UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the
Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
KKR Income Opportunities Fund
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(l) and 0-11. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
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KKR INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
555 California Street
50th Floor
San
Francisco, CA 94104
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be held on December 20, 2024
TO
THE SHAREHOLDERS:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting (the Special Meeting) of shareholders of KKR Income Opportunities Fund will
be held at the offices of [Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor, New York, New York 10036], on December 20, 2024, at [ a.m.] Eastern Time.
The purpose of the Special Meeting is to consider and act upon the following proposal (the Proposal), and to consider and act upon such other
matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
To approve the issuance of
additional common shares of beneficial interest (the New Shares) of KKR Income Opportunities Fund (the Acquiring Fund) in connection with the transfer at net asset value of all of the assets and certain liabilities of the
Insight Select Income Fund (the Acquired Fund and together with the Acquiring Fund, the Funds) to the Acquiring Fund (the Reorganization).
The Proposal is discussed in greater detail in the enclosed Proxy Statement. You are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting if you owned
shares of the Acquiring Fund at the close of business on November 1, 2024 (the Record Date). If you attend the Special Meeting in person, you may vote your shares at that time. Even if you expect to attend the Special Meeting,
please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or authorize your proxy by telephone or through the Internet.
This notice and related proxy materials are first being mailed to shareholders on or about [ ], 2024.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE ACQUIRING FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE VOTE BY PROXY OVER THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE, OR BY COMPLETING AND SIGNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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By Order of the Board of Trustees of: |
KKR Income Opportunities Fund |
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/s/ Lori Hoffman |
Lori Hoffman |
Secretary and Vice President |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The following is a summary of more complete information appearing in the enclosed Proxy Statement or incorporated by reference into the Proxy Statement. You
should carefully read the entire Proxy Statement, including the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the Reorganization Agreement), a form of which is attached as Appendix A thereto, because it contains details that are not in the
Questions and Answers.
Q: |
Why is a shareholder meeting being held? |
A: |
You are being asked to approve the issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest (the New
Shares) of KKR Income Opportunities Fund (the Acquiring Fund) in connection with the transfer at net asset value of all of the assets and certain liabilities of the Insight Select Income Fund (the Acquired Fund and
together with the Acquiring Fund, the Funds) to the Acquiring Fund (the Reorganization). The purpose of this proposal is to enable the Acquiring Fund to have a sufficient number of common shares to issue to the Acquired Fund
to effect the Reorganization, which is expected to occur in [ ]. |
Although the Acquiring Fund will continue its
legal existence and operations after the Reorganization, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (on which the Acquiring Funds common shares are listed) require the Acquiring Funds shareholders to approve the issuance of the New Shares
in connection with the Reorganization.
As described more fully in the Proxy Statement, each Fund is a
closed-end management investment company with similar investment objectives, but different principal investment strategies and principal risks. Please see Comparison of the Funds in the Proxy
Statement for additional information. It is anticipated that the Acquiring Fund would be the accounting and performance survivor of the Reorganization. The Acquiring Fund as it would exist after the Reorganization is referred to as the
Combined Fund. NO CHANGES TO THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES, RISKS, ADVISER, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT TEAM, STRUCTURE OR POLICIES OF THE ACQUIRING FUND ARE BEING MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE REORGANIZATION.
Separately, the shareholders of the Acquired Fund are being asked to approve the Reorganization Agreement providing for the Reorganization.
Q: |
Why is the Reorganization being proposed? |
A: |
The Reorganization is proposed to increase the assets under management of the Acquiring Fund, which KKR Credit
Advisors (US) LLC, the investment adviser of the Acquiring Fund (the Acquiring Fund Manager), anticipates will create potential economies of scale, which has the potential to lower the annual fund operating expenses, and improve
secondary market trading. The Reorganization will also result in a corresponding increase in the management fees payable by the Combined Fund to the Acquiring Fund Manager, which are based on a percentage of Managed Assets (as defined below) of the
Combined Fund. On October 8, 2024, the Acquiring Fund Manager and Insight North America LLC, the investment adviser to the Acquired Fund (the Acquired Fund Manager), entered into a separate agreement (the Purchase
Agreement) pursuant to which, if the Reorganization is approved and upon satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions, the Acquiring Fund Manager will acquire, subject to certain exceptions, all right, title and interest of the Acquired
Fund Manager in and to the goodwill and books and records (the Asset Transfer) relating to the Acquired Fund Managers business of providing investment management services with respect to the assets of the Acquired Fund for a cash
payment at the closing of the Asset Transfer. |
The Funds are not a party to the Purchase Agreement; however, the
completion of the Asset Transfer is subject to certain conditions, including shareholder approval of the Reorganization described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for the Reorganization to proceed. Therefore, if Acquired Fund shareholders do not
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approve the Reorganization or if the other conditions in the Purchase Agreement are not satisfied or waived, then the Asset Transfer may not be completed, and the Purchase Agreement may be
terminated.
Q: |
What happens if the proposal to approve the issuance of the New Shares in connection with the Reorganization
(the Proposal) is not approved by the Acquiring Fund shareholders? |
A: |
Completion of the Reorganization requires both the approval of the Reorganization Agreement by the Acquired
Fund shareholders and approval of the Proposal by the Acquiring Fund shareholders. If either the approval of the Reorganization Agreement or the Proposal is not approved by shareholders of the Acquired Fund or Acquiring Fund, respectively, then the
Reorganization will not be effected, and the New Shares will not be issued. |
Q: |
How will the fees and expenses of the Combined Fund compare to those of the Acquiring Fund?
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A: |
The contractual advisory fee (the Management Fee) of the Combined Fund will be 1.10% of the average
daily value of the Combined Funds Managed Assets. Managed Assets, for these purposes, means the total assets of the Combined Fund (including any assets attributable to borrowings for investment purposes) minus the sum of the
Combined Funds accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing borrowings for investment purposes). |
The
Combined Funds Management Fee will be calculated based on Managed Assets. On a net asset basis, the pro forma Management Fee for the Combined Fund will be 1.70%, based on information as of August 30, 2024.
In connection with the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund Manager has contractually agreed to temporarily reduce its Management Fee to an
annual rate of 0.99% of the average daily value of the Combined Funds Managed Assets for a period of twelve months, effective as of the Closing Date of the Reorganization.
The total annual operating expense ratio, including interest expense, of the Acquiring Fund, and, following the consummation of the
Reorganization, the gross total annual operating expense ratio, including interest expense, of the Combined Fund and the net total annual operating expense ratio, including interest expense and after the Management Fee waiver, of the Combined Fund,
is expected to be as follows:
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Acquiring Fund Total Annual Operating Expense
Ratio* |
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Pro Forma Combined Fund Gross Total
Annual Operating Expense Ratio** |
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Pro Forma Combined
Fund Net Total Annual Operating Expense Ratio** |
5.53% |
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5.04% |
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4.87% |
The total operating expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund are higher than the median and average of a peer group
of funds reviewed by the Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Fund (the Board).
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Information for the Acquiring Fund is as of the semi-annual period ended April 30, 2024, based on average
daily net assets. |
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The pro forma information for the Combined Fund is as of August 30, 2024. Pro
forma Combined Fund fees and expenses are estimated in good faith and are hypothetical. There can be no assurance that future expenses will not increase or that any estimated expense savings will be realized. |
Please see Fees and Expenses and Management of the Funds in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for additional information.
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Q: |
How will the Reorganization affect the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders? |
A: |
The Board believes that the Reorganization may benefit the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders, including
through potential economies of scale, which has the potential to lower the annual fund operating expenses, and improved secondary market trading. |
There can be no guarantee that any anticipated benefits will occur as a result of the Reorganization. To the extent the Acquired Fund is
trading at a discount to its net asset value and the Acquiring Fund is trading at a premium to its net asset value at the time of the Reorganization, Acquired Fund shareholders, if the Reorganization is approved, would have the potential for an
economic benefit. There can be no assurance that, after the Reorganization, common shares of the Combined Fund will trade at, above or below net asset value. The market value of the common shares of the Combined Fund may be less than the market
value of the common shares of the Acquiring Fund prior to the Reorganization. Additionally, among other potential consequences of the Reorganization, portfolio transitioning due to the Reorganization may result in capital gains or losses, which may
have federal income tax consequences for shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the Combined Fund. Please see Board Considerations in the Proxy Statement for additional information.
