominees under Proposal 2 for the Fund.
17
Approval of a Board Nominee by shareholders of the Fund will occur only if a sufficient number of
votes are cast FOR the Board Nominee at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Because the Fund requires a plurality of votes to elect each of the Board Nominees, abstentions and broker non-votes
will not have an effect on the outcome of Proposal 2. See Additional Information Regarding the Vote Required and Manner of Voting Proxies below for additional information regarding voting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE VOTE
REQUIRED AND MANNER OF VOTING PROXIES
Votes cast by proxy or in person at each meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of election appointed for that meeting. The inspectors of
election, who may be employees of the Fund, will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the meeting. The inspectors of election will treat abstentions and broker non-votes as present for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker
non-votes occur when shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in street name, as to which proxies have been returned but (a) voting instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and
(b) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power or elects not to exercise discretion on a particular matter. Shares of AMPS of the Fund held in street name may be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum of
the Fund if no instructions are received one business day before the applicable meeting or, if adjourned, one business day before the day to which the meeting is adjourned.
If you hold your shares directly (not through a broker-dealer, bank or
other financial institution) and if you return a signed and dated proxy card that does not specify how you wish to vote on a proposal, your shares will be voted FOR the Liquidation under Proposal 1 and FOR the Board Nominees
in Proposal 2.
Broker-dealer firms holding shares of the
Fund in street name for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the proposals before the meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of
the New York Stock Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may for certain routine matters, without instructions from their customers and clients, grant discretionary authority to the proxies designated by the Board to vote if no instructions
have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firms request for voting instructions. Proposal 1 is not a routine matter and shareholder instructions are required for broker-dealers to vote a beneficial
owners shares. Therefore, if beneficial owners do not provide proxy instructions or do not return a proxy card that specifies how they wish to vote on Proposal 1, such action will have the same effect as a vote against Proposal 1. Proposal 2
is a routine matter and a properly executed proxy card or other authorization by a beneficial owner of Fund shares that does not specify how the beneficial owners shares should be voted on the proposals may be deemed as an
instruction to vote such shares in favor of Proposal 2. Beneficial owners who do not provide proxy instructions or who do not return a proxy card may have their shares voted by broker-dealer firms in favor of Proposal 2.
If you hold shares of the Fund through a bank or other financial
institution or intermediary (called a service agent) that has entered into a service agreement with the Fund or a distributor of the Fund, the service agent may be the record holder of your shares. At the meeting, a service agent will vote shares
for which it receives instructions from its customers in accordance with those instructions. A properly executed proxy card or other authorization by a shareholder that does not specify how the shareholders shares should be voted on a proposal
may be deemed to authorize a service provider to vote such shares in favor of the proposal. Depending on its policies, applicable law or contractual or other restrictions, a service agent may be permitted to vote shares
18
with respect to which it has not received specific voting instructions from its customers. In those cases, the service agent may, but is not required to, vote such shares in the same proportion
as those shares for which the service agent has received voting instructions. This practice is commonly referred to as echo voting.
If you beneficially own shares that are held in street name through a broker-dealer or that are held of record by a service agent, and
if you do not give specific voting instructions for your shares, they may not be voted at all or, as described above, they may be voted in a manner that you may not intend. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to give your broker-dealer or service
agent specific instructions as to how you want your shares to be voted.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board Members, including a majority of the Independent Board
Members, of the Fund have selected Deloitte & Touche LLP (D&T) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. D&T, in accordance with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (ISB No. 1),
has confirmed to the Audit Committee that it is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Fund.
A representative of D&T is expected to be present at the meeting.
The Audit Committee has discussed with D&T its independence with respect to the Fund and certain matters required to be discussed by
Statement on Auditing Standard No. 61, as currently modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the Funds independent registered public accounting firm is compatible with
maintaining the independence of that registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also reviews and discusses the audit of the Funds financial statements with Fund management and the independent registered public accounting firm. If
any material concerns arise during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to shareholders and included in the Funds Annual Report to Shareholders, the Audit Committee would be notified by Fund
management or the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee received no such notifications for any Fund. Following the Audit Committees review and discussion of the Funds independent registered public accounting
firm, pursuant to authority delegated by the Board, the Audit Committee approved the Funds audited financial statements for the Funds most recently completed fiscal year (the Funds fiscal year end is July 31) for which audited
financial statements are available be included in the Funds Annual Report to Shareholders.
Appendix E
sets forth for the Fund the fees billed by the Funds independent registered public accounting firm for the two most recent
fiscal years for all audit and non-audit services provided directly to the Fund. The fee information in
Appendix E
is presented under the following captions:
(a) Audit Feesfees related to the audit and
review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including out-of-pocket expenses.
(b) Audit-Related Feesfees related
to assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements, but not reported under Audit Fees, including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports,
attestation reports, comfort letters, out-of-pocket expenses and internal control reviews not required by regulators.
(c) Tax Feesfees associated with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including services relating to the filing or
amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns,
19
regulated investment company qualification reviews, tax distribution and analysis reviews and miscellaneous tax advice.
(d) All Other Feesfees for products and services
provided to the Fund other than those reported under Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees.
