As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2002
File Nos. 333-_____; 811-____
================================================================================
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
(CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX OR BOXES)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No.
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91101
Address of Principal Executive Offices
(Number, Street, City, State and Zip Code)
(626) 795-7300
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code
-------------
Robert M. Ettinger
301 E. Colorado Boulevard
Suite 720
Pasadena, CA 91101
Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State and Zip Code)
of Agent for Service
WITH COPIES TO:
Rose F. DiMartino, Esq.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
(212) 728-8000
-------------
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the
effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form will be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment
plan, check the following box [ ]
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[ ] when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act of
1933.
If appropriate, check the following box:
[ ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previous
filed registrations statement.
[ ] This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering is ____.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of Securities Being Amount Being Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Registered Registered Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Registration Fee
Unit Price (1) (2)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per 4,000,000 Shares $15.00 $60,000,000 $5,520
share
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(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Transmitted prior to filing.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
THE UNDERSIGNED REGISTRANT HEREBY UNDERTAKES THAT: (1) FOR PURPOSES OF
DETERMINING ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE INFORMATION
OMITTED FROM THE FORM OF PROSPECTUS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
IN RELIANCE UPON THE PROSPECTUS FILED BY THE REGISTRANT PURSUANT TO RULE
424(b)(1) OR (4) OR 497(h) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE PART
OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS OF THE TIME IT WAS DECLARED EFFECTIVE; (2) FOR
THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, EACH
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT THAT CONTAINS A FORM OF PROSPECTUS SHALL BE DEEMED TO
BE A NEW REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE SECURITIES OFFERED THEREIN, AND
THE OFFERING OF SUCH SECURITIES AT THAT TIME SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE THE INITIAL
BONA FIDE OFFERING THEREOF.
-2-
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED June 26, 2002
PROSPECTUS
[F&C LOGO] [CLAYMORE LOGO]
20,000,000 SHARES
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
COMMON STOCK
-----------------------
F&C/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated (the "Fund") is
a newly organized, closed-end, diversified management investment company.
- The Fund's investment objective is high current income for holders of
its Common Stock consistent with preservation of capital.
- At least 80% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in a
diversified portfolio of preferred securities.
- At least 80% of the Fund's preferred securities will be investment grade
quality at the time of purchase.
- Up to 20% of the Fund's assets may be invested in securities rated
below investment grade (but not below Ba3 or BB-), provided the issuer has
investment grade senior debt outstanding.
- The Fund's investment adviser pursues strategies that include, among
other things, "safety-net" hedging, which are generally intended to result in
the Fund's income increasing in response to significant increases in interest
rates while being relatively resistant to the impact of significant declines in
interest rates.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. The Common Stock has been accepted for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange, subject to notice of issuance, under the trading symbol of "__." The
minimum purchase in this offering is 100 shares ($1,500). Shares of closed-end
funds have in the past frequently traded at discounts from their net asset
values and initial offering prices. The risks associated with this
characteristic of closed-end investment companies may be greater for investors
expecting to sell shares of a closed-end investment company soon after the
completion of an initial public offering of the company's shares.
An investment in the Fund involves certain risks and special considerations
and may not be appropriate for all investors. See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Risk Factors and Special Considerations." There can be no assurance
that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely information about the Fund that
investors should know before investing, including information about certain
risks. You should read this Prospectus before you invest and keep it for future
reference.
(Continued on page 2)
---------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
=============================== ============================ =========================== ============================
Price to Proceeds to
Public Sales Load Fund (1)
------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Per Share.................. $15.00 $ $
------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Total(2)................... $300,000,000 $ $
=============================== ============================ =========================== ============================
(Footnotes on page 2)
The shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are offered by the
Underwriters subject to prior sale, withdrawal, cancellation or modification of
the offer without notice and to certain further conditions. It is expected that
delivery of the shares will be made at the offices of _________, New York, New
York, on or about ________ __, 2002.
---------------------------
CLAYMORE SECURITIES, INC.
[UNDERWRITERS]
, 2002
(Continued from page 1)
Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated acts as investment adviser to the Fund.
The Fund's address is 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California
91101, and the Fund's telephone number is (626) 795-7300.
Within three months after the completion of the offering of Common Stock
described in this Prospectus, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable
conditions, to offer shares of auction rate preferred stock representing up to
approximately __% of the Fund's capital immediately following the issuance of
such shares. The issuance of these shares, which would be senior to the Common
Stock, will result in the financial leveraging of the Common Stock. Whether to
offer shares of auction rate preferred stock and, if offered, the terms of such
shares and the timing and other terms of their offering will be determined by
the Fund's Board of Directors. The Fund anticipates that shares of auction rate
preferred stock will pay dividends based on short-term rates, and that the net
return on the Fund's portfolio, including the proceeds of the preferred stock
offering, will exceed the dividend rate on such shares. Investors should note
that there are special risks and costs associated with the leveraging of the
Common Stock. See "Special Leverage Considerations" and "Description of Capital
Stock."
------------
(Footnotes from page 1)
(1) Before deducting estimated offering and organizational expenses aggregating
$_________.
(2) The Fund has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days
from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to _________ additional
shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. If the option is
exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Sales Load and Proceeds to
the Fund will be increased by $__________, $___________ and $___________,
respectively. See "Underwriting."
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Fund has filed with the Commission a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby. Further information concerning these
securities and the Fund may be found in the registration statement, of which
this Prospectus constitutes a part, on file with the Commission. The
registration statement may be inspected without charge at the Commission's
office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be
obtained from such office after payment of the fees prescribed by the
Commission. The Fund's 1940 Act registration number is 811-______.
The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act, and in accordance
therewith will file reports and other information with the Commission. Such
reports, proxy and information statements and other information can be inspected
and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and the Commission's regional
offices, including an office at 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279. Call
202-942-8090 for information about the public reference facilities. Copies of
such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 at prescribed
rates. Such reports and other information concerning the Fund may also be
inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The Commission maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains material
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission.
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information in the
Fund's registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules.
Statements in this Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other
document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to
the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by
this reference.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this
Prospectus. It may not contain all of the information that is important to you.
You should read this entire Prospectus carefully, including the risk factors, to
understand the offering of the shares of Common Stock fully. The following
information is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus and Appendix A hereto.
THE FUND................................ The Fund is a newly organized,
diversified, closed-end management
investment company that will invest,
under normal market conditions, at
least 80% of its total net assets in
a portfolio of preferred securities,
some or all of which are expected to
be hedged. See "The Fund" and
"Investment Objective and Policies."
THE OFFERING............................ Up to 20,000,000 shares of Common
Stock are being offered by a group
of underwriters (the "Underwriters")
represented by [ ] (the
"Representatives"). The Underwriters
have been granted an option to
purchase up to 3,000,000 additional
shares to cover over-allotments. See
"Underwriting."
LISTING................................. New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").
SYMBOL.................................. "FFC" anticipated.
MINIMUM PURCHASE........................ 100 shares ($1,500).
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES....... Objective. The Fund's investment
objective is high current income for
holders of its Common Stock
consistent with preservation of
capital. The Fund's investment
adviser pursues strategies that it
expects generally to result in the
Fund's income increasing in response
to significant increases in interest
rates while being relatively
resistant to the impact of
significant declines in interest
rates. This strategy involves
"safety-net" hedging strategies and
is described more fully below.
In seeking its objective, the Fund
normally will invest at least 80% of
its total net assets in a
diversified portfolio of preferred
securities. The Fund may also invest
up to 20% of its assets in debt
securities and up to 15% of its
assets in common stocks. The
portions of the Fund's assets
invested in various types of
preferred, debt or equity may vary
from time to time depending on
market conditions. The portion of
securities that the Fund will hedge,
as well as the types of hedge
positions utilized, may also vary
significantly from time to time.
-2-
Credit Quality. Preferred or debt
securities that the Fund will
acquire will be rated investment
grade (at least "Baa3" by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's")
or "BBB-" by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P")) at the time of
investment or will be preferred or
debt securities of issuers of
investment grade senior debt, which
securities are rated, at the time of
investment, at least either "Ba3" by
Moody's or "BB-" by S&P. In
addition, the Fund may invest in
unrated issues that the Fund's
investment adviser deems to be
comparable in quality to rated
issues in which the Fund is
authorized to invest.
The Fund will limit to 20% of its
assets its holdings of securities
rated below investment grade (which
securities must be rated at least
either "Ba3" by Moody's or "BB-" by
S&P) at the time of purchase or
judged to be comparable in quality
at the time of purchase; however,
any such securities must be issued
by an issuer having a class of
senior debt rated investment grade
outstanding.
"Safety-Net" Hedging Strategies. The
Fund currently anticipates hedging
some or all of the general interest
rate exposure inherent in its
holdings of preferred and debt
securities. The response of the
Fund's income to changes in interest
rates will be impacted by the
effectiveness of its hedging
strategies. Under current market
conditions, this hedging would be
accomplished principally by one or
more of the following strategies:
(1) purchasing put options (called a
"long position in a put option") on
Treasury Bond and/or Treasury Note
futures contracts, (2) entering into
futures contracts to sell Treasury
Bonds and/or Treasury Notes (called
a "short position in a futures
contract"), (3) entering into
interest rate swap agreements as a
"fixed rate payer", and/or (4)
purchasing options to enter into
interest rate swap agreements as a
"fixed rate payer" (called a "pay
fixed swaption").
The hedging positions that the Fund
currently expects to hold normally
appreciate in value when interest
rates rise significantly, reflecting
either the expected rise in yields
of Treasury securities or interest
rate swap yields, as applicable, and
the associated decline in the prices
of underlying Treasury securities or
decreased net market value of an
obligation to pay a fixed income
stream in a higher interest rate
environment.
The response of the Fund's income to
changes in interest rates will be
impacted by the effectiveness of its
hedging strategies. There are
economic costs of hedging reflected
in the pricing of
-3-
futures, interest rate swaps,
options and swaptions contracts
which can be significant,
particularly when long-term interest
rates are substantially above
short-term interest rates, as is the
case at present. For a more detailed
discussion of futures transactions,
interest rate swaps, and related
options, and the risks associated
with investing in those instruments,
see "Investment Objective and
Policies--Investment
Techniques--Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts" and
"Interest Rate Swaps and Options
Thereon ("Swaptions")".
Preferred Securities. Preferred
securities include preferred/
preference stock and "hybrid" or
taxable preferred securities that
meet certain criteria (as described
below). The preferred securities in
which the Fund invests consist
principally of fixed rate,
adjustable rate, and inverse
floating rate securities, some or
all of which are expected to be
hedged. Preferred securities include
securities that are commonly known
as MIPs, QUIPS, TOPrS, TrUPS, QUIBS,
QUIDS, CORTS, PINES, Trust Preferred
Securities or capital securities.
Industry Diversification. Under normal
market conditions,
-The Fund intends to invest 25% or
more of its assets in securities of
companies in the utilities industry.
-The Fund intends to invest 25% or
more of its assets in securities of
companies in the banking industry.
The Fund's holdings of securities of
companies in any industry other than
the utilities industry or the
banking industry will at all times
be less than 25% of the Fund's
assets. Consistent with the
limitations described above, the
proportion of the Fund's assets
invested in the utilities, banking
and other industries may vary from
time to time, depending on market
conditions.
Convertible Securities and Common
Stock. Certain traditional and
hybrid preferred securities are
convertible into the common stock of
the associated issuer. To the extent
that such preferred securities,
because of their terms and market
conditions, trade in close
relationship to the underlying
common stock of the issuer, they
will be subject to the limit of 15%
of total assets, under normal market
conditions, that also applies to
common stocks. Otherwise, such
convertible preferred securities
will be treated by the Fund in the
same manner as non-convertible
preferred securities.
Special Tax Considerations. The Fund's
investment adviser expects that a
significant portion of the Fund's
distributions may qualify for the
intercorporate dividends received
deduction ("DRD") allowed
corporations under Section 243 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), although
distributions paid from the Fund's
non-dividend income and
distributions attributable to
short-term and long-term capital
gains will not so qualify.
-4-
See "Investment Objective and
Policies" and Appendix A to this
Prospectus.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SERVICING
AGENT.................................. Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated (the
"Adviser"), a registered investment
adviser, acts as the Fund's
investment adviser. The Adviser has
been active in the management of
portfolios of preferred securities,
including related hedging
activities, since 1983. The Adviser
had aggregate assets under
management, as of June 30, 2002
(excluding the net assets of the
Fund), equal to approximately $[806]
million.
Claymore Securities, Inc. (the
"Servicing Agent"), a registered
broker-dealer, acts as shareholder
servicing agent to the Fund, and
provides oversight of the
Administrator. With roots tracing
back to 1935, Claymore specializes
in the creation and sponsorship of
financial products, as well as
investment banking and advisory
services.
The Fund pays the Adviser and
Servicing Agent an aggregate monthly
fee for their advisory and servicing
functions at a combined annual rate
of ___ of 1.00% of the Fund's
average monthly net assets, such net
assets being calculated as described
below under "Management of the
Fund -- Investment Adviser."
ADMINISTRATOR........................... ____________________ serves as the
Fund's administrator (the
"Administrator"). The Administrator
calculates the net asset value of
the Fund's shares and generally
assists
-5-
in all aspects of the Fund's
administration and operation. As
compensation for the Administrator's
services, the Fund pays the
Administrator a monthly fee at an
annual rate of .__ of 1.00% of the
Fund's average monthly net assets.
The Administrator also serves as the
Fund's Common Stock servicing agent
(transfer agent), dividend-paying
agent and registrar and, as
compensation for the Administrator's
services as such, the Fund pays the
Administrator a fee at an annual
rate of .__ of 1.00% of the Fund's
average monthly net assets plus
certain out-of-pocket expenses.
PROPOSED OFFERING OF SHARES OF
AUCTION RATE PREFERRED STOCK......... Within three months after the
completion of the offering described
in this Prospectus, the Fund
intends, subject to then favorable
market conditions, to offer shares
of auction rate preferred stock in
one or more series representing
approximately 37% of the Fund's
capital immediately following the
issuance of those shares. No
assurance can be given that shares
of auction rate preferred stock
representing that percentage of the
Fund's capital will in fact be
issued and, if issued, will remain
outstanding for any specific period
of time. The issuance of auction
rate preferred stock, which would be
senior to the Common Stock, will
result in the financial leveraging
of the Common Stock. Whether to
offer shares of auction rate
preferred stock and, if offered, the
terms of the shares of auction rate
preferred stock and the terms and
timing of the auction rate preferred
stock offering will be determined by
the Fund's Board of Directors. It is
anticipated that the Fund's auction
rate preferred stock will pay
dividends that will be adjusted over
relatively short periods of time
(normally 49 days) as determined
through periodic auctions, that the
dividend rate will typically reflect
prevailing short-term interest rates
and that the proceeds of the auction
rate preferred stock offering will
be invested in accordance with the
Fund's investment objective.
Dividends paid on shares of auction
rate preferred stock are expected to
qualify generally for the DRD to the
extent they are derived from DRD
qualifying income, although
dividends paid from the Fund's
non-dividend income and
distributions attributable to
short-term and long-term capital
gains will not so qualify.
-6-
See "Taxation." The fees and
expenses incident to the offering
and issuance of auction rate
preferred stock will be recorded as
a reduction of capital of the Fund
attributable to the Common Stock.
See "The Fund" and "Special Leverage
Considerations."
LEVERAGE CONSIDERATIONS................. The Fund anticipates that, while the
Fund will pay dividends on its
auction rate preferred stock based
on shorter-term rates, the net
return on the Fund's portfolio,
including the proceeds of the
auction rate preferred stock
offering, will exceed the dividend
rate on the auction rate preferred
stock and any Additional
Distributions, although no assurance
can be given that the issuance of
auction rate preferred stock will
result in a higher net return to
Common Stock shareholders. So long
as the Fund is able to invest the
proceeds of both the Common Stock
and the auction rate preferred stock
offerings in securities that provide
a higher net return than a rate of
return based on the then current
dividends paid on the auction rate
preferred stock outstanding and the
then current Additional Distribution
payments after taking into account
the expenses of the auction rate
preferred stock offering and the
Fund's operating expenses, the
effect of leverage will be to cause
the Common Stock shareholders to
realize a higher current rate of
return than if the Fund were not
leveraged. If the current dividend
rate on the auction rate preferred
stock outstanding were to approach
the net return on the Fund's
investment portfolio after expenses,
however, the benefit of leverage to
the Common Stock shareholders would
be reduced. Moreover, if the current
dividend rate on the auction rate
preferred stock outstanding were to
exceed the net return on the Fund's
portfolio, the Fund's leveraged
capital structure would result in a
lower rate of return to the Common
Stock shareholders. See "Description
of Capital Stock -- Preferred
Stock."
-7-
RATING AGENCY GUIDELINES AND ASSET
COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS................ In connection with the anticipated
issuance of auction rate preferred
stock, the Fund's investments will
be subject to certain investment
guidelines and certain minimum asset
and dividend coverage and liquidity
requirements established by Moody's.
Provided that the Fund complies with
these guidelines, it is expected
that the auction rate preferred
stock will be rated "Aa" by Moody's.
In addition, in order to pay
dividends on the Common Stock, the
Fund will be required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), to meet
minimum asset coverage requirements.
See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Rating Agency Guidelines
and Asset Coverage Requirements."
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS............. Prior to the issuance of auction rate
preferred stock, the Fund expects to
distribute through the year,
primarily in the form of regular
monthly dividends, substantially all
(on an annual basis) of its net
investment income (that is, income
other than net realized long-term
and short-term capital gains) and
its net realized short-term capital
gains, if any. Dividends to Common
Stock shareholders are expected to
be declared approximately 45 days,
and paid approximately 60-90 days,
after the completion of the offering
of shares of Common Stock.
If the auction rate preferred stock is
issued, the Internal Revenue Service
requires the Fund to allocate
particular types of income received
by it for any taxable year,
including income that qualifies for
the DRD and that which does not,
between shares of Common Stock and
shares of the Fund's auction rate
preferred stock outstanding in
proportion to the total amount of
distributions paid to each such
class of shares for such taxable
year. The Fund's dividends will be
eligible for the DRD to the extent
that such dividends are designated
by the Fund as qualifying for such
deduction. Common Stock shareholders
who are individuals or Subchapter S
corporations are not eligible for
the DRD. See "Taxation."
-8-
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND CASH
PURCHASE PLAN........................ Under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment
and Cash Purchase Plan, a Common
Stock shareholder whose shares are
registered in his or her own name
may elect to have all dividends or
distributions with respect to his or
her shares of Common Stock
reinvested automatically in
additional shares of the Fund's
Common Stock, rather than receive
distributions in cash. In addition,
a Common Stock shareholder whose
shares are held in the name of a
broker/dealer or nominee may elect
to have distributions reinvested
automatically by the broker/dealer
or nominee in additional shares of
Common Stock under the plan rather
than receive distributions in cash,
unless that service is not provided
by the broker/dealer or nominee. If
such service is not available,
distributions will be paid in cash.
A Common Stock shareholder whose
shares are held in the name of a
broker/dealer or nominee should
contact his or her respective
broker/dealer or nominee for
details. See "Description of Capital
Stock -- Dividend Reinvestment and
Cash Purchase Plan" and "Taxation."
RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS....................... Risk is inherent in all investing.
Investing in any investment company
security involves risk, including
the risk that you may receive little
or no return on your investment or
even that you may lose part or all
of your investment. Therefore,
before investing you should consider
carefully the following risks that
you assume when you invest in shares
of the Fund's Common Stock:
Interest Rate Risk Changes in the
level of interest rates are expected
to affect the value of the Fund's
portfolio holdings of fixed rate
securities, inverse floating rate
securities, and, under certain
circumstances, its holdings of
adjustable rate securities. Subject
to certain limitations described
herein, the Fund currently
anticipates hedging, from time to
time, some or all of its holdings of
fixed rate, inverse floating rate,
and adjustable rate securities, for
-9-
the purposes of (1) protecting
against declines in value
attributable to significant
increases in interest rates in
general and (2) providing increased
income in the event of significant
increases in interest rates while
maintaining the Fund's relative
resistance to a reduction in income
in the event of significant declines
in interest rates. There can be no
guarantee that such hedging
strategies will be successful.
Significant changes in the interest
rate environment, as well as other
factors, may cause the Fund's
holdings of preferred and debt
securities to be redeemed by the
issuers, thereby reducing the Fund's
holdings of higher income-paying
securities at a time when the Fund
may be unable to acquire other
securities paying comparable income
rates with the redemption proceeds.
In addition to fluctuations due to
changes in interest rates, the value
of the Fund's holdings of preferred
and debt securities, and as a result
the Fund's net asset value, may also
be affected by other market and
credit factors, as well as by actual
or anticipated changes in tax laws.
See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Risk Factors and Special
Considerations."
Hedging Strategy Risk Certain of the
investment techniques that the Fund
may employ for hedging or, under
certain circumstances, to increase
income will expose the Fund to
risks. In addition to the hedging
techniques described elsewhere,
i.e., positions in Treasury Bond or
Treasury Note futures contracts, use
of options on these positions,
positions in interest rate swaps,
and options thereon ("swaptions"),
these investment techniques may
include entering into interest rate
and stock index futures contracts
and options on interest rate and
stock index futures contracts,
purchasing and selling put and call
options on securities and stock
indices, purchasing and selling
securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis, entering
into repurchase agreements, lending
portfolio securities and making
short sales of securities "against
the box." The Fund intends to comply
with regulations of the Commission
involving "covering" or segregating
assets in connection with the Fund's
use of options and futures
contracts. See "Investment
Objective and Policies -- Investment
Techniques."
-10-
Leverage Risk Risks affecting the
Fund's net asset value will be
magnified if and when the Fund
issues the auction rate preferred
stock. If the Fund's current net
investment income and capital gains
are not sufficient to meet dividend
requirements on outstanding shares
of auction rate preferred stock and
to pay additional distributions, the
Fund may need to liquidate certain
of its investments, thereby possibly
reducing the net asset value
attributable to the Common Stock.
In addition, failure to meet
required asset coverage for shares
of auction rate preferred stock or
to satisfy certain guidelines
established by Moody's may result in
mandatory partial or full
redemptions of shares of auction
rate preferred stock, which would
reduce or eliminate the Fund's
leverage and could also adversely
affect distributions to holders of
the Common Stock. Such redemptions
may also cause the Fund to incur
additional transaction costs,
including costs associated with the
sale of portfolio securities. See
"Special Leverage Considerations"
and "Description of Capital Stock."
Industry Concentration Risk The Fund
concentrates its investments in the
utilities and banking industries. As
a result, the Fund's investments may
be subject to greater risk and
market fluctuation than a fund that
had securities representing a
broader range of investment
alternatives. See "Investment
Objective and Policies --
Concentration."
Preferred Securities Risk Investment
in preferred securities carries
certain risks including;
- Deferral Risk- Typically preferred
securities contain provisions that
allow an issuer, at its discretion,
to defer distributions for up to 20
consecutive quarters. If the Fund
owns a preferred security that is
deferring its distributions, the
Fund may be required to report
income for tax purposes while it is
not receiving any income.