Q: |
Will my rights as a shareholder change as a result of the Reorganization? |
A: |
No. Your rights as a shareholder will not change as a result of the Reorganization. |
Q: |
How will the Reorganization be effected? |
A: |
In connection with the Reorganization, the Acquired Fund will transfer at net asset value all of its assets to
the Acquiring Fund in exchange for common shares of the Acquiring Fund (although shareholders may receive cash for fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund) and any Cash Consideration as defined below. |
Acquired Fund shareholders will be entitled to receive in exchange for each of their outstanding shares of Acquired Fund shares either
(i) shares of Acquiring Fund common stock, which shall be based on the relative per share NAVs of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund (i.e., the value received shall be equal to 100% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common
stock) (Stock Consideration), or (ii) an amount of cash equal to 98% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common stock (Cash Consideration). Acquired Fund shareholders right to elect to receive Cash
Consideration is subject to the adjustment and proration procedures set forth in the Reorganization Agreement to ensure that the total number of shares of Acquired Fund common stock converted into the right to receive Cash Consideration will not
exceed [535,670] shares (representing five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Acquired Fund common stock immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization).
Following the Reorganization, Acquired Fund shareholders who receive Stock Consideration will become shareholders of the Combined Fund and
will receive the New Shares, the aggregate net asset value (NAV) (not the market value) of which will equal the aggregate NAV (not the market value) of the common shares of the Acquired Fund that the Acquired Fund shareholders held
immediately prior to the Reorganization (except for any Cash Consideration received and cash received for fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund held).
Q: |
Will the Reorganization impact Fund distributions to shareholders? |
A: |
The Acquiring Fund currently pays a monthly distribution. The Combined Fund intends to make its first
distribution to shareholders in the month immediately following the Reorganization. In addition, the Combined Fund expects to follow the same frequency of payments as the Acquiring Fund and make monthly distributions to shareholders.
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Prior to the closing of the Reorganization, the Acquired Fund expects to declare a distribution
to its shareholders that, together with all previous distributions, will have the effect of distributing to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net realized
capital gains, if any, through the date of the Reorganizations closing. All or a portion of such distribution may be taxable to the Acquired Funds shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Q: |
Who will manage the Combined Funds portfolio? |
A: |
The Combined Fund will be advised by KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, the Acquiring Funds current adviser.
Furthermore, the Acquiring Funds current portfolio management team will be primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Combined Funds
portfolio. No changes are proposed to the Acquiring Funds investment objective, strategies or risks. |
Q: |
Will there be any significant portfolio transitioning in connection with the Reorganization that impacts
Fund shareholders? |
A: |
Following the Reorganization, the Combined Fund expects to realign its portfolio in a manner consistent with
its investment strategies and policies, which will be the same as the Acquiring Funds strategies and policies. The Combined Fund may not be invested consistent with its investment strategies or the Acquiring Fund Managers investment
approach while such realignment occurs. The realignment is anticipated to take up to two months following the closing of the Reorganization, based on current market conditions and assuming that the Acquired Funds holdings are the same as of
August 30, 2024. Sales and purchases of less liquid securities could take longer. Based on the Acquired Funds holdings as of August 30, 2024, the Combined Fund expects to sell approximately 100% of the Acquired Funds portfolio
following the closing of the Reorganization. If the Reorganization was completed on August 30, 2024, the expected cost (including any transaction costs) to sell 100% of the Acquired Funds holdings following the closing of the
Reorganization, which is estimated to equal 23% of the Combined Funds portfolio, would be approximately $466,000 (or 0.09% of the estimated NAV of the Combined Fund as of August 30, 2024) or $0.011 per share of the Combined Fund. To the
extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction charges and related fees) associated with the sales and purchases made by the Combined Fund after and in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by
(i) the Acquired Fund with respect to the sales and purchases conducted before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Closing Date (the Effective Time) and (ii) Combined Fund with respect to the
sales and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time. The portfolio transitioning may result in capital gains or losses, which may have federal income tax consequences for shareholders of the Combined Fund. |
Q: |
Who will pay for the costs associated with the Meeting and the Reorganization? |
A: |
Except as otherwise set forth in the Reorganization Agreement or unless otherwise agreed in writing, each of
the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager shall pay its own direct and indirect expenses incurred by it in connection with the preparation and negotiation of the Reorganization Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, including all fees and expenses of its advisors and representatives. To the extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction charges and related fees) associated with
the sales and purchases of portfolio securities made in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by (i) the Acquired Fund with respect to sales and purchases conducted before the Effective Time and (ii) the Combined Fund
with respect to the sales and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time. |
In addition, the Acquiring Fund is
expected to bear a portion of the costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization. The Acquiring Fund will bear up to $250,000 of such costs and expenses. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund Manager will bear equally all costs and
expenses incurred (i) with respect to
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the registration of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganization and the filing of any proxy solicitation materials as may be necessary in connection with
the issuance of the New Shares and (ii) the preparation, printing and distribution of any proxy and proxy solicitation materials in connection with the issuance of the New Shares; however, the Acquiring Fund Manager has agreed to bear or
reimburse the Acquiring Fund for all such expenses in excess of $250,000.
Q: |
Is the Reorganization expected to be taxable to the respective shareholders of the Acquiring Fund?
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A: |
No. The Reorganization is not expected to be a taxable event for shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. The
Reorganization is intended to be treated as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
As a condition to the Acquired Funds obligation to consummate the Reorganization, the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will receive
an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that, on the basis of the existing provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), current administrative rules and court decisions, the transactions contemplated by the
Reorganization Agreement constitute a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. Despite this opinion, there can be no assurances that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will deem the exchanges to
be tax-free.
In addition, following the Reorganization, the Combined Fund may generate net
capital gains or losses as a result of the portfolio realignment discussed above.
The actual tax consequences as a result of portfolio
repositioning after the closing of the Reorganization are dependent on the portfolio composition of the Acquired Fund at the time of closing and market conditions. Net capital gain (i.e., gains in excess of capital loss carryforwards), if
any, resulting from the realignment coupled with the results of the Acquiring Funds normal operations during the tax year following the close of the Reorganization would be distributed to the shareholders of the Combined Fund
post-Reorganization in connection with the annual distribution requirements under U.S. federal tax laws.
Q: |
How does the Board suggest that I vote? |
A: |
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the Proposal. |
Q: |
How do I vote my proxy? |
A: |
All shareholders are requested to vote by proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by completing, dating and
signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly. |
Q: |
Who do I contact for further information? |
A: |
If you need any assistance or have any questions regarding the Proposal or how to vote your shares, please call
[ ]. |
Please complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope. You may proxy vote by internet or telephone in accordance with the
instructions set forth on the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.
v
KKR INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
555 California Street
50th Floor
San
Francisco, CA 94104
PROXY STATEMENT
For the Special Meeting of Shareholders
to be held on December 20, 2024
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the KKR Income Opportunities Fund Board of Trustees (the Board, with members of the Board being referred to as Trustees) to be voted at the
Special Meeting of Shareholders of KKR Income Opportunities Fund (the Meeting) to be held at [the offices of Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor, New York, New York
10036], on December 20, 2024, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. A Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and a proxy card accompany this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about
[ ], 2024.
The purpose of the Meeting is to consider and act upon the following proposal (the Proposal) and to consider and act upon such
other matters as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof:
To approve the
issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest (the New Shares) of KKR Income Opportunities Fund (the Acquiring Fund) in connection with the transfer at net asset value of all of the assets and certain
liabilities of the Insight Select Income Fund (the Acquired Fund and together with the Acquiring Fund, the Funds) to the Acquiring Fund (the Reorganization)
All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at the Meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, in accordance with
the instructions marked on the proxy card. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked on the proxy card, proxies received will be voted FOR the Proposal. The persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote in their
discretion on any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. Any proxy card may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by submitting a properly executed, subsequently dated proxy card,
giving written notice to the Secretary of the Acquiring Fund at 555 California Street, 50th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Shareholders may authorize proxy voting by using the enclosed proxy
card along with the enclosed envelope with pre-paid postage. Shareholders may also authorize proxy voting by telephone or through the internet by following the instructions contained on their proxy card.
We will admit to the Special Meeting (1) all shareholders of record at the close of business on November 1, 2024 (the Record Date), (2)
persons holding proof of beneficial ownership on the Record Date, such as a letter or account statement from the persons broker, (3) persons who have been granted proxies, and (4) such other persons that we, in our sole discretion,
may elect to admit. All persons wishing to be admitted to the Special Meeting must present photo identification.