The Audit Committee is required to approve all audit engagement fees and terms for the Fund. The Audit Committee also is required to consider and
act upon (i) the provision by the Funds independent accountant of any non-audit services for the Fund, and (ii) the provision by the Funds independent accountant of non-audit services to BlackRock and any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock that provide ongoing services to the Fund (Affiliated Service Providers) to the extent that such approval (in the case of this clause (ii)) is required under applicable regulations of
the SEC. See
Appendix E
to this Proxy Statement for information about the fees paid by the Fund, the investment advisers, and Affiliated Service Providers to the Funds independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee of the Fund complies with applicable laws and
regulations with regard to the pre-approval of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to the Fund on an annual basis require specific pre-approval by the Funds Audit Committee. As noted above, the Audit Committee
also must approve other non-audit services provided to the Fund and those non-audit services provided to the Funds Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee has
implemented policies and procedures by which such services may be approved other than by the full Audit Committee. Subject to such policies and procedures, the Audit Committee may pre-approve, without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis
(general pre-approval), certain permissible non-audit services that the Audit Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SECs auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the
independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. Each service approved subject to general pre-approval is presented to the Audit Committee for ratification at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting.
For the Funds two most recent fiscal years,
there were no services rendered by D&T to the Fund for which the pre-approval requirement was waived.
The Audit Committee has considered the provision of non-audit services that were rendered by D&T to the Funds Affiliated Service Providers
that were not pre-approved (and did not require pre-approval) in connection with determining such auditors independence. All services provided by D&T to the Fund, and the Funds Affiliated Service Providers that required pre-approval
were pre-approved as required.
The Audit Committee of the
Fund consists of the following Board Members:
Karen P.
Robards (Chair);
Frank J. Fabozzi;
James T. Flynn; and
W. Carl Kester.
20
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
5% Share Ownership
As of
, 2010, to the best of the Funds knowledge, the following persons beneficially owned or owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the class of the Fund
indicated in the table below:
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Investor
|
|
Address
|
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Common
Stock Held
|
|
Common
Stock %
Held
|
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AMPS Held
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|
AMPS % Held
|
Submission of Shareholder Proposals
If the proposal to liquidate the Fund is not approved, a shareholder
proposal intended to be presented at a future meeting of shareholders of the Fund must be received at the offices of the Fund, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, in accordance with the timing requirements set forth below.
Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.
If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 2011 annual meeting of the Funds shareholders, if any, and desires to have the proposal
included in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, the shareholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the Fund by
, 2011.
Shareholders who do not wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2011 annual meeting in
accordance with Rule 14a-8 may submit a proposal for consideration at the 2011 annual meeting in accordance with the By-laws of the Fund. The By-laws for the Fund require that advance notice be given to the Fund in the event a shareholder desires to
transact any business from the floor at an annual meeting of shareholders, including the nomination of Board Members. Notice of any such business must be in writing and received at the Funds principal executive office between Thursday, May 5,
2011 and Saturday, June 4, 2011. In order for proposals of shareholders made outside of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act to be considered timely within the meaning of Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act, such proposals must be
received at the Funds principal executive offices by Saturday, June 4, 2011. If such proposals are not timely within the meaning of Rule 14a-4(c) then proxies solicited by the Board for next years annual meeting may
confer discretionary authority to the Board to vote on such proposals. Copies of the By-laws of the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commissions website at www.sec.gov. The Fund will also furnish, without
charge, a copy of its By-laws to a shareholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the Fund at Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, or by calling toll free at 1-800-441-7762.
Written proposals and notices should be sent to the Secretary of the
Fund, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any individual Board Member should write the Fund to the attention of the Secretary, Park
Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. Shareholders may communicate with the Board electronically by sending an email to
closedendfundsbod
@
blackrock.com. The communication should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Board
Member and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Board Member. If a communication does not indicate a specific Board
21
Member, it will be sent to the Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee and the outside counsel to the Independent Board Members for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such
persons.
Additionally, shareholders with complaints or
concerns regarding accounting matters may address letters to the Funds Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055. Shareholders who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO
may address letters directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board. Such letters may be submitted on an anonymous basis.
Expense of Proxy Solicitation
The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, accompanying notice and this Proxy Statement and costs in connection with the
solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Fund. Additional out-of-pocket costs, such as legal expenses and auditor fees, incurred in connection with the preparation of this Proxy Statement, also will be borne by the Fund.
Solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, fax, e-mail or the
Internet by officers or employees of BlackRock Advisors, or by dealers and their representatives. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for
the execution of proxies. The Fund will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, banks and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding this Proxy Statement and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the Funds shares. The Fund and BlackRock
have retained The Altman Group, Inc. (Altman), 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 916, New York, NY 10165, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the printing and distribution of proxy materials and the solicitation and tabulation of proxies.
In addition, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (Broadridge), 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717, will assist the Fund in the distribution of proxy materials. It is anticipated that Altman and Broadridge will be paid approximately
$8,500 and $1,875, respectively, for such services (including reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses). Altman may solicit proxies personally and by mail, telephone, fax, e-mail or the Internet. The Funds portion of the foregoing expenses is
not subject to any cap or voluntary agreement to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses that may otherwise apply to the Fund.
Privacy Principles of the Fund
BlackRock is committed to maintaining the privacy of its current and former fund investors and individual clients (collectively,
Clients) and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information BlackRock collects, how we protect that information and why in certain cases we
share such information with select parties.
If you are
located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require BlackRock to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth below, then BlackRock will comply with those specific laws, rules or
regulations.
BlackRock obtains or verifies personal
non-public information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information we receive from you or, if applicable, your financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information we
receive from your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; (iii) information we receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) information we receive from visits to our websites.
22
BlackRock does not sell or disclose to non-affiliated third parties any non-public personal
information about its Clients, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory inquiries or service Client accounts. These non-affiliated third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this
information and to use it only for its intended purpose.
