BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY FUND Il, INC.
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
VARIABLE RATE MUNI TERM PREFERRED SHARES
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY
FUND II, INC.
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
VARIABLE RATE MUNI TERM PREFERRED SHARES
BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State
Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland that:
FIRST: These Articles Supplementary shall be effective as
of 12:02 p.m. ET on the 20th day of December, 2023.
SECOND: Pursuant to authority expressly vested in the
Board of Directors of the Corporation by Article IV of the Corporation’s
Charter, the Board of Directors has, by resolution duly adopted on November 14, 2023, reclassified 780 authorized and
unissued shares of common stock of the Corporation as shares of preferred stock
of the Corporation, par value $0.10 per share, as Variable Rate Muni Term
Preferred Shares (the “VMTP Preferred Shares”). The VMTP
Preferred Shares may be issued in one or more series, as designated and
authorized by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof
from time to time (each series of VMTP Preferred Shares that may be authorized
and issued, a “Series”).
THIRD: The preferences (including liquidation preference),
voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and
terms and conditions of redemption, of the shares of each Series of VMTP
Preferred Shares are as follows or as set forth in an amendment to these
Articles Supplementary or otherwise in the Corporation’s Charter (each such
Series being referred to herein as a “Series of VMTP Preferred Shares”):
DESIGNATION
Series W-7: A series of 780 shares of preferred stock, par
value $0.10 per share, liquidation preference $100,000 per share, is hereby
authorized and designated “Series W-7 VMTP Preferred Shares”. Each Series W-7
VMTP Preferred Share shall be issued on a date or dates determined by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation or pursuant to their delegated authority; have
an Applicable Rate commencing on December 20, 2023 equal to the sum of the
applicable Ratings Spread (as defined herein) and 75% of Daily SOFR (as defined
herein) on the applicable Rate Determination Date; and have such other
preferences, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and
distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption, required
by Applicable Law and that are expressly set forth in these Articles Supplementary
and the Charter. The Series W-7 VMTP Preferred Shares shall constitute a
separate series of preferred stock of the Corporation and each Series W-7 VMTP
Preferred Share shall be identical. Except as otherwise provided with respect
to any additional Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, the terms and conditions of
these Articles Supplementary apply to each Series of VMTP Preferred Shares and
each share of such Series.
DEFINITIONS
The following terms shall have the
following meanings (with terms defined in the singular having comparable
meanings when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context otherwise
requires:
“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
“Additional Amount” shall have the meaning
specified in Section 2(e)(i)(B) of these Articles Supplementary.
“Affected Series” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 5(d) of these Articles Supplementary.
“Agent Member” means a Person with an
account at the Securities Depository that holds one or more VMTP Preferred
Shares through the Securities Depository, directly or indirectly, for a Beneficial
Owner and that will be authorized and instructed, directly or indirectly, by a
Beneficial Owner to disclose information to the Redemption and Paying Agent
with respect to such Beneficial Owner.
“Applicable Base Rate” means
75% of Daily SOFR on the applicable Rate Determination Date.
“Applicable Law” means Maryland state law
(including, without limitation, the Maryland General Corporation Law) and the
federal law of the United States of America (including, without limitation, the
1940 Act).
“Applicable Rate” means the dividend rate per
annum on any VMTP Preferred Shares for a Rate Period determined as set
forth in paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 of these Articles Supplementary
or in the definition of “Maximum Rate”, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate Determination” means each
periodic operation of the process of determining the Applicable Rate for the
VMTP Preferred Shares for a Subsequent Rate Period.
“Articles Supplementary” means these
Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of
the VMTP Preferred Shares and as amended from time to time in accordance with
the provisions hereof.
“Basic Maintenance Amount,” as of any Valuation
Date, shall have the meaning set forth in the Rating Agency Guidelines.
“Basic Maintenance Cure Date,” with respect
to the failure by the Corporation to satisfy the Basic Maintenance Amount (as
required by paragraph (a) of Section 7 of these Articles Supplementary) as of a
given Valuation Date, shall have the meaning set forth in the Rating Agency
Guidelines, but in no event shall it be longer than ten (10) Business Days
following such Valuation Date.
“Basic Maintenance Report” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Rating Agency Guidelines.
“Beneficial Owner” means
a Person in whose name VMTP Preferred Shares are recorded as beneficial owner
of such VMTP Preferred Shares by the Securities Depository, an Agent Member or
other securities intermediary on the records of such Securities Depository,
Agent Member or securities intermediary, as the case may be, or such Person’s
subrogee.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Business Day” means a day (a) other than a
day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are required or
authorized by law or executive order to close and (b) on which the New York
Stock Exchange is not closed.
“Charter” means the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended and supplemented (including by these Articles
Supplementary), of the Corporation on file in the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
“Closed-End Funds” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 12 of these Articles Supplementary.
“Closing Date” means December 20, 2023.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
“Common Shares” means the shares of common
stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Corporation.
“Conditional Acceptance” means a conditional
acceptance by the Total Holders to extend the Term Redemption Date of the VMTP
Preferred Shares.
“Corporation” shall have the meaning as set
forth in the Recitals of these Articles Supplementary.
“Cure Date” means the Basic Maintenance Cure
Date, the Minimum Asset Coverage Cure Date or the last day of the Effective
Leverage Ratio Cure Period, as the case may be.
“Custodian” means a bank, as defined in
Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act, that has the qualifications prescribed in
paragraph 1 of Section 26(a) of the 1940 Act, or such other entity as shall be
providing custodian services to the Corporation as permitted by the 1940 Act or
any rule, regulation, or order thereunder, and shall include, as appropriate,
any similarly qualified sub-custodian duly appointed by the Custodian.
“Daily SOFR” means:
(1)
With respect to any Business Day means the secured overnight financing
rate published for
such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of
the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York’s website (or
any successor source) as of 4:00 p.m. New York City time
(such rate being initially published for such day at 8:00 a.m. and may be
revised until 2:30 p.m., New York City time).
(2)
If the secured overnight financing rate cannot be determined with
respect to any Business Day as specified in paragraph (1), unless both a SOFR
Index Cessation Event and a SOFR Index Cessation Date have occurred, then the
Redemption and Paying Agent shall use the secured overnight financing rate in
respect of the last Business Day for which such secured overnight financing
rate was published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website.
(3)
If a SOFR Index Cessation Event and SOFR Index Cessation Date have
occurred, the Redemption and Paying Agent shall determine the Applicable Base
Rate as if the reference to “75% of Daily SOFR” were a reference to the rate
that was recommended as the replacement for the secured overnight financing
rate by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board
and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the purpose of recommending a
replacement for the secured overnight financing rate (which rate may be
produced by a Federal Reserve Bank or other designated administrator, which
rate may include any adjustments or spreads, and which rate will be reasonably
expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed
funds in U.S. dollars). If no such rate has been recommended within one
Business Day of the SOFR Index Cessation Event, then the Redemption and Paying
Agent shall use the OBFR published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website for any
Business Day after the SOFR Index Cessation Date (it being
understood that the OBFR for any such Business Day will be the Overnight Bank
Funding Rate on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website as of 4:00 p.m., New York City time).
(4)
If the Redemption and Paying Agent is required to use the OBFR in
paragraph (3) above and an OBFR Index Cessation Event has occurred, then for
any Business Day after the OBFR Index Cessation Date, the Redemption and Paying
Agent shall use the short-term interest rate target set by the Federal Open
Market Committee and published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website, or if the
Federal Open Market Committee has not set a single rate, the mid-point of the
short-term interest rate target range set by the Federal Open Market Committee
and published on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (calculated as the arithmetic average of the
upper bound of the target range and the lower bound of the target range).
(5)
If Daily SOFR determined as above would be less
than zero, then such rate shall be deemed to be zero.
“Date of Original Issue” means , with
respect to each share of a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, the date on which
the Corporation issued such VMTP Preferred Share.
“Defeased Securities” means a security for
which cash, cash equivalents or other eligible property has been pledged in an
amount sufficient to make all required payments on such security to and
including maturity (including any accelerated maturity pursuant to a permitted
redemption), in accordance with the instrument governing the issuance of such
security.
“Deposit Securities” means, as of any date,
any United States dollar-denominated security or other investment of a type
described below that either (i) is a demand obligation payable to the holder
thereof on any Business Day or (ii) has a maturity date, mandatory redemption date
or mandatory payment date, on its face or at the option of the holder,
preceding the relevant payment date in respect of which
such security or other investment has been deposited or set aside as a Deposit
Security:
(1) cash
or any cash equivalent;
(2) any
U.S. Government Security;
(3) any Municipal Obligation that has a credit rating from at
least one NRSRO that is the highest applicable rating generally ascribed by
such NRSRO to Municipal Obligations with substantially similar terms as of the
date of these Articles Supplementary (or such rating’s future equivalent),
including (A) any such Municipal Obligation that has been pre-refunded by the
issuer thereof with the proceeds of such refunding having been irrevocably
deposited in trust or escrow for the repayment thereof and (B) any such fixed
or variable rate Municipal Obligation that qualifies as an eligible security
under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act as amended or as in effect on the Date of
Original Issue;
(4) any investment in any money market fund registered under
the 1940 Act that qualifies under Rule 2a-7, or similar investment vehicle
described in Rule 12dl-l(b)(2) under the 1940 Act, that invests principally in
Municipal Obligations or U.S. Government Securities or any combination thereof;
or
(5) any letter of credit from a bank or other financial
institution that has a credit rating from at least one NRSRO that is the
highest applicable rating generally ascribed by such NRSRO to bank deposits or
short-term debt of similar banks or other financial institutions as of the date
of these Articles Supplementary (or such rating’s future equivalent).
“Derivative Contract” means (a) any and all
rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward
rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity
contracts, forward swap transactions, equity or equity index swaps or options,
bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward
bond price or forward bond index transactions, futures contracts, repurchase
transaction, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap
transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap
transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot
contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the
foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether
or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement,
and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations,
which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of
master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any
other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related
schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations
or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Derivative Termination Value” means, in
respect of any one or more Derivative Contracts, after taking into account the
effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to
such Derivative Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such
Derivative Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined
in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior
to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the
mark-to-market value(s) for such Derivative Contracts, as determined based upon
one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any
recognized dealer in such Derivative Contracts (which may include a Holder or
an affiliate of the Holder).
“Discounted Value” as of any Valuation Date,
shall have the meaning set forth in the Rating Agency Guidelines.
“Dividend Payment Date” means the date that
is the first Business Day of each calendar month.
“Dividend Period” means, with respect to the
Series W-7 VMTP Preferred Shares, in the case of the first Dividend Period, for
the shares of such Series issued on December 20, 2023, the period beginning on December
20, 2023, and ending on and including December 31, 2023, and for each
subsequent Dividend Period for all shares of such Series, the period beginning
on and including the first calendar day of the month following the month in
which the previous Dividend Period ended and ending on and including the last
calendar day of such month.
“Effective Leverage Ratio” means the
quotient of:
(A)
the sum of (i) the aggregate liquidation preference of the Corporation’s
“senior securities” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) that are stock,
plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon, excluding, without
duplication, (x) any such senior securities for which the Corporation has
issued a notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or
sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to
the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit
Securities on hand and segregated on the books and records of the Custodian for
the purpose of such redemption and (y) the Corporation’s outstanding Preferred
Shares to be redeemed with the gross proceeds from the sale of the VMTP
Preferred Shares, for which the Corporation either has delivered Deposit
Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior
securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or otherwise has
adequate Deposit Securities on hand and segregated on the books and records of
the Custodian for the purpose of such redemption; (ii) the aggregate principal
amount of a Corporation’s “senior securities representing indebtedness” (as
that term is defined in the 1940 Act), plus any accrued but unpaid interest
thereon; (iii) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate trust
certificates corresponding to the associated residual floating rate trust
certificates owned by the Corporation (less the aggregate principal amount of
any such floating rate trust certificates owned by the Corporation and
corresponding to the associated residual floating rate trust certificates owned
by the Corporation); and (iv) the aggregate amount of the Corporation’s
repurchase obligations under repurchase agreements.
divided by
(B)
the sum of(i) the Market Value of the Corporation’s total assets
(including amounts attributable to senior securities but excluding, any assets
consisting of Deposit Securities relating to senior securities for which the
Corporation has issued a notice of redemption and either has
delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in
accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying agent for
such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities on hand and
segregated on the books and records of the Custodian for the purpose of such
redemption), less the sum of (A) the amount of the Corporation’s accrued
liabilities (which accrued liabilities shall include net obligations of the
Corporation under each Derivative Contract in an amount equal to the Derivative
Termination Value thereof payable by the Corporation to the related
counterparty), other than liabilities for the aggregate principal amount of
senior securities representing indebtedness, and (B) the Overconcentration
Amount; and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of floating rate trust
certificates corresponding to the associated residual floating rate trust
certificates owned by the Corporation (less the aggregate principal amount of
any such floating rate trust certificates owned by the Corporation and
corresponding to the associated residual floating rate trust certificates owned
by the Corporation).
“Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Period” shall
have the meaning specified in Section 6(b) of these Articles Supplementary.
“Electronic Means” means email transmission,
facsimile transmission or other similar electronic means of communication
providing evidence of transmission (but excluding online communications systems
covered by a separate agreement) acceptable to the sending party and the receiving
party, in any case if operative as between any two parties, or, if not
operative, by telephone (promptly confirmed by any other method set forth in
this definition), which, in the case of notices to the Redemption and Paying
Agent, shall be sent by such means as set forth in the Redemption and Paying
Agent Agreement.
“Eligible Assets” means the instruments
listed on Appendix A hereto.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Failure to Deposit” means, with respect to
VMTP Preferred Shares, a failure by the Corporation to pay to the Redemption
and Paying Agent, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, (A) on the
Business Day immediately preceding any Dividend Payment Date for such VMTP Preferred
Shares, in funds available on such Dividend Payment Date in The City of New
York, New York, the full amount of any dividend to be paid on such Dividend
Payment Date on any share of such Series or (B) on the Business Day immediately
preceding any Redemption Date in funds available on such Redemption Date for
such VMTP Preferred Shares in The City of New York, New York, the Redemption
Price to be paid on such Redemption Date for any share of such Series after
Notice of Redemption is provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 10 of
these Articles Supplementary; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding anything expressed or implied herein to the contrary, (i) the
foregoing clause (B) shall not apply to the Corporation’s failure to pay the
Redemption Price in respect of VMTP Preferred Shares when the related Notice of
Redemption provides that redemption of such shares is subject to one or more
conditions precedent and any such condition precedent shall not have been
satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of
Redemption, and (ii) a Failure to Deposit shall not be deemed to have occurred
if the Corporation is unable to make the payments in clause (A) or clause (B)
due to the lack of legally available funds under Applicable Law or because of
any other Applicable Law restrictions on such payments.
“Fitch” means Fitch
Ratings, a part of the Fitch Group, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of
Fimalac, S.A, or any successor thereto.
“Fitch Discount Factor” means the discount
factors set forth in the Fitch Guidelines for use in calculating the Discounted
Value of the Corporation’s assets in connection with Fitch ratings of VMTP
Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Fitch Eligible Assets” means assets of the
Corporation set forth in the Fitch Guidelines as eligible for inclusion in
calculating the Discounted Value of the Corporation’s assets in connection with
Fitch ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Fitch Guidelines” means the guidelines
applicable to Fitch’s then current ratings of the VMTP Preferred Shares
provided by Fitch in connection with Fitch’s ratings of the VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation (a copy of which is available on
request to the Corporation), in effect on the date hereof and as may be amended
from time to time, provided, however that any such amendment will not be
effective for thirty (30) days from the date that Fitch provides final notice
of such amendment to the Corporation or such earlier date as the Corporation
may elect.