The Board has fixed the close of
business on November 1, 2024, as the 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 of the Acquiring Fund as of the Record Date
will be entitled at the Meeting to one vote for each share held and a proportionate share of one vote for each fractional share held.
The common shares
of the Acquiring Fund are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) under the ticker symbol KIO and will continue to be so listed following the Reorganization. The common shares of the
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Acquired Fund are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol INSI for the Insight Select Income Fund and would be delisted from the NYSE following the Reorganization. Shareholder
reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Funds can be inspected at the NYSE.
After careful consideration, the Board of Trustees of
the Acquiring Fund unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the Proposal.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Special Meeting of Shareholders to Be Held on December 20, 2024. The proxy materials are available on the Internet at [ ].
The
Acquiring Funds annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, and the Acquired Funds annual reports for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and any more recent reports for the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund
filed after the date hereof, may be obtained without charge:
for the Acquiring Fund:
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By Phone: |
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1-855-862-6092 |
By Mail: |
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KKR Income Opportunities Fund |
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c/o KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC 555
California Street, 50th Floor San Francisco, California 94104 |
By Internet: |
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www.kkrfunds.com/kio |
for the Acquired Fund:
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By Phone: |
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(866) 333-6685 |
By Mail: |
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Insight Select Income Fund |
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200 Park Avenue, 7th Floor |
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New York, New York 10166 |
By Internet: |
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https://www.insightinvestment.com/united-states/capabilities/multi-sector-fi/select-income/insight-select-income-fund/ |
The Funds are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934
Act), and, in accordance therewith, file reports, proxy statements, proxy materials and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You also may view or obtain the foregoing documents from the SEC:
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By e-mail: |
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publicinfo@sec.gov (duplicating fee required) |
By Internet: |
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www.sec.gov |
This Proxy Statement sets forth concisely the information that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund should know before voting on
the Proposal. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference. No person has been authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in this Proxy Statement and, if so given or made, such information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized.
THE SEC HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE ACQUIRING FUNDS SHARES TO BE
ISSUED IN THE REORGANIZATION OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
2
PROPOSAL
To approve the issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest (the New Shares) of KKR Income Opportunities Fund (the
Acquiring Fund) in connection with the transfer at net asset value of all of the assets and certain liabilities of the Insight Select Income Fund (the Acquired Fund and together with the Acquiring Fund, the Funds)
to the Acquiring Fund (the Reorganization)
General
The Reorganization would occur pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund (the Reorganization
Agreement) that is subject to the approval of the Acquired Funds shareholders. The Reorganization has been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Fund (the Board), but does not require approval by the Acquiring
Funds shareholders. Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, however, are being asked to approve the Proposal to enable the Acquiring Fund to issue the shares necessary to complete the Reorganization. Although the Acquiring Fund will continue its
legal existence and operations after the Reorganization, the rules of the NYSE (on which the Acquiring Funds common shares are listed) require the Acquiring Funds shareholders to approve the issuance of the New Shares in connection with
the Reorganization.
The Board believes that the Reorganization may benefit the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders, including through potential economies
of scale and improved secondary market trading.
The Acquiring Fund as it would exist after the Reorganization is referred to as the Combined
Fund. NO CHANGES TO THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES, RISKS, ADVISER, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT TEAM, STRUCTURE OR POLICIES OF THE ACQUIRING FUND ARE BEING MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE REORGANIZATION.
Subject to shareholder approval of the Reorganization Agreement by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund and shareholder approval of the issuance the New
Shares by the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, the Reorganization Agreement provides for:
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the transfer at net asset value of all of the assets and certain liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the
Acquiring Fund; |
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the distribution of the New Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund; and |
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the complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund. |
It is expected that the Reorganization will occur [ ].
At the closing of the Reorganization, the Reorganization Agreement sets forth that the Acquired Fund assets will be valued in accordance with the Acquired
Funds valuation procedures as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Acquired Fund (the Acquired Fund Board). Upon the consummation of the Reorganization, the assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be valued pursuant to
the Acquiring Funds valuation procedures as approved by the Board. The Reorganization will be accounted for as an asset acquisition in accordance with the asset acquisition method of accounting as detailed in the Financial Accounting Standards
Boards Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Subtopic 805-50.
The Acquired Fund will use
commercially reasonable efforts to discharge, or make provisions for, all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the closing of the Reorganization. To the extent the Acquired Fund is unable to discharge or make provisions for any such
liability or obligation prior to the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund will assume all remaining liabilities and obligations of the Acquired Fund other than (a) any obligation of the Acquired Fund to make the distributions contemplated by the
Reorganization Agreement or to
3
perform other obligations under the Reorganization Agreement and (b) any expenses required to be borne by the Acquired Fund or the Acquired Fund Manager after the Reorganization.
Following the Reorganization, the Combined Fund expects to realign its portfolio in a manner consistent with its investment strategies and policies, which
will be the same as the Acquiring Funds strategies and policies. The Combined Fund may not be invested consistent with its investment strategies or KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLCs (the Acquiring Fund Manager) investment
approach while such realignment occurs. Based on the Acquired Funds holdings as of August 30, 2024, the Combined Fund expects to sell approximately 100% of the Acquired Funds portfolio following the closing of the Reorganization. To
the extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction charges and related fees) associated with the sales and purchases of portfolio securities made in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by
(i) the Acquired Fund with respect to sales and purchases conducted before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Closing Date, (the Effective Time) and (ii) the Combined Fund with respect to sales
and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time. Portfolio transitioning may result in capital gains or losses, which may have federal income tax consequences for shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the Combined Fund.
The actual tax consequences as a result of portfolio repositioning after the closing of the Reorganization are dependent on the portfolio composition of the
Acquired Fund at the time of closing and market conditions. Net capital gain (i.e., gains in excess of capital loss carryforwards), if any, resulting from the realignment coupled with the results of the Acquiring Funds normal operations
during the tax year following the close of the Reorganization would be distributed to the shareholders of the Combined Fund post-Reorganization in connection with the annual distribution requirements under U.S. federal tax laws.
The Reorganization is not expected to be a taxable event for shareholders of the Acquiring Fund.
Board Considerations
At a special meeting of the Board
held on September 17, 2024, the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Acquiring Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, approved the Reorganization Agreement and the issuance of the
New Shares in connection with the Reorganization.
In making this determination, the Board considered a number of factors, including, but not limited to:
|
|
|
There will be no changes to the investment objective, strategies, risks, adviser, portfolio management team,
structure or policies of the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganization. |
|
|
|
The potential for improved secondary market trading for the Acquiring Fund as a result of the Reorganization.
|
|
|
|
The Reorganization has the potential to improve economies of scale for the Acquiring Fund, which has the
potential to lower the annual fund operating expenses. |
|
|
|
The Acquiring Fund is expected to bear a portion of the costs and expenses associated with the Reorganization.
The Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund Manager will bear equally all costs and expenses incurred (i) with respect to the registration of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganization and the filing of
any proxy solicitation materials as may be necessary in connection with the issuance of the New Shares and (ii) the preparation, printing and distribution of any proxy and proxy solicitation materials in connection with the issuance of the New
Shares; however, the Acquiring Fund Manager has agreed to bear or reimburse the Acquiring Fund for all such expenses in excess of $250,000. Additionally, to the extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction
charges and related fees) associated with the sales and purchases of portfolio securities made in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by (i) the Acquired Fund with respect to sales and purchases conducted before the
Effective Time and |
4
|
(ii) the Combined Fund with respect to the sales and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time. The Board noted that following the closing of the Reorganization the Combined Fund
expects to sell approximately 100% of the Acquired Funds portfolio. |
|
|
|
The potential effect of the Reorganization on the total annual operating expense ratio of the Combined Fund
following the Reorganization. The Board noted that, following the consummation of the Reorganization, the gross total annual operating expense ratio and the net total annual operating expense ratio (after the Management Fee waiver) of the Combined
Fund is expected to be lower than the current total annual operating expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund. The total operating expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund is higher than the median and average of a peer group of funds reviewed by the Board.
|
|
|
|
In connection with the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund Manager has contractually agreed to temporarily reduce
its Management Fee to an annual rate of 0.99% of the average daily value of the Combined Funds Managed Assets for a period of twelve months, effective as of the Closing Date of the Reorganization. |
|
|
|
It is anticipated that the Acquiring Fund would be the accounting and performance survivor of the Reorganization.
|
|
|
|
Potential alternatives to the Reorganization, including the Acquiring Fund conducting additional offerings of
Acquiring Fund shares. |
|
|
|
The existence of a separate agreement (the Purchase Agreement) between Insight North America LLC, the
investment adviser to the Acquired Fund (the Acquired Fund Manager) and the Acquiring Fund Manager pursuant to which, if the Reorganization is approved and upon satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions, the Acquiring Fund
Manager will acquire, subject to certain exceptions, all right, title and interest of the Acquired Fund Manager in and to the goodwill and books and records (the Asset Transfer) relating to the Acquired Fund Managers business of
providing investment management services with respect to the assets of the Acquired Fund for a cash payment at the closing of the Asset Transfer. |
The Boards determination to approve the Reorganization Agreement and the issuance of the New Shares was made on the basis of each Trustees
business judgment after consideration of all of the factors taken as a whole with respect to the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders, although individual Trustees may have placed different weight and assigned different degrees of materiality to
various factors.