BlackRock may share information with its affiliates to service a Clients account or to provide Clients with information about other BlackRock
products or services that may be of interest to them. In addition, BlackRock restricts access to non-public personal information about its Clients to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. BlackRock maintains
physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the non-public personal information of its Clients, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.
General
Management does not intend to present and does not have reason to
believe that any other items of business will be presented at the meeting. However, if other matters are properly presented to the meeting for a vote, the proxies will be voted by the persons named in the enclosed proxy upon such matters in
accordance with their judgment of the best interests of the Fund.
A list of shareholders entitled to be present and to vote at the meeting will be available at the offices of the Fund, Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East
52nd Street, New York, NY 10055, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours beginning ten days prior to the date of the meeting.
Failure of a quorum to be present at any meeting will necessitate adjournment. The persons named in the enclosed proxy may also move for an
adjournment of any meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposals if they determine that adjournment and further solicitation are reasonable and in the best interests of shareholders. Any such adjournment will
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Fund present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the time of the meeting to be adjourned. Any adjourned meeting or meetings may be held without the necessity of another
notice. The persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote in favor of any such adjournment if they believe the adjournment and additional proxy solicitation are reasonable and in the best interests of the Funds shareholders. For purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum, abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present at the meeting.
Please vote promptly by signing and dating the enclosed proxy card, and returning it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope OR by
following the enclosed instructions to provide voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet.
By Order of the Board,
Howard B. Surloff
Secretary of the Fund
, 2010
23
APPENDIX A
COMPENSATION OF THE BOARD MEMBERS
Each Board Member who is not an interested person (as
defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Board Members), is paid an annual retainer of $250,000 per year for his or her services as a Board Member of all BlackRock-advised Funds that are overseen by the respective Director (the
Supervised Funds) and each Board Member may also receive a $10,000 board meeting fee for special unscheduled meetings or meetings in excess of six Board meetings held in a calendar year, together with out-of-pocket expenses in accordance
with a Board policy on travel and other business expenses relating to attendance at meetings. In addition, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board are paid an additional annual retainer of $120,000 and $40,000, respectively. The Chairs of the Audit
Committee, Compliance Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, and Performance Oversight Committee are paid an additional annual retainer of $35,000, $20,000, $10,000, and $20,000, respectively. Each Audit Committee member is paid an
additional annual retainer of $25,000. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Supervised Funds reimbursed Independent Board Member expenses in an aggregate amount of $50,726.
Mr. Gabbay is an interested person of the Fund and serves as an
interested Board Member of three groups of BlackRock-advised fundsone complex of closed-end funds (the Closed-End Complex) and two complexes of open-end funds (the Equity-Liquidity Complex and the Equity-Bond
Complex; each such complex, a BlackRock Fund Complex). Mr. Gabbay receives for his services as a Board Member of such BlackRock Fund Complexes (i) an annual retainer of $487,500 allocated to the funds in these three
BlackRock Fund Complexes, including the Fund, based on their net assets and (ii) with respect to each of the two open-end BlackRock Fund Complexes, a Board meeting fee of $3,750 (with respect to meetings of the Equity-Liquidity complex) and
$18,750 (with respect to meetings of the Equity-Bond Complex) to be paid for attendance at each Board meeting up to five Board meetings held in a calendar year by each such complex (compensation for meetings in excess of this number to be determined
on a case-by-case basis). Mr. Gabbay is also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with a Board policy on travel and other business expenses relating to attendance at meetings. Mr. Gabbays compensation for serving on
the boards of the funds in these BlackRock Fund Complexes (including the Fund) is equal to 75% of each retainer and, as applicable, of each meeting fee (without regard to additional fees paid to Board and Committee chairs) received by the
Independent Board Members serving on such boards. The Board of the Fund or of any other fund in a BlackRock Fund Complex may modify the Board Members compensation from time to time depending on market conditions and Mr. Gabbays
compensation would be impacted by those modifications.
The
Fund shall pay a
pro rata
portion quarterly (based on the relative net assets) of the foregoing Board Member fees paid by the funds in the BlackRock Fund Complex for which they serve.
The Independent Board Members have agreed that a maximum of 50% of each
Independent Board Members total compensation paid by funds in the BlackRock Fund Complex may be deferred pursuant to such BlackRock Fund Complexs deferred compensation plan. Under the deferred compensation plan, deferred amounts earn a
return for the Independent Board Members as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in common shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fund Complex selected by the Independent Board Members. This has approximately the same economic effect
for the Independent Board Members as if they had invested the deferred amounts in such other funds in the BlackRock Fund Complex for which they serve. The deferred compensation plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general
unsecured claims against the general assets of a fund. A fund may, however, elect to invest in common shares of those funds in the BlackRock Fund Complex selected by the Independent Board Members in order to match its deferred compensation
obligation.
A-1
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation, including deferred compensation amounts,
paid to each Independent Board Member and Mr. Gabbay by the Fund and the Closed-End Complex during its most recently completed fiscal year and by the Closed-End Complex for the most recently completed calendar year.
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Fund
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Funds
Fiscal Year
End
|
|
Richard
E. Cavanagh
(2)
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|
Frank J.
Fabozzi
(3)
|
|
Kathleen F.
Feldstein
(4)
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R. Glenn
Hubbard
(5)(11)
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G.
Nicholas
Beckwith,
III
(6)
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James T.