“Fitch Provisions” means Sections 7, 8(c)(B)
and 9 of these Articles Supplementary with respect to Fitch, and any other
provisions hereof with respect to Fitch’s ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at
the request of the Corporation, including any provisions with respect to
obtaining and maintaining a rating on VMTP Preferred Shares from Fitch. The
Corporation is required to comply with the Fitch Provisions only if Fitch is
then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Gross-up Payment” means payment to a Beneficial
Owner of an amount which, when taken together with the aggregate amount of
Taxable Allocations made to such Beneficial Owner to which such Gross-up
Payment relates, would cause such Beneficial Owner’s dividends in dollars
(after giving effect to regular federal income tax consequences) from the
aggregate of such Taxable Allocations and the related Gross-up Payment to be
equal to the dollar amount of the dividends which would have been received by
such Beneficial Owner if the amount of such aggregate Taxable Allocations would
have been excludable from the gross income of such Beneficial Owner. Such
Gross-up Payment shall be calculated (i) without consideration being given to
the time value of money; (ii) assuming that no Beneficial Owner of VMTP
Preferred Shares is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax with respect
to dividends received from the Corporation; (iii) assuming that each Taxable
Allocation and each Gross-up Payment (except to the extent such Gross-up
Payment is properly designated as an exempt-interest dividend under Section
852(b)(5) of the Code or successor provisions) would be taxable in the hands of
each Beneficial Owner of VMTP Preferred Shares at the maximum marginal regular
federal individual income tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital
gains, as applicable, or the maximum marginal regular federal corporate income
tax rate applicable to ordinary income or net capital gains, as applicable,
whichever is greater, in effect at the time such Gross-up Payment is made; and
(iv) assuming that each Taxable Allocation and each Gross-up Payment would not
be subject to the tax imposed by Section 1411 of the Code or any similar
Medicare or other surtax.
“Holder” means a
Person in whose name a VMTP Preferred Share is registered in the registration
books of the Corporation maintained by the Redemption and Paying Agent.
“Increased Rate Event” means the occurrence
of any of the following events:
(a) failure by the Corporation to pay when due the
full amount of accrued but unpaid dividends on any Dividend Payment Date (other
than a failure by the Corporation to so pay due to the lack of legally
available funds under Applicable Law or because of any other Applicable Law
restrictions on such payments). This Increased Rate Event shall be considered
cured on the date the Corporation pays the full amount of such accrued but
unpaid dividends;
(b) failure by the Corporation to make any
redemption payment pursuant to Section 10 of these Articles Supplementary
(other than a failure by the Corporation to so pay due to the lack of legally
available funds under Applicable Law or because of any other Applicable Law
restrictions on such payments). This Increased Rate Event shall be considered
cured on the date the Corporation makes such redemption payment;
(c) failure by the Corporation to pay when due the
full amount of accrued but unpaid dividends in respect of Gross-up Payments
required to be paid pursuant to Section 3(b), (other than a failure by the
Corporation to so pay due to the lack of legally available funds under
Applicable Law or because of any other Applicable Law restrictions on such
payments). This Increased Rate Event shall be considered cured on the date the
Corporation pays the full amount of such accrued but unpaid dividends in
respect of Gross-up Payments required to paid pursuant to Section 3(b);
(d) failure by the Corporation to have cured on or
before the applicable Asset Coverage Cure Date any failure to maintain Minimum
Asset Coverage as required by Section 6(a). This Increased Rate Event shall be
considered cured on the date the Corporation next achieves Minimum Asset
Coverage;
(e) failure by the Corporation on the last day of an
applicable Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Period to have an Effective Leverage
Ratio of not greater than 45%. This Increased Rate Event shall be considered
cured on the date the Corporation next has an Effective Leverage Ratio of not
greater than 45%;
(f) failure by the Corporation to make investments
only in Eligible Assets as required by Section 6(c). This Increased Rate Event
shall be considered cured on the date the Corporation has disposed of any
investments made in violation of Section 6(c); provided, that any failure by
the Corporation to comply with the divestiture requirement set forth in the
last proviso of Section 6(c) shall not result in an Increased Rate Event;
(g) failure by the Corporation to maintain
compliance with Section 6(d). This Increased Rate Event shall be considered
cured on the date the Corporation returns to compliance with Section 6(d);
(h) the creation, incurrence, or existence of any
lien in violation of Section 6(e). This Increased Rate Event shall be
considered cured on the date that such lien is released or discharged;
(i) failure by the
Corporation on the Basic Maintenance Cure Date to satisfy the Basic Maintenance
Amount as of the Valuation Date pertaining to such Basic Maintenance Cure Date.
This Increased Rate Event shall be considered cured on the date that the
Corporation satisfies the Basic Maintenance Amount as of such Valuation Date;
(j) the declaration, payment or setting apart for
payments any dividend or other distribution in violation of Section 8. Such Increased
Rate Event shall be considered cured (i) in the case of any declaration or
setting apart for payment of any dividend or other distribution, on the date
such action is effectively rescinded, set aside, reversed, revoked, or
otherwise rendered null and (ii) in any other case, on the first date
thereafter that the Corporation is not prohibited pursuant to Section 8 from
declaring, paying or setting apart for payment a cash dividend or other cash
distribution in respect of the Common Shares;
(k) unless pursuant to an order of the court of
competent jurisdiction, the payment or distribution of any assets of the
Corporation in violation of Section 11(b) or 11(c);
(l) failure of the Corporation to comply with
Section 13(h). This Increased Rate Event will be considered cured on the date
the Corporation shall next maintain settlement of VMTP Preferred Shares in
global book entry form through the Securities Depository;
(m) failure of the Corporation to comply with Section
13(i). This Increased Rate Event will be considered cured on the date such
filing or application has been withdrawn, rescinded or dismissed;
(n) failure of the Corporation to comply with
Section 13(u). This Increased Rate Event will be considered cured on the date
the Corporation produces financial statements audited in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States);
(o) any determination is made by the Corporation or
the IRS that the VMTP Preferred Shares are not equity in a regulated investment
company for federal income tax purposes. This Increased Rate Event will be
considered cured on the date such determination is reversed, revoked or
rescinded;
(p) a Registration Rights Failure occurs. This Increased
Rate Event will be considered cured on the date such Registration Rights
Failure no longer exists;
(q) failure by the Corporation to have duly
authorized any Related Document. This Increased Rate Event shall be considered
cured on the date the Corporation duly authorizes each such Related Document
that was not previously duly authorized; or
(r) failure by the Corporation to provide the
information required by Section 12(b) and such failure is not cured by the
fifth Business Day following written request. This Increased Rate Event shall
be considered cured on the date the Corporation furnishes the information
specified in the foregoing sentence.
“Information Statement” means the
information statement of the Corporation relating to the offering and sale of VMTP
Preferred Shares, dated December 20, 2023.
“Initial Rate Period,” with
respect to the VMTP Preferred Shares of any Series, means the period commencing
on and including the Date of Original Issue thereof and ending on, and
including the next succeeding Wednesday.
“Investment Adviser” means BlackRock
Advisors, LLC, or any successor investment advisor to the Corporation.
“Liquidation Preference” means $100,000 per
share.
“Liquidity Account” shall have the meaning
specified in paragraph (b)(ii)(A) of Section 10 of these Articles Supplementary.
“Liquidity Account Initial Date” means the date which
is six-months prior to the Term Redemption Date.
“Liquidity Account Investments” means
Deposit Securities or any other security or investment owned by the Corporation
that is rated not less than A-/A3 or the equivalent rating (or any such
rating’s future equivalent) by each NRSRO then rating such security or
investment (or if rated by only one NRSRO, by such NRSRO) or, if no NRSRO is
then rating such security, deemed to be of an equivalent rating by the
Investment Adviser on the Corporation’s books and records.
“Liquidity Requirement” shall have the
meaning specified in paragraph (b)(ii)(B) of Section 10 of these Articles
Supplementary.
“Majority” means the Holders of more than
50% of the aggregate Outstanding amount of the VMTP Preferred Shares.
“Managed Assets” means the Corporation’s
total assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for
investment purposes) minus the sum of the Corporation’s accrued liabilities
(other than money borrowed for investment purposes). For the avoidance of
doubt, assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes includes
the portion of the Corporation’s assets in a tender option bond trust of which
the Corporation owns the residual interest (without regard to the value of the
residual interest to avoid double counting).
“Market Value” of any asset of the
Corporation means the market value thereof determined by an independent
third-party pricing service designated pursuant to the Corporation’s valuation
policies and procedures approved from time to time by the Board of Directors
for use in connection with the determination of the Corporation’s net asset
value. Market Value of any asset shall include any interest or dividends, as
applicable, accrued thereon. The pricing service values portfolio securities at
the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when
quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not
readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the pricing service
using methods which include consideration of: yields or prices of municipal
bonds of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating;
indications as to value from dealers; and general market conditions. The
pricing service may employ electronic data processing techniques or a matrix
system, or both, to determine valuations.
“Maximum Rate” means
15% per annum, increased by any applicable Gross-up Payment due and
payable in accordance with Section 3 of these Articles Supplementary.
“Minimum Asset Coverage” means asset
coverage, as defined in Section 18(h) of the 1940 Act as in effect on the Date
of Original Issue (excluding from (1) the denominator of such asset coverage
test (i) any such senior securities for which the Corporation has issued a
notice of redemption and either has delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient
funds (in accordance with the terms of such senior securities) to the paying
agent for such senior securities or otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities
or sufficient deposits on hand and segregated on the books and records of the
Custodian for the purpose of such redemption and (ii) the Corporation’s
outstanding Preferred Shares to be redeemed with the gross proceeds from the
sale of the VMTP Preferred Shares, for which the Corporation either has
delivered Deposit Securities or sufficient funds (in accordance with the terms
of such senior securities) to the paying agent for such senior securities or
otherwise has adequate Deposit Securities or sufficient deposits on hand and
segregated on the books and records of the Custodian for the purpose of such
redemption and (2) from the numerator of such asset coverage test, any Deposit
Securities referred to in the previous clause (1)(i) and (ii)) of at least 225%
with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Corporation which are
stock, including all Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares (or, if higher, such
other asset coverage as may be specified in or under the 1940 Act as in effect
from time to time as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities which are
stock of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends
on its common shares or stock).
“Minimum Asset Coverage Cure Date,” with respect to
the failure by the Corporation to maintain the Minimum Asset Coverage (as
required by Section 6 of these Articles Supplementary), means the tenth (10th) Business
Day following such failure.
“Minimum Rate Period” means any Rate Period
consisting of seven (7) Rate Period Days, as adjusted to reflect any changes
when the regular day that is a Rate Determination Date is not a Business Day.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
“Moody’s Discount Factor” means the discount
factors set forth in the Moody’s Guidelines for use in calculating the
Discounted Value of the Corporation’s assets in connection with Moody’s ratings
of VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Moody’s Eligible Assets” means assets of
the Corporation set forth in the Moody’s Guidelines as eligible for inclusion
in calculating the Discounted Value of the Corporation’s assets in connection
with Moody’s ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation.
“Moody’s Guidelines” means the guidelines
applicable to Moody’s then current ratings of the VMTP Preferred Shares,
provided by Moody’s in connection with Moody’s ratings of the VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation (a copy of which is available on
request to the Corporation), in effect on the date hereof and as may be amended
from time to time, provided, however that any such amendment will not be
effective for thirty (30) days from the date that
Moody’s provides final notice of such amendment to the Corporation or such
earlier date as the Corporation may elect.
“Moody’s Provisions” means Sections 7, 8(c)(B)
and 9 of these Articles Supplementary with respect to Moody’s, and any other
provisions hereof with respect to Moody’s ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at
the request of the Corporation, including any provisions with respect to
obtaining and maintaining a rating on VMTP Preferred Shares from Moody’s. The
Corporation is required to comply with the Moody’s Provisions only if Moody’s
is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Municipal Obligations” has the meaning set
forth in the Glossary of the Information Statement.
“Net Tax-Exempt Income” means the excess of
the amount of interest excludable from gross income under Section 103(a) of the
Code over the amounts disallowed as deductions under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2)
of the Code.
“Notice of Redemption” means any notice with
respect to the redemption of VMTP Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (c) of
Section 10 of these Articles Supplementary.
“NRSRO” means a “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the
Exchange Act that is not an “affiliated person” (as defined in Section 2(a)(3)
of the 1940 Act) of the Corporation, including, at the date hereof, Moody’s and
Fitch.
“OBFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, the Overnight Bank
Funding Rate on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website as of 4:00 p.m.,
New York City time.
“OBFR Index Cessation Date” means, in respect of an OBFR Index
Cessation Event, the date on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any
successor administrator of the OBFR), ceases to publish the OBFR, or the date
as of which the OBFR may no longer be used.
“OBFR Index Cessation Event” means the occurrence of one or more of
the following events:
(1)
a public statement by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a
successor administrator of the OBFR) announcing that it has ceased to publish
or provide the OBFR permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at that time,
there is no successor administrator that will continue to publish or provide an
OBFR; or
(2)
the publication of information which reasonably confirms that the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the OBFR) has
ceased to provide the OBFR permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at that
time, there is no successor administrator that will continue to publish or
provide the OBFR.
“Other Rating Agency” means each NRSRO, if
any, other than Fitch or Moody’s then providing a rating for the VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Other Rating Agency Eligible
Assets” means assets of the Corporation set forth in the Other
Rating Agency Guidelines as eligible for inclusion in calculating the
Discounted Value of the Corporation’s assets in connection with Other Rating
Agency ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Other Rating Agency Guidelines” means the
guidelines applicable to each Other Rating Agency’s ratings of the VMTP
Preferred Shares, provided by such Other Rating Agency in connection with such
Other Rating Agency’s ratings of the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of
the Corporation (a copy of which is available on request to the Corporation),
as may be amended from time to time, provided, however that any such amendment
will not be effective except as agreed between such Other Rating Agency and the
Corporation or such earlier date as the Corporation may elect.
“Other Rating Agency Provisions” means
Sections 7, 8(c)(B) and 9 of these Articles Supplementary with respect to any
Other Rating Agency then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation, and any other provisions hereof with respect to such Other Rating
Agency’s ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares, including any provisions with
respect to obtaining and maintaining a rating on VMTP Preferred Shares from
such Other Rating Agency. The Corporation is required to comply with the Other
Rating Agency Provisions of an Other Rating Agency only if such Other Rating
Agency is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Outstanding” means, as of any date with
respect to the VMTP Preferred Shares of any Series, the number of VMTP
Preferred Shares of such Series theretofore issued by the Corporation except,
without duplication, (i) any VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series theretofore cancelled
or delivered to the Redemption and Paying Agent for cancellation or redemption
by the Corporation, (ii) any VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series with respect
to which the Corporation has given a Notice of Redemption and irrevocably
deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities to
redeem such VMTP Preferred Shares, pursuant to Section 10 of these Articles
Supplementary, (iii) any VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series as to which the
Corporation shall be a Beneficial Owner, and (iv) any VMTP Preferred Shares of
such Series represented by any certificate in lieu of which a new certificate
has been executed and delivered by the Corporation.