Information about the Reorganization
Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement (a form of which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement), the Acquired Fund will transfer at net asset
value all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for common shares of the Acquiring Fund (although shareholders may receive cash for fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund) and any Cash Consideration as defined below.
Acquired Fund shareholders will be entitled to receive in exchange for each of their outstanding shares of Acquired Fund shares either (i) shares of
Acquiring Fund common stock, which shall be based on the relative per share NAVs of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund (i.e., the value received shall be equal to 100% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common stock) (Stock
Consideration), or (ii) an amount of cash equal to 98% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common stock (Cash Consideration). Acquired Fund shareholders right to elect to receive Cash Consideration is subject to
the adjustment and proration procedures set forth in the Reorganization Agreement to ensure that the total number of shares of Acquired Fund common stock converted into the right to receive Cash Consideration will not exceed [535,670] shares
(representing five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Acquired Fund common stock immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization).
5
Following the Reorganization, Acquired Fund shareholders who receive Stock Consideration will become shareholders
of the Combined Fund and will receive the New Shares, the aggregate net asset value (NAV) (not the market value) of which will equal the aggregate NAV (not the market value) of the common shares of the Acquired Fund that the Acquired
Fund shareholders held immediately prior to the Reorganization (except for any Cash Consideration received and cash received for fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund held).
Outstanding Shares
As of the Record Date, the Acquiring
Fund had [27,145,669] common shares and 2,000,000 Series A Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares outstanding.
Board Recommendation
The Board recommends that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund vote FOR the Proposal.
TERMS OF THE REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement (a form of which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement), the Acquired Fund will transfer at net asset
value all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for common shares of the Acquiring Fund (although shareholders may receive cash for fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund) and any Cash Consideration as defined below.
The NAV per Acquiring Fund share shall be computed as of the time at which the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund calculate their NAVs as set forth in their
respective prospectuses (normally the close of regular trading on the NYSE) on the business day immediately prior to the Closing Date (the Valuation Time). At the closing of the Reorganization, the Reorganization Agreement sets forth
that the Acquired Fund assets will be valued in accordance with the Acquired Funds valuation procedures as approved by the Acquired Fund Board. Upon the consummation of the Reorganization, the assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be
valued pursuant to the Acquiring Funds valuation procedures as approved by the Board.
Acquired Fund shareholders will be entitled to receive in
exchange for each of their outstanding shares of Acquired Fund shares either (i) shares of Acquiring Fund common stock, which shall be based on the relative per share NAVs of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund (i.e., the value
received shall be equal to 100% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common stock) (Stock Consideration), or (ii) an amount of cash equal to 98% of the NAV per share of the Acquired Fund common stock (Cash
Consideration). Acquired Fund shareholders right to elect to receive Cash Consideration is subject to the adjustment and proration procedures set forth in the Reorganization Agreement to ensure that the total number of shares of Acquired
Fund common stock converted into the right to receive Cash Consideration will not exceed [535,670] shares (representing five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Acquired Fund common stock immediately prior to the closing of the
Reorganization). In the event that the Acquired Fund stockholders elect to receive Cash Consideration for an aggregate number of shares of the Acquiring Fund common stock, which are referred to as cash election shares, in excess of [535,670] shares
(representing five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund common stock immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization), such Acquired Fund stockholders will receive Stock Consideration or Cash Consideration as follows:
|
|
|
The maximum number of shares of the Acquired Fund for which Cash Consideration will be received shall not exceed
[535,670] shares (representing five percent (5%) of the outstanding Acquired Fund Shares immediately prior to the Closing). Each record holder of the Acquired Fund having made a cash election will be entitled to receive the Cash Consideration in
respect of approximately their pro rata portion of the aggregate shares of the Acquired Fund common stock for which Cash Consideration will be received. In some cases, due to rounding, an Acquired Fund stockholders pro rata portion may be
zero, such that the Acquired Fund stockholder will receive no Cash Consideration with respect to Acquired Fund shares held. |
6
|
|
|
With respect to the remainder of each such holders cash election shares, the holder will receive Stock
Consideration, including cash in lieu of any fractional share, if applicable. |
At the Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund shall issue
Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund for transfer to the Acquired Fund shareholders. Within three business days after the Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund shall deliver to the Acquired Fund the Cash Consideration for distribution to those
Acquired Fund shareholders electing to receive Cash Consideration.
Under the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, the Reorganization is conditioned
upon, among other things, approval of the Proposal by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, Acquiring Fund shareholder approval of the issuance of the New Shares and each Funds receipt of certain routine certificates and legal opinions.
The Reorganization Agreement may be terminated (i) by mutual agreement of the parties at any time prior to the Effective Time, if circumstances should
develop that, in the opinion of the Board and the Acquired Fund Board, make proceeding with the Reorganization Agreement inadvisable; (ii) if one party breaches any representation, warranty or agreement contained in the Reorganization to be
performed at or before the Closing Date, which breach would give rise to the failure of a condition precedent to the obligation of a party as set forth in the Reorganization Agreement and it is not cured within 30 days after being provided notice by
the non-breaching party; (iii) if the Purchase Agreement above is validly terminated; (iv) if the Closing does not occur on or prior to March 31, 2025; or (v) any Governmental Authority has
enacted, issued, promulgated or entered any Law or non-appealable final Judgment or taken any other non-appealable final action, in each case having the effect of
permanently restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that the right to terminate the Reorganization Agreement shall not be available to a party that has materially
breached any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements so as to have caused the relevant Governmental Authority to enact, issue, promulgate or enter any such Law or Judgment or other
non-appealable action, including any breach by the any party of its obligations unless such breach was primarily or principally caused by the other partys breach of any of its representatives, warranties
or covenants contained in the Reorganization Agreement.
COMPARISON OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE COMBINED FUND
Investment Objectives
The Acquiring Funds primary
investment objective is to seek a high level of current income with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.
The Acquiring Funds investment
objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its objective.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Acquiring Fund,
under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in loans and fixed-income instruments or other instruments, including derivative instruments, with similar economic characteristics. The Acquiring Fund
invests primarily in first- and second-lien secured loans, unsecured loans and high-yield corporate debt instruments of varying maturities. Such higher-yield debt securities will often be unrated or below investment grade. During temporary defensive
periods, the Acquiring Fund may invest all or a portion of its assets in certain short-term and medium-term debt securities, such as U.S. government bonds, bank deposits and obligations, short-term corporate debt, repurchase agreements, and shares
of money market funds. Managed Assets means the total assets of the Acquiring Fund (including any assets attributable to borrowings for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Acquiring Funds accrued liabilities (other than
liabilities representing borrowings for investment purposes).
7
Please see Leverage below for additional information regarding the Acquiring Funds strategies
with respect to use of leverage.
Distribution Information
The Acquiring Fund currently pays a monthly distribution. The Combined Fund intends to make its first distribution to shareholders in the month immediately
following the Reorganization. In addition, the Combined Fund expects to follow the same frequency of payments as the Acquiring Fund and make monthly distributions to shareholders.
Please see Description of Common Shares to be Issued by the Acquiring Fund below for additional information.
Leverage
As of August 30, 2024, the Acquiring Fund
uses leverage through a credit facility and mandatory redeemable preferred stock representing 35% of the Acquiring Funds Managed Assets. The Combined Fund expects to use leverage in the same amount and types as the Acquired Fund. However,
there can be no guarantee that the Combined Fund will leverage its assets or, to the extent the Combined Fund utilizes leverage, what percentage of its assets such leverage will represent.