Flynn
(7)
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Jerrold B.
Harris
(8)
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W. Carl
Kester
(9)
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Karen P.
Robards
(10)
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Henry
Gabbay
(11)
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Kent
Dixon
(12)
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Fund
Total
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RAA (1)
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31-Jul
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$
|
174
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|
$
|
139
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|
$
|
127
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|
$
|
122
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|
$
|
117
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|
$
|
129
|
|
$
|
117
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
$
|
164
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|
$
|
56
|
|
$
|
129
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$
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1,403
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Total Compensation
from Closed-End Complex (13)
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$
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370,448
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$
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295,538
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$
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270,046
|
|
$
|
263,824
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
275,000
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
275,000
|
|
$
|
350,000
|
|
$
|
140,625
|
|
$
|
275,604
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Number of Funds in Closed-End Complex Overseen by Board Member
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99
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99
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|
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99
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|
|
99
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|
|
Resigned
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
Retired
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Information is for the Funds most recent fiscal year.
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(2)
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Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $375,666 as of 12/31/09.
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(3)
|
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $313,845 as of 12/31/09.
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(4)
|
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $279,895 as of 12/31/09.
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(5)
|
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $622,312 as of 12/31/09.
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(6)
|
|
Mr. Beckwith resigned from the Board on March 31, 2010. Mr. Beckwith previously participated in the deferred compensation plan and is owed $311,251 by the
Closed-End Complex as of 12/31/09 pursuant to such plan.
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(7)
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Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $342,376 as of 12/31/09.
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(8)
|
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $311,251 as of 12/31/09.
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(9)
|
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $186,750 as of 12/31/09.
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(10)
|
Total amount of deferred compensation payable by the Closed-End Complex to Board Member is $180,290 as of 12/31/09.
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(11)
|
As of December 31, 2009 the Board Member did not participate in the deferred compensation plan. During the calendar year 2009, Mr. Gabbay also received $46,875 from
BlackRock Advisors, LLC as compensation for his service as a Board Member during the calendar year 2008.
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(12)
|
Mr. Dixon retired from the Board on December 31, 2009. Mr. Dixon previously participated in the deferred compensation plan and was paid $209,072 by the Closed-End
Complex, the full amount of his deferred compensation following his retirement.
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(13)
|
Represents the aggregate compensation earned by such persons from the Closed-End Complex during the calendar year ended December 31, 2009. Of this amount, Mr. Cavanagh,
Mr. Fabozzi, Ms. Feldstein, Mr. Beckwith, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Harris, Mr. Kester and Ms. Robards deferred $37,000, $14,750, $81,000, $125,000, $137,500, $125,000, $75,000 and $35,000, respectively, pursuant to the
Closed-End Complexs deferred compensation plan. Includes amounts received by Mr. Cavanagh, Mr. Fabozzi, Ms. Feldstein, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Dixon during the calendar year ended December 31, 2009, due to deferred
compensation payments in connection with term trust liquidations.
|
A-2
APPENDIX B
EQUITY SECURITIES OWNED BY BOARD MEMBERS
As of May 31, 2010, none of the Board Members, Board Nominees and
officers as a group owned outstanding common or preferred shares of the Fund. The following table shows the amount of equity securities owned by the Board Members and Board Nominees in the Closed-End Complex as of May 31, 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Board Member
|
|
Aggregate
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
in All Funds Overseen
or To Be Overseen
by the Board Member
in Fund Complex
|
|
Aggregate Dollar
Range of Common
Stock and Share
Equivalents(1)
in Fund Complex
|
|
|
|
Interested Board
Members:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard S. Davis
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
Henry Gabbay
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
Independent Board Members:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard E. Cavanagh
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
Frank J. Fabozzi
|
|
$50,001 - $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
Kathleen F.
Feldstein
|
|
$10,001 - $50,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
James T. Flynn
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
Jerrold B. Harris
|
|
$50,001 - $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
R. Glenn Hubbard
|
|
$50,001 - $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
W. Carl Kester
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
Karen P. Robards
|
|
$50,001 - $100,000
|
|
Over $100,000
|
(1)
|
|
Represents, as of May 31, 2010, the approximate number of share equivalents owned under the deferred compensation plans in funds in the Closed-End Complex by certain
Independent Board Members who have participated in the deferred compensation plans. Under the deferred compensation plans, BlackRock International Growth and Income Trust, BlackRock Enhanced Dividend Achievers Trust, BlackRock Energy and
Resources Trust, BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust, BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust, BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust IV, BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund VI, Inc. and BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust II, Inc. are
eligible investments.
|
None of the Independent
Board Members nor their family members had any interest in BlackRock or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock as of May 31, 2010.
B-1
APPENDIX C
STANDING AND OTHER OPERATING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed by or under the
direction of the Board.
Standing
Committees
.
The Board has established the following standing committees:
Audit Committee.
The Board has a standing Audit Committee comprised of Karen P. Robards (Chair), Frank J.
Fabozzi, James T. Flynn and W. Carl Kester, all of whom are Independent Board Members. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to the accounting and
financial reporting polices and practices of the Fund. The Audit Committees responsibilities include, without limitation, (i) approving the selection, retention, termination and compensation of the Funds independent registered
public accounting firm (the independent auditors) and evaluating the independence and objectivity of the independent auditors; (ii) approving all audit engagement terms and fees for the Fund; (iii) reviewing the conduct and
results of each audit and discussing the Funds audited and unaudited financial statements; (iv) reviewing any issues raised by the independent auditor or management regarding the accounting or financial reporting policies and practices of
the Fund, its internal controls, and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers and managements response to any such issues; (v) reviewing and discussing with the independent auditors the Funds audited and
unaudited financial statements and disclosure in the Funds shareholder reports relating to the Funds performance; (vi) overseeing the performance of the Funds internal audit function provided by its investment adviser,
administrator, pricing agent or other service provider; (vii) overseeing policies, procedures and controls regarding valuation of the Funds investments; and (viii) resolving any disagreements between Fund management and the
independent auditors regarding financial reporting.