-11-
- Redemption Risk- Preferred
securities typically contain
provisions that allow for redemption
in the event of tax or security law
changes in addition to call features
at the option of the issuer. In the
event of a redemption, the Fund may
not be able to reinvest the proceeds
at comparable rates of return.
- Limited Voting Rights- Preferred
securities typically do not provide
any voting rights.
No Operating History The Fund is a
newly organized, closed-end
investment company with no previous
operating history. Shares of
closed-end investment companies
frequently trade at discounts from
net asset value, especially shortly
after the completion of the initial
public offering. This characteristic
of shares of a closed-end fund is a
risk separate and distinct from the
risk that the fund's net asset value
may decrease. The Fund cannot
predict whether the Common Stock
will trade at, above or below net
asset value. The risk of purchasing
shares of closed-end funds that may
trade at a discount is more
pronounced for investors who wish to
sell their shares in a relatively
short period of time after the
initial public offering. For those
investors, realization of gain or
loss on their investment is likely
to be more dependent upon the
existence of a premium or discount
than upon portfolio performance. The
net asset value per share of the
Common Stock immediately following
the completion of the offering
described in this Prospectus will be
the initial offering price per share
of $15.00 minus the sales load and
other per share offering expenses.
See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Risk Factors and Special
Considerations."
Conversion Risk Under the Fund's
Bylaws, if at any time after the
third year following the offering
made hereby, shares of the Common
Stock publicly trade for a
substantial period of time at a
significant discount from the Fund's
-12-
then current net asset value per
share, the Board of Directors of the
Fund is obligated to consider taking
various actions designed to reduce
or eliminate the discount, including
recommending to shareholders
amendments to the Articles to
convert the Fund to an open-end
investment company, which would
result in the redemption of shares
of auction rate preferred stock then
outstanding and the potential
subsequent sale of Fund assets
during unfavorable market
conditions. In addition, the Board
may consider taking actions designed
to eliminate the discount whenever
it deems it to be appropriate. See
"Repurchase of Common Stock and
Tender Offers; Conversion to
Open-End Fund."
Anti-Takeover Provisions The Fund's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
include provisions that could have
the effect of inhibiting the Fund's
possible conversion to open-end
status and limiting the ability of
other entities or persons to acquire
control of the Fund's Board of
Directors. In certain circumstances,
these provisions might also inhibit
the ability of shareholders to sell
their shares at a premium over
prevailing market prices. See
"Certain Provisions of the Articles
of Incorporation."
Tax Considerations The DRD is
currently 70% of the amount of the
dividends received. Corporate
shareholders of the Fund should
consider the effect on the DRD of
the more than 45-day holding period
requirement of Section 246(c) of the
Code, the overall limitation on the
amount of the DRD which is available
to a corporate owner of the Fund's
shares and the rules in Section 246A
that reduce the DRD for
debt-financed holdings of portfolio
stock. See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Risk Factors and Special
Considerations."
-13-
STOCK PURCHASES AND TENDERS............. The Fund's Board of Directors
currently contemplates that the
Fund, at least once each year, may
consider repurchasing shares of
Common Stock in the open market or
in private transactions, or
tendering for shares, in an attempt
to reduce or eliminate a market
value discount from net asset value,
if one should occur. Upon the
issuance of auction rate preferred
stock, the Fund's ability to
repurchase shares of, or tender for,
its Common Stock may be limited by
the asset coverage requirements of
the 1940 Act and by asset coverage
and other requirements imposed by
Moody's as a condition to rating the
auction rate preferred stock. No
assurance can be given that the
Board of Directors will decide to
undertake share repurchases or
tenders or, if undertaken, that
repurchases and/or tender offers
will result in the Fund's Common
Stock trading at a price that is
close to, equal to or above net
asset value. The Fund may borrow to
finance repurchases and/or tender
offers. See "Repurchase of Common
Stock and Tenders Offers; Conversion
to Open-End Fund."
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND-PAYING AGENT AND
REGISTRAR............................ __________________ serves as the
Fund's custodian. ____________
serves as the Fund's transfer agent,
dividend-paying agent and registrar
for the Common Stock. See
"Custodian, Transfer Agent and
Dividend-Paying Agent and
Registrar."
-14-
FEE TABLE
The following table sets forth certain fees and expenses of
the Fund.
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price)............................................................... %
--
ANNUAL EXPENSES (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares)
Management Fees.............................................................................................. %
--
Other Expenses............................................................................................... %
--
TOTAL ANNUAL EXPENSES........................................................................................ %
--
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
------- ------ -------
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment assuming a 5%
annual return....................................................... $ $
THE PURPOSE OF THE FOREGOING TABLE AND EXAMPLE IS TO ASSIST AN
INVESTOR IN UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS COSTS AND EXPENSES THAT AN INVESTOR IN THE
FUND BEARS, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BUT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A
REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR RATES OF RETURN. THE ACTUAL
EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. The figures
provided under "Other Expenses" are based upon estimated amounts for the current
fiscal year. For more complete descriptions of certain of the Fund's cost and
expenses, see "Management of the Fund" in this Prospectus.
-15-
THE FUND
The Fund is a newly organized, closed-end, diversified
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is high current
income for holders of its Common Stock consistent with preservation of capital.
The Adviser pursues strategies that it expects generally to result in the Fund's
income increasing in response to significant increases in interest rates while
being relatively resistant to the impact of significant declines in interest
rates. In seeking its objective, the Fund normally will invest at least 80% of
its total net assets in a diversified portfolio of preferred securities. These
preferred securities consist primarily of fixed rate, adjustable rate and
inverse floating rate securities, some or all of which are expected to be
hedged. The Fund, which was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland
on May 23, 2002, is registered under the 1940 Act and has its principal office
at 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720, Pasadena, California 91101. The Fund's
telephone number is (626) 795-7300.
The Fund is authorized to issue both Common Stock and
preferred stock. Within three months after the completion of the offering
described in this Prospectus, the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market
conditions, to offer shares of auction rate preferred stock in one or more
series representing approximately 37% of the Fund's capital immediately
following the issuance of those shares. The issuance of auction rate preferred
stock is intended to occur as soon as practicable after the proceeds of this
offering are invested. The Fund anticipates that the dividends it will pay on
the auction rate preferred stock will typically reflect shorter-term rates,
while the net return on the Fund's portfolio, including proceeds of the auction
rate preferred stock offering, will exceed the dividends paid on the auction
rate preferred stock and any Additional Distributions paid, although there can
be no guarantee that this will occur. The effect of this two-class or leveraged
capital structure of the Fund will be to provide Common Stock shareholders with
an opportunity to realize a higher level of income than would be provided by an
investment company having a similar investment portfolio and an unleveraged
capital structure. Leverage will, however, create additional risks for the
Common Stock shareholders, including the risk that fluctuations in the dividend
rates on the auction rate preferred stock may affect the yield to the Common
Stock shareholders and the risk of potentially higher volatility of the net
asset value and market value of shares of Common Stock. See "Special Leverage
Considerations."
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of the offering of shares of Common Stock
will be approximately $ ($ if the Underwriters exercise the over-
allotment option in full) after payment of the sales load and organizational and
offering costs. The net proceeds of the offering will be invested in accordance
with the Fund's investment objective and policies (as stated below) as soon as
practicable after completion of the offering. The Fund currently anticipates
being able to do so within three months after the completion of the offering.
Pending investment of the net proceeds in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives and policies, the Fund will invest in money market securities or
money market mutual funds. Investors should expect, therefore, that before the
Fund has fully invested the proceeds of the offering in accordance with its
investment objective and policies, the Fund's yield would be somewhat lower, but
that its net asset value would be subject to less fluctuation, than would be the
case at such time as the Fund is fully invested.
For the benefits of leverage to be realized by Common Stock
shareholders, the proceeds of both the Fund's Common Stock and the auction rate
preferred stock offerings must be invested in securities that provide a higher
net return than the rate of return based on the then current dividends paid on
the auction rate preferred stock. Based on current and historical relationships
between short-term, intermediate-term and long-term yields, during the
relatively short period after the auction rate preferred stock has been issued
but before the proceeds of that offering have been fully invested in accordance
with the Fund's investment objective and policies, the Fund will probably not be
able to earn a sufficiently high return on its investments to permit leverage to
be of benefit to Common Stock shareholders. However, before authorizing the
issuance of the auction rate preferred stock, the Board of Directors of the Fund
will consider the length of time expected to be necessary to invest the proceeds
of the auction rate preferred stock offering in an effort to maximize the
benefits of leverage to Common Stock shareholders. See "Special Leverage
Considerations."
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
GENERAL
The Fund's investment objective is high current income for
holders of its Common Stock consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund's
investment objective may not be changed without the approval of the holders of
at least 80% of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined below under
"Investment Restrictions"), voting as a single class, at least 80% of the Fund's
outstanding shares of auction rate preferred stock (as defined below under
"Investment Restrictions"), voting as a separate class and at least 80% of the
entire Board of Directors. See "Description of Capital Stock -- Preferred Stock
-- Voting Rights" for additional information with respect to the voting rights
of holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock. No assurance can be given
that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.
The Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a
diversified portfolio primarily consisting of preferred securities. In seeking
its objective, the Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total net
assets in a diversified portfolio of preferred securities.
In selecting individual securities for investment, the Adviser
considers, among other things, current yield, price variability and the
underlying fundamental characteristics of the issuer, with particular emphasis
on debt and dividend coverage and the potential for the timely payment of
dividends and interest. It is expected that the Fund's assets will be invested
primarily in fixed rate, adjustable rate, and inverse floating rate preferred
securities. The Fund may invest in other types of preferred securities -- such
as auction rate preferred stocks and convertible preferred stocks -- as well as
debt and common equity securities in appropriate circumstances. The Adviser
currently anticipates using various "safety-net" hedging techniques, including
(1) entering into futures contracts and options on futures contracts and (2)
entering into interest rate swap positions and options thereon ("swaptions"),
from time to time for the purpose of hedging some or all of its preferred
securities and debt holdings. There is no limit on the portion of the Fund's
assets that can be hedged, subject to compliance with applicable laws and
regulations, as well as restrictions imposed in connection with the rating of
the Fund's auction rate preferred stock. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its
assets in each of options on securities and options on
-2-
stock indices, up to 10% of its assets in each of initial margin deposits on
futures contracts and premiums paid for options thereon, and up to 5% of its
assets for time premiums paid for swaptions. However, under current market
conditions, it is expected that up to an aggregate of 15% of the Fund's assets
could be invested in options on securities and stock indices, initial margin
deposits and option premiums paid in connection with futures transactions, and
initial margin deposits and options premiums paid in connection with interest
rate swaps and swaptions. (See "Investment Techniques -- Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts" for a discussion of the limitations and risks
associated with investments in futures contracts and options on futures
contracts. See also "Investment Techniques -- Interest Rate Swaps and Options
Thereon ("Swaptions")" for a discussion of the limitations and risks associated
with positions in interest rate swaps and options thereon.) The portion of the
Fund's assets not invested in preferred securities and hedging instruments may
be invested in, among other securities, money market instruments, money market
mutual funds, corporate debt securities, asset-backed securities, and securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities
("Government Securities"), which, depending on market conditions, may at times
have a higher or lower yield than preferred securities in which the Fund
invests. Under normal conditions, the Fund's investments in such debt securities
is limited to 20% of its assets. Under normal conditions, the Fund may also
invest up to 15% of its assets in common stocks or convertible securities which
trade in close relationship to their underlying associated common stocks.
PORTFOLIO STRATEGIES
The Adviser believes that the pursuit of the strategies
described below will result in a high level of current income to the Fund's
Common Stock consistent with the preservation of capital. Furthermore, that
income is expected by the Adviser to increase in response to significant
increases in interest rates while being relatively resistant to the impact of
significant declines in interest rates due to (1) the composition of fixed rate,
adjustable rate, and inverse floating rate securities owned, (2) the maintenance
of certain hedging positions against some or all of the Fund's holdings of
preferred and debt securities, from time to time, and (3) the intended
leveraging of the Fund through the issuance of auction rate preferred stock.
Coupon rates on fixed rate preferred and debt securities held
by the Fund, as their name implies, would be fixed regardless of the direction
of interest rates. In addition, the market prices of such securities would tend
to (1) decline as interest rates rose and (2) rise as interest rates fell.
Coupon rates on inverse floating rate securities tend to rise as interest rates
decline and fall, possibly to zero, as interest rates rise. Consequently, their
prices are more apt to appreciate, as interest rates fall, and depreciate, as
interest rates rise, than a fixed rate security paying a comparable initial
income stream. Adjustable rate securities pay income that generally rises as
interest rates rise and falls as interest rates decline, often subject to
minimum income floors and maximum income ceilings (often called "collars"). All
other things being equal, adjustable rate preferreds will tend to have somewhat
less price variability than would either fixed rate or inverse floating rate
securities of comparable maturity. Nevertheless, changing interest rate
conditions may still affect adjustable rate preferred stocks' principal value,
which may expose the Fund to risk of loss. See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Risk Factors and Special Considerations -- Fluctuation in Share
Price."
-3-
The Fund normally anticipates hedging some or all of the
interest rate exposure inherent in its holdings of these different types of
preferred and debt securities. Under current market conditions, this hedging
would be accomplished principally by one or more of the following strategies:
(1) purchasing put options (called a "long position in a put option") on
Treasury Bond and/or Treasury Note futures contracts, (2) entering into futures
contracts to sell Treasury Bonds and/or Treasury Notes (called a "short position
in a futures contract"), (3) entering into interest rate swap agreements as a
"fixed rate payer", and/or (4) purchasing options to enter into interest rate
swap agreements as a "fixed rate payer" (called a "pay fixed swaption").
The hedging positions that the Fund currently expects to hold
normally appreciate in value when interest rates rise significantly, reflecting
either the expected rise in yields of Treasury securities or interest rate swap
yields, as applicable, and the associated decline in the prices of underlying
Treasury securities or decreased net market value of an obligation to pay a
fixed income stream in a higher interest rate environment.
Conversely, such hedging positions would normally depreciate
in value when interest rates fall significantly. A short position in a Treasury
Bond or Treasury Note futures contract should reflect directly changes in the
price of that futures contract, i.e., benefiting from price declines and being
adversely affected by price increases. Further, the value of a long position in
a put option on a Treasury Bond or Treasury Note futures contract should rise
and fall in inverse relationship to the market price of that futures contract,
but the magnitude of the change in value would to a large extent depend upon
whether and the extent to which the exercise price of the put option was below
("out-of-the-money") or above ("in-the-money") the price of the futures
contract.
Similarly, a "pay-fixed" position in an interest rate swap
should directly reflect changes in the level of interest rate swap yields. Also,
the value of an option to pay fixed rate in an interest rate swap, i.e., a
pay-fixed swaption, will rise or fall in direct relationship to a pay-fixed
interest rate swap's value, but the magnitude of the value change would, to a
large extent, depend on whether and the extent to which the exercise yield of
the pay-fixed swaption was above ("out-of the-money") or below ("in-the-money")
the existing level of interest rate swap yields. A more specific explanation of
options and swaptions follows.
Should the Fund purchase an out-of-the-money put option on a
Treasury Bond or Treasury Note futures contract as part of its hedging
strategies, that put option would be expected to have value at its expiration
date only if the price of the underlying futures contract declined below the
exercise price of the put option. Accordingly, interest rates could generally
increase moderately, and a decline in value of the Fund's preferred and debt
holdings could result without the Fund receiving any offsetting benefit from its
holdings of such put options. The Fund would achieve a gain on a long position
in an out-of-the-money put option on a Treasury Bond or Treasury Note futures
contract at the time of its expiration only if interest rates were to increase
significantly so as to result in a decline in the price of the underlying
futures contract sufficient to cause the value of such put option at expiration
to exceed the premiums paid by the Fund to acquire it (plus transaction costs).
-4-
Should the Fund acquire an in-the-money put option on a
Treasury Bond or Treasury Note futures contract as part of its hedging
strategies and should interest rates generally increase subsequently, the value
of that put option at the time of its expiration would normally reflect
favorably any decline in the market price of the underlying futures contract.
However, the premium paid to acquire such in-the-money put option would have
reflected the exercise value already present in the option at the time of
purchase, and therefore, the premium would normally be higher than that paid for
an out-of-the-money put option. Furthermore, the value of an in-the-money put
option would be adversely impacted directly by an increase in the price of the
underlying Treasury Bond or Treasury Note futures contract which could result
from a decline in interest rates. The Fund has traditionally hedged using put
options on Treasury Bonds or Treasury Note futures contracts that were, at the
time of purchase, out-of-the-money.
An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties
where one party agrees to pay a contractually stated fixed income stream,
usually denoted as a fixed percentage of an underlying "notional" amount, in
exchange for receiving a variable income stream, usually based on LIBOR, and
denoted as a percentage of the underlying notional amount. From the perspective
of a fixed rate payer, if interest rates rise, the payer will expect a rising
level of income since the payer is a receiver of floating rate income. This
would cause the value of the swap contract to rise in value, from the payer's
perspective, because the discounted present value of its obligatory payment
stream is diminished at higher interest rates, all at the same time it is
receiving higher income. Alternatively, if interest rates fall, the reverse
occurs and the payer simultaneously faces the prospects of both a diminished
floating rate income stream and a higher discounted present value of his fixed
rate payment obligation. For purposes of completing the analysis, these value
changes all work in reverse from the perspective of a fixed rate receiver.
The use of pay fixed swaptions is, in many key respects,
analogous to the treatment of put options on futures contracts of Treasury
securities. If the Fund should buy an option to pay fixed in an interest rate
swap at an exercise yield above current market levels, such pay fixed swaption
is deemed out-of-the-money. Conversely, if the Fund should buy a pay fixed
swaption with an exercise yield below the current market level of interest rate
swap yields, such pay fixed swaption is considered in-the-money.
Should the Fund purchase an out-of-the-money pay fixed
swaption as part of its hedging strategies, that pay fixed swaption would be
expected to have value at its expiration date only if the then prevailing level
of interest rate swap yields was in excess of the exercise yield specified in
the pay fixed swaption. Accordingly, interest rates could generally increase
moderately, and a decline in value of the Fund's preferred and debt holdings
could result without the Fund receiving any offsetting benefit from its holdings
of such pay fixed swaptions. The Fund would achieve a gain on its holding of an
out-of-the-money pay fixed swaption at the time of its expiration only if
interest rates were to increase significantly so as to result in a rise in value
from the perspective of a fixed rate payer sufficient to exceed the premiums
paid by the Fund to acquire the pay fixed swaption (plus transaction costs).
Should the Fund acquire an in-the-money pay fixed swaption as
part of its hedging strategies and should interest rates generally increase
subsequently, the value of that pay fixed swaption at the time of its expiration
would normally reflect favorably any rise in value of the underlying interest
rate swap from the perspective of a fixed rate payer. However, the
-5-
premium paid to acquire such in-the-money pay fixed swaption would have
reflected the exercise value already present in the option at the time of
purchase, and therefore, the premium would normally be higher than that paid for
an at-the-money or out-of-the-money pay fixed swaption. Furthermore, the value
of an in-the-money pay fixed swaption would be adversely impacted directly by a
decrease in the yield of the underlying interest rate swap contract, which could
result from a general decline in the level of interest rates.
In any event, the maximum loss that might be incurred on a
long position in either a put option on a Treasury futures contract or a
pay-fixed swaption would be limited to the premium paid for the purchase of such
option or swaption (plus transaction costs).
The response of the Fund's income to changes in interest rates
will be impacted by the effectiveness of its hedging strategies. In order for
the Fund's income from its holdings of fixed rate and inverse floating rate
securities to increase as interest rates rise, the Fund must achieve gains on
its hedging positions. These gains can be used to acquire additional shares of
preferred or debt securities, which in turn would generate additional dividend
or interest income. In the case of generally rising interest rates, the gains
potentially achievable by the Fund from hedge instruments will be reduced by the
premiums paid for the purchase of options and swaptions and to the extent that
such options and swaptions held are out-of-the-money when purchased. In order
for the Fund's income to be relatively resistant to significant declines in
interest rates, the Fund must have limited exposure to the magnitude of losses
on hedge instruments which would occasion the sale of some of its holdings of
securities in order to cover such hedging losses and related costs. The Fund's
exposure to losses on hedge instruments in the event of generally declining
interest rates will be greater to the degree it holds (a) short positions in
futures contracts, pay fixed interest rate swaps, and long positions
in-the-money put options or swaptions rather than (b) out-of-the-money put
options or swaptions.
There are economic costs of hedging reflected in the pricing
of futures, swaps, options, and swaption contracts which can be significant,
particularly when long-term interest rates are substantially above short-term
interest rates, as is the case at present. The desirability of moderating these
hedging costs will be a factor in the Adviser's choice of hedging strategies,
although costs will not be the exclusive consideration in selecting hedge
instruments. Although appreciation is not a focus of the Fund, the Fund may
select individual investments based upon their potential for appreciation
without regard to the effect on current income, in an attempt to mitigate the
impact on the Fund's assets of the expected normal cost of hedging.
The Fund's use of hedging instruments and the availability of
gains for investment in additional shares of preferred and debt securities may
be limited by the restrictions and distribution requirements imposed on the Fund
under certain regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC")
and in connection with its qualification as a regulated investment company under
the Code. See "Investment Techniques" below and "Taxation." The Adviser does not
believe that these restrictions and requirements will materially adversely
affect the management of the Fund or the ability of the Fund to achieve its
investment objective.
There may be an imperfect correlation between changes in the
value of the Fund's portfolio holdings and hedging positions entered into by the
Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the
Fund to risk of loss. In addition, the Fund's
-6-
success in using hedge instruments is subject to the Adviser's ability to
predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the
Fund's portfolio holdings, and there can be no assurance that the Adviser's
judgment in this respect will be accurate. Consequently, the use of hedging
transactions might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund, whether
or not adjusted for risk, than if the Fund had not hedged its portfolio
holdings.
The auction rate preferred stock which the Fund expects to
issue will have dividend rates established by auctions which will typically be
held at regular 49 day or other short intervals. This auction process is
designed to result in a high degree of principal stability for holders of the
Fund's auction rate preferred stock. The dividend rates set pursuant to such
auction process are expected to be influenced by short-term interest rates
generally, so that the dividend rate on the Fund's auction rate preferred stock
outstanding is expected to increase as short-term interest rates rise and to
decline as short-term interest rates fall.
In the event of an equal rise in long-term and short-term
interest rates from current levels, the additional income anticipated to be
received from the investment of gains on appreciated hedging positions (assuming
a significant rise in interest rates) when coupled with the net impact of
increasing income from adjustable rate securities offset by decreasing income
from inverse floating rate securities, would tend to more than offset the
expected increased dividend rate payable on the Fund's auction rate preferred
stock outstanding. Thus, net income to the Common Stock is expected to rise in
response to significant increases in interest rates as described herein.
In the event of equal declines in long-term and short-term
interest rates from current levels, losses on hedge positions would be expected
to result, possibly requiring the sale of some of the Fund's securities holdings
and decreasing the Fund's investment income, although such hedging losses would
be limited to the amount of the premiums paid (plus transaction costs) to the
extent that the Fund hedged with long positions in put options or swaptions as
described above. Furthermore, the existence of income floors on adjustable rate
securities and holdings of inverse floating rate securities would mitigate the
downward pressure on Fund income, to the degree the Fund has holdings of such
securities. In addition, lower interest rates would be expected to result in a
lower dividend rate on the Fund's auction rate preferred stock outstanding,
which would increase net investment income available to Common Stock.