“Overconcentration Amount” means as of any date of calculation of the Effective
Leverage Ratio, an amount equal to the sum of: (i) the Market Value of the
Corporation’s assets in a single state or territory in excess of 20%; (ii) the
Market Value of the Corporation’s assets in a single state or territory rated
lower than A2 by Moody’s or A by S&P or Fitch in excess of 15%; (iii) the
Market Value of the Corporation’s assets in a single state or territory rated
lower than Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch in excess of 10%; (iv)
the Market Value of the Corporation’s assets that constitute tobacco
obligations (excluding tobacco obligations that are Defeased Securities and
tobacco obligations backed by state appropriation) in excess of 10%; (v) the
Market Value of the Corporation’s assets paying less frequently than
semi-annually in excess of 20%; and (vi) the Market Value of the Corporation’s
assets that constitute tobacco obligations backed by state appropriation in
excess of 10%; in each case, as a percentage of the Market Value of the
Corporation’s Managed Assets.
“Person” means and
includes an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a trust, an
unincorporated association, a joint venture or other entity or a government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Placement Agent” means BlackRock
Investments, LLC.
“Placement Agreement” means the placement
agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Corporation and the
Placement Agent with respect to the offering and sale of the VMTP Preferred
Shares.
“Preferred Shares” mean the shares of
preferred stock of the Corporation, and includes the VMTP Preferred Shares.
“Purchase Agreement” means the VMTP
Preferred Shares Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between the
Corporation and the Purchaser, as amended, modified or supplemented from time
to time.
“Purchaser” means the purchaser on the Date
of Original Issue as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional
buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
“Rate Determination Date” means, with
respect to any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, (i) with respect to the Initial
Rate Period for any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, the Business Day
immediately preceding the Date of Original Issue of such Series and (ii) with
respect to any Subsequent Rate Period, the last day of a Rate Period for such
Series, or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day;
provided, however, that the next succeeding Rate Determination
Date will be the day of the week that is the regular Rate Determination Date if
such day is a Business Day.
“Rate Period,” with respect to VMTP Preferred
Shares, means the Initial Rate Period and any Subsequent Rate Period.
“Rate Period Days,” for any Rate Period, means the
number of days that would constitute such Rate Period.
“Rating Agency” means each of Fitch (if
Fitch is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation),
Moody’s (if Moody’s is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) and any Other Rating Agency (if such Other Rating Agency is then
rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation).
“Rating Agency Certificate” has the meaning
specified in paragraph (b) of Section 7 of these Articles Supplementary.
“Rating Agency Eligible Assets” means assets
of the Corporation set forth in the Rating Agency Guidelines as eligible for
inclusion in calculating the Discounted Value of the Corporation’s
assets in connection with a Rating Agency’s ratings of VMTP Preferred Shares at
the request of the Corporation.
“Rating Agency Guidelines” means Moody’s
Guidelines (if Moody’s is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of
the Corporation), Fitch Guidelines (if Fitch is then rating VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation) and any Other Rating Agency
Guidelines (if such Other Rating Agency is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at
the request of the Corporation).
“Rating Agency Provisions” means the Moody’s
Provisions (if Moody’s is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of
the Corporation), the Fitch Provisions (if Fitch is then rating VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation) and any Other Rating Agency Provisions
(if such Other Rating Agency is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the
request of the Corporation). The Corporation is required to comply with the
Rating Agency Provisions of a Rating Agency only if such Rating Agency is then
rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Ratings Spread” means, with respect to any
Rate Period for any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, the percentage per annum
set forth opposite the highest applicable credit rating assigned to such
Series, unless the lowest applicable credit rating is at or below Al/A+, in which
case it shall mean the percentage per annum set forth opposite the lowest
applicable credit rating assigned to such Series, by either Moody’s (if Moody’s
is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation),
Fitch (if Fitch is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) or Other Rating Agency (if such Other Rating Agency is then rating
the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation) in the table below
on the Rate Determination Date for such Rate Period:
Moody’s/Fitch*
|
Percentage
|
Aa2/AA to Aaa/AAA
|
0.90%
|
Aa3/AA-
|
0.90%
|
A1/A+
|
1.30%
|
A2/A
|
1.55%
|
A3/A-
|
1.70%
|
Baa1/BBB+
|
2.05%
|
Baa2/BBB
|
2.30%
|
Baa3/BBB-
|
2.80%
|
Non-investment grade or NR
|
3.30%
|
* And/or
the equivalent ratings of an Other Rating Agency then rating the VMTP Preferred
Shares at the request of the Corporation.
“Redemption Date” has
the meaning specified in paragraph (c) of Section 10 of these Articles
Supplementary.
“Redemption and Paying Agent” means The Bank
of New York Mellon which has entered into an agreement with the Corporation to
act in such capacity as the Corporation’s transfer agent, registrar, dividend
disbursing agent, paying agent, redemption price disbursing agent and
calculation agent in connection with the payment of regularly scheduled
dividends with respect to each Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, or any
successor by operation of law or any successor who acquires all or
substantially all of the assets and assumes all of the liabilities of the
Redemption and Paying Agent being replaced, either directly or by operation of
law, provided that such successor is a licensed banking entity with trust
powers or a trust company and have total assets of at least $50 million.
“Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement” means
the redemption and paying agent agreement dated as of the Closing Date, between
the Corporation and the Redemption and Paying Agent pursuant to which The Bank
of New York Mellon, or any successor, acts as Redemption and Paying Agent, as
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Redemption Premium” means with respect of a
VMTP Preferred Share rated above A1/A+ and its equivalent by all Rating
Agencies then rating such VMTP Preferred Share at the request of the
Corporation and subject to any redemption, other than redemptions required to
comply with Minimum Asset Coverage requirements or exceed compliance with the
Minimum Asset Coverage requirements up to 240%, an amount equal to the product
of 1% and the Liquidation Preference of the VMTP Preferred Shares subject to
redemption if the Redemption Date is greater than or equal to fifteen (15)
months from the Term Redemption Date, provided, up to 25% of the Corporation’s
VMTP Preferred Shares Outstanding as of the Closing Date may be redeemed at any
time without a Redemption Premium.
Any VMTP Preferred Share exchanged for the preferred
share of a surviving entity in connection with a reorganization, merger, or
redomestication of the Corporation in another state that had been previously
approved by the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares or that otherwise does not
require the vote or consent of the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares shall not
be subject to the Redemption Premium.
“Redemption Price” means the sum of (i) the
Liquidation Preference, (ii) accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether
or not declared) to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption and (iii)
the Redemption Premium, if any.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the
registration rights agreement dated as of the Closing Date between the
Corporation and DNT Asset Trust.
“Registration Rights Failure” means any
failure by the Corporation to (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to
make effective a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in violation of the Corporation’s obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement, or (ii) comply in any material respect with any other
material provision of the Registration Rights Agreement necessary to effect the
Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement) which has not been cured within thirty (30) Business Days of
the date of such violation.
“Related Documents” means these Articles
Supplementary, the Charter, the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the VMTP Preferred Shares and the Placement Agreement.
“Rule 2a-7” means Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities Depository” means The Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York, and any substitute for or successor to such
securities depository that shall maintain a book-entry system with respect to
the VMTP Preferred Shares.
“Series of VMTP Preferred Shares” shall have
the meaning as set forth in the Recitals of these Articles Supplementary.
“Series” shall have the meaning as set forth
in the Recitals of these Articles Supplementary.
“SOFR Index Cessation Date” means, in respect of a SOFR Index
Cessation Event, the date on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any
successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate) ceases to
publish the secured overnight financing rate or the date as of which the
secured overnight financing rate may no longer be used.
“SOFR Index Cessation Event” means the occurrence of one or more of
the following events as it relates to Daily SOFR:
(1)
a public statement by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a
successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate) announcing
that it has ceased to publish or provide the secured overnight financing rate
permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at that time, there is no successor
administrator that will continue to publish or provide a secured overnight
financing rate; or
(2)
the publication of information which reasonably confirms that the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured
overnight financing rate) has ceased to provide the secured overnight financing
rate permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at that time, there is no successor
administrator that will continue to publish or provide the secured overnight
financing rate.
“Subsequent Rate Period,” with respect to
VMTP Preferred Shares, means the period from, and including, the first day
following the Initial Rate Period of such VMTP Preferred Shares to, and
including, the next Rate Determination Date for such VMTP Preferred Shares and
any period thereafter from, and including, the first day following a Rate
Determination Date for such VMTP Preferred Shares to, and including, the next
succeeding Rate Determination Date for such VMTP Preferred Shares. Each
Subsequent Rate Period will be a Minimum Rate Period.
“Taxable Allocation” means
any payment or portion of a payment of a dividend that is not designated by the
Corporation as an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in Section 852(b)(5) of
the Code).
“Term Redemption Amount” shall have the
meaning specified in paragraph (b)(ii)(A) of Section 10 of these Articles
Supplementary.
“Term Redemption Date” means, July 2, 2025,
or such later date to which it may be extended in accordance with Section 10(b)(i)(A)
of these Articles Supplementary.
“Total Holders” means, the Holders of 100%
of the aggregate Outstanding amount of the VMTP Preferred Shares.
“U.S. Government Securities” means direct
obligations of the United States or of its agencies or instrumentalities that
are entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States and that, other
than United States Treasury Bills, provide for the periodic payment of interest
and the full payment of principal at maturity or call for redemption.
“Valuation Date” means, for purposes of
determining whether the Corporation is maintaining the Basic Maintenance
Amount, each Monday that is a Business Day, or for any Monday that is not a
Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day, and the Date of Original
Issue, commencing with the Date of Original Issue.
“VMTP Preferred Shares” shall have the
meaning as set forth in the Recitals of these Articles Supplementary.
“Voting Period” shall have the meaning
specified in paragraph (b)(i) of Section 4 of these Articles Supplementary.
TERMS
1.
Number of Authorized Shares.
(a)
Authorized Shares. The initial number of authorized shares of
VMTP Preferred Shares is 780.
(b)
Capitalization. So long as any VMTP Preferred Shares are
Outstanding, the Corporation shall not, issue (i) any class or series of shares
ranking prior to or on a parity with VMTP Preferred Shares with respect to the
payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the affairs, or (ii) any other “senior security”
(as defined in the 1940 Act as of the Date of Original Issue) of the
Corporation other than the Corporation’s use of tender option bonds, futures,
forwards, swaps and other derivative transactions, except as may be issued in
connection with any issuance of preferred shares or other senior securities
some or all of the proceeds from which issuance are used to redeem all of the
Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares (provided that the Corporation delivers the
proceeds from such issuance necessary to redeem all of the Outstanding VMTP
Preferred Shares to the Redemption and Paying Agent for investment in Deposit
Securities for the purpose of redeeming such VMTP Preferred
Shares
and issues a Notice of Redemption and redeems such VMTP Preferred Shares as
soon as practicable in accordance with the terms of these Articles
Supplementary).
2.
Dividends.
(a)
Ranking. The shares of any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares
shall rank on a parity with each other, with shares of any other Series of VMTP
Preferred Shares and with shares of any other Series of Preferred Shares as to
the payment of dividends by the Corporation.
(b)
Cumulative Cash Dividends. The Holders of VMTP Preferred
Shares of any Series shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by
the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor under
Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with the Charter and Applicable Law,
cumulative cash dividends at the Applicable Rate for such VMTP Preferred
Shares, determined as set forth in paragraph (e) of this Section 2, and no more
(except to the extent set forth in Section 3 of these Articles Supplementary),
payable on the Dividend Payment Dates with respect to such VMTP Preferred
Shares determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 2. Holders of VMTP
Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in
cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein
provided, on VMTP Preferred Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of
interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on
VMTP Preferred Shares which may be in arrears, and no additional sum of money
shall be payable in respect of such arrearage, except that the Corporation
shall pay as a supplemental dividend out of funds legally available therefor
under Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, the
Additional Amount (as defined below in paragraph (e)(i)(B) of this Section 2)
on account of a Failure to Deposit, if any, in respect of each day during the
period commencing on the day a Failure to Deposit occurs through and including
the day immediately preceding the earlier of (i) the day the Failure to Deposit
is cured and (ii) the third Business Day next succeeding the day on which the
Failure to Deposit occurred.
(c)
Dividends Cumulative from Date of Original Issue. Dividends
on VMTP Preferred Shares of any Series shall be declared daily and accumulate
at the Applicable Rate for such VMTP Preferred Shares from the Date of Original
Issue thereof.
(d)
Dividend Payment Dates. The Dividend Payment Date with
respect to VMTP Preferred Shares shall be the first Business Day of each
calendar month.
(e)
Applicable Rates and Calculation of Dividends.
(i)
Applicable Rates. The dividend rate on VMTP Preferred Shares of
any Series during the period from and after the Date of Original Issue of such
VMTP Preferred Shares to and including the last day of the Initial Rate Period
of such VMTP Preferred Shares shall be calculated by the Redemption and Paying
Agent and shall equal to the rate per annum set forth with respect to
the shares of such Series under “Designation” above. Each Subsequent Rate
Period will be a Minimum Rate Period. For each Subsequent Rate Period of VMTP
Preferred Shares thereafter, the dividend rate on such VMTP Preferred Shares
shall be calculated by the Redemption and Paying Agent and shall be equal to
the rate per annum that results from the Applicable Rate Determination
for such VMTP Preferred Shares on the
Rate
Determination Date immediately preceding such Subsequent Rate Period which
shall be the sum of the (1) Applicable Base Rate and (2) Ratings Spread; provided,
however, that:
(A)
if an Applicable Rate Determination for any such Subsequent Rate Period
is not held for any reason, the dividend rate on such VMTP Preferred Shares for
such Subsequent Rate Period will be adjusted to the Maximum Rate for such VMTP
Preferred Shares on the Rate Determination Date therefor;
(B)
if any Failure to Deposit shall have occurred with respect to such VMTP
Preferred Shares during any Dividend Period thereof, but, prior to 12:00 noon,
New York City time, on the third Business Day next succeeding the date on which
such Failure to Deposit occurred, such Failure to Deposit shall have been cured
in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2 and the Corporation shall
have paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent, an additional amount out of
legally available funds therefor under Applicable Law and otherwise in
accordance with Applicable Law (the “Additional Amount”), daily
supplemental dividends equal in the aggregate to the sum of (1) if such Failure
to Deposit consisted of the failure to timely pay to the Redemption and Paying
Agent the full amount of dividends with respect to any Dividend Period of such
VMTP Preferred Shares, an amount computed by multiplying (x) the Applicable
Rate for the Rate Period during which such Failure to Deposit occurs on the
Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period plus 2.00% by (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days for which such
Failure to Deposit has not been cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this
Section 2 (including the day such Failure to Deposit occurs and excluding the
day such Failure to Deposit is cured) and the denominator of which shall be
360, and applying the rate obtained against the aggregate Liquidation
Preference of the Outstanding shares of such Series (with the amount for each
individual day that such Failure to Deposit occurs or continues uncured being
declared as a supplemental dividend on that day) and (2) if such Failure to
Deposit consisted of the failure to timely pay to the Redemption and Paying
Agent the Redemption Price of the shares, if any, of such Series for which
Notice of Redemption has been provided by the Corporation pursuant to paragraph
(c) of Section 10 of these Articles Supplementary, an amount computed by
multiplying, (x) for the Rate Period during which such Failure to Deposit
occurs on the Redemption Date, the Applicable Rate plus 2.00% by (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days for which such
Failure to Deposit is not cured in accordance with paragraph (f) of this
Section 2 (including the day such Failure to Deposit occurs and excluding the
day such Failure to Deposit is cured) and the denominator of which shall be
360, and applying the rate obtained against the aggregate Liquidation
Preference of the Outstanding shares of such Series to be redeemed (with the
amount for each individual day that such Failure to Deposit occurs or continues
uncured being declared as a supplemental dividend on that day), and if a Rate
Determination Date occurs on the date on which such Failure
to
Deposit occurred or on either of the two Business Days succeeding that date,
and the Failure to Deposit has not been cured on such Rate Determination Date
in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section 2, no Applicable Rate
Determination will be held in respect of such VMTP Preferred Shares for the Subsequent
Rate Period relating to such Rate Determination Date and the dividend rate for
such VMTP Preferred Shares for such Subsequent Rate Period will be the Maximum
Rate for such VMTP Preferred Shares on the Rate Determination Date for such
Subsequent Rate Period; or
(C)
Upon the occurrence of an Increased Rate Event, for each day from (and
including) the day the Increased Rate Event first occurs to (and excluding) the
day the Increased Rate Event is cured, the dividend rate shall be a rate equal
to the lesser of (x) the sum of (I) the dividend rate otherwise determined
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(e)(i)(A) and (B) and (II) 2.00% and (y)
the Maximum Rate.