A copy of the Audit Committee Charter for the Fund can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the BlackRock
closed-end fund website at www.blackrock.com.
(1)
Governance and Nominating
Committee.
The Board has a standing Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee is comprised of R. Glenn Hubbard (Chair), Richard E. Cavanagh, Kathleen F. Feldstein and Jerrold B.
Harris, all of whom are Independent Board Members.
The
principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee are: (i) identifying individuals qualified to serve as Independent Directors, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund and recommending Independent Director nominees for election by
shareholders or appointment by the Board; (ii) advising the Board with respect to Board composition, procedures and committees (other than the Audit Committee); (iii) overseeing periodic self-assessments of the Board and committees of the
Board (other than the Audit Committee); (iv) reviewing and making recommendations in respect of Independent Director compensation; (v) monitoring corporate governance matters and making recommendations in respect thereof to the Board; and
(vi) acting as the administrative committee with respect to Board policies and procedures, committee policies and procedures (other than the Audit Committee) and codes of ethics as they relate to the Independent Directors.
(1)
|
|
The website address where a copy of the Audit Committee Charter for the Fund can be found is:
http://www1.blackrock.com/eIndex.aspx?cmty=ind&m=ind_1&m1=ind_1_2&lo=4&eid=35929&ln=36494.
|
C-1
The Governance Committee seeks to identify individuals to serve on the Board who have a diverse range
of viewpoints, qualifications, experiences, backgrounds and skill sets so that the Board will be better suited to fulfill its responsibility of overseeing the Funds activities. In so doing, the Governance Committee reviews the size of the
Board, the ages of the current Board Members and their tenure on the Board, and the skills, background and experiences of the Board Members in light of the issues facing the Fund in determining whether one or more new directors should be added to
the Board. The Governance Committee believes that the Board Members as a group possess the array of skills, experiences and backgrounds necessary to guide the Fund. The Board Member biographies included herein highlight the diversity and breadth of
skills, qualifications and expertise that the Board Members bring to the Fund.
The Governance and Nominating Committee may consider nominations for Board Members made by a Funds shareholders as it deems appropriate.
Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send a recommendation to the Funds Secretary that includes all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of Board
Members or is required by the advance notice provision of the Funds By-laws. For a candidate to be considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include:
|
|
|
the name and record address of the shareholder, the class or series and number of shares of the Fund which are owned beneficially or of record by the
shareholder, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each proposed candidate and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the nomination(s) made by the shareholder, a
representation that the shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its recommendation, and any other information relating to the shareholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy
statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and
|
|
|
|
the name, age, business address and residential address of the candidate(s), the principal occupation or employment of the candidate(s), the class or series and
number of shares of the Fund which are owned beneficially or of record by the candidate(s), if any, and any other information relating to the candidate(s) that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be
made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act.
|
Such recommendation must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed candidate to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if
elected. The Governance and Nominating Committee may take into consideration the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been held.
A copy of the Governance and Nominating Committee
Charter for the Fund can be found in the Corporate Governance section of the BlackRock closed-end fund website at
www.blackrock.com.
(2)
Compliance Committee.
The Fund has
a Compliance Committee composed of Kathleen F. Feldstein (Chair), Richard E. Cavanagh, Jerrold B. Harris and R. Glenn Hubbard, all of whom are Independent Board Members. The Compliance Committees purpose is to assist the Board in fulfilling
its responsibility with respect to the oversight of regulatory and fiduciary compliance matters involving the Fund, the fund-related activities of BlackRock, and any subadvisor and the
(2)
|
|
The website address where a copy of the Governance and Nominating Committee Charter for the Fund can be found is:
http://www1.blackrock.com/eIndex.aspx?cmty=ind&m=ind_1&m1=ind_1_2&lo=4&eid=35929&ln=36494).
|
C-2
Funds other third party service providers. The Compliance Committees responsibilities include, without limitation: (i) overseeing the compliance policies and procedures of the
Fund and its service providers; (ii) reviewing information on and, where appropriate, recommending policies concerning the Funds compliance with applicable law; (iii) reviewing information on any significant correspondence with or
other actions by regulators or governmental agencies with respect to the Fund and any employee complaints or published reports that raise concerns regarding compliance matters; and (iv) reviewing reports from and making certain recommendations
in respect of the Funds Chief Compliance Officer, including, without limitation, determining the amount and structure of the Chief Compliance Officers compensation. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Compliance Committee.
Performance Oversight
Committee.
The Fund has a Performance Oversight Committee composed of Frank J. Fabozzi (Chair), Richard E. Cavanagh, Kathleen F. Feldstein, James T. Flynn, Jerrold B. Harris, R. Glenn Hubbard, W. Carl Kester and Karen
P. Robards, all of whom are Independent Board Members. The Performance Oversight Committees purpose is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee the Funds investment performance relative to the Funds
investment objectives, policies and practices. The Performance Oversight Committees responsibilities include, without limitation: (i) reviewing the Funds investment objectives, policies and practices; (ii) recommending to the
Board any required action in respect of changes in fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions; (iii) reviewing information on appropriate benchmarks and competitive universes; (iv) reviewing the Funds investment
performance relative to agreed-upon performance objectives; (v) reviewing information on unusual or exceptional investment matters; and (vi) reviewing whether the Fund has complied with its investment polices and restrictions. The Board
has adopted a written charter for the Performance Oversight Committee.