However, in declining interest rate environments, issuers may
call for redemption those preferred and debt securities which have coupon rates
above prevailing rates. This would reduce the Fund's income since preferred and
debt securities paying comparable yields would not be available to be purchased
with the redemption proceeds. The combined impact of the limitation of hedge
losses through the use of options hedges, lower collars on adjustable rate
securities, holdings of inverse floating rate securities, and the decline in the
cost of the Fund's auction rate preferred stock outstanding, in the opinion of
the Adviser, should contribute to the net income to the Fund's Common Stock
being relatively resistant to equal declines in long-term and short-term
interest rates, subject to the adverse impact of redemptions of the Fund's
higher yielding preferred and debt securities in the event of substantial
declines in interest rates.
-7-
If short-term interest rates were to rise while long-term
rates remained unchanged, the cost of the Fund's outstanding auction rate
preferred stock would be expected to rise while coupon rates on the Fund's
holdings of fixed rate and adjustable rate securities would remain unchanged
(with certain exceptions in the case of adjustable rate securities whose income
would rise if short term rates were to exceed long term rates by a sufficiently
wide margin). See "Investment Objective and Policies -- Portfolio Investments --
Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock." The income from inverse floating rate
securities would be expected to decline.
However, such a hypothesized change in the relationship
between short-term and long-term rates also would be expected to reduce the cost
of hedging preferred and debt securities, regardless of whether such hedges were
in futures contracts, interest rate swaps, long positions in put options, or
holdings of pay fixed swaptions. The combined impact of the foregoing factors on
the Fund's net income would depend in large measure on the relative size of the
Fund's holdings of hedged preferred and debt securities and the hedging
instruments utilized.
In the opposite case, namely, a decline in short-term rates
with long-term rates remaining unchanged, the income from fixed rate and, for
the most part, adjustable rate securities would be unaffected, while the income
from inverse floating rate securities would be expected to increase. Under
certain circumstances, the income from adjustable rate securities may be
adversely affected. The cost of the Fund's outstanding auction rate preferred
stock would be expected to fall. On balance, these various movements would
contribute to a higher net return to the Fund. However, in this interest rate
environment, there would be an expected increase in the cost of hedging
preferred and debt securities. The combined impact of the foregoing factors on
the Fund, as under the scenario described in the preceding paragraph, would
depend in large measure on the relative size of the Fund's holdings of different
types of securities and the hedge instruments utilized.
The portions of the Fund's assets invested in various types of
preferred and debt securities may vary from time to time. The portion of the
Fund's securities that will be hedged and the types of hedge positions held may
also vary significantly from time to time. There can be no assurance that the
Fund will seek to hedge its entire portfolio of preferred and debt securities or
that, if such hedging strategies were undertaken, they would be successful (1)
in protecting against declines in value attributable to rising interest rates in
general, and/or (2) in providing increased income in the event of significant
increases in interest rates while maintaining the Fund's relative resistance to
declines in income in the event of significant declines in interest rates.
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least
80% of its total net assets in preferred securities, including (a) preferred and
preference stock and other analogous equity securities senior to common equity
and (b) hybrid, or fully taxable preferred securities that meet the following
criteria: (1) the issuer has the ability to defer payments for a minimum period
of eighteen months without triggering an event of default and (2) the security
is a junior and fully subordinated liability of an issuer or the beneficiary of
a guarantee that represents a junior and fully subordinated liability of the
guarantor. Hybrid securities that do not meet these criteria will be considered
debt securities.
-8-
Preferred/preference stock is, with common stock, one of the
two major types of equity securities. Generally, preferred/preference stock
receives dividends prior to distributions on common stock and usually has a
priority of claim over common stockholders if the issuer of the stock is
liquidated. The income paid by an issuer to holders of its preferred/preference
and common stocks is typically eligible for the DRD. Unlike common stock,
preferred stock does not usually have voting rights; preferred/preference stock,
in some instances, is convertible into common stock.
Preferred/preference securities have certain characteristics
of both debt and common equity securities. They are debt-like to the extent that
their promised income is contractually fixed. They are common equity-like since
they do not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy filings or collection
activities in the event of missed payments. Furthermore, they have many of the
key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer's
capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily dependent on
the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific
assets or cash flows.
"Hybrid" or taxable preferred securities are not eligible for
the DRD and are not legally considered equity of an issuer. They are typically
junior and fully subordinated liabilities of an issuer or the beneficiary of a
guarantee that is junior and fully subordinated to the other liabilities of the
guarantor. In addition, hybrids typically permit an issuer to defer the payment
of income for eighteen months or more without triggering an event of default.
Generally, the deferral period is 5 years. Because of their subordinated
position in the capital structure of an issuer, the ability to defer payments
for extended periods of time without adverse consequence to the issuer, and
certain other features (such as restrictions on common dividend payments by the
issuer or ultimate guarantor when cumulative payments on the hybrids have not
been made), these issues are often treated as close substitutes to traditional
preferred securities, both by issuers and investors. Hybrid securities are also
treated in a similar fashion to traditional preferred/preference stocks by
several regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Bank, and by credit
rating agencies, for various purposes, such as the assignment of minimum capital
ratios, over-collateralization rates and diversification limits. As is also true
of preferred/preference stock, hybrids have many of the key characteristics of
equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer's capital structure and
because their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of
the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows.
Hybrid securities have been marketed under a variety of names, including, but
not limited to TOPrS, TIPS, QUIPS, MIPS, QUIDS, QUICS, STOPS, CorTS and Capital
Securities. As with traditional preferred/preference stocks, hybrid or taxable
preferreds may be convertible into underlying common stock of the issuer or
associated grantor.
Perpetual preferred/preference stocks are issued with no
mandatory retirement provisions, but typically are callable after a period of
time at the option of the issuer. No redemption can occur if full cumulative
dividends have not been paid, although issuers may be able to engage in
open-market repurchases without regard to any cumulative dividends payable.
Sinking fund preferred/preference stocks provide for the redemption of a portion
of the issue on a regularly scheduled basis with, in most cases, the entire
issue being retired at a future date.
Hybrid preferreds are typically issued with a final maturity
date, although, in certain instances the date may be extended and/or the final
payment of principal may be deferred
-9-
at the issuer's option for a specified time without any adverse consequences to
the issuer. No redemption can typically take place unless all cumulative payment
obligations have been met, although issuers may be able to engage in open-market
repurchases without regard to any cumulative dividends payable.
In order to be payable, dividends on preferred/preference
stock must be declared by the issuer's board of directors. In addition,
distributions on hybrid securities are also subject to deferral and are thus not
automatically payable. Income payments on the typical preferred securities
currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to
accrue even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable.
There is, of course, no assurance that dividends or distributions on the
preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise
made payable. The Fund may acquire non-cumulative preferred securities subject
to the restrictions on quality adopted by the Fund, although the Adviser would
consider, among other things, their non-cumulative nature in making any decision
to purchase or sell such securities.
Shares of preferred securities have a liquidation value that
generally equals the original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market
values of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable
changes impacting companies in the utilities and banking industries, which are
prominent issuers of preferred securities (See "Investment Objective and
Policies -- Concentration" below), and by actual and anticipated changes in tax
laws, such as changes in corporate income tax rates and in the DRD.
Because the claim on an issuer's earnings represented by
preferred/preference stocks and hybrid securities may become onerous when
interest rates fall below the rate payable on the stock or for other reasons,
the issuer may redeem the securities. Thus, in declining interest rate
environments in particular, the Fund's holdings of higher coupon-paying
preferred/preference and hybrid securities may be reduced and the Fund would be
unable to acquire securities paying comparable coupons with the redemption
proceeds.
From time to time, preferred securities issues have been, and
may in the future be, offered having features other than those described below
that are typical for fixed rate, adjustable rate, inverse floating rate, or
auction rate preferred securities. The Fund reserves the right to invest in
these securities if the Adviser believes that doing so would be consistent with
the Fund's investment objective and policies. Since the market for these
instruments would be new, the Fund may have difficulty disposing of them at a
suitable price and time. In addition to limited liquidity, these instruments may
present other risks, such as high price volatility. The Adviser believes that
the unavailability of such innovative securities would not adversely affect the
Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.
Credit Quality. Preferred and debt securities that the Fund
will acquire will be rated investment grade (at least "Baa3" by Moody's or
"BBB-" by S&P) at the time of investment or will be securities of issuers whose
senior debt is rated investment grade by Moody's or S&P at the time of
investment. In addition, the Fund may acquire unrated issues that the Adviser
deems to be comparable in quality to rated issues in which the Fund is
authorized to invest. The Fund will limit to 20% of its assets the portion of
its portfolio invested in preferred and debt securities rated below investment
grade (which securities must be rated at least "Ba3"
-10-
by Moody's or "BB-" by S&P at the time of purchase) or judged to be comparable
in quality at the time of purchase; however, any such securities must be issued
by an issuer having a class of senior debt rated investment grade outstanding.
Securities rated "Baa" by Moody's or "BBB" by S&P, although investment grade,
are considered to have speculative characteristics, and securities rated "Ba" or
"BB" are believed to have speculative elements and a greater vulnerability to
default than higher-rated securities. Moody's and S&P may modify certain letter
ratings of securities with the addition of a plus or a minus sign or other
modifier in order to show relative standing within the rating category.
References to a particular letter rating in this Prospectus
may or may not be to the rating with or without regard to any specific modifiers
as the context requires.
The ratings of Moody's and S&P represent their opinions as to
the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate; the ratings are
relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality. The Adviser's
judgment as to credit quality of a security, thus, may differ from that
suggested by the ratings published by a rating service. A description of ratings
by Moody's and S&P relevant to the Fund's investments is included in Appendix A
to this Prospectus. The policies of the Fund described above as to ratings of
portfolio investments apply only at the time of the purchase of a security, and
the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event Moody's or S&P
downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of the security's
issuer, although standards for rating the Fund's auction rate preferred stock
imposed by Moody's may result in the Fund's disposing of securities that are
downgraded.
Traditional Fixed Rate Preferred Stock. Traditional fixed rate
preferred stocks have fixed dividend rates for the life of the issue and
typically pay dividends that qualify for the DRD. They can be perpetual with no
maturity date or subject to mandatory redemptions such as through a sinking
fund. The category of fixed rate preferred stocks also includes a variety of
innovative securities as well as certain convertible preferred securities.
Certain fixed rate preferred stocks have features intended to provide some
degree of price stability. These features may include an auction mechanism at
some specified future date. The auction feature is normally intended to enhance
the probability that a preferred stock shareholder will be able to dispose of
his holdings close to a pre-specified price, typically equal to par or stated
value. Other price stability mechanisms include convertibility into an amount of
common equity of the same issuer at some specified future date, typically in
amounts not greater than par value of the underlying preferred stocks. Another
common form of fixed rate preferred stock is the traditional convertible
preferred stock, which permits the holder to convert into a specified number of
shares at the holder's option at any time prior to some specified date.
Innovative preferred stock and traditional convertible preferred stock are often
less liquid than the conventional fixed rate preferred stock. The Fund's ability
to achieve its investment objective is not dependent on the availability of such
innovative or convertible preferred stocks.
Adjustable Rate Preferred Stock. Unlike traditional fixed rate
preferred stocks, adjustable rate preferred stocks are preferred stocks that
have a dividend rate that adjusts periodically to reflect changes in the general
level of interest rates. (Like traditional fixed rate preferred stocks, these
issues typically pay dividends that qualify for the DRD.) The adjustable
dividend rate feature is intended to make the market value of these securities
less sensitive to changes in interest rates than similar securities with fixed
dividend rates. Nonetheless,
-11-
adjustable rate preferred stocks have fluctuated in market value and are
expected to do so in the future.
The dividend rate on an adjustable rate preferred stock is
determined typically each quarter by applying an adjustment formula established
at the time of issuance of the stock. Although adjustment formulas vary among
issues, they typically involve a fixed relationship either to (1) rates on
specific classes of debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury or (2) LIBOR,
with limits (known as "collars") on the minimum and maximum dividend rates that
may be paid. As the maximum dividend rate is approached, any further increase in
interest rates may adversely affect the market value of the stock. Conversely,
as the minimum dividend rate is approached, any further decrease in interest
rates may positively affect the market value of the stock. The adjustment
formula is fixed at the time of issuance of the adjustable rate preferred stock
and cannot be changed without the approval of the holders thereof.
The market values of outstanding issues of adjustable rate
preferred stock may fluctuate in response to changing market conditions. In the
event that market participants in a particular issue demand a different dividend
yield than the adjustment formula produces, the market price will change to
produce the desired yield. The dividend yield demanded by market participants
may vary with changing perceptions of credit quality and the relative levels of
short-term and long-term interest rates, as well as other factors.
Most of the issues of adjustable rate preferred stocks
currently outstanding are perpetual.
Hybrid Preferred Securities. Hybrid, or taxable preferreds,
are a comparatively new asset class, having first been introduced late in 1993.
Income paid on these securities is not eligible for the DRD, but does constitute
deductible interest expense for issuers thereof. The universe of hybrid issuers
consists overwhelmingly of fixed coupon rate issues with final stated maturity
dates. However, certain issues have adjustable coupon rates, which reset
quarterly in a manner similar to adjustable rate preferred stocks described
above. The hybrid preferred securities universe is divided into the "$25 par"
and the "institutional" segments. The $25 par segment is typified by securities
that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which trade and are quoted
"flat", i.e., without accrued dividend income, and which are typically callable
at par value five years after their original issuance date. The institutional
segment is typified by $1,000 par value securities that are not exchange-listed,
which trade and are quoted on an "accrued income" basis, and which typically
have a minimum of ten years of call protection (at premium prices) from the date
of their original issuance.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. These securities typically
arise in connection with a trust structure that repackages the income stream of
an underlying fixed rate preferred security (the "collateral") into (1) an
auction or variable rate component and (2) a residual component, the income of
which will move inversely in relation to the income of the variable rate trust
component. It is this second, residual component that is referred to as the
inverse floating rate security. The income of an inverse floating rate security
is typically expected to fall when short term interest rates rise and to rise
when short term interest rates fall. Typically, the income flow to the inverse
floating rate security holder will be much more variable than the income on an
adjustable rate preferred stock, in part because of the inherent, implied
leverage
-12-
reflected in component number (1) above. Further, with a sufficient rise in
interest rates, an inverse floating rate security could end up not being able to
pay any income to the investor for an indefinite period without constituting an
event of default. While the trust structure typically does not result in any
higher exposure to credit default risk, as opposed to holding the trust
collateral directly, the market value risk due to general interest rate
movements or any other factors is magnified.
The investment in inverse floating rate securities may be
undertaken from time to time as the Fund pursues its fundamental investment
objective. As a general rule, inverse floating rate securities are privately
placed securities and may not be as liquid as other securities with a larger
eligible buyer base. (See "Investment Objective and Policies -- Portfolio
Investments -- Restricted Securities (Direct Placements)" below.) However, the
holder of an inverse floating rate security usually has the contractual ability
to obtain the auction (or variable rate component) corresponding to its
investment in the inverse floating rate security and to surrender both of these
components to the trust agent in exchange for the underlying shares held by the
trust as collateral. This ability to "reconstitute" is usually limited to
auction dates, which typically range from every 49 days to once per calendar
quarter. This ability to reconstitute helps facilitate the evaluation and
transacting of such securities in the market place.
Under normal conditions, the Fund may invest up to 5% of its
total net assets in inverse floating rate securities, provided that the
underlying trust collateral would otherwise qualify for investment, at the time
of purchase, under the Fund's investment guidelines.
Common Stock. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in
common stock. Common stock is defined as shares of a corporation that entitle
the holder to a pro rata share of the profits of the corporation, if any,
without preference over any other shareholder or class of shareholders,
including holders of the corporation's preferred stock and other senior equity.
Common stock usually carries with it the right to vote and frequently an
exclusive right to do so. Holders of common stock also have the right to
participate in the assets of the corporation after all other claims are paid. In
selecting common stocks for investment, the Fund expects generally to focus more
on the security's dividend-paying capacity than on its potential for
appreciation.
Certain traditional and hybrid preferred securities are
convertible into the common stock of the associated issuer. To the extent that
such preferred securities, because of their terms and market conditions, trade
in close relationship to the underlying common stock of the issuer, they will be
subject to the limit of 15% of assets, under normal market conditions, that
applies to common stocks.
Auction Rate Preferred Stock. Auction rate preferred stocks
pay dividends that adjust based on periodic auctions. Auction rate preferred
stocks are similar to short-term corporate money market instruments in that an
auction rate preferred stockholder has the opportunity to sell the preferred
stock at par in an auction, normally conducted at 49-day or other short
intervals, through which buyers set the dividend rate in a bidding process for
the next period. The dividend rate set in the auction depends upon market
conditions and the credit quality of the particular issuer. The typical auction
rate preferred stock's dividend is limited to a specified maximum percentage of
the Federal Reserve's Commercial Paper Index as of the
-13-
auction date. Further, the terms of auction rate preferred stocks generally
provide that the shares are redeemable by the issuer at certain times.
The failures of several auctions since late 1990 have
significantly decreased the financial market's perception that the auction
process can be depended upon to guarantee that the price of such preferred
stocks will approximate par or stated value, particularly among lower rated
issues.
Money Market Instruments. Under normal conditions, the Fund
may hold up to 15% of its assets in cash or money market instruments or, subject
to the limitation on investments in investment companies, in money market mutual
funds holding such types of investments. The Fund intends to invest in money
market instruments or money market funds to meet its general working capital
needs including, but not limited to, the need for collateral in connection with
certain investment techniques (see "Investment Objective and Policies --
Investment Techniques" below), to hold as a reserve pending the payment of
dividends to investors and to meet the liquidity requirements of rating agencies
that rate the Fund's auction rate preferred stock, and to facilitate the payment
of expenses and settlement of trades. As noted above, pending investment of the
net proceeds of this offering in accordance with the Fund's investment objective
and policies, the Fund may invest without limitation in money market
instruments. In addition, when the Adviser believes that economic circumstances
warrant a temporary defensive posture, the Fund may invest in short-term money
market instruments without regard to the normal 15% limitation. To the extent
the Fund invests in short-term money market instruments, it may not be pursuing
its investment objective of high current income.
Money market instruments that the Fund may acquire will be
securities rated in the highest short-term rating category by Moody's or S&P or
the equivalent from another major rating service, securities of issuers that
have received such ratings with respect to other short-term debt or comparable
unrated securities. Money market instruments in which the Fund typically expects
to invest include: Government Securities; bank obligations (including
certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers' acceptances of U.S. or
foreign banks); commercial paper rated P-1 by Moody's or A-1 by S&P; and
repurchase agreements. Money market funds in which the Fund may invest, are
expected to be rated at least "Aaa" by one or more rating agencies.
As indicated above, the Fund may invest normally up to 15% of
its assets in money market instruments but, under certain circumstances, may
invest without limit in money market instruments. Subject to these limits, the
Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated money market
obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks but will do so
only if the Adviser determines that the obligation presents minimal credit
risks. These obligations entail risks that are different from those of
investments in obligations of U.S. banks. These risks include foreign economic
and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely
affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign exchange
controls and foreign withholding or other taxes on income. Foreign branches of
U.S. banks are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory
requirements that apply to the domestic operations of U.S. banks, such as
mandatory reserve requirements, loan limitations and accounting, auditing and
financial record-keeping
-14-
requirements. In addition, less information may be publicly available about a
foreign branch of a U.S. bank than about a U.S. bank.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreement transactions with
certain member banks of the Federal Reserve System or with certain dealers
listed on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's list of reporting dealers. A
repurchase agreement is a contract under which the buyer of a security
simultaneously commits to resell the security to the seller at an agreed-upon
price on an agreed-upon date. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement,
the Fund would acquire an underlying obligation for a relatively short period
(usually not more than seven days) subject to an obligation of the seller to
repurchase, and the Fund to resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and
time, thereby determining the yield during the Fund's holding period. This
arrangement results in a fixed rate of return that is not subject to market
fluctuations during the Fund's holding period. Under each repurchase agreement,
the selling institution will be required to maintain the value of the securities
subject to the repurchase agreement at not less than their repurchase price.
Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or
insolvency of the seller, including possible delays or restrictions on the
Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. In evaluating these
potential risks, the Adviser, on an ongoing basis, monitors (1) with the
assistance of the Administrator, the value of the collateral underlying each
repurchase agreement of the Fund to ensure that the value is at least equal to
the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including interest, and (2) the
creditworthiness of the banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into
repurchase agreements.
Government Securities. Government Securities in which the Fund
may invest include direct obligations of the United States and obligations
issued by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities. Included among direct
obligations of the United States are Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury
Bonds, which differ principally in terms of their maturities. Included among the
securities issued by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities are:
securities that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States
(such as Government National Mortgage Association certificates), securities that
are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such
as securities of Federal Home Loan Banks), and securities that are supported by
the credit of the instrumentality (such as Federal National Mortgage Association
and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation bonds).
Zero Coupon Securities. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its
total assets in zero coupon securities issued by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities as well as custodial receipts or certificates
underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on certain Government Securities.
Zero coupon securities pay no cash income to their holders until they mature and
are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to
maturity, their entire return comes from the difference between their purchase
price and their maturity value. Because interest on zero coupon securities is
not paid on a current basis, the values of securities of this type are subject
to greater fluctuations than are the values of securities that distribute income
regularly and may be more speculative than such securities. Accordingly, the
values of these securities may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or
fall. In addition, the Fund's investments in zero coupon securities will result
in special tax consequences. Although zero coupon securities do not make
interest payments, for tax purposes a portion of the difference between a
-15-
zero coupon security's maturity value and its purchase price is taxable income
of the Fund each year.
Custodial receipts evidencing specific coupon or principal
payments have the same general attributes as zero coupon Government Securities
but are not considered to be Government Securities. Although typically under the
terms of a custodial receipt the Fund is authorized to assert its rights
directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, the Fund may be
required to assert through the custodian bank such rights as may exist against
the underlying issuer. Thus, in the event the underlying issuer fails to pay
principal and/or interest when due, the Fund may be subject to delays, expenses
and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Fund
had purchased a direct obligation of the issuer. In addition, in the event that
the trust or custodial account in which the underlying security has been
deposited is determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, instead
of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying security would be reduced
in respect of any taxes paid.
Restricted Securities (Direct Placements). The Fund may invest
up to 20% of its net assets in securities purchased in direct placements.
Securities obtained by means of direct placement typically are less liquid than
securities traded on the open market because of statutory or contractual
restrictions on resale and thus are often referred to as restricted securities.
Such securities are therefore unlike securities traded in the open market, which
can be sold immediately if the market is adequate. This lack of liquidity
creates special risks for the Fund. However, the Fund could sell such securities
if a substantial market of qualified institutional buyers develops pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in privately negotiated
transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in public offerings
registered under such Act.
Direct placements of securities have frequently resulted in
higher yields to purchasers and more restrictive covenants to issuers, which may
provide greater protection for the purchaser than comparable registered
securities. As it has avoided the expense and delay involved in a public
offering of its securities, an issuer is often willing to offer the purchaser
more attractive features in its securities issued in direct placements. Also,
adverse conditions in the public securities markets may at certain times
preclude a public offering of an issuer's securities.