The Acquiring Fund is and the Combined Fund will be permitted to obtain leverage using any form or combination of financial leverage instruments, including
through funds borrowed from banks or other financial institutions (i.e., a credit facility), margin facilities, the issuance of preferred shares or notes and leverage attributable to reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls or similar
transactions. The Acquiring Fund and Combined Fund each may use leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease its leverage, or use different types or combinations of leveraging instruments, at any time based on the Acquiring or
Combined Funds assessment of market conditions and the investment environment. There can be no assurance that the Acquiring Fund or Combined Fund will use leverage or that its leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which
it is employed.
Portfolio Transitioning
Following
the Reorganization, the Combined Fund expects to realign its portfolio in a manner consistent with its investment strategies and policies, which will be the same as the Acquiring Funds strategies and policies. The Combined Fund may not be
invested consistent with its investment strategies or the Acquiring Fund Managers investment approach while such realignment occurs. The realignment is anticipated to take up to two months following the closing of the Reorganization, based on
current market conditions and assuming that the Acquired Funds holdings are the same as of August 30, 2024. Sales and purchases of less liquid securities could take longer. Based on the Acquired Funds holdings as of August 30,
2024, the Combined Fund expects to sell approximately 100% of the Acquired Funds portfolio following the closing of the Reorganization. If the Reorganization was completed on August 30, 2024, the expected cost (including any transaction
costs) to sell 100% of the Acquired Funds holdings following the closing of the Reorganization, which is estimated to equal 23% of the Combined Funds portfolio, would be approximately $466,000 (or 0.09% of the estimated NAV of the
Combined Fund as of August 30, 2024) or $0.011 per share of the Combined Fund. To the extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction charges and related fees) associated with the sales and purchases of
portfolio securities made in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by (i) the Acquired Fund with respect to sales and purchases conducted before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Closing Date,
(the Effective Time) and (ii) the Combined Fund with respect to sales and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time. The portfolio transitioning may result in capital gains or losses, which may have federal income tax
consequences for shareholders of the Combined Fund.
8
Fees and Expenses
Below is a comparison of the fees and expenses of the Acquiring Fund before and after the Reorganization based on the expenses for fiscal period ended
April 30, 2024. The pro forma information for the Combined Fund is as of August 30, 2024. Pro forma combined fees and expenses assume the maximum aggregate amount of Cash Consideration is elected and are estimated in
good faith and are hypothetical.
It is important to note that following the Reorganization, shareholders of the Acquired Fund would be subject to the
actual fees and expenses of the Acquiring Fund, which may not be the same as the pro forma combined fees and expenses. Future fees and expenses may be greater or lesser than those indicated below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquiring Fund |
|
|
Pro Forma Combined Fund |
|
Common Shareholder Transaction Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales load (as a percentage of the offering
price)(1) |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
None |
|
Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering
price)(1) |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
None |
|
Dividend Reinvestment plan fees (per open market purchase transaction fee) |
|
$ |
30.00 |
(2) |
|
$ |
30.00 |
(2) |
Dividend Reinvestment plan fees (per sale transaction fee) |
|
$ |
31.95 |
(2) |
|
$ |
31.95 |
(2) |
|
|
|
Annual expenses
(as a percentage of net assets
attributable to Common Shares) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fee(3) |
|
|
1.70 |
% |
|
|
1.70 |
%(4) |
Interest expenses and payments on borrowing |
|
|
2.90 |
%(5) |
|
|
2.79 |
%(5) |
Other expenses(6) |
|
|
0.93 |
% |
|
|
0.55 |
% |
Total annual expenses |
|
|
5.53 |
% |
|
|
5.04 |
% |
Less: management fee waiver |
|
|
0.00 |
% |
|
|
-0.17 |
%(4) |
Total annual expenses management fee waiver |
|
|
5.53 |
% |
|
|
4.87 |
%(4) |
(1) |
No sales load will be charged in connection with the issuance of the New Shares as part of the Reorganization.
|
(2) |
Shareholders will pay a fee of $30.00, which includes any applicable brokerage commissions, in connection with
purchases by the DRIP Administrator of common shares on the open market. Shareholders will also pay a fee of $31.95 and any applicable brokerage commissions if you direct the DRIP Administrator to sell your common shares held in a dividend
reinvestment account. |
(3) |
The contractual advisory fee of the Acquiring Fund and the Combined Fund (the Management Fee) is
1.10% of the Funds average daily Managed Assets. Managed Assets means the total assets of the Acquiring or Combined Fund (including any assets attributable to borrowings for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Acquiring or
Combined Funds accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing borrowings for investment purposes). |
(4) |
In connection with the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund Manager has contractually agreed to temporarily
reduce its Management Fee to an annual rate of 0.99% of the average daily value of the Combined Funds Managed Assets for a period of twelve months, effective as of the Closing Date of the Reorganization. After this twelve-month period, this
management fee waiver agreement (the Management Fee Waiver Agreement) shall terminate unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Combined Fund. In addition, the Management Fee Waiver Agreement shall
terminate upon termination of the investment advisory agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Combined Fund. The Acquiring Fund Manager may not seek reimbursement from the Combined Fund with respect to the Management Fee waived.
|
(5) |
For the Acquiring Fund, assumes the use of leverage through a credit facility and MRPS representing 37.4% of
Managed Assets at an annual interest rate expense to the Acquiring Fund of 5.7%, which is based on the |
9
|
weighted average interest rate currently applicable under the Acquiring Funds existing credit facility and the dividends payable on the MRPS at an annual dividend rate equal to 3.81%.
|
For the Combined Fund, assumes the use of leverage through a credit facility and MRPS representing 33% of Managed Assets at
an annual interest rate expense to the Combined Fund of 5.7%, which is based on the weighted average interest rate currently applicable under the Combined Funds existing credit facility and the dividends payable on the MRPS at an annual
dividend rate equal to 3.81%.
The actual amount of interest expense borne by the Acquiring Fund or Combined Fund will vary over time in
accordance with the level and form of Acquiring or Combined Funds use of leverage and variations in market interest rates.
(6) |
The Other expenses shown in the table above and related footnotes are based upon estimated expenses
for the current fiscal year of the Acquiring Fund. The Other expenses of the pro forma Combined Fund are estimated in good faith and are hypothetical. There can be no assurance that future expenses will not increase or that any
estimated expense savings will be realized. |
Expense Example
The following example illustrates the expenses that a shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods provided in the table. The
example set forth below assumes shares of each Fund were owned as of the completion of the Reorganization (assuming the maximum aggregate amount of Cash Consideration is elected) and uses a 5% annual rate of return as mandated by SEC regulations.*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Year |
|
|
3 Years |
|
|
5 Years |
|
|
10 Years |
|
Acquiring Fund |
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
165 |
|
|
$ |
273 |
|
|
$ |
539 |
|
Pro Forma Combined Fund |
|
$ |
49 |
|
|
$ |
150 |
|
|
$ |
250 |
|
|
$ |
502 |
|
* |
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or
less than those shown. The example assumes that the Total annual expenses above are accurate and remain the same in the years shown, that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV and the management fee waiver for the
Combined Fund is only in effect until twelve months from the Closing Date of the Reorganization, as described in note (6) above. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, a Funds actual rate of return may be
greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMON SHARES
OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
Description of Common Shares to be Issued by the Acquiring Fund
Shareholders of the Combined Fund will have the same rights as they did as shareholders to the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Funds Agreement and
Declaration of Trust authorizes an unlimited number of shares, par value $0.001 per share.
The Acquiring Funds common shares, when issued, will be
fully paid and non-assessable and have no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights or rights to cumulative voting and will have equal rights as other Acquiring Fund common shares with respect to the payment
of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund.