Executive Committee.
The Fund has an Executive Committee composed of Richard E. Cavanagh and Karen P. Robards,
both of whom are Independent Directors, and Richard S. Davis, who serves as an Interested Director. The principal responsibilities of the Executive Committee include, without limitation, (i) acting on routine matters between meetings of the
Board; (ii) acting on such matters as may require urgent action between meetings of the Board; and (iii) exercising such other authority as may from time to time be delegated to the Executive Committee by the Board. The Board has adopted a
written charter for the Executive Committee.
Other
Operating Committees
.
The Board also has adopted the following
ad hoc
committee.
Ad Hoc AMPS Committee.
The Fund has an
ad hoc
Committee on Auction Market Preferred
Shares (the AMPS Committee) composed of Richard E. Cavanagh (Chair), Karen P. Robards, Frank J. Fabozzi, Henry Gabbay and W. Carl Kester. Since February 2008, most auction rate preferred shares, including the AMPS, have been unable to
hold successful auctions and AMPS holders have suffered reduced liquidity. The AMPS Committee was formed to monitor issues arising from this recent market turmoil and oversee efforts to provide liquidity to the AMPS holders. As of the date of this
Proxy Statement, the AMPS Committee has met eight times in the last calendar year and 34 times since its formation. It is expected that as of the date of the meeting, the total amount of redemptions of auction market preferred shares across the
Closed-End Complex, including the AMPS funds, will equal $ billion, which represents approximately % of
all auction market preferred shares outstanding for the Closed-End Complex as of February 2008.
During the calendar year 2009, the Funds Audit Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee, Performance Oversight
Committee and Executive Committee met eight, four, five, four and one times, respectively.
C-3
Each committee met the following number of times for the Funds most recent fiscal year:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
Number of
Audit
Committee
Meetings
|
|
Number of
Governance
and
Nominating
Committee
Meetings
|
|
Number of
Compliance
Committee
Meetings
|
|
Number of
Performance
Oversight
Committee
Meetings
|
|
Number of
Executive
Committee
Meetings
|
|
Number of
AMPS
Committee
Meetings
|
31-Jul
|
|
8
|
|
4
|
|
5
|
|
4
|
|
2
|
|
15
|
Joint Product Pricing Committee.
The boards of directors/trustees of the Equity-Liquidity Complex, the
Equity-Bond Complex and the Closed-End Complex established the
ad hoc
Joint Product Pricing Committee comprised of nine members drawn from the members serving on the boards of directors/trustees of the BlackRock Fund Complexes.
Ms. Karen P. Robards and Mr. Jerrold B. Harris currently are members of the Joint Product Pricing Committee representing the Closed-End Complex. Six Independent Board Members representing the Equity-Bond Complex and two Independent
Board Members representing the Equity-Liquidity Complex serve on the Joint Product Pricing Committee. The Joint Product Pricing Committee is chaired by Mr. John F. OBrien. The purpose of the Joint Product Pricing Committee
is to review the components and pricing structure of the non-money market funds in the BlackRock Fund Complexes. The Joint Product Pricing Committee was formed on June 4, 2009, and for the period from June 4, 2009 to June 3, 2010, the
Joint Product Pricing Committee met six times.
C-4
APPENDIX D
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE FUND
The executive officers of the Fund, their year of birth and their
principal occupations during the past five years (their titles may have varied during that period) are shown in the table below. The address of each officer is c/o BlackRock, Inc., Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.
Each officer is an interested person of the
Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) by virtue of that individuals position with BlackRock or its affiliates described in the table below.
Information Pertaining to the Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and
Year of
Birth
|
|
Position(s) Held
with Fund
|
|
Length of
Time Served
|
|
Principal Occupations(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Anne F. Ackerley
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1962
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Since
2007
*
|
|
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2000; Vice President of the BlackRock-advised funds from 2007 to 2009; Chief Operating Officer of BlackRocks Global Client Group since 2009;
Chief Operating Officer of BlackRocks U.S. Retail Group from 2006 to 2009; Head of BlackRocks Mutual Fund Group from 2000 to 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
Brendan Kyne
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1977
|
|
Vice President
|
|
Since 2009
|
|
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2010; Director of BlackRock, Inc. from 2008 to 2009; Head of Product Development and Management for BlackRocks U.S. Retail Group since 2009;
Co-head of Product Development and Management for BlackRocks U.S. Retail Group from 2007 to 2009; Vice President of BlackRock, Inc. from 2005 to 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
Neal J. Andrews
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1966
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Since 2007
|
|
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006; Senior Vice President and Line of Business Head of Fund Accounting and Administration at PNC Global Investment Servicing (US) Inc. from 1992
to 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
Jay M. Fife
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1970
|
|
Treasurer
|
|
Since 2007
|
|
Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2007 and Director in 2006; Assistant Treasurer of the Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (MLIM) and Fund Asset Management L.P.
advised Funds from 2005 to 2006; Director of MLIM Fund Services Group from 2001 to 2006.
|
D-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and
Year of
Birth
|
|
Position(s) Held
with Fund
|
|
Length of
Time Served
|
|
Principal Occupations(s)
During Past 5 Years
|
Brian P. Kindelan
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1959
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
Since 2007
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer of the BlackRock-advised Funds since 2007; Managing Director and Senior Counsel of BlackRock, Inc. since 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
Howard B. Surloff
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY
10055
1965
|
|
Secretary
|
|
Since 2007
|
|
Managing Director and General Counsel of U.S. Funds of BlackRock, Inc. since 2006; General Counsel (U.S.) of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. from 1993 to 2006.
|
*
|
|
Ms. Ackerley has been President and Chief Executive Officer since 2009 and was Vice President from 2007 to 2009.
|
With the exception of the CCO, officers receive no compensation from
the Fund. The Fund compensates its CCO for his services as its CCO.