Each dividend
rate determined in accordance with this paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 of these
Articles Supplementary shall be an “Applicable Rate.”
(ii)
Calculation of Dividends. The amount of dividends per share
payable on VMTP Preferred Shares of a Series on any Dividend Payment Date shall
be calculated by the Redemption and Paying Agent and shall equal the sum of the
dividends accumulated but not yet paid for each Rate Period (or part thereof)
in the related Dividend Period or Dividend Periods. The amount of dividends
accumulated for each such Rate Period (or part thereof) shall be computed by
multiplying the Applicable Rate in effect for VMTP Preferred Shares of such
Series for such Rate Period (or part thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of days in such Rate Period (or part thereof) and the
denominator of which shall be the actual number of days in the year (365 or
366), and multiplying such product by $100,000.
(f)
Curing a Failure to Deposit. A Failure to Deposit with
respect to shares of a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares shall have been cured
(if such Failure to Deposit is not solely due to the willful failure of the
Corporation to make the required payment to the Redemption and Paying Agent)
with respect to any Dividend Period of such VMTP Preferred Shares if, within
the respective time periods described in paragraph (e)(i) of this Section 2,
the Corporation shall have paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent (A) all
accumulated but unpaid dividends on such VMTP Preferred Shares and (B) without
duplication, the Redemption Price for shares, if any, of such Series for which
Notice of Redemption has been provided by the Corporation pursuant to paragraph
(c) of Section 10 of these Articles Supplementary; provided, however, that the
foregoing clause (B) shall not apply to the Corporation’s failure to pay the
Redemption Price in respect of VMTP Preferred Shares when the related Notice of
Redemption provides that redemption of such shares is subject to one or more
conditions precedent and any such condition precedent shall not have been
satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of
Redemption.
(g)
Dividend Payments by Corporation to Redemption and Paying Agent.
In connection with each Dividend Payment Date for VMTP Preferred Shares, the
Corporation shall pay to the Redemption and Paying Agent, not later than 12:00
noon, New York City time, on the earlier of (A) the third (3rd) Business Day
next succeeding the Rate Determination Date immediately preceding the Dividend
Payment Date and (B) the Business Day immediately preceding the Dividend
Payment Date, an aggregate amount of Deposit Securities equal to the dividends
to be paid to all Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares on such Dividend Payment
Date as determined in accordance with Section 2(e)(ii) of these Articles
Supplementary or as otherwise provided for. If an aggregate amount of funds
equal to the dividends to be paid to all Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares on
such Dividend Payment Date are not available in New York, New York, by 12:00
noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding such
Dividend Payment Date, the Redemption and Paying Agent will notify the Holders
by Electronic Means of such fact prior to the close of business on such day.
(h)
Redemption and Paying Agent as Trustee of Dividend Payments by
Corporation. All Deposit Securities paid to the Redemption and Paying
Agent for the payment of dividends shall be held in trust for the payment of
such dividends by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of the
Holders specified in paragraph (i) of this Section 2. The Redemption and Paying
Agent shall notify the Corporation by Electronic Means of the amount of any
funds deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent by the Corporation for any
reason under the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement, including for the
payment of dividends or the redemption of VMTP Preferred Shares, that remain
with the Redemption and Paying Agent after ninety (90) days from the date of
such deposit and such amount shall, to the extent permitted by law, be repaid
to the Corporation by the Redemption and Paying Agent upon request by
Electronic Means of the Corporation. The Corporation’s obligation to pay
dividends to Holders in accordance with the provisions of these Articles
Supplementary shall be satisfied upon payment by the Redemption and Paying
Agent of such Dividends to the Securities Depository on the relevant Dividend
Payment Date.
(i)
Dividends Paid to Holders. Each dividend on VMTP Preferred
Shares shall be declared daily to the Holders thereof at the close of business
on each such day and paid on each Dividend Payment Date to the Holders thereof
at the close of business on the day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment
Date. In connection with any transfer of VMTP Preferred Shares, the transferor
as Beneficial Owner of VMTP Preferred Shares shall be deemed to have agreed
pursuant to the terms of the VMTP Preferred Shares to transfer to the
transferee the right to receive from the Corporation any dividends declared and
unpaid for each day prior to the transferee becoming the Beneficial Owner of
the VMTP Preferred Shares in exchange for payment of the purchase price for
such VMTP Preferred Shares by the transferee. In connection with any transfer
of VMTP Preferred Shares, the transferee as Beneficial Owner of VMTP Preferred
Shares shall be deemed to have agreed pursuant to the terms of the VMTP
Preferred Shares to transfer to the transferor (or prior Holder) the right to
receive from the Corporation any dividends in the nature of Gross-up Payments
that relate to dividends paid during the transferor’s (or prior Holder’s)
holding period.
(j)
Dividends Credited Against Earliest Accumulated But Unpaid Dividends.
Any dividend payment made on VMTP Preferred Shares that is insufficient to
cover the entire amount of dividends payable shall first be credited against
the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividends
due with
respect to such VMTP Preferred Shares. Dividends in arrears for any past
Dividend Period may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any
regular Dividend Payment Date, to the Holders as their names appear on the
record books of the Corporation on such date, not exceeding fifteen (15) days
preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(k)
Dividends Designated as Exempt-Interest Dividends. Dividends
on VMTP Preferred Shares shall be designated as exempt-interest dividends up to
the amount of the Net Tax-Exempt Income of the Corporation, to the extent
permitted by, and for purposes of, Section 852 of the Code.
3.
Gross-Up Payments and Notice of Allocations. Holders of
VMTP Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by
the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor under
Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, dividends in an
amount equal to the aggregate Gross-up Payments as follows:
(a) Whenever the Corporation intends or expects to
include any net capital gains or ordinary income taxable for regular federal
income tax purposes in any dividend on VMTP Preferred Shares, the Corporation
shall notify the Redemption and Paying Agent of the amount to be so included
(i) not later than fourteen (14) calendar days preceding the first Rate
Determination Date on which the Applicable Rate for such dividend is to be
established, and (ii) for any successive Rate Determination Date on which the
Applicable Rate for such dividend is to be established, not later than the
close of business on the immediately preceding Rate Determination Date.
Whenever such advance notice is received from the Corporation, the Redemption
and Paying Agent will notify each Holder and each potential Beneficial Owner or
its Agent Member. With respect to a Rate Period for which such advance notice
was given and whose dividends are comprised partly of such ordinary income or
capital gains and partly of exempt interest income, the different types of
income will be paid in the same relative proportions for each day during the
Rate Period.
(b) (i) If the Corporation allocates, under
Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of the Code, any net capital gains or ordinary income
taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid on VMTP
Preferred Shares the Corporation shall to the extent practical simultaneously
increase such dividend payment by an additional amount equal to the Gross-up
Payment and direct the Redemption and Paying Agent to send notice with such
dividend describing the Gross-up Payment and (ii) if the Corporation allocates,
under Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of the Code, any net capital gains or ordinary
income taxable for regular federal income tax purposes to a dividend paid on
VMTP Preferred Shares without simultaneously increasing such dividend as
describe in clause (i) above the Corporation shall, prior to the end of the
calendar year in which such dividend was paid, direct the Redemption and Paying
Agent to send notice with a Gross-up Payment to the Holder that was entitled to
such dividend payment during such calendar year at such Holder’s address as the
same appears or last appeared on the record books of the Corporation.
(c) The Corporation shall not be required to make
Gross-up Payments with respect to any net capital gains or ordinary income
determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be allocable in a manner
different from the manner used by the Corporation.
4.
Voting Rights.
(a)
One Vote Per VMTP Preferred Share. Except as otherwise
provided in the Charter or as otherwise required by law, (i) each Holder of
VMTP Preferred Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each VMTP Preferred
Share held by such Holder on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of
the Corporation, and (ii) the holders of outstanding Preferred Shares,
including each VMTP Preferred Share, and of Common Shares shall vote together
as a single class; provided, however, that the holders of
outstanding Preferred Shares, including VMTP Preferred Shares, voting together
as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes
of stock of the Corporation, shall be entitled to elect two directors of the
Corporation at all times, each Preferred Share, including each VMTP Preferred
Share, entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Subject to paragraph (b) of
this Section 4, the holders of outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares,
including VMTP Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, shall elect
the balance of the directors.
(b)
Voting for Additional Directors.
(i)
Voting Period. During any period in which any one or more of the
conditions described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this paragraph (b)(i) shall
exist (such period being referred to herein as a “Voting Period”), the
number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be automatically
increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two directors elected
exclusively by the holders of Preferred Shares, including VMTP Preferred
Shares, would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors as so increased
by such smallest number; and the holders of Preferred Shares, including VMTP
Preferred Shares, shall be entitled, voting together as a single class on a
one-vote-per-share basis (to the exclusion of the holders of all other
securities and classes of stock of the Corporation), to elect such smallest
number of additional directors, together with the two directors that such
holders are in any event entitled to elect. A Voting Period shall commence:
(A)
if at the close of business on any Dividend Payment Date accumulated
dividends (whether or not earned or declared) on any outstanding Preferred
Shares, including VMTP Preferred Shares, equal to at least two full years’
dividends shall be due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities
shall not have been deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent for the
payment of such accumulated dividends; or
(B)
if at any time holders of Preferred Shares are entitled under the 1940
Act to elect a majority of the directors of the Corporation.
Upon the
termination of a Voting Period, the voting rights described in this paragraph
(b)(i) shall cease, subject always, however, to the revesting of such voting
rights in the holders of Preferred Shares upon the further occurrence of any of
the events described in this paragraph (b)(i).
(ii)
Notice of Special Meeting. As soon as reasonably practicable
after the accrual of any right of the holders of Preferred Shares to elect
additional directors as described
in paragraph (b)(i)
of this Section 4, the Corporation may call a special meeting of such holders,
such call to be made by notice as provided in the bylaws of the Corporation,
such meeting to be held not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days after
the date of mailing of such notice. If a special meeting is not called by the
Corporation, it may be called by any such holder on like notice. The record
date for determining the holders entitled to notice of and to vote at such
special meeting shall be not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60)
prior to the date of such special meeting. At any such special meeting and at
each meeting of holders of Preferred Shares held during a Voting Period at
which directors are to be elected, such holders, voting together as a class (to
the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of stock of the
Corporation), shall be entitled to elect the number of directors prescribed in
paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 4 on a one-vote-per-share basis.
(iii)
Terms of Office of Existing Directors. The terms of office of all
persons who are directors of the Corporation at the time of a special meeting
of Holders and holders of other Preferred Shares to elect directors shall
continue, notwithstanding the election at such meeting by the Holders and such
other holders of other Preferred Shares of the number of directors that they
are entitled to elect, and the persons so elected by the Holders and such other
holders of other Preferred Shares, together with the two incumbent directors
elected by the Holders and such other holders of other Preferred Shares and the
remaining incumbent directors elected by the holders of the Common Shares and
Preferred Shares, shall constitute the duly elected directors of the
Corporation.
(iv)
Terms of Office of Certain Directors to Terminate Upon Termination of
Voting Period. Simultaneously with the termination of a Voting Period, the
terms of office of the additional directors elected by the Holders and holders
of other Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 4 shall
terminate, the remaining directors shall constitute the directors of the
Corporation and the voting rights of the Holders and such other holders to
elect additional directors pursuant to paragraph (b)(i) of this Section 4 shall
cease, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of paragraph (b)(i) of
this Section 4.
(c)
1940 Act Matters. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
“majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares,” including the VMTP Preferred
Shares, Outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, shall be required
to approve (A) any conversion of the Corporation from a closed-end to an
open-end investment company, (B) any plan of reorganization (as such term is
used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares and (C) any action
requiring a vote of security holders of the Corporation under Section 13(a) of
the 1940 Act.
For purposes of the foregoing, “majority of the
outstanding Preferred Shares” means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a
meeting, if the Holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or
represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.
In the event a vote of Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares is required pursuant to
the provisions of Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, the Corporation shall, not
later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the date on which such vote is to be
taken, notify Moody’s (if Moody’s is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation), Fitch (if
Fitch is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) and Other Rating Agency (if any Other Rating Agency is then rating
the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation) that such vote is
to be taken and the nature of the action with respect to which such vote is to
be taken.
(d)
Exclusive Right to Vote on Certain Charter Matters.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise required by the Charter
or Applicable Law, (i) Holders of Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares will be
entitled as a Series, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities,
including other Preferred Shares, Common Shares and other classes of capital
stock of the Corporation, to vote on matters adversely affecting VMTP Preferred
Shares that do not adversely affect any of the rights of holders of such other
securities, including other Preferred Shares, Common Shares and other classes
of capital stock and (ii) Holders of Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares will not
be entitled to vote on matters adversely affecting any other Preferred Shares,
Common Shares and other classes of capital stock that do not adversely affect
any of the rights of Holders of the VMTP Preferred Shares.
(e)
Voting Rights Set Forth Herein are Sole Voting Rights. Unless
otherwise required by law, the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares shall not have
any relative rights or preferences or other special rights other than those
specifically set forth herein.
(f)
No Preemptive Rights or Cumulative Voting. The Holders of
VMTP Preferred Shares shall have no preemptive rights or rights to cumulative
voting.
(g)
Voting for Directors Sole Remedy for Corporation’s Failure to Pay
Dividends. In the event that the Corporation fails to pay any dividends
on the VMTP Preferred Shares, the exclusive remedy of the Holders shall be the
right to vote for directors pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.
(h)
Holders Entitled to Vote. For purposes of determining any
rights of the Holders to vote on any matter, whether such right is created by
these Articles Supplementary, by the other provisions of the Charter, by
statute or otherwise by Applicable Law, no Holder shall be entitled to vote any
VMTP Preferred Shares and no VMTP Preferred Shares shall be deemed to be
“Outstanding” for the purpose of voting or determining the number of VMTP
Preferred Shares required to constitute a quorum if, prior to or concurrently
with the time of determination of VMTP Preferred Shares entitled to vote or
VMTP Preferred Shares deemed Outstanding for quorum purposes, as the case may
be, the requisite Notice of Redemption with respect to such VMTP Preferred
Shares shall have been provided as set forth in paragraph (c) of Section 10 of
these Articles Supplementary and Deposit Securities in an amount equal to the
Redemption Price for the redemption of such VMTP Preferred Shares shall have
been deposited in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent for that purpose.
VMTP Preferred Shares held (legally or beneficially) by the Corporation or any
affiliate of the Corporation or otherwise controlled by the Corporation shall
not have any voting rights or be deemed to be Outstanding for voting or for
calculating the voting percentage required on any other matter or other
purposes.