Because it is not possible to predict with assurance how the
market for restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144A will develop, the Fund
will carefully monitor the Fund's investments in such securities with particular
regard to valuation, liquidity and availability of information.
Investment Company Securities. The Fund may invest up to 10%
of its total assets in securities of registered investment companies. The Fund
will not acquire securities of any one investment company if, immediately
thereafter, the Fund would own in the aggregate (1) more than 3% of such
issuer's total outstanding voting securities or (2) securities issued by such
issuer having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the Fund's total assets. To
the extent that investment advisory and brokerage expenses of an investment
company are reflected in the price of its shares held in the Fund's portfolio,
there will be a duplication of such expenses.
-16-
CONCENTRATION
The Fund intends to concentrate its investments in utility
companies and companies in the banking industry so that, under normal market
conditions, at least 25% of the Fund's total assets will be invested in
securities issued by utilities and an additional 25% or more of its total assets
will be invested in securities issued by companies in the banking industry. If
adverse economic conditions prevail in either or both of these industries at
some future date, the Fund, for defensive purposes, temporarily may invest less
than 25% of its total assets in the affected industry or industries. This
concentration policy is a fundamental policy of the Fund and cannot be changed
without approval by the vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, voting as a single class, and a majority of the Fund's outstanding
auction rate preferred stock, voting as a separate class, as described under
"Investment Restrictions" below.
Consistent with the limitations set forth in the preceding
paragraph, the portion of the Fund's assets invested in each of the utilities,
banking and other industries will vary from time to time. The concentration of
the Fund's assets in the utilities and banking industries is a source of
potential risk, although the Fund intends to diversify its investments broadly
among issuers in order to reduce risk and will be subject to diversification
requirements and other investment limitations imposed by rating agencies in
connection with the rating of the auction rate preferred stock intended to be
issued by the Fund. See "Investment Objective and Policies -- Rating Agency
Guidelines and Asset Coverage Requirements."
Utility Securities. The utilities industry generally includes
companies engaged in the generation, transmission or distribution of electric
energy, gas, or water, or, in certain instances, the providing of telephone and
telecommunications services. Certain segments of the industry and individual
companies within such segments may not perform as well as the industry as a
whole. Many utility companies historically have been subject to risks of
increases in fuel and other operating costs, high interest costs on borrowings
needed for capital improvement programs and costs associated with compliance
with and changes in environmental and other governmental regulations. In
particular, regulatory changes with respect to nuclear and conventionally fueled
power generating and transmission facilities could increase costs or impair the
ability of the utility companies to operate and utilize such facilities, thus
reducing the utility companies' earnings or resulting in losses. Rates of return
on investment of certain utility companies are subject to review by government
regulators. There can be no assurance that changes in regulatory policies or
accounting standards will not negatively affect utility companies' earnings or
dividends. Costs incurred by utilities, such as fuel and purchased power costs,
often are subject to immediate market action resulting from such things as
political or military forces operating in geographic regions where oil
production is concentrated or global or regional weather conditions, such as
droughts, while the rates of return of utility companies generally are subject
to review and limitation by state public utility commissions, which results
ordinarily in a lag or an absence of correlation between costs and return. It is
also possible that costs may not be offset by return. Utilities have, in recent
years, been affected by increased competition, which could adversely affect the
profitability or viability of such utilities. Electric utilities may also be
subject to increasing economic pressures due to deregulation of generation,
transmission and other aspects of their business.
-17-
Bank Holding Company and Bank Stocks. Investment in the Fund
involves consideration of various regulatory and economic factors affecting bank
holding companies and their subsidiary banks.
For many years federal and state banking laws and regulations
have limited the ability of bank holding companies and banks to compete
geographically and have restricted sharply the activities in which they may
engage. From time to time, changes in law and regulation have been proposed to
permit greater diversification of the financial products of bank holding
companies and banks, but often such legislation has bogged down or, if it has
been enacted, often it has been limited in the scope of change it has
facilitated. In 1994 the Congress enacted legislation that enhanced the ability
of bank holding companies and banks to expand by acquisition or branching across
state lines. Their ability to engage in nonbanking activities, however, remained
very limited.
In late 1999 the Congress enacted the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act,
a piece of financial regulation reform legislation that altered the landscape of
bank holding company and bank regulation. The Act repealed provisions of the
Glass-Steagall Act that since 1933 had severely limited the underwriting of
securities by affiliates of banks and it repealed provisions of the Bank Holding
Company Act that had severely limited the insurance activities of bank holding
companies. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act created a new scheme or regulation for
financial holding companies--these are bank holding companies with high capital
levels, good compliance and management records and good records under the
Community Reinvestment Act that have elected to become financial holding
companies. Such companies enjoy several prerogatives versus bank holding
companies that have not made this election. First, they are allowed to engage in
a broad range of financial activities, including securities and insurance
activities, not merely activities that are closely related to banking. Second,
they are not subject to any Glass-Steagall-based limitations on their securities
underwriting and dealing activities. Third, they are permitted to invest in
nonfinancial companies and to control investment funds that invest in such
companies. Fourth, they do not require prior Federal Reserve approval to engage
in new activities or to acquire non-banking companies. A large number of local
and regional bank holding companies have elected to become financial holding
companies.
Federal law and regulations require commercial banks and bank
holding companies to maintain minimum levels of capital and liquidity and to
establish loan loss reserves. An insured bank's failure to maintain specified
capital ratios may trigger dividend restrictions, suspensions on payments on
subordinated debt, and limitations on growth. Bank regulators have broad
authority in these instances and can ultimately impose sanctions, including
conservatorship or receivership, on such non-complying banks even when these
banks continue to be solvent, thereby possibly resulting in the elimination of
stockholders' equity. Unless a bank holding company has subsidiaries other than
banks that generate substantial revenues, the holding company's cash flow and
ability to declare dividends may be impaired severely by restrictions on the
ability of its bank subsidiaries to declare dividends.
Fiscal and monetary policies of the government and general
economic and political conditions can affect the availability and cost of funds
to banks, loan demand and asset quality and thereby impact the earnings and
financial condition of banking institutions. Downturns in a regional or local
economy or in the general business cycle or depressed
-18-
conditions in an industry, for example, may adversely affect the quality or
volume of a bank's loan portfolio, particularly if the portfolio is concentrated
in the affected region or industry. From time to time, general economic
conditions have adversely affected financial institutions' energy, agricultural,
commercial real estate, less-developed country, venture capital, technology,
telecommunications, and highly-leveraged loan portfolios. The impact of a
deteriorating economy or industry upon institutions depends, in part, on the
size of the institutions, the extent to which they are involved in the type of
lending or market affected, the duration of the softening in the affected area
and the managerial and capital resources of the institutions. In addition,
changes in accounting rules applicable to loans and investment securities also
may adversely impact the financial condition of banking institutions.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES
For hedging purposes or, under certain circumstances, to
increase its income, the Fund may employ, among others, the investment
techniques described below, although its ability to engage in any of these
strategies may be limited by restrictions imposed on the Fund's operations in
connection with obtaining and maintaining (i) a rating for the Fund's auction
rate preferred stock outstanding and (ii) its qualification as a regulated
investment company under the Code.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund
may enter into interest rate and stock index futures contracts and may purchase
and sell put and call options on such futures contracts. The Fund will enter
into such transactions for hedging and other appropriate risk-management
purposes or to increase return, in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the CFTC and the Commission.
An interest rate futures contract is a standardized contract
for the future delivery of a specified security (such as a U.S. Treasury Bond or
U.S. Treasury Note) or its equivalent at a future date at a price set at the
time of the contract. A stock index futures contract is an agreement to take or
make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of
the index at the beginning and at the end of the contract period. The Fund may
only enter into futures contracts traded on regulated commodity exchanges.
Parties to a futures contract must make "initial margin"
deposits to secure performance of the contract. There are also requirements to
make "variation margin" deposits from time to time as the value of the futures
contract fluctuates. The Fund is not a commodity pool and, in compliance with
CFTC regulations currently in effect, may enter into any futures contracts and
related options for "bona fide hedging" purposes and, in addition, for other
purposes, provided that aggregate initial margin and premiums required to
establish positions other than those considered by the CFTC to be "bona fide
hedging" will not exceed 5% of the Fund's net asset value, after taking into
account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts. The Fund
reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options
thereon to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time
and in accordance with the Fund's policies. In addition, certain provisions of
the Code may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures contracts
or engage in options transactions. See "Taxation."
-19-
Under regulations of the CFTC currently in effect, which may
change from time to time, with respect to futures contracts to purchase
securities or stock indices, call options on futures contracts purchased by the
Fund and put options on futures contracts written by the Fund, the Fund will set
aside in a segregated account liquid securities with a value at least equal to
the value of instruments underlying such futures contracts less the amount of
initial margin on deposit for such contracts. The current view of the staff of
the Commission is that the Fund's long and short positions in futures contracts
as well as put and call options on futures written by it must be collateralized
with cash or certain liquid assets held in a segregated account or "covered" in
a manner similar to that described below for covered options on securities (see
"Investment Objective and Policies -- Investment Techniques -- Options on
Securities" below) in order to counter the impact of any potential leveraging.
The Fund may either accept or make delivery of cash or the
underlying instrument specified at the expiration of an interest rate futures
contract or cash at the expiration of a stock index futures contract or, prior
to expiration, enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale
of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to futures
contracts are effected on the exchange on which the contract was entered into
(or a linked exchange).
The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on
interest rate futures contracts and stock index futures contracts in order to
hedge all or a portion of its investments and may enter into closing purchase
transactions with respect to options written by the Fund in order to terminate
existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be
effected at any particular time or at all. In addition, daily limits on price
fluctuations on exchanges on which the Fund conducts its futures and options
transactions may prevent the prompt liquidation of positions at the optimal
time, thus subjecting the Fund to the potential of greater losses.
An option on an interest rate futures contract or stock index
futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract,
gives the purchaser of the option the right, in return for the premium paid, to
assume a position in a stock index futures contract or interest rate futures
contract at a specified exercise price at any time on or before the expiration
date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures
position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be
accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures
margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the
futures contract exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of
a put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential
loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to
the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs).
With respect to options purchased by the Fund, there are no
daily cash payments made by the Fund to reflect changes in the value of the
underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that
change would be reflected in the net asset value of the Fund.
While the Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on
futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of futures contracts and options
on futures contracts might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund
than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If,
-20-
for example, the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell a portion of
its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily variation margin
requirements on its futures contracts or options on futures contracts at a time
when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation
between the Fund's portfolio holdings and futures contracts or options on
futures contracts entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from
achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. Further, the
Fund's use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts to reduce risk
involves costs and will be subject to the Adviser's ability to predict correctly
changes in interest rate relationships or other factors. No assurance can be
given that the Adviser's judgment in this respect will be correct.
Interest Rate Swaps and Options Thereon ("Swaptions"). The
Fund may enter into interest rate swap agreements and may purchase and sell put
and call options on such swap agreements, commonly referred to as swaptions. The
Fund will enter into such transactions for hedging some or all of its interest
rate exposure in its holdings of preferred securities. Interest rate swap
agreements and swaptions are highly specialized investments and are not traded
on or regulated by any securities exchange or regulated by the CFTC or the
Commission.
An interest rate swap is an agreement between two parties
where one party agrees to pay a contractually stated fixed income stream,
usually denoted as a fixed percentage of an underlying "notional" amount, in
exchange for receiving a variable income stream, usually based on LIBOR, and
denoted as a percentage of the underlying notional amount. From the perspective
of a fixed rate payer, if interest rates rise, the payer will expect a rising
level of income since the payer is a receiver of floating rate income. This
would cause the value of the swap contract to rise in value, from the payer's
perspective, because the discounted present value of its obligatory payment
stream is diminished at higher interest rates, all at the same time it is
receiving higher income. Alternatively, if interest rates fall, the reverse
occurs and it simultaneously faces the prospects of both a diminished floating
rate income stream and a higher discounted present value of his fixed rate
payment obligation. For purposes of completing the analysis, these value changes
all work in reverse from the perspective of a fixed rate receiver.
A swaption is an agreement between two parties where one party
purchases the right from the other party to enter into an interest rate swap at
a specified date and for a specified "fixed rate" yield (or "exercise" yield).
In a pay-fixed swaption, the holder of the swaption has the right to enter into
an interest rate swap as a payer of fixed rate and receiver of variable rate,
while the writer of the swaption has the obligation to enter into the other side
of the interest rate swap. In a received-fixed swaption, the holder of the
swaption has the right to enter into an interest rate swap as a receiver of
fixed rate and a payer of variable rate, while the writer of the swaption has
the obligation to enter into the opposite side of the interest rate swap.
A pay fixed swaption is analogous to a put option on Treasury
securities in that it rises in value as interest rate swap yields rise. A
receive fixed swaption is analogous to a call option on Treasury securities in
that it rises in value as interest rate swap yields decline. As with other
options on securities, indices, or futures contracts, the price of any swaption
will reflect both an intrinsic value component, which may be zero, and a time
premium component. The intrinsic value component represents what the value of
the swaption would be if it were immediately exercisable into the underlying
interest rate swap. The intrinsic value component
-21-
measures the degree to which an option is in-the-money, if at all. The time
premium represents the difference between the actual price of the swaption and
the intrinsic value.
It is customary market practice for swaptions to be "cash
settled" rather than an actual position in an interest rate swap being
established at the time of swaption expiration. For reasons set forth more fully
below, the Fund's Adviser expects to enter strictly into cash settled swaptions,
i.e., where the exercise value of the swaption is determined by reference to the
market for interest rate swaps then prevailing.
The pricing and valuation terms of interest rate swap
agreements and swaptions are not standardized and there is no clearinghouse
whereby a party to the agreement can enter into an offsetting position to close
out a contract. Interest rate swaps and swaptions must thus be regarded as
inherently illiquid. Interest rate swap agreements are usually (1) between an
institutional investor and a broker/dealer firm or bank or (2) between
institutional investors. In addition, substantially all swaps are entered into
subject to the standards set forth by the International Swaps & Derivatives
Association ("ISDA"). ISDA represents participants in the privately negotiated
derivatives industry. It helps formulate the investment industry's position on
regulatory and legislative issues, develops international contractual standards,
and offers arbitration on disputes concerning market practice.
Under the rating agency guidelines imposed in connection with
the intended issuance of auction rate preferred stock by the Fund, it is
expected that the Fund will be authorized to enter into swaptions but not
authorized to enter into interest rate swap agreements. Certain rating agency
guidelines may be changed from time to time and it is expected that those
relating to interest rate swaps would be able to be revised by the Fund's Board,
without shareholder vote of the Common Stock or the Fund's auction rate
preferred stock, so long as the relevant rating agency(ies) has given written
notice that such revisions would not adversely affect the rating of the Fund's
auction rate preferred stock then in effect.
The Board of Directors has limited the Fund's use of interest
rate swaps and swaptions as follows: (1) swaps and swaptions must be U.S. dollar
denominated and used for hedging purposes only; (2) no more than 5% of the
Fund's total assets, at the time of purchase, may be invested in time premiums
paid for swaptions; (3) swaps and swaptions must conform to the standards of the
ISDA Master Agreement; and (4) the counterparty must be a bank or broker/dealer
firm regulated under the laws of the United States of America that is (a) on a
list approved by the Fund's Board, (b) with capital of at least $100 million,
and (c) which is rated investment grade by both Moody's and S&P.
The Fund's Adviser expects that the Fund will be subject to
the initial and subsequent mark-to-market collateral requirements that are
standard among ISDA participants. These requirements help insure that the party
who is a net obligor at current market value has pledged for safekeeping, to the
counterparty, sufficient collateral to cover any losses should the obligor
become incapable, for whatever reason, of fulfilling its commitments under the
swap or swaption agreements. This is analogous, in many respects, to the
collateral requirements in place on regular futures and options exchanges. As
long as the Fund is a purchaser of swaptions, which is expected to be the only
possibility under rating agency guidelines applicable to the auction rate
preferred stock the Fund intends to issue, the Fund would not have to pledge
-22-
collateral. However, it would have to monitor the market value of the swaptions
held and insure that they are properly collateralized.
The Fund has instituted procedures for accurately valuing any
swaps or swaptions positions to which it is party. Swaps or swaptions will be
valued by the counterparty to the swap or swaption in question. Such valuation
will then be compared with the valuation provided by a broker/dealer or bank
that is not a party to the swap or swaption. In the event of material
discrepancies, the Fund has procedures in place for valuing the swap or
swaption, subject to the direction of the Fund's Board, which include reference
to (1) third-party information services, such as Bloomberg, and (2) comparison
with the Adviser's valuation models.
The use of interest rate swaps and swaptions, as the foregoing
discussion suggests, are subject to risks and complexities beyond what might be
encountered in standardized, exchange traded options and futures contracts. Such
risks include operational risks, valuation risks, credit risks, and/or
counterparty risk (i.e., the risk that the counterparty cannot or will not
perform its obligations under the agreement). In addition, at the time the
interest rate swap or swaption reaches its scheduled termination date, there is
a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or
that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring
transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance
of the Fund.
While the Fund may utilize interest rate swaps and swaptions
for hedging purposes, their use might result in poorer overall performance for
the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example,
the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell or pledge a portion of its
underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily mark-to-market
collateralization requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do
so. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Fund's portfolio holdings
and swaps or swaptions entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from
achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. Further, the
Fund's use of swaps and swaptions to reduce risk involves costs and will be
subject to the Adviser's ability to predict correctly changes in interest rate
relationships or other factors. No assurance can be given that the Adviser's
judgment in this respect will be correct.
Options on Securities. In order to hedge against adverse
market shifts, the Fund may utilize up to 5% of its assets to purchase put and
call options on securities. In addition, the Fund may seek to increase its
income or may hedge a portion of its portfolio investments through writing
(i.e., selling) covered put and call options. A put option embodies the right of
its purchaser to compel the writer of the option to purchase from the option
holder an underlying security or its equivalent at a specified price at any time
during the option period. In contrast, a call option gives the purchaser the
right to buy the underlying security or its equivalent covered by the option or
its equivalent from the writer of the option at the stated exercise price. Under
interpretations of the Commission currently in effect, which may change from
time to time, a "covered" call option means that so long as the Fund is
obligated as the writer of the option, it will own (1) the underlying
instruments subject to the option, (2) instruments convertible or exchangeable
into the instruments subject to the option or (3) a call option on the relevant
instruments with an exercise price no higher than the exercise price on the call
option written.
-23-
Similarly, the Commission currently requires that, to support
its obligation to purchase the underlying instruments if a put option written by
the Fund is exercised, the Fund either (a) deposit with its custodian in a
segregated account liquid securities having a value at least equal to the
exercise price of the underlying securities, (b) continue to own an equivalent
number of puts of the same "series" (that is, puts on the same underlying
security having the same exercise prices and expiration dates as those written
by the Fund), or an equivalent number of puts of the same "class" (that is, puts
on the same underlying security) with exercise prices greater than those it has
written (or, if the exercise prices of the puts it holds are less than the
exercise prices of those it has written, it will deposit the difference with its
custodian in a segregated account) or (c) sell short the securities underlying
the put option at the same or a higher price than the exercise price on the put
option written.
The Fund will receive a premium when it writes put and call
options, which increases the Fund's return on the underlying security in the
event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. By writing a
call, the Fund will limit its opportunity to profit from an increase in the
market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option
for as long as the Fund's obligation as the writer of the option continues. Upon
the exercise of a put option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an
economic loss equal to the difference between the price at which the Fund is
required to purchase the underlying security and its market value at the time of
the option exercise, less the premium received for writing the option. Upon the
exercise of a call option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic
loss equal to an amount not less than the excess of the security's market value
at the time of the option exercise over the Fund's acquisition cost of the
security, less the sum of the premium received for writing the option and the
difference, if any, between the call price paid to the Fund and the Fund's
acquisition cost of the security. Thus, in some periods the Fund might receive
less total return and in other periods greater total return from its hedged
positions than it would have received from its underlying securities unhedged.
The Fund may purchase and write options on securities that are
listed on national securities exchanges or are traded over the counter, although
it expects, under normal circumstances, to effect such transactions on national
securities exchanges.
As a holder of a put option, the Fund will have the right to
sell the securities underlying the option and as the holder of a call option,
the Fund will have the right to purchase the securities underlying the option,
in each case at their exercise price at any time prior to the option's
expiration date. The Fund may choose to exercise the options it holds, permit
them to expire or terminate them prior to their expiration by entering into
closing sale transactions. In entering into a closing sale transaction, the Fund
would sell an option of the same series as the one it has purchased. The ability
of the Fund to enter into a closing sale transaction with respect to options
purchased and to enter into a closing purchase transaction with respect to
options sold depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market. There can be
no assurance that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when
the Fund so desires. The Fund's ability to terminate option positions
established in the over-the-counter market may be more limited than in the case
of exchange-traded options and may also involve the risk that securities dealers
participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the
Fund.
-24-
In purchasing a put option, the Fund will seek to benefit from
a decline in the market price of the underlying security, while in purchasing a
call option, the Fund will seek to benefit from an increase in the market price
of the underlying security. If an option purchased is not sold or exercised when
it has remaining value, or if the market price of the underlying security
remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, in the case of a put, or
remains equal to or below the exercise price, in the case of a call, during the
life of the option, the option will expire worthless. For the purchase of an
option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must
decline sufficiently below the exercise price, in the case of a put, and must
increase sufficiently above the exercise price, in the case of a call, to cover
the premium and transaction costs. Because option premiums paid by the Fund are
small in relation to the market value of the instruments underlying the options,
buying options can result in large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by
trading in options could cause the Fund's net asset value to be subject to more
frequent and wider fluctuation than would be the case if the Fund did not invest
in options.
Options on Stock Indices. The Fund may utilize up to 5% of its
assets to purchase put and call options on domestic stock indices to hedge
against risks of market-wide price movements affecting its assets. In addition,
the Fund may write covered put and call options on stock indices. A stock index
measures the movement of a certain group of stocks by assigning relative values
to the common stocks included in the index. Options on stock indices are similar
to options on securities. Because no underlying security can be delivered,
however, the option represents the holder's right to obtain from the writer, in
cash, a fixed multiple of the amount by which the exercise price exceeds (in the
case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a call) the closing value of the
underlying index on the exercise date. The advisability of using stock index
options to hedge against the risk of market-wide movements will depend on the
extent of diversification of the Fund's investments and the sensitivity of its
investments to factors influencing the underlying index. The effectiveness of
purchasing or writing stock index options as a hedging technique will depend
upon the extent to which price movements in the Fund's securities, investments
correlate with price movements in the stock index selected. In addition,
successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the
ability of the Adviser to predict correctly changes in the relationship of the
underlying index to the Fund's portfolio holdings. No assurance can be given
that the Adviser's judgment in this respect will be correct.