D-2
APPENDIX E
AUDIT FEES, AUDIT-RELATED FEES, TAX FEES AND ALL OTHER FEES TO
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Audit Fees
and Audit-Related Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
Most Recent
Fiscal Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year Prior to
Most Recent Fiscal
Year End ($)
|
|
Most Recent Fiscal
Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year Prior to
Most Recent Fiscal
Year End ($)
|
31-Jul
|
|
17,700
|
|
16,800
|
|
3,500
|
|
3,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
All Other Fees
|
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
Most Recent
Fiscal Year($)
|
|
Fiscal Year Prior to
Most Recent Fiscal
Year End ($)
|
|
Most Recent Fiscal
Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year Prior to
Most Recent Fiscal
Year End ($)
|
31-Jul
|
|
6,100
|
|
6,100
|
|
1,028
|
|
1,049
|
Fees for non-audit services provided to the Funds Affiliated Service Providers for which pre-approval by the Audit Committee was
required:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
All Other Fees
|
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
Most Recent
Fiscal Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year
Prior to
Most Recent
Fiscal Year End
($)
|
|
Most Recent
Fiscal Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year
Prior to Most
Recent Fiscal
Year End
($)
|
|
Most
Recent
Fiscal Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year
Prior to Most
Recent Fiscal
Year End ($)
|
31-Jul
|
|
407,500
|
|
405,000
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
Aggregate non-audit fees for services provided to the Fund and its Affiliated Service Providers, regardless of whether pre-approval was
required:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees
|
Fiscal
Year End
|
|
Most Recent Fiscal Year ($)
|
|
Fiscal Year Prior to Most Recent
Fiscal Year End
($)
|
31-Jul
|
|
418,128
|
|
415,649
|
|
|
The fiscal year end (FYE) for the Fund was amended at a meeting of the Board in May 2008. However, all information provided in this appendix, unless otherwise noted, is for the
post-amended FYE.
|
E-1
APPENDIX F
FORM OF PLAN OF LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
This Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution (this
Plan
)
is intended to accomplish the complete liquidation and dissolution of BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
Fund
), in accordance with the requirements of the Maryland General
Corporation Law and pursuant to the terms of the Charter of the Fund as amended and supplemented through the date hereof, and provides as follows:
1. The effective date of this Plan (the
Adoption Date
) shall be , 2010.
2. Any officer or director of the Fund (the
Authorized
Officers
) shall have the responsibility to take such actions under this Plan, on or after the Adoption Date, as may be necessary or appropriate to implement this Plan and to oversee the complete liquidation and winding up of the Fund
pursuant hereto.
3. The following actions shall be
completed as promptly as practicable following the Adoption Date, and following the Adoption Date, the Fund shall be continued in existence as a corporation to undertake the following actions (but in no event after the Adoption Date shall the Fund
be continued to conduct the business for which the Fund was organized or otherwise continued as a going concern):
|
(a)
|
|
settling and closing the Funds business in an organized and deliberate manner, including notifying the Funds service providers of the termination of their agreements
with the Fund;
|
|
(b)
|
|
disposing of, conveying and liquidating the remaining property of the Fund to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration that may consist in whole of in part
of cash, securities or other property of any kind;
|
|
(c)
|
|
applying and distributing the proceeds of such liquidation to discharge or make reasonable provision for the Funds debts and liabilities;
|
|
(d)
|
|
declaring and paying final dividends on the outstanding preferred shares and paying all cumulative declared dividends thereon that remain unpaid, if any, and redeeming the
outstanding preferred shares in accordance with their terms and applicable law;
|
|
(e)
|
|
holding the proceeds of the orderly liquidation of the Funds assets in cash or cash equivalents during the Liquidation Period (defined below);
|
|
(f)
|
|
distributing any remaining property in cash or in kind or partly in each (after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all debts and liabilities of the Fund) among the
holders of outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the Fund; and
|
|
(g)
|
|
filing necessary or appropriate paperwork with the State of Maryland, if any, to dissolve the Fund and with the Securities and Exchange Commission to cease the Funds
registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as may otherwise be determined to be necessary or desirable to dissolve the Fund and wind-up its affairs.
|
4. To assist in effecting the complete liquidation, winding-up and
dissolution of the Fund in accordance with this Plan, the Authorized Officers are hereby authorized and directed to delegate any of their duties and responsibilities to any adviser, administrator, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other
service provider pursuant to its applicable service agreement with the Fund.
F-1
5. The Authorized Officers of the Fund are hereby authorized and directed to execute all documents,
file all papers and take all actions as such persons deem necessary or desirable for the purpose of effecting the complete liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Fund in accordance with this Plan.