(i)
Grant of Irrevocable Proxy. To the fullest extent permitted
by Applicable Law, each Holder may in its discretion grant an irrevocable
proxy.
5.
Amendments.
(a) Except as may be otherwise expressly provided
in respect of a particular provision of these Articles Supplementary or as
otherwise required by Applicable Law, these Articles Supplementary may be
amended only upon the affirmative vote or written consent of (1) a majority of
the Board of Directors and (2) the Holders of a majority of the Outstanding
VMTP Preferred Shares.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5(a) of these Articles
Supplementary, except as may be otherwise expressly provided by Sections 5(f),
5(g) or 5(h) of these Articles Supplementary or as otherwise required by
Applicable Law, so long as any VMTP Preferred Shares are Outstanding, (x) the
definitions of “Eligible Assets” (including Appendix A hereto) and “Minimum
Asset Coverage” and (y) Sections l(b), 6(a), 6(b), 6(c), 6(d), paragraphs (A)
through (D) of 10(b)(ii), 13(h) and 13(i) of these Articles Supplementary may
be amended only upon the affirmative vote or written consent of (1) a majority
of the Board of Directors and (2) the Holders of 66 2/3% of the Outstanding
VMTP Preferred Shares. No amendment to paragraphs (A) through (D) of Section
10(b)(ii) of these Articles Supplementary shall be effective unless the
Corporation has received written confirmation from each Rating Agency, as
applicable, then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation, that such amendment will not adversely affect the rating then
assigned by such Rating Agency to the VMTP Preferred Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 5(a) and 5(b) of these
Articles Supplementary, except as may be otherwise expressly provided by
Sections 5(f), 5(g) or 5(h) of these Articles Supplementary or as otherwise
required by Applicable Law, the provisions of these Articles Supplementary set
forth under (x) the caption “Designation” (but only with respect to any VMTP
Preferred Shares already issued and Outstanding), (y) Sections l(a) (but only
with respect to any VMTP Preferred Shares already issued and Outstanding), 2(a),
2(b), 2(c), 2(d), 2(e)(i), 2(e)(ii), 2(k), 3(b), 8, 10(a)(i), 10(b)(i), 10(h),
11(a), 11(b) or 11(c) of these Articles Supplementary and (z) the definitions
“Additional Amount”, “Applicable Base Rate”, “Applicable Rate”, “Dividend
Payment Date”, “Dividend Period”, “Effective Leverage Ratio”, “Failure to
Deposit”, “Gross-up Payment”, “Liquidation Preference”, “Maximum Rate”,
“Outstanding”, “Rate Determination Date”, “Ratings Spread”, “Redemption
Premium”, “Redemption Price”, “Subsequent Rate Period” or “Term Redemption
Date” (i) (A) may be amended so as to adversely affect the amount, timing,
priority or taxability of any dividend, redemption or other payment or
distribution due to the Holders or (B) may amend the definition of “Effective
Leverage Ratio” or the calculation thereof, in each case, only upon the
affirmative vote or written consent of (1) a majority of the Board of Directors
and (2) the Total Holders and (ii) may be otherwise amended upon the
affirmative vote or written consent of (1) a majority of the Board of Directors
and (2) the holders of 66 2/3% of the Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares.
(d) If any action set forth above in Sections 5(a)
to 5(c) would adversely affect the rights of one or more Series (the “Affected
Series”) of VMTP Preferred Shares in a manner different from any other
Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, except as may be otherwise expressly provided
as to a particular provision of these Articles Supplementary or as otherwise
required by Applicable Law, the affirmative vote or consent of Holders of the
corresponding percentage of the Affected Series Outstanding (as set forth in
Section 5(a), (b) or (c)), shall also be required.
(e) Any amendment that
amends a provision of these Articles Supplementary, the Charter or the VMTP
Preferred Shares that requires the vote or consent of Holders of a percentage
greater than a Majority shall require such specified percentage to approve any
such proposed amendment.
(f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) through (e)
above or anything expressed or implied to the contrary in these Articles
Supplementary, but subject to Applicable Law, a majority of the Board of
Directors may, by resolution duly adopted, without stockholder approval, but
with at least 20 Business Days prior written notice to the Holders, amend or
supplement these Articles Supplementary (1) to the extent not adverse to any
Holder, to supply any omission, or cure, correct or supplement any ambiguous,
defective or inconsistent provision hereof; provided that if Holders of at
least 66 2/3% of the VMTP Preferred Shares Outstanding, indicate in writing
that they are adversely affected thereby not later than five (5) Business Days
prior to the effective date of any such amendment or supplement, the
Corporation either shall not make any such amendment or supplement or may seek
arbitration with respect to such matter (at the expense of the Corporation), or
(2) to reflect any amendments or supplements hereto which the Board of
Directors is expressly entitled to adopt pursuant to the terms of these
Articles Supplementary without stockholder approval, including without
limitation, (i) amendments pursuant to Section 5(g) of these Articles
Supplementary, (ii) amendments the Board of Directors deem necessary to conform
these Articles Supplementary to the requirements of Applicable Law or the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, (iii) amendments to effect or
implement any plan of reorganization among the Corporation and any registered
investment companies under the 1940 Act that has been approved by the requisite
vote of the Corporation’s shareholders, or (iv) to designate additional Series
of VMTP Preferred Shares (and terms relating thereto) to the extent permitted
by these Articles Supplementary, the VMTP Preferred Shares or the Charter. Any
arbitration commenced pursuant to clause l of the immediately preceding
sentence shall be conducted in New York, New York and in accordance with the
American Arbitration Association rules.
(g) Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to
the contrary in these Articles Supplementary, the Board of Directors may,
subject to this Section 5(g), at any time, terminate the services of a Rating
Agency then providing a rating for VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series with or
without replacement, in either case, without the approval of Holders of VMTP
Preferred Shares of such Series or other stockholders of the Corporation.
(i)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board of
Directors, without the approval of Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares or other
stockholders of the Corporation, may terminate the services of any Rating
Agency then providing a rating for a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares and
replace it with another Rating Agency, provided that the Corporation provides
seven (7) days’ notice by Electronic Means to Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares
of such Series prior to terminating the services of a Rating Agency and
replacing it with another Rating Agency. In the event a Rating Agency ceases to
furnish a preferred stock rating or the Corporation terminates a Rating Agency
with replacement in accordance with this clause (i), the Corporation shall no
longer be required to comply with the Rating Agency Provisions of the Rating
Agency so terminated and, as applicable, the Corporation shall be required to
thereafter comply with the Rating Agency Provisions of each Rating Agency then
providing a rating for the VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series at the request
of the Corporation.
(ii)(A) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board of
Directors, without the approval of Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares or other
stockholders of the Corporation, may terminate the services of any Rating
Agency then providing a rating for a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares without
replacement, provided that (I) the Corporation has given the Redemption and
Paying Agent, such terminated Rating Agency, and Holders of VMTP Preferred
Shares of such Series at least forty-five (45) calendar days’ advance written
notice of such termination of services, (II) the Corporation is in compliance
with the Rating Agency Provisions of such terminated Rating Agency at the time
the notice required in clause (I) hereof is given and at the time of the
termination of services, and (III) the VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series
continue to be rated by at least one NRSRO at and after the time of the
termination of services.
(B)
On the date that the notice is given as described in the preceding
clause (A) and on the date that the services of the applicable Rating Agency is
terminated, the Corporation shall provide the Redemption and Paying Agent and
such terminated Rating Agency with an officers’ certificate as to the
compliance with the provisions of the preceding clause (A), and, on such later
date and thereafter, the Corporation shall no longer be required to comply with
the Rating Agency Provisions of the Rating Agency whose services were
terminated.
(iii)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject to
this Section 5(g), the Rating Agency Guidelines, as they may be amended from
time to time by the respective Rating Agency, will be reflected in a written
document and may be amended by the respective Rating Agency without the vote,
consent or approval of the Corporation, the Board of Directors or any holder of
Preferred Shares, including any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, or any other
stockholder of the Corporation. The Board of Directors, without the vote or
consent of any holder of Preferred Shares, including any Series of VMTP
Preferred Shares, or any other stockholder of the Corporation, may from time to
time take such actions as may be reasonably required in connection with
obtaining, maintaining or changing the rating of any Rating Agency that is then
rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation, and any
such action will not be deemed to affect the preferences, rights or powers of
Preferred Shares, including VMTP Preferred Shares, or the Holders thereof,
provided that the Board of Directors receives written confirmation from such
Rating Agency, as applicable, then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the
request of the Corporation (with such confirmation in no event being required
to be obtained from a particular Rating Agency with respect to definitions or
other provisions relevant only to and adopted in connection with another Rating
Agency’s rating of any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares) that any such action
would not adversely affect the rating then assigned by such Rating Agency.
(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 5 is intended in any way to limit the ability of the Board of Directors
to, subject to Applicable Law, amend or alter any provisions of these Articles
Supplementary at any time that there are no VMTP Preferred Shares Outstanding.
6.
Minimum Asset Coverage and Other Financial Requirements.
(a)
Minimum Asset Coverage. The Corporation shall maintain, as of the
last Business Day of each week in which any VMTP Preferred Share is
Outstanding, the Minimum Asset Coverage.
(b)
Effective Leverage Ratio. The Corporation shall maintain an
Effective Leverage Ratio of not greater than 45% (other than solely by reason
of fluctuations in the market value of its portfolio securities). In the event
that the Corporation’s Effective Leverage Ratio exceeds 45% (whether by reason
of fluctuations in the market value of its portfolio securities or otherwise),
the Corporation shall cause the Effective Leverage Ratio to be 45% or lower
within ten (10) Business Days (“Effective Leverage Ratio Cure Period”).
(c)
Eligible Assets. The Corporation shall make investments only
in the Eligible Assets in accordance with the Corporation’s investment
objectives and investment policies.
(d)
Credit Quality. Under normal market conditions, the
Corporation shall invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in Municipal
Obligations rated, at the time of investment, in one of the four highest rating
categories by at least one NRSRO or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable
quality by the Investment Adviser.
(e)
Liens. The Corporation shall not create or incur or suffer to
be incurred or to exist any lien on any funds, accounts or other property held
under the Charter, except as permitted by the Charter or as arising by
operation of law and except for (i) any lien of the Custodian or any other
Person with respect to the payment of fees or repayment for advances or
otherwise, (ii) any lien arising in connection with any overdrafts incurred by
the Corporation in connection with custody accounts that it maintains, (iii) any
lien that may be incurred in connection with the Corporation’s use of tender
option bonds, (iv) any lien arising in connection with futures, forwards, swaps
and other derivative transactions, and (v) any lien that may be incurred in
connection with the Corporation’s proposed redemption or repurchase of all of
the Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares (provided that the Corporation delivers
to the Redemption and Paying Agent sufficient Deposit Securities for the
purpose of redeeming the VMTP Preferred Shares, issues a Notice of Redemption
for the VMTP Preferred Shares and redeems such VMTP Preferred Shares in
accordance with the terms of these Articles Supplementary) as soon as
practicable after the incurrence of such lien.
7.
Basic Maintenance Amount.
(a) So long as VMTP Preferred Shares are
Outstanding, the Corporation shall maintain, on each Valuation Date, and shall
verify to its satisfaction that it is maintaining on such Valuation Date, (i)
Moody’s Eligible Assets having an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or
greater than the Basic Maintenance Amount (if Moody’s is then rating the VMTP
Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation), (ii) Fitch Eligible Assets
having an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than the Basic
Maintenance Amount (if Fitch is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the
request of the Corporation), and (iii) Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets
having an aggregate Discounted Value equal to or greater than the Basic
Maintenance Amount (if any Other Rating Agency is then rating the VMTP
Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation).
(b) The Corporation shall
deliver to each Rating Agency which is then rating VMTP Preferred Shares at the
request of the Corporation and any other party specified in the Rating Agency
Guidelines all certificates that are set forth in the respective Rating Agency
Guidelines regarding Minimum Asset Coverage, Basic Maintenance Amount and/or
related calculations at such times and containing such information as set forth
in the respective Rating Agency Guidelines (each, a “Rating Agency
Certificate”). A failure by the Corporation to deliver a Rating Agency
Certificate with respect to the Basic Maintenance Amount shall be deemed to be
delivery of a Rating Agency Certificate indicating the Discounted Value for all
assets of the Corporation is less than the Basic Maintenance Amount, as of the
relevant Valuation Date; provided, however, that the Corporation shall have the
ability to cure such failure to deliver a Rating Agency Certificate within one
day of receipt of notice from such Rating Agency that the Corporation failed to
deliver such Rating Agency Certificate.
8.
Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions.
(a)
Dividends on Preferred Shares Other Than VMTP Preferred Shares.
Except as set forth in the next sentence, no dividends shall be declared or
paid or set apart for payment on the shares of any class or series of stock of
the Corporation ranking, as to the payment of dividends, on a parity with VMTP
Preferred Shares for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid on the shares of each Series of VMTP
Preferred Shares through their most recent Dividend Payment Date. When
dividends are not paid in full upon the VMTP Preferred Shares through their
most recent Dividend Payment Date or upon the shares of any other class or
series of stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity as to the payment of
dividends with VMTP Preferred Shares through their most recent respective dividend
payment dates, all dividends declared upon VMTP Preferred Shares and any other
such class or series of stock ranking on a parity as to the payment of
dividends with VMTP Preferred Shares shall be declared pro rata so that
the amount of dividends declared per share on VMTP Preferred Shares and such
other class or series of stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same
ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the VMTP Preferred Shares and
such other class or Series of stock bear to each other (for purposes of this
sentence, the amount of dividends declared per VMTP Preferred Share shall be
based on the Applicable Rate for such VMTP Preferred Share effective during the
Dividend Periods during which dividends were not paid in full).
(b)
Dividends and Other Distributions With Respect to Common Shares Under
the 1940 Act. The Board of Directors shall not declare any dividend
(except a dividend payable in Common Shares), or declare any other
distribution, upon the Common Shares, or purchase Common Shares, unless in
every such case the Preferred Shares have, at the time of any such declaration
or purchase, an asset coverage (as defined in and determined pursuant to the
1940 Act) of at least 200% (or such other asset coverage as may in the future
be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior
securities which are shares or stock of a closed-end investment company as a
condition of declaring dividends on its common shares or stock) after deducting
the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may
be.
(c)
Other Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions. For
so long as any VMTP Preferred Share is Outstanding, and except as set forth in
paragraph (a) of this Section 8 and paragraph (c) of Section 11 of these
Articles Supplementary, (A) the Corporation shall not declare, pay or set apart
for payment any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or
distribution
paid in shares of, or in options,
warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Common Shares or other shares,
if any, ranking junior to the VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends
and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) in
respect of the Common Shares or any other shares of the Corporation ranking
junior to or on a parity with the VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment of
dividends or the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up, or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any Common Shares or any other such junior shares (except by
conversion into or exchange for shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the
VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of
assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), or any such parity shares
(except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Corporation ranking
junior to or on a parity with VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up), unless (i) full cumulative dividends on shares of each Series of
VMTP Preferred Shares through its most recently ended Dividend Period shall
have been paid or shall have been declared and sufficient funds for the payment
thereof deposited with the Redemption and Paying Agent and (ii) the Corporation
has redeemed the full number of VMTP Preferred Shares required to be redeemed
by any provision for mandatory redemption pertaining thereto, and (B) the
Corporation shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or
other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of, or
in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Common Shares or
other shares, if any, ranking junior to VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment
of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) in respect of Common Shares or any other shares of the Corporation
ranking junior to VMTP Preferred Shares as to the payment of dividends or the
distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or call for
redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common
Shares or any other such junior shares (except by conversion into or exchange
for shares of the Corporation ranking junior to VMTP Preferred Shares as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up), unless immediately after such transaction the
Discounted Value of Moody’s Eligible Assets (if Moody’s is then rating the VMTP
Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation), Fitch Eligible Assets (if
Fitch is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) and Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets (if any Other Rating
Agency is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) would each at least equal the Basic Maintenance Amount.
9.
Rating Agency Restrictions. For so long as any VMTP
Preferred Shares are Outstanding and any Rating Agency is then rating the VMTP
Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation, the Corporation will not
engage in certain proscribed transactions set forth in the Rating Agency Guidelines,
unless it has received written confirmation from each such Rating Agency that
proscribes the applicable transaction in its Rating Agency Guidelines that any
such action would not impair the rating then assigned by such Rating Agency to
a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares.
10.
Redemption.
(a)
Optional Redemption.
(i)
Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (a),
VMTP Preferred Shares of any Series may be redeemed, at the option of the
Corporation, at any time, as a whole or from time to time in part, out of funds
legally available
therefor under Applicable Law and
otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, at the Redemption Price; provided,
however, that (A) VMTP Preferred Shares may not be redeemed in part
if after such partial redemption fewer than 50 VMTP Preferred Shares of such
Series would remain Outstanding; and (B) VMTP Preferred Shares are not
redeemable by the Corporation during the Initial Rate Period.
(ii)
If fewer than all of the Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares of a Series
are to be redeemed pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a), the
number of VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series to be redeemed shall be selected
either pro rata from the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series
in proportion to the number of VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series held by
such Holders or by lot or other fair method as determined by the Corporation’s
Board of Directors. The Corporation’s Board of Directors will have the full
power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which VMTP
Preferred Shares will be redeemed from time to time.
(iii)
The Corporation may not on any date send a Notice of Redemption pursuant
to paragraph (c) of this Section 10 in respect of a redemption contemplated to
be effected pursuant to this paragraph (a) unless on such date (A) the
Corporation has available Deposit Securities with maturity or tender dates not
later than the day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and having a Market
Value not less than the amount (including any applicable Redemption Premium)
due to Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares by reason of the redemption of such
VMTP Preferred Shares on such Redemption Date and (B) the Discounted Value of
Moody’s Eligible Assets (if Moody’s is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at
the request of the Corporation), the Discounted Value of Fitch Eligible Assets
(if Fitch is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) and the Discounted Value of Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets
(if any Other Rating Agency is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the
request of the Corporation) each at least equals the Basic Maintenance Amount,
and would at least equal the Basic Maintenance Amount immediately subsequent to
such redemption if such redemption were to occur on such date. For purposes of
determining in clause (B) of the preceding sentence whether the Discounted
Value of Moody’s Eligible Assets at least equals the Basic Maintenance Amount,
the Moody’s Discount Factors applicable to Moody’s Eligible Assets shall be
determined by reference to the first Exposure Period (as defined in the Moody’s
Guidelines) longer than the Exposure Period then applicable to the Corporation,
as described in the definition of Moody’s Discount Factor herein.
(b)
Term/Mandatory Redemption.
(i)
(A) Term Redemption. The Corporation shall redeem, out of
funds legally available therefor and otherwise in accordance with Applicable
Law, all Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares on the Term Redemption Date at the
Redemption Price; provided, however, the Corporation shall have
the right, exercisable at any time no earlier than 9 months prior to the Term
Redemption Date, to request that the Total Holders
extend
the term of the Term Redemption Date for an additional period as may be agreed
upon by the Corporation and the Total Holders, which request may be conditioned
upon terms and conditions that are different from the terms and conditions
herein. Each Holder shall, no later than the deadline specified in such
request, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days after such Holder’s
receipt of such request unless otherwise agreed to by such Holder, notify the
Corporation of its acceptance or rejection of such request, which acceptance by
any such Holder may be a Conditional Acceptance conditioned upon terms and
conditions which are different from the terms and conditions herein or the
terms and conditions proposed by the Corporation in making an extension
request. If any Holder fails to notify the Corporation of its acceptance or
rejection of the Corporation’s request for extension by the deadline specified
in such request, the Corporation may either deem such failure to respond as a
rejection of such request or extend the deadline for such request with respect
to such Holder, provided, however, in all cases any acceptance by a Holder of a
request to extend, if any, shall be made pursuant to an affirmative written
acceptance by the Total Holders. If the Total Holders (or any thereof) provide
a Conditional Acceptance, then the Corporation shall, no later than the
deadline specified in the Conditional Acceptance, which shall not be less than thirty
(30) days after the Corporation’s receipt of the Conditional Acceptance unless
otherwise agreed to by the Corporation, notify the Total Holders of its
acceptance or rejection of the terms and conditions specified in the
Conditional Acceptance. If the Corporation fails to notify the Total Holders by
the deadline specified in the Conditional Acceptance, the Total Holders may
either deem such failure to respond as a rejection of the terms and conditions
specified in the Conditional Acceptance or extend the deadline for such
response by the Corporation, provided, however, in all cases any acceptance by
a Holder of a request to extend, if any, shall be made pursuant to an
affirmative written acceptance by the Total Holders. Each Holder may grant or
deny any request for extension of the Term Redemption Date in its sole and
absolute discretion.
(B)
Basic Maintenance Amount, Minimum Asset Coverage and Effective
Leverage Ratio Mandatory Redemption. The Corporation also shall redeem, out
of funds legally available therefor under Applicable Law and otherwise in
accordance with Applicable Law, at the Redemption Price, certain of the VMTP
Preferred Shares, if the Corporation fails to have either Moody’s Eligible
Assets (if Moody’s is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of
the Corporation) with a Discounted Value, Fitch Eligible Assets (if Fitch is
then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation) with a
Discounted Value, or Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets (if any Other Rating
Agency is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the
Corporation) with a Discounted Value greater than or equal to the Basic
Maintenance Amount, fails to maintain the Minimum Asset Coverage in accordance
with these Articles Supplementary or fails to maintain the Effective Leverage
Ratio in accordance with paragraph (b) of Section 6 of these Articles
Supplementary, and such failure is not cured on or before the applicable Cure
Date. If a redemption pursuant to this Section 10(b)(i)(B) is to occur, the
Corporation shall cause a Notice of Redemption to be sent to Holders in
accordance with Section 10(c) and cause to be deposited Deposit Securities or
other sufficient funds, out of funds legally available therefor under
Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, in trust with
the Redemption and Paying Agent or other applicable paying agent, in each case
in accordance with the terms of the
VMTP Preferred
Shares to be redeemed. The number of VMTP Preferred Shares to be redeemed shall
be equal to the lesser of (A) the sum of (x) the minimum number of VMTP
Preferred Shares, together with all other Preferred Shares subject to
redemption or retirement, the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred
immediately prior to the opening of business on the applicable Cure Date, would
result in the Corporation’s having each of Moody’s Eligible Assets (if Moody’s
is then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation)
with a Discounted Value, Fitch Eligible Assets (if Fitch is then rating the
VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation) with a Discounted
Value and Other Rating Agency Eligible Assets (if any Other Rating Agency is
then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation) with a
Discounted Value greater than or equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount,
maintaining the Minimum Asset Coverage or satisfying the Effective Leverage
Ratio, as the case may be, on the applicable Cure Date and (y) the number of
additional VMTP Preferred Shares of the Corporation may elect to simultaneously
redeem (provided, however, that if there is no such minimum
number of VMTP Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares the redemption or
retirement of which would have such result, all VMTP Preferred Shares and
Preferred Shares then outstanding shall be redeemed), and (B) the maximum
number of VMTP Preferred Shares, together with all other Preferred Shares
subject to redemption or retirement, that can be redeemed out of funds legally
available therefor under Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with the
Charter and Applicable Law. In determining the VMTP Preferred Shares required
to be redeemed in accordance with the foregoing, the Corporation shall allocate
the number required to be redeemed to satisfy the Basic Maintenance Amount, the
Minimum Asset Coverage or the Effective Leverage Ratio, as the case may be, pro
rata, by lot or other fair method as determined by the Corporation’s Board
of Directors, among VMTP Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares (and,
then, pro rata, by lot or other fair method as determined by the
Corporation’s Board of Directors, among each Series of VMTP Preferred Shares)
subject to redemption or retirement. The Corporation shall effect such
redemption on the date fixed by the Corporation therefor, which date shall not
be earlier than ten (10) Business Days nor later than sixty (60) days after the
applicable Cure Date, except that if the Corporation does not have funds
legally available under Applicable Law for the redemption of all of the
required number of VMTP Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares which are
subject to redemption or retirement or the Corporation otherwise is unable as a
result of Applicable Law to effect such redemption on or prior to sixty (60) days
after the applicable Cure Date, the Corporation shall redeem those VMTP
Preferred Shares and other Preferred Shares which it was unable to redeem on
the earliest practicable date on which it is able to effect such redemption. If
fewer than all of the Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares are to be redeemed
pursuant to this paragraph (b), the number of VMTP Preferred Shares to be
redeemed shall be redeemed pro rata, by lot or other fair method as determined
by the Corporation’s Board of Directors from the Holders of the VMTP Preferred
Shares in proportion to the number of VMTP Preferred Shares held by such
Holders.
(ii)
(A) On or prior to the Liquidity Account Initial Date with respect
to any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares, the Corporation shall cause the
Custodian to segregate, by means of appropriate identification on its books and
records or otherwise in accordance with the Custodian’s normal procedures, from
the other assets of the Corporation (a “Liquidity Account”) Liquidity
Account Investments with a Market Value equal to at
least 110% of the Term Redemption Amount with respect to such Series. The “Term
Redemption Amount” for any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares shall be
equal to the Redemption Price to be paid on the Term Redemption Date for such
Series, based on the number of shares of such Series then Outstanding, assuming
for this purpose that the Applicable Rate for such Series in effect at the time
of the creation of the Liquidity Account for such Series will be the Daily SOFR
as in effect at such time of creation until the Term Redemption Date for such
Series. If, on any date after the Liquidity Account Initial Date, the aggregate
Market Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity
Account for a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares as of the close of business on
any Business Day is less than 110% of the Term Redemption Amount with respect
to such Series, then the Corporation shall cause the Custodian and the
Investment Adviser to segregate additional or substitute assets of the
Corporation as Liquidity Account Investments, so that the aggregate Market
Value of the Liquidity Account Investments included in the Liquidity Account
for such Series is at least equal to 110% of the Term Redemption Amount with
respect to such Series not later than the close of business on the next
succeeding Business Day. With respect to assets of the Corporation segregated as
Liquidity Account Investments, the Investment Adviser, on behalf of the
Corporation, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to release
any Liquidity Account Investments from such segregation and to substitute
therefor other Liquidity Account Investments, so long as (x) the assets of the
Corporation segregated as Liquidity Account Investments at the close of
business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least 110% of the Term
Redemption Amount with respect to such Series and (y) the assets of the
Corporation designated and segregated as Deposit Securities at the close of
business on such date have a Market Value equal to at least the Liquidity
Requirement (if any) determined in accordance with paragraph (B) below with
respect to such Series for such date. The Corporation shall cause the Custodian
not to permit any lien, security interest or encumbrance to be created or
permitted to exist on or in respect of any Liquidity Account Investments
included in the Liquidity Account for any Series of VMTP Preferred Shares,
other than liens, security interests or encumbrances arising by operation of
law and any lien of the Custodian with respect to the payment of its fees or
repayment for its advances. Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied
herein to the contrary, the assets of the Liquidity Account shall continue to
be assets of the Corporation subject to the interests of all creditors and
stockholders of the Corporation.
(B)
The Market Value of the
Deposit Securities held in the Liquidity Account for a Series of VMTP
Preferred Shares, from and after the fifteenth (15th) day of the calendar month
(or if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) that
is the number of months preceding the month of the Term Redemption Date for
such Series specified in the table set forth below, shall not be less than the
percentage of the Term
Redemption Amount for such
Series set forth below opposite such number of months (the “Liquidity
Requirement”), but in all cases subject to the cure provisions of
paragraph (C) below:
Number of Months
Preceding
|
Value of Deposit Securities
as Percentage of Term Redemption Amount
|
5
|
20%
|
4
|
40%
|
3
|
60%
|
2
|
80%
|
1
|
100%
|
|
|
(C)
If the aggregate Market Value of the Deposit Securities included in the
Liquidity Account for a Series of VMTP Preferred Shares as of the close of
business on any Business Day is less than the Liquidity Requirement in respect
of such Series for such Business Day, then the Corporation shall cause the
segregation of additional or substitute Deposit Securities in respect of the
Liquidity Account for such Series, so that the aggregate Market Value of the
Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for such Series is at
least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for such Series not later than the
close of business on the next succeeding Business Day. With respect to Deposit
Securities included in the Liquidity Account, the Investment Adviser, on behalf
of the Corporation, shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian on any date to
release any Deposit Securities from the Liquidity Account and to substitute
therefor other Deposit Securities, so long as the aggregate Market Value of the
Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for such Series is at
least equal to the Liquidity Requirement for such Series not later than the
close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.
(D)
The Deposit Securities included in the Liquidity Account for a Series of
VMTP Preferred Shares may be liquidated by the Corporation, in its discretion,
and the proceeds applied towards payment of the Term Redemption Amount for such
Series. Upon the deposit by the Corporation on the Term Redemption Date with
the Redemption and Paying Agent of the proceeds from the liquidation of the
Deposit Securities having an initial combined Market Value sufficient to effect
the redemption of the VMTP Preferred Shares of a Series on the Term Redemption
Date for such Series, the requirement of the Corporation to maintain a
Liquidity Account for such Series as contemplated by this Section 10(b)(ii)
shall lapse and be of no further force and effect.
(c)
Notice of Redemption. If the Corporation shall determine or
be required to redeem, in whole or in part, VMTP Preferred Shares pursuant to
paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of this Section 10, the Corporation will send a notice of
redemption (the “Notice of Redemption”), by Electronic
Means (or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in the
case where the VMTP Preferred Shares are in physical form) to Holders thereof,
or request the Redemption and Paying Agent, on behalf of the Corporation to
promptly do so by Electronic Means (or by first class mail, postage prepaid, in
the case where the VMTP Preferred Shares are in physical form) so long as the
Notice of Redemption is furnished by the Corporation to the Redemption and
Paying Agent in electronic format at least five (5) Business Days prior to the
date a Notice of Redemption is required to be delivered to the Holders, unless
a shorter period of time shall be acceptable to the Redemption and Paying
Agent. A Notice of Redemption shall be sent to Holders not less than ten (10)
days prior to the date fixed for redemption in such Notice of Redemption (the “Redemption
Date”). Each such Notice of Redemption shall state: (i) the
Redemption Date; (ii) the number of VMTP Preferred Shares to be redeemed and
the Series thereof; (iii) the CUSIP number for VMTP Preferred Shares of such
Series; (iv) the Redemption Price; (v) the place or places where the
certificate(s), if any, for such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for
transfer, if the Board of Directors requires and the Notice of Redemption
states) are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (vi) that dividends
on the VMTP Preferred Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and
after such Redemption Date; and (vii) the provisions of these Articles
Supplementary under which such redemption is made. If fewer than all VMTP
Preferred Shares held by any Holder are to be redeemed, the Notice of
Redemption delivered to such Holder shall also specify the number of VMTP
Preferred Shares to be redeemed from such Holder. The Corporation may provide
in any Notice of Redemption relating to (i) an optional redemption contemplated
to be effected pursuant to Section 10(a) of these Articles Supplementary or
(ii) any redemption of VMTP Preferred Shares not required to be redeemed
pursuant to Section 10(b)(i) of these Articles Supplementary in accordance with
the terms therein that such redemption is subject to one or more conditions
precedent not otherwise expressly stated herein and that the Corporation shall
not be required to effect such redemption unless each such condition has been
satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of
Redemption. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or delivery thereof shall
affect the validity of redemption proceedings, except as required by Applicable
Law.