10
Capitalization
The table below sets forth the capitalization of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund as of October 31, 2024, and the pro forma capitalization
of the Combined Fund as if the Reorganization had occurred on that date, assuming the maximum aggregate amount of Cash Consideration is elected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired Fund |
|
|
Acquiring Fund |
|
|
Adjustments |
|
|
Pro Forma Combined Fund |
|
Net Assets |
|
$ |
189,756,431 |
|
|
$ |
369,129,490 |
|
|
$ |
(9,487,822 |
)(a) |
|
$ |
549,398,099 |
|
Common Shares Outstanding(b) |
|
|
10,714,723 |
|
|
|
27,145,669 |
|
|
|
13,256,898 |
(c) |
|
|
40,402,567 |
|
Net Asset Value Per Common Share |
|
$ |
17.71 |
|
|
$ |
13.60 |
|
|
$ |
13.60 |
(c) |
|
$ |
13.60 |
|
Preferred Shares Outstanding |
|
|
None |
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
Liquidation Preference per Preferred Share |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
25.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
25.00 |
|
(a) |
Reflects the effects of the Cash Consideration (assuming the maximum aggregate amount of Cash Consideration is
elected and that the Cash Consideration is funded from sales of securities). |
(b) |
Based on the number of outstanding common shares as of October 31, 2024. |
(c) |
Reflects the exchange of Acquired Fund shares for Acquiring Fund shares as a result of the Reorganization.
|
THE ACQUIRING FUNDS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.
VOTING INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS
Quorum
A quorum of shareholders is constituted by the
presence at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, of one-third of the shares entitled to vote.
Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
Broker non-votes occur when a beneficial owner of
shares held in street name does not give instructions to the broker holding the shares as to how to vote on matters deemed non-routine. Generally, if shares are held in street name, the
beneficial owner of the shares is entitled to give voting instructions to the broker holding the shares. If the beneficial owner does not provide voting instructions, the broker can still vote the shares with respect to matters that are considered
to be routine, but cannot vote the shares with respect to non-routine matters. The Proposal is considered non-routine, so brokers
will not have discretionary voting power with respect to the Proposal, and the Acquiring Fund does not expect to receive any broker non-votes.
Abstentions will be considered as votes cast and, accordingly, will have the same effect as votes AGAINST the Proposal.
Adjournments
If a quorum is not present at the Meeting,
or if a quorum is present at the Meeting, but sufficient votes to approve any of the proposed items are not received, the Chairman of the Meeting may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies.
Appraisal Rights
Shareholders do not have
dissenters rights of appraisal in connection with the Proposal.
11
Vote Required for the Proposal
The Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of common and preferred shares, voting together as a single class, present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR
KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, registered address 555 California Street, 50th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104, serves as the investment adviser for the
Acquiring Fund. U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as administrator to the Acquiring Fund.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN INSIGHT NORTH AMERICA LLC AND KKR CREDIT ADVISORS (US) LLC
On October 8, 2024, the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, entered into a separate agreement (the Purchase Agreement)
pursuant to which, if the Reorganization is approved and upon satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions, the Acquiring Fund Manager will acquire, subject to certain exceptions, all right, title and interest of the Acquired Fund Manager in
and to the goodwill and books and records (the Asset Transfer) relating to the Acquired Fund Managers business of providing investment management services with respect to the assets of the Acquired Fund for a cash payment at the
closing of the Asset Transfer.
The Funds are not a party to the Purchase Agreement; however, the completion of the Asset Transfer is subject to certain
conditions, including shareholder approval of the Reorganization described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus for the Reorganization to proceed. Therefore, if Acquired Fund shareholders do not approve the Reorganization or if the other conditions in
the Purchase Agreement are not satisfied or waived, then the Asset Transfer may not be completed, and the Purchase Agreement may be terminated.
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
As of [ ], 2024,
to the Acquiring Funds knowledge, no single shareholder or group (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act) beneficially owned more than 5% of the Acquiring Funds outstanding common shares, except as
described in the following tables. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Acquiring Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A party that controls the Acquiring Fund may
be able to significantly affect the outcome of any item presented to shareholders for approval. Information as to beneficial ownership of common shares, including percentage of common shares beneficially owned, is based on, among other things,
reports filed with the SEC by such holders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Name and Address |
|
Class of Shares / Beneficial or Record Owner |
|
Share Holdings |
|
Percentage Owned |
|
Estimated Pro Forma Percentage of Ownership of Combined Fund |
[ ] |
|
[ ] |
|
[ ] |
|
[ ]% |
|
[ ]% |
Security Ownership of Management
As of [ ], 2024, the officers and Trustees of the Acquiring Fund, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
the Acquiring Fund.
12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Solicitation and Voting of Proxies
[ ] (the Proxy Solicitor) has been retained to assist in the solicitation of proxies and will receive an estimated fee
of $[ ].
Solicitation of proxies is being made primarily by the mailing of this Proxy Statement with its enclosures. As the
date of the Meeting approaches, certain shareholders of the Acquiring Fund may receive a call from a representative of the Proxy Solicitor, if the Acquiring Fund has not yet received their vote.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte) acts as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Acquiring Fund for the current fiscal
year and the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023. It is not expected that a representative of Deloitte will attend the Meeting.
Shareholder
Proposal
Any shareholder desiring to present a proposal for inclusion in the Acquiring Funds proxy materials for the 2025 annual meeting of
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund must submit the proposal in writing, so that it is received by the Acquiring Fund no later than November 8, 2024. Any shareholder desiring to present a proposal for consideration at the 2025 annual meeting of
shareholders, but not for inclusion in the Acquiring Funds proxy materials, must submit the proposal in writing no earlier than December 13, 2024, nor later than December 27, 2024, in the manner and form required by the Acquiring
Funds By-Laws. The Acquiring Fund will provide a copy of its By-Laws to any shareholder upon request in writing at the address stated on the first page of this
Proxy Statement.
Trustees Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders
The Acquiring Fund does not require Trustees to attend its annual meeting of shareholders.
Communications with the Board of Trustees
Shareholders
may send communications to the Board. Shareholders should send communications intended for the Board by addressing the communication directly to the Board (or individual Trustees) and/or otherwise clearly indicating in the salutation that the
communication is for the Board (or individual Trustees) and by sending the communication to either the Acquiring Funds office or directly to such Trustee(s) at the address specified for such Trustee above. Other shareholder
communications received by the Acquiring Fund not directly addressed and sent to the Board will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be forwarded to the Board only at managements discretion based on the matters
contained therein.
Incorporation by reference
The
documents listed below are incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement and deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement:
13
Additionally, copies of the foregoing and any more recent reports filed after the date hereof may be obtained
without charge:
|
|
|
By Phone: |
|
(855) 862-6092 |
By Mail: |
|
KKR Income Opportunities Fund |
|
|
c/o KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC 555
California Street, 50th Floor |
|
|
San Francisco, California 94104 |
By Internet: |
|
https://www.kkrfunds.com/kio/ |
Other Business
The
Trustees of the Acquiring Fund do not intend to present any other business at the Meeting, nor are they aware that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters, including adjournments, are properly brought before the Meeting, the
persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
IF VOTING BY PAPER PROXIES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND A MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
By Order of the Board of Trustees of:
KKR Income Opportunities Fund
/s/ Lori Hoffman
Lori
Hoffman
Secretary and Vice President
14
APPENDIX A
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
Agreement) is made as of October [ ], 2024, by and between KKR Income Opportunities Fund, a Delaware statutory trust with
its principal place of business at 555 California Street, 50th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 (the Acquiring Fund), and Insight Select Income Fund, a
Delaware statutory trust with its principal place of business at 200 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10166 (the Acquired Fund and, together with the
Acquiring Fund, the Funds). KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the investment adviser to the Acquired Fund (the Acquiring Fund Manager), joins this
Agreement solely for purposes of Sections 7.1, 8.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3, and Insight North America LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Acquired Fund
Manager), joins this Agreement solely for purposes of Sections 7.1, 8.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3.
WHEREAS, the
reorganization will consist of (i) the transfer of all of the Assets (as defined in Section 1.2) of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for (A) Stock Consideration (as defined in Section 2.3), which shall be
comprised of newly issued common shares of beneficial interest of the Acquiring Fund, par value of $0.001 per share (the Acquiring Fund Shares) calculated in accordance with Section 2 hereto, (B) Cash
Consideration (as defined in Section 2.3) in an amount determined in accordance with Schedule A hereto, and (C) the assumption of all Assumed Liabilities (as defined in Section 1.3) of the Acquired Fund by the Acquiring Fund, and
(ii) the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares and Cash Consideration to the Acquired Fund Shareholders (as defined below) as part of the complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in
this Agreement (the Reorganization); and
WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund are each
closed-end management investment companies registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and the Acquired Fund owns securities which are
assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest; and
WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund is authorized to issue
their shares of beneficial interest; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Fund (the Acquiring Fund
Board) and the Board of Trustees of the Acquired Fund (the Acquired Fund Board) have authorized and approved the Reorganization; and
WHEREAS, each of the Acquired Fund Manager and the Acquiring Fund Manager have entered into a purchase agreement
(the Purchase Agreement) pursuant to which the Acquiring Fund Manager agreed to acquire, and the Acquired Fund Manager agreed to sell, certain assets relating to the Acquired Fund Managers business with respect
to the Acquired Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is intended that, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and (ii) that the Agreement shall
constitute a plan of reorganization for purposes of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of
the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. |
THE REORGANIZATION AND FUND TRANSACTIONS |
1.1. The Reorganization. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of
the representations and warranties contained herein, and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.5), the Acquired Fund shall assign, deliver and otherwise
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transfer the Assets (as defined in Section 1.2) to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for the Stock Consideration and the Cash Consideration. At the Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund shall
issue Acquiring Fund Shares to the Acquired Fund for transfer to the Acquired Fund Shareholders as hereinafter provided. Promptly thereafter, and in any event, no more than three (3) Business Days after the Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund
shall deliver to the Acquired Fund or its designee the Cash Consideration for distribution to those Acquired Fund Shareholders electing to receive Cash Consideration. The number of Acquiring Fund Shares and the amount of the Cash Consideration shall
be determined as set forth in Section 2.3. No fractional Acquiring Fund Shares shall be issued and Acquired Fund Shareholders otherwise entitled to receive fractional Acquiring Fund Shares shall be paid cash in lieu thereof, as provided in
Section 2.4.
1.2. Assets of the Acquired Fund. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be
acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all assets and property that can legally be transferred, whether accrued or contingent, known or unknown, including, without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, receivables (including
securities, interests and dividends receivable), commodities and futures interests, rights to register shares under applicable securities laws, any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund at the Effective
Time (as defined in Section 2.5), books and records of the Acquired Fund (or copies thereof consistent with Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act), and any other property owned by the Acquired Fund at the
Effective Time (collectively, the Assets). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assets shall not include any assets or property that cannot be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to applicable law or regulation.
1.3. Liabilities of the Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts
to discharge, or make provisions for, all of its known liabilities and obligations prior to the Effective Time consistent with its obligation to continue its operations and to pursue its investment objective and strategies in accordance with the
terms as presented in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 5.6) in connection with the Reorganization. To the extent the Acquired Fund is unable to discharge or make provisions for any such liability or obligation prior to the
Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund will assume all remaining liabilities and obligations of the Acquired Fund, whether absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, due or to become due, other than, for the avoidance of
doubt, (a) any obligation of the Acquired Fund to make the distributions contemplated by this Agreement or to perform other obligations under this Agreement and (b) any expenses required to be borne by the Acquired Fund or the Acquired
Fund Manager after Closing pursuant to Section 8.1 (the Assumed Liabilities). At and after the Effective Time, such Assumed Liabilities shall become and be the liabilities of the Acquiring Fund and may be enforced
against the Acquiring Fund to the extent as if the same had been incurred by the Acquiring Fund.
1.4.
Distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares and Cash Consideration to Acquired Fund Shareholders. As soon as is reasonably practicable after receipt from the Acquiring Fund of the Stock Consideration and the Cash Consideration pursuant
to Section 1.1, the Acquired Fund will distribute (in accordance with the terms hereof), in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, to the record holders of the shares of the Acquired Fund determined as of the Effective Time
(the Acquired Fund Shareholders) in such amounts as determined pursuant to the terms hereof and in accordance with such shareholders entitlements thereto (i) all the Acquiring Fund Shares and any cash
delivered in lieu of fractional Acquiring Fund Shares and (ii) all the Cash Consideration. The distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares will be accomplished by the transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the Acquired
Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders entitled to receive Acquiring Fund Shares. The distribution of the Cash Consideration shall be made to
the Acquired Fund Shareholders entitled thereto in the manner set forth in Schedule A. Thereafter, all issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund (the Acquired Fund Shares) will be canceled on the books of the
Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue share certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such transfer, except for any global certificate or certificates required by a securities depository in connection with
the establishment of book-entry ownership of the Acquiring Fund Shares.
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1.5. Recorded Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares. Ownership
by Acquired Fund Shareholders of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Funds transfer agent at the Closing (as defined below), or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable.
1.6. Filing Responsibilities of Acquired Fund. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or
agreed to in writing by the parties prior to the Closing Date (as defined in as defined in Section 3.1), any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund, including, but not limited to, the responsibility for filing regulatory reports, tax
returns, or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), the exchange on which the Acquired Funds shares are listed, any state securities commission, any state corporate
registry, and any federal, state or local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund up to and including the Closing Date. Thereafter, any such reporting responsibility of
the Acquired Fund shall be the responsibility of the Acquiring Fund.
1.7. Transfer Taxes. Any
transfer taxes payable upon issuance of the Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered holder of the Acquired Fund Shares on the books of the Acquired Fund as of that time shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid
by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred and any request for such transfer shall be accompanied by proper documentation.
1.8. Termination. Promptly after the distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares and Cash Consideration pursuant
to Section 1.4, the Acquired Fund shall take, in accordance with Delaware law and the 1940 Act, all steps as may be necessary or appropriate to effect a complete deregistration, liquidation, dissolution and termination of the Acquired Fund as
soon as reasonably practicable.
2.1. Net Asset Value per Acquired Fund Share. For purposes of the Closing, the net asset value per
Acquired Fund Share shall be the net asset value computed as of the Valuation Time in accordance with Section 2.6, after the declaration and payment of any dividends and/or other distributions on that date, using the valuation procedures of the
Acquired Fund adopted by the Acquired Fund Board.
2.2. Net Asset Value per Acquiring Fund
Share. For purposes of the Closing, the net asset value per Acquiring Fund Share shall be the net asset value computed as of the Valuation Time in accordance with Section 2.6, after the declaration and payment of any dividends and/or
other distributions on that date, using the valuation procedures of the Acquiring Fund adopted by the Acquiring Fund Board.
2.3. Calculation of Number of Acquiring Fund Shares and Amount of Cash Consideration.
Subject to the procedures set forth in Schedule A hereto, as of the Effective Time, each Acquired Fund Share outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be exchanged for either (A) Acquiring Fund Shares in an amount equal to
the ratio of the net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund determined in accordance with Section 2.1 to the net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund determined in accordance with Section 2.2 (Stock
Consideration) or (B) an amount of cash equal to ninety-eight percent (98%) of the net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund Shares determined in accordance with Section 2.1 (the Cash
Consideration). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the maximum number of Acquired Fund Shares for which Cash Consideration will be received shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding Acquired Fund
Shares immediately prior to the Closing (Maximum Cash Shares).
2.4.
Fractional Shares. No fractional Acquiring Fund Shares will be distributed. In the event Acquired Fund Shareholders would be entitled to receive fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, the Acquiring Funds transfer agent will
aggregate such fractional shares and sell the resulting whole shares on the exchange on which such shares are listed, and each such Acquired Fund Shareholder will be entitled to a pro rata share of the proceeds from such sale in connection
with the distribution described in Section 1.4. With respect to the aggregation and sale of fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, the Acquiring Funds transfer agent will
A-3
transfer the cash proceeds from the sale of such Acquiring Fund Shares, net of brokerage commissions, if any, directly to the Acquired Fund for further distribution to Acquired Fund Shareholders
entitled to receive the fractional shares (without interest and subject to withholding taxes); provided that the amount of cash proceeds from the sale of any fractional Acquired Fund Shares shall not be counted as Cash Consideration or
toward the Maximum Cash Shares for the purposes of Section 2.3.
2.5. Effective Time. The
Reorganization shall be effective at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3.1) or any such other date and time as may be mutually agreed upon in
writing by the parties hereto (the Effective Time).
2.6. Valuation
Time. The term Valuation Time shall mean the time at which the Funds calculate their net asset values as set forth in their respective valuation procedures (normally the close of regular trading on the NYSE) on the
Business Day immediately prior to the Closing Date. The term Business Day shall mean a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are closed either under applicable Law or
action of any Governmental Authority.
3.1. Closing. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to Section 9.2, the
Reorganization, together with related acts necessary to consummate the same (the Closing), shall occur at the principal office of the Acquiring Fund or via the electronic exchange of documents on the Closing Date (as
defined in the Purchase Agreement) applicable to the Acquired Fund, or such other date or place as an officer of the Acquiring Fund and an officer of the Acquired Fund may agree in writing and after satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted by
applicable law) of the conditions precedent to the Closing set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the
extent permitted, waiver of those conditions at the Closing), immediately after the close of regular trading on the NYSE (the Closing Date). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place
simultaneously as of the Effective Time.
3.2. Transfer and Delivery of Assets. The Acquired
Fund shall direct The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), as custodian for the Acquired Fund, to deliver to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate or representation of an authorized officer of BNY stating that the
Assets were delivered in proper form to the Acquiring Fund at the Effective Time. The Acquired Funds portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument, if any, shall be presented by BNY, on behalf of the Acquired
Fund, to U.S. Bank, N.A (US Bank), as custodian for the Acquiring Fund. Such presentation shall be made for examination as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time and shall be transferred and delivered
by the Acquired Fund as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time for the account of the Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. BNY, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, shall deliver to US Bank, as custodian of the Acquiring Fund, as of the Effective Time, by book entry, in accordance with the customary practices of BNY and of each securities depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, in which the Assets are deposited, the Assets deposited with such depositories. The Cash Consideration to be transferred by or on behalf of the Acquiring Fund shall be delivered by wire
transfer of federal funds or by such other manner as BNY, as custodian of the Acquired Fund, deems appropriate as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by the Acquiring Fund of the Acquired Funds portfolio securities.
3.3. Share Records. The Acquired Fund shall direct Computershare Inc., in its capacity as transfer
agent for the Acquired Fund (the Transfer Agent), to deliver to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate or other documentation of an authorized officer of the Transfer Agent stating that its records contain the
names and addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding Acquired Fund Shares owned by each such Acquired Fund Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and
deliver to the Secretary of the Acquired Fund a confirmation evidencing that the Transfer Agent has been instructed to credit an appropriate number of Acquiring Fund Shares (as calculated in accordance with the terms hereof) to the
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Acquired Fund as of the Effective Time, or provide other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund as of the Effective Time that such Acquiring Fund Shares will be credited to the
Acquired Funds accounts on the books of the Acquiring Fund (or credited to the accounts of the Acquired Fund Shareholders that receive any amount of Stock Consideration, which for the avoidance of doubt shall not include any Acquired
Fund Shareholder that does not receive Stock Consideration and only receives Cash Consideration).
3.4.
Postponement of Valuation Time. In the event that at the Valuation Time, (a) the NYSE or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund
(the Market) shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Market or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the mutual judgment of the
Boards of Trustees or officers of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, respectively, is impracticable, the Valuation Time shall be postponed until the
first Business Day, or other mutually agreed Business Day, after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
3.5. Failure To Deliver Assets. If the Acquired Fund is unable to make delivery pursuant to
Section 3.2 to the custodian for the Acquiring Fund of any of the Assets of the Acquired Fund for the reason that any of such Assets have not yet been delivered to it by the Acquired Funds broker, dealer or other counterparty, then, in
lieu of such delivery, the Acquired Fund shall deliver, with respect to said Assets, executed copies of an agreement of assignment and due bills executed on behalf of said broker, dealer or other counterparty, together with such other documents as
may be required by the Acquiring Fund or its custodian, including brokers confirmation slips, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver any such Assets to the custodian as soon as reasonably practicable. In addition, with respect to
any Asset that requires additional documentation by an Assets issuer or other third party in order to effect a transfer of such Asset, the Acquired Fund will identify each such asset to the Acquiring Fund on a mutually agreed upon date prior
to the Closing Date and will engage with the Acquiring Fund to complete such documentation as necessary to transfer such Assets to the Acquiring Funds custodian as soon as reasonably practicable.
4. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
4.1. Representations and Warranties of the Acquired Fund. Except as (i) has been fully
disclosed to the Acquiring Fund as of the date hereof in a written instrument executed by an officer of the Acquired Fund (such written instrument, the Acquired Fund Disclosures), or (ii) has been disclosed in any
material forms, documents or reports (including any amendments thereto and any exhibits or other documents incorporated by reference therein), other than any disclosures set forth under the heading Risk Factors and any disclosures that
are forward looking in nature, filed or furnished by the Acquired Fund prior to the date of this Agreement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Acquired Fund represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquired Fund is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware with power under its Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended from time-to-time, to own
all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is presently conducted. The Acquired Fund is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction where its business so requires, except for such
failures to be so qualified or licensed as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquired Fund.
(b) The Acquired Fund is, and at all times since its inception has been, duly registered with the Commission as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and the Acquired Fund Shares have been registered under and sold in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933
Act).
A-5
(c) Subject in each case to obtaining the Acquired Fund Shareholder Approval (as
defined below):
(i) the Acquired Fund has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
perform its obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Acquired Fund have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquired Fund; and
(iii) the Acquired Fund has duly and validly approved, executed and delivered this Agreement.
(d) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund, this Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable against the Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) Laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and (ii) as
to enforceability, Laws governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
(e) At the
Effective Time, except as otherwise disclosed in the Acquired Fund Disclosures, (i) the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to the Assets and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver such Assets
hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances except for any (A) encumbrances arising under this Agreement, if any, or (B) encumbrances relating to the transferability of securities arising under applicable securities Laws, if any;
(ii) immediately upon delivery and payment for the Assets, the Acquiring Fund will acquire all rights of the Acquired Fund thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof other than such restrictions as might arise under the
1933 Act; and (iii) no person or entity (other than the Acquired Fund) has any rights, title to or interests in the Assets.
(f) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental or similar authority is required for the
consummation by the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and the 1940 Act, and such as
may be required under state securities laws and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
(g)
The shareholder reports, marketing materials of the Acquired Fund and each prospectus, statement of additional information and Form 8-Ks of the Acquired Fund used for a period of three (3) years prior to
the date of this Agreement conform or conformed at the time of their use in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not or
did not at the time of their use include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not materially misleading.
(h) Assuming all requisite organizational and regulatory approvals contemplated in
Section 5.5 and Section 5.10, to the extent applicable, are obtained and remain in full force and effect, the Acquired Fund is not engaged currently, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Acquired Fund Disclosures, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in: (i) a violation of securities laws (including the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and applicable state blue sky laws) or any federal, state, local, municipal, provincial, territorial,
national, foreign or other statute, law (including common law), act, code, order, award, injunction, decree, judgment, verdict, rule, constitution, directive, resolution, or regulation enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into
effect by or under the authority of any governmental body (Law) applicable to the Acquired Fund, (ii) a conflict with or violation of its Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated
By-Laws, each as amended from time to time, (iii) conflict with any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound,
(iv) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound or (v) the requirement
to obtain any governmental authorization or make any filing with or provide any notice to any court, governmental body, arbitral body (public or private) or any entity or body exercising similar authority (a Governmental
Authority) or provide any notice to, or
A-6
obtain any approval, consent or waiver of, any other person, except, solely with respect to clauses (i), (iii) (iv) and (v) where such breach or default or failure to notify or obtain
approval, consent or waiver would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the Acquired Fund or would not adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Acquired Fund Disclosures, all material contracts or other commitments of the Acquired
Fund (other than this Agreement) will terminate without liability or obligation to the Acquired Fund on or prior to the Effective Time.
(j) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Acquired Fund Disclosures, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation
of or before any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Acquired Fund is presently pending or, threatened in writing, or to the actual knowledge of David Leduc, Tom Stabile and Daniel Haff, after due inquiry of those employees immediately
reporting to such executive officers (the Acquired Funds Knowledge), threatened orally against the Acquired Fund or any of the Acquired Funds properties or assets, that, if adversely determined, is
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the Acquired Funds financial condition or business or would adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. To the Acquired Funds Knowledge, there are no facts which are reasonably likely to form the basis for the institution of such proceedings, and the Acquired Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or
judgment of any Governmental Authority that would be material to the Acquired Funds business or would adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions herein contemplated. There are no outstanding settlements,
orders, judgments, injunctions or decrees against the Acquired Fund or the Acquired Fund Shares.
(k) The financial
statements and financial highlights of the Acquired Fund at, as of and for its most recently completed fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, have been audited by Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, independent registered public accounting firm to
the Acquired Fund, and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) consistently applied, except as otherwise disclosed therein, and such statements
(copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, and changes in net assets of the Acquired Fund as of such date and for the period then ended, and
there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on the statement of assets and liabilities (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein. The Acquired Fund
maintains standard accounting policies established and administered in accordance with GAAP. The Acquired Fund has established and maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
(i) that its business is operated, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable Laws, (ii) regarding the reliability of the Acquired Funds financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with
GAAP and (iii) that material receipts and expenditures of the Acquired Fund are being made in accordance with