pre14a
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12 |
Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal Income Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New Jersey Municipals
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined): |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary proxy materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date
of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal Income Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New Jersey Municipals
1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 341-2929
NOTICE OF JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on July 17, 2012
Notice is hereby given to holders of preferred shares of beneficial interest designated
as Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares (VMTP Shares) of Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts
Value Municipal Income Trust (VMV), Invesco Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust (VOQ),
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New Jersey Municipals (VTJ, and together with VMV
and VOQ, the Target Funds), and Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust (the Acquiring Fund or
VKQ) that the Funds will hold a joint annual meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) on July 17,
2012, at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. The Meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Eastern time. The Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund collectively are referred to as the Funds
and each is referred to individually as a Fund. At the Meeting, holders of VMTP Shares (VMTP
Shareholders) will be asked to vote on the following proposals:
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For each Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for
the reorganization of such Fund as a Delaware statutory trust. |
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Approval of the merger of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, which shall require
the following shareholder actions: |
(a) For each Target Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for such
Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund.
(b) For the Acquiring Fund, approval of the following sub-proposals:
(i) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VMV to merge with and
into the Acquiring Fund.
(ii) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VOQ to merge with and
into the Acquiring Fund.
(iii) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VTJ to merge with
and into the Acquiring Fund.
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For each Fund, the election of Trustees to its Board of Trustees, as follows: |
(a) For VMV, the election of three Trustees to its Board of Trustees by the holders of VMTP
Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class.
(b) For VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, the election of one Trustee to its Board of
Trustees by the holders of VMTP Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class.
(c) For VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, the election of one Trustee to its Board of
Trustees solely by the holders of VMTP Shares.
Each Fund may also transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
VMTP Shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 25, 2012, are entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of the
Funds common shares of beneficial interest, whose voting instructions are being separately
solicited, will also vote on certain matters at the Meeting.
The Board of Trustees of each Fund requests that you vote your shares by either (i)
completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage paid return envelope,
or (ii) voting by telephone or via the internet using the instructions on the proxy card. Please
vote your shares promptly regardless of the number of shares you own.
Each Target Funds governing documents provide that shareholders do not have dissenters
appraisal rights, and each Target Fund does not believe that its shareholders are entitled to
appraisal rights in connection with its merger.
Each Funds Board unanimously recommends that you cast your vote for the above proposals and
for all the Trustee nominees as described in the Joint Proxy Statement.
By order of the Board of Trustees:
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John M. Zerr |
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Senior Vice President, Secretary and
Chief Legal Officer |
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June [ ], 2012 |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE JOINT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012:
The proxy statement and annual report to shareholders are available at www.invesco.com/us.
Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal Income Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust
Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New Jersey Municipals
1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 341-2929
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
June [ ], 2012
Introduction
This Joint Proxy Statement (the Proxy Statement) contains information that holders of
preferred shares of beneficial interest designated as Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares
(VMTP Shares) of Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal Income Trust (VMV), Invesco
Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust (VOQ), Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New
Jersey Municipals (VTJ, and together with VMV and VOQ, the Target Funds), and Invesco Van
Kampen Municipal Trust (the Acquiring Fund or VKQ) should know before voting on the proposals
that are described herein. The Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund collectively are referred to as
the Funds and each is referred to individually as a Fund.
A joint annual meeting of the shareholders of the Funds (the Meeting) will be held on July
17, 2012 at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. The Meeting will begin at 2:00
p.m. Eastern time. The following describes the proposals to be voted on by holders of VMTP Shares
(VMTP Shareholders) at the Meeting:
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For each Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for
the reorganization of such Fund as a Delaware statutory trust. |
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Approval of the merger of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, which shall require
the following shareholder actions: |
(a) For each Target Fund, approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for such
Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund.
(b) For the Acquiring Fund, approval of the following sub-proposals:
(i) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VMV to merge with and
into the Acquiring Fund.
(ii) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VOQ to merge with and
into the Acquiring Fund.
(iii) Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for VTJ to merge with
and into the Acquiring Fund.
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For each Fund, the election of Trustees to its Board of Trustees, as follows: |
(a) For VMV, the election of three Trustees to its Board of Trustees by the holders of VMTP
Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class.
i
(b) For VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, the election of one Trustee to its Board of
Trustees by the holders of VMTP Shares and Common Shares voting together as a single class.
(c) For VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, the election of one Trustee to its Board of
Trustees solely by the holders of VMTP Shares.
Each Fund may also transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
The redomestications contemplated by Proposal 1 are referred to herein each individually as a
Redomestication and together as the Redomestications. The mergers contemplated by Proposal 2
are referred to herein each individually as a Merger and together as the Mergers.
The Boards of Trustees of the Funds (the Boards) have fixed the close of business on May 25,
2012, as the record date (Record Date) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice
of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders will be
entitled to one vote for each share held (and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional
share). Holders of the common shares of beneficial interest (Common Shares) of the Funds, whose
voting instructions are being separately solicited, will also vote on certain matters at the
Meeting.
This Proxy Statement, the enclosed Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and the
enclosed proxy card will be mailed on or about June [30], 2012, to all VMTP Shareholders eligible
to vote at the Meeting. Each Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Common Shares of each Fund
are listed on the Chicago Stock Exchange. The Common Shares of VOQ, VTJ and the Acquiring Fund are
also listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the Common Shares of VMV are also listed on NYSE
MKT (formerly NYSE Amex) (collectively with the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock
Exchange, the Exchanges).
The Meeting is scheduled as a joint meeting of the shareholders of the Funds and certain
affiliated funds, whose votes on proposals applicable to such funds are being solicited separately,
because the shareholders of the funds are expected to consider and vote on similar matters.
A joint Proxy Statement is being used in order to reduce the preparation, printing, handling
and postage expenses that would result from the use of separate proxy materials for each Fund. You
should retain this Proxy Statement for future reference, as it sets forth concisely information
about the Funds that you should know before voting on the proposals. Additional information about
each Fund is available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders of such Fund. Each
Funds most recent annual report to shareholders, which contains audited financial statements for
the Funds most recently completed fiscal year, and each Funds most recent semi-annual report to
shareholders have been previously mailed to shareholders and are available on the Funds website at
www.invesco.com/us. These documents are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC). Copies of all of these documents are also available upon request without charge by
writing to the Funds at 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77046, or by calling (800)
341-2929.
You also may view or obtain these documents from the SECs Public Reference Room, which is
located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, or from the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC
at (202) 551-8090. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment at the prescribed
rates of the duplicating fee, by electronic request to the SECs e-mail address
(publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing to the Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer Affairs and
Information Services, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You
may also inspect reports, proxy material and other information concerning each of the Funds at the
Exchanges.
The VMTP Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or
sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, VMTP Shares
to be issued in a Merger are not offered for sale hereby, and may not be transferred or resold
except in compliance with the Securities Act. No person has been authorized to give any
information or make any representations not contained herein and, if so given or made, such
information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROPOSAL 1: APPROVAL OF REDOMESTICATION |
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On what am I being asked to vote? |
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Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Redomestication? |
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Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with the Redomestications be the same as
my current VMTP Shares? |
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What are the reasons for the proposed Redomestications? |
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What effect will a Redomestication have on me as a shareholder? |
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How do the laws governing each Fund pre- and post- Redomestication compare? |
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How do the governing documents of each Fund pre- and post- Redomestication compare? |
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Will there be any tax consequences resulting from a Redomestication? |
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What is the Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund? |
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When are the Redomestications expected to occur? |
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What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve Proposal 1? |
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PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF MERGERS |
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On what am I being asked to vote? |
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SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGERS |
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Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Merger(s)? |
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What are the reasons for the proposed Mergers? |
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What effect will a Merger have on me as a VMTP Shareholder? |
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How do the Funds investment objectives and principal investment strategies compare? |
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How do the Funds principal risks compare? |
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How do the Funds expenses compare? |
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How do the performance records of the Funds compare? |
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How do the management, investment adviser and other service providers of the Funds compare? |
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Does the Acquiring Fund have the same portfolio managers as the Target Funds? |
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How do the distribution policies of the Funds compare? |
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Will there be any tax consequences resulting from the Mergers? |
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When are the Mergers expected to occur? |
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What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve a Merger? |
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Where can I find more information about the Funds and the Mergers? |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THE MERGERS |
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Principal Investment Strategies |
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Principal Risks of an Investment in the Funds |
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Portfolio Managers |
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Trading of VMTP Shares |
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Capital Structures of the Funds |
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Description of Securities to be Issued |
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Pending Litigation |
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Portfolio Turnover |
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Terms and Conditions of the Mergers |
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Additional Information About the Funds |
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Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds |
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Board Considerations in Approving the Mergers |
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Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Mergers |
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Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund |
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Where to Find More Information |
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PROPOSAL 3: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY VMV, VTJ, VOQ AND THE ACQUIRING FUND |
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VOTING INFORMATION |
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How to Vote Your Shares |
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Why are you sending me the Proxy Statement? |
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About the Proxy Statement and the Meeting |
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Quorum Requirement and Adjournment |
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Votes Necessary to Approve the Proposals |
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Proxy Solicitation |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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Share Ownership by Large Shareholders, Management and Trustees |
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Annual Meetings of the Funds |
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Shareholder Proposals |
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Shareholder Communications |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
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Other Meeting Matters |
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WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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Exhibits
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Exhibit A Form of Agreement and Plan of Redomestication |
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Exhibit B Comparison of Governing Documents |
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Exhibit C Comparison of State Laws |
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Exhibit D Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger |
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D-1 |
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Exhibit E Executive Officers of the Funds |
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E-1 |
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Exhibit F Information Regarding the Trustees |
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Exhibit G Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight and Committees and Meetings |
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G-1 |
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Exhibit H Remuneration of Trustees |
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H-1 |
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Exhibit I Independent Auditor Information |
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Exhibit J Outstanding Shares of the Funds |
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J-1 |
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Exhibit K Ownership of the Funds |
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K-1 |
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Exhibit L Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund |
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L-1 |
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No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to
make any representations other than those contained in this Proxy Statement or related solicitation
materials on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and you should not rely on such
other information or representations.
iv
PROPOSAL 1: APPROVAL OF REDOMESTICATION
On what am I being asked to vote?
Each Funds shareholders are being asked to approve an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication
(a Plan of Redomestication) providing for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory
trust (referred to herein as a DE Fund). Each Fund is currently a Massachusetts business trust.
Each Funds Plan of Redomestication provides for the Fund to transfer all of its assets and
liabilities to a newly formed Delaware statutory trust whose capital structure will be
substantially the same as the Funds current structure, after which Fund shareholders will own
shares of the Delaware statutory trust and the Massachusetts business trust will be liquidated and
terminated. The Redomestication is only a change to your Funds legal form of organization and
there will be no change to the Funds investments, management, fee levels or federal income tax
status as a result of the Redomestication.
Each Funds Redomestication may proceed even if other Redomestications are not approved by
shareholders or are for any other reason not completed. A form of the Plan of Redomestication is
available in Exhibit A.
By voting for this Proposal 1, you will be voting to become a shareholder of a fund organized
as a Delaware statutory trust with portfolio characteristics, investment objective(s), strategies,
risks, trustees, advisory agreements, subadvisory arrangements and other arrangements that are
substantially the same as those currently in place for your Fund.
Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Redomestication?
Yes. Each Funds Board has reviewed and unanimously approved the Plan of Redomestication and
this Proposal 1. The Board of each Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders vote for Proposal
1.
Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with the Redomestications be the same as my current VMTP
Shares?
Yes. In connection with each Redomestication, the applicable DE Fund will issue VMTP Shares
with terms that are substantially identical to the terms of the Funds currently outstanding VMTP
Shares. Important information regarding the VMTP Shares to be issued in connection with each
Redomestication is set forth below.
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It is a condition of closing of each Redomestication that the Fund will have
satisfied all of its obligations set forth in certain documents related to the VMTP
Shares immediately prior to the Redomestication and that the DE Fund will satisfy all
of the obligations of the corresponding documents related to the VMTP Shares to be
issued by the DE Fund immediately after the Redomestication. |
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The terms of the Declaration of Trust of a DE Fund are identical to those terms
agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of a Fund. |
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The terms of the bylaws of a DE Fund are identical to those terms agreed upon
by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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The terms of the VMTP Shares issued by a DE Fund, as set forth in the Statement
of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund, are identical to those terms agreed upon
by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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In the Redomestications, VMTP Shareholders of a Fund will receive VMTP Shares
of the DE Fund and no VMTP Shares of the DE Fund will be issued to persons who are not
holders of VMTP Shares of the Fund. |
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It is a condition of closing of each Redomestication that upon closing of such
Redomestication the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating
agency that is rating, at the request of the DE Fund, such VMTP Shares. |
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The Redomestications are scheduled to occur on or prior to December 31, 2012. |
A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund is attached hereto
as Exhibit L. The Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund for each Target Fund will
be identical in
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all material respects. The description of VMTP Shares of the DE Funds included
herein is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed description of
the VMTP Shares set forth in such form of Statement of Preferences.
What are the reasons for the proposed Redomestications?
The Redomestications will serve to standardize the governing documents and certain agreements
of the Funds with each other and with other funds managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. (the
Adviser). This standardization is expected to streamline the administration of the Funds, which
may result in cost savings and more effective administration by eliminating differences in
governing documents or controlling law. In addition, the legal requirements governing business
trusts under Massachusetts law are less certain and less developed than those under Delaware law,
which sometimes necessitates the Funds bearing the cost to engage counsel to advise on the
interpretation of such law.
The Redomestications are also a necessary step for the completion of the Mergers described in
Proposal 2 because, as Delaware statutory trusts, the Funds may merge with no delay in transactions
that are expected to qualify as tax-free reorganizations. However, the Redomestications may
proceed even if the Mergers described in Proposal 2 are not approved.
What effect will a Redomestication have on me as a shareholder?
A Redomestication will have no direct economic effect on Fund shareholders investments, other
than the cost savings described herein. Each redomesticated Fund will have investment advisory
agreements, subadvisory arrangements, administration agreements, custodian agreements, transfer
agency agreements, and other service provider arrangements that are identical in all material
respects to those in place immediately before the Redomestication, with certain non-substantive
revisions to standardize such agreements across the Funds. For example, after the
Redomestications, the investment advisory agreements of the Funds will contain standardized
language describing how investment advisory fees are calculated, but there will be no change to the
actual calculation methodology. Each Fund will continue to be served by the same individuals as
trustees and officers, and each Fund will continue to retain the same independent registered public
accounting firm. The portfolio characteristics, investment objective(s), strategies and risks of
each Fund will not change as a result of the Redomestications. Each Funds new governing documents
will be similar to its current governing documents, but will contain certain material differences.
These changes are intended to benefit shareholders by streamlining and promoting the efficient
administration and operation of the Funds. However, as a result of these changes, shareholders
will have fewer rights to vote on certain matters affecting the Fund and, therefore, less control
over the operations of the Fund. These changes to shareholder voting rights, and the benefits that
management believes will result from these changes, are described below.
Each Fund will distribute to VMTP Shareholders all accrued but unpaid dividends on the VMTP
Shares through the closing date for its Redomestication. Dividends will begin accruing on the
VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund as of the closing date for the Redomestication at the same rate
that was in effect immediately prior to the Redomestication. Agreements of each Fund related to
the VMTP Shares, including the purchase agreement, the redemption and paying agent agreement and
the registration rights agreement, will be assigned to the corresponding DE Fund.
In addition, each Funds capital structure will be substantially the same as its current
capital structure. The Common Shares of each Fund will continue to have equal rights to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, and each Fund may not declare
distributions on Common Shares unless all accrued dividends on the Funds preferred shares have
been paid, and unless asset coverage with respect to the Funds preferred shares would be at least
200% after giving effect to the distributions. In addition, under the terms of each Funds VMTP
Shares, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain minimum asset coverage of 225%.
Shareholder approval of a Redomestication will be deemed to constitute approval of the
advisory and subadvisory agreements, as well as a vote for the election of the trustees, of the
Delaware statutory trust. Accordingly, each Plan of Redomestication provides that the sole initial
shareholder of each Delaware statutory trust will vote to approve the advisory and subadvisory
agreements (which, as noted above, will be identical in all material respects to the Funds current
agreements) and to elect the trustees of the Delaware statutory trust (which, as noted above, will
be the same as the Funds current Trustees) after shareholder approval of the Redomestication but
prior to the closing of the Redomestication.
2
How do the laws governing each Fund pre- and post-Redomestication compare?
After the Redomestications, each Fund will be a Delaware statutory trust governed by the
Delaware Statutory Trust Act (DE Statute). The DE Statute is similar in many respects to the
laws governing the Funds current structure, a Massachusetts business trust, but they differ in
certain respects. Both the Massachusetts business trust law (MA Statute) and the DE Statute
permit a trusts governing instrument to contain provisions relating to shareholder rights and
removal of trustees, and provide trusts with the ability to amend or restate the trusts governing
instruments. However, the MA Statute is silent on many of the salient features of a Massachusetts
business trust whereas the DE Statute provides guidance and offers a significant amount of
operational flexibility to Delaware statutory trusts. The DE Statute provides explicitly that the
shareholders and trustees of a Delaware statutory trust are not liable for obligations of the trust
to the same extent as under corporate law. While the governing documents of each Fund contain an
express disclaimer of liability of shareholders, certain Massachusetts judicial decisions have
determined that shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust may, in certain circumstances, be
assessed or held personally liable as partners for the obligations of a Massachusetts business
trust. Therefore, the Funds believe that shareholders will benefit from the express statutory
protections of the DE Statute. The DE Statute authorizes the trustees to take various actions
without requiring shareholder approval if permitted by a Funds governing instruments. For
example, trustees of a Delaware statutory trust may have the power to amend the trusts governing
instrument, merge or consolidate a Fund with another entity, and to change the Delaware statutory
trusts domicile, in each case without a shareholder vote. The Funds believe that the guidance and
flexibility afforded by the DE Statute and the explicit limitation on liability contained in the DE
Statute will benefit the Funds and shareholders. A more detailed comparison of certain provisions
of the DE Statute and the MA Statute is included in Exhibit C.
How do the governing documents of each Fund pre- and post-Redomestication compare?
The governing documents of a Fund before and after its Redomestication will be similar, but
will contain certain material differences. In general, these changes to each Funds new governing
documents are intended to benefit shareholders by streamlining the administration and operation of
each Fund to save shareholders money and by making it more difficult for short-term speculative
investors to engage in practices that benefit such short-term investors at the expense of the Fund
and to the detriment of its long-term investors. For example, the new governing documents permit
termination of a Fund without shareholder approval, provided that at least 75% of the Trustees have
approved such termination, thereby avoiding the expense of a shareholder meeting in connection with
a termination of a Fund, which expense would reduce the amount of assets available for distribution
to shareholders. The current governing documents require shareholder approval to terminate a Fund
regardless of whether the Trustees have approved such termination. Also, the Funds new bylaws may
be altered, amended, or repealed by the Trustees, without the vote or approval of shareholders.
The Funds current bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the Trustees, provided that
bylaws adopted by the shareholders may only be altered, amended, or repealed by the shareholders.
None of the Funds currently have any bylaws that were adopted by shareholders. As a result of
these changes, shareholders will generally have fewer rights to vote on certain matters affecting
the Fund and, therefore, less control over the operations of the Fund.
The new governing documents include new procedures intended to provide the Board the
opportunity to better evaluate proposals submitted by shareholders and provide additional
information to shareholders for their consideration in connection with such proposals. For
example, the new governing documents require shareholders to provide additional information with
respect to shareholder proposals, including nominations, brought before a meeting of shareholders.
These additional procedures include, among others, deadlines for providing advance notice of
shareholder proposals, certain required information that must be included with such advance notice
and a requirement that the proposing shareholder appear before the annual or special meeting of
shareholders to present about the nomination or proposed business. Trustees will be elected by a
majority vote (i.e., nominees must receive the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares present
and entitled to vote at a shareholder meeting at which a quorum is present), while under the
current governing documents, Trustees are generally elected by a plurality vote (i.e., the nominees
receiving the greatest number of votes are elected). Also, the new governing documents will
provide for election of Trustees by all shareholders voting together as a single class, except for
those Trustees specifically designated to be elected solely by the holders of VMTP Shares (VMTP
Shareholders). The new governing documents will not provide shareholders the ability to remove
Trustees or to call special meetings of shareholders, which powers are provided under the current
governing documents.
3
The new governing documents contain provisions the Trustees believe will benefit shareholders
by deterring frivolous lawsuits and actions by short-term, speculative investors that are contrary
to the long-term best interests of the Fund and long-term shareholders and limiting the extent to
which Fund assets will be expended defending against such lawsuits. These provisions include a
different shareholder voting standard with respect to a Funds merger, consolidation, or conversion
to an open-end company that, in certain circumstances, may be a lower voting standard than under
the current governing documents. The new governing documents also impose certain obligations on
shareholders seeking to initiate a derivative action on behalf of a Fund that are not imposed under
the current governing documents, which may make it more difficult for shareholders to initiate
derivative actions and are intended to save the Fund money by requiring reimbursement of the Fund
for frivolous lawsuits brought by shareholders. To further protect the Fund and its shareholders
from frivolous lawsuits, the new governing documents also provide that shareholders will indemnify
the Fund for all costs, expenses, penalties, fines or other amounts arising from any action against
the Fund to the extent that the shareholder is not the prevailing party and that the Fund is
permitted to redeem shares of and/or set off against any distributions due to the shareholder for
such amounts.
A comparison of the current and proposed governing documents of the Funds is available in
Exhibit B and a form of the Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund is
available in Exhibit L.
Will there be any tax consequences resulting from a Redomestication?
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of
the Redomestications and is based upon the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the Code), the existing U.S. Treasury Regulations thereunder, current administrative
rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and published judicial decisions, all of which are
subject to change. These considerations are general in nature and individual shareholders should
consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local, and foreign tax considerations
applicable to them and their individual circumstances. These same considerations generally do not
apply to shareholders who hold their shares in a tax-deferred account.
Each Redomestication is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of
the Code. Each Fund is currently a Massachusetts business trust. Each Redomestication will be
completed pursuant to a Plan of Redomestication that provides for the applicable Fund to transfer
all of its assets and liabilities to a newly formed Delaware statutory trust (DE-Fund), after
which Fund shareholders will own shares of the Delaware statutory trust and the Massachusetts
business trust will be liquidated. Even though the Redomestication of a Fund is part of an overall
plan to effect the Merger of each Target Fund with the Acquiring Fund, the Redomestications will be
treated as separate transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The principal federal income
tax considerations that are expected to result from the Redomestication of an applicable Fund are
as follows:
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the Fund or the shareholders of the Fund
as a result of the Redomestication; |
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the DE-Fund as a result of the
Redomestication; |
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the aggregate tax basis of the shares of the DE-Fund to be received by a
shareholder of the Fund will be the same as the shareholders aggregate tax basis
of the shares of the Fund; and |
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the holding period of the shares of the DE-Fund received by a shareholder of the
Fund will include the period that a shareholder held the shares of the Fund
(provided that such shares of the Fund are capital assets in the hands of such
shareholder as of the Closing (as defined herein)). |
Neither the Funds nor the DE-Funds have requested or will request an advance ruling from the
IRS as to the federal tax consequences of the Redomestications. As a condition to Closing, Stradley
Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP will render a favorable opinion to each Fund and DE-Fund as to the
foregoing federal income tax consequences of each Redomestication, which opinion will be
conditioned upon, among other things, the accuracy, as of the Closing Date (as defined herein), of
certain representations of each Fund and DE-Fund upon which Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
will rely in rendering its opinion. A copy of the opinion will be filed with the SEC and will be
available for public inspection. See Where to Find Additional Information. Opinions of counsel
are not binding upon the IRS or the courts. If a Redomestication is consummated but the IRS or the
courts determine that the Redomestication does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization under the
Code, and thus is taxable, each Fund
4
would recognize gain or loss on the transfer of its assets to
its corresponding DE-Fund and each shareholder of the Fund would recognize a taxable gain or loss
equal to the difference between its tax basis in its Fund shares and the fair market value of the
shares of the DE-Fund it receives. The failure of one Redomestication to qualify as a tax-free
reorganization would not adversely affect any other Redomestication.
What is the Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the DE Fund?
Each Fund expects that the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with the
Redomestications will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Each Fund has received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that VMTP Shares issued
by it prior to its Redomestication will be treated as equity of such Fund for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Special VMTP Federal Income Tax Counsel)
is of the opinion that, and as a condition to the closing of the Redomestications will deliver to
the Funds an opinion that, the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with a
Redomestication will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An
opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, no assurance can be given that
the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to Special VMTP
Federal Income Tax Counsels opinion.
The discussion herein assumes that the VMTP Shares issued by the DE Fund in connection with
Redomestication will be treated as equity of the DE Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
When are the Redomestications expected to occur?
If shareholders of a Fund approve Proposal 1, it is anticipated that such Funds
Redomestication will occur in the third quarter of 2012.
What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve Proposal 1?
If Proposal 1 is not approved by a Funds shareholders or if a Redomestication is for other
reasons not able to be completed, that Fund would not be redomesticated. In addition, that Fund
would not participate in a Merger, even if that Funds shareholders approve the Merger under
Proposal 2. If Acquiring Fund Shareholders do not approve Proposal 1 or if the Acquiring Funds
Redomestication is for any other reason not completed, no Mergers would be completed. If Proposal
1 is not approved by shareholders, the applicable Funds Board will consider other possible courses
of action for that Fund.
THE BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 1.
PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF MERGERS
On what am I being asked to vote?
Shareholders of each Target Fund are being asked to consider and approve a Merger of their
Target Fund with and into the Acquiring Fund, as summarized below. Shareholders of the Acquiring
Fund are also being asked to consider and approve each such Merger, which involves the issuance of
new Common Shares and VMTP Shares by the Acquiring Fund. If a Merger is approved, VMTP Shares of
the Target Funds will be exchanged on a one-for-one basis for newly issued Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares with substantially similar terms, including equal aggregate liquidation preferences; and
Common Shares of the Target Funds will be exchanged for newly issued Acquiring Fund Common Shares
of equal aggregate net asset value. VMTP Shareholders are not expected to bear any costs of the
Mergers.
Each Merger will be completed pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger Agreement)
that provides for the applicable Target Fund to merge with and into the Acquiring Fund pursuant to
the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. A form of the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
Each Merger Agreement is substantially the same. The merger of one Target Fund and the Acquiring
Fund may proceed even if the merger of one or both of the other Target Funds is not approved by
shareholders or is for any other reason not completed. A Merger can proceed only if both the
Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund have also approved their respective Redomestications.
5
SUMMARY OF KEY INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGERS
The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement
and in the Merger Agreement. Shareholders should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully for
more complete information.
Has my Funds Board of Trustees approved the Merger(s)?
Yes. Each Funds Board has reviewed and unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and this
Proposal 2. Each Funds Board determined that the Mergers are in the best interest of each Fund
and will not dilute the interests of the existing shareholders of any Fund. Each Funds Board
recommends that shareholders vote for Proposal 2.
Will VMTP Shares issued in connection with the Mergers be the same as my current VMTP Shares?