(d)
No Redemption Under Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 10, if any dividends on
VMTP Preferred Shares of a Series (whether or not earned or declared) are in
arrears, no VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series shall be redeemed unless all Outstanding
VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series are simultaneously redeemed, and the
Corporation shall not otherwise purchase or acquire any VMTP Preferred Shares
of such Series; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not
prevent the purchase or acquisition of Outstanding VMTP Preferred Shares of
such Series pursuant to the successful completion of an otherwise lawful
purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to Holders of all Outstanding
VMTP Preferred Shares of such Series.
(e)
Absence of Funds Available for Redemption. To the extent that
any redemption for which Notice of Redemption has been provided is not made by
reason of the absence of legally available funds therefor in accordance with
the Charter and Applicable Law, such redemption shall be made as soon as practicable
to the extent such funds become available. Failure to redeem VMTP Preferred
Shares shall be deemed to exist at any time after the date specified for
redemption in a Notice of Redemption when the Corporation shall have failed,
for any reason whatsoever, to deposit in trust with the Redemption and Paying
Agent the Redemption Price with respect to any shares for which such Notice of
Redemption has been sent; provided, however, that the foregoing
shall not apply in the case of the Corporation’s failure
to deposit in trust with the Redemption and Paying Agent the Redemption Price
with respect to any shares where (1) the Notice of Redemption relating to such
redemption, provided, that such redemption was subject to one or more
conditions precedent and (2) any such condition precedent shall not have been
satisfied at the time or times and in the manner specified in such Notice of
Redemption. Notwithstanding the fact that the Corporation may not have redeemed
VMTP Preferred Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided,
dividends may be declared and paid on VMTP Preferred Shares and shall include
those VMTP Preferred Shares for which a Notice of Redemption has been provided.
(f)
Redemption and Paying Agent as Trustee of Redemption Payments by
Corporation. All moneys paid to the Redemption and Paying Agent for
payment of the Redemption Price of VMTP Preferred Shares called for redemption
shall be held in trust by the Redemption and Paying Agent for the benefit of
Holders of shares so to be redeemed. The Corporation’s obligation to pay the
Redemption Price of VMTP Preferred Shares called for redemption in accordance
with these Articles Supplementary shall be satisfied upon payment of such
Redemption Price by the Redemption and Paying Agent to the Securities Depository
on the relevant Redemption Date.
(g)
Shares for Which Notice of Redemption Has Been Given Are No Longer
Outstanding. Provided a Notice of Redemption has been provided pursuant
to paragraph (c) of this Section 10, the Corporation shall irrevocably (except
to the extent set forth below in this paragraph (g)) deposit with the
Redemption and Paying Agent, no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a
Business Day not less than ten (10) Business Days preceding the Redemption Date
specified in such notice, Deposit Securities in an aggregate amount equal to
the Redemption Price to be paid on the Redemption Date in respect of any VMTP
Preferred Shares that are subject to such Notice of Redemption. Provided a
Notice of Redemption has been provided pursuant to paragraph (c) of this
Section 10, upon the deposit with the Redemption and Paying Agent of Deposit
Securities in an amount sufficient to redeem the VMTP Preferred Shares that are
the subject of such notice, dividends on such VMTP Preferred Shares shall cease
to accumulate as of the Redemption Date and such VMTP Preferred Shares shall no
longer be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose, and all rights of the
Holders of the VMTP Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall cease and
terminate, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price,
but without any interest or other additional amount, except as provided in
paragraph (e)(i) of Section 2 and in Section 3 of these Articles Supplementary.
Upon surrender in accordance with the Notice of Redemption of the certificates
for any VMTP Preferred Shares so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer,
if the Board of Directors shall so require and the Notice of Redemption shall
so state), the Redemption Price shall be paid by the Redemption and Paying
Agent to the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares subject to redemption. In the
case that fewer than all of the shares represented by any such certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued, representing the unredeemed
shares, without cost to the Holder thereof. The Corporation shall be entitled
to receive from the Redemption and Paying Agent, promptly after the date fixed
for redemption, any cash or other Deposit Securities deposited with the
Redemption and Paying Agent in excess of(i) the aggregate Redemption Price of
the VMTP Preferred Shares called for redemption on such date and (ii) all other
amounts to which Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares called for redemption may be
entitled pursuant to these Articles Supplementary. Any funds so deposited that
are unclaimed at the end of 90 days from such Redemption Date shall, to the
extent permitted by law, be repaid to the Corporation, after which time the
Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares so called for redemption may look only to the
Corporation for payment of the Redemption Price and all
other amounts to which they may be entitled pursuant to these Articles
Supplementary. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time
after the date fixed for redemption, any interest on the funds so deposited.
(h)
Compliance With Applicable Law. In effecting any redemption
pursuant to this Section 10, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to
comply with all applicable conditions precedent to effecting such redemption
under any Applicable Law, and shall effect no redemption except in accordance
with Applicable Law.
(i)
Only Whole VMTP Preferred Shares May Be Redeemed. In the case
of any redemption pursuant to this Section 10, only whole VMTP Preferred Shares
shall be redeemed.
(j)
Modification of Redemption Procedures. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 10, the Corporation may, in its sole
discretion, modify the procedures set forth above with respect to notification
of redemption for the VMTP Preferred Shares, provided that such modification does
not materially and adversely affect the Holders of the VMTP Preferred Shares or
cause the Corporation to violate any law, rule or regulation, or shall in any
way alter the obligations of the Redemption and Paying Agent without the
Redemption and Paying Agent’s prior written consent. Furthermore, if in the
sole discretion of the Board of Directors, after consultation with counsel,
modification of the foregoing redemption provisions (x) are permissible under
the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC and under other
Applicable Law and (y) would not cause a material risk as to the treatment of
the VMTP Preferred Shares as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the
Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, by resolution may modify such
redemption procedures.
11.
Liquidation Rights.
(a)
Ranking. The VMTP Preferred Shares shall rank on a parity
with each other, with shares of any other Series of VMTP Preferred Shares and
with shares of any other series of Preferred Shares as to the distribution of
assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the
Corporation.
(b)
Distributions Upon Liquidation. Upon the dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary
or involuntary, the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares then Outstanding shall be
entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation legally
available for distribution to its stockholders under Applicable Law and
otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, before any payment or distribution
shall be made on the Common Shares or on any other class of shares of the
Corporation ranking junior to the VMTP Preferred Shares upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference with
respect to such shares plus an amount equal to all dividends thereon
(whether or not declared) accumulated but unpaid to (but not including) the
date of final distribution in same day funds, together with any payments
required to be made pursuant to Section 3 of these Articles Supplementary in
connection with the liquidation of the Corporation. After the payment to the
Holders of the VMTP Preferred Shares of the full preferential amounts provided
for in this paragraph (b), the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares as such shall
have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
(c)
Pro Rata Distributions. In the event the assets of the
Corporation available for distribution to the Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares
upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the
Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in
full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to paragraph (b)
of this Section 11, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares
of any other class or series of Preferred Shares ranking on a parity with the
VMTP Preferred Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon such
dissolution, liquidation or winding up unless proportionate distributive
amounts shall be paid on account of the VMTP Preferred Shares, ratably, in
proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such
parity shares are respectively entitled upon such dissolution, liquidation or
winding up.
(d)
Rights of Junior Shares. Subject to the rights of the holders
of shares of any series or class or classes of shares ranking on a parity with
the VMTP Preferred Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after
payment shall have been made in full to the Holders of the VMTP Preferred
Shares as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 11, but not prior thereto,
any other series or class or classes of shares ranking junior to the VMTP
Preferred Shares with respect to the distribution of assets upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall, subject to
the respective terms and provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to
receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the Holders
of the VMTP Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to share therein.
(e)
Certain Events Not Constituting Liquidation. Neither the sale
of all or substantially all the property or business of the Corporation, nor
the merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Corporation into or with any
business or statutory trust, corporation or other entity nor the merger, consolidation
or reorganization of any business or statutory trust, corporation or other
entity into or with the Corporation shall be a dissolution, liquidation or
winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section
11.
12.
Transfers.
(a) Unless otherwise approved in writing by the
Corporation, a Beneficial Owner or Holder may sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of VMTP Preferred Shares only in whole shares and only to persons it
reasonably believes are (i) QIBs that are either registered closed-end
management investment companies, the shares of which are traded on a national
securities exchange (“Closed-End Funds”), banks, insurance companies,
companies that are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or registered open-end management
investment companies or (ii) tender option bond trusts in which all Beneficial
Owners are QIBs that are Closed-End Funds, banks, insurance companies,
companies that are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or registered open-end management
investment companies, in each case, pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act
or another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in a
manner not involving any public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of
the Securities Act. Any transfer in violation of the foregoing restrictions
shall be void ab initio and any transferee of VMTP Preferred Shares transferred
in violation of the foregoing restrictions shall be deemed to agree to hold all
payments it received on any such improperly transferred VMTP Preferred Shares
in trust for the benefit of the transferor of such VMTP Preferred Shares. The
foregoing restrictions on transfer shall not apply to
any VMTP Preferred Shares registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement or any subsequent transfer of such VMTP Preferred
Shares thereafter.
(b) If at any time the Corporation is not furnishing
information to the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in
order to preserve the exemption for resales and transfers under Rule 144A of
the Securities Act, the Corporation shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to
Holders of VMTP Preferred Shares and prospective purchasers of VMTP Preferred
Shares, upon request, information with respect to the Corporation satisfying
the requirements of subsection (d)(4) of Rule 144A of the Securities Act.
13.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
No Fractional Shares. No fractional VMTP Preferred Shares
shall be issued.
(b)
Status of VMTP Preferred Shares Redeemed, Exchanged or Otherwise
Acquired by the Corporation. VMTP Preferred Shares which are redeemed,
exchanged or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall return to the status
of authorized and unissued Preferred Shares without designation as to series.
Any VMTP Preferred Shares which are provisionally delivered by the Corporation
to or for the account of an agent of the Corporation or to or for the account
of a purchaser of the VMTP Preferred Shares, but for which final payment is not
received by the Corporation as agreed, shall return to the status of authorized
and unissued VMTP Preferred Shares.
(c)
Treatment of VMTP Preferred Shares as Equity. The Corporation
shall, and each Holder and Beneficial Owner, by virtue of acquiring VMTP
Preferred Shares, is deemed to have agreed to, treat the VMTP Preferred Shares
as equity in the Corporation for U.S. federal, state, local income and other
tax purposes.
(d)
Board May Resolve Ambiguities. Subject to Section 5 of these
Articles Supplementary and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board
of Directors may interpret and give effect to the provisions of these Articles
Supplementary in good faith so as to resolve any inconsistency or ambiguity or
to remedy any formal defect. Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to
the contrary in these Articles Supplementary, but subject to Section 5, the
Board of Directors may amend these Articles Supplementary with respect to any
Series of VMTP Preferred Shares prior to the issuance of VMTP Preferred Shares
of such Series.
(e)
Headings Not Determinative. The headings contained in these
Articles Supplementary are for convenience of reference only and shall not
affect the meaning or interpretation of these Articles Supplementary.
(f)
Notices. All notices or communications, unless otherwise
specified in the By-laws of the Corporation or these Articles Supplementary,
shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person, by
Electronic Means or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid.
(g)
Redemption and Paying Agent. The Corporation shall use its
commercially reasonable best efforts to engage at all times a Redemption and
Paying Agent to perform the duties specified in these Articles Supplementary.
(h)
Securities Depository. The Corporation shall maintain settlement
of VMTP Preferred Shares in global book entry form through the Securities
Depository.
(i)
Voluntary Bankruptcy. The Corporation shall not file a
voluntary application for relief under federal bankruptcy law or any similar
application under state law for so long as the Corporation is solvent and does
not reasonably foresee becoming insolvent.
(j)
Applicable Law Restrictions and Requirements. Notwithstanding
anything expressed or implied to the contrary in these Articles Supplementary,
all dividends, redemptions and other payments by the Corporation on or in
respect of the VMTP Preferred Shares shall be paid only out of funds legally
available therefor under Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with
Applicable Law.
(k)
Information. Without limitation of other provisions of these
Articles Supplementary, the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered
by the Redemption and Paying Agent, to each Holder:
(i)
as promptly as practicable after the preparation and filing thereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, each annual and semi-annual report
prepared with respect to the Corporation, which delivery may be made by means
of the electronic availability of any such document on a public website;
(ii)
notice of any change (including being put on Credit Watch or Watchlist),
suspension or termination in or of the ratings on the VMTP Preferred Shares by
any NRSRO then rating the VMTP Preferred Shares at the request of the Corporation
as promptly as practicable upon the occurrence thereof, to the extent such
information is publicly available;
(iii)
notice of any failure to pay in full when due any dividend required to
be paid by Section 2 of these Articles Supplementary that remains uncured for
more than three Business Days as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no
event later than one Business Day after expiration of the grace period;
(iv)
notice of insufficient deposit to provide for a properly noticed
redemption or liquidation as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event,
later than two Business Days after discovery of insufficient deposits, to the
extent such information is publicly available;
(v)
notice of any failure to comply with (A) a provision of the Rating
Agency Guidelines when failure continues for more than five consecutive
Business Days or (B) the Minimum Asset Coverage that continues for more than
five consecutive Business Days as soon as reasonably practicable after
discovery of such failure, but in no event, later than one Business Day after
the later of (x) the expiration of the grace period or (y) the earlier of (1)
the discovery of such failure and (2) information confirming such failure
becomes publicly available;
(vi)
notice of any change to any investment adviser or sub-adviser of the
Corporation within two Business Days after a resignation or a notice of removal
has been
received from or sent to any investment
adviser or sub-adviser; provided, however, that this clause shall not apply to
personnel changes of the investment adviser or sub-adviser, to the extent such
information is publicly available;
(vii)
notice of any proxy solicitation as soon as reasonably practicable, but
in no event, later than five Business Days after mailing thereof by the
Corporation’s proxy agent;
(viii)
notice one Business Day after the occurrence thereof of (A) the failure
of the Corporation to pay the amount due on any senior securities or other debt
at the time outstanding, and any period of grace or cure with respect thereto
shall have expired; (B) the failure of the Corporation to pay, or admitting in
writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due; or (C)
the failure of the Corporation to pay accumulated dividends on any additional
preferred stock ranking pari passu with the VMTP Preferred
Shares, and any period of grace or cure with respect thereto shall have
expired, in each case, to the extent such information is publicly available;
(ix)
notice of the occurrence of any Increased Rate Event and any subsequent
cure thereof as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event, later than
five days after knowledge of senior management of the Corporation thereof;
provided that the Corporation shall not be required to disclose the reason for
such Increased Rate Event unless such information is otherwise publicly
available;
(x)
notice of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation formally
commenced or threatened in writing against the Corporation or the Investment
Adviser in any court or before any governmental authority concerning these
Articles Supplementary, the Charter, the VMTP Preferred Shares or any Related
Document, as promptly as practicable, but in no event, later than ten (10) Business
Days after knowledge of senior management of the Corporation thereof, in each
case, to the extent such information is publicly available;
(xi)
notice on each Friday, provided that if a Friday is not a Business Day,
notice shall be given on the next succeeding Business Day, of the Corporation’s
then current Effective Leverage Ratio, Minimum Asset Coverage and balances in
the Term Redemption Liquidity Account as of the close of business on the
immediately preceding Business Day which delivery may be made by means of
posting on a publicly available section of the Corporation’s website;
(xii)
a report of portfolio holdings of the Corporation as of the end of each
month fifteen (15) days after the end of each month; and
(xiii)
when available, publicly available financial statements of the
Corporation’s most recent fiscal year-end and the auditors’ report with respect
thereto, which shall present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Corporation at such date and for such period, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Corporation shall require the Investment Adviser to
inform the Corporation as soon as reasonably practicable after the Investment
Adviser’s knowledge or discovery of the occurrence of any of the items set
forth in Sections 13(i)(ix) and 13(i)(x) of these Articles Supplementary.