When the Fund writes an option on a stock index, it will
establish a segregated account with its custodian in which the Fund will deposit
liquid securities in an amount equal to the market value of the option, and will
maintain the account while the option is open.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. New issues of
preferred and debt securities may be offered on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis, which means that delivery and payment for the security normally
take place within 45 days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The
payment obligation and the dividends that will be received on the security are
fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. The Fund will make
commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis
only with the intention of acquiring the securities, but may sell these
securities before the settlement date if the Adviser deems it advisable. No
additional when-issued or delayed delivery commitments will be made if more than
20% of the Fund's net assets would be so committed. Securities purchased on
-25-
a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may be subject to changes in value based
upon the public's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes,
real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities purchased or
sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may expose the Fund to risk
because they may experience these fluctuations prior to their actual delivery.
The Fund will not accrue income with respect to a debt security it has purchased
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis prior to its stated delivery date but
will accrue income on a delayed delivery security it has sold. Purchasing or
selling securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the
additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes
place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. A
segregated account of the Fund consisting of liquid securities equal at all
times to the amount of the Fund's when-issued and delayed delivery purchase
commitments will be established and maintained with the Fund's custodian.
Placing securities rather than cash in the segregated account may have a
leveraging effect on the Fund's net asset value per share; that is, to the
extent that the Fund remains substantially fully invested in securities at the
same time that it has committed to purchase securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis, greater fluctuations in its net asset value per share
may occur than if it has set aside cash to satisfy its purchase commitments.
Lending Portfolio Securities. The Fund is authorized to lend
securities it holds to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations,
although it has no current intention of doing so. Loans of the Fund's
securities, if and when made, may not exceed 33-1/3% of the Fund's assets taken
at value. The Fund's loans of securities will be collateralized by cash, letters
of credit or Government Securities that will be maintained at all times in a
segregated account with the Fund's custodian in an amount at least equal to the
current market value of the loaned securities. From time to time, the Fund may
pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received for
securities loaned to the borrower and/or a third party that is unaffiliated with
the Fund and that is acting as a "finder."
By lending its portfolio securities, the Fund can increase its
income by continuing to receive interest on the loaned securities, by investing
the cash collateral in short-term instruments or by obtaining yield in the form
of interest paid by the borrower when Government Securities are used as
collateral. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions
of credit, consists of the possible delay in recovery of the securities or the
possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially.
The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever it lends its
securities: (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or
equivalent securities from the borrower, which will be maintained by daily
marking-to-market; (2) the borrower must increase the collateral whenever the
market value of the securities loaned rises above the level of the collateral;
(3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must
receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or
other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value;
(5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection with the loan;
and (6) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, except
that, if a material, event adversely affecting the investment in the loaned
securities occurs, the Fund's Board of Directors must terminate the loan and
regain the Fund's right to vote the securities.
Short Sales Against the Box. The Fund may make short sales of
securities in order to reduce market exposure and/or to increase its income if,
at all times when a short
-26-
position is open, the Fund owns an equal or greater amount of such securities or
owns preferred securities, debt or warrants convertible or exchangeable into an
equal or greater number of the shares of common stock sold short. Short sales of
this kind are referred to as short sales of securities "against the box." The
broker-dealer that executes a short sale generally invests the cash proceeds of
the sale until they are paid to the Fund. Arrangements may be made with the
broker-dealer to obtain a portion of the interest earned by the broker on the
investment of short sale proceeds. The Fund will segregate the securities
against which short sales against the box have been made in a special account
with its custodian. Not more than 10% of the Fund's net assets (taken at current
value) may be held as collateral for such sales at any one time.
RATING AGENCY GUIDELINES AND ASSET COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS
In connection with the anticipated issuance of auction rate
preferred stock, the Fund's investments will be subject to certain investment
guidelines (the "Rating Agency Guidelines") established by Moody's at all times
when the auction rate preferred stock is outstanding. Provided that the Fund
complies with the Rating Agency Guidelines, it is expected that the auction rate
preferred stock will be rated "Aa" by Moody's, but no assurance can be given
that such a rating can be obtained. Moody's receives fees in connection with
issuances of ratings.
It is anticipated that the Rating Agency Guidelines will
require the Fund to meet, as of certain specified dates, an "Eligible Asset
Coverage Amount" requirement. To meet the Eligible Asset Coverage Amount
requirement, the Fund must maintain a certain percentage of its assets in
specific types of investments ("Eligible Assets") with an aggregate value
(determined using procedures specified by Moody's) sufficient to cover the
aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding auction rate preferred stock
plus accumulated dividends to the redemption date or the liquidation date,
certain projected dividends and the amount of Additional Distributions. In
addition, in order to pay dividends on the Common Stock, the 1940 Act requires
the Fund to meet minimum asset coverage requirements (the "1940 Act Asset
Coverage Requirement"). The 1940 Act Asset Coverage Requirement will be met if
the value of the Fund's total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness of
the Fund, is equal to at least 200% of the aggregate liquidation preference of
the outstanding auction rate preferred stock. Compliance with the Rating Agency
Guidelines would impose restrictions on the securities in which the Fund would
invest and, in certain circumstances, meeting the Eligible Asset Coverage Amount
requirement and 1940 Act Asset Coverage Requirement would require the Fund to
redeem or purchase shares of its auction rate preferred stock outstanding.
RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in any investment
company security involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little
or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your
investment. Therefore, before investing you should consider carefully the
following risks that you assume when you invest in shares of the Fund's Common
Stock.
Fluctuation in Share Price. Changes in the level of interest
rates are expected to affect the value of the Fund's portfolio holdings of fixed
rate and inverse floating rate securities
-27-
and, under certain circumstances, its holdings of adjustable rate securities and
positions in hedging instruments, and the market price of the Common Stock. In
addition to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates, the value of the
Fund's holdings of preferred and debt securities and common stocks, and as a
result, the Fund's net asset value, may also be affected by other market and
credit factors, as well as by actual or anticipated changes in tax laws, such as
corporate income tax rates and the DRD. Further, the exercise of call provisions
on preferred or debt securities by their issuers due to generally falling
interest rates or otherwise, could result in the Fund not realizing the benefits
of (i) price appreciation in the securities above the call prices and/or (ii)
stable income in the event of declining yields for preferred and debt
securities. In addition, there can be no assurance that there will be sufficient
liquidity of preferred securities to enable the Fund to buy or sell preferred
securities at prices that the Adviser believes to be suitable.
Illiquidity. Preferred securities, which will constitute the
principal portion of the Fund's assets, may be substantially less liquid than
many other securities such as common stocks or Government Securities. At any
particular time, a preferred security may not be actively traded in the
secondary market, even though it may be listed on the NYSE or other securities
exchange. Many preferred securities currently outstanding are listed on the
NYSE, although secondary market transactions in preferred securities are
frequently effected in the over-the-counter market, even in those preferred
securities that are listed. The prices of illiquid securities may be more
volatile than more actively traded securities and the absence of a liquid
secondary market may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to buy or sell its
preferred securities holdings at the times and prices desired and the ability of
the Fund to determine its net asset value.
Income Ineligible for DRD; Changes in Tax Law. Investors
should note that the Fund may generate capital gains and other income that does
not qualify for the DRD. The Fund may consider a security's potential for
appreciation as one factor, among others, in selecting portfolio investments,
although it will not seek capital gains as a primary investment objective for
the Fund's portfolio as a whole. In previous years, the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives have proposed and enacted legislation designed to reduce the
DRD. There can be no guarantee that future congressional action would not
further reduce the DRD, which could adversely affect the Fund's holdings of
preferred stock. Corporate shareholders of the Fund should consider that the
Code contains several limitations on the availability of the DRD. Accordingly,
the DRD is unavailable for corporate shareholders who fail to satisfy the
minimum holding period requirement of Section 246(c) of the Code and is reduced
for debt-financed holdings of portfolio stock pursuant to the rules of Section
246A of the Code. See "Taxation."
Unrated Securities. The Fund may invest in unrated securities
that the Adviser determines to be of comparable quality to the rated securities
in which the Fund may invest. Dealers may not maintain daily markets in unrated
securities and retail secondary markets for many of them may not exist. As a
result, the Fund's ability to sell these securities when the Adviser deems it to
be appropriate may be diminished.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may invest in
inverse floating rate securities whose potential return is inversely related to
changes in an interest rate. In general, income on these securities is typically
expected to fall when short-term interest rates rise and to rise when short-term
interest rates fall. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may
-28-
subject the Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and
losses of principal. In addition, these securities may increase or decrease in
value at a greater rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively
leverages the Fund's investment. As a result, the market value of such
securities will generally be more volatile than that of fixed rate securities.
Inverse floating rate securities are derivative securities and can be considered
speculative.
Lower-Quality Preferred and Debt Securities. The Fund is
permitted to invest up to 20% of its assets in preferred and debt securities
rated at the time of purchase below either "Baa3" by Moody's or "BBB-" by S&P or
deemed to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase, but at least equal
to either "Ba3" or "BB-" by such rating agencies, respectively. Preferred and
debt securities rated "Ba" by Moody's are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well assured and earnings and asset
protection may be very moderate. Preferred and debt securities rated "BB" by S&P
are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics and, while such
obligations have less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative
issues, they face major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business,
financial or economic conditions, which could lead to inadequate capacity to
meet timely payments. See Appendix A to this Prospectus for a general
description of Moody's and S&P's ratings of preferred and debt securities.
The Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain preferred
and debt securities because the trading market for such lower-quality securities
may be thinner than the market for preferred and debt securities generally. To
the extent a secondary trading market for lower-quality preferred and debt
securities does exist, it generally is not as liquid as the secondary market for
higher-rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market, as well as
adverse publicity and investor perception with respect to these securities, may
have an adverse impact on market price and the Fund's ability to dispose of
particular issues in response to a specific economic event such as a
deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid
secondary market for certain securities also may make it more difficult for the
Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund's
portfolio and calculating its net asset value. The market behavior of preferred
and debt securities in lower rating categories is often more volatile than that
of higher quality securities.
Organization of the Fund. The Fund is a newly organized,
closed-end investment company with no previous operating history. Shares of
closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from net asset
value, especially shortly after the completion of the initial public offering.
This characteristic of shares of a closed-end fund is a risk separate and
distinct from the risk that the fund's net asset value will decrease. The Fund
cannot predict whether the Common Stock will trade at, above or below net asset
value. The risk of purchasing shares of a closed-end fund that might trade at a
discount is more pronounced for investors who wish to sell their shares in a
relatively short period of time after the initial public offering. For those
investors, realization of gain or loss on their investment is likely to be more
dependent upon the existence of a premium or discount than upon portfolio
performance and the possible advantages associated with the leveraging of the
Common Stock. The net asset value per share of the Common Stock immediately
following the completion of the offering described in this Prospectus will be
the initial offering price per share of $15.00 minus the sales load and other
per share offering expenses. The Common Stock is not redeemable.
-29-
SPECIAL LEVERAGE CONSIDERATIONS
EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE
Within three months after the completion of the offering of
shares of Common Stock described in this Prospectus, the Fund intends, subject
to then favorable market conditions, to offer shares of auction rate preferred
stock in one or more series representing approximately 37% of the Fund's
capital immediately after the issuance of that stock. The issuance of shares of
auction rate preferred stock is intended to occur as soon as practicable after
the proceeds of this offering are invested. No assurance can be given that
shares of auction rate preferred stock representing that percentage of the
Fund's capital will in fact be issued and, if issued, will remain outstanding
for any specific period of time. The issuance of auction rate preferred stock
would result in the financial leveraging of the Common Stock. Although the terms
of the auction rate preferred stock and the timing and other terms of its
offering will be determined by the Fund's Board of Directors, the Fund
anticipates that, while the Fund will pay dividends on the auction rate
preferred stock outstanding that typically reflect shorter-term rates (which
would generally be redetermined at relatively short intervals), the net return
on the Fund's portfolio, including proceeds of the auction rate preferred stock
offering, will for the applicable comparison period exceed the dividends paid on
the auction rate preferred stock and any Additional Distributions paid thereon.
So long as the Fund, during the applicable comparison period, is able to invest
the proceeds of both the Common Stock and the preferred stock offerings in
securities that provide, on average, a higher net return than the rate of return
based on the then current dividends paid on the auction rate preferred stock
outstanding and the then current Additional Distribution payments after taking
into account the expenses of the preferred stock offering and the Fund's
operating expenses, the effect of leverage will be to cause Common Stock
shareholders to realize a higher current rate of return than if the Fund were
not leveraged. The leverage would also have the effect of increasing the net
asset value of the Common Stock to a greater extent than if the Fund were not
leveraged in the event the net asset value per share of the Fund's investment
portfolio increased.
Investors should note, however, that certain risks are
associated with the leveraging of the Common Stock. Both the net asset value and
the market value of shares of Common Stock may be subject to higher volatility,
and fluctuations in the dividend rates on the auction rate preferred stock may
affect the yield to Common Stock shareholders. If the current dividend rate on
the Fund's auction rate preferred stock outstanding were to approach the net
return on the Fund's investment portfolio after expenses, the benefit of
leverage to the Common Stock shareholders would be reduced, and if the current
dividend rate on the auction rate preferred stock outstanding were to exceed the
net return on the Fund's portfolio, the Fund's leveraged capital structure would
result in a lower rate of return to the Common Stock shareholders than if the
Fund were not leveraged. Any increases in the Fund's assets, whether
attributable to net capital appreciation, the reinvestment of dividends or the
issuance of additional shares pursuant to the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment and
Cash Purchase Plan, will result in a decrease in the percentage of the Fund's
capitalization represented by shares of auction rate preferred stock
outstanding, thereby reducing the effects of leverage. Since any decline in the
net asset value of the Fund's investments would be borne entirely by Common
Stock shareholders, the effect of leverage in a declining market would result in
a greater decrease in net asset value to Common Stock shareholders than if the
Fund were not leveraged, which
-30-
would likely be reflected in a greater decline in the market price for shares of
Common Stock. In an extreme case, if the Fund's current investment income were
not sufficient to meet dividend requirements on the auction rate preferred stock
outstanding, the Fund may be required to liquidate certain of its investments
and use the proceeds to meet such requirements, thereby possibly reducing the
net asset value attributable to the Common Stock. For that reason, no assurance
can be given that the issuance of auction rate preferred stock will result in a
higher return to Common Stock shareholders.
A flattening of the yield curve would reduce the current
advantage of longer-term interest rates over the short-term interest rates and
could affect the Fund adversely. In such a case, the cost to the Fund of the
dividends paid on the auction rate preferred stock outstanding, which would
generally reflect shorter-term interest rates, could rise relative to the Fund's
dividend income. Under the typical adjustment formula, the dividend rates on
adjustable rate preferred stocks would reflect only the change in longer-term
Treasury Bond yields as the current yield curve flattened, which could impact
negatively the prices of such adjustable rate preferred stocks as well. Should
the yield curve become inverted, resulting in the discount yield on 3-month
Treasury Bills exceeding the yields on 10- and-20-year Treasury securities, the
dividend rates of adjustable rate preferred stocks would then generally be
determined by the yields on such shorter-term Treasury Bills for as long as this
inverted yield curve continued to exist. In the case of fixed rate preferred
stocks, a flattening or inversion of the yield curve would not affect the Fund's
dividend income but could negatively impact the value of such stocks.
Until the auction rate preferred stock is issued, the Common
Stock will not be leveraged, and the special leverage considerations described
above will not apply.
MANAGEMENT OF INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE
In the event of an increase in short-term rates or other
changed market conditions to a point at which the Fund's leverage could
adversely affect Common Stock shareholders as noted above, or in anticipation of
those changes, the Fund may attempt to reduce the degree to which it is
leveraged by partially or fully redeeming or otherwise purchasing shares of
auction rate preferred stock. If market conditions subsequently warranted
"releveraging" of the Fund's capital structure, the Fund might sell previously
unissued shares of preferred stock or shares of preferred stock that the Fund
previously issued but later repurchased.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue shares
of preferred stock unless immediately after their issuance the net asset value
of the Fund's portfolio is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the
outstanding preferred stock (expected to equal the original purchase price per
share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends and applicable Additional
Distributions). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash
dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock unless, at the time of the
declaration, the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio (determined after
deducting the amount of the dividend or distribution) is at least 200% of the
liquidation value of the preferred stock outstanding. Under the Fund's proposed
capital structure, assuming the sale of shares of auction rate preferred stock
representing approximately ___% of the Fund's capital immediately following the
issuance of those shares of stock, the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio
is expected to be approximately ___% of the liquidation value of the Fund's
auction rate preferred stock. If the Fund's assets
-31-
declined to a point where the Fund no longer met the 200% asset coverage test
(which would represent a __% decline in the value of the Fund's assets from the
initial asset coverage of ___%), the Fund would be restricted from making
distributions to Common Stock shareholders until the 200% asset coverage
requirement was again met. To the extent possible, the Fund intends to purchase
or partially or fully redeem auction rate preferred stock from time to time to
maintain coverage of auction rate preferred stock of at least 200%. As a result,
holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock may be required to liquidate
their shares before they otherwise would have and at times that they may deem to
be disadvantageous.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment
restrictions that may not be changed without the prior approval of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities, voting as a single
class, and approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding
shares of auction rate preferred stock, voting as a separate class. A "majority
of the Fund's outstanding voting securities" for this purpose means the lesser
of (1) 67% or more of the shares of Common Stock and shares of auction rate
preferred stock present at a meeting of shareholders, voting as a single class,
if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or represented by
proxy at the meeting, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock and outstanding shares of auction rate preferred stock voting as a single
class. A majority of the Fund's outstanding shares of auction rate preferred
stock for this purpose is determined in a similar manner, by applying the
percentages in the previous sentence to outstanding shares of auction rate
preferred stock. For purposes of the restrictions listed below, all percentage
limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and any
subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market
fluctuations does not require elimination of any security from the Fund's
portfolio. Under its fundamental restrictions, the Fund may not:
(1) Purchase securities (other than Government
Securities) of any issuer if as a result of the purchase more than 5% of the
value of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the securities of that
issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets may be
invested without regard to this 5% limitation.
(2) Purchase more than 10% of the voting securities of
any one issuer except that (i) this limitation is not applicable to the Fund's
investments in Government Securities and (ii) up to 25% of the value of the
Fund's total assets may be invested without regard to this 10% limitation.
(3) Borrow money, except for temporary or emergency
purposes, or in connection with repurchases of its shares or for clearance of
transactions, and then only in amounts not exceeding 10% of its total assets
(not including the amount borrowed) and as otherwise described in this
Prospectus. When the Fund's borrowings exceed 5% of the value of its total
assets, the Fund will not make any additional investments.
(4) Sell securities short or purchase securities on
margin, except for such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of
transactions, but the Fund may make
-32-
margin deposits in connection with transactions in options on securities,
futures and options on futures, and may make short sales of securities "against
the box."
(5) Underwrite any issue of securities, except to the
extent that the sale of portfolio securities may be deemed to be an
underwriting.
(6) Purchase, hold or deal in real estate or oil and gas
interests, except that the Fund may invest in securities secured by real estate
or interests in real estate.
(7) Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may enter
into futures contracts, including interest rate and stock index futures, and may
purchase options and write covered options on futures contracts and securities,
as described in this Prospectus.
(8) Lend any funds or other assets, except through
purchasing debt securities, lending portfolio securities and entering into
repurchase agreements consistent with the Fund's investment objective.
(9) Issue senior securities other than preferred stock.
(10) Invest more than 25% of its total assets in the
securities of issuers in any single industry other than each of the utilities
and banking industries, except that this limitation will not be applicable to
the purchase of Government Securities.
(11) Make any investments for the purpose of exercising
control or management of any company.
Except for the investment restrictions set forth above, the
Fund's investment objective and the Fund's policy of concentrating in the
utilities and banking industries, the other policies and percentage limitations
referred to in this Prospectus are not fundamental policies of the Fund and,
unless provided to the contrary in the Articles, may be changed by the Fund's
Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The Fund's 80% investment
policy is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Directors without
shareholder approval, to become effective on at least 60 days' written notice to
shareholders prior to any such change.
The Fund intends to apply for a rating from Moody's for the
auction rate preferred stock the Fund intends to issue. In order to obtain and
maintain this rating the Fund will be required to comply with investment
quality, diversification and other guidelines established by Moody's that will
be more restrictive in many respects than the restrictions set forth above. See
"Investment Objective and Policies -- Rating Agency Guidelines and Asset
Coverage Requirements." The Fund does not anticipate that such guidelines would
have a material adverse effect on the Common Stock shareholders or the Fund's
ability to achieve its investment objective.
-33-
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the
direction of the Fund's Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the
Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below.
NUMBER OF FUNDS
TERM OF OFFICE PRINCIPAL IN FUND COMPLEX OTHER
POSITIONS(S) AND LENGTH OF OCCUPATION(S) DURING OVERSEEN DIRECTORSHIPS
NAME, ADDRESS, AND AGE HELD WITH FUND TIME SERVED PAST FIVE YEARS BY DIRECTOR HELD BY DIRECTOR
---------------------- -------------- ----------- --------------- ----------- ----------------
NON-INTERESTED
DIRECTORS:
[TO COME]
INTERESTED DIRECTORS:
DONALD F. CRUMRINE(+) Director and Since inception Chairman of the 3 --
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Chairman of the Board, since
Suite 720 Board December 1996, and
Pasadena, CA 91101 previously held
Age: 54 other officerships
of Flaherty &
Crumrine; Director
of Flaherty &
Crumrine.
NICHOLAS DALMASO(+) Director, Vice Since inception Executive Vice President
210 N. Hale Street President and and General Counsel of
Wheaton, IL 60187 Assistant Claymore Securities, Inc.
Age: 37 Secretary since November 2001.
Associate General Counsel
of Nuveen Investments from
July 1999 to November,
2001. Prior to that,
Associate General Counsel
of Van Kampen Investments.
OFFICERS
ROBERT M. ETTINGER President Since inception Since December -- --
301 E. Colorado Boulevard 1996, President of
Suite 720 Flaherty & Crumrine.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Age: 43
PETER C. STIMES Vice Since inception Since December -- --
301 E. Colorado Boulevard President, 1996, Vice
Suite 720 Chief Financial President of
Pasadena, CA 91101 Officer, Chief Flaherty & Crumrine.
Age: 46 Accounting
Officer,
Treasurer and
Assistant
Secretary
R. ERIC CHADWICK Vice President, Since Inception Since January 1999, -- --
301 E. Colorado Boulevard Secretary and portfolio manager
Suite 720 Assistant of Flaherty &
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer Crumrine and since
Age: 27 2001, Vice
President of
Flaherty & Crumrine;
from January 1997
through November
1998, portfolio
manager of Koch
Industries, Inc.
-----------------------
(+) "Interested person" of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs.
Crumrine and Dalmaso are each considered an "interested person"
because of their affiliation with the Adviser and Servicing Agent,
respectively.
Each Director who is not a director, officer or employee of
the Adviser or the Servicing Agent or any of their affiliates receives a fee of
$9,000 per annum plus $500 for each
-34-
in-person meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee and $100 for each
such meeting conducted by telephone conference call. In addition, all Directors
are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses associated with attending
Board of Directors or committee meetings.