6. Within the period beginning on the Adoption Date and ending on the
date of the final liquidating distribution of the Funds assets (the
Liquidation Period
), the Fund shall have the authority to engage in such transactions as may be necessary or appropriate to the sale or other disposition of
its assets.
7. On and after the Adoption Date, the Fund
shall not at any time, enter into or engage in any trade or business, and no part of the assets of the Fund shall be used or disposed of by the directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Fund in furtherance of any trade or business. On and
after the Adoption Date, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Fund shall be restricted to the holding and collection of the assets and the distribution thereof and the payment of or provision for the liabilities of the Fund, for the
purposes set forth in this Plan. In no event shall the Fund receive any property, make any distribution, satisfy or discharge any claims, expenses, charges, liabilities or obligations or otherwise take any action that is inconsistent with the
complete liquidation, winding up and dissolution of the Fund. Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, the Fund may hold its cash in high-quality, short-term investments to preserve the value of such cash pending its distribution to
investors, such as in demand deposits, money market funds or overnight sweep accounts.
8. On and after the Adoption Date, the Fund shall not receive transfers of any assets prohibited by Revenue Procedure 82-58, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or modified, including, but not limited to, any listed stock or securities, any readily marketable assets (other than short-term instruments pending use to pay liabilities or make distributions to stockholders), any operating
assets of a going business, any unlisted stock of a single issuer that represents 80 percent or more of the stock of such issuer or any general or limited partnership interests.
9. Within the Liquidation Period, the Fund shall pay or discharge, or
set aside cash, securities or other assets for the payment or discharge of, or to otherwise provide for, its liabilities and obligations, including contingent or unascertained liabilities and obligations determined or otherwise reasonably estimated
to be due either by an Authorized Officer or a court of competent jurisdiction, including among the foregoing, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, administrative and investment advisory expenses, interest, penalties, taxes,
assessments and public charges of every kind and nature.
10. The Fund shall mail notice of its impending liquidation to known creditors and all employees of the Fund as soon as practicable after the date
hereof, if such notice has not already been provided. The Authorized Officers of the Fund shall take any and all other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Plan and to effect the complete liquidation and
dissolution of the Fund under Maryland law.
11. On the
Adoption Date, the Fund shall terminate its automatic dividend reinvestment plan in accordance with its terms and applicable law.
12. The Authorized Officers of the Fund are authorized to approve such changes to the terms of any of the transactions referred to herein, to
interpret any of the provisions of this Plan, and to make, execute and deliver such other agreements, conveyances, assignments, transfers, certificates and other documents and take such other action as such directors and officers deem necessary or
desirable in order to carry out the provisions of this Plan and effect the complete liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Fund.
13. Before Articles of Dissolution are filed with the State of Maryland, the Board may amend, abandon, or rescind this Plan by a majority vote of
the Directors and direct that the proposed amendment, abandonment, or rescission be submitted to the Funds stockholders for approval.
F-2
BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc.
(appropriate share class name listed here)
Proxy for Annual Meeting of ShareholdersSeptember 2, 2010
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Anne Ackerley, Brendan Kyne and Jay Fife, and each of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her
substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side hereof, all of the shares of the above named fund held of record by the undersigned on July 6, 2010 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund
to be held on September 2, 2010 or at any adjournments, postponements or delays thereof.
The validity of this proxy is governed by Maryland
law. This proxy does not revoke any prior powers of attorney except for prior proxies given in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO
DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE
AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY BE PRESENTED TO THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS, POSTPONEMENTS OR DELAYS THEREOF.
PLEASE FOLD HERE AND RETURN ENTIRE BALLOTDO NOT DETACH
BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc
Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders September 2, 2010
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Vote by Phone, by Mail or via the Internet:
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Please be sure to sign and date this proxy. Please
sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full
corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
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CALL:
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To vote your proxy by phone, call 1-866-437-4675 and enter the 12-digit control number found on the reverse side of this proxy. This touchtone voting line is available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
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Please mark your vote on the reverse of this proxy.
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LOG ON:
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To vote on the Internet go to www.proxyonline.com and enter the 12-digit control number found on the reverse side of this proxy.
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Shareholder sign
here
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MAIL:
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To vote your proxy by mail, check the appropriate voting box on the reverse side of this proxy, sign and date the ballot and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or
mail to: The Altman Group,
P.O. Box 238, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071.
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Joint owner sign here
Date
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IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE VOTED PROMPTLY. EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc
CONTROL NUMBER
SAMPLE BALLOT ONLY
WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WILL HELP TO AVOID THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER
SOLICITATION.
THE PROXY MUST BE
SIGNED AND DATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE
FOR YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO BE COUNTED AND WILL BE VOTED IN THE
MANNER INDICATED, OR IF NO INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN INDICATED BELOW, A VOTE WILL BE CAST FOR THE LIQUIDATION AND FOR EACH NOMINEE. PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY.
PLEASE MARK THE BOXES BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK
INK
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To vote the proxy for
all proposals in the same manner
, please use the boxes below.
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FOR ALL
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ABSTAIN ALL
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To vote for each nominee
individually
, please use these boxes.
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FOR
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ABSTAIN
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1. TO APPROVE THE LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION OF THE FUND PURSUANT TO THE PLAN
OF LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION.
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2. TO ELECT BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES
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FOR
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ABSTAIN
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Richard E. Cavanagh
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KathleenF. Feldstein
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Henry Gabbay
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Jerrold B. Harris
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(BARCODE HERE)
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(TAGID HERE)
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(CUSIP HERE)
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