(l)
Tax Status of the Corporation. The Corporation will use its best
efforts to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company within the meaning of
Section 851(a) of the Code and to qualify the dividends made with respect to
the VMTP Preferred Shares as tax-exempt dividends to the extent designated by
the Corporation.
(m)
Maintenance of Existence. At any time the VMTP Preferred
Shares are outstanding, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to maintain
its existence as a corporation under the laws of State of Maryland, with
requisite power to issue the VMTP Preferred Shares and to perform its
obligations under these Articles Supplementary and each other Related Document
to which it is a party.
(n)
Use of Proceeds. The Corporation shall use the gross proceeds
from the sale of VMTP Preferred Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement to redeem the Corporation’s Series W-7 (Retired) Variable
Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares as set forth in this Section 13(n). The
Corporation shall give a notice of redemption of the fund’s outstanding Series
W-7 (Retired) Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares for redemption of the outstanding
Series W-7 (Retired) Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares at the earliest
practicable date pursuant to the governing documents of the Corporation’s
outstanding Series W-7 (Retired) Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares ,
which date is not to be greater than sixty (60) days from the Closing Date. If
the foregoing requirements of the prior sentence are not complied with the
Corporation shall redeem, out of funds legally available therefor under
Applicable Law and otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law, the VMTP Preferred
Shares as promptly as possible.
(o)
Compliance with Law. At any time the VMTP Preferred Shares
are outstanding, the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable best efforts
to comply with all laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations that are
applicable to it if the failure to comply should reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s ability to comply with its
obligations under these Articles Supplementary, any of the VMTP Preferred
Shares, and the other Related Documents to which it is a party.
(p)
Maintenance of Approvals; Filings, Etc. At any time the VMTP
Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Corporation shall at all times use
commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain in effect, renew and comply
with all the terms and conditions of all consents, filings, licenses, approvals
and authorizations as are required under any Applicable Law for its performance
of its obligations under these Articles Supplementary and the other Related
Documents to which it is a party, except those as to which the failure to do so
should not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Corporation’s ability to comply with its obligations under these Articles
Supplementary, the VMTP Preferred Shares, and the other Related Documents to
which it is a party.
(q)
1940 Act Registration. At any time the VMTP Preferred Shares
are outstanding, the Corporation shall use best efforts to maintain its
registration as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(r)
Compliance with Eligible Assets Definition. At any time the
VMTP Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Corporation shall maintain policies
and procedures that it believes are reasonably designed to ensure compliance
with Section 6(c) of these Articles Supplementary.
(s)
Access to Information Relating to Compliance with Eligible Assets
Definition. The Corporation shall, upon request, provide a Beneficial Owner
and such of its internal and external auditors and inspectors as a Beneficial
Owner may from time to time designate, with reasonable access to publicly
available information and records of the Corporation relevant to the
Corporation’s compliance with Section 6(c) of these Articles Supplementary, but
only for the purposes of internal and external audit.
(t)
Purchase by Affiliates. The Corporation shall not, nor shall
it permit, or cause to be permitted, the Investment Adviser, or any account or
entity over which the Corporation or the Investment Adviser exercises
discretionary authority or control or any of their respective affiliates (other
than by the Corporation, in the case of a redemption permitted by these
Articles Supplementary, the VMTP Preferred Shares which are subject to such
redemption, are to be cancelled by the Corporation upon such redemption), to
purchase in the aggregate more than 25% of the Outstanding VMTP Preferred
Shares without the prior written consent of a Majority of the Holders of the
VMTP Preferred Shares Outstanding, and any such purchases shall be void ab
initio.
(u)
Audits. The audits of the Corporation’s financial statements
shall be conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
14.
Global Certificate.
Prior to the commencement of a Voting Period, (i) all of
the VMTP Preferred Shares Outstanding from time to time shall be represented by
one or more global certificates registered in the name of the Securities
Depository or its nominee and countersigned by the Redemption and Paying Agent
and (ii) no registration of transfer of VMTP Preferred Shares shall be made on
the books of the Corporation to any Person other than the Securities Depository
or its nominee.
The foregoing restriction on registration of transfer
shall be conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificates of VMTP
Preferred Shares in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Section
2-211 of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Section 8-204 of the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Maryland, or any successor
provisions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, BlackRock
MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. has caused these Articles Supplementary to
be signed as of December 20, 2023, in its name and on its behalf by the person
named below who acknowledges that these Articles Supplementary are the act of
the Corporation and, to the best of such person’s knowledge, information and
belief and under penalties for perjury, all matters and facts contained in
these Articles Supplementary are true in all material respects.
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY FUND II, INC.
By: /s/ Jonathan Diorio
Name: Jonathan Diorio
Title: Vice President
ATTEST:
/s/Janey Ahn
Name: Janey Ahn
Title: Secretary
Appendix
A
ELIGIBLE ASSETS
On the Date of Original Issue and at all
times thereafter that the VMTP Preferred Shares
are Outstanding:
1.
“Eligible Assets” are defined to consist only of assets
that conform to the following requirements as of the time of
investment:
A.
Debt obligations. The following
debt obligations which are not in payment default at the time of investment:
i.
“Municipal securities,” defined as obligations of a State, the
District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or a political subdivision thereof
and including general obligations, limited obligation bonds, revenue
bonds, and obligations that satisfy the requirements of section 142(b)(1) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
issued by or on behalf of any State, the District of Columbia, any U.S.
territory or any political subdivision thereof, including any municipal
corporate instrumentality of 1 or more States, or any public agency or
authority of any State, the District of Columbia, any U.S. territory or any
political subdivision thereof. The
purchase of any municipal security will be based upon the Investment Adviser’s
assessment of an asset’s relative
value in terms of current yield, price, credit quality, and future prospects; and the Investment Adviser will monitor the
creditworthiness of the Corporation’s portfolio investments and analyze
economic, political and demographic trends affecting the markets for such
assets.
ii.
Debt obligations of the United
States.
iii.
Debt obligations issued, insured, or guaranteed by a department
or an agency of the U.S. Government, if the obligation, insurance, or guarantee
commits the full faith and credit of the United States for the repayment of the
obligation.
iv.
Debt obligations of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority guaranteed by the Secretary of Transportation under Section 9 of the
National Capital Transportation Act of 1969.
v.
Debt obligations of the Federal
Home Loan Banks.
vi.
Debt obligations, participations or other instruments of or
issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Government National
Mortgage Association.
vii.
Debt obligations which are or ever have been sold by the Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation pursuant to sections 305
or 306 of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation Act.
viii.
Debt obligations of any agency named in 12 U.S.C. § 24(Seventh)
as eligible to issue obligations that a national bank may underwrite, deal in,
purchase and sell for the bank’s own account, including qualified Canadian government obligations.
ix.
Debt obligations of issuers other than those specified in (i)
through (viii) above that are rated in one of
the three highest rating categories by two or more NRSROs, or by one
NRSRO if the security has been rated by only one NRSRO, and which have been
determined by the Corporation, based on the Corporation’s internal credit due
diligence, to be securities where the issuer has adequate capacity to meet
financial commitments under the security for
the projected life of the security such that the lack of default on the
security such that the risk of default on the security is low,
and the full and timely repayment of
principal and interest is expected, and that are “marketable”. For these purposes, an obligation is
“marketable” if:
•
it is registered under the Securities Act;
•
it is offered and sold pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 144A; 17 CFR 230.144A; or
•
it can be sold with reasonable promptness at a price that corresponds
reasonably to its fair value.
x.
Certificates or other securities evidencing ownership interests
in a municipal bond trust structure (generally referred to as a tender option
bond structure) that invests in (a) debt obligations of the types described
in (i) above or (b) depository receipts reflecting ownership interests in
accounts holding debt obligations of the types described in (i) above.
An asset shall not fail to qualify as an Eligible
Asset solely by virtue of the fact that:
•
it provides for repayment of principal and interest in any form
including fixed and floating rate, zero interest, capital appreciation,
discount, leases, and payment in kind; or
•
it is for long-term or short-term financing purposes.
B.
Derivatives
i.
Interest rate derivatives; or
ii.
Swaps, credit default swaps, futures, forwards, structured notes,
options and swaptions related to Eligible Assets or on an index related to
Eligible Assets.
C.
Other Assets
i.
(A) Shares of other investment companies registered under Section
8 of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (open- or closed-end funds and ETFs) the assets of which consist entirely
of Eligible Assets based on the Investment Adviser’s assessment of the assets
of each such investment company taking into account the investment company’s
most recent publicly available schedule of investments and publicly disclosed
investment policies.
(B)
Notwithstanding Paragraph C.i.(A) above, the Corporation shall be permitted, subject to Applicable Law, to
invest up to five percent (5%) of the Corporation’s Managed Assets as of the
time of investment in securities issued by a
money-market fund (each, an “Eligible Money-Market Fund”) that is (a)
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (b) affiliated with
the Investment Adviser; provided that if the Investment Advisor represents that
the Eligible Money-Market Fund meets the requirements of Paragraph C.i.(A)
above, the amount of such Managed Assets invested in any such Eligible
Money-Market Fund meeting the requirements of Paragraph C.i.(A) above shall be
excluded from the foregoing five percent (5%) limitation.
ii.
Cash.
iii.
Repurchase agreements on assets described in A above.
iv.
Taxable fixed-income securities issued by an issuer described in Paragraph
1(A) (a “Permitted Issuer”) that are not in default at the time of acquisition, acquired for the purpose of
influencing control over such Permitted Issuer or creditor group of municipal
bonds of such Permitted Issuer (a) the Corporation already owns and (b) which
have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate, with the expectation
that such investment should enable the Corporation to better maximize the value
of its existing investment in such issuer, provided that the taxable fixed-income securities of such issuer so acquired do
not constitute more than 0.5% of the Corporation’s Managed Assets as of the
time of investment.
2.
The Corporation has instituted policies and procedures that it believes
are sufficient to ensure that the Corporation comply with the representations,
warranties and covenants contained in this Appendix A to the Articles
Supplementary.
3.
The Corporation will, upon request, provide DNT Asset Trust and its
internal and external auditors and inspectors as DNT Asset Trust may from time
to time designate, with all reasonable assistance and access to information and
records of the Corporation relevant to the Corporation’s compliance with and
performance of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this
Appendix A to the Articles Supplementary, but only for the purposes of internal
and external audit.
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY
FUND II, INC.
ARTICLES OF
AMENDMENT
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS
QUALITY FUND II, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby
certify to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland that:
FIRST: Pursuant
to Section 2-605 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), the
charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) is hereby amended by renaming a
series of the Corporation as set forth below:
Current Name of Series
|
New Name of Series
|
Series W-7 VMTP Preferred Shares
|
Series W-7 (Retired) Preferred
Shares
|
SECOND: The
amendment to the Charter that is effected by these Articles of Amendment has
been approved by a majority of the entire board of directors of the Corporation
and is limited to a change expressly authorized by Section 2-605(a)(2) of the
MGCL to be made without action by the stockholders of the Corporation.
THIRD: These Articles of Amendment shall be
effective as of the 20th day of December, 2023.
FOURTH: As
amended hereby, the Charter shall remain in full force and effect.
[Remainder of Page
Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these
Articles of Amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf on this 20th
day of December, 2023, by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation who acknowledges that these Articles of Amendment are the act of
the Corporation and that to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief,
and under penalties for perjury, the matters and facts set forth herein are
true in all material respects.
WITNESS: BLACKROCK
MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY FUND II, INC.
By: /s/Janey Ahn By:_/s/John
M. Perlowski_________
Janey Ahn John
M. Perlowski
Secretary President
and Chief Executive Officer
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS QUALITY FUND II,
INC.
ARTICLES
OF AMENDMENT
AMENDING
THE ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY ESTABLISHING AND FIXING THE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF
VARIABLE
RATE MUNI TERM PREFERRED SHARES
This is to certify
that:
First: The charter of BlackRock
MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”),
is amended by these Articles of Amendment, which amend the Articles
Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Variable
Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares, dated as of December 15, 2011, as amended to
date (the “Articles Supplementary”).
Second: The charter of
the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting “12:00 noon, New York City time,
on a Business Day not less than ten (10) Business Days preceding” in Section
10(g) of the Articles Supplementary.
Third: These Articles
of Amendment shall be effective as of December 4, 2023.
Fourth: The amendment to
the charter of the Corporation as set forth above in these Articles of
Amendment has been duly advised by the board of directors of the Corporation
and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as and to the extent
required by law and in accordance with the charter of the Corporation.
[Signature
Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, BlackRock MuniHoldings
Quality Fund II, Inc. has caused these Articles of Amendment to be signed as of
December 6, 2023, in its name and on its behalf by the person named below, who
acknowledges that these Articles of Amendment are the act of the Corporation
and, to the best of such person’s knowledge, information, and belief and under
penalties for perjury, all matters and facts contained in these Articles of
Amendment are true in all material respects.
BLACKROCK MUNIHOLDINGS
QUALITY FUND II, INC.
By:
/s/Jonathan Diorio
Name:
Jonathan Diorio
Title: Vice President
ATTEST:
By:
/s/Janey
Ahn
Name: Janey Ahn
Title: Secretary
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Shareholders and the Board of Trustees/Directors of BlackRock California
Municipal Income Trust, BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust, BlackRock
Municipal Income Quality Trust, BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund,
Inc., and BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc:
In
planning and performing our audits of the financial statements of BlackRock
California Municipal Income Trust, BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust,
BlackRock Municipal Income Quality Trust, BlackRock MuniHoldings California
Quality Fund, Inc., and BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (the
“Funds”)
as of and for the year ended July 31, 2024, in accordance with the standards of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), we
considered the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting, including
controls over safeguarding securities, as a basis for designing our auditing
procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial
statements and to comply with the requirements of Form N-CEN, but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
The management of the Funds is responsible for
establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial
reporting. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and judgments by
management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets
of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of
the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management
and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition
of a company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control
over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to
the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions
or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate.
A deficiency in internal control over financial
reporting exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow
management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned
functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. A material
weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control
over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a
material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements
will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Our consideration of the Funds’ internal control over
financial reporting was for the limited purpose described in the first
paragraph and would not necessarily disclose all deficiencies in internal
control that might be material weaknesses under standards established by the
PCAOB. However, we noted no deficiencies in the Funds’ internal control over
financial reporting and its operation, including controls over safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be a material weakness, as defined above, as of
July 31, 2024.
This report is intended solely for the information and
use of management and the Board of Trustees/Directors of the Funds and the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche
LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 20, 2024
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