Commencing with the first annual meeting of shareholders, the
Board of Directors will be divided into three classes having terms of one, two
and three years, respectively. At the annual meeting of shareholders in each
year thereafter, the term of one class will expire and Directors will be elected
to serve in that class for terms of three years. Under the Fund's Articles of
Incorporation and the 1940 Act, holders of shares of auction rate preferred
stock (when issued), voting as a single class, will elect two Directors and
holders of the Common Stock will elect the remaining Directors, subject to the
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Fund's Articles, which permit the holders of
shares of auction rate preferred stock to elect the minimum number of additional
Directors that when combined with the two Directors elected by the holders of
shares of auction rate preferred stock would give the holders of shares of
auction rate preferred stock a majority of the Directors when dividends are in
arrears for two full years. ____________ and ____________ are expected to
represent the holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock, and the
remaining Directors are subject to election by Common Stock shareholders.
Directors elected by holders of Common Stock and shares of auction rate
preferred stock will be apportioned among the classes of Directors. The Fund's
Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of Directors and officers of the
Fund to the Fund or its shareholders for damages, and require that the Fund
indemnify its Directors and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred
by reason of their services to the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by
Maryland law. These provisions do not apply to liabilities or expenses incurred
as a result of any Director's or officer's willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of his duties. The Fund, at its expense,
provides liability insurance for the benefit of its Directors and officers.
Overall responsibility for management and supervision of the
Fund rests with the Fund's Board of Directors. The Directors approve all
significant agreements between the Fund and the persons or companies that
furnish services to the Fund, including agreements with its investment adviser,
servicing agent, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day
operations of the Fund are delegated to the Adviser.
The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the independent
directors of the Fund (Messrs. ___, ___, ___ and ___). The role of the Fund's
Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of the
Fund's financial reporting process. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a
Charter that was most recently reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors
of the Fund on July 19, 2002. As set forth in the Charter, management is
responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund's
financial statements, and for the procedures designed to ensure compliance with
accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent
accountants are responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and
reviews of the Fund's financial statements and expressing an opinion as to their
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
The Fund's Nominating Committee is comprised of all of the
independent directors of the Fund. The Nominating Committee is responsible for
considering candidates for election to the Board of Directors in the event a
position is vacated or created. The Nominating
-35-
Committee will consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy were to
exist. Any such recommendations should be forwarded to the Secretary of the
Fund.
COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
estimated compensation of the Fund's Directors for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2002. Directors and executive officers of the Fund do not receive
pension or retirement benefits from the Fund.
COMPENSATION TABLE
TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM FUND
NAME OF PERSON AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM AND FUND COMPLEX PAID TO FUND
AND POSITION THE FUND DIRECTORS*
Donald F. Crumrine $ 0 $ 0
Director and Chairman of the Board
Nicholas Dalmaso $ 0 $ 0
Director, Vice President and Secretary
[________] $ $
Director
[________] $ $
Director
[________] $ $
Director
------------------
* Represents the total estimated compensation to be paid to such persons
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002 by those funds which are
considered part of the same "fund complex" because they have a common
investment adviser.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated serves as the Fund's
investment adviser pursuant to an advisory agreement between the Fund and the
Adviser (the "Advisory Agreement"). The Adviser, which was organized in 1983 and
has offices at 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101,
specializes in the management of portfolios of preferred securities, including
related hedging activities, for institutional investors and had aggregate assets
under management, as of April 30, 2002 (which do not include the net assets of
the Fund) of approximately $806 million. The Adviser is registered as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and
also serves as an investment adviser to Preferred Income Fund Incorporated and
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated, closed-end investment companies
investing primarily in preferred securities, which as of April 30, 2002 had
approximately $394 million in aggregate total net assets. In managing the
day-to-day operations of the Fund, the Adviser relies on the expertise of its
team of money management
-36-
professionals, consisting of Messrs. Crumrine, Ettinger, Stimes and Chadwick,
whose backgrounds are described above. Mr. Robert T. Flaherty, a founder of the
Adviser, may be deemed to control the Adviser by virtue of his ownership of 40%
of the Adviser.
Subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund's Board
of Directors, the Adviser manages the Fund's portfolio in accordance with the
Fund's investment objective and policies, places orders to purchase and sell
securities and employs professional portfolio managers and securities analysts
who provide research services to the Fund. For its services, the Adviser is paid
a fee computed and paid monthly at the annual rate of .____ of 1.00% on the
Fund's average monthly net assets. (FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING SUCH FEE, THE
FUND'S AVERAGE MONTHLY NET ASSETS WILL BE DEEMED TO BE THE AVERAGE MONTHLY VALUE
OF THE FUND'S TOTAL ASSETS MINUS THE SUM OF THE FUND'S LIABILITIES (WHICH
LIABILITIES EXCLUDE THE AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE OF THE FUND'S
OUTSTANDING AUCTION RATE PREFERRED STOCK) AND ACCUMULATED DIVIDENDS, IF ANY, ON
THE FUND'S AUCTION RATE PREFERRED STOCK.)
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be
liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by
the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Advisory Agreement relates,
except liability resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the Adviser's part in the performance of its duties or from
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement
("disabling conduct"). The Advisory Agreement also provides that the Fund will
indemnify the Adviser for any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense not
resulting from disabling conduct on the part of the Adviser.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Fund, the Adviser [and the principal underwriter] have
each adopted a written Code of Ethics (the "Code of Ethics"), which permits
personnel covered by the Code of Ethics ("Covered Persons") to invest in
securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The
Code of Ethics also contains provisions designed to address the conflicts of
interest that could arise from personal trading by advisory personnel,
including: (1) all Covered Persons must report their personal securities
transactions at the end of each quarter; (2) with certain limited exceptions,
all Covered Persons must obtain preclearance before executing any personal
securities transactions; (3) Covered Persons may not execute personal trades in
a security if there are any pending orders in that security by the Fund; and (4)
certain Covered Persons may not invest in initial public offerings without prior
approval.
The Board reviews the administration of the Code of Ethics at
least annually and may impose sanctions for violations of the Code of Ethics.
SERVICING AGENT
Claymore Securities, Inc. (the "Servicing Agent") serves as
the Fund's Servicing Agent. In this capacity, it acts as shareholder servicing
agent to the Fund and provides oversight of the Administrator. As compensation
for its services, the Fund pays the Servicing Agent a fee computed and paid
monthly at the annual rate of 0.__ of 1.00% of the value of the Fund's average
monthly net assets, computed in the same manner as described above for the
Adviser's fee. Claymore Securities, Inc. specializes in the creation and
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sponsorship of financial products as well as in investment banking and advisory
services. With roots tracing back to 1935, Claymore seeks to continually develop
and distribute innovative financial solutions for financial advisors and their
clients such as defined portfolios, mutual funds, closed-end exchange traded
funds, separately managed accounts and other alternative investments. The
Servicing Agent is registered with the SEC as broker-dealer.
ADMINISTRATOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
__________________ (the "Administrator") serves as the Fund's
administrator. In its capacity as such, the Administrator calculates the net
asset value of the Common Stock and generally assists in all aspects of the
administration and operation of the Fund. As compensation for the
Administrator's services, the Fund pays the Administrator a fee computed and
paid monthly at the annual rate of 0.__ of 1.00% of the value of the Fund's
average monthly net assets (which, for purposes of calculating such fee, will be
deemed to be the average monthly value of the Fund's total assets minus the sum
of the Fund's liabilities (which liabilities exclude the aggregate liquidation
preference of the Fund's outstanding auction rate preferred stock) and
accumulated dividends, if any, on the auction rate preferred stock). The
Administrator also serves as the Fund's Common Stock servicing agent (transfer
agent), dividend-paying agent and registrar. As compensation for the
Administrator's services as such, the Fund pays the Administrator a fee computed
and paid monthly at an annual rate of .__ of 1.00% of the Fund's average monthly
net assets, computed as described above, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses.
DURATION AND TERMINATION; NON-EXCLUSIVE SERVICES
The Advisory Agreement is effective on the date the Fund's
registration statement is declared effective by the SEC and will, unless earlier
terminated as described below, remain in effect for two years and from year to
year thereafter if approved annually (1) by the Board of Directors of the Fund
or by the holders of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities and
(2) by a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement
or "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party. The
Advisory Agreement terminates on its assignment by any party and may be
terminated without penalty on 60 days' written notice at the option of any party
or by vote of the shareholders of the Fund. Each of the Administration Agreement
and the Servicing Agreement is effective on the date the Fund's registration
statement is declared effective and will terminate unless approved annually by
the Board of Directors of the Fund. Each of the Administration Agreement and the
Servicing Agreement is terminable upon [60] days' notice by either party to the
agreement.
The services of the Adviser, the Administrator and the
Servicing Agent are not deemed to be exclusive, and nothing in the relevant
service agreements prevents either of them or their affiliates from providing
similar services to other investment companies and other clients (whether or not
their investment objectives and policies are similar to those of the Fund) or
from engaging in other activities.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES
The Adviser, the Administrator and the Servicing Agent are
each obligated to pay expenses associated with providing the services
contemplated by the agreements to which they
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are parties, including compensation of and office space for their respective
officers and employees connected with investment and economic research, trading
and investment management and administration of the Fund. The Adviser and the
Servicing Agent are each obligated to pay the fees of any Director of the Fund
who is affiliated with it, except that the Fund will bear travel expenses or an
appropriate portion thereof of directors, officers or employees of the Adviser
and the Servicing Agent to the extent such expenses relate to attendance at
meetings of the Fund's Board of Directors or any committee thereof. The Fund
pays all other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund including, among
other things, advisory, servicing and administration fees, expenses for legal
and independent accountants' services, costs of printing proxies, stock
certificates and shareholder reports, charges of the custodian and transfer and
dividend-paying agent and registrar, expenses in connection with the Dividend
Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan, Commission fees, fees and expenses of
unaffiliated Directors, membership fees in trade associations, fidelity bond
coverage for the Fund's officers and employees, Directors' and officers' errors
and omissions and liability insurance coverage, interest, brokerage costs and
stock exchange fees, taxes, stock exchange listing fees and expenses, expenses
of qualifying the Fund's shares for sale in various states, expenses in
connection with auctions of auction rate preferred stock outstanding, litigation
and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses, and other expenses properly
payable by the Fund. The fees and expenses incident to the offering and issuance
of Common Stock and the auction rate preferred stock issued by the Fund will be
recorded as a reduction of capital of the Fund attributable to the Common Stock.
On the basis of the anticipated size of the Fund immediately
following the offering, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option, the
Adviser estimates that the Fund's annual operating expenses, exclusive of
amortization of organization expenses, will be approximately $__________,
without taking expenses incident to the initial offering of the Fund's auction
rate preferred stock into account. No assurance can be given, in light of the
Fund's investment objective and policies, however, that actual annual operating
expenses will not be substantially more or less than this estimate and, in fact,
the Fund's annual expenses in the year in which the Fund offers its auction rate
preferred stock can be expected to be substantially higher than the estimate.
Costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its
organization, estimated at $__________, will be charged to capital. Offering
expenses relating to the Fund's Common Stock, estimated at $__________, will be
payable upon completion of the Common Stock offering and will be charged to
capital upon the commencement of investment operations of the Fund. Offering
expenses with regard to the Fund's auction rate preferred stock will be payable
upon the completion of the offering of the auction rate preferred stock and will
be charged to capital at such time.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
GENERAL
The Fund's portfolio securities ordinarily are purchased from
and sold to parties acting as either principal or agent. In general, preferred
stocks are traded on a net basis with dealers acting as principal for their own
account. While there is no stated commission on such
-39-
transactions, the price usually includes compensation for the risk and costs
incurred by the dealer. When a party acts as agent, a stated commission cost
will be incurred. The Adviser will consider the commission cost in determining
the effective price of the security. Orders are placed directly with a principal
market maker unless a better price can be obtained by using a broker. Newly
issued securities are purchased directly from the issuer or the underwriter. The
prices paid to underwriters of newly issued securities usually include a
concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter.
Transactions on behalf of the Fund are allocated by the
Adviser in its best judgment to various dealers, which may include [ ] and other
members of the syndicate that participate in the underwriting of the Common
Stock. The primary consideration is prompt and effective execution of orders at
the most favorable price. Subject to that primary consideration, dealers may be
selected for research, statistical or other services to enable the Adviser to
supplement its own research and analysis with the views and information of other
securities firms. Research and investment services are those which brokerage
houses customarily provide to institutional investors and include research
reports on particular issues and industries.
Brokerage and research services furnished by brokers and
dealers through which the Fund effects securities transactions may be used by
the Adviser in advising other accounts and, conversely, brokerage and research
services furnished to the Adviser by brokers and dealers in connection with
other accounts advised by the Adviser may be used by the Adviser in advising the
Fund. Although it is not possible to place a dollar value on these services, it
is the Adviser's view that the receipt and study of such services should not
reduce the overall costs of its research services.
Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from
those of other accounts advised by the Adviser. If such other accounts are
prepared to invest in, or desire to dispose of, securities at the same time as
the Fund, however, available investments or opportunities for sales will be
allocated equitably to each entity. In some cases, this procedure may adversely
affect the size of the position obtained for or disposed of by the Fund or the
price paid or received by the Fund.
The Fund's Board of Directors periodically reviews the
commissions paid by the Fund to determine if the commissions paid over
representative periods of time were reasonable in relation to the benefits
inuring to the Fund.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
The Fund cannot accurately predict its securities portfolio
turnover rate, but anticipates that its annual turnover rate will not exceed
_____%. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the
Fund's annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the monthly average
value of securities in the portfolio during the year, excluding any portfolio
security (including hedging instruments), the maturity of which at the time of
acquisition is one year or less. Higher portfolio turnover rates could result in
corresponding increases in brokerage commissions. The Fund will not consider
turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions consistent with
its investment objective and policies.
-40-
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund's policy, which may be changed by the Fund's Board of
Directors, will be to distribute throughout the year, primarily in the form of
regular monthly dividends, substantially all (on an annual basis) of its net
investment income (that is, income other than net realized long-term and
short-term capital gains) and its net realized short-term capital gains, if any,
to the holders of the Common Stock. Dividends to Common Stock shareholders are
expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60-90
days, after the completion of the offering of shares of Common Stock. Expenses
of the Fund are accrued each day. The Fund will determine whether to distribute
annually its net realized long-term capital gains, if any, to Common Stock
shareholders and holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock outstanding.
For a discussion of the consequences of this determination to shareholders, see
"Taxation -- Taxation of the Fund and its Investments."
After the issuance of auction rate preferred stock, the
dividends and capital gain distributions to Common Stock shareholders will
consist of the Fund's net investment income and net realized short-term capital
gains, if any, and, to the extent distributed by the Fund, net realized
long-term capital gains, remaining after the payment of accumulated dividends on
the auction rate preferred stock outstanding and any Additional Distributions
then due. While any shares of auction rate preferred stock are outstanding, the
Fund may not declare or pay any cash dividend or other distribution on the
Common Stock unless at the time of the declaration (1) all accumulated dividends
on the auction rate preferred stock outstanding and any Additional Distributions
then due have been paid and (2) the Fund's net asset value (determined after
deducting the amount of that dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock)
is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding auction rate
preferred stock (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus
any accumulated and unpaid dividends and any Additional Distributions thereon).
This limitation on the Fund's ability to make distributions on the Common Stock
could, under certain circumstances, impair the Fund's ability to maintain its
qualification for Federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company
or to avoid the imposition of a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income.
See "Taxation."
If for any full taxable year, the Fund's total payments to its
shareholders attributable to the taxable year exceed net investment income and
net realized capital gains due to its intent to make regular monthly dividend
payments, the excess payments generally will be treated as a tax-free return of
capital (up to the amount of the shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares).
The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce a shareholder's
adjusted basis in his or her shares. Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940
Act and other applicable laws, a notice will accompany any distribution paid
from sources other than net investment income. In the event that the Fund pays
to its shareholders amounts in excess of its net investment income and net
realized capital gains, such payments may have the effect of decreasing the
Fund's total assets, which may increase the Fund's expense ratio. The Fund's
Board of Directors intends to monitor the amount of dividends paid in order to
seek to avoid such excess payments.
-41-
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Fund's Common Stock is determined
as of the close of trading on the NYSE, currently 4:00 p.m., New York time, on
the last day on which the NYSE is open for trading of each week and month and at
such other times as the Board shall determine. It is determined by dividing the
value of the Fund's net assets attributable to common shares by the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. The value of the Fund's net assets
attributable to common shares is deemed to equal the value of the Fund's total
assets less (i) the Fund's liabilities, (ii) the aggregate liquidation value of
the outstanding shares of auction rate preferred stock and (iii) accumulated and
unpaid dividends on the outstanding shares of auction rate preferred stock.
Securities listed on a national securities exchange are valued
on the basis of the last sale on such exchange on the day of valuation, except
as described hereafter. In the absence of sales of listed securities and with
respect to (a) securities for which the most recent sale prices are not deemed
to represent fair market value and (b) unlisted securities (other than money
market instruments), securities are valued at the mean between the closing bid
and asked prices when quoted prices for investments are readily available.
Investments in over-the-counter derivative instruments, such as interest rate
swaps and options thereon ("swaptions") are valued at the prices obtained from
the broker/dealer or bank that is the counterparty to such instrument, subject
to comparison of such valuation with a valuation obtained from a broker/dealer
or bank that is not a counterparty to the particular derivative instrument.
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available or for which
management determines that the prices are not reflective of current market
conditions are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors, including reference to valuations of other
securities which are comparable in quality, maturity and type. Investments in
money market instruments, which mature in 60 days or less, are valued at
amortized cost. Investments in money market funds are valued at their net asset
value.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
COMMON STOCK
The Fund is authorized to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of
capital stock, of which 240,000,000 are classified as Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share. All shares of Common Stock have equal non-cumulative voting
rights and equal rights with respect to dividends and distribution of assets
upon liquidation. Shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable when
issued and have no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights. So long as any
auction rate preferred stock is outstanding, the Fund is not permitted to
declare dividends or make any distributions with respect to or purchase its
Common Stock unless, at the time of such declaration, distribution or purchase,
as applicable (and after giving effect thereto), all accumulated dividends and
any Additional Distributions then due on shares of auction rate preferred stock
outstanding have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940
Act) with respect to the auction rate preferred stock would be at least 200%
after giving effect to the dividend, distribution or purchase. See "Description
of Capital Stock -- Preferred Stock" below.
-42-
PREFERRED STOCK
The Fund's Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of
up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock having a par value of $.01 per share
in one or more series, with rights as determined by the Board of Directors,
without the approval of the Common Stock shareholders. Common Stock shareholders
have no preemptive right to purchase any shares of preferred stock that might be
issued by the Fund.
The Fund's Board of Directors has indicated its intention to
authorize an offering of auction rate preferred stock (representing
approximately 37% of the Fund's capital immediately after the time the auction
rate referred stock is issued) within six months after completion of the
offering of Common Stock described in this Prospectus, subject to then-favorable
market conditions and to the Board's continued belief that leveraging the Fund's
capital structure through the issuance of auction rate preferred stock is likely
to achieve the benefits to the Common Stock shareholders described in this
Prospectus. Although the terms of the auction rate preferred stock, including
its dividend rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption
provisions, will be determined by the Board of Directors (subject to applicable
law and the Fund's Articles of Incorporation) if and when it authorizes a
preferred stock offering, the dividend rights, liquidation preference, voting
rights and redemption provisions of the auction rate preferred stock will likely
be as stated below.
Dividends. It is anticipated that the auction rate preferred
stock will pay dividends that will be adjusted over relatively short periods of
time (normally 49 days) as determined through periodic auctions and that the
dividend rate will typically reflect prevailing short-term interest rates.
However, the terms of the shares of auction rate preferred stock may provide for
dividends to be adjusted over longer periods. Dividends paid on the auction rate
preferred stock are expected to qualify generally for the DRD to the extent they
are derived from DRD-qualifying income, although dividends paid from the Fund's
non-dividend income and distributions attributable to short-term and long-term
capital gains will not so qualify. The IRS requires the Fund to allocate
particular types of income received by it, including income that qualifies for
the DRD and that which does not, proportionately between the Common Stock and
the auction rate preferred stock outstanding. When the Fund is required to
allocate income not eligible for the DRD to dividends paid to holders of shares
of auction rate preferred stock outstanding and the Fund fails to notify the
auction agent for the auction rate preferred stock of such allocation of income
prior to the commencement of the dividend period relating to such dividend, it
is anticipated that the terms of the auction rate preferred stock will require
the Fund to make an Additional Distribution. See "Taxation -- Taxation of the
Fund's Shareholders -- Additional Distributions."
Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund, the holders of
shares of auction rate preferred stock outstanding will be entitled to receive a
preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase
price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends plus any Additional
Distributions thereon) before any distribution of assets is made to holders of
Common Stock. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution
to which they are entitled, the holders of shares of auction rate preferred
stock outstanding will not be entitled to any further participation in any
distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation, merger or statutory share
-43-
exchange of the Fund with or into any other corporation or corporations or a
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund will not be deemed to
be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund for the purpose of
determining liquidation rights.
Voting Rights. Except as otherwise indicated in this
Prospectus and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of shares
of auction rate preferred stock outstanding will have equal voting rights with
holders of shares of Common Stock (one vote per share) and will vote together
with the Common Stock shareholders as a single class. Holders of shares of
auction rate preferred stock outstanding, voting as a separate class, will be
entitled to elect two of the Fund's directors, and the remaining directors will
be elected by the Common Stock shareholders except that if at any time dividends
on the auction rate preferred stock outstanding are unpaid in an amount equal to
two full years' dividends, the holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock
outstanding, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect a majority of
the Fund's directors until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared
and set apart for payment.
A majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of
shares of auction rate preferred stock outstanding, voting as a separate class,
will be required to amend the Fund's Articles of Incorporation so as to affect
adversely any contract right of the auction rate preferred stock set forth in
the Fund's Articles of Incorporation in any material respect or issue any shares
of preferred stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the auction rate
preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation (other than previously
authorized shares, including shares purchased or redeemed by the Fund). Unless a
higher percentage is provided for under "Certain Provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation," the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast by holders of auction rate preferred stock outstanding, voting as a
separate class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely
affecting the shares or any action requiring a vote of security holders under
Section 13 (a) of the 1940 Act including, among other things, changes in the
Fund's investment objective or changes in certain restrictions described above
under "Investment Objective and Policies" and "Investment Restrictions." The
class vote of holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock outstanding
described above will in each case be in addition to a separate vote of the
requisite percentage of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of shares of
Common Stock and outstanding auction rate preferred stock, voting as a single
class, necessary to authorize the action in question. The voting provisions with
respect to the auction rate preferred stock described in this Prospectus will
not apply if at, or prior to, the time at which the act with respect to which
the vote would otherwise be required is effected, all outstanding auction rate
preferred stock has been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds
shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemptions.
Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Auction Rate Preferred Stock
by the Fund. It is anticipated that the terms of the auction rate preferred
stock will provide that the shares are redeemable at certain times, in whole or
in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid
dividends and any Additional Distributions thereon, that the Fund may tender for
or purchase shares of auction rate preferred stock and that the Fund may
subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased or any shares
redeemed. Any redemption or purchase of shares of auction rate preferred stock
by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to shares of Common Stock,
whereas any issuance and sale or resale of such shares by the Fund will increase
the leverage. See "Special Leverage Considerations."
-44-
The discussion above describes the Board of Directors' current
intention with respect to an offering of auction rate preferred stock. If the
Board of Directors determines to proceed with the offering, the terms of the
auction rate preferred stock may be the same as, or different from, the terms
described above, subject to applicable law and the Fund's Articles of
Incorporation. The Board of Directors, without the approval of the Common Stock
shareholders, may authorize an offering of preferred stock or may determine not
to authorize such an offering.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Adviser was the record
and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and thus
was deemed in "control" of the Fund as "control" is defined in the 1940 Act.
These shares were issued in respect of the Adviser's contribution of the Fund's
initial capital. The Adviser has undertaken that these shares were purchased for
investment purposes only and that they will be sold only pursuant to a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND CASH PURCHASE PLAN
Under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan
(the "Plan"), a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are registered in his
or her own name may elect to have all distributions reinvested automatically by
the Administrator as agent under the Plan rather than receive distributions in
cash. Distributions with respect to shares registered in the name of a
broker-dealer or other nominee (that is, in "street name") may be reinvested by
the broker or nominee in additional shares under the Plan, but only if the
service is provided by the broker or nominee, if the shareholder elects to
receive distributions in additional shares, rather than in cash. A shareholder
who holds shares of Common Stock registered in the name of a broker or other
nominee may not be able to transfer the shares to another broker or nominee and
continue to participate in the Plan. Investors who own shares of Common Stock
registered in street name should consult their broker or nominee for details
regarding reinvestment.
The number of shares of Common Stock distributed to
participants in the Plan in lieu of a cash dividend is determined in the
following manner. Whenever the market price per share of the Fund's Common Stock
is equal to or exceeds the net asset value per share on the valuation date,
participants in the Plan will be issued new shares valued at the higher of net
asset value or 95% of the then-current market value. Otherwise, the
Administrator will buy shares of the Common Stock in the open market, on the
NYSE or elsewhere, on or shortly after the payment date of the dividend or
distribution and continuing until the ex-dividend date of the Fund's next
distribution to holders of the Common Stock or until it has expended for such
purchases all of the cash that would otherwise be payable to the participants.
The number of purchased shares of Common Stock that will then be credited to the
participants' accounts will be based on the average per share purchase price of
the shares so purchased, including brokerage commissions. If the Administrator
commences purchases in the open market and the then-current market price of the
shares (plus any estimated brokerage commissions) subsequently exceeds their net
asset value most recently determined before the completion of the purchases, the
Administrator will attempt to terminate purchases in the open market and cause
the Fund to issue the remaining dividend or distribution in shares. In this
case, the number of shares received
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by the participant will be based on the weighted average of prices paid for
shares purchased in the open market and the price at which the Fund issues the
remaining shares. These remaining shares will be issued by the Fund at the
higher of net asset value or 95% of the then-current market value.
Plan participants are not subject to any charge for
reinvesting dividends or capital gains distributions. Each Plan participant
will, however, bear a proportionate share of brokerage commissions incurred with
respect to the Administrator's open market purchases in connection with the
reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions will not relieve Plan participants of any income tax that may be
payable on the dividends or capital gains distributions. A participant in the
Plan will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as having received, on the
dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash
that the participant could have received instead of shares.
In addition to acquiring shares of Common Stock through the
reinvestment of cash dividends and distributions, a shareholder may invest any
further amounts from $100 to $3,000 semi-annually at the then-current market
price in shares purchased through the Plan. Such semi-annual investments are
subject to any brokerage commission charges incurred.
A shareholder whose Common Stock is registered in his or her
own name and who has elected to participate in the Plan may terminate
participation in the Plan at any time by notifying the Administrator in writing,
by completing the form on the back of the Plan account statement and forwarding
it to the Administrator or by calling the Administrator directly. A termination
will be effective immediately if notice is received by the Administrator not
less than 10 days before any dividend or distribution record date. Otherwise,
the termination will be effective, and only with respect to any subsequent
dividends or distributions, on the first day after the dividend or distribution
has been credited to the participant's account in additional shares of the Fund.
Upon termination and according to a participant's instructions, the
Administrator will either (a) issue certificates for the whole shares credited
to shareholder's Plan account and a check representing any fractional shares or
(b) sell the shares in the market. Shareholders who hold common stock registered
in the name of a broker or other nominee should consult their broker or nominee
to terminate participation.
The Plan is described in more detail in the Fund's Plan
brochure. Information concerning the Plan may be obtained from the Administrator
at 1-800-331-1710.
PRIOR PERFORMANCE
The following table provides information concerning the
historical total return performance of Preferred Income Fund Incorporated and
Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated (the "Preferred Funds"), each of
which is another registered closed-end investment company managed by the
Adviser. Each Preferred Fund has investment objectives, policies and risks
substantially similar to those of the Fund and is managed by the same portfolio
management team. While the investment objectives and policies of each Preferred
Fund and the Fund are similar, they are not identical and the performance of the
Preferred Funds and the Fund will vary. The data is provided to illustrate the
past performance of the Adviser in managing substantially similar investment
portfolios and does not represent the past performance of either Preferred Fund
or the future performance of the Fund. Consequently, potential investors should
not consider this performance data as an indication of the future performance of
the Fund.
The performance data shown below reflects the operating
expenses of each Preferred Fund, which are lower than the expenses of the Fund.
Performance would have been lower for each Preferred Fund if the Fund's expenses
were used.
Each Preferred Fund's performance data shown below is
calculated in accordance with standards prescribed by the Commission for the
calculation of average annual total return information. The investment results
of the Preferred Funds presented below are unaudited and are not intended to
predict or suggest results that might be experienced by the Fund. Share prices
and investment returns will fluctuate reflecting market conditions, as well as
changes in interest rates and company-specific fundamentals of portfolio
securities. The performance data for the benchmark index identified below does
not reflect the fees or expenses of the Preferred Funds or the Fund.
Average Annual Total Return for Preferred Funds and for
Benchmark Index for Periods ended June 30, 2002.
Fund/Benchmark 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Since Inception Inception Date
-------------- ------ ------- -------- --------------- --------------
Income Fund
Opportunity Fund
[Benchmark] (1)
[Peer Group Comparison] (2)
------------------
1. [Describe benchmark]
2. [Describe peer group comparison]
TAXATION
The discussion set forth below of the tax considerations
generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders is intended to be only a
summary and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning by
prospective shareholders. Prospective shareholders should therefore consult
their own tax advisors prior to purchasing shares of Common Stock.
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TAXATION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS
The Fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated
investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code. To so qualify, the Fund
must, among other things: (1) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each
taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities
loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign
currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options,
futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund's business of
investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies and (2) diversify its
holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year (a) at
least 50% of the market value of the Fund's total assets is represented by cash
and cash items, Government Securities, securities of other regulated investment
companies and other securities, with such other securities limited, with respect
to any one issuer, to an amount no greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of
such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund's total
assets is invested in the securities (other than Government Securities or
securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of any
two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are determined to be in the
same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses. In meeting
these requirements, the Fund may be restricted in the utilization of certain of
the investment techniques described under "Investment Objective and Policies --
Investment Techniques."
As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be
subject to Federal income tax on its net investment income (i.e., income other
than its net realized long-term and short-term capital gains) and its net
realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, that it distributes to
its shareholders, provided that an amount equal to at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (i.e., at least 90% of its taxable income
minus the excess, if any, of its net realized long-term capital gains over its
net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss carryovers)
plus or minus certain other adjustments as specified in Section 852 of the Code
but without regard to the dividends paid deduction specified therein) for the
taxable year is so distributed, but will be subject to tax at regular corporate
rates on any income or gains that it does not distribute. Further, the Fund will
be subject to a Federal corporate income tax with respect to such distributed
amounts in any year that it fails to qualify as a regulated investment company
or fails to meet this distribution requirement. Any dividend declared by the
Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to
shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to
have been received by each such shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year
and to have been paid by the Fund not later than such December 31, provided that
such dividend is actually paid by the Fund to such shareholders during January
of the following calendar year.
The Fund intends to distribute annually to its shareholders
substantially all of its investment company taxable income. The Fund also
currently intends to distribute any of its net realized long-term capital gains
in excess of net realized short-term capital losses (including any capital loss
carryovers). However, the Board of Directors of the Fund may in the future
determine to instead retain any such excess for investment. If the Fund retains
for investment an amount equal to its net long-term capital gains in excess of
its net short-term capital losses and capital loss carryovers, it will be
subject to a Federal corporate income tax (currently at a rate of 35%) on the
amount retained. In that event, the Fund expects to designate such retained
amounts
-47-
as undistributed capital gains in a written notice to its shareholders each of
whom (a) will be required to include in income for Federal income tax purposes,
as long-term capital gains, its proportionate share of the undistributed amount,
(b) will be entitled to credit its proportionate share of the 35% tax paid by
the Fund on the undistributed amount against its own Federal income tax
liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent its credits exceed its
liabilities, and (c) will be entitled to increase its tax basis, for Federal
income tax purposes, in its shares by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of
undistributed capital gains included in its income.
The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to
the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least
98% of the sum of its net investment income for that year, the net amount of its
capital gains (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending, as
a general rule, on October 31 of that year and certain undistributed amounts
from previous years. For this purpose, however, any income or gain retained by
the Fund that is subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been
distributed by year-end.
If, at any time when shares of auction rate preferred stock
are outstanding, the Fund does not meet the 1940 Act Asset Coverage Requirement
or the Eligible Asset Coverage Amount Requirement, the Fund will be required to
suspend dividends and distributions to holders of Common Stock until such
coverage is restored. See "Description of Capital Stock." A suspension of
dividends and distributions might prevent the Fund from (1) satisfying the 90%
distribution requirement described above, thereby causing the Fund to fail to
qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company or (2) making sufficient
distributions to avoid the 4% excise tax described above. Upon any failure to
meet the Eligible Asset Coverage Amount Requirement or the 1940 Act Asset
Coverage Requirement, the Fund will be required to redeem shares of auction rate
preferred stock in order to maintain or restore the requisite asset coverage and
avoid the adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders of failing to
qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company. There can be no
assurance, however, that any such redemption would achieve such objectives.
If, in any taxable year, the Fund fails to qualify as a
regulated investment company under the Code or fails to meet the 90%
distribution requirement as discussed above, it would be taxed in the same
manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders would
not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In addition, in
the event of a failure to qualify, the Fund's distributions, to the extent
derived from the Fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits, would
constitute dividends (eligible for the DRD), even though those distributions
might otherwise (at least in part) have been treated in the shareholders' hands
as long-term capital gains. If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated
investment company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits
accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment
company. In addition, if the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment
company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to
recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (the
excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses
that would have been realized if it had been liquidated) in order to qualify as
a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.
-48-
If the Fund is the holder of record of any stock on the record
date for any dividends payable with respect to such stock, such dividends are
included in the Fund's gross income not as of the date received but as of the
later of (a) the date such stock became ex-dividend with respect to such
dividends (i.e., the date on which a buyer of stock would not be entitled to
receive the declared, but unpaid, dividends) or (b) the date the Fund acquired
such stock. Accordingly, in order to satisfy its income distribution
requirements, the Fund may be required to pay dividends based on anticipated
earnings, and shareholders may receive dividends in an earlier year than would
otherwise be the case.
Futures Contracts and Options. The Fund's transactions in
futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code
that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized
by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital),
may accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses.
These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of
distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require the Fund
to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat
them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income
without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to
satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a
regulated investment company and the 98% distribution requirement for avoiding
excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate
tax elections and will make the appropriate entries in its books and records
when it acquires any futures contract, option or hedged investment in order to
mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund to
be taxed as a regulated investment company.
TAXATION OF THE FUND'S SHAREHOLDERS
General. The Fund currently intends to distribute
substantially all of its net investment income and substantially all of its net
realized long-term and short-term capital gains for each of its taxable years.
Generally, dividends paid by the Fund derived from its net investment income
(other than income designated as qualifying for the DRD) are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, any distributions designated as
being made from the Fund's net realized long-term capital gains are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the holding period of
such shareholders of the Fund's shares.
Distributions Eligible for the Dividends Received Deduction.
The Fund is allowed to designate, for the benefit of shareholders, that portion
of its distributions which is eligible for the DRD. The amount so designated for
any taxable year may not exceed the aggregate dividends received by the Fund
which qualify for the DRD. As discussed in greater detail below, if the Fund's
income, during any taxable year, does not qualify in its entirety for the DRD, a
pro rata portion of such non-qualifying income must be allocated to the shares
of Common Stock and shares of auction rate preferred stock. No assurance can be
given that the Fund will not generate capital gains and other income that does
not qualify for the DRD. In such a circumstance, if the requisite notice
described below is not given to the holders of auction rate preferred stock with
respect to dividends received from the Fund that do not fully qualify for the
DRD, Additional Distributions would become payable on the shares of auction rate
preferred stock to compensate such holders for the resulting reduction in their
net after-tax return.
-49-
Pursuant to guidance issued by the IRS, the holders of the
Common Stock and the auction rate preferred stock will not receive more than
each class' proportionate share of the Fund's net investment income qualifying
for the DRD ("DRD dividend income"), net investment income not qualifying for
the DRD ("non-DRD investment income"), net realized short-term capital gains and
net realized long-term capital gains. Thus, for example, if 50% of the Fund's
income consisted of DRD dividend income, 45% consisted of non-DRD investment
income and 5% consisted of net realized long-term capital gains, then, assuming
compliance with certain notice requirements (as discussed below), 50% of the
amount of dividends paid by the Fund to the holders of shares of Common Stock
and the holders of the shares of auction rate preferred stock would be treated
as DRD dividends (as described below), 45% would be treated as dividends that
are not DRD dividends and the remaining 5% would be treated as a capital gain
dividend (as described below). If any income other than DRD dividend income is
anticipated to be allocated to holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock
pursuant to the allocation rules described above, the Fund may, but shall not be
required to, give advance notice to the auction agent of the amount of income
not eligible for the DRD expected to be allocated to holders of auction rate
preferred stock. If the Fund does not give the auction agent such advance notice
or the amount of income not eligible for the DRD exceeds the amount indicated by
the notice, the terms of the shares of auction rate preferred stock will require
the Fund to make Additional Distributions to compensate such holders for the
additional tax liability resulting from such allocation. See "Additional
Distributions" below.
The Fund will follow appropriate guidance provided by the IRS
or the courts as to the manner in which designations of dividends qualifying for
the DRD are to be made. The Fund believes that, under current law, the manner in
which it intends to allocate items of income which qualify for the DRD, net
realized long-term and short-term capital gains and other taxable income, if
any, between shares of Common Stock and shares of auction rate preferred stock
will be respected for Federal income tax purposes. However, the tax treatment of
Additional Distributions may affect the Fund's calculation of each class'
allocable share of DRD dividend income, net realized long-term and short-term
capital gains and other taxable income. See "Additional Distributions" below. In
addition, there can be no absolute assurance that the Fund's method for
allocating income which qualifies for the DRD, net realized long-term and
short-term capital gains and other taxable income between shares of Common Stock
and shares of auction rate preferred stock will be respected for Federal income
tax purposes, and it is possible that the IRS could disagree with the Fund's
method of allocation and attempt to reallocate the Fund's net realized capital
gains or other taxable income. In the event of a reallocation, some of the
dividends identified by the Fund as income which qualifies for the DRD may be
recharacterized as additional capital gain or other taxable income. In the event
of such recharacterization, the Fund would not be required to pay Additional
Distributions or any other payments to holders of shares of auction rate
preferred stock to offset the tax effect of such reallocation.
Limitations on the Dividends Received Deduction. A holder of
shares of Common Stock that (1) is taxed as a corporation for Federal income tax
purposes, (2) meets the applicable holding period and taxable income
requirements of Section 246 of the Code, (3) is not subject to the
"debt-financed portfolio stock" rules of Section 246A of the Code with respect
to such holder's investment in shares of Common Stock, and (4) otherwise is
entitled to the DRD under Section 243 of the Code, will be entitled to claim a
deduction in an amount equal to 70% of the dividends received on shares of
Common Stock which are designated by the Fund as
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qualifying for the DRD. Holders of shares of Common Stock which are Subchapter S
corporations are not eligible for the DRD.
Under Section 246(c) of the Code, a holder of shares of Common
Stock must own such shares for at least 46 days during the 90-day period that
begins on the date which is 45 days prior to the shares' ex-dividend date in
order to be eligible for the DRD. The date of disposition but not the date of
acquisition is counted toward the holding period of the shares. The 46-day
holding period (as well as the two-year holding period which applies in the case
of "extraordinary dividends" as described below) are suspended during any period
in which the holder has an option to sell, is under a contractual obligation to
sell, has made and not closed a short sale of, or has granted an option to buy,
substantially identical stock or securities or holds one or more other positions
in substantially similar or related property that diminish the risk of loss from
holding such stock. Section 246(c) of the Code also disallows the DRD for a
dividend if a holder of shares of Common Stock is obligated (whether pursuant to
short sales or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in
substantially similar or related property.
Section 246A of the Code reduces the availability of the DRD
under certain circumstances in respect of "debt-financed portfolio stock."
Shares of Common Stock will generally constitute "portfolio stock" within the
meaning of Section 246A of the Code. In general, portfolio stock will be
considered debt-financed if any indebtedness is directly attributable to
investment in such stock. For these purposes, amounts received from a short sale
of portfolio stock are treated as indebtedness for the period beginning on the
day such amounts are received and ending on the day the short sale is closed.
Although the circumstances under which indebtedness will be viewed as "directly
attributable" to investment in portfolio stock are not clear and although
regulations have not yet been promulgated under Section 246A of the Code, it is
likely that borrowings the amount and timing of which approximate the purchase
price and purchase date of shares of Common Stock generally will cause such
shares to be considered "debt-financed."
Section 1059 of the Code requires a corporate holder to reduce
its basis in stock (but not below zero) if any "extraordinary dividend" is
received with respect to such stock and the holder has not held such stock for
more than two years before the dividend announcement date. Generally, the amount
of such basis reduction is equal to the portion of such dividend which is not
subject to tax pursuant to the DRD provisions. In general, in the case of
preferred stock, an extraordinary dividend is a dividend that (1) equals or
exceeds 5% of the holder's basis in the stock, treating all dividends having
ex-dividend dates within an 85-day period as one dividend, or (2) exceeds 20% of
the holder's basis in the stock, treating all dividends that have ex-dividend
dates within a 365-day period as one dividend. The length of time that a
taxpayer is deemed to have held stock for purposes of Section 1059 of the Code
is determined under principles similar to those regarding the minimum holding
period requirements of Section 246(c) of the Code as described above. A holder
disposing of shares of Common Stock following an adjustment under Section 1059
of the Code would recognize additional gain or a smaller loss. Also, a holder
would recognize additional gain in an amount equal to the untaxed portion of any
extraordinary dividends that would have reduced basis but for the limitation on
the reduction of basis below zero. A holder may at its election determine the
status of distributions as extraordinary dividends by reference to the fair
market value of the stock as of the date before the ex-dividend date, rather
than by reference to the adjusted basis for the stock, provided the
-51-
taxpayer establishes such fair market value to the satisfaction of the IRS. In
addition, certain stock redemptions described in Section 1059(e)(1) of the Code,
including any redemption of stock that is treated as a dividend under Section
301 of the Code and which is not pro rata as to all the shareholders of the
corporation, are required to be treated as extraordinary dividends. A
shareholder will not receive any compensating payments (or any Additional
Distributions) with regard to a reduction of basis that results from the
treatment of a dividend or an Additional Distribution as an extraordinary
dividend.
Alternative Minimum Tax. The Code imposes on corporate
taxpayers an alternative minimum tax at the rate of 20%. The alternative minimum
tax applies to a base of regular taxable income, subject to certain adjustments,
plus certain items of tax preference (with such combined amount being referred
to as alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI")). The alternative minimum tax
will apply to the extent it exceeds the regular tax liability of the corporate
taxpayer. Adjustments to AMTI include 75% of the amount by which the taxpayer's
adjusted current earnings, as defined in the Code (which would generally include
the full amount of dividends received on shares of Common Stock without any
reduction for the DRD), exceeds the taxpayer's AMTI (determined without regard
to this adjustment and prior to reduction by net operating losses).
Distributions in Excess of Earnings and Profits. If, for any
taxable year of the Fund, the amount of distributions paid for such year exceeds
its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term gains for
such year, the amount of such excess distribution will be treated as ordinary
income up to the amount of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and
profits as calculated for Federal income tax purposes and any remaining excess
distribution thereafter will, as a general rule, first be treated as a
non-taxable return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the
shareholder's tax basis in its shares and, after such basis has been reduced to
zero, will constitute a capital gain to the shareholder (assuming that the
shares of Common Stock are held as a capital asset). Under current Federal
income tax principles, current earnings and profits are allocated first to
shares of preferred stock and any remaining current earnings and profits (after
all distributions are taken into account on the preferred stock) are allocated
to common stock. Thus, the Fund anticipates that it will allocate its current
earnings and profits to distributions on the shares of auction rate preferred
stock prior to an allocation of such earnings and profits to the Common Stock
unless required to do otherwise by applicable law. Since the Fund anticipates
that it will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net
realized long-term and short-term capital gains in each of its taxable years,
the Fund does not expect to have significant amounts of accumulated earnings and
profits.
If the Fund does not have any accumulated earnings and profits
and makes, by the end of its taxable year, an amount of Common Stock
distributions on the Common Stock which exceeds the amount of its current
earnings and profits, then each Common Stock dividend paid for that taxable year
would be treated, in the same proportion, in part as a dividend of taxable
income and in part as a non-taxable return of capital. While shareholders would
incur no current Federal income tax liability on the portion of a distribution
with respect to their Common Stock that is treated as a return of capital, each
shareholder's basis in its shares would be reduced by that amount. This
reduction of basis would operate to increase the shareholder's capital gain (or
decrease its capital loss) upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of its
shares. Moreover, after the shareholder's tax basis in its Common Stock has been
reduced to zero, any remaining amount
-52-
of the excess distribution will constitute a capital gain to the shareholder
(assuming that the shares of Common Stock are held as a capital asset). If any
portion of any distribution received by a holder or prior holder of auction rate
preferred stock is not eligible for the DRD because such amount constitutes a
return of capital, and if the Fund does not give advance notice to the auction
agent that such amount will be ineligible for the DRD prior to the auction
relating to such rate period, the terms of the auction rate preferred stock will
require the Fund to pay Additional Distributions as described above.
Additional Distributions. If the Fund allocates any net
realized capital gains or other income not qualifying for the DRD to dividends
paid to holders or prior holders of shares of auction rate preferred stock, or
characterizes any portion of the dividend to be paid on such shares as
constituting a return of capital, without having given an advance notice to the
auction agent of the amount of such non-qualifying amount prior to the auction
relating to such dividends (such non-qualifying amount or any portion thereof
for which notice has not been given is referred to herein as a "Retroactive
Taxable Allocation"), the Fund shall, on a date not later than 120 days after
the end of the Fund's taxable year in which a Retroactive Taxable Allocation was
made, provide a payment notice thereof to the auction agent and to each holder
or prior holder, as appropriate, of such shares of auction rate preferred stock
at such holder's or prior holder's address as the same appears or last appeared
on the stock books of the Fund. Such holders or prior holders of such shares of
auction rate preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, out of funds legally
available therefor, an Additional Distribution in an amount such that the net
return to the holder or prior holder (after Federal income tax consequences)
from the Additional Distribution and the portion of the dividend that does not
qualify for the DRD in excess of that included in the advance notice, if any,
given by the Fund to the auction agent is equal, based on certain assumptions,
to the net return the holder or prior holder would have realized (after Federal
income tax consequences) if such non-qualifying excess portion had qualified for
the DRD and the Additional Distribution had not been paid. Any Additional
Distribution shall be payable by the Fund to the auction agent for distribution
to such holders or prior holders within 30 days after the payment notice
described above is given to the auction agent.
The Federal income tax consequences of Additional
Distributions under existing law are uncertain. The Fund intends to treat a
holder or prior holder as receiving a dividend distribution in the amount of any
Additional Distribution only as and when such Additional Distribution is paid
pursuant to the payment notice described in the preceding paragraph. It is
possible that the IRS may assert that all or part of an Additional Distribution
is includible in the recipient's income in the taxable year in which the regular
dividend, which was subject to the Retroactive Taxable Allocation, was paid.
Additional Distributions will not be designated by the Fund as distributions
which qualify for the DRD unless the Fund receives an opinion of counsel that
such designation will be given effect for Federal income tax purposes.
Furthermore, even if the Fund receives such an opinion, the Fund will treat its
Additional Distributions as eligible for the DRD only to the extent that the
Fund believes that it has DRD dividend income that it can allocate to its
Additional Distributions. The Fund will not be required to compensate recipients
of Additional Distributions if the Fund's characterization and treatment of the
Additional Distributions is not respected for Federal income tax purposes or if
the Fund has insufficient earnings and profits or DRD dividend income.
-53-
Tender Offers to Purchase Shares. Under current law, a holder
of Common Stock which tenders all shares of the Fund owned by such shareholder
(as well as any shares considered owned by such shareholder under attribution
rules contained in the Code) will realize a taxable gain or loss depending upon
the amount realized and such shareholder's basis in its shares. Such gain or
loss will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital
assets in the shareholder's hands and will be long-term or short-term depending
upon the shareholder's holding period for the shares. If a holder of Common
Stock shares tenders less than all shares owned by and attributed to such
shareholder (or if the Fund purchases only some of the shares tendered by such
holder), and if the distribution to such shareholder does not otherwise qualify
as a sale or exchange for Federal income tax purposes, the proceeds received
will be treated as a taxable dividend, return of capital or capital gain
depending on the Fund's earnings and profits and the shareholder's basis in the
tendered shares.
Backup Withholding. If a shareholder fails to furnish a
correct taxpayer identification number, fails to report fully dividend or
interest income, or fails to certify that it has provided a correct taxpayer
identification number and that it is not subject to backup withholding, then the
shareholder may be subject to a "backup withholding" tax (currently at a rate of
30%) with respect to (1) taxable dividends and capital gain distributions and
(2) the proceeds of any sales or repurchases of Fund shares. An individual's
taxpayer identification number is his social security number. The backup
withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a
taxpayer's Federal income tax liability. Corporate shareholders and certain
other shareholders are or may be exempt from backup withholding.
Statements and Notices. Each shareholder will receive an
annual statement as to the Federal income tax status of its dividends and
distributions from the Fund for the prior calendar year. Furthermore,
shareholders will also receive, if appropriate, various written notices after
the close of the Fund's taxable year regarding the Federal income tax status of
certain dividends and distributions that were paid (or that are treated as
having been paid) by the Fund to its shareholders during the preceding year.
Other Taxes. Dividends and distributions also may be subject
to additional state and local taxes depending on each shareholder's particular
situation.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN TAX CONSEQUENCES
AFFECTING THE FUND AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS. SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT
THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM
OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND.
REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK AND TENDER OFFERS;
CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its
shareholders do not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares.
Instead, the Fund's shares of Common Stock will trade in the open market at a
price that is a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which
are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, dividend
stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such
shares in the market,
-54-
general market and economic conditions and other factors. Shares of closed-end
investment companies frequently trade at a discount from net asset value, or in
some cases trade at a premium. Some closed-end companies have taken certain
actions, including the repurchase of common stock in the market at market prices
and the making of one or more tender offers for common stock at prices close to
net asset value, in an effort to reduce or mitigate any such discount. Others
have converted to an open-end investment company, the shares of which are
redeemable at net asset value.
If at any time after the third year following the offering
made hereby, shares of the Common Stock publicly trade for a substantial period
of time at a significant discount from the Fund's then current net asset value
per share, the Board of Directors will consider, at its next regularly scheduled
meeting and regularly thereafter (not less frequently than annually) as long as
such discount persists, taking various actions designed to reduce or eliminate
the discount, including recommending to shareholders amendments of the Fund's
Articles of Incorporation to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company.
The Board may not choose to adopt any actions with respect to the Fund's
discount. Accordingly, the Fund cannot assure you that the Board will decide to
take any particular action, or, if taken, that share repurchases or tender
offers will cause the Fund's shares to trade at a price equal to their net asset
value.
As noted above, so long as any auction rate preferred stock is
outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
of its Common Stock unless (1) all accumulated dividends on shares of auction
rate preferred stock have been declared and paid and all Additional
Distributions then due have been paid and (2) at the time of the purchase,
redemption or acquisition, the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio
(determined after deducting the acquisition price of the Common Stock) is at
least 200% of the liquidation value of the then-outstanding auction rate
preferred stock (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus
any accumulated and unpaid dividends and any Additional Distributions thereon).
If the Fund converted to an open-end company, it would be
required to redeem all shares of auction rate preferred stock then outstanding
(requiring that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the
Fund's Common Stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In contrast to a
closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company
may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain
circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value,
less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the shares of
Common Stock trade below net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant
factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the
Fund's portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or
its shareholders, market considerations and the effect of certain tax
considerations, including maintenance of the Fund's tax status as a regulated
investment company and whether, as a consequence of such termination, the Fund
would be required to make Additional Distributions on the auction rate preferred
stock. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund's shares should trade at
a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its
shareholders, no action should be taken.
-55-
Conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company would
require an amendment of the Articles. Under the Articles, such an amendment
would require the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the Board of Directors and
at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of shares of Common
Stock of the Fund. In addition, as long as shares of Preferred Stock (including
shares of auction rate preferred stock) remain outstanding, the amendment would
need to be approved by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes
entitled to be cast by any Preferred Stock (including shares of auction rate
preferred stock) outstanding, voting as a separate class. If an amendment
providing for the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company has
been previously approved by a vote of 80% of the Continuing Directors, only a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of shares of Common Stock
and auction rate preferred stock outstanding, each voting as a separate class,
would be required to approve the conversion.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Fund's Articles of Incorporation include provisions that
could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to
acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board of
Directors and could have the effect of depriving shareholders of an opportunity
to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging
a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund. Commencing with the
first annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors will be divided
into three classes. At the annual meeting of shareholders in each year
thereafter, the term of one class expires and each Director elected to the class
will hold office for a term of three years. This provision could delay for up to
two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors. The Articles
provide that the maximum number of Directors that may constitute the Fund's
entire Board is 12. A Director may be removed from office with or without cause
but only by vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of
Common Stock with respect to Directors elected by them and at least 80% of the
votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding Preferred Stock with respect
to the Directors elected by them. The maximum number of Directors may be
increased only by an amendment to the Articles approved by 80% of the votes
entitled to be cast by holders of Common Stock and any outstanding Preferred
Stock, each voting as a separate class, unless approved by 80% of the Continuing
Directors, in which case the approval of a majority of the votes entitled to be
cast by holders of Common Stock and any outstanding Preferred Stock, each voting
as a separate class, will be required unless otherwise required by the Articles
or unless otherwise required by law.
The Articles require the favorable vote of at least 80% of the
entire Board of Directors and of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast
by holders of Common Stock and, as long as shares of Preferred Stock remain
outstanding, Preferred Stock, each voting as a separate class, to authorize the
conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company as
defined in the 1940 Act (except under certain circumstances described above in
"Repurchase of Common Stock and Tender Offers; Conversion to Open-End Fund").
The Articles of Incorporation also require the favorable vote of at least 80% of
the Directors and at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of
Common Stock and any outstanding Preferred Stock, each voting as a separate
class, to approve, adopt or authorize the following:
-56-
(i) merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Fund with
or into any other person;
(ii) issuance or transfer by the Fund (in one or a series of
transactions in any 12 month period) of any securities of the Fund to
any other person or entity for cash, securities or other property (or
combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of
$1,000,000 or more excluding sales of securities of the Fund in
connection with a public offering or private placement, issuances of
securities of the Fund pursuant to a dividend reinvestment and cash
purchase plan adopted by the Fund and issuances of securities of the
Fund upon the exercise of any stock subscription rights distributed by
the Fund;
(iii) sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition by the Fund (in one or a series of transactions in
any 12 month period) to or with any person of any assets of the Fund
having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more except for
portfolio transactions effected by the Fund in the ordinary course of
its business (transactions within clauses (i) and (ii) and this clause
(iii) each being known individually as a "Business Combination");
(iv) any proposal as to the voluntary liquidation or
dissolution of the Fund or any amendment to the Fund's Articles of
Incorporation to terminate its existence; and
(v) any shareholder proposal as to specific investment
decisions made or to be made with respect to the Fund's assets.
However, separate 80% votes of the holders of shares of Common Stock and any
outstanding Preferred Stock will not be required with respect to the
transactions described in (i) through (iv) above (A) if they are approved by a
vote of at least 80% of the Continuing Directors, in which case the affirmative
vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all stockholders
(including by holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock), and of a majority of
the votes entitled to be cast by holders of Preferred Stock, shall be required
to approve such action if it is an action under (i) or (iv) above or an action
under (iii) with respect to substantially all of the assets of the Fund, and no
shareholder vote is required to approve an action under (ii) above or any other
action more than $1,000,000, but less than substantially all of the Fund's
assets under (iii) above or (B) in the case of a Business Combination, if
certain conditions regarding the consideration paid by the person entering into,
or proposing to enter into, a Business Combination with the Fund and various
other requirements are satisfied, in which case (1) the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shareholders shall be required
to approve such action if any shareholders' approval is required under Maryland
law. The Fund's Bylaws contain provisions the effect of which is to prevent
matters, including nominations of Directors, from being considered at
shareholders' meetings where the Fund has not received sufficient prior notice
of the matters.
The Board of Directors has determined that the voting
requirements described above, which are greater than the minimum requirements
under Maryland law or the 1940 Act,
-57-
are in the best interests of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to
the Articles and Bylaws of the Fund on file with the Commission for the full
text of these provisions.
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND-PAYING
AGENT AND REGISTRAR
__________________________________________________________,
located at _________________________________, acts as custodian of the Fund's
investments. The Administrator located at ___________________________________,
serves as the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and registrar for the Fund's
Common Stock. The Administrator also serves as agent in connection with the
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan for the Common Stock.
UNDERWRITING
The Underwriters, for whom ________________________________
are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement (a
copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part) to purchase, and the Fund has agreed to sell them,
severally, the respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite
their names below:
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS SHARES
------------ ------
[to come]
The Underwriting Agreement provides that, if any of the foregoing shares are
purchased by the Underwriters, all must be so purchased, and that the
obligations of the Underwriters thereunder are subject to approval of certain
legal matters by counsel and to various other conditions. In the Underwriting
Agreement, the Fund and the Adviser have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act and to contribute in respect thereof.
The Fund has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to
purchase up to an additional ____________ shares of Common Stock, at the public
offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover
over-allotments, if any. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such
option, each of the Underwriters will be committed, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase a number of shares proportionate to such Underwriter's
initial commitment as indicated in the preceding table.
The Fund has been advised by the Representatives that the
Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock offered by this
Prospectus initially at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus and to certain selected dealers (which may include the Underwriters)
at the initial public offering price less a concession not to exceed $.___ per
share. Such dealers may reallow a concession not to exceed $.__ per share to
other dealers. After the
-58-
initial public offering, the public offering price, the concession to selected
dealers and the reallowance to other dealers may be changed by the
Representatives.
Prior to this offering, there has been no market for the
shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock offered hereby have been
accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to notice of official issuance, under
the symbol "___." In order to meet the requirements for listing of the shares on
the NYSE, the Underwriters have undertaken to sell lots of 100 or more shares to
a minimum of 2,000 beneficial owners in the United States.
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the Fund anticipates that the
Representatives and certain other Underwriters may from time to time act as
brokers or dealers in connection with the execution of its portfolio
transactions after they have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to certain
restrictions under the 1940 Act, may act as brokers while they are Underwriters.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will
be passed on for the Fund by Willkie Farr & Gallagher, New York, New York.
Certain legal matters will be passed on for the Underwriters by ________________
_______________________________. Counsel for the Fund and the Underwriters may
rely, as to certain matters of Maryland law, on Venable, Baetjer and Howard,
LLP, Baltimore, Maryland.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Fund sends unaudited semiannual and audited annual reports
to the holders of its securities, including a list of investments held.
EXPERTS
The financial statement of the Fund included in this
Prospectus has been so included in reliance upon the report of [__________],
independent auditors, as experts in auditing and accounting. The address of
[__________] is [__________].
-59-
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Directors and Shareholders of
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and
liabilities of F&C/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated as of
July __, 2002. This statement of assets and liabilities is the responsibility of
the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this
statement of assets and liabilities based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of assets and
liabilities is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement of
assets and liabilities. Our procedures included confirmation of cash held by the
custodian as of July ___, 2002. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audit of the statement of assets and liabilities provides a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities
referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of F&C/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated as of
July ___, 2002, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
July ___, 2002
-60-
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
JULY __, 2002
ASSETS
Assets:
Cash............................................................. $ 100,000
Deferred organization and offering expenses (Note 2).............
---------
Total Assets..................................................... $
=========
LIABILITIES
Liabilities:
Accrued organization and offering expenses (Note 2).............. $
---------
Net Assets....................................................... $
=========
Net Assets consist of:
Cumulative preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares
authorized, no shares outstanding.............................. $ 0
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share; 240,000,000 shares
authorized, ____ shares issued and outstanding.................
Additional paid-in capital.......................................
---------
Total Net Assets................................................. $ 100,000
=========
Net Asset Value per common share ($100,000 dividend by ______
shares of common stock outstanding).............................. $
=========
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
(1) The Fund was incorporated as a Maryland corporation on May 23, 2002, and
has had no operations to date other than matters relating to its
organization and registration as a diversified, closed-end management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the sale and issuance of ______, shares of its Common Stock to Flaherty
& Crumrine Incorporated.
(2) Costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its organization, estimated
at $______, will be charged to expense at the time of issuance of shares to
the public. Costs relating to the public offering of the Fund's shares,
estimated to be approximately $_______, will be payable from the proceeds
of the offering and will be deferred and charged to expense during the
first year of the Fund's operations.
-61-
APPENDIX A
A description of Moody's and S&P's ratings follows below:
MOODY'S
Preferred Stock Ratings
"Aaa" --Preferred stocks which are rated "Aaa" are judged to
be of best quality. This rating indicates good asset protection and the least
risk of dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.
"Aa" --preferred stocks which are rated "Aa" are judged to be
of high quality by all standards. This rating indicates that there is reasonable
assurance that earnings and asset protection will remain relatively well
maintained in the foreseeable future.
"A" --Preferred stocks which are rated "A" possess many
favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium grade.
While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the "Aaa" and "Aa"
classifications, earnings and asset protection are, nevertheless, expected to be
maintained at adequate levels.
"Baa" --Preferred stocks which are rated "Baa" are considered
as medium-grade obligations (they are neither highly protected nor poorly
secured). Earnings and asset protection appear adequate at present but may be
questionable over any great length of time.
"Ba" --Preferred stocks which are rated "Ba" are judged to
have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured.
Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate,
and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes securities in this class.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic
rating classification above in its preferred stock rating system. The modifier 1
indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating
category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3
indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
The rating Prime-1 (P-l) is the highest commercial paper
rating assigned by Moody's. Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated
P-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations,
and will normally be evidenced by leading market positions in well-established
industries, high rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization
structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad
margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
A-1
internal cash generation, and well-established access to a range of financial
markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
S & P
Preferred Stock Ratings
AAA --This is the highest rating that may be assigned to a
preferred stock issue and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay the
preferred stock obligations.
AA --A preferred stock issue rated AA also qualifies as a
high-quality fixed income security. The capacity to pay preferred stock
obligations is very strong, although not as overwhelming as for issues rated
AAA.
A --An issue rated A is backed by a sound capacity to pay the
preferred stock obligations, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB --An issue rated BBB is regarded as backed by an adequate
capacity to pay the preferred stock obligations. Although it normally exhibits
adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make payments
for preferred stock in this category than for issues in the A category.
BB --An issue rated BB is regarded, on balance, as
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to repay
preferred stock obligations, but has less near-term vulnerability to default
than other speculative issues. While such issues will likely have some quality
and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by major ongoing
uncertainties or risk exposure to adverse business, financial or economic
conditions, which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely payments.
To provide more detailed indications of preferred stock
quality, the ratings of AA, A, BBB and BB may be modified by the addition of a
plus (+) or a minus (-) sign to show the relative standing within the major
rating categories.
Commercial Paper Ratings
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than
365 days.
A --Issues assigned this highest rating are regarded as having
the greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated
with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
This designation indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined to
possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+)
designation.
A-2
Until _______ ___, 2002 (25 days after the effective date of
this Prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in the Common Stock,
whether or not participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a
Prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a
Prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold
allotments or subscriptions.
================================================================================
No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus and,
if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Fund, the Fund's investment adviser or the
Underwriters. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the shares of Common
Stock offered by this Prospectus, nor does it constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy the shares of Common Stock by anyone in any
jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any
circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the
affairs of the Fund since the date hereof. If any material change occurs while
this Prospectus is required by law to be delivered, however, this Prospectus
will be supplemented or amended accordingly.
------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Available Information..........................1
Prospectus Summary.............................2
Fee Table.....................................11
The Fund.......................................1
Use of Proceeds................................1
Investment Objective and Policies.............13
Special Leverage Considerations...............30
Investment Restrictions.......................32
Management of the Fund........................34
Portfolio Transactions........................40
Dividends and Distributions...................41
Net Asset Value...............................42
Description of Capital Stock..................43
Prior Performance.............................47
Taxation......................................47
Repurchase of Common Stock and Tender
Offers; Conversion to Open-End Fund.........55
Certain Provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation...............................56
Custodian, Transfer Agent,
Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar.........58
Underwriting..................................58
Legal Matters.................................59
Reports to Shareholders.......................59
Experts.......................................59
Report of Independent Accountants.............60
F&C/Claymore Preferred Securities Income
Fund Incorporated Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.................................61
Appendix A...................................A-1
================================================================================
20,000,000 SHARES
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES
INCOME FUND INCORPORATED
COMMON STOCK
------------------
PROSPECTUS
________ __, 2002
------------------
CLAYMORE SECURITIES, INC.
[UNDERWRITERS]
PART C - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
1. Financial Statements
Financial Statements included in Part A of this Registration
Statement:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities. (*)
Financial Statements included in Part B of this Registration
Statement:
None.
2. Exhibits
(a) (1) Articles of Incorporation. (1)
(2) Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.*
(b) By-Laws. (*)
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Specimen certificate for Common Stock, par value $.01
per share. (*)
(e) Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. (*)
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and
Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated ("F&C"). (*)
(h) (1) Form of Underwriting Agreement with ________. (*)
(2) Form of Master Agreement Among Underwriters. (*)
(3) Form of Master Selected Dealers Agreement. (*)
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Custodian Agreement between the Fund and _______. (*)
(k) (1) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Fund and
________. (*)
(2) Administration Agreement between the Fund and
_________. (*)
(3) Services Agreement between the Fund and
Claymore Securities, Inc. (*)
(l) (1) Opinion and consent of Willkie Farr &
Gallagher. (*)
(2) Opinion and consent of Venable, Baetjer and
Howard. (*)
(m) Not applicable.
(n) Consent of ____________. (*)
(o) Not applicable.
(p) Purchase Agreement between the Fund and F&C. (*)
(q) Not applicable.
(r) (1) Code of Ethics of the Fund. (*)
(2) Code of Ethics of F&C. (*)
(3) Code of Ethics of the Underwriter. (*)
-------------------
(*) To be filed by subsequent amendment.
(1) Filed herewith.
ITEM 25. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS
Reference is made to the Form of Underwriting Agreement to be
filed as Exhibit (h) hereto.
ITEM 26. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Securities and Exchange Commission Fees $
New York Stock Exchange Listing Fee
Printing and Engraving Expenses
Fees and Expenses of Qualification Under State
Securities Laws (Including Fees of Counsel)
Legal Fees
Accounting Expenses
Rating Agency Fees
NASD Fees
Marketing Expenses
Miscellaneous Expenses
Total $
ITEM 27. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL
None.
ITEM 28. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share: one record holder as
of the effective date of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 29. INDEMNIFICATION
Section 2-418 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Maryland and Article VIII of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provide
for indemnification.
-2-
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant, pursuant to the foregoing provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it as against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 30. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
Registrant is fulfilling the requirement of this Item 30 to
provide a list of the officers and directors of its investment adviser,
together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature engaged in by that entity or those of its
officers and directors during the past two years, by incorporating by reference
the information contained in the Form ADV filed with the SEC pursuant to the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by F&C (SEC File No. 801-19384).
ITEM 31. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
F&C/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund Incorporated
c/o Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated
301 E. Colorado Blvd. - Suite 720
Pasadena, CA 91101
(Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and By Laws)
Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated
301 E. Colorado Blvd. - Suite 720
Pasadena, CA 91101
(with respect to its services as Adviser)
Claymore Securities, Inc.
210 N. Hale Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
(with respect to its services as Servicing Agent)
ITEM 32. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Not applicable.
ITEM 33. UNDERTAKINGS
1. Registrant undertakes to suspend offering its shares
until it amends its prospectus if (1) subsequent to the effective date of its
registration statement, the net asset value
-3-
per share declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value per share as of
the effective date of this registration statement, or (2) the net asset value
per share increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the
prospectus.
2. Not applicable.
3. Not applicable.
4. Not applicable.
5. Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus
filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained in a form of prospectus filed by Registrant pursuant to 497(h) under
the Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time
it was declared effective.
(b) For the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form
of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
6. Not applicable.
-4-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Pasadena, State of California, on the 26th day
of June, 2002.
F&C/CLAYMORE PREFERRED SECURITIES INCOME FUND
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Robert M. Ettinger
----------------------
Robert M. Ettinger
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert M. Ettinger President (Chief Executive Officer) June 26, 2002
----------------------
Robert M. Ettinger
/s/ Peter C. Stimes Chief Financial Officer June 26, 2002
-------------------
Peter C. Stimes
/s/ Donald F. Crumrine Director and Chairman of the Board June 26, 2002
----------------------
Donald F. Crumrine
-5-
EXHIBIT INDEX
(2)(a) Articles of Incorporation
-6-