Yes. In connection with the Mergers, the Acquiring Fund will issue VMTP Shares in exchange
for each Target Funds VMTP Shares. The terms of the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares will be
substantially similar to the terms of each Target Funds VMTP Shares outstanding immediately prior
to the closing of a Mergers. The primary difference between the terms of the Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares and the terms of each Target Funds VMTP Shares is that the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares have
a term redemption date of December 1, 2015 whereas the Target Fund VMTP Shares have a term
redemption date of June 1, 2015. In addition, while the VMV VMTP Shares currently have the same
ratings spread as the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares, beginning on January 1, 2013, the VMV VMTP Shares
would have a higher ratings spread than the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares, meaning that VMVs VMTP
Shares would pay a higher dividend (assuming an equal credit rating) than the Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares. As a result, in connection with the Mergers, Target Fund shareholders will receive VMTP
Shares that have a longer duration and, in the case of VMV, would pay a lower dividend beginning on
January 1, 2013 (assuming an equal credit rating). Important information regarding the Acquiring
Fund VMTP Shares to be issued in connection with the Mergers is set forth below.
(1) It is a condition of closing of each Merger that the Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund
will have satisfied all of its obligations set forth in certain documents related to its
respective VMTP Shares immediately prior to the Merger and that the Acquiring Fund will satisfy all
of the obligations of such documents related to the VMTP Shares immediately after giving effect to
the Merger.
(2) The terms of the Declaration of Trust of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to the
Merger) are identical to those terms agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the
Fund.
(3) The terms of the bylaws of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to the Merger) are
identical to those terms agreed upon by the initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund.
(4) The terms of the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund, as set forth in the Statement
of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the DE Fund, are identical to those terms agreed upon by the
initial purchaser of VMTP Shares of the Fund.
(5) In the Merger, VMTP Shares of the Target Fund will be exchanged for VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund and after giving effect to all Mergers, all VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund will
be held by the current holders of the VMTP Shares of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund.
(6) It is a condition of closing of each Merger that upon closing of such Merger the VMTP
Shares of the Acquiring Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating agency that is rating, at the
request of the Acquiring Fund, such VMTP Shares.
(7) The Mergers are scheduled to occur on or prior to December 31, 2012.
A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to
its Redomestication) is attached hereto as Exhibit L. The description of VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund included herein is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more
detailed description of the VMTP Shares set forth in such form of Statement of Preferences.
6
What are the reasons for the proposed Mergers?
The Mergers proposed in this Proxy Statement are part of a larger group of transactions across
the Advisers fund platform that began in early 2011. The Mergers seek to combine Funds with
investment objectives, strategies and related risks that are similar and that are managed by
substantially the same portfolio management team.
VMTP Shareholders are expected to benefit from the larger size of the combined fund due to a
larger funds ability to invest in a larger pool of securities.
In considering the Mergers and the Merger Agreements, the Board of each Fund considered that
the Common Shareholders of each Fund may benefit from the Mergers by becoming shareholders of a
larger fund that may have a more diversified investment portfolio, greater market liquidity, more
analyst coverage, smaller spreads and trading discounts, improved purchasing power and lower
transaction costs.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, the Board of the Acquiring Fund also considered
that the combined fund on a pro forma basis would have a 0.30% higher distribution yield (as a
percentage of net asset value) than the Acquiring Fund, even after giving effect to the slightly
higher total expenses anticipated to be incurred by the combined fund.
The Board of each Target Fund also considered that, in addition to the benefits mentioned
above:
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the combined fund is anticipated to have lower total operating expenses than
each Target Fund; |
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the combined fund on a pro forma basis had more than a 0.20% higher Common Share
distribution yield (as a percentage of net asset value) than each Target Fund, even
after giving effect to the higher management fees and total expense ratio that
would apply to the combined fund before and after the expiration of fee waivers; |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares had traded at an average
premium of 1.72% to its net asset value over the preceding 52 week period and, over
the same period, the Target Funds Common Shares had traded at average premiums of
4.39% (VMV), 1.11% (VOQ) and 2.32% (VTJ); |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares traded at an average
discount of -2.80% to its net asset value for the preceding month and, over the
same period, the Target Funds Common Shares had traded at average discounts of
-1.30% (VMV), -0.50% (VOQ) and -3.50 (VTJ); |
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the average daily trading volume for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares was more
than 20 times greater than the average daily trading volume of VMVs Common Shares,
more than 11 times greater than the average daily trading volume of VOQs Common
Shares and more than eight times greater than the average daily trading volumes of
VTJs Common Shares; and |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Fund owned 434 different municipal bonds and
the Target Funds owned 73 (VMV), 102 (VOQ) and 99 (VTJ), which means that the
combined fund would provide shareholders with a more diverse investment portfolio. |
The Boards also considered the expected tax free nature of the Mergers for each Fund and its
shareholders for federal income tax purposes. However, the Boards of the Target Funds considered
that Target Fund shareholders living in Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey, respectively, will lose the benefit of their
respective Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state tax exemption to the extent that the Acquiring Fund invests in securities
whose distributions are not exempt from Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state income tax, respectively,
or to the extent that the Acquiring Fund is no longer eligible to pass through to investors the tax-exempt nature of
its income for state tax purposes. The Board considered the information regarding each Funds Common Share
distribution rate on an actual and tax-equivalent basis, (reflecting the effect of both state and
federal income taxes), noting that before giving effect to the Mergers, the after federal tax
equivalent Common Share distribution yield (as a percentage of net asset value) of the Acquiring
Fund was within 0.50% of the after federal and state tax equivalent Common Share
7
yield of each Target Fund. The Board weighed this factor in light of the benefits of the Mergers to Target Fund
shareholders described herein, including the benefits of increased portfolio diversification.
In addition, each Board considered the allocation of expenses of the Mergers, including the
Adviser paying all of the Merger costs.
The Board of each Fund considered these and other factors in concluding that the Mergers would
be in the best interest of the Funds and would not dilute the interests of the existing
shareholders of any Fund. The Boards considerations are described in more detail below in the
section entitled Additional Information About the Funds and the MergersBoard Considerations in
Approving the Mergers.
What effect will a Merger have on me as a VMTP Shareholder?
If you own Target Fund VMTP Shares, you will, after the Merger, own VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to, and other terms that are
substantially similar to, the Target Fund VMTP Shares you held immediately before the Merger. The
primary difference between the terms of the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares and the terms of each Target
Funds VMTP Shares is that the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares have a term redemption date of December
1, 2015 whereas the Target Fund VMTP Shares have a term redemption date of June 1, 2015. In
addition, while the VMV VMTP Shares currently have the same ratings spread as the Acquiring Fund
VMTP Shares, beginning on January 1, 2013, the VMV VMTP Shares would have a higher ratings spread
than the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares, meaning that VMVs VMTP Shares would pay a higher dividend
(assuming an equal credit rating) than the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares. As a result, in connection
with the Mergers, Target Fund shareholders will receive VMTP Shares that have a longer duration
and, in the case of VMV, would pay a lower dividend beginning on January 1, 2013 (assuming an equal
credit rating). As discussed under Proposal 1, before the closing of the Mergers, the Funds will
be reorganized as Delaware statutory trusts, which will all have substantially identical Statements
of Preferences of VMTP Shares. A form of the Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of the
Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to its Redomestication) is attached hereto as Exhibit L. The
Statement of Preferences of VMTP Shares of each Fund (after giving effect to each Funds
Redomestication) will be identical in all material respects.
If you are a VMTP Shareholder of the Acquiring Fund, your VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
will not be changed by a Merger.
It is expected that neither the Funds nor their shareholders will recognize any gain or loss
for federal income tax purposes as a result of the Mergers. After the Merger of VMV, VOQ, or VTJ
into the Acquiring Fund, shareholders of VMV, VOQ and VTJ living in the state of Massachusetts,
Ohio or New Jersey, respectively, will lose the benefit of their respective Massachusetts, Ohio or
New Jersey state tax exemption to the extent that the Acquiring Fund invests in securities whose
distributions are not exempt from Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state income tax, respectively,
or to the extent that the Fund is no longer eligible to pass through to investors the tax-exempt
nature of its income for state tax purposes. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisor
regarding the effect, if any, of the Merger in light of their individual circumstances. For more
information about the Federal tax consequences of the Merger, see the section below entitled
Summary of Key Information Regarding the MergersWill there be any tax consequences resulting from
the Mergers?
The principal differences between the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund are described in the
following sections.
How do the Funds investment objectives and principal investment strategies compare?
The Funds have similar investment objectives, as shown in the table below. The primary
difference between the Funds investment objectives is that, in addition to seeking to provide
income that is exempt from federal income tax, each Target Fund seeks to provide income that is
also exempt from the income tax of its respective state. Each Funds investment objective is
fundamental and may be changed only with shareholder approval.
8
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Investment Objectives |
VTJ |
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To provide a high level of current income exempt from
federal income taxes and New Jersey gross income taxes, consistent with preservation of
capital. |
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To provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income
tax, consistent with preservation of capital. |
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VMV |
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To provide a high level of
current income exempt from
federal income taxes and
Massachusetts personal income
tax, consistent with preservation
of capital. |
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VOQ |
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To provide a high level of
current income exempt from
federal and Ohio income taxes,
consistent with preservation of
capital. |
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The principal investment strategies of the Acquiring Fund are similar to the principal
investment strategies of the Target Funds, except that each Target Fund focuses on investing in
municipal bonds that pay interest exempt from taxation by a specific state while the Acquiring Fund
invests in municipal bonds that pay interest exempt from U.S. federal income tax, issued by issuers
throughout the nation.
The section below entitled Additional Information About the Funds and the MergersPrincipal
Investment Strategies provides more information on the principal investment strategies of the
Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund and highlights certain key differences.
How do the Funds principal risks compare?
The principal risks that may affect each Funds investment portfolio are similar. Each Fund
is subject to the same risks, except that the Acquiring Fund is not subject to special risk
considerations regarding state municipal securities to the same degree as the Target Funds because
it does not typically invest all of its assets in issuers located in the same state. As a result
of the Mergers, however, immediately after the closing of the Mergers the Acquiring Fund will have
a greater portion of its total assets invested in issuers located in Massachusetts, New Jersey or
Ohio as compared to its current investments, in which case it will be more susceptible to adverse
economic, business or regulatory conditions in those states. On a pro forma basis after giving
effect to the Mergers, based on the Funds portfolio investments as of February 29, 2012, the
Acquiring Funds investments in issuers located in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio would equal
7.8%, 12.7% and 14.3% of its total assets, respectively. The Acquiring Fund has no policy limiting
its investments in municipal securities whose issuers are located in the same state.
Investment in any of the Funds involves risks, including the risk that shareholders may
receive little or no return on their investment and the risk that shareholders may lose part or all
of the money they invest. There can be no guarantee against losses resulting from an investment in
a Fund, nor can there be any assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective(s).
Whether a Fund achieves its investment objective(s) depends on market conditions generally and on
the Advisers analytical and portfolio management skills. As with any managed fund, the Adviser
may not be successful in selecting the best-performing securities or investment techniques, and a
Funds performance may lag behind that of similar funds. The risks associated with an investment
in a Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility. An investment in a Fund is
not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency. Before investing in a Fund, potential shareholders
should carefully evaluate the risks.
The risks associated with an investment in VMTP Shares are substantially similar for the
Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund.
Additional information on the principal risks of each Fund is included in such Funds
shareholder reports SAI.
9
How do the Funds expenses compare?
The table below provides a summary comparison of the expenses of the Funds. The table also
shows estimated expenses on a pro forma basis giving effect to the proposed Merger with VMV and
giving effect to all of the Mergers. The pro forma expense ratios show projected estimated
expenses, but actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown.
It is anticipated that the lowest expense ratio will be achieved for the Acquiring Fund if all
of the Mergers are completed and that the highest expense ratio will result if VMV is the only
Target Fund that participates in a Merger with the Acquiring Fund. The range of impact to
Acquiring Fund expenses after the Mergers is reflected in the following table. Note that Acquiring
Fund Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses on a pro forma basis will be higher than the Acquiring
Funds current expenses because the Acquiring Fund will after the Mergers have more leverage as a
result of the higher leverage levels of certain Target Funds and therefore slightly higher Interest
and Related Expenses. Therefore, such increased expenses will be offset by the benefits of such
increased leverage to the extent that leverage continues to be beneficial to the Fund. VMTP
Shareholders are not expected to bear any of the costs of the Mergers.
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Invesco Van |
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Invesco Van |
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VMV, VOQ, VTJ |
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Invesco Van |
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Trust for |
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Massachusetts Value |
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Investment Grade |
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Invesco Van |
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Municipal Income |
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Ohio Quality |
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Trust |
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Municipal Trust |
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Municipals |
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Municipal Trust |
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Merger with VMV is |
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Mergers are |
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(VMV) |
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(VOQ) |
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(VTJ) |
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(Acquiring Fund) |
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completed) |
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completed) |
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Shareholder Fees (Fees paid
directly from your investment) |
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Maximum
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of
offering price) (c) |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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Dividend Reinvestment
Plan (d) |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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None |
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as
a percentage of the value of your
investment) |
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Management Fees |
|
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0.94 |
% |
|
|
0.87 |
% |
|
|
0.92 |
% |
|
|
0.90 |
% |
|
|
0.90 |
% |
|
|
0.90 |
% |
Interest and Related
Expenses (e) |
|
|
1.03 |
% |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
0.84 |
% |
|
|
0.71 |
% |
|
|
0.73 |
% |
|
|
0.73 |
% |
Other Expenses |
|
|
0.61 |
% |
|
|
0.30 |
% |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
|
|
0.15 |
% |
|
|
0.16 |
% |
|
|
0.15 |
% |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
|
|
2.58 |
% |
|
|
1.91 |
% |
|
|
2.01 |
% |
|
|
1.76 |
% |
|
|
1.79 |
% |
|
|
1.78 |
% |
|
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(a) |
|
Expense ratios reflect estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. VMTP Shares do not bear
any transaction or operating expenses of the Funds. |
|
(b) |
|
Pro forma numbers are estimated as if the Mergers had been completed as of March 1, 2011.
The Funds are not bearing any Merger costs. |
|
(c) |
|
Common Shares of each Fund purchased on the secondary market are not subject to sales
charges, but may be subject to brokerage commissions or other charges. |
|
(d) |
|
Each participant in a Funds dividend reinvestment plan pays a proportionate share of the
brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases in connection with such
plan. For each Funds last fiscal year, participants in the plan incurred brokerage
commissions representing $0.03 per Common Share. |
|
(e) |
|
Interest and Related Expenses includes interest and other costs of providing leverage to the
Funds, such as the costs to maintain lines of credit, issue and administer preferred shares,
and establish and administer floating rate note obligations. |
How do the management, investment adviser and other service providers of the Funds
compare?
Each Fund is overseen by a Board composed of the same individuals and each Funds affairs are
managed by the same officers, as described in Exhibit E. The Adviser, a registered investment
adviser, serves as investment adviser for each Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement
that contains substantially identical terms for each Fund. The Adviser oversees the management of
each Funds portfolio, manages each Funds business affairs and provides certain clerical,
bookkeeping and other administrative services. The Adviser has acted as an
10
investment adviser since its organization in 1976. As of March 31, 2012, the Adviser had $309.2 billion in assets
under management. The Adviser is located at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
The Adviser is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. (Invesco). Invesco is a
leading independent global investment management company, dedicated to helping people worldwide
build their financial security. Invesco provides a comprehensive array of enduring solutions for
retail, institutional and high-net-worth clients around the world. Invesco had $672.8 billion in
assets under management as of March 31, 2012. Invesco is organized under the laws of Bermuda, and
its common shares are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ.
Invesco is located at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
All of the ordinary business expenses incurred in the operations of a Fund are borne by the
Fund unless specifically provided otherwise in the advisory agreement. Expenses borne by the Funds
include but are not limited to brokerage commissions, taxes, legal, accounting, auditing, or
governmental fees, the cost of preparing share certificates, custodian, transfer and shareholder
service agent costs, expenses of registering and qualifying shares for sale, expenses relating to
Trustee and shareholder meetings, the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to
shareholders, and the fees and other expenses incurred by the Funds in connection with membership
in investment company organizations.
A discussion of the basis for each Boards 2011 approval of each Funds investment advisory
agreements is included in the Funds semiannual report for the six months ended August 31, 2011. A
discussion of the basis for each Boards most recent approval of each Funds investment advisory
agreements will be included in the Funds semiannual report for the six months ending August 31,
2012, if any.
The contractual advisory fee rate of the Acquiring Fund is the same as the contractual
advisory fee rate of each Target Fund. The following table compares the advisory fee rates of the
Funds.
|
|
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VMV |
|
VOQ |
|
VTJ |
|
Acquiring Fund (VKQ) |
Contractual Fee Rate |
|
0.55% of managed assets |
|
0.55% of managed assets |
|
0.55% of managed assets |
|
0.55% of managed assets |
Net Effective Fee
Rate* |
|
0.94% |
|
0.87% |
|
0.92% |
|
0.90% |
|
|
|
* |
|
Varies based on the amount of financial leverage used by the Fund. |
Each of the Funds calculates its advisory fee as a percentage of its managed assets, which
for this purpose means the Funds net assets, plus assets attributable to outstanding preferred
shares and the amount of any borrowings incurred for the purpose of leverage (whether or not such
borrowed amounts are reflected in the Funds financial statements for purposes of generally
accepted accounting principles). As a result, the actual amount paid by each Fund, as a percentage
of NAV, will typically exceed the contractual rate. For more information, see the table above
under How do the Funds expenses compare?
Each Funds advisory agreement provides that the Adviser may delegate any and all of its
rights, duties, and obligations to one or more wholly-owned affiliates of Invesco as sub-advisers
(the Invesco Sub-Advisers). Pursuant to each Funds Master Intergroup Sub-Advisory Contract, the
Invesco Sub-Advisers may be appointed by the Adviser from time to time to provide discretionary
investment management services, investment advice, and/or order execution services. Each Invesco
Sub-Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser.
Other key service providers to the Target Funds, including the administrator, transfer agent,
custodian, and auditor, provide substantially the same services to the Acquiring Fund. Each Fund
has entered into a master administrative services agreement with the Adviser, pursuant to which the
Adviser performs or arranges for the provision of accounting and other administrative services to
the Funds that are not required to be performed by the Adviser under its investment advisory
agreements with the Funds. The custodian for the Funds is State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225
Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2801. The transfer agent and dividend paying agent
for the Funds is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island
02940-3078.
11
Does the Acquiring Fund have the same portfolio managers as the Target Funds?
The portfolio management teams of the Funds are similar, but certain portfolio managers are
not the same. Information on the portfolio managers of the Funds is included below under
Additional Information About the Funds and the MergersPortfolio Managers and in the SAI.
How do the distribution policies of the Funds compare?
Each Fund declares and pays dividends monthly from net investment income to Common
Shareholders. Each Fund declares daily and pays monthly dividends from net investment income on
VMTP Shareholders. Distributions from net realized capital gain, if any, are generally paid
annually and are distributed on a pro rata basis to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders.
Each Fund may also declare and pay capital gains distributions more frequently, if necessary, in
order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. Each Fund offers a
dividend reinvestment plan for holders of the Funds Common Shares (Common Shareholders), which
is more fully described in the Funds shareholder reports.
Will there be any tax consequences resulting from the Mergers?
Each Merger is designed to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax
purposes and each Fund anticipates receiving a legal opinion to that effect (although there can be
no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will adopt a similar position). This means that the
shareholders of each Target Fund will recognize no gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
upon the exchange of all of their shares in such Target Fund for shares in the Acquiring Fund.
After the Merger of VMV, VOQ, or VTJ into the Acquiring Fund, shareholders of VMV, VOQ and VTJ
living in the state of Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey, respectively, will lose the benefit of
their respective Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state tax exemption to the extent that the
Acquiring Fund invests in securities whose distributions are not exempt from Massachusetts, Ohio or
New Jersey state income tax, respectively, or to the extent that the Fund is no longer eligible to
pass through to investors the tax-exempt nature of its income for state tax purposes. Shareholders
should consult their tax advisor about state and local tax consequences of the Mergers, if any,
because the information about tax consequences in this Proxy Statement relates only to the federal
income tax consequences of the Mergers.
Prior to the closing of each Merger, each Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
In addition, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP\ will deliver an opinion to the Funds,
subject to certain representations, assumptions and conditions, to the effect that the Acquiring
Fund VMTP Shares received in the Mergers by holders of VMTP Shares of a Target Fund will qualify as
equity of the Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes.
When are the Mergers expected to occur?
If shareholders of a Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund approve the Merger and the
Redomestication (Proposal 1), it is anticipated that the Merger will occur in the third quarter of
2012.
What will happen if shareholders of a Fund do not approve a Merger?
If a Merger is not approved by shareholders or is for other reasons unable to be completed,
the applicable Fund will continue to operate and the Funds Board will consider other possible
courses of action for the Fund.
12
Where can I find more information about the Funds and the Mergers?
The remainder of this Proxy Statement contains additional information about the Funds and the
Mergers, as well as information on the other proposals to be voted on at the Meeting. You are
encouraged to read the entire document. Additional information about each Fund can be found in the
statement of additional information (SAI) to the registration statement for the Acquiring Funds
Common Shares on Form N-14, dated June 8, 2012 (which is not part of this Proxy Statement and is
not incorporated by reference herein), and in each Funds shareholder reports. If you need any
assistance, or have any questions regarding the Mergers or how to vote, please call Invesco Client
Services at (800) 341-2929.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS AND THE MERGERS
Principal Investment Strategies
The following section compares the principal investment strategies of the Target Funds with
the principal investment strategies of the Acquiring Fund and highlights any key differences. In
addition to the principal investment strategies described below, each Fund may use other investment
strategies and is also subject to certain additional investment policies and limitations, which are
described in the SAI and in each Funds shareholder reports. The cover page of this Proxy
Statement describes how you can obtain copies of these documents.
Investment Strategies. For the Acquiring Fund, VTJ and VMV, under normal market conditions, at
least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in municipal securities. For VOQ, under
normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in Ohio
municipal securities. Each policy stated in the foregoing sentences is a fundamental policy and
may not be changed without shareholder approval of a majority of the applicable Funds outstanding
voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser seeks
to achieve the Acquiring Funds investment objective by investing at least 80% of the Funds total
assets in investment grade municipal securities. Under normal market conditions, the Adviser seeks
to achieve VOQs investment objective by investing at least 80% of the Funds total assets in Ohio
municipal securities rated investment grade at the time of investment. Under normal market
conditions, the Adviser seeks to achieve VTJs investment objective by investing at least 80% of
the Funds total assets in investment grade New Jersey municipal securities. Finally, under normal
market conditions, the Adviser seeks to achieve VMVs investment objective by investing at least
80% of the Funds total assets in Massachusetts municipal securities rated investment grade at the
time of investment. Although the Acquiring Fund has no present intention to invest more than 25%
of its assets in issuers located in the same state, it has no policy limiting its investments in
municipal securities whose issuers are located in the same state and the Mergers may result in the
Acquiring Fund having substantial holdings of Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio municipal
securities.
Each Fund defines investment grade securities as: (i) securities rated BBB- or higher by
Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (S&P)
or Baa3 or higher by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) or an equivalent rating by another
nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), (ii) comparably rated short term
securities, or (iii) unrated municipal securities determined by the Adviser to be of comparable
quality at the time of purchase.
Under normal market conditions, each of the Acquiring Fund, VMV and VOQ may invest up to 20%
of its total assets, and VTJ may invest up to 20% of its net assets, in municipal securities rated
below investment grade or that are unrated but determined by the Adviser to be of comparable
quality at the time of purchase. Lower-grade securities are commonly referred to as junk bonds and
involve greater risks than investments in higher-grade securities. No Fund purchases securities
that are in default or rated in categories lower than B- by S&P or B3 by Moodys or unrated
securities of comparable quality.
The foregoing percentage and rating limitations apply at the time of acquisition of a security
based on the last previous determination of a Funds net asset value. Any subsequent change in any
rating by a rating service or change in percentages resulting from market fluctuations or other
changes in the Funds total assets will not require elimination of any security from the Funds
portfolio.
Each Fund may invest all or a substantial portion of its total assets in municipal securities
that may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax and, therefore, a
substantial portion of the income produced
13
by a Fund may be taxable for such investors under the
federal alternative minimum tax. Accordingly, the Funds may not be suitable investments for
investors who are already subject to the federal alternative minimum tax or could become subject to
the federal alternative minimum tax as a result of an investment in a Fund.
The Adviser buys and sells securities for each Fund with a view towards seeking a high level
of current income exempt from federal income taxes and, for VTJ, VOQ and VMV, New Jersey gross
income taxes, Ohio income taxes and Massachusetts income taxes, respectively, subject to reasonable
credit risk. As a result, a Fund will not necessarily invest in the highest yielding municipal
securities permitted by its investment policies if the Adviser determines that market risks or
credit risks associated with such investments would subject the Funds portfolio to undue risk. The
potential realization of capital gains or losses resulting from possible changes in interest rates
will not be a major consideration and frequency of portfolio turnover generally will not be a
limiting factor if the Adviser considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities.
The Adviser employs a bottom-up, research-driven approach to identify securities that have
attractive risk/reward characteristics for the sectors in which each Fund invests. The Adviser also
integrates macroeconomic analysis and forecasting into its evaluation and ranking of various
sectors and individual securities. Finally, each Fund employs leverage in an effort to enhance the
Funds income and total return. Sell decisions for each Fund are based on: (i) a deterioration or
likely deterioration of an individual issuers capacity to meet its debt obligations on a timely
basis; (ii) a deterioration or likely deterioration of the broader fundamentals of a particular
industry or sector; and (iii) opportunities in the secondary or primary market to purchase a
security with better relative value.
Municipal Securities. The Funds define municipal securities as obligations issued by or on
behalf of states, territories or possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and
their cities, counties, political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, the interest on
which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other counsel to the issuers of such securities, is, at
the time of issuance, exempt from federal income tax. Ohio municipal securities, Massachusetts
municipal securities and New Jersey municipal securities are municipal securities the interest on
which, in the opinion of bond counsel or other counsel to the issuer of such securities, is, at the
time of issuance, exempt from Ohio income tax, Massachusetts personal income tax or New Jersey
gross income tax, respectively. The Adviser does not conduct its own analysis of the tax status of
the interest paid by municipal securities held by the Funds, but will rely on the opinion of
counsel to the issuer of each such instrument.
The issuers of municipal securities obtain funds for various public purposes, including the
construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, highways, bridges, schools,
hospitals, housing, mass transportation, streets and water and sewer works. Other public purposes
for which municipal securities may be issued include refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining
funds for general operating expenses and obtaining funds to lend to other public institutions and
facilities. Certain types of municipal securities are issued to obtain funding for privately
operated facilities. Neither VTJ nor the Acquiring Fund generally will invest more than 5% of its
total assets in the securities of any single issue.
The yields of municipal securities depend on, among other things, general money market
conditions, general conditions of the municipal securities market, size of a particular offering,
the maturity of the obligation and rating of the issue. There is no limitation as to the maturity
of municipal securities in which the Funds may invest. The ratings of NRSROs represent their
opinions of the quality of the municipal securities they undertake to rate. These ratings are
general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same
maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while municipal securities of the same
maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.
The Adviser may adjust the average maturity of each Funds portfolio from time to time,
depending on its assessment of the relative yields available on securities of different maturities
and its expectations of future changes in interest rates. VMV generally expects primarily to
invest and hold until maturity longer-term Massachusetts municipal securities because, under normal
conditions, longer-term Massachusetts municipal securities generally provide a higher yield than
shorter-term Massachusetts municipal securities of similar credit quality. VMV may, however,
invest in short-term Massachusetts municipal securities when yields are greater than yields
available on longer-term Massachusetts municipal securities, to stabilize net asset value and as
reserves for expenses, Share repurchases, dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
14
The two principal classifications of municipal securities are general obligation and revenue
or special delegation securities. General obligation securities are secured by the issuers pledge
of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities
are usually payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of
facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue
source. Industrial development bonds are usually revenue securities, the credit quality of which is
normally directly related to the credit standing of the industrial user involved.
Within these principal classifications of municipal securities, there are a variety of types
of municipal securities, including:
|
|
Variable rate securities, which bear rates of interest that are adjusted periodically
according to formulae intended to reflect market rates of interest. |
|
|
|
Municipal notes, including tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes of short maturity,
generally less than three years, which are issued to obtain temporary funds for various
public purposes. |
|
|
|
Variable rate demand notes, which are obligations that contain a floating or variable
interest rate adjustment formula and which are subject to a right of demand for payment of
the principal balance plus accrued interest either at any time or at specified intervals.
The interest rate on a variable rate demand note may be based on a known lending rate, such
as a banks prime rate, and may be adjusted when such rate changes, or the interest rate may
be a market rate that is adjusted at specified intervals. The adjustment formula maintains
the value of the variable rate demand note at approximately the par value of such note at the
adjustment date. |
|
|
|
Municipal leases, which are obligations issued by state and local governments or
authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. Certain municipal lease
obligations may include non-appropriation clauses which provide that the municipality has no
obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is
appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. |
|
|
|
Private activity bonds, which are issued by, or on behalf of, public authorities to
finance privately operated facilities. |
|
|
|
Participation certificates, which are obligations issued by state or local governments or
authorities to finance the acquisition of equipment and facilities. They may represent
participations in a lease, an installment purchase contract or a conditional sales contract. |
|
|
|
Municipal securities that may not be backed by the faith, credit and taxing power of the
issuer. |
|
|
|
Municipal securities that are privately placed and that may have restrictions on the
Funds ability to resell, such as timing restrictions or requirements that the securities
only be sold to qualified institutional investors. |
|
|
|
Municipal securities that are insured by financial insurance companies. |
Derivatives. The Funds are substantially similar in their use of derivatives. Each Fund
principally uses derivative instruments for a variety of purposes, including hedging and risk
management, and (other than for futures or swaps) for portfolio management or to earn income.
However, VMV may also use futures and swaps for portfolio management. Derivatives are financial
instruments whose value is based on the value of another underlying asset, interest rate, index or
financial instrument.
Derivative instruments and techniques that each Fund may use include:
Futures. A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to buy or
sell a specific quantity of an underlying instrument at a specific price at a specific future time.
The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the
underlying instrument. Futures contracts are bilateral agreements, with both the purchaser and the
seller equally obligated to complete the transaction. Depending on the terms of the particular
contract, futures contracts are settled through either physical delivery of the underlying
instrument on the settlement date or by payment of a cash settlement amount on the settlement date.
Swaps. A swap contract is an agreement between two parties pursuant to which the
parties exchange payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified notional amount, with the
payments calculated by reference to specified securities, indexes, reference rates, currencies or
other instruments. Most swap agreements provide that when the period payment dates for both parties
are the same, the payments are made on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out,
with only the net amount paid by one party to the other). The Funds obligations or
15
rights under a swap contract entered into on a net basis will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid
or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each
counterparty.
Inverse Floating Rate Obligations. Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate obligations.
Inverse floating rate obligations are variable rate debt instruments that pay interest at rates
that move in the opposite direction of prevailing interest rates. Because the interest rate paid to
holders of such obligations is generally determined by subtracting a variable or floating rate from
a predetermined amount, the interest rate paid to holders of such obligations will decrease as such
variable or floating rate increases and increase as such variable or floating rate decreases. The
inverse floating rate obligations in which the Fund may invest include derivative instruments such
as residual interest bonds (RIBs) or tender option bonds (TOBs). Such instruments are
typically created by a special purpose trust that holds long-term fixed rate bonds and sells two
classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate interests, which are sold to third party
investors, and inverse floating residual interests, which are purchased by the Fund. The short-term
floating rate interests have first priority on the cash flow from the bond held by the special
purpose trust and the Fund (as holder of the inverse floating residual interests) is paid the
residual cash flow from the bond held by the special purpose trust.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. Each Fund may purchase and sell securities on
a when-issued and delayed delivery basis, which means that the Fund buys or sells a security with
payment and delivery taking place in the future. The payment obligation and the interest rate are
fixed at the time a Fund enters into the commitment. No income accrues on such securities until the
date the Fund actually takes delivery of the securities.
Preferred Shares. Each Fund uses leverage in the form of preferred Shares. Dividends on the
preferred Shares will typically be comparable to the yields on investment grade short-term
municipal securities, although the assets attributable to the preferred Shares will generally be
invested in longer-term municipal securities, which typically have higher yields than short-term
municipal securities. Assuming such a yield differential, this leveraged capital structure enables
a Fund to pay a potentially higher yield on its Common Shares than similar investment companies
that do not use leverage.
As required by the 1940 Act, each Fund will generally maintain an asset coverage of the value
of its total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund not represented by preferred
shares, of 200% of the aggregate liquidation value of its preferred shares. The liquidation value
of the preferred shares is their aggregate original purchase price, plus any accrued and unpaid
dividends. In addition, under the terms of each Funds outstanding VMTP Shares, the Fund is
required to maintain minimum asset coverage of 225%.
Portfolio Turnover. The Funds generally will not engage in the trading of securities for the
purpose of realizing short-term profits, but each Fund will adjust its portfolio as it deems
advisable in view of prevailing or anticipated market conditions to accomplish the Funds
investment objective. For example, a Fund may sell portfolio securities in anticipation of a
movement in interest rates. Other than for tax purposes, frequency of portfolio turnover will not
be a limiting factor if a Fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities. The Funds
do not anticipate that the annual portfolio turnover rate of a Fund will be in excess of 100%. A
high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission and
transaction expenses than a lower rate, which expenses must be borne by a Fund and its Common
Shareholders. High portfolio turnover may also result in the realization of substantial net
short-term capital gains, and any distributions resulting from such gains will be taxable at
ordinary income rates for federal income tax purposes.
Temporary Defensive Strategy. When market conditions dictate a more defensive investment
strategy, each Fund may, on a temporary basis, hold cash or invest a portion or all of its assets
in high-quality, short-term municipal securities. If such municipal securities are not available
or, in the judgment of the Adviser, do not afford sufficient protection against adverse market
conditions, each Fund may invest in taxable instruments. Such taxable securities may include
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, other
investment grade quality fixed income securities, prime commercial paper, certificates of deposit,
bankers acceptances and other obligations of domestic banks, repurchase agreements and money
market funds (including money market funds affiliated with the Adviser). In taking a defensive
position, a Fund would temporarily not be pursuing its principal investment strategies and may not
achieve its investment objective.
Zero Coupon / PIK Bonds. The Funds may invest in securities not producing immediate cash
income, including zero coupon securities or pay-in-kind (PIK) securities, when their effective
yield over comparable
16
instruments producing cash income makes these investments attractive. PIK
securities are debt securities that pay interest through the issuance of additional securities.
Zero coupon securities are debt securities that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment
of interest prior to maturity or a specified date when the securities begin paying current
interest. They are issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts or par value, which
discount varies depending on the time remaining until cash payments begin, prevailing interest
rates, liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The securities do
not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity, which prevents any
reinvestment of interest payments at prevailing interest rates if prevailing interest rates rise.
On the other hand, because there are no periodic interest payments to be reinvested prior to
maturity, zero coupon securities eliminate the reinvestment risk and may lock in a favorable rate
of return to maturity if interest rates drop. In addition, each Fund would be required to
distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all
of the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments,
including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to the Common
Shareholders.
As required by Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, in addition to the investment strategies and
policies discussed above, VTJ has a fundamental policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at
least 80% of its total assets in New Jersey municipal securities, and VMV has a fundamental policy
to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its total assets in Massachusetts municipal
securities.
Principal Risks of an Investment in the Funds
A comparison of the principal risks associated with the Funds investment strategies is
included above under How do the Funds principal risks compare? The following table provides
further information on the principal risks that apply to the Funds investment in the portfolios.
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
Municipal Securities Risk.
Under normal market conditions,
longer-term municipal securities
generally provide a higher yield
than shorter-term municipal
securities. The Adviser may adjust
the average maturity of the Funds
portfolio from time to time
depending on its assessment of the
relative yields available on
securities of different maturities
and its expectations of future
changes in interest rates. The
yields of municipal securities may
move differently and adversely
compared to the yields of the
overall debt securities markets.
Certain kinds of municipal
securities are subject to specific
risks that could cause a decline in
the value of those securities:
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All Funds |
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Lease
Obligations. Certain lease
obligations contain
non-appropriation clauses that
provide that the governmental
issuer has no obligation to make
future payments under the lease or
contract unless money is
appropriated for that purpose by
the appropriate legislative body on
an annual or other periodic basis.
Consequently, continued lease
payments on those lease obligations
containing non-appropriation
clauses are dependent on future
legislative actions. If these
legislative actions do not occur,
the holders of the lease obligation
may experience difficulty in
exercising their rights, including
disposition of the property. |
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Private
Activity Bonds. The issuers
of private activity bonds in which
the Fund may invest may be
negatively impacted by conditions
affecting either the general credit
of the user of the private activity
project or the project itself.
Conditions such as regulatory and
environmental restrictions and
economic downturns may lower the
need for these facilities and the
ability of users of the project to
pay for the facilities. Private
activity bonds may also pay
interest subject to the alternative
minimum tax. |
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In 2011, S&P lowered its long-term
sovereign credit rating on the U.S.
to AA+ from AAA with a negative
outlook. Following S&Ps downgrade
of the long-term sovereign credit
rating on the U.S., the major
rating agencies have also placed
many municipalities on review for
potential downgrades, which could
impact the market price, liquidity
and volatility of the municipal
securities held by the Fund in its
portfolio. If the universe of
municipal securities meeting the
Funds ratings and credit quality
requirements shrinks, it may be
more difficult for the Fund to meet
its investment objective and the
Funds investments may become more
concentrated in fewer issues.
Future downgrades by other rating
agencies could have significant
adverse effects on the economy
generally and could |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
result in
significant adverse impacts on
municipal issuers and the Fund. |
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Many state and municipal
governments that issue securities
are under significant economic and
financial stress and may not be
able to satisfy their obligations.
In response to the national
economic downturn, governmental
cost burdens have been and may
continue to be reallocated among
federal, state and local
governments. The ability of
municipal issuers to make timely
payments of interest and principal
may be diminished during general
economic downturns and as
governmental cost burdens are
reallocated among federal, state
and local governments. Also, as a
result of the downturn and related
unemployment, declining income and
loss of property values, many state
and local governments have
experienced significant reductions
in revenues and consequently
difficulties meeting ongoing
expenses. As a result, certain of
these state and local governments
may have difficulty paying or
default in the payment of principal
or interest on their outstanding
debt, may experience ratings
downgrades of their debt. The
taxing power of any governmental
entity may be limited by provisions
of state constitutions or laws and
an entitys credit will depend on
many factors, including the
entitys tax base, the extent to
which the entity relies on federal
or state aid, and other factors
which are beyond the entitys
control. In addition, laws enacted
in the future by Congress or state
legislatures or referenda could
extend the time for payment of
principal and/or interest, or
impose other constraints on
enforcement of such obligations or
on the ability of municipalities to
levy taxes. |
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In addition, municipalities might
seek protection under the
bankruptcy laws, thereby affecting
the repayment of their outstanding
debt. Issuers of municipal
securities might seek protection
under the bankruptcy laws. In the
event of bankruptcy of such an
issuer, holders of municipal
securities could experience delays
in collecting principal and
interest and such holders may not
be able to collect all principal
and interest to which they are
entitled. Certain provisions of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code governing
such bankruptcies are unclear.
Further, the application of state
law to municipal securities issuers
could produce varying results among
the states or among municipal
securities issuers within a state.
These uncertainties could have a
significant impact on the prices of
the municipal securities in which
the Fund invests. The value of
municipal securities generally may
be affected by uncertainties in the
municipal markets as a result of
legislation or litigation,
including legislation or litigation
that changes the taxation of
municipal securities or the rights
of municipal securities holders in
the event of a bankruptcy. To
enforce its rights in the event of
a default in the payment of
interest or repayment of principal,
or both, the Fund may take
possession of and manage the assets
securing the issuers obligations
on such securities, which may
increase the Funds operating
expenses. Any income derived from
the Funds ownership or operation
of such assets may not be
tax-exempt and could jeopardize the
Funds status as a regulated
investment company under the
Internal Revenue Code. |
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The U.S. economy may be in the
process of deleveraging, with
individuals, companies and
municipalities reducing
expenditures and paying down
borrowings. In such event, the
number of municipal borrowers and
the amount of outstanding municipal
securities may contract,
potentially without corresponding
reductions in investor demand for
municipal securities. As a result,
the Fund may have fewer investment
alternatives, may invest in
securities that it previously would
have declined and may concentrate
its investments in a smaller number
of issuers. |
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Insurance Risk. Financial insurance guarantees that interest
payments on a bond will be made on
time and that principal will be
repaid when the bond matures.
Insured municipal obligations would
generally be assigned a lower
rating if the rating were based
primarily on the credit quality of
the issuer without regard to the
insurance feature. If the
claims-paying ability of the
insurer were downgraded, the
ratings on the municipal
obligations it insures may also be
downgraded. Insurance does not
protect the Fund against losses
caused by declines in a bonds
value due to a change in market
conditions. |
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All Funds |
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Market Risk. Market risk is the possibility that the market values
of securities owned by the Fund
will decline. The net asset value
of the Fund will change with
changes in the |
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All Funds |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
value of its portfolio securities, and the value
of the Funds investments can be
expected to fluctuate over time.
The financial markets in general
are subject to volatility and may
at times experience extreme
volatility and uncertainty, which
may affect all investment
securities, including debt
securities and derivative
instruments. Volatility may be
greater during periods of general
economic uncertainty. |
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Interest Rate Risk. Because the
Fund invests primarily in fixed
income municipal securities, the
net asset value of the Fund can be
expected to change as general
levels of interest rates fluctuate.
When interest rates decline, the
value of a portfolio invested in
fixed income securities generally
can be expected to rise.
Conversely, when interest rates
rise, the value of a portfolio
invested in fixed income securities
generally can be expected to
decline. The prices of longer term
municipal securities generally are
more volatile with respect to
changes in interest rates than the
prices of shorter term municipal
securities. These risks may be
greater in the current market
environment because certain
interest rates are near
historically low levels. |
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All Funds |
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Credit Risk. Credit risk refers to
an issuers ability to make timely
payments of interest and principal
when due. Municipal securities,
like other debt obligations, are
subject to the credit risk of
nonpayment. The ability of issuers
of municipal securities to make
timely payments of interest and
principal may be adversely affected
by general economic downturns and
as relative governmental cost
burdens are allocated and
reallocated among federal, state
and local governmental units.
Private activity bonds used to
finance projects, such as
industrial development and
pollution control, may also be
negatively impacted by the general
credit of the user of the project.
Nonpayment would result in a
reduction of income to the Fund,
and a potential decrease in the net
asset value of the Fund. The
Adviser continuously monitors the
issuers of securities held in the
Fund. |
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The Fund will rely on the Advisers
judgment, analysis and experience
in evaluating the creditworthiness
of an issuer. In its analysis, the
Adviser may consider the credit
ratings of NRSROs in evaluating
securities, although the Adviser
does not rely primarily on these
ratings. Credit ratings of NRSROs
evaluate only the safety of
principal and interest payments,
not the market risk. In addition,
ratings are general and not
absolute standards of quality, and
the creditworthiness of an issuer
may decline significantly before an
NRSRO lowers the issuers rating.
A rating downgrade does not require
the Fund to dispose of a security. |
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Medium-grade obligations (for
example, bonds rated BBB by S&P)
possess speculative characteristics
so that changes in economic
conditions or other circumstances
are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the issuer to
make principal and interest
payments than in the case of
higher-rated securities. Securities
rated below investment grade are
considered speculative by NRSROs
with respect to the issuers
continuing ability to pay interest
and principal. |
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Income Risk. The income you receive
from the Fund is based primarily on
prevailing interest rates, which
can vary widely over the short and
long term. If interest rates
decrease, your income from the Fund
may decrease as well. |
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All Funds |
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Call Risk. If interest rates fall,
it is possible that issuers of
securities with high interest rates
will prepay or call their
securities before their maturity
dates. In this event, the proceeds
from the called securities would
likely be reinvested by the Fund in
securities bearing the new, lower
interest rates, resulting in a
possible decline in the Funds
income and distributions to
shareholders. |
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All Funds |
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Market Segment Risk. The Fund
generally considers investments in
municipal securities issued by
governments or political
subdivisions not to be subject to
industry concentration policies
(because such issuers are not in
any industry). The Fund may,
however, invest in municipal
securities issued by entities
having similar characteristics. For
example, the issuers may be located
in the same geographic area or may
pay their interest obligations from
revenue of similar projects, such
as hospitals, airports, utility
systems and housing |
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All Funds |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
finance agencies. This may make the Funds
investments more susceptible to
similar economic, political or
regulatory occurrences, which could
increase the volatility of the
Funds net asset value. The Fund
may invest more than 25% of its
total assets in a segment of the
municipal securities market with
similar characteristics if the
Adviser determines that the yields
available from obligations in a
particular segment justify the
additional risks of a larger
investment in that segment. The
Fund may not, however, invest more
than 25% of its total assets in
municipal securities, such as many
private activity bonds or
industrial development revenue
bonds, issued for non-governmental
entities that are in the same
industry. |
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Tax Risk. To qualify for the
favorable U.S. federal income tax
treatment generally accorded to
regulated investment companies,
among other things, the Fund must
derive in each taxable year at
least 90% of its gross income from
certain prescribed sources. If for
any taxable year the Fund does not
qualify as a regulated investment
company, all of its taxable income
(including its net capital gain)
would be subject to federal income
tax at regular corporate rates
without any deduction for
distributions to shareholders, and
all distributions from the Fund
(including underlying distributions
attributable to tax-exempt interest
income) would be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary dividends
to the extent of the Funds current
and accumulated earnings and
profits. |
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All Funds |
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The value of the Funds investments
and its net asset value may be
adversely affected by changes in
tax rates and policies. Because
interest income from municipal
securities is normally not subject
to regular federal income taxation,
the attractiveness of municipal
securities in relation to other
investment alternatives is affected
by changes in federal income tax
rates or changes in the tax-exempt
status of interest income from
municipal securities. Any proposed
or actual changes in such rates or
exempt status, therefore, can
significantly affect the demand for
and supply, liquidity and
marketability of municipal
securities. This could, in turn,
affect the Funds net asset value
and ability to acquire and dispose
of municipal securities at
desirable yield and price levels.
Additionally, the Fund may not be a
suitable investment for individual
retirement accounts, for other
tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts
or for investors who are not
sensitive to the federal income tax
consequences of their investments. |
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The Fund may invest all or a
substantial portion of its total
assets in municipal securities
subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax. Accordingly, an
investment in the Fund could cause
shareholders to be subject to (or
result in an increased liability
under) the federal alternative
minimum tax. As a result, the Fund
may not be a suitable investment
for investors who are already
subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax or who could become
subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax as a result of an
investment in the Fund. |
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Subsequent to the Funds
acquisition of a municipal
security, the security may be
determined to pay, or to have paid,
taxable income. As a result, the
treatment of dividends previously
paid or to be paid by the Fund as
exempt-interest dividends could
be adversely affected, subjecting
the Funds shareholders to
increased federal income tax
liabilities. |
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For federal income tax purposes,
distributions of ordinary taxable
income (including any net
short-term capital gain) will be
taxable to shareholders as ordinary
income (and not eligible for
favorable taxation as qualified
dividend income), and capital gain
dividends will be taxed at
long-term capital gain rates. In
certain circumstances, the Fund
will make payments to holders of
VMTP Shares to offset the tax
effects of a taxable distribution. |
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Generally, to the extent the Funds
distributions are derived from
interest on municipal securities of
a particular state (and, in some
cases, qualifying obligations of
U.S. territories and possessions),
its distributions are exempt from
the personal income tax of that
state. In some cases, the Funds
shares may (to the extent
applicable) also be exempt from
personal property taxes of such
state. However, some states
require that the Fund meet certain
thresholds with respect to the
portion of its portfolio consisting
of municipal securities of such
state in order for such exemption
to apply. |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
Risks of Using Derivative
Instruments. A derivative
instrument often has risks similar
to its underlying instrument and
may have additional risks,
including imperfect correlation
between the value of the derivative
and the underlying instrument or
instrument being hedged, risks of
default by the other party to
certain transactions, magnification
of losses incurred due to changes
in the market value of the
securities, instruments, indices or
interest rates to which they
relate, and risks that the
derivatives may not be liquid. The
use of derivatives involves risks
that are different from, and
potentially greater than, the risks
associated with other portfolio
investments. Derivatives may
involve the use of highly
specialized instruments that
require investment techniques and
risk analyses different from those
associated with other portfolio
investments. Certain derivative
transactions may give rise to a
form of leverage. Leverage
associated with derivative
transactions may cause the Fund to
liquidate portfolio positions when
it may not be advantageous to do so
to satisfy its obligations or to
meet earmarking or segregation
requirements, pursuant to
applicable SEC rules and
regulations, or may cause the Fund
to be more volatile than if the
Fund had not been leveraged. The
Fund could suffer losses related to
its derivative positions as a
result of unanticipated market
movements, which losses may
potentially be unlimited. Although
the Adviser may seek to use
derivatives to further the Funds
investment objective, the Fund is
not required to use derivatives and
may choose not to do so and there
is no assurance that the use of
derivatives will achieve this
result.
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All Funds |
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Counterparty Risk. The Fund will
be subject to credit risk with
respect to the counterparties to
the derivative transactions entered
into by the Fund. If a counterparty
becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails
to perform its obligations under a
derivative contract due to
financial difficulties, the Fund
may experience significant delays
in obtaining any recovery under the
derivative contract in bankruptcy
or other reorganization proceeding.
The Fund may obtain only a limited
recovery or may obtain no recovery
in such circumstances. |
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Futures Risk. A decision as to
whether, when and how to use
futures involves the exercise of
skill and judgment and even a
well-conceived futures transaction
may be unsuccessful because of
market behavior or unexpected
events. In addition to the
derivatives risks discussed above,
the prices of futures can be highly
volatile, using futures can lower
total return, and the potential
loss from futures can exceed the
Funds initial investment in such
contracts. |
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Swaps Risk. Swap agreements are
not entered into or traded on
exchanges and there is no central
clearing or guaranty function for
swaps. Therefore, swaps are subject
to credit risk or the risk of
default or non-performance by the
counterparty. Swaps could result in
losses if interest rate or credit
quality changes are not correctly
anticipated by the Fund or if the
reference index, security or
investments do not perform as
expected. |
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Tax Risk. The use of derivatives
may generate taxable income. In
addition, the Funds use of
derivatives may be limited by the
requirements for taxation as a
regulated investment company or the
Funds intention to pay dividends
that are exempt from federal income
taxes and, for VTJ, VOQ and VMV,
New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts
income taxes, respectively. The tax
treatment of derivatives may be
adversely affected by changes in
legislation, regulations or other
legal authority, subjecting the
Funds shareholders to increased
federal income tax liabilities. |
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Inverse Floating Rate Obligations
Risk. Like most other
fixed-income securities, the value
of inverse floating rate
obligations will decrease as
interest rates increase. They are
more volatile, however, than most
other fixed-income securities
because the coupon rate on an
inverse floating rate obligation
typically changes at a multiple of
the change in the relevant index
rate. Thus, any rise in the index
rate (as a consequence of an
increase in interest rates) causes
a correspondingly greater drop in
the coupon rate of an inverse
floating rate obligation while a
drop in the index rate causes a
correspondingly greater increase in
the coupon of an inverse floating
rate obligation. Some inverse
floating rate obligations may
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All Funds |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
also increase or decrease substantially
because of changes in the rate of
prepayments. Inverse floating rate
obligations tend to underperform
the market for fixed rate bonds in
a rising interest rate environment,
but tend to outperform the market
for fixed rate bonds when interest
rates decline or remain relatively
stable. Inverse floating rate
obligations have varying degrees of
liquidity. |
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The Fund generally invests in
inverse floating rate obligations
that include embedded leverage,
thus exposing the Fund to greater
risks and increased costs. The
market value of a leveraged
inverse floating rate obligation
generally will fluctuate in
response to changes in market rates
of interest to a greater extent
than the value of an unleveraged
investment. The extent of increases
and decreases in the value of
inverse floating rate obligations
generally will be larger than
changes in an equal principal
amount of a fixed rate security
having similar credit quality,
redemption provisions and maturity,
which may cause the Funds net
asset value to be more volatile
than if it had not invested in
inverse floating rate obligations. |
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In certain instances, the
short-term floating rate interests
created by a special purpose trust
may not be able to be sold to third
parties or, in the case of holders
tendering (or putting) such
interests for repayment of
principal, may not be able to be
remarketed to third parties. In
such cases, the special purpose
trust holding the long-term fixed
rate bonds may be collapsed. In the
case of inverse floating rate
obligations created by the Fund,
the Fund would then be required to
repay the principal amount of the
tendered securities. During times
of market volatility, illiquidity
or uncertainty, the Fund could be
required to sell other portfolio
holdings at a disadvantageous time
to raise cash to meet that
obligation. |
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The use of short-term floating rate
obligations may require the Fund to
segregate or earmark cash or liquid
assets to cover its obligations.
Securities so segregated or
earmarked will be unavailable for
sale by the Fund (unless replaced
by other securities qualifying for
segregation requirements), which
may limit the Funds flexibility
and may require that the Fund sell
other portfolio investments at a
time when it may be disadvantageous
to sell such assets. |
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Risks of Investing in Lower-Grade
Securities. Securities that are in
the lower-grade categories
generally offer higher yields than
are offered by higher-grade
securities of similar maturities,
but they also generally involve
greater risks, such as greater
credit risk, market risk,
volatility and liquidity risk. In
addition, the amount of available
information about the financial
condition of certain lower-grade
issuers may be less extensive than
other issuers, making the Fund more
dependent on the Advisers credit
analysis than a fund investing only
in higher-grade securities. To
minimize the risks involved in
investing in lower-grade
securities, the Fund does not
purchase securities that are in
default or rated in categories
lower than B- by S&P or B3 by
Moodys or unrated securities of
comparable quality.
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All Funds |
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Secondary market prices of
lower-grade securities generally
are less sensitive than
higher-grade securities to changes
in interest rates and are more
sensitive to general adverse
economic changes or specific
developments with respect to the
particular issuers. A significant
increase in interest rates or a
general economic downturn may
significantly affect the ability of
municipal issuers of lower-grade
securities to pay interest and to
repay principal, or to obtain
additional financing, any of which
could severely disrupt the market
for lower-grade municipal
securities and adversely affect the
market value of such securities.
Such events also could lead to a
higher incidence of default by
issuers of lower-grade securities.
In addition, changes in credit
risks, interest rates, the credit
markets or periods of general
economic uncertainty can be
expected to result in increased
volatility in the price of the
lower-grade securities and the net
asset value of the Fund. Adverse
publicity and investor perceptions,
whether or not based on rational
analysis, may affect the value,
volatility and liquidity of
lower-grade securities. |
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In the event that an issuer of
securities held by the Fund
experiences difficulties in the
timely payment of principal and
interest and such issuer seeks to
restructure the terms of its |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
borrowings, the Fund may incur
additional expenses and may
determine to invest additional
assets with respect to such issuer
or the project or projects to which
the Funds securities relate.
Further, the Fund may incur
additional expenses to the extent
that it is required to seek
recovery upon a default in the
payment of interest or the
repayment of principal on its
portfolio holdings and the Fund may
be unable to obtain full recovery
on such amounts. |
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Investments in debt obligations
that are at risk of or in default
present special tax issues for the
Fund. Federal income tax rules are
not entirely clear about issues
such as when the Fund may cease to
accrue interest, original issue
discount or market discount, when
and to what extent deductions may
be taken for bad debts or worthless
securities, how payments received
on obligations in default should be
allocated between principal and
interest and whether certain
exchanges of debt obligations in a
workout context are taxable. These
and other issues will be addressed
by the Fund, in the event it
invests in or holds such
securities, in order to seek to
ensure that it distributes
sufficient income to preserve its
status as a regulated investment
company. |
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Liquidity Risk. Liquidity relates
to the ability of a fund to sell a
security in a timely manner at a
price which reflects the value of
that security. The amount of
available information about the
financial condition of municipal
securities issuers is generally
less extensive than that for
corporate issuers with publicly
traded securities, and the market
for municipal securities is
generally considered to be less
liquid than the market for
corporate debt obligations. Certain
municipal securities in which the
Fund may invest, such as special
obligation bonds, lease
obligations, participation
certificates and variable rate
instruments, may be particularly
less liquid. To the extent the
Fund owns or may acquire illiquid
or restricted securities, these
securities may involve special
registration requirements,
liabilities and costs, and
liquidity and valuation
difficulties.
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All Funds |
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The effects of adverse publicity
and investor perceptions may be
more pronounced for securities for
which no established retail market
exists as compared with the effects
on securities for which such a
market does exist. An economic
downturn or an increase in interest
rates could severely disrupt the
market for such securities and
adversely affect the value of
outstanding securities or the
ability of the issuers to repay
principal and interest. Further,
the Fund may have more difficulty
selling such securities in a timely
manner and at their stated value
than would be the case for
securities for which an established
retail market does exist.
The markets for lower-grade
securities may be less liquid than
the markets for higher-grade
securities. To the extent that
there is no established retail
market for some of the lower-grade
securities in which the Fund may
invest, trading in such securities
may be relatively inactive. Prices
of lower-grade securities may
decline rapidly in the event a
significant number of holders
decide to sell. Changes in
expectations regarding an
individual issuer of lower-grade
securities generally could reduce
market liquidity for such
securities and make their sale by
the Fund at their current valuation
more difficult. |
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From time to time, the Funds
investments may include securities
as to which the Fund, by itself or
together with other funds or
accounts managed by the Adviser,
holds a major portion or all of an
issue of municipal securities.
Because there may be relatively few
potential purchasers for such
investments and, in some cases,
there may be contractual
restrictions on resales, the Fund
may find it more difficult to sell
such securities at a time when the
Adviser believes it is advisable to
do so. |
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Preferred Shares Risk. The Funds
use of leverage through preferred
shares may result in higher
volatility of the net asset value
of the Common Shares, and
fluctuations in the dividend rates
on the preferred shares (which are
expected to reflect yields on
short-term municipal securities)
may affect the yield to the Common
Shareholders. So long as the Fund
is able to realize a higher net
return on its investment portfolio
than the then current dividend rate
of the preferred shares, the effect
of the leverage provided by the
preferred shares will be to cause
the Common Shareholders to realize
a higher current rate of return
than if the Fund were not so
leveraged. On the other hand, to
the extent that the then
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All Funds |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
current dividend rate on the preferred
shares approaches the net return on
the Funds investment portfolio,
the benefit of leverage to the
Common Shareholders will be
reduced, and if the then current
dividend rate on the preferred
shares were to exceed the net
return on the Funds portfolio, the
Funds leveraged capital structure
would result in a lower rate of
return to the Common Shareholders
than if the Fund were not so
structured. |
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Similarly, because any decline in
the net asset value of the Funds
investments will be borne entirely
by the Common Shareholders, the
effect of leverage in a declining
market would result in a greater
decrease in net asset value to the
Common Shareholders than if the
Fund were not so leveraged. Any
such decrease would likely be
reflected in a decline in the
market price for Common Shares. If
the Funds current investment
income were not sufficient to meet
dividend requirements on the
preferred shares, the Fund might
have to liquidate certain of its
investments in order to meet
required dividend payments, thereby
reducing the net asset value
attributable to the Funds Common
Shares. |
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The amount of preferred shares
outstanding from time to time may
vary, depending on the Advisers
analysis of conditions in the
municipal securities market and
interest rate movements. Management
of the amount of outstanding
preferred shares places greater
reliance on the ability of the
Adviser to predict trends in
interest rates than if the Fund did
not use leverage. In the event the
Adviser later determines that all
or a portion of such preferred
shares should be reissued so as to
increase the amount of leverage, no
assurance can be given that the
Fund will subsequently be able to
reissue preferred shares on terms
and/or with dividend rates that are
beneficial to the Common
Shareholders. Further, redemption
and reissuance of the preferred
shares, and any related trading of
the Funds portfolio securities,
results in increased transaction
costs to the Fund and its Common
Shareholders. Because the Common
Shareholders bear these expenses,
changes to the Funds outstanding
leverage and any losses resulting
from related portfolio trading will
have a proportionately larger
impact on the Common Shares net
asset value and market price. |
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In addition, the Fund is not
permitted to declare any cash
dividend or other distribution on
its Common Shares unless, at the
time of such declaration, the Fund
has an asset coverage of at least
200%, as required by the 1940 Act
(determined after deducting the
amount of such dividend or
distribution). In addition, under
the terms of each Funds
outstanding VMTP Shares, the Fund
is required to maintain minimum
asset coverage of 225%. This
prohibition on the payment of
dividends or other distributions
might impair the ability of the
Fund to maintain its qualification
as a regulated investment company
for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund intends, however, to the
extent possible, to purchase or
redeem VMTP Shares from time to
time to maintain an asset coverage
of the VMTP Shares of at least
225%. |
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If a determination were made by the
IRS to treat the Funds preferred
shares as debt rather than equity
for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, the Common Shareholders
might be subject to increased
federal income tax liabilities. |
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Unrated Securities Risk. Many
lower-grade securities are not
listed for trading on any national
securities exchange, and many
issuers of lower-grade securities
choose not to have a rating
assigned to their obligations by
any NRSRO. As a result, the Funds
portfolio may consist of a higher
portion of unlisted or unrated
securities as compared with an
investment company that invests
solely in higher-grade, listed
securities. Unrated securities are
usually not as attractive to as
many buyers as are rated
securities, a factor which may make
unrated securities less marketable.
These factors may limit the
ability of the Fund to sell such
securities at their fair value.
The Fund may be more reliant on the
Advisers judgment and analysis in
evaluating the creditworthiness of
an issuer of unrated securities.
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All Funds |
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When-Issued and Delayed Delivery
Risks. When-issued and delayed
delivery transactions are subject
to market risk as the value or
yield of a security at delivery may
be more or less than the purchase
price or the yield generally
available on securities when
delivery occurs. In addition, the
Fund is subject to counterparty
risk because it relies on the buyer
or seller,
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All Funds |
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Principal Risk |
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Funds Subject to Risk |
as the case may be, to
consummate the transaction, and
failure by the other party to
complete the transaction may result
in the Fund missing the opportunity
of obtaining a price or yield
considered to be advantageous. |
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Zero Coupon / PIK Bond Risk.
Prices on non-cash-paying
instruments may be more sensitive
to changes in the issuers
financial condition, fluctuations
in interest rates and market
demand/supply imbalances than
cash-paying securities with similar
credit ratings, and thus may be
more speculative than are
securities that pay interest
periodically in cash. These
securities are also subject to the
risk of default. These securities
may subject the Fund to greater
market risk than a fund that does
not own these types of securities.
Special tax considerations are
associated with investing in
non-cash-paying instruments, such
as zero coupon or PIK securities.
The Adviser will weigh these
concerns against the expected total
returns from such instruments.
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All Funds |
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Special Risk Considerations
Regarding State Municipal
Securities. Because each Target
Fund invests substantially all of
its assets in a portfolio of one
states municipal securities, each
of VTJ, VMV and VOQ is more
susceptible to political, economic,
regulatory or other factors
affecting issuers of New Jersey,
Massachusetts or Ohio municipal
securities, respectively, than a
fund such as the Acquiring Fund,
which does not limit its
investments to such issuers. These
risks include possible legislative,
state constitutional or regulatory
amendments that may affect the
ability of state and local
governments or regional
governmental authorities to raise
money to pay principal and interest
on their municipal securities.
Economic, fiscal and budgetary
conditions throughout the state may
also influence the Funds
performance.
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Target Funds (and to a certain
extent post-Mergers, Acquiring Fund) |
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Although the Acquiring Fund is
subject to the risks associated
with investing in New Jersey,
Massachusetts or Ohio municipal
securities to the extent it invests
in such securities, it is subject
to these risks to a much lower
degree because its investments are
diversified across the nation.
Following completion of the
Mergers, the Acquiring Funds
exposure to New Jersey,
Massachusetts and Ohio municipal
securities will increase, as will
the related risks of investing in
these securities, although the
Acquiring Fund will remain much
more geographically diversified
than any Target Fund. |
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The risks associated with an investment in VMTP Shares are identical for the Target Funds and
the Acquiring Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Thomas Byron, Robert Stryker and Robert Wimmel are portfolio managers for all of the Funds.
In addition, Julius Williams is a portfolio manager for the Target Funds.
Mr. Byron, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Byron was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1981 to 2010 and began managing the
Acquiring Fund in 2000, VMV and VOQ in 2005 and VTJ in 2011. Mr. Byron earned a B.S. in finance
from Marquette University and an M.B.A. in finance from DePaul University.
Mr. Stryker, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Stryker was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1994 to 2010 and began managing the
Acquiring Fund in 2009 and the Target Funds in 2011. Mr. Stryker earned a B.S. in finance from the
University of Illinois, Chicago.
Mr. Williams, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Williams was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 2000 to 2010 and began managing the
Target Funds in 2009. Mr. Williams earned a B.A. in economics and sociology, as well as a Master
of Education degree in educational psychology from the University of Virginia.
25
Mr. Wimmel, Portfolio Manager, has been associated with Invesco and/or its affiliates since
2010. Mr. Wimmel was associated with the Funds previous investment adviser or its investment
advisory affiliates in an investment management capacity from 1996 to 2010 and began managing the
Acquiring Fund in 2001 and the Target Funds in 2011. Mr. Wimmel earned a B.A. in anthropology from
the University of Cincinnati and an M.A. in economics from the University of Illinois, Chicago.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers compensation, other
accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers ownership of securities in
each Fund.
Trading of VMTP Shares
VMTP Shares are a new issue of securities and there is currently no established trading market
for such shares. No Fund intends to apply for a listing of the VMTP Shares on a securities
exchange or an automated dealer quotation system or to seek to facilitate transfers by retaining a
remarketing or other similar agent with respect to the VMTP Shares. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the VMTP Shares. The VMTP Shares
are not registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. Accordingly,
the VMTP Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale. The VMTP Shares are
offered for sale only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold
or otherwise transferred except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities
Act or any other applicable securities law, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction
not subject thereto and in each case in compliance with contractual conditions applicable to
transfers of VMTP Shares.
Capital Structures of the Funds
Each Fund is currently organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Acquiring Fund was
organized on July 19, 1991, VMV was organized on August 6, 1992, VOQ was organized on July 24, 1991
and VTJ was organized on January 21, 1992. As discussed under Proposal 1, before the closing of
the Mergers, the Funds will be reorganized as Delaware statutory trusts, which will all have
identical governing documents and capital structures. Proposal 1 discusses the material
differences between each Funds current Massachusetts business trust structure and its proposed
Delaware statutory trust structure. The Funds governing documents will therefore be substantially
identical immediately prior to the Mergers. Because each such Delaware statutory trust will have
the same structure, each Funds capital structure will not be affected by the Merger except that
after the Merger each Funds shareholders will hold shares of a single, larger fund.
Description of Securities to be Issued
Before any Merger can be completed, each merging Fund must have completed a redomestication to
a Delaware statutory trust, as discussed in Proposal 1. Accordingly, the following discussion
reflects that each Fund would be a Delaware statutory trust as of the time of its Merger. A
discussion of the changes a Fund would undergo as part of a Redomestication is included under
Proposal 1.
VMTP Shares. Each Fund has an outstanding class of VMTP Shares. The terms of the VMTP Shares
of each Fund are substantially similar. The primary difference between the terms of the Acquiring
Fund VMTP Shares and the terms of each Target Funds VMTP Shares is that the Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares have a term redemption date of December 1, 2015 whereas the Target Fund VMTP Shares have a
term redemption date of June 1, 2015. In addition, while the VMV VMTP Shares currently have the
same ratings spread as the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares, beginning on January 1, 2013, the VMV VMTP
Shares would have a higher ratings spread than the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares, meaning that VMVs
VMTP Shares would pay a higher dividend (assuming an equal credit rating) than the Acquiring Fund
VMTP Shares. As a result, in connection with the Mergers, Target Fund shareholders will receive
VMTP Shares that have a longer duration and, in the case of VMV, would pay a lower dividend
beginning on January 1, 2013 (assuming an equal credit rating). As of the closing of the Merger,
the Acquiring Fund will be authorized by its Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of
Trust to issue an unlimited number of preferred shares. In the Merger, VMTP Shares of a Target
Fund will be exchanged for VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund.
The Funds have entered into a Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement with Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas. The Redemption and Paying Agent serves as the Funds transfer agent, registrar,
dividend disbursing agent, paying agent and redemption price disbursing agent and calculation agent
in connection with the
26
payment of dividends with respect to VMTP Shares, and carry out certain
other procedures provided in the Redemption and Paying Agent Agreement.
The currently outstanding VMTP Shares of VKQ have a long-term issue credit rating of Aa1 from
Moodys and the currently outstanding VMTP Shares of each Target Fund have a long-term issue credit
rating of Aa2 from Moodys. The currently outstanding VMTP Shares of each Fund have a long-term
issue credit rating of AAA from Fitch Ratings, a part of the Fitch Group, which is a majority-owned
subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A. (Fitch), and it is a condition of closing of each Merger that the
VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund be rated at least AA-/Aa3 by each rating agency that is rating,
at the request of the Acquiring Fund, such VMTP Shares. An explanation of the significance of
ratings may be obtained from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on
such material and information, and such of their own investigations, studies and assumptions, as
they deem appropriate. The ratings of the VMTP Shares should be evaluated independently from
similar ratings of other securities. A rating of a security is not a recommendation to buy, sell
or hold securities and may be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal at
any time by the assigning rating agency.
Dividends on the VMTP Shares are declared daily and generally paid monthly on the first (1st)
business day of each month. For each rate period, the dividend rate on VMTP Shares will, except as
otherwise provided in the Statement of Preferences, be equal to the rate per annum that results
from the sum of the (1) Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal
Swap Index and (2) the ratings spread as determined pursuant to the rate determination process set
forth in the Statement of Preferences. VMTP Shares rank on a parity with each other, with shares
of any other Series of VMTP Shares and with shares of any other series of preferred shares as to
the payment of dividends by the Fund.
Each Fund does not intend to apply for a listing of the VMTP Shares on a securities exchange
or an automated dealer quotation system or to seek to facilitate transfers by retaining a
remarketing or other similar agent with respect to the VMTP Shares. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the VMTP Shares. The VMTP Shares
are not registered under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the VMTP Shares are subject to
restrictions on transferability and resale.
Unless otherwise approved in writing by a Fund, VMTP Shareholders may sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of VMTP Shares only in whole shares and only to persons it reasonably believes
are either (i) qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) that are registered closed-end management
investment companies, the shares of which are traded on a national securities exchange (Closed-End
Funds), banks (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), insurance companies,
Broker-Dealers (as defined the Statement of Preferences), Foreign Entities (as defined in the
Statement of Preferences) (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), companies that
are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or
registered open-end management investment companies or (ii) tender option bond trusts in which all
Beneficial Owners are QIBs that are Closed-End Funds, banks (and their direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiaries), insurance companies, Broker-Dealers, Foreign Entities (and their direct
or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries), companies that are included in the S&P 500 Index (and their
direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries) or registered open-end management investment
companies, in each case, in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act or another available
exemption from registration under the Securities Act, in a manner not involving any public offering
within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Any transfer in violation of the
foregoing restrictions will be void ab initio and any transferee of VMTP Shares transferred in
violation of the foregoing restrictions shall be deemed to agree to hold all payments it received
on any such improperly transferred VMTP Shares in trust for the benefit of the transferor of such
VMTP Shares. The foregoing restrictions on transfer will not apply to any VMTP Shares registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to the registration rights agreement entered into by the Fund or
any subsequent transfer of such VMTP Shares thereafter.
Each Fund is required to redeem, out of funds legally available therefor under applicable law
and otherwise in accordance with applicable law, all outstanding VMTP Shares on December 1, 2015 or
such later date to which it may be extended, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the
Statement of Preferences.
Subject to certain conditions, VMTP Shares may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the
Fund (as a whole or from time to time, in part), out of funds legally available therefor under
applicable law and otherwise in accordance with applicable law, at a redemption price equal to the
sum of (i) the liquidation preference, (ii)
27
accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or
not declared) to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption and (iii) the redemption
premium, if any, in respect of such VMTP Shares.
VMTP Shares will rank on a parity with each other and with shares of any other series of
preferred shares as to the distribution of assets upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up
of the affairs of a Fund, whether voluntary or involuntary. After the payment of the full
preferential amounts, VMTP Shareholders as such will have no right or claim to any of the remaining
assets of a Fund.
Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust or as otherwise required by law, (i)
each VMTP Shareholder is entitled to one vote for each VMTP Share held by such shareholder on each
matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund, and (ii) the holders of outstanding
preferred shares, including each VMTP Share, and Common Shares will vote together as a single
class; provided, however, that the holders of outstanding preferred shares, including VMTP Shares,
voting as a class, to the exclusion of the holders of all other securities and classes of shares of
beneficial interests of the Fund, will be entitled to elect two trustees of the Fund at all times,
each preferred share, including each VMTP Share, entitled to one vote. Subject to the rights of
the holders of preferred shares during a Voting Period (as defined in the Statement of
Preferences), the holders of outstanding preferred shares, including VMTP Shares, and outstanding
Common Shares, voting together as a single class, will elect the balance of the trustees.
The VMTP Shares, including the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares to be issued in the Mergers, are
issued in book-entry form, as global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or
on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the
nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be held only through DTC and
any of its participants.
The foregoing is a brief description of the terms of the VMTP Shares. This description does
not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the more
detailed description of the VMTP Shares in the Statement of Preferences of each Fund, which is
available upon request by any VMTP Shareholder, and the form of Statement of Preferences of the
Acquiring Fund (after giving effect to its Redomestication) attached hereto as Exhibit L.
Common Shares. Each Common Share represents an equal proportionate interest with each other
Common Share of the Fund, with each such share entitled to equal dividend, liquidation, redemption
and voting rights. Each Fund also has outstanding VMTP Shares that vote separately from Common
Shares in some circumstances. Each Funds Common Shares have no preemptive, conversion or exchange
rights, nor any right to cumulative voting.
As of the closing of a Merger, the Acquiring Fund will be authorized by its Amended and
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust to issue an unlimited number of Acquiring Fund Common
Shares, with no par value.
Dividends and Distributions. The dividend and distribution policies of each Target Fund are
identical to those of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund intends to make regular monthly
distributions of all or a portion of its net investment income after payment of dividends on the
Acquiring Funds preferred shares outstanding to holders of the Acquiring Funds Common Shares. The
Acquiring Funds net investment income consists of all interest income accrued on portfolio assets
less all expenses of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund is required to allocate net capital
gains and other taxable income, if any, received by the Acquiring Fund among its shareholders on a
pro rata basis in the year for which such capital gains and other income is realized. In certain
circumstances, the Acquiring Fund will make additional payments to preferred shareholders to offset
the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
While there are any preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund outstanding, the Acquiring Fund may
not declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares, unless at the time of
such declaration, (i) all accrued preferred shares dividends have been paid, (ii) to the extent
necessary, the Fund has redeemed all of the preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption under
the terms of the preferred shares, and (iii) the value of the Acquiring Funds total assets
(determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution), less all
liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund, is at least 200% of the liquidation preference of the
outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the aggregate original purchase price of the
outstanding preferred shares plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned
or declared on a cumulative basis). This limitation on the
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Acquiring Funds ability to make distributions on its Common Shares could in certain circumstances impair the ability of the
Acquiring Fund to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company under
the Code. The Acquiring Fund intends, however, to the extent possible, to purchase or redeem
preferred shares from time to time to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements and
may pay special dividends to the holders of the preferred shares in certain circumstances in
connection with any such impairment of the Acquiring Funds status as a regulated investment
company under the Code.
The tax treatment and characterization of the Acquiring Funds distributions may vary
significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of its investments. The Acquiring Fund
will indicate the proportion of its capital gains distributions that constitute long-term and
short-term gains annually. The ultimate tax characterization of the Acquiring Funds distributions
made in a calendar or fiscal year cannot finally be determined until after the end of that fiscal
year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Acquiring Fund may make total distributions
during a calendar or fiscal year in an amount that exceeds the Acquiring Funds net investment
income and net capital gains for the relevant fiscal year and its previously undistributed earnings
and profits from prior years. In such situations, the amount by which the Acquiring Funds total
distributions exceed its net investment income and net capital gains generally will be treated as a
tax-free return of capital reducing the amount of a shareholders tax basis in such shareholders
shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of shares.
Various factors will affect the level of the Acquiring Funds net investment income, such as
the rate at which dividends are payable on outstanding VMTP Shares, the Acquiring Funds asset mix,
its level of retained earnings, the amount of leverage utilized by it and the effects thereof and
the movement of interest rates for municipal bonds. These factors, among others, may result in the
Acquiring Funds level of net investment income being different from the level of net investment
income for a Target Fund if the Mergers were not completed. To permit the Acquiring Fund to
maintain more stable monthly distributions, it may from time to time distribute less than the
entire amount earned in a particular period. The income would be available to supplement future
distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Acquiring Fund for any particular month
may be more or less than the amount actually earned by the Fund during that month. Undistributed
earnings will add to the Acquiring Funds net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from
undistributed earnings and from capital, if any, will deduct from the Funds net asset value.
Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board may change the Acquiring Funds dividend policy
and the amount or timing of the distributions based on a number of factors, including the amount of
the Funds undistributed net investment income and historical and projected investment income and
the amount of the expenses and dividend rates on the outstanding VMTP Shares.
Provisions for Delaying or Preventing Changes in Control. Each Funds governing documents
contain provisions designed to prevent or delay changes in control of that Fund. As of the time of
the Mergers, each Funds governing documents will provide that such Funds Board of Trustees may
cause the Fund to merge or consolidate with or into other entities; cause the Fund to sell, convey
and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund; cause the Fund to convert to a
different type of entity; or cause the Fund to convert from a closed-end fund to an open-end fund,
each only so long as such action has previously received the approval of either (i) the Board,
followed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote; or (ii) the affirmative vote of at least two thirds (66 2/3%) of the Board and an
affirmative Majority Shareholder Vote (which generally means the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities as defined in the 1940 Act of the Fund, with each class and series
of shares voting together as a single class, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940
Act). Under each Funds governing documents that will be applicable as of the time of the Merger,
shareholders will have no right to call special meetings of shareholders or to remove Trustees. In
addition, each Funds Board is divided into three classes, each of which stands for election only
once in three years. As a result of this system, only those Trustees in one class may be changed
in any one year, and it would require two years or more to change a majority of the Trustees.
Pending Litigation
On January 17, 2011, a Consolidated Amended Shareholder Derivative Complaint (the Complaint)
entitled Clifford Rotz, et al. v. Van Kampen Asset Management et al., was filed on behalf of
Invesco Van Kampen Advantage Municipal Income Trust II (VKI), Invesco Van Kampen High Income Trust
II (VLT), Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Opportunity Trust (VMO), the Acquiring Fund and Invesco Van
Kampen Senior Income Trust (VVR) (collectively, the Trusts) against Van Kampen Asset Management,
Morgan Stanley and certain current and former executive officers of the Trusts (collectively, the
Defendants) alleging that they breached their fiduciary
29
duties to common shareholders by causing
the Trusts to redeem Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPS) at their liquidation value.
Specifically, the shareholders claim that the Board and officers had no obligation to provide
liquidity to the ARPS shareholders, the redemptions were improperly motivated to benefit the prior
adviser by preserving business relationships with the ARPS holders, i.e., institutional investors,
and the market value and fair value of the ARPS were less than par at the time they were redeemed.
The Complaint alleges that the redemption of the ARPS occurred at the expense of the Trusts and
their common shareholders. This Complaint amends and consolidates two separate complaints that
were filed by Clifford T. Rotz, Jr., Robert Fast and Gene Turban on July 22, 2010, and by Harry
Suleski, Leon McDermott, Marilyn Morrison and John Johnson on August 3, 2010. Each of the Trusts
initially received a demand letter from the plaintiffs on April 8, 2010. Plaintiffs seek judgment
that: 1) orders Defendants to refrain from redeeming any ARPS at their liquidation value using
Trust assets; 2) awards monetary damages against all Defendants, individually, jointly or
severally, in favor of the Trusts, for all losses and damages allegedly suffered as a result of the
redemptions of ARPS at their liquidation value; 3) grants appropriate equitable relief to remedy
the Defendants breaches of fiduciary duties; and 4) awards to Plaintiffs the costs and
disbursements of the action. The Board of each of the Trusts formed a Special Litigation Committee
(SLC) to investigate these claims and to make a recommendation to the Board regarding whether
pursuit of these claims is in the best interests of the Trusts. After reviewing the findings of the
SLC, the Board announced on June 24, 2011, that it had adopted the SLCs recommendation to seek
dismissal of the action. On October 4, 2011, the Trusts filed a motion to dismiss, which remains
pending. On November 28, 2011, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court to hold the motion
to dismiss in abeyance while the plaintiffs conduct limited discovery. The plaintiffs request for
discovery has been briefed and the courts decision whether the plaintiffs are entitled to
discovery is pending. This matter is pending.
Management of the Adviser and each of the Funds believe that the outcome of the proceedings
described above will have no material adverse effect on the Funds or on the ability of the Adviser
to provide ongoing services to the Funds.
Portfolio Turnover
The Funds historical portfolio turnover rates are similar. Because the Funds have similar
investment policies, management does not expect to dispose of a material amount of portfolio
securities of any Fund in connection with the Mergers. No securities of the Target Funds need be
sold in order for the Acquiring Fund to comply with its investment restrictions or policies. The
Funds will continue to buy and sell securities in the normal course of their operations.
Terms and Conditions of the Mergers
The terms and conditions under which a Merger may be consummated are set forth in the Merger
Agreement. Significant provisions of the Merger Agreement are summarized below; however, this
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a form of which is
attached as Exhibit D.
In each Merger, a Target Fund will merge with and into the Acquiring Fund pursuant to the
Merger Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. As a result of each
Merger, all of the assets and liabilities of the merging Target Fund will become assets and
liabilities of the Acquiring Fund, and the Target Funds shareholders will become shareholders of
the Acquiring Fund.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will issue new Acquiring Fund
Common Shares in exchange for Target Fund Common Shares. The number of Acquiring Fund Common
Shares issued will be based on the relative NAVs and shares outstanding of the Acquiring Fund and
the applicable Target Fund as of the business day immediately preceding the Mergers closing date.
All Acquiring Fund Common Shares issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement will be fully paid and
non-assessable, and will be listed for trading on the Exchanges. The terms of the Acquiring Fund
Common Shares to be issued in each Merger will be identical to the terms of the Acquiring Fund
Common Shares already outstanding.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Acquiring Fund will also issue new Acquiring Fund
VMTP Shares in exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares. The number of additional Acquiring Fund VMTP
Shares issued for each Merger will equal the number of outstanding Target Fund VMTP Shares, and
such Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares will have liquidation preferences, rights, and privileges
substantially similar to those of the then outstanding
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VMTP Shares for the merging Target Fund.
The primary difference between the liquidation preferences, rights and privileges of the Acquiring
Fund VMTP Shares and those of each Target Funds VMTP Shares is that the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares
have a term redemption date of December 1, 2015 whereas the Target Fund VMTP Shares have a term
redemption date of June 1, 2015. As a result, in connection with the Mergers, Target Fund
shareholders will receive VMTP Shares that have a longer duration.
Prior to the closing of each Merger, each Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
If shareholders approve the Mergers and if all of the closing conditions set forth in the
Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived, including the condition that each Fund complete its
Redomestication (Proposal 1), consummation of the Mergers (the Closing) is expected to occur in
the third quarter of 2012 on a date mutually agreed upon by the Funds (the Closing Date).
Each Fund will be required to make representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement that
are customary in matters such as the Mergers.
If shareholders of a Fund do not approve a Merger or if a Merger does not otherwise close, the
Board will consider what additional action to take, including allowing the Fund to continue
operating as it currently does. The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be
abandoned at any time by mutual agreement of the parties. The Merger Agreement may be amended or
modified in a writing signed by the parties.
Additional Information About the Funds
As of the time of the Mergers, each Fund will be a newly organized Delaware statutory trust,
as discussed in Proposal 1. Each Fund is registered under the 1940 Act, as a diversified,
closed-end management investment company. Diversified means that the Fund is limited in the
amount it can invest in a single issuer. A closed-end fund (unlike an open-end or mutual fund)
does not continuously sell and redeem its shares; in the case of the Funds, Common Shares are
bought and sold on the Exchanges. A management investment company is managed by an investment
adviser the Adviser in the case of the Funds that buys and sells portfolio securities on behalf
of the investment company.
Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Funds
The following information is meant as a general summary of certain federal income tax matters
for U.S. shareholders. Investors should rely on their own tax advisor for advice about the
particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Funds (for
purposes of this section, the Fund).
The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year (including the taxable
year in which the Merger occurs) as a regulated investment company (RIC) under Subchapter M of
the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the
sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. As a
RIC, the Fund is not expected to be subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it
distributes to its shareholders. If, for any taxable year, the Fund does not qualify for taxation
as a RIC, it will be treated as a U.S. corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, thereby
subjecting any income earned by the Fund to tax at the corporate level and to a further tax at the
shareholder level when such income is distributed. In lieu of losing its status as a RIC, the Fund
is permitted to pay a tax for certain failures to satisfy the asset diversification test or income
requirement, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and
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not willful neglect, for taxable years of the Fund with respect to which the extended due date of the return is
after December 22, 2010.
The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent it does not
distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its taxable ordinary
income for that year, and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term)
for the one-year period ending, as a general rule, on October 31 of that year. For this purpose,
however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund that is subject to
corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed by year-end. In addition, the
minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or
decreased to reflect any underdistribution or overdistribution, as the case may be, from the
previous year. The Fund anticipates that it will pay such dividends and will make such
distributions as are necessary in order to avoid or minimize the application of this excise tax.
The Fund primarily invests in municipal securities. Thus, substantially all of the Funds
dividends paid to you from net investment income should qualify as exempt-interest dividends. A
shareholder treats an exempt-interest dividend as interest on state and local bonds exempt from
regular federal income tax. Exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities
of a state, or its political subdivisions, generally are exempt from that states personal income
tax. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest from municipal securities
of other states.
Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations,
individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain municipal obligations, such as certain private
activity bonds, is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayers
alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that the Fund receives income from such municipal
obligations, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund, although exempt from regular federal
income tax, will be taxable to shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined
under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund will annually provide a report indicating the
percentage of the Funds income attributable to municipal obligations subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax. Corporations are subject to special rules in calculating their federal
alternative minimum taxable income with respect to interest from such municipal obligations.
In addition to exempt-interest dividends, the Fund may also distribute to its shareholders
amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain or ordinary income (which may include short-term
capital gains). These distributions may be subject to federal, state and local taxation, depending
on a shareholders situation. If so, they are taxable whether or not such distributions are
reinvested. Net capital gain distributions (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net
short-term capital loss) are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains
regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are currently
taxable to noncorporate shareholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%. Absent further
legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will cease to apply to taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2012. The Fund does not expect that any part of its distributions to
shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to
corporate shareholders or as qualified dividend income available to noncorporate shareholders.
Distributions by the Fund in excess of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits
will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders tax basis in its shares
and will reduce such basis. Any such amount in excess of that basis will be treated as gain from
the sale of shares, as discussed below.
As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year on the income
and gains it distributes to shareholders provided that it meets certain distribution requirements.
The Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any
net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular
corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate
the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject
to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for
federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount;
(ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the
Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii)
may claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax
purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount
equal
32
to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the
shareholders gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence.
The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each
such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as exempt interest, ordinary
income and capital gains). Accordingly, the Fund designates dividends made with respect to the
Common Shares and the VMTP Shares as consisting of particular types of income (e.g., exempt
interest, net capital gain and ordinary income) in accordance with each classs proportionate share
of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the year. A classs proportionate share of a
particular type of income is determined according to the percentage of total dividends paid by the
regulated investment company to such class.
Dividends declared by the Fund to shareholders of record in October, November or December and
paid during the following January may be treated as having been received by shareholders in the
year the distributions were declared.
At the time of an investors purchase of Fund shares, a portion of the purchase price may be
attributable to realized or unrealized appreciation in the Funds portfolio or to undistributed
ordinary income or capital gains of the Fund. Consequently, subsequent distributions by the Fund
with respect to these shares from such appreciation, income or gains may be taxable to such
investor even if the net asset value of the investors shares is, as a result of the
distributions, reduced below the investors cost for such shares and the distributions economically
represent a return of a portion of the investment.
Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the shareholders dividend and
capital gains distributions.
The redemption, sale or exchange of shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to
shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholders gain or loss will
be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. The gain or
loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or
loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same
rates applicable to ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are currently taxable to noncorporate
shareholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15%. As noted above, absent further
legislation, the maximum 15% rate on long-term capital gains will cease to apply to taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2012. Any loss on the sale of shares that have been held for six
months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends
received with respect to such shares and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital
loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.
Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of a Fund will be disallowed to the extent those
shares of the Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Fund or other
substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the
original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to
reflect the disallowed loss.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund shares of
$2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate
shareholder, in any single taxable year (or of certain greater amounts over a combination of
years), generally the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.
Shareholders that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, such as retirement plans that are
qualified under Section 401 of the Code, generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on
otherwise-taxable Fund dividends or distributions, or on sales or exchanges of Fund shares unless
the Fund shares are debt-financed property within the meaning of the Code.
Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Funds shares to
which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules,
the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even
though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of the shares. In addition,
if you receive Social Security or certain railroad retirement benefits, you may be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving investment income,
including exempt-interest dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund.
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Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues
for the Fund. Federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund
may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent
deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations
in default should be allocated between principal and interest and whether certain exchanges of debt
obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund,
in the event it invests in or holds such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes
sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC.
If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred
interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with
market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must
accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the
receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at
least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined
without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such accrued income, to qualify as a
RIC and to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its
portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage
itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
The Fund may hold or acquire municipal obligations that are market discount bonds. A market
discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value
(or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in
a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such
market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount.
By law, if you do not provide the Fund with your proper taxpayer identification number and
certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of
income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale of your shares. The Fund also must withhold if the
IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any
distributions or proceeds paid, including exempt interest dividends (for distributions and proceeds
paid after December 31, 2012, the rate is scheduled to rise to 31% unless the 28% rate is extended
or made permanent).
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be
imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain
distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions
of Fund shares) of US individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such persons modified
adjusted gross income (in the case of an individual) or adjusted gross income (in the case of an
estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
The description of certain federal tax provisions above relates only to U.S. federal income
tax consequences for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e., generally, U.S. citizens or residents
or U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates, and who are subject to U.S. federal income
tax and hold their shares as capital assets. Except as otherwise provided, this description does
not address the special tax rules that may be applicable to particular types of investors, such as
financial institutions, insurance companies, securities dealers, other regulated investment
companies, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts or entities. Investors other than U.S.
persons may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including a non-resident
alien U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% or any lower applicable treaty rate on amounts
treated as ordinary dividends from the Fund, special certification requirements to avoid U.S.
backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits and U.S. estate tax. Shareholders should consult
their own tax advisors on these matters and on state, local, foreign and other applicable tax laws.
Under recently enacted legislation and administrative guidance, the relevant withholding agent
may be required to withhold 30% of any (a) income dividends paid after December 31, 2013 and (b)
certain capital gains distributions and the proceeds of a sale of shares paid after December 31,
2014 to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to
verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and meets certain other specified
requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment
unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the
name, address
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and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner and such entity
meets certain other specified requirements.
Board Considerations in Approving the Mergers
On June 1, 2010, Invesco acquired the retail fund management business of Morgan Stanley, which
included 32 Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen branded closed-end funds. This transaction filled gaps
in Invescos product line and has enabled Invesco to expand its investment offerings to retail
customers. The transaction also resulted in product overlap. The Mergers proposed in this Proxy
Statement are part of a larger group of mergers across Invescos fund platform that began in early
2011. The larger group of mergers is designed to put forth Invescos most compelling investment
processes and strategies, reduce product overlap and create scale in the resulting funds.
The Boards of the Funds considered each Merger over a series of meetings. The Nominating
Committee of the Boards, which consists solely of trustees who are not interested persons, as
that term is defined in the 1940 Act, of the Target Funds (the Independent Trustees), met on
November 1, 2011 to consider each Merger and to assist the Boards in their consideration of such
Mergers. The Nominating Committee considered presentations from the Adviser on the proposed
Mergers and identified to the Adviser certain supplemental information to be prepared in connection
with the presentation of the proposed Mergers to the full Boards. Prior to the November 15, 2011
meeting of the full Boards, the Boards met in executive session with the Nominating Committee to
discuss the Committees consideration and review of the proposed Mergers. The full Boards met
twice, on November 15, 2011 and November 28, 2011, to review and consider each Merger. The Boards
requested and received from the Adviser written materials containing relevant information about the
Funds and the proposed Mergers, including fee and expense information on an actual and pro forma
estimated basis, and comparative portfolio composition and performance data.
The Boards reviewed, among other information they deemed relevant, information comparing the
following for each Fund on a current and pro forma basis: (1) investment objective, policies and
restrictions; (2) portfolio management; (3) portfolio composition; (4) comparative short-term and
long-term investment performance and distribution yields; (5) expense ratios and expense
structures, including contractual investment advisory fees and fee waiver agreements; (6) expected
federal income tax consequences to the Funds, including any impact on capital loss carry forwards;
(7) relative asset size; (8) trading information such as trading premiums/discounts for the Funds
Common Shares; and (9) use of leverage and outstanding VMTP Shares. The Boards discussed with the
Adviser the Advisers process for selecting and analyzing the Funds that had been proposed to
participate in the Mergers and possible alternatives to the Mergers, including liquidation and
maintaining stand alone funds, among other alternatives. The Boards also discussed with the
Adviser the Mergers in the context of the larger group of completed and proposed reorganizations of
funds in the fund complex, which were designed to rationalize the Invesco funds to seek to enhance
visibility in the market place.
The potential benefits to the Funds of the Mergers considered by the Boards included (1)
potential benefits resulting from the larger size of the combined fund, including the potential for (i) increased
attention from the investment community, (ii) increased trading volume and tighter spreads and improved
premium/discount levels for the combined funds Common Shares, (iii) improved purchasing power and more efficient transaction
costs, and (iv) increased diversification of portfolio investments; (2) maintaining consistent portfolio
management teams, processes and investment objectives (other than as it relates to each Target Funds focus on
investing in municipal securities of a single state); and (3) reducing market confusion caused by similar product
offerings.
The Boards also considered the anticipated economic effects of the Mergers on the combined
funds fees and expenses, earnings, distribution rates, undistributed net investment company income
and market price of Common Shares. The Boards considered that (1) the Acquiring Funds management
fee schedule will apply to the combined fund; (2) the investment objective, strategies and related
risks of each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund are similar (other than as it relates to each
Target Funds focus on investing in municipal securities of a single state); (3) the Funds have
substantially similar portfolio management teams; (4) shareholders would become shareholders of the
larger combined fund; and (5) the allocation of expenses of the Mergers, including the Advisers
paying all of the Merger costs. In addition, the Boards of the Target Funds considered the
Acquiring Funds contractual advisory fee rate in light of the benefits of retaining the Adviser as
the Acquiring Funds investment adviser, the services provided, and those expected to be provided,
to the Acquiring Fund by the Adviser, and the terms and conditions of the Acquiring Funds advisory
agreement.
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The Boards also considered the expected tax free nature of the Mergers for each Fund and its
shareholders for federal income tax purposes. However, the Boards of the Target Funds considered
that Target Fund shareholders living in Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey, respectively, will lose
the benefit of their respective Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state tax exemption to the extent
that the Acquiring Fund invests in securities whose distributions are not exempt from
Massachusetts, Ohio or New Jersey state income tax, respectively, or to the extent that the
Acquiring Fund is no longer eligible to pass through to investors the tax-exempt nature of its
income for state tax purposes. The Boards considered the information regarding each Funds Common
Share distribution rate on an actual and tax-equivalent basis (reflecting the effect of both state
and federal taxes), noting that before giving effect to the Mergers, the after federal tax
equivalent distribution Common Share yield (as a percentage of net asset value) of the Acquiring
Fund was within 0.50% of the after federal and state tax equivalent Common Share yield of each
Target Fund. The Boards weighed this factor in light of the benefits of the Mergers to Target Fund
shareholders described herein, including the benefits of increased portfolio diversification.
After considering the foregoing, the Board noted that:
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the combined fund is anticipated to have lower total operating expenses than
each Target Fund; |
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the combined fund on a pro forma basis had more than a 0.20% higher Common Share
distribution yield (as a percentage of net asset value) than each Target Fund, even
after giving effect to the higher management fees and total expense ratio that
would apply to the combined fund before and after the expiration of fee waivers; |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares had traded at an average
premium of 1.72% to its net asset value over the preceding 52 week period and, over
the same period, the Target Funds Common Shares had traded at average premiums of
4.39% (VMV), 1.11% (VOQ) and 2.32% (VTJ); |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Funds Common Shares traded at an average
discount of -2.80% to its net asset value for the preceding month and, over the
same period, the Target Funds Common Shares had traded at average discounts of
-1.30% (VMV), -0.50% (VOQ) and -3.50% (VTJ); |
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the average daily trading volume for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares was more
than 20 times greater than the average daily trading volume of VMVs Common Shares,
more than 11 times greater than the average daily trading volume of VOQs Common
Shares and more than eight times greater than the average daily trading volumes of
VTJs Common Shares; and |
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as of July 31, 2011, the Acquiring Fund owned 434 different municipal bonds and
the Target Funds owned 73 (VMV), 102 (VOQ) and 99 (VTJ), which means that the
combined fund would provide shareholders with a more diverse portfolio. |
Based upon the information and considerations summarized above, each Board unanimously
concluded that each applicable Merger are in the best interests of its respective Fund and the
shareholders of such Fund and that no dilution of net asset value would result to the shareholders
of such Fund from each applicable Merger. Consequently, on November 28, 2011, each Board,
including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and
each applicable Merger and unanimously recommended that the shareholders of each Fund vote in favor
of each applicable Merger.
The discussion above summarizes certain information regarding the Funds considered by the
Boards, which was accurate as of the time of the Boards consideration of the Mergers. There can
be no assurance that the information considered by the Boards, including with respect to the Funds
trading at a premium or discount, remains accurate as of the date hereof or at the closing of the
Mergers.
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Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Mergers
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of
the Mergers and is based upon the current provisions of the Code, the existing U.S. Treasury
Regulations thereunder, current administrative rulings of the IRS and published judicial decisions,
all of which are subject to change. These considerations are general in nature and individual
shareholders should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local, and foreign tax
considerations applicable to them and their individual circumstances. These same considerations
generally do not apply to shareholders who hold their shares in a tax-deferred account.
Each Merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of the
Code. As described above, the Mergers will occur following the Redomestication of each Target Fund
and the Acquiring Fund. The principal federal income tax considerations that are expected to result
from the Merger of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund are as follows:
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund or the shareholders of the
Target Fund as a result of the Merger; |
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no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund as a result of the
Merger; |
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the aggregate tax basis of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be received by a
shareholder of the Target Fund will be the same as the shareholders aggregate tax
basis of the shares of the Target Fund; and |
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the holding period of the shares of the Acquiring Fund received by a
shareholder of the Target Fund will include the period that a shareholder held the
shares of the Target Fund (provided that such shares of the Target Fund are
capital assets in the hands of such shareholder as of the Closing). |
Neither the Target Funds nor the Acquiring Fund have requested or will request an advance
ruling from the IRS as to the federal tax consequences of the Mergers. As a condition to Closing,
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP will render a favorable opinion to each Target Fund and the
Acquiring Fund as to the foregoing federal income tax consequences of each Merger, which opinion
will be conditioned upon, among other things, the accuracy, as of the Closing Date, of certain
representations of each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund upon which Stradley Ronon Stevens &
Young, LLP will rely in rendering its opinion. Such opinion of counsel may state that no opinion
is expressed as to the effect of the Mergers on the Target Funds, Acquiring Fund, or any Target
Fund shareholder with respect to any transferred asset as to which any unrealized gain or loss is
required to be recognized for federal income tax purposes at the end of a taxable year (or on the
termination or transfer thereof) under a mark-to-market system of accounting. A copy of the
opinion will be filed with the SEC and will be available for public inspection. See Where to Find
Additional Information. In addition, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will deliver an
opinion to the Funds, subject to certain representations, assumptions and conditions, to the effect
that the Acquiring Fund VMTP Shares received in the Mergers by holders of VMTP Shares of a Target
Fund will qualify as equity in the Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes.
Opinions of counsel are not binding upon the IRS or the courts. If a Merger is consummated
but the IRS or the courts determine that the Merger does not qualify as a tax-free reorganization
under the Code, and thus is taxable, the Target Fund would recognize gain or loss on the transfer
of its assets to the Acquiring Fund and each shareholder of the Target Fund would recognize a
taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between its tax basis in its Target Fund shares and
the fair market value of the shares of the Acquiring Fund it receives. The failure of one Merger to
qualify as a tax-free reorganization would not adversely affect any other Merger.
Prior to the closing of each Merger, each Target Fund will declare to its Common Shareholders
one or more dividends, and the Acquiring Fund may, but is not required to, declare to its Common
Shareholders a dividend, payable at or near the time of closing to their respective shareholders to
the extent necessary to avoid entity level tax or as otherwise deemed desirable. Such
distributions, if made, are anticipated to be made in the 2012 calendar year and, to the extent a
distribution is not an exempt-interest dividend (as defined in the Code), the distribution may be
taxable to shareholders in such year for federal income tax purposes. It is anticipated that Fund
distributions will be primarily dividends that are exempt from regular federal income tax, although
a portion of such dividends may be
37
taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. To
the extent the distribution is attributable to ordinary income or capital gains, such ordinary
income and capital gains will be allocated to Common Shareholders and VMTP Shareholders in
accordance with each classs proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Fund during the
year. In certain circumstances, each Fund will make additional payments to VMTP Shareholders to
offset the tax effects of such taxable distributions.
Each Fund may invest all or a substantial portion of its total assets in municipal securities
that may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT bonds) and,
therefore, a substantial portion of the income produced by each Fund may be taxable for such
investors under the federal alternative minimum tax. If the Acquiring Fund following the Mergers
has a greater portion of its portfolio investments in AMT bonds than a Target Fund, a greater
portion of the dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund to shareholders of the Target Fund,
post-Closing, may be taxable under the federal alternative minimum tax. However, the portion of a
Funds total assets invested in AMT Bonds on the Closing Date or in the future and the portion of
income subject to federal alternative minimum tax cannot be known in advance. See the Schedule of
Investments available in each Funds Annual Report for the portion of a Funds total assets that
are invested in AMT Bonds at February 29, 2012.
The tax attributes, including capital loss carryovers, of the Target Funds move to the
Acquiring Fund in the Mergers. The capital loss carryovers of the Target Funds and the Acquiring
Fund are available to offset future gains recognized by the combined Fund, subject to limitations
under the Code. Where these limitations apply, all or a portion of a Funds capital loss
carryovers may become unavailable, the effect of which may be to accelerate the recognition of
taxable gain to the combined Fund and its shareholders post-Closing. First, the capital loss
carryovers of each Fund that experiences a more than 50% ownership change in a Merger (e.g., in a
reorganization of two Funds, the smaller Fund), increased by any current year loss or decreased by
any current year gain, together with any net unrealized depreciation in the value of its portfolio
investments (collectively, its aggregate capital loss carryovers), are expected to become subject
to an annual limitation. Losses in excess of that limitation may be carried forward to succeeding
tax years, subject, in the case of net capital losses that arise in taxable years beginning on or
before December 22, 2010 as discussed below, to an overall eight-year carryover period. The annual
limitation will generally equal the net asset value of a Fund on the Closing Date multiplied by the
long-term tax-exempt rate published by the IRS. In the case of a Fund with net unrealized
built-in gains at the time of Closing of a Merger (i.e., unrealized appreciation in value of the
Funds investments), the annual limitation for a taxable year will be increased by the amount of
such built-in gains that are recognized in the taxable year. Second, if a Fund has built-in gains
at the time of Closing that are realized by the combined Fund in the five-year period following a
Merger, such built-in gains, when realized, may not be offset by the losses (including any capital
loss carryovers and built in losses) of another Fund. Third, the capital losses of a Target Fund
that may be used by the Acquiring Fund (including to offset any built-in gains of a Target Fund
itself) for the first taxable year ending after the Closing Date will be limited to an amount equal
to the capital gain net income of the Acquiring Fund for such taxable year (excluding capital loss
carryovers) treated as realized post-Closing based on the number of days remaining in such year.
Fourth, a Merger may result in an earlier expiration of a Funds capital loss carryovers because a
Merger may cause a Target Funds tax year to close early in the year of the Merger.
The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 eliminated the eight-year carryover
period for capital losses that arise in taxable years beginning after its enactment date (December
22, 2010) for regulated investment companies regardless of whether such regulated investment
company is a party to a reorganization. Consequently, these capital losses can be carried forward
indefinitely. However, capital losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years may not be used to
offset capital gains until all net capital losses arising in post-enactment taxable years have been
utilized. As a result, some net capital loss carryovers incurred in pre-enactment taxable years
which otherwise would have been utilized under prior law may expire.
The aggregate capital loss carryovers of the Funds and the approximate annual limitation on
the use by the Acquiring Fund, post-Closing, of each Target Funds aggregate capital loss
carryovers following the Mergers are as follows:
38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VMV |
|
|
VOQ |
|
|
VTJ |
|
|
VKQ |
|
|
|
(Target Fund) |
|
|
(Target Fund) |
|
|
(Target Fund) |
|
|
(Acquiring Fund) |
|
|
|
(000,000s) |
|
|
(000,000s) |
|
|
(000,000s) |
|
|
(000,000s) |
|
|
|
at 2/29/2012 |
|
|
at 2/29/2012 |
|
|
at 2/29/2012 |
|
|
at 2/29/2012 |
|
Aggregate Capital Loss
Carryovers on a Tax
Basis |
|
$ |
(6.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(90.0 |
) |
Unrealized Net
Appreciation
(Depreciation) in
Investments on a Tax
Basis |
|
$ |
5.0 |
|
|
$ |
11.4 |
|
|
$ |
15.2 |
|
|
$ |
56.0 |
|
Aggregate Net Asset Value |
|
$ |
36.5 |
|
|
$ |
93.2 |
|
|
$ |
104.3 |
|
|
$ |
556.2 |
|
Approximate Annual
Limitation (1) |
|
$ |
1.2 |
|
|
$ |
3.0 |
|
|
$ |
3.4 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Based on the long-term tax-exempt rate for ownership changes during May 2012 of 3.26%. |
Based upon each Target Funds capital loss position at February 29, 2012, the annual
limitations on the use of each Target Funds aggregate capital loss carryovers may not prevent the
combined Fund from utilizing a substantial portion of such losses, albeit over a period of time.
However, the effect of these annual limitations may be to cause the combined Fund, post-Closing, to
distribute more capital gains in a taxable year than might otherwise have been the case if no such
limitation had applied. The aggregate capital loss carryovers of the Acquiring Fund may continue
to be available. The ability of the Acquiring Fund to absorb its own aggregate capital loss
carryovers and those of the Target Funds post-Closing depends upon a variety of factors that cannot
be known in advance. For more information with respect to each Funds capital loss carryovers,
please refer to the Funds shareholder report.
Shareholders of a Target Fund will receive a proportionate share of any taxable income and
gains realized by the Acquiring Fund and not distributed to its shareholders prior to the Merger
when such income and gains are eventually distributed by the Acquiring Fund. As a result,
shareholders of a Target Fund may receive a greater amount of taxable distributions than they would
have had the Merger not occurred. In addition, if the Acquiring Fund following the Mergers has
proportionately greater unrealized appreciation in its portfolio investments as a percentage of its
net asset value than a Target Fund, shareholders of the Target Fund, post-Closing, may receive
greater amounts of taxable gain as such portfolio investments are sold than they otherwise might
have if the Mergers had not occurred. At February 29, 2012, the unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) in value of the portfolio investments of each Target Fund on a tax basis as a
percentage of its net asset value is 14% for VMV, 12% for VOQ, and 15% for VTJ, compared to that of
the Acquiring Fund of 10%, and 11% on a combined basis.
After the Mergers, shareholders will continue to be responsible for tracking the adjusted tax
basis and holding period of their shares for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Treatment of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
The Fund expects that the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in the Merger in exchange
for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. Each Fund has received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that VMTP
Shares issued by it prior to its Redomestication and Merger will be treated as equity of such Fund
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Special VMTP
Federal Income Tax Counsel) is of the opinion that, and as a condition to the closing of the
Mergers will deliver to the Funds an opinion that, the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in
a Merger in exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or any
court. Thus, no assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not
sustain, a position contrary to Special VMTP Federal Income Tax Counsels opinion.
The discussion herein assumes that the VMTP Shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in a Merger in
exchange for Target Fund VMTP Shares will be treated as equity of the Acquiring Fund for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
39
Where to Find More Information
The SAI and each Funds shareholder reports contain further information on the Funds,
including their investment policies, strategies and risks.
THE BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF
PROPOSAL 2.
PROPOSAL 3: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES BY VMV, VTJ, VOQ AND THE ACQUIRING FUND
At the Meeting, VMTP Shareholders and Common Shareholders of the Funds, voting together as a
single class, will vote to elect Trustees as follows:
(a) With respect to VMV, to elect three Trustees (David C. Arch, Jerry D. Choate, and
Suzanne H. Woolsey are the nominees).
(b) With respect to VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, to elect one Trustee (Wayne W. Whalen
is the nominee).
At the Meeting, the VMTP Shareholders of VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, will also vote as a
separate class on the election of one Trustee, designated to be elected solely by the VMTP
Shareholders, as follows:
(c) With respect to VTJ, VOQ and the Acquiring Fund, to elect one Trustee (Linda Hutton Heagy
is the nominee).
If elected, each nominee will serve until the later of the Funds annual meeting of
shareholders in 2015 or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or his or
her earlier retirement, resignation or removal. As in the past, only one class of Trustees is
being submitted to shareholders of each Fund for election at the Meeting. The Declaration of Trust
of each Fund provides that the Board shall be divided into three classes, which must be as nearly
equal in number as possible. For each Fund, the Trustees of only one class are elected at each
annual meeting, so that the regular term of only one class of Trustees will expire annually and any
particular Trustee stands for election only once in each three-year period. This type of
classification may prevent replacement of a majority of Trustees of a Fund for up to a two-year
period. The foregoing is subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable state law, each
Funds Declaration of Trust and each Funds bylaws.
The Trustees who make up the various classes of the Boards of the Funds are shown in the chart
below:
|
|
|
|
|
Class I |
|
Class II |
|
Class III |
David C. Arch
Jerry D. Choate
Howard J Kerr(2)
Suzanne H. Woolsey, Ph.D.
|
|
Wayne W. Whalen
Rodney F. Dammeyer(2)
Linda Hutton Heagy(1)
|
|
Colin D. Meadows
R. Craig Kennedy
Jack E. Nelson(2)
Hugo F. Sonnenschein(1) |
(1) |
|
Linda Hutton Heagy and Hugo F. Sonnenschein are designated to be elected
solely by the VMTP Shareholders voting as a separate class. |
(2) |
|
Pursuant to the Funds Trustee retirement policy, Howard J Kerr and Jack E.
Nelson are retiring from the Boards effective as of the Meeting. Rodney Dammeyer is
not standing for reelection and his term of office as Trustee of VOQ, VTJ and the
Acquiring Fund will expire at the Meeting. Therefore, Mr. Dammeyer is also stepping
down from the Board of VMV effective as of the Meeting. Each Funds Board has reduced
the size of the Board to eight Trustees effective as of the Meeting. |
The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of their Boards of
Trustees. The Board overseeing the Funds seeks to provide shareholders with a highly qualified,
highly capable and diverse group of Board members reflecting the diversity of investor interests
underlying the Funds and with a diversity of backgrounds, experience and skills that the Board
considers desirable and necessary to its primary goal protecting
40
and promoting shareholders
interests. While the Board does not require that its members meet specific qualifications, the
Board has historically sought to recruit and continues to value individual Board members that add
to the overall diversity of the Board the objective is to bring varied backgrounds, experience
and skills reflective of the wide range of the shareholder base and provide both contrasting and
complementary skills relative to the other Board members to best protect and promote shareholders
interests. Board diversity means bringing together different viewpoints, professional experience,
investment experience, education, and other skills. As can be seen in the individual biographies
below, the Board brings together a wide variety of business experience (including chairman/chief
executive officer-level and director-level experience, including board committee experience, of
several different types of organizations); varied public and private investment-related experience;
not-for-profit experience; customer service and other back office operations experience; a wide
variety of accounting, finance, legal, and marketing experience; academic experience; consulting
experience; and government, political and military service experience. All of this experience
together results in important leadership and management knowledge, skills and perspective that
provide the Board understanding and insight into the operations of the Funds and add range and
depth to the Board. As part of its governance oversight, the Board conducts an annual
self-effectiveness survey which includes, among other things, evaluating the Boards (and each
committees) agendas, meetings and materials, conduct of the meetings, committee structures,
interaction with management, strategic planning, etc., and also includes evaluating the Boards
(and each committees) size, composition, qualifications (including diversity of characteristics,
experience and subject matter expertise) and overall performance.
The Board evaluates all of the foregoing and does not believe any single factor or group of
factors controls or dominates the qualifications of any individual trustee or the qualifications of
the trustees as a group. After considering all factors together, the Board believes that each
Trustee is qualified to serve as a Trustee.
Independent Trustees.
David C. Arch. Formerly, Mr. Arch was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blistex, Inc., a
consumer health care products manufacturer. Mr. Arch is a member of the Heartland Alliance Advisory
Board, a nonprofit organization serving human needs based in Chicago and member of the Board of the
Illinois Manufacturers Association. Mr. Arch is also a member of the Board of Visitors, Institute
for the Humanities, University of Michigan. From 1984 to 2010, Mr. Arch served as Director or
Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Board believes that Mr.
Archs experience as the CEO of a public company and his experience with investment companies
benefits the Funds.
Jerry D. Choate. Mr. Choate has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2003. The Board believes that Mr. Choates experience as the chairman and chief
executive officer of a public company and a director of several public companies, his service as a
Trustee of the funds in the Invesco fund complex and his experience as a director of other
investment companies benefits the Funds.
Rodney F. Dammeyer. Since 2001, Mr. Dammeyer has been Chairman of CAC, LLC, a private company
offering capital investment and management advisory services. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer served as
Managing Partner at Equity Group Corporate Investments; Chief Executive Officer of Anixter
International; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Household International, Inc.;
and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Industries, Inc. Mr. Dammeyer
was a Partner of Arthur Andersen & Co., an international accounting firm. Mr. Dammeyer currently
serves as a Director of Quidel Corporation and Stericycle, Inc. Previously, Mr. Dammeyer served as
a Trustee of The Scripps Research Institute; and a Director of Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.; GATX
Corporation; TheraSense, Inc.; TeleTech Holdings Inc.; and Arris Group, Inc. From 1987 to 2010, Mr.
Dammeyer served as Director or Trustee of investment companies in the Van Kampen Funds complex.
The Board believes that Mr. Dammeyers experience in executive positions at a number of public
companies, his accounting experience and his experience serving as a director of investment
companies benefits the Funds. Mr. Dammeyer is not standing for reelection and his term of office
as Trustee of VOQ, VTJ and the Acquiring Fund will expire at the Meeting. Therefore, Mr. Dammeyer
is also stepping down from the Board of VMV effective as of the Meeting.
Linda Hutton Heagy. Ms. Heagy has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2003. The Board believes that Ms. Heagys experience in executive positions at a
number of bank and trust companies and as a member of the board of several organizations, her
service as a Trustee of the funds in the Invesco fund complex and her experience serving as a
director of other investment companies benefits the Funds.
41
R. Craig Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2003. The Board believes that Mr. Kennedys experience in executive positions at
a number of foundations, his investment experience, his service as a Trustee of the funds in the
Invesco fund complex and his experience serving as a director of other investment companies
benefits the Funds.
Howard J Kerr. Mr. Kerr has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco fund
complex since 1992. The Board believes that Mr. Kerrs experience in executive positions at a
number of companies, his experience in public service, his service as a Trustee of the Acquiring
Fund and his experience serving as a director of other investment companies benefits the Acquiring
Fund. Pursuant to the Boards Trustee retirement policy, Mr. Kerr is retiring from the Board
effective as of the Meeting.
Jack E. Nelson. Mr. Nelson has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco fund
complex since 2003. The Board believes that Mr. Nelsons experience in executive positions at a
number of companies and as a member of several financial and investment industry organizations, his
service as a Trustee of the Acquiring Fund and his experience serving as a director of other
investment companies benefits the Acquiring Fund. Pursuant to the Boards Trustee retirement
policy, Mr. Nelson is retiring from the Board effective as of the Meeting.
Hugo F. Sonnenschein. Mr. Sonnenschein is the Distinguished Service Professor and President
Emeritus of the University of Chicago and the Adam Smith Distinguished Service Professor in the
Department of Economics at the University of Chicago. Until July 2000, Mr. Sonnenschein served as
President of the University of Chicago. Mr. Sonnenschein is a Trustee of the University of
Rochester and a member of its investment committee. He is also a member of the National Academy of
Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. From 1994 to 2010, Mr. Sonnenschein served as Director or Trustee of investment companies
in the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Board believes that Mr. Sonnenscheins experiences in
academia and in running a university, and his experience as a director of investment companies
benefits the Funds.
Suzanne H. Woolsey. Ms. Woolsey has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2003. The Board believes that Ms. Woolseys experience as a director of numerous
organizations, her service as a Trustee of the funds in the Invesco fund complex and her experience
as a director of other investment companies benefits the Funds.
Interested Trustees.
Colin D. Meadows. Mr. Meadows has been a member of the Board of one or more funds in the Invesco
fund complex since 2010. The Board believes that Mr. Meadows financial services and asset
management experience benefits the Funds.
Wayne W. Whalen. Mr. Whalen is Of Counsel and, prior to 2010, was a partner in the law firm of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Whalen is a Director of the Mutual Fund Directors
Forum, a nonprofit membership organization for investment company directors, Chairman and Director
of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, and Director of the Stevenson Center for
Democracy. From 1995 to 2010, Mr. Whalen served as Director and Trustee of investment companies in
the Van Kampen Funds complex. The Target Fund Board believes that Mr. Whalens experience as a law
firm partner and his experience as a director of investment companies benefits the Target Fund.
Additional biographical information regarding the Trustees can be found in Exhibit F.
Information on each Boards leadership structure, role in risk oversight, and committees and
meetings can be found in Exhibit G. Information on the remuneration of Trustees can be found in
Exhibit H. Information on the executive officers of the Funds is available in Exhibit E.
Information on the Funds independent registered public accounting firm is available in Exhibit I.
42
THE BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES.
VOTING INFORMATION
How to Vote Your Shares
There are several ways you can vote your shares, including in person at the Meeting, by mail,
by telephone, or via the Internet. The proxy card that accompanies this Proxy Statement provides
detailed instructions on how you may vote your shares.
If you properly fill in and sign your proxy card and send it to us in time to vote at the
Meeting, your proxy (the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as you have
directed. If you sign your proxy card but do not make specific choices, your proxy will vote your
shares for each Proposal and for all of the Trustee nominees, in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board of your Fund, and in the proxys best judgment on other matters.
Why are you sending me the Proxy Statement?
You are receiving this Proxy Statement because you own VMTP Shares of a Fund as of the Record
Date and have the right to vote on the very important proposals described herein concerning your
Fund. This Proxy Statement contains information that shareholders of the Funds should know before
voting on the proposals.
About the Proxy Statement and the Meeting
We are sending you this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board is
soliciting your proxy to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the
Meeting. This Proxy Statement gives you information about the business to be conducted at the
Meeting. Fund shareholders may vote by appearing in person at the Meeting and following the
instructions below. You do not need to attend the Meeting to vote, however. Instead, you may
simply complete, sign, and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by following the instructions on
the enclosed proxy card to vote via telephone or the Internet.
Shareholders of record of the Funds as of the close of business on the Record Date are
entitled to vote at the Meeting. The number of outstanding shares of each class of each Fund on
the Record Date can be found at Exhibit J. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full
share held and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. The Funds expect
that Common Shares will also be voted at the Meeting. This Proxy Statement is not a solicitation
for any votes of the Common Shares of any Fund.
Attendance at the Meeting is generally limited to shareholders and their authorized
representatives. All shareholders must bring an acceptable form of identification, in order to
attend the Meeting in person.
Proxies will have the authority to vote and act on behalf of shareholders at any adjournment
of the Meeting. It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote the
shares represented by them for each proposal and for all of the Trustee nominees, unless the proxy
card is marked otherwise. If a shareholder gives a proxy, the shareholder may revoke the
authorization at any time before it is exercised by sending in another proxy card with a later date
or by notifying the Secretary of the Fund in writing at the address of the Fund set forth on the
cover page of this Proxy Statement before the Meeting that the shareholder has revoked its proxy.
In addition, although merely attending the Meeting will not revoke your proxy, if a shareholder is
present at the Meeting, the shareholder may withdraw the proxy and vote in person.
Quorum Requirement and Adjournment
A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid shareholder meeting for each Fund.
Under the governing documents of each Fund, the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of each
class or series or combined class entitled to vote thereat of the Fund present in person or by
proxy shall constitute a quorum at the Meeting.
If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, it may be adjourned, with the vote of the majority
of the votes present or represented by proxy, to allow additional solicitations of proxies in order
to attain a quorum. The shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote at the Meeting will also have the power
43
to adjourn the Meeting from time to time if the vote
required to approve or reject any proposal described herein is not obtained, with proxies,
including abstentions and broker non-votes, being voted for adjournment, provided the proxies
determine that such an adjournment and additional solicitation is reasonable and in the interest of
shareholders based on a consideration of all relevant factors, including the nature of the relevant
proposal, the percentage of votes then cast, the percentage of negative votes then cast, the nature
of the proposed solicitation activities and the nature of the reasons for such
further solicitation. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of a Funds shares then
present in person or represented by proxy shall be required to so adjourn the Meeting.
In the event that a shareholder of a Fund present at the Meeting objects to the holding of a
joint meeting and moves for an adjournment of the meeting of such Fund to a time immediately after
the Meeting so that such Funds meeting may be held separately, the persons named as proxies will
vote in favor of such adjournment.
Abstentions and broker non-votes (described below) are counted as present and will be included
for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for each Fund at the Meeting, but are not
considered votes cast at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as
a vote against Proposals 1 or 2, because their approval requires the affirmative vote of a
percentage of the outstanding shares of the applicable Fund or of a certain proportion of the
shares present at the Meeting, as opposed to a percentage of votes cast. For Proposal 3,
abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect because only a plurality of votes is required
to elect a Trustee nominee. A proxy card marked withhold with respect to the election of
Trustees would have the same effect as an abstention.
Broker non-votes occur when a proposal that is routine (such as the election of trustees) is
voted on at a meeting alongside a proposal that is non-routine (such as the Redomestication or
Merger proposals). Under New York Stock Exchange rules, brokers may generally vote in their
discretion on routine proposals, but are generally not able to vote on a non-routine proposal in
the absence of express voting instructions from beneficial owners. As a result, where both routine
and non-routine proposals are voted on at the same meeting, proxies voted by brokers on the routine
proposals are considered votes present but are not votes on any non-routine proposals. Because
both routine and non-routine proposals will be voted on at the Meeting, the Funds anticipate
receiving broker non-votes with respect to Proposals 1 and 2. No broker non-votes are anticipated
with respect to Proposal 3 because it is considered a routine proposal on which brokers typically
may vote in their discretion.
Broker-dealers who are not members of the New York Stock Exchange may be subject to other
rules, which may or may not permit them to vote your Common Shares without instruction. Therefore,
you are encouraged to contact your broker and record your voting instructions.
Votes Necessary to Approve the Proposals
Common Shares and VMTP Shares of each Fund are entitled to vote at the Meeting. This Proxy
Statement is not a solicitation for any votes of the Common Shares of any Fund. Each Fund will
solicit the vote of its Common Shares via a separate proxy statement. VMTP Shares are subject to a
voting trust requiring that certain voting rights of the VMTP Shares must be exercised as directed
by an unaffiliated third party. Votes by VMTP Shares to elect Trustees are subject to the voting
trust, but votes regarding the Redomestications and the Mergers are not subject to the voting
trust.
Each Funds Board has unanimously approved the Funds Plan of Redomestication discussed in
Proposal 1. Shareholder approval of a Funds Plan of Redomestication requires the approval of the
holders of a majority of the Common Shares and VMTP Shares outstanding and entitled to vote, voting
as separate classes, of such Fund. Proposal 1 may be approved and implemented for a Fund
regardless of whether shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to the Fund.
Each Funds Board has unanimously approved the Funds Plan of Merger discussed in Proposal 2.
Shareholder approval of each Plan of Merger requires the vote of a majority of the Common Shares
and the VMTP Shares outstanding, voting as separate classes, of the applicable Target Fund and the
Acquiring Fund. Proposal 2 may be approved and implemented for a Target Fund only if Proposal 1 is
also approved by both such Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund and regardless of whether
shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to such Funds.
With
respect to Proposals 3(a) and 3(b), the affirmative vote of a plurality of the Common Shares and VMTP
Shares of a Fund, voting as a single class, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy is
required to elect each nominee for
44
Trustee
for such Fund. With respect to Proposal 3(c), the affirmative vote
of a plurality of the VMTP Shares of a Fund, voting as a separate
class, present at the Meeting in person or by proxy is required to
elect the Trustee designated to be elected solely by the VMTP
Shareholders for such Fund. Proposal 3 may be approved and
implemented for a Fund regardless of whether shareholders approve any other Proposal applicable to
the Fund.
Proxy Solicitation
The Funds have engaged the services of Computershare Fund Services (the Solicitor) to assist
in the solicitation of proxies for the Meeting. Costs of this proxy solicitation are estimated to
be $10,000 for each of the Target Funds and $40,000 for the Acquiring Fund. The VMTP Shareholders
are not expected do not bear any of these costs. The Funds officers may also solicit proxies but
will not receive any additional or special compensation for any such solicitation.
Under the agreement with the Solicitor, the Solicitor will be paid a project management fee as
well as telephone solicitation expenses incurred for reminder calls, outbound telephone voting,
confirmation of telephone votes, inbound telephone contact, obtaining shareholders telephone
numbers, and providing additional materials upon shareholder request. The agreement also provides
that the Solicitor shall be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses, including
liabilities under the federal securities laws.
OTHER MATTERS
Share Ownership by Large Shareholders, Management and Trustees
Information on each person who, as of the Record Date, to the knowledge of each Fund, owned 5%
or more of the outstanding shares of a class of such Fund can be found at Exhibit K. Information
regarding Trustee ownership of shares of the Funds and of shares of all registered investment
companies in the Fund Complex overseen by such Trustee can be found at Exhibit F. To the best
knowledge of each Fund, the ownership of shares of such Fund by executive officers and Trustees of
such Fund as a group constituted less than 1% of each outstanding class of shares of such Fund as
of the Record Date.
Annual Meetings of the Funds
If a Merger is completed, the merged Target Fund will not hold an annual meeting in 2013. If
a Merger does not take place, that Target Funds Board will announce the date of such Target Funds
2013 annual meeting. The Acquiring Fund will hold an annual meeting in 2013 regardless of whether
a Merger is consummated.
Shareholder Proposals
Shareholder proposals intended to be presented at the year 2013 annual meeting of shareholders
for a Fund pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), must be received by the Funds Secretary at the Funds principal executive offices
by February 18, 2013 in order to be considered for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and
proxy card relating to that meeting. Timely submission of a proposal does not necessarily mean
that such proposal will be included in the Funds proxy statement. Pursuant to each Funds
governing documents as anticipated to be in effect before the 2013 annual meeting, if a shareholder
wishes to make a proposal at the year 2013 annual meeting of shareholders without having the
proposal included in a Funds proxy statement, then such proposal must be received by the Funds
Secretary at the Funds principal executive offices not earlier than March 19, 2013 and not later
than April 18, 2013. If a shareholder fails to provide timely notice, then the persons named as
proxies in the proxies solicited by the Board for the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders may
exercise discretionary voting power with respect to any such proposal. Any shareholder who wishes
to submit a proposal for consideration at a meeting of such shareholders Fund should send such
proposal to the Funds Secretary at 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attn:
Secretary.
Shareholder Communications
Shareholders may send communications to each Funds Board. Shareholders should send
communications intended for a Board or for a Trustee by addressing the communication directly to
the Board or individual Trustee and/or otherwise clearly indicating that the communication is for
the Board or individual Trustee and by sending the communication to either the office of the
Secretary of the applicable Fund or directly to such Trustee at the address specified for such
Trustee in Exhibit F. Other shareholder communications received by any Fund not directly
45
addressed
and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be
forwarded to the Board only at managements discretion based on the matters contained therein.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act require each of the Funds
Trustees, officers, and investment advisers, affiliated persons of the investment advisers, and
persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of a Funds equity securities to file forms
with the SEC and the Exchanges, reporting their affiliation with the Fund and reports of ownership
and changes in ownership of such securities. These persons and entities are required by SEC
regulations to furnish such Fund with copies of all such forms they file. Based on a review of
these forms furnished to each Fund, each Fund believes that during its last fiscal year, its
Trustees, its officers, the Adviser and affiliated persons of the Adviser complied with the
applicable filing requirements.
Other Meeting Matters
Management of each Fund does not intend to present, and does not have reason to believe that
others will present, any other items of business at the Meeting. The Funds know of no business
other than the proposals described in this Proxy Statement that will, or are proposed to, be
presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented, the
persons named on the enclosed proxy cards shall vote proxies in accordance with their best
judgment.
WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement does not contain all the information set forth in the annual and
semi-annual reports filed by the Funds as such documents have been filed with the SEC. The
financial highlights of each Fund for the year ended February 29, 2012 are available in the Funds
annual report for the year ended February 29, 2012 on Form N-CSR. The SAI (which is part of the
registration statement for the Acquiring Funds Common Shares and is not incorporated herein by
reference or deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement) includes additional information about the
Funds. The SEC file number of each Fund, which contains the Funds shareholder reports and other
filings with the SEC, is 811-06362 for the Acquiring Fund, 811-07088 for VMV, 811-06364 for VOQ and
811-06536 for VOQ.
Each Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act
and in accordance therewith, each Fund files reports and other information with the SEC. Reports,
proxy materials, registration statements and other information filed may be inspected without
charge and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1580, 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material may also be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at the prescribed
rates. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains information regarding the Funds
and other registrants that file electronically with the SEC. Reports, proxy materials and other
information concerning the Funds can also be inspected at the Exchanges.
46
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REDOMESTICATION
A-1
EXHIBIT B
Comparison of Governing Documents
Each Fund is a Massachusetts business trust. Under Proposal 1, if approved, each Fund will
reorganize into a newly formed Delaware statutory trust (each, a DE Trust and together, the DE
Trusts). The following is a discussion of certain provisions of the governing instruments and
governing laws of each Fund and its corresponding DE Trust, but is not a complete description
thereof. Further information about each Funds governance structure is contained in the Funds
shareholder reports and its governing documents.
Shares. The Trustees of the Funds have the power to issue shares, including preferred shares,
without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the Funds indicate that the amount of
common shares that a Fund may issue is unlimited. Preferred shares are limited to the amount set
forth in the Declarations (defined below). Shares of the Funds have no preemptive rights.
The Trustees of the DE Trusts have the power to issue shares, including preferred shares,
without shareholder approval. The governing documents of the DE Trusts indicate that the amount of
common and preferred shares that a DE Trust may issue is unlimited. Shares of the DE Trusts have
no preemptive rights.
Organization. The Funds are organized as Massachusetts business trusts, under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each Fund is governed by its Declaration of Trust (a Declaration)
and its bylaws, each as may be amended, and its business and affairs are managed under the
supervision of its Board of Trustees.
Each DE Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act (Delaware Act). Each DE Trust is governed by its Amended and Restated Agreement and
Declaration of Trust (also, a Declaration and, together with the Declaration of each Fund, the
Declarations) and its bylaws, and its business and affairs are managed under the supervision of
its Board of Trustees.
Composition of the Board of Trustees. The Boards of Trustees of both the Funds and the DE
Trusts are divided into three classes, with the election of each class staggered so that each class
is only up for election once every three years.
Shareholder Meetings and Rights of Shareholders to Call a Meeting. The stock exchanges on
which a Funds shares are currently, and DE Trusts shares will be, listed requires annual meetings
to elect trustees.
The governing instruments for each Fund provide that special meetings of shareholders may be
called by a majority of the Trustees. In addition, special meetings of shareholders may also be
called by any Trustee upon written request from shareholders holding in the aggregate not less than
51% of the outstanding common and/or preferred shares, if any (depending on whether they are voting
as a single class or separately).
The bylaws of the DE Trusts authorize the Trustees to call a meeting of the shareholders for
the election of Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trusts also authorize a meeting of shareholders for
any purpose determined by the Trustees. The bylaws of the DE Trusts state that shareholders have
no power to call a special meeting of shareholders.
Submission of Shareholder Proposals. The Funds do not have provisions in their governing
instruments that require shareholders to provide advance notice to the Funds in order to present a
proposal at a shareholder meeting. Nonetheless, the federal securities laws, which apply to all of
the Funds and the DE Trusts, require that certain conditions be met to present any proposal at a
shareholder meeting.
The matters to be considered and brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders
of the DE Trusts are limited to only those matters, including the nomination and election of
Trustees, that are properly brought before the meeting. For proposals submitted by shareholders,
the bylaws of the DE Trusts contain provisions which require that notice be given to a DE Trust by
an otherwise eligible shareholder in advance of the annual or special shareholder meeting in order
for the shareholder to present a proposal at any such meeting and requires shareholders
B-1
to provide
certain information in connection with the proposal. These requirements are intended to provide
the Board the opportunity to better evaluate the proposal and provide additional information to
shareholders for their consideration in connection with the proposal. Failure to satisfy the
requirements of these advance notice provisions means that a shareholder may not be able to present
a proposal at the annual or special shareholder meeting.
In general, for nominations and any other proposals to be properly brought before an annual
meeting of shareholders by a shareholder of a DE Trust, written notice must be delivered to the
Secretary of the DE Trust not less than 90 days, nor more than 120 days, prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting. If the annual meeting is not scheduled to be
held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary and ends 30 days after such
anniversary (an Other Annual Meeting Date), the written notice must be delivered by the later of
the 90th day prior to the meeting or the 10th day following the public
announcement or disclosure of the meeting date provided, however, that if the Other Annual Meeting
Date was disclosed in the proxy statement for the prior years annual meeting, the dates for
receipt of the written notice shall be calculated based on the Other Annual Meeting Date and
disclosed in the proxy statement for the prior years annual meeting. If the number of Trustees to
be elected to the Board is increased and either all of the nominees for Trustee or the size of the
increased Board are not publicly announced or disclosed at least 70 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, written notice will be considered timely if
delivered to the Secretary of the DE Trust no later than the 10th date after such public
announcement or disclosure. With respect to the nomination of individuals for election to the
Board of Trustees at a special shareholder meeting, written notice must be delivered by a
shareholder of the DE Trust to the Secretary of the DE Trust no later than the 10th date
after such meeting is publicly announced or disclosed. Specific information, as set forth in the
bylaws, about the nominee, the shareholder making the nomination, and the proposal must also be
delivered, and updated as necessary if proposed at an annual meeting, by the shareholder of the DE
Trust. The shareholder or a qualified representative must also appear at the annual or special
meeting of shareholders to present about the nomination or proposed business.
Quorum. The governing instruments of the Funds provide that a quorum will exist if
shareholders representing a majority of the outstanding shares of each class or series or combined
class entitled to vote are present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
The bylaws of each DE Trust provide that a quorum will exist if shareholders representing a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are present or represented by proxy, except
when a larger quorum is required by applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange
on which shares are listed for trading, in which case the quorum must comply with such
requirements.
Number of Votes; Aggregate Voting. The governing instruments of the Funds and the
Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trusts provide that each shareholder is entitled to one vote for
each whole share held as to any matter on which the shareholder is entitled to vote, and a
proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held. The Funds and the DE Trusts do not
provide for cumulative voting for the election or removal of Trustees.
The governing instruments of the Funds generally provide that all share classes vote by class
or series of the Fund, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the governing instruments or
resolution of the Trustees.
The Declarations for the DE Trusts generally provide that all shares are voted as a single
class, except when required by applicable law, the governing instruments, or when the Trustees have
determined that the matter affects the interests of one or more classes, in which case only the
shareholders of all such affected classes are entitled to vote on the matter.
Derivative Actions. Shareholders of each Fund have the power to vote as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as
a class action on behalf of the Fund or its shareholders. Such shareholders have the power to vote
to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts corporation.
The Declarations for the DE Trusts state that a shareholder may bring a derivative action on
behalf of a DE Trust only if several conditions are met. These conditions include, among other
things, a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees and, unless a demand is not required,
shareholders who hold at least a majority of the outstanding
B-2
shares must join in the demand for the
Board of Trustees to commence an action, and the Board of Trustees must be afforded a reasonable
amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of the claim.
Right to Vote. The 1940 Act provides that shareholders of a fund have the power to vote with
respect to certain matters: specifically, for the election of trustees, the selection of auditors
(under certain circumstances), approval of investment advisory agreements and plans of
distribution, and amendments to policies, goals or restrictions deemed to be fundamental.
Shareholders also have the right to vote on certain matters affecting a fund or a particular share
class thereof under their respective governing instruments and applicable state law. The following
summarizes the matters on which shareholders have the right to vote as well as the minimum
shareholder vote required to approve the matter. For matters on which shareholders of a Fund or DE
Trust do not have the right to vote, the Trustees may nonetheless determine to submit the matter to
shareholders for approval. Where referenced below, the phrase Majority Shareholder Vote means
the vote required by the 1940 Act, which is the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at
the meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares are present or
represented by proxy; or (b) more than 50% of a funds outstanding shares.
Election and Removal of Trustees. The shareholders of the Funds are entitled to vote,
under certain circumstances, for the election and the removal of Trustees. Subject to the rights
of the preferred shareholders, if any, the Trustees of the Funds are elected by a plurality vote
(i.e., the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes are elected). Any Trustee of the Funds
may be removed at any meeting of shareholders by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
the class or classes of shares of beneficial interest that elected such Trustee.
With regard to the DE Trusts, Trustees are elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the DE Trust present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a
meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is present. Preferred shareholders, voting as a
separate class, solely elect at least two Trustees by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding preferred shares. Under certain circumstances, as set forth by the Trustees in
accordance with the Declaration, holders of preferred shares may elect at least a majority of the
Boards Trustees. The Declaration and bylaws of the DE Trusts do not provide shareholders with the
ability to remove Trustees.
Amendment of Governing Instruments. Except as described below, the Trustees of the
Funds and DE Trusts have the right to amend, from time to time, the governing instruments. For the
Funds, the Trustees have the power to alter, amend or repeal the bylaws or adopt new bylaws,
provided that bylaws adopted by shareholders may only be altered, amended or repealed by the
shareholders. For the DE Trusts, the bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the Trustees,
without the vote or approval of shareholders.
For the Funds, shareholder approval is required to amend the Declaration, except that the
Trustees may make changes necessary to comply with applicable law and to effect the provisions
regarding preferred shares, and may make certain other non-material changes, such as to correct a
mistake, without shareholder approval. When shareholder approval is required, the vote needed to
effect an amendment is a Majority Shareholder Vote of the common shares and the preferred shares,
if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, or by an instrument in
writing, without a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders of
not less than a majority of each of such common shares and preferred shares. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any amendment to the Declaration that would reduce the amount payable upon liquidation
of the Funds or diminishing or eliminating shareholder voting rights pertaining thereto requires
the approval of two-thirds of the class or classes of shareholders so affected. In addition, any
amendment that would change or repeal the sections in the Declaration governing termination or
merger of the Funds or conversion of the Funds to open-end funds requires the affirmative vote of
75% of each of the common shares and preferred shares, voting as separate classes.
For the DE Trusts, the Board generally may amend the Declaration without shareholder approval,
except: (i) any amendment to the Declaration approved by the Board that would reduce the
shareholders rights to indemnification requires the vote of shareholders owning at least 75% of
the outstanding shares; and (ii) any amendments to the Declaration that would change shareholder
voting rights, declassify the Board or change the minimum or maximum number of Trustees permitted
require the affirmative vote or consent by the Board of Trustees followed by the affirmative vote
or consent of shareholders owning at least 75% of the outstanding shares, unless such amendments
have been previously approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of at least 66
B-3
2/3% of
the Board of Trustees, in which case an affirmative Majority Shareholder Vote is required (the DE
Trusts Voting Standard).
Mergers, Reorganizations, and Conversions. The governing instruments of the Funds
provide that a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange requires the affirmative vote of not
less than 66 2/3% of the common shares and the preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled
to vote, voting as separate classes. If the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange is
recommended by the Trustees, the vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the common
shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes,
is sufficient authorization. Conversion to an open-end company is required to be approved by at
least a majority of the Trustees, including those who are not interested persons as defined in the
1940 Act, and a Majority Shareholder Vote of each of the common shares and preferred shareholders,
if any, voting as separate classes. An incorporation or reorganization requires the approval of a
majority of the common shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote,
voting as separate classes.
For the DE Trusts, any such merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or
reclassification requires approval pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The vote required
is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by the terms of
any class of preferred shares or any agreement between the Trust and any national securities
exchange.
Principal Shareholder Transactions. The Target Funds require a vote or consent of 75%
of the common shares or preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as
separate classes, where a principal shareholder of a fund (i.e., any corporation, person or other
entity which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 5% of the funds
outstanding shares) is the party to certain transactions.
The Acquiring Fund requires a vote or consent of 66 2/3% of the common or preferred shares
outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as separate classes, where a principal shareholder (i.e.,
any corporation, person or other entity which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
more than 5% of the outstanding shares) is the party to certain transactions.
The DE Trusts require a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard for certain principal
shareholder transactions. The vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders
otherwise required by law or by the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between
the Trust and any national securities exchange.
Termination of a Trust. With respect to the Funds, the affirmative vote of not less
than 75% of the common shares and preferred shares, if any, outstanding and entitled to vote,
voting as separate classes, at any meeting of shareholders, or by an instrument in writing, without
a meeting, signed by a majority of the Trustees and consented to by the holders of not less than
75% of each of such common shares and preferred shares, is required for termination of a Fund.
The DE Trusts may be dissolved upon a vote pursuant to the DE Trusts Voting Standard. The
vote required is in addition to the vote or consent of shareholders otherwise required by law or by
the terms of any class of preferred shares or any agreement between a DE Trust and any national
securities exchange. In addition, to spare shareholders the expense of a shareholder meeting in
connection with the dissolution of a Fund, if the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Board
approves the dissolution, shareholder approval is not required.
Liability of Shareholders. The Massachusetts statute governing business trusts does not
include an express provision relating to the limitation of liability of the shareholders of a
Massachusetts business trust. However, the Declarations for the Funds provide that no shareholder
will be personally liable in connection with the acts, obligations or affairs of the Funds.
Consistent with Section 3803 of the Delaware Act, the Declarations of the DE Trusts generally
provide that shareholders will not be subject to personal liability for the acts or obligations of
the DE Trust.
Liability of Trustees and Officers. Consistent with the 1940 Act, the governing instruments
for both the DE Trusts and the Funds generally provide that no Trustee or officer of a DE Trust and
no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Fund is subject to any personal liability in connection
with the assets or affairs of the DE Trust and the
B-4
Fund and the, respectively, except for liability
arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of the office (Disabling Conduct).
Indemnification. The Funds generally indemnify every person who is or has been a Trustee or
officer of the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against all
expenses reasonably incurred or paid by them in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding in which they becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of their being or
having been a Trustee or officer and against amounts paid or incurred by them in the settlement
thereof, except otherwise for Disabling Conduct.
The Trustees, officers, employees or agents of a DE Trust (Covered Persons) are indemnified
by the DE Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Act, the bylaws and other
applicable law. The bylaws provide that every Covered Person is indemnified by the DE Trust for
expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in any
proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party or is threatened to be made a party, or is
involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such person is a Covered Person. For proceedings
not by or in the right of the DE Trust (i.e., derivative lawsuits), every Covered Person is
indemnified by the DE Trust for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in the investigation,
defense or settlement in any proceeding to which such Covered Person is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party, or is involved as a witness, by reason of the fact that such person
is a Covered Person. No Covered Person is indemnified for any expenses, judgments, fines, amounts
paid in settlement, or other liability or loss arising by reason of Disabling Conduct or for any
proceedings by such Covered Person against the Trust. The termination of any proceeding by
conviction, or a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation
prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the person engaged in Disabling Conduct.
A DE Trust is indemnified by any common shareholder who brings an action against the Trust for
all costs, expenses, penalties, fines or other amounts arising from such action to the extent that
the shareholder is not the prevailing party. The DE Trust is permitted to redeem shares of and set
off against any distributions to the shareholder for such amounts liable by the shareholder to the
DE Trust.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
Comparison of State Laws
The laws governing Massachusetts business trusts and Delaware statutory trusts have similar
effect, but they differ in certain respects. Both the Massachusetts business trust law (MA
Statute) and the Delaware statutory trust act (DE Statute) permit a trusts governing instrument
to contain provisions relating to shareholder rights and removal of trustees, and provide trusts
with the ability to amend or restate the trusts governing instruments. However, the MA Statute is
silent on many of the salient features of a Massachusetts business trust (a MA Trust) whereas the
DE Statute provides guidance and offers a significant amount of operational flexibility to Delaware
statutory trusts (a DE Trust). The DE Statute provides explicitly that the shareholders and
trustees of a Delaware Trust are not liable for obligations of the trust to the same extent as
under corporate law, while under the MA Statute, shareholders and trustees could potentially be
liable for trust obligations. The DE Statute authorizes the trustees to take various actions
without requiring shareholder approval if permitted by a Funds governing instruments. For
example, trustees may have the power to amend the Delaware trust instrument, merge or consolidate a
Fund with another entity, and to change the Delaware trusts domicile, in each case without a
shareholder vote.
The following is a discussion of only certain material differences between the DE Statute and
MA Statute, as applicable, and is not a complete description of them. Further information about
each Funds current trust structure is contained in such Funds organizational documents and in
relevant state law.
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
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Governing Documents/Governing
Body
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A DE Trust is formed by the filing of a
certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State. A DE Trust is an
unincorporated association organized
under the DE Statute whose operations are
governed by its governing document (which
may consist of one or more documents).
Its business and affairs are managed by
or under the direction of one or more
trustees. As described in this chart, DE
Trusts are granted a significant amount
of organizational and operational
flexibility. Delaware law makes it easy
to obtain needed shareholder approvals,
and also permits the management of a DE
Trust to take various actions without
being required to make state filings or
obtain shareholder approval.
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A MA Trust is created by the trustees
execution of a written declaration of
trust. A MA Trust is required to file
the declaration of trust with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the clerk of every
city or town in Massachusetts where the
trust has a usual place of business. A
MA Trust is a voluntary association with
transferable shares of beneficial
interests, organized under the MA
Statute. A MA Trust is considered to be
a hybrid, having characteristics of both
corporations and common law trusts. A MA
Trusts operations are governed by a
trust document and bylaws. The business
and affairs of a MA Trust are managed by
or under the direction of a board of
trustees. |
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MA Trusts are also granted a significant
amount of organizational and operational
flexibility. The MA Statute is silent on
most of the salient features of MA
Trusts, thereby allowing trustees to
freely structure the MA Trust. The MA
Statute does not specify what information
must be contained in the declaration of
trust, nor does it require a registered
officer or agent for service of process. |
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Ownership Shares of
Interest |
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Under both the DE Statute and the MA Statute, the ownership interests in a DE Trust and
MA Trust are denominated as beneficial interests and are held by beneficial owners. |
C-1
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Delaware Statutory Trust |
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Massachusetts Business Trust |
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Series and Classes
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may provide for classes, groups
or series of shares, having such relative
rights, powers and duties as shareholders
set forth in the governing document.
Such classes, groups or series may be
described in a DE Trusts governing
document or in resolutions adopted by its
trustees.
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The MA Statute is silent as to any
requirements for the creation of such
series or classes. |
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Shareholder Voting
Rights
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may set forth any provision
relating to trustee and shareholder
voting rights, including the withholding
of such rights from certain trustees or
shareholders. If voting rights are
granted, the governing document may
contain any provision relating to the
exercise of voting rights. No state
filing is necessary and, unless required
by the governing document, shareholder
approval is not needed.
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There is no provision in the MA Statute
addressing voting by the shareholders of
a MA Trust. |
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Quorum
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may set forth any provision
relating to quorum requirements at
meetings of shareholders.
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There is no provision in the MA Statute
addressing quorum requirements at
meetings of shareholders of a MA Trust. |
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Shareholder Meetings |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute mandates an annual shareholders meeting. |
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Organization of
Meetings |
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Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions relating to the organization
of shareholder meetings. |
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Record Date
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
document may provide for record dates.
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There is no record date provision in the
MA Statute. |
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Qualification and
Election of
Trustees
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Under the DE Statute, the governing
documents may set forth the manner in
which trustees are elected and qualified.
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The MA Statute does not contain
provisions relating to the election and
qualification of trustees of a MA Trust. |
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Removal of Trustees
|
|
Under the DE Statute, the governing
documents of a DE Trust may contain any
provision relating to the removal of
trustees; provided, however, that there
shall at all times be at least one
trustee of a DE Trust.
|
|
The MA Statute does not contain
provisions relating to the removal of
trustees. |
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Restrictions on
Transfer |
|
Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions relating to the ability of a
DE Trust or MA Trust, as applicable, to restrict transfers of beneficial interests. |
|
|
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|
|
Preemptive Rights
and Redemption of
Shares |
|
Under each of the DE Statute and the MA Statute, a governing document may contain any
provision relating to the rights, duties and obligations of the shareholders. |
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Liquidation Upon
Dissolution or
Termination Events
|
|
Under the DE Statute, a DE Trust that has
dissolved shall first pay or make
reasonable provision to pay all known
claims and obligations, including those
that are contingent, conditional and
unmatured, and all known claims and
obligations for which the claimant is
unknown. Any remaining assets shall be
distributed to the shareholders or as
otherwise provided in the governing
document.
|
|
The MA Statute has no provisions
pertaining to the liquidation of a MA
Trust. |
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C-2
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|
|
Delaware Statutory Trust |
|
Massachusetts Business Trust |
|
|
Shareholder
Liability
|
|
Under the DE Statute, except to the
extent otherwise provided in the
governing document of a DE Trust,
shareholders of a DE Trust are entitled
to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to shareholders of a
private corporation organized for profit
under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
|
|
The MA Statute does not include an
express provision relating to the
limitation of liability of the
shareholders of a MA Trust. The
shareholders of a MA Trust could
potentially be held personally liable for
the obligations of the trust,
notwithstanding an express provision in
the governing document stating that the
shareholders are not personally liable in
connection with trust property or the
acts, obligations or affairs of the MA
Trust. |
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Trustee/Director
Liability
|
|
Subject to the provisions in the
governing document, the DE Statute
provides that a trustee or any other
person managing the DE Trust, when acting
in such capacity, will not be personally
liable to any person other than the DE
Trust or a shareholder of the DE Trust
for any act, omission or obligation of
the DE Trust or any trustee. To the
extent that at law or in equity a trustee
has duties (including fiduciary duties)
and liabilities to the DE Trust and its
shareholders, such duties and liabilities
may be expanded or restricted by the
governing document.
|
|
The MA Statute does not include an
express provision limiting the liability
of the trustee of a MA Trust. The
trustees of a MA Trust could potentially
be held personally liable for the
obligations of the trust. |
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Indemnification
|
|
Subject to such standards and
restrictions as may be contained in the
governing document of a DE Trust, the DE
Statute authorizes a DE Trust to
indemnify and hold harmless any trustee,
shareholder or other person from and
against any and all claims and demands.
|
|
The MA Statute is silent as to the
indemnification of trustees, officers and
shareholders. |
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Insurance |
|
Neither the DE Statute nor the MA Statute contain provisions regarding insurance. |
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Shareholder Right
of Inspection
|
|
Under the DE Statute, except to the
extent otherwise provided in the
governing document of a DE Trust and
subject to reasonable standards
established by the trustees, each
shareholder has the right, upon
reasonable demand for any purpose
reasonably related to the shareholders
interest as a shareholder, to obtain from
the DE Trust certain information
regarding the governance and affairs of
the DE Trust, including a current list of
the name and last known address of each
beneficial owner and trustee. In
addition, the DE Statute permits the
trustees of a DE Trust to keep
confidential from shareholders for such
period of time as deemed reasonable any
information that the trustees in good
faith believe would not be in the best
interest of the DE Trust to disclose or
that could damage the DE Trust or that
the DE Trust is required by law or by
agreement with a third party to keep
confidential.
|
|
There is no provision in the MA Statute
relating to shareholder inspection
rights. |
|
|
C-3
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|
|
|
|
Delaware Statutory Trust |
|
Massachusetts Business Trust |
Derivative Actions
|
|
Under the DE Statute, a shareholder may
bring a derivative action if trustees
with authority to do so have refused to
bring the action or if a demand upon the
trustees to bring the action is not
likely to succeed. A shareholder may
bring a derivative action only if the
shareholder is a shareholder at the time
the action is brought and: (a) was a
shareholder at the time of the
transaction complained about or (b)
acquired the status of shareholder by
operation of law or pursuant to the
governing document from a person who was
a shareholder at the time of the
transaction. A shareholders right to
bring a derivative action may be subject
to such additional standards and
restrictions, if any, as are set forth in
the governing document.
|
|
There is no provision under the MA
Statute regarding derivative actions. |
|
|
|
|
|
Arbitration of
Claims
|
|
The DE Statute provides flexibility as to
providing for arbitration pursuant to the
governing documents of a DE Trust.
|
|
There is no provision under the MA
Statute regarding arbitration. |
|
|
|
|
|
Amendments to
Governing Documents
|
|
The DE Statute provides broad flexibility
as to the manner of amending and/or
restating the governing document of a DE
Trust. Amendments to the declaration
that do not change the information in the
DE Trusts certificate of trust are not
required to be filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State.
|
|
The MA Statute provides broad flexibility
as to the manner of amending and/or
restating the governing document of a MA
Trust. The MA Statute provides that the
trustees shall, within thirty days after
the adoption of any amendment to the
declaration of trust, file a copy with
the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the clerk of every
city or town in Massachusetts where the
trust has a usual place of business. |
C-4
EXHIBIT D
Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger
D-1
EXHIBIT E
Executive Officers of the Funds
The following information relates to the executive officers of the Funds. Each officer also
serves in the same capacity for all or a number of the other investment companies advised by the
Adviser or affiliates of the Adviser. The officers of the Funds are appointed annually by the
Trustees and serve for one year or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified. The
address of each officer is 1555 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
|
|
|
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|
|
Name, Year of Birth and |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
|
Officer Since |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
John M. Zerr 1962
Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Director, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel,
Invesco Management Group, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco Aim
Management Group, Inc.) and Van Kampen Exchange Corp.; Senior Vice
President, Invesco Advisers, Inc. (formerly known as Invesco
Institutional (N.A.), Inc.) (registered investment adviser); Senior
Vice President and Secretary, Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly
known as Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.); Director, Vice President
and Secretary, Invesco Investment Services, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Investment Services, Inc.) and IVZ Distributors, Inc.
(formerly known as INVESCO Distributors, Inc.); Director and Vice
President, INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary, The Invesco Funds; Manager, Invesco
PowerShares Capital Management LLC; Director, Secretary and General
Counsel, Invesco Investment Advisers LLC (formerly known as Van
Kampen Asset Management); Secretary and General Counsel, Van Kampen
Funds Inc. and Chief Legal Officer, PowerShares Exchange-Traded
Fund Trust, PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II, PowerShares
India Exchange-Traded Fund Trust and PowerShares Actively Managed
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust. |
|
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|
|
Formerly: Director and Secretary, Van Kampen Advisors Inc.;
Director Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel Van Kampen
Investor Services Inc.; Director, Invesco Distributors, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.); Director,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Invesco
Advisers, Inc.; and Van Kampen Investments Inc.; Director, Vice
President and Secretary, Fund Management Company; Director, Senior
Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel and Vice President,
Invesco Aim Capital Management, Inc.; Chief Operating Officer and
General Counsel, Liberty Ridge Capital, Inc. (an investment
adviser); Vice President and Secretary, PBHG Funds (an investment
company) and PBHG Insurance Series Fund (an investment company);
Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and Secretary, Old Mutual
Investment Partners (a broker-dealer); General Counsel and
Secretary, Old Mutual Fund Services (an administrator) and Old
Mutual Shareholder Services (a shareholder servicing center);
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Old Mutual
Capital, Inc. (an investment adviser); and Vice President and
Secretary, Old Mutual Advisors Funds (an investment company). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheri Morris 1964
Vice President, Treasurer
and
Principal Financial
Officer
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, The
Invesco Funds; Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc. (formerly
known as Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc.) (registered investment
adviser); Treasurer, PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust,
PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II, PowerShares India
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust and PowerShares Actively Managed
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust. |
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco Aim
Capital Management, Inc. and Invesco Aim Private Asset Management,
Inc.; Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, The Invesco
Funds and |
E-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Year of Birth and |
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
|
Officer Since |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Vice President, Invesco Advisers, Inc., Invesco
Aim Capital Management, Inc. and Invesco Aim Private Asset
Management, Inc. |
|
Karen Dunn Kelley 1960
Vice President
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
Head of Invescos World Wide
Fixed Income and Cash
Management Group; Senior Vice
President, Invesco Management
Group, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Management Group,
Inc.) and Invesco Advisers,
Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Institutional (N.A.),
Inc.) (registered investment
adviser); Executive Vice
President, Invesco
Distributors, Inc. (formerly
known as Invesco Aim
Distributors, Inc.); Director,
Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc.;
Vice President, The Invesco
Funds (other than AIM
Treasurers Series Trust
(Invesco Treasurers Series
Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust); and
President and Principal
Executive Officer, The Invesco
Funds (AIM Treasurers Series
Trust (Invesco Treasurers
Series Trust) and Short-Term
Investments Trust only). |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Senior Vice
President, Van Kampen
Investments Inc.; Vice
President, Invesco Advisers,
Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Institutional (N.A.),
Inc.); Director of Cash
Management and Senior Vice
President, Invesco Advisers,
Inc. and Invesco Aim Capital
Management, Inc.; President
and Principal Executive
Officer, Tax-Free Investments
Trust; Director and President,
Fund Management Company; Chief
Cash Management Officer,
Director of Cash Management,
Senior Vice President, and
Managing Director, Invesco Aim
Capital Management, Inc.;
Director of Cash Management,
Senior Vice President, and
Vice President, Invesco
Advisers, Inc. and The Invesco
Funds (AIM Treasurers Series
Trust (Invesco Treasurers
Series Trust), Short-Term
Investments Trust and Tax-Free
Investments Trust only). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yinka Akinsola 1977
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance Officer
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, Invesco Advisers, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Institutional (N.A.), Inc.) (registered
investment adviser); Invesco Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as
Invesco Aim Distributors, Inc.), Invesco Investment Services, Inc.
(formerly known as Invesco Aim Investment Services, Inc.), Invesco
Management Group, Inc., The Invesco Funds, Invesco Van Kampen
Closed-End Funds, Van Kampen Exchange Corp. and Van Kampen Funds
Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formerly: Regulatory Analyst III, Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valinda Arnett-Patton 1959
Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer, Invesco Van Kampen Closed-End Funds.
Formerly: Compliance Director, Invesco Fixed Income, Invesco;
Deputy Compliance Officer, AIG Sun America Asset Management Corp. |
E-2
EXHIBIT F
Information Regarding the Trustees
The tables below list the incumbent Trustees, their principal occupations, other directorships
held by them and their affiliations, if any, with the Adviser or its affiliates. The term Fund
Complex includes each of the investment companies advised by the Adviser as of the Record Date.
Trustees of the Funds generally serve three year terms or until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth, |
|
Position(s) |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Held with |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Funds |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
Independent Trustees: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch1
1945
Blistex Inc.
1800 Swift Drive
Oak Brook, IL 60523
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Blistex
Inc., a consumer health care
products manufacturer.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Member of the Heartland Alliance
Advisory Board, a nonprofit
organization serving human needs
based in Chicago. Board member of
the Illinois Manufacturers
Association. Member of the Board
of Visitors, Institute for the
Humanities, University of
Michigan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry D. Choate1
1938
33971 Selva Road
Suite 130
Dana Point, CA 92629
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
From 1995 to 1999, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the
Allstate Corporation (Allstate)
and Allstate Insurance Company.
From 1994 to 1995, President and
Chief Executive Officer of
Allstate. Prior to 1994, various
management positions at Allstate.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director since 1998 and member of
the governance and nominating
committee, executive committee,
compensation and management
development committee and equity
award committee, of Amgen Inc., a
biotechnological company.
Director since 1999 and member of
the nominating and governance
committee and compensation and
executive committee, of Valero
Energy Corporation, a crude oil
refining and marketing company.
Previously, from 2006 to 2007,
Director and member of the
compensation committee and audit
committee, of H&R Block, a tax
preparation services company. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rodney F.
Dammeyer***2,4
1940
CAC, LLC
4370 La Jolla Village Drive
Suite 685
San Diego, CA 92122-1249
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Chairman of CAC, LLC, a private
company offering capital
investment and management
advisory services. Prior to
January 2004, Director of
TeleTech Holdings, Inc. Prior to
2002, Director of Arris Group,
Inc. Prior to 2001, Managing
Partner at Equity Group Corporate
Investments. Prior to 1995, Vice
Chairman of Anixter
International. Prior to 1985,
experience includes
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of Quidel Corporation
and Stericycle, Inc. Prior to
May 2008, Trustee of The Scripps
Research Institute. Prior to
February 2008, Director of
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Prior to April 2007, Director of
GATX Corporation. Prior to April
2004, Director of TheraSense,
Inc. |
F-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth, |
|
Position(s) |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Held with |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Funds |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial
Officer of Household
International, Inc, Executive
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Northwest
Industries, Inc. and Partner of
Arthur Andersen & Co. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Hutton Heagy2,4
1948
4939 South Greenwood
Chicago, IL 60615
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Prior to June 2008,
Managing Partner of Heidrick &
Struggles, the second largest
global executive search firm, and
from 2001-2004, Regional Managing
Director of U.S. operations at
Heidrick & Struggles. Prior to
1997, Managing Partner of Ray &
Berndtson, Inc., an executive
recruiting firm. Prior to 1995,
Executive Vice President of ABN
AMRO, N.A., a bank holding
company, with oversight for
treasury management operations
including all non-credit product
pricing. Prior to 1990,
experience includes Executive
Vice President of The Exchange
National Bank with oversight of
treasury management including
capital markets operations, Vice
President of Northern Trust
Company and a trainee at Price
Waterhouse.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Prior to 2010, Trustee on the
University of Chicago Medical
Center Board, Vice Chair of the
Board of the YMCA of Metropolitan
Chicago and a member of the
Womens Board of the University
of Chicago. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Craig Kennedy3
1952
1744 R Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Director and President of the
German Marshall Fund of the
United States, an independent
U.S. foundation created to deepen
understanding, promote
collaboration and stimulate
exchanges of practical experience
between Americans and Europeans.
Formerly, advisor to the Dennis
Trading Group Inc., a managed
futures and option company that
invests money for individuals and
institutions. Prior to 1992,
President and Chief Executive
Officer, Director and member of
the Investment Committee of the
Joyce Foundation, a private
foundation.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of First Solar, Inc.
Advisory Board, True North
Ventures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard J Kerr***1
1935
14 Huron Trace
Galena, IL 61036
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Retired. Previous member of the
City Council and Mayor of Lake
Forest, Illinois from 1988
through 2002. Previous business
experience from 1981 through 1996
includes President and Chief
Executive Officer of Pocklington
Corporation, Inc., an investment
holding company, President and
Chief Executive Officer of
Grabill Aerospace, and President
of Custom Technologies
Corporation. United States Naval
Officer from 1960 through 1981,
with responsibilities including
Commanding Officer of
United States Navy destroyers and
Commander of United States Navy
Destroyer Squadron Thirty-Three,
White House experience in 1973
through 1975 as military aide to
Vice Presidents Agnew and Ford
and Naval Aid to President Ford,
and Military Fellow on the
Council of Foreign Relations in
1978 through 1979.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Director of the Lake Forest Bank
& Trust. Director of the Marrow
Foundation. |
F-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term of |
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office |
|
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth, |
|
Position(s) |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Held with |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Funds |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack E. Nelson***3
1936
423 Country Club Drive
Winter Park, FL 32789
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
President of Nelson Investment
Planning Services, Inc., a
financial planning company and
registered investment adviser in
the State of Florida. President
of Nelson Ivest Brokerage
Services Inc., a member of the
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA), Securities
Investors Protection Corp. and
the Municipal Securities
Rulemaking Board. President of
Nelson Sales and Services
Corporation, a marketing and
services company to support
affiliated companies.
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein3,4
1940
1126 E. 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Distinguished Service Professor
and President Emeritus of the
University of Chicago and the
Adam Smith Distinguished Service
Professor in the Department of
Economics at the University of
Chicago. Prior to July 2000,
President of the University of
Chicago.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Trustee of the University of
Rochester and a member of its
investment committee. Member of
the National Academy of Sciences,
the American Philosophical
Society and a fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and
Sciences. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suzanne H. Woolsey,
Ph.D.1
1941
815 Cumberstone Road
Harwood, MD 20776
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer of
Woolsey Partners LLC. Chief
Communications Officer of the
National Academy of Sciences and
Engineering and Institute of
Medicine/National Research
Council, an independent,
federally chartered policy
institution, from 2001 to
November 2003 and Chief Operating
Officer from 1993 to 2001.
Executive Director of the
Commission on Behavioral and
Social Sciences and Education at
the National Academy of
Sciences/National Research
Council from 1989 to 1993. Prior
to 1980, experience includes
Partner of Coopers & Lybrand
(from 1980 to 1989), Associate
Director of the US Office of
Management and Budget (from 1977
to 1980) and Program Director of
the Urban Institute (from 1975 to
1977).
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing General Partner
of funds in the Fund Complex.
Independent Director and audit
committee chairperson of Changing
World Technologies, Inc., an
energy manufacturing company,
since July 2008. Independent
Director and member of audit and
governance committees of Fluor
Corp., a global engineering,
construction and management
company, since January 2004.
Director of Intelligent Medical
Devices, Inc., a private company
which develops symptom-based
diagnostic tools for viral
respiratory infections. Advisory
Board member of ExactCost LLC, a
private company providing
activity-based costing for
hospitals, laboratories, clinics,
and physicians, since 2008.
Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees of the Institute for
Defense Analyses, a federally
funded research and development
center, since 2000. Trustee from
1992 to 2000 and 2002 to present,
current chairperson of the
finance committee, current member
of the audit committee, strategic
growth committee and executive
committee, and former Chairperson
of the Board of Trustees (from
1997 to 1999), of the German
Marshall Fund of the United
States, a public foundation. Lead
Independent Trustee of the Rocky
Mountain Institute, a non-profit |
F-3
|
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Term of |
|
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Number of |
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Office |
|
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Portfolios in |
|
|
|
|
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and |
|
|
|
Fund |
|
|
Name, Year of Birth, |
|
Position(s) |
|
Length of |
|
|
|
Complex |
|
|
and Address of |
|
Held with |
|
Time |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During the |
|
Overseen by |
|
Other Directorships Held by |
Trustee |
|
Funds |
|
Served |
|
Past Five Years |
|
Trustee |
|
Trustee During the Past Five Years |
|
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energy and environmental
institute; Trustee since 2004.
Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees of the Colorado College;
Trustee since 1995. Trustee of
California Institute of
Technology. Previously,
Independent Director and member
of audit committee and governance
committee of Neurogen Corporation
from 1998 to 2006; and
Independent Director of Arbros
Communications from 2000 to 2002. |
|
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Interested Trustees: |
|
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Colin D. Meadows*3
1971
1555 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
|
|
Trustee; President
and Principal
Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
Senior Managing
Director and Chief
Administrative
Officer of Invesco,
Ltd. since 2006.
Chief
Administrative
Officer of Invesco
Advisers, Inc.
since 2006. Prior
to 2006, Senior
Vice President of
business
development and
mergers and
acquisitions at GE
Consumer Finance.
Prior to 2005,
Senior Vice
President of
strategic planning
and technology at
Wells Fargo Bank.
From 1996 to 2003,
associate principal
with McKinsey &
Company, focusing
on the financial
services and
venture capital
industries, with
emphasis in the
banking and asset
management sectors.
|
|
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18 |
|
|
None. |
|
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|
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|
|
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Wayne W.
Whalen**2
1939
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
|
Trustee
|
|
|
|
Of Counsel, and
prior to 2010,
partner in the law
firm of Skadden,
Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP,
legal counsel to
certain funds in
the Fund Complex.
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
Trustee/Managing
General Partner of
funds in the Fund
Complex. Director
of the Abraham
Lincoln
Presidential
Library Foundation. |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Designated as a Class I trustee. |
|
2 |
|
Designated as a Class II trustee. |
|
3 |
|
Designated as a Class III trustee. |
|
4 |
|
With respect to Funds with VMTP Shares outstanding, Mr. Sonnenschein and Ms. Heagy are elected by the VMTP Shareholders. |
|
* |
|
Mr. Meadows is an interested person (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act)
of the funds in the Fund Complex because he is an officer of the Adviser. The Board of
Trustees of the Funds appointed Mr. Meadows as Trustee of the Funds effective June 1, 2010. |
|
** |
|
Mr. Whalen is an interested person (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the
1940 Act) of certain funds in the Fund Complex because he and his firm currently provide legal
services as legal counsel to such funds in the Fund Complex. |
|
*** |
|
Pursuant to the Boards Trustee retirement policy, Howard J Kerr and Jack E. Nelson are
retiring from the Board effective as of the Meeting. In addition, Rodney Dammeyer is
resigning from the Board effective as of the Meeting. Rodney Dammeyer is not standing for
reelection and his term of office as Trustee of VOQ, VTJ and the Acquiring Fund will expire at
the Meeting. Therefore, Mr. Dammeyer is also stepping down from the Board of VMV effective as
of the Meeting. The Board has reduced the size of the Board to eight Trustees effective as of
the Meeting. |
|
|
|
Each Trustee generally serves a three-year term from the date of election. Each Trustee has
served as a Trustee of each respective Fund since the year shown in the following table. |
F-4
|
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Independent Trustees |
|
|
Interested Trustees |
|
Fund |
|
Arch |
|
|
Choate |
|
|
Dammeyer |
|
|
Heagy |
|
|
Kennedy |
|
|
Kerr |
|
|
Nelson |
|
|
Sonnenschein |
|
|
Woolsey |
|
|
Meadows |
|
|
Whalen |
|
VMV |
|
|
1993 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1993 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1993 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1994 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
1993 |
|
VKQ |
|
|
1991 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1991 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1994 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
1991 |
|
VOQ |
|
|
1991 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1991 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1994 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
1991 |
|
VTJ |
|
|
1992 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
1994 |
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
1992 |
|
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table shows each Board members ownership of shares of the Funds and of shares
of all registered investment companies overseen by such Board member in the Fund Complex as of
December 31, 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Equity Securities in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Registered |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar Range of |
|
Investment Companies |
|
|
Dollar Range of |
|
Dollar Range of |
|
Dollar Range of |
|
Equity Securities |
|
Overseen by Board |
|
|
Equity Securities |
|
Equity Securities |
|
Equity Securities |
|
in the Acquiring |
|
Member in Family of |
Name |
|
in VMV |
|
in VOQ |
|
in VTJ |
|
Fund (VKQ) |
|
Investment Companies |
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-$50,000
(1,126.39 Common
Shares)
|
|
Over $100,000 |
Jerry D. Choate
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-$50,000
(2,400 Common
Shares)
|
|
Over $100,000 |
Rodney F. Dammeyer
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
(150,084.47 Common
Shares)
|
|
Over $100,000 |
Linda Hutton Heagy
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$1-$10,000 (162.29
Common Shares)
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
R. Craig Kennedy
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-$50,000 |
Howard J Kerr
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
Jack E. Nelson
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
Hugo F. Sonnenschein
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$1-$10,000 (688
Common Shares)
|
|
Over $100,000 |
Suzanne H. Woolsey
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-$50,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin D. Meadows
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$1-$10,000 |
Wayne W. Whalen
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
$10,001-$50,000 (1,539 Common
Shares)
|
|
Over $100,000 |
F-5
EXHIBIT G
Board Leadership Structure, Role in Risk Oversight and Committees and Meetings
Board Leadership Structure
The Boards leadership structure consists of a Chairman of the Board and two standing
committees, each described below (and ad hoc committees when necessary), with each committee
staffed by Independent Trustees and an Independent Trustee as Committee Chairman. The Chairman of
the Board is not the principal executive officer of the Funds. The Chairman of the Board is not an
interested person (as that term is defined by the 1940 Act) of the Adviser. However, the Chairman
of the Board is an interested person (as that term is defined by the 1940 Act) of the Funds for
the reasons described in the Trustee biographies in Exhibit F. The Board, including the independent
trustees, periodically reviews the Boards leadership structure for the Funds, including the
interested person status of the Chairman, and has concluded the leadership structure is appropriate
for the Funds. In considering the chairman position, the Board has considered and/or reviewed
(i) the Funds organizational documents, (ii) the role of a chairman (including, among other
things, setting the agenda and managing information flow, running the meeting and setting the
proper tone), (iii) the background, experience and skills of the Chairman (including his
independence from the Adviser), (iv) alternative structures (including combined principal executive
officer/chairman, selecting one of the Independent Trustees as chairman and/or appointing an
independent lead trustee), (v) rule proposals in recent years that would have required all fund
complexes to have an independent chairman, (vi) the Chairmans past and current performance, and
(vii) the potential conflicts of interest of the Chairman (and noted their periodic review as part
of their annual self-effectiveness survey and as part of an independent annual review by the Funds
Audit Committee of fund legal fees related to such potential conflict). In conclusion, the Board
and the Independent Trustees have expressed their continuing support of Mr. Whalen as Chairman.
Board Committees and Meetings
Each Funds Board of Trustees has two standing committees (an Audit Committee and a Governance
Committee). Each committee is comprised solely of Independent Trustees, which is defined for
purposes herein as trustees who: (1) are not interested persons of the Fund as defined by the
1940 Act and (2) are independent of the respective Fund as defined by Exchange listing standards.
Each Boards Audit Committee consists of Jerry D. Choate, Linda Hutton Heagy and R. Craig
Kennedy. In addition to being Independent Trustees as defined above, each of these Trustees also
meets the additional independence requirements for audit committee members as defined by Exchange
listing standards. The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning
the selection of each Funds independent registered public accounting firm, reviews with such
independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of each Funds annual audit and
considers any comments which the independent registered public accounting firm may have regarding
each Funds financial statements, accounting records or internal controls. Each Board of Trustees
has adopted a formal written charter for the Audit Committee which sets forth the Audit Committees
responsibilities. The Audit Committees charter is available at
www.invesco.com/us. Each member of
the Audit Committee is deemed an audit committee financial expert.
Each Boards Governance Committee consists of David C. Arch, Rodney Dammeyer, Howard J Kerr,
Jack E. Nelson, Hugo F. Sonnenschein and Suzanne H. Woolsey. In addition to being Independent
Trustees as defined above, each of these Trustees also meets the additional independence
requirements for nominating committee members as defined by Exchange listing standards. The
Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to serve as Independent Trustees on the Board
and on committees of the Board, advises the Board with respect to Board composition, procedures and
committees, develops and recommends to the Board a set of corporate governance principles
applicable to the respective Fund, monitors corporate governance matters and makes recommendations
to the Board, and acts as the administrative committee with respect to Board policies and
procedures, committee policies and procedures and codes of ethics. The Governance Committee charter
for each of the Funds, which includes each Funds nominating policies, is available at
www.invesco.com/us. The Independent Trustees of the respective Fund select and nominate nominee
Independent Trustees for the respective Fund. While the Independent Trustees of the respective Fund
expect to be able to continue to identify from their own resources an ample number of qualified
candidates for the Board of Trustees as they deem appropriate, they will consider
G-1
nominations from
shareholders to the Board. Nominations from shareholders should be in writing and sent to the
Independent Trustees as described herein.
During the Funds last fiscal year, the Board held seven (7) meetings, the Boards Audit
Committee held seven (7) meetings, and the Boards Governance Committee met five (5) times. The
Board previously had a brokerage and services committee, which met two (2) times during the Funds
last fiscal year. During the Funds last completed fiscal year, each of the Trustees of such Funds
during the period such Trustee served as a Trustee attended at least 75% of the meetings of the
respective Board of Trustees and all committee meetings thereof of which such Trustee was a member.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
The management of the fund complex seeks to provide investors with disciplined investment
teams, a research-driven culture, careful long-term perspective and a legacy of experience. The
goal for each Fund is attractive long-term performance consistent with the objective and investment
policies and risks for such Fund, which in turn means, among other things, good security selection,
reasonable costs and quality shareholder services. An important sub-component of delivering this
goal is risk management understanding, monitoring and controlling the various risks in making
investment decisions at the individual security level as well as portfolio management decisions at
the overall fund level. The key participants in the risk management process of the Funds are each
Funds portfolio managers, the Advisers senior management, the Advisers risk management group,
the Advisers compliance group, the Funds chief compliance officer, and the various support
functions (i.e. the custodian, the Funds accountants (internal and external), and legal counsel).
While Funds are subject to other risks such as valuation, custodial, accounting, shareholder
servicing, etc., a Funds primary risk is understanding, monitoring and controlling the various
risks in making portfolio management decisions consistent with the Funds objective and policies.
The Boards role is oversight of managements risk management process. At regular quarterly
meetings, the Board reviews Fund performance and factors, including risks, affecting such
performance by Fund with the Advisers senior management, and the Board typically meets at least
once a year with the portfolio managers of each Fund. At regular quarterly meetings, the Board
reviews reports showing monitoring done by the Advisers risk management group, by the Advisers
compliance group, the Funds chief compliance officer and reports from the Funds support
functions.
G-2
EXHIBIT H
Remuneration of Trustees
The table below shows compensation for Trustees. The compensation of Trustees that are
affiliated persons (as defined in 1940 Act) of the Adviser is paid by the respective affiliated
entity. The Funds pay the non-affiliated Trustees an annual retainer and meeting fees for services
to such Funds. The Funds do not accrue or pay retirement or pension benefits to Trustees as of the
date of this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Portfolios in |
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
from |
|
|
from Portfolios |
|
|
Fund Complex |
|
|
|
from |
|
|
from |
|
|
from |
|
|
the Acquiring |
|
|
in the |
|
|
Overseen by |
|
Name |
|
VMV(1) |
|
|
VTJ(1) |
|
|
VOQ(1) |
|
|
Fund (VKQ)(1) |
|
|
Fund Complex(2) |
|
|
Trustee |
|
Independent Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David C. Arch |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
412,250 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Jerry D. Choate |
|
$ |
1,512 |
|
|
$ |
2,118 |
|
|
$ |
2,016 |
|
|
$ |
6,187 |
|
|
$ |
83,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Rodney F. Dammeyer |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
412,250 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Linda Hutton Heagy |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
R. Craig Kennedy |
|
$ |
1,622 |
|
|
$ |
2,273 |
|
|
$ |
2,161 |
|
|
$ |
6,635 |
|
|
$ |
89,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Howard J Kerr |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Jack E. Nelson |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Hugo F. Sonnenschein |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
412,200 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
Suzanne H. Woolsey |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
95,000 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Interested Trustees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin D. Meadows |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Wayne W. Whalen |
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
|
$ |
2,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,306 |
|
|
$ |
7,074 |
|
|
$ |
399,000 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012. |
|
(2) |
|
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. |
H-1
EXHIBIT I
Independent Auditor Information
The Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of each Fund appointed, and the Board of Trustees
ratified and approved, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the independent registered public
accounting firm of the Fund for fiscal years ending after May 31, 2010. Prior to May 31, 2010, each
Fund was audited by a different independent registered public accounting firm (the Prior
Auditor). The Board of Trustees selected a new independent auditor in connection with the
appointment of Invesco Advisers as investment adviser to the Fund (New Advisory Agreement).
Effective June 1, 2010, the Prior Auditor resigned as the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Fund.
The Prior Auditors report on the financial statements of each Fund for the prior two years
did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the period the Prior Auditor was
engaged, there were no disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not
resolved to the Prior Auditors satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter
in connection with its report.
Audit and Other Fees
The Funds and Covered Entities (the Adviser, excluding sub-advisers unaffiliated with the
Adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that
provides ongoing services to the Funds), were billed the amounts listed below by PwC during each
Funds last two fiscal years. Effective February 28, 2011, the fiscal year end of each Fund was
changed to the last day in February.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Audit Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Related |
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
Total Non- |
|
|
|
|
Fund |
|
Fiscal Year End |
|
|
Audit Fees |
|
|
Fees |
|
|
Tax Fees |
|
|
Fees |
|
|
Audit Fees |
|
|
Total |
|
Acquiring Fund (VKQ) |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
$ |
36,300 |
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
(1) |
|
$ |
6,100 |
(2) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
11,100 |
|
|
$ |
47,400 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/2010 to 02/28/11 |
|
|
|
19,250 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2,300 |
(2) |
|
|
1,667 |
(3) |
|
|
7,967 |
|
|
|
27,217 |
|
VMV |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
|
36,300 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
(1) |
|
|
5,700 |
(2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,700 |
|
|
|
47,000 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/2010 to 02/28/11 |
|
|
|
19,250 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2,300 |
(2) |
|
|
1,667 |
(3) |
|
|
7,967 |
|
|
|
27,217 |
|
VOQ |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
|
36,300 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
(1) |
|
|
5,900 |
(2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,900 |
|
|
|
47,200 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/2010 to 02/28/11 |
|
|
|
19,250 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2,300 |
(2) |
|
|
1,667 |
(3) |
|
|
7,967 |
|
|
|
27,217 |
|
VTJ |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
|
36,300 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
(1) |
|
|
5,900 |
(2) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
10,900 |
|
|
|
47,200 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/2010 to 02/28/11 |
|
|
|
19,250 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
(1) |
|
|
2,300 |
(2) |
|
|
1,667 |
(3) |
|
|
7,967 |
|
|
|
27,217 |
|
Covered Entities |
|
|
02/29/12 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
10/31/2010 to 02/28/11 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes fees billed for agreed upon procedures related to auction rate preferred
securities. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes fees billed for reviewing tax returns. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes fees billed for completing professional services related to benchmark analysis. |
The Audit Committee of each Board has considered whether the provision of non-audit
services performed by PwC to such Funds and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining PwCs
independence in performing audit services. Each Funds Audit Committee also is required to
pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a
direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of such Fund. 100% of such services were
pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the Audit Committees pre-approval policies and
procedures. Each Boards pre-approval policies and procedures are included as part of the Boards
I-1
Audit Committee charter, which is available at www.invesco.com/us. The members of the Audit
Committee are Jerry D. Choate, Linda Hutton Heagy and R. Craig Kennedy.
The Audit Committee of each Fund reviewed and discussed the last audited financial statements
of each Fund with management and with PwC. In the course of its discussions, each Funds Audit
Committee has discussed with PwC its judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of
such Funds accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the
Audit Committee by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (The Auditors Communication With Those
Charged With Governance). Each Funds Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the
letter from PwC required under Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards Ethics & Independence
Rule 3526 and has discussed with PwC its independence with respect to such Fund. Each Fund knows
of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of PwC in such Fund. Based on this
review, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of each Fund that such Funds audited
financial statements be included in such Funds Annual Report to Shareholders for the most recent
fiscal year for filing with the SEC.
It is not expected that representatives of PwC will attend the Meeting. In the event
representatives of PwC do attend the Meeting, they will have the opportunity to make a statement if
they desire to do so and will be available to answer appropriate questions.
I-2
EXHIBIT J
Outstanding Shares of the Funds
As of the Record Date, there were the following number of shares outstanding of each Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund |
|
Share Class |
|
|
Number of Shares Outstanding |
Acquiring Fund (VKQ)
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
39,107,729 |
|
Acquiring Fund (VKQ)
|
|
VMTP Shares
|
|
|
1,787 |
|
VMV
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
2,706,661 |
|
VMV
|
|
VMTP Shares
|
|
|
149 |
|
VOQ
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
5,816,353 |
|
VOQ
|
|
VMTP Shares
|
|
|
283 |
|
VTJ
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
6,075,770 |
|
VTJ
|
|
VMTP Shares
|
|
|
409 |
|
J-1
EXHIBIT K
Ownership of the Funds
Significant Holders
Listed below are the name, address and percent ownership of each person who, as of the Record
Date, to the best knowledge of the Funds owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a class of a
Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
|
|
Name and Address |
|
Fund |
| Class of Shares |
|
Owned |
|
|
Percent Owned* |
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
|
|
VMV |
|
VMTP |
|
149 |
** |
|
100 |
% |
Wells Fargo & Company
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10152
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
|
|
VOQ |
|
VMTP |
|
283 |
** |
|
100 |
% |
Wells Fargo & Company
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10152
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
|
|
VTJ |
|
VMTP |
|
409 |
** |
|
100 |
% |
Wells Fargo & Company
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10152 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
|
|
VKQ |
|
VMTP |
|
1,787 |
** |
|
100 |
% |
Wells Fargo & Company
375 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10152 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust
Advisors L.P., The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187 |
|
VTJ |
|
Common |
|
452,393 |
|
|
7.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust
Advisors L.P., The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187 |
|
VKQ |
|
Common |
|
3,039,942 |
|
|
7.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Based on filings made by such owners with the SEC. Each Fund has no knowledge of whether
all or any portion of the shares reported or owned of record are also owned beneficially. |
|
** |
|
VMTP Shares are subject to a voting trust requiring that certain voting rights of the VMTP
Shares must be exercised as directed by an unaffiliated third party |
K-1
Exhibit L
Statement of Preferences of the VMTP Shares of the Acquiring Fund
L-1
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the postage-paid envelope |
|
|
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
|
|
|
|
|
INVESCO VAN KAMPEN MUNICIPAL
TRUST (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012
|
PREFERRED SHARES
The undersigned holder of Preferred Shares of the Fund hereby
appoints Colin D. Meadows, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and Stephen R. Rimes, and any
one of them separately, proxies with full power of substitution in each, and hereby authorizes them to represent
and to vote, as designated on the reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting
of Shareholders on July 17, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, all
of the Preferred Shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present. IF
THIS PROXY IS SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF
EACH PROPOSAL, FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing as executor,
administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such.
If a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, please sign in full entity name and
indicate the signers position with the entity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
Date |
PLEASE
VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at:
[________]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO
VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ■
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR
|
|
AGAINST
|
|
ABSTAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 2(b)(i): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for Invesco Van Kampen Massachusetts Value Municipal Income Trust to merge with and into the Fund.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 2(b)(ii): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for Invesco Van Kampen Ohio Quality Municipal Trust to merge with and into the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Proposal 2(b)(iii): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for Invesco Van Kampen Trust for Investment Grade New Jersey Municipals to merge with and into the Fund.
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 3(b): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01. Wayne W. Whalen
|
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|
|
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|
|
FOR
|
|
WITHHOLD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 3(c): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01. Linda Hutton Heagy
|
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|
PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE PROXY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EASY
VOTING OPTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope |
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
|
|
|
|
|
INVESCO VAN KAMPEN MASSACHUSETTS VALUE MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012 |
PREFERRED SHARES
The undersigned holder of
Preferred Shares of the Fund hereby appoints Colin D. Meadows, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and
Stephen R. Rimes, and any one of them separately, proxies with full power of substitution in each, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting of
Shareholders on July 17, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, all of the
Preferred Shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled
to vote if personally present. IF THIS PROXY IS SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL, FOR ALL
OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD.
When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor,
please give full title as such. If a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, please
sign in full entity name and indicate the signers position with the entity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
|
2012 |
|
|
Date |
PLEASE VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at: [________]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ■
|
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|
|
FOR |
|
|
AGAINST |
|
|
ABSTAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 2(a): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the Fund to merge with and into Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
FOR
ALL
|
|
|
WITHHOLD
ALL
|
|
|
FOR ALL
EXCEPT |
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal 3(a): Election of Trustees The Board recommends a vote FOR ALL of the nominees listed:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01. David C. Arch 03. Suzanne H. Woolsey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
02. Jerry D. Choate
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the
box FOR ALL EXCEPT
and write each nominees number on the line provided below. |
|
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|
|
PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE
PROXY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: |
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope |
|
|
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
|
|
|
|
|
INVESCO VAN KAMPEN OHIO QUALITY MUNICIPAL TRUST (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012 |
PREFERRED SHARES
The undersigned holder of
Preferred Shares of the Fund hereby appoints Colin D. Meadows, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and
Stephen R. Rimes, and any one of them separately, proxies with full power of substitution in each, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders
on July 17, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, all of the Preferred Shares
of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present.
IF THIS PROXY IS SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL, FOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
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VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
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NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD. When signing as executor,
administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title
as such. If a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, please sign in full entity
name and indicate the signers position with the entity. |
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Signature |
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2012 |
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PLEASE VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at: [________]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO
VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: n
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN |
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Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the
reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust. |
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Proposal 2(a): Approval
of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the Fund to
merge with and into Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust. |
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
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Proposal 3(b):
Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Wayne W. Whalen
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
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Proposal 3(c):
Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Linda Hutton Heagy
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PROXIES
ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET
FORTH IN THE PROXY STATEMENT
WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE
EVERY
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
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EASY
VOTING OPTIONS: |
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VOTE ON THE INTERNET
Log on to:
www.proxy-direct.com
Follow the on-screen instructions
available 24 hours |
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VOTE BY TELEPHONE
Call 1-800-337-3503
Follow the recorded instructions
available 24 hours |
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VOTE BY MAIL
Vote, sign and date your
Proxy Card and return it in the
postage-paid envelope |
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
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INVESCO VAN KAMPEN TRUST FOR INVESTMENT GRADE NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALS (the Fund)
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (the Board)
PROXY FOR THE JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD JULY 17, 2012
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PREFERRED SHARES
The undersigned holder of Preferred Shares of the Fund hereby
appoints Colin D. Meadows, John M. Zerr, Sheri S. Morris, Peter A. Davidson, and Stephen R. Rimes, and any one of them separately, proxies with full power of
substitution in each, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse of this proxy card, at the Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on
July 17, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, all of the Preferred Shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled
to vote if personally present. IF THIS PROXY IS SIGNED AND RETURNED WITH NO CHOICE INDICATED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL, FOR
ALL OF THE NOMINEES, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
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VOTE VIA THE INTERNET:
www.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-800-337-3503 |
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NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY CARD.
When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee
or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, limited liability
company, or partnership, please sign in full entity name and indicate the signers position with the entity. |
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Signature |
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2012 |
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Date |
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PLEASE VOTE VIA INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IS IMPORTANT
VOTE THIS PROXY CARD TODAY!
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on July 17, 2012.
The Proxy Statement for this meeting is available at: [_______]
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board. The Board recommends voting FOR each proposal and FOR ALL of the nominees.
TO VOTE, MARK A BOX BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ■
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
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ABSTAIN |
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Proposal 1: Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Redomestication that provides for the reorganization of the Fund as a Delaware statutory trust.
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Proposal 2(a): Approval of an Agreement and Plan of Merger that provides for the Fund to merge with and into Invesco Van Kampen Municipal Trust.
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FOR
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WITHHOLD |
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Proposal 3(b): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Wayne W. Whalen
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FOR
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WITHHOLD
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Proposal 3(c): Election of the Trustee The Board recommends a vote FOR the nominee listed:
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01. Linda Hutton Heagy
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PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE, IN THEIR DISCRETION, UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE PROXY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MEETING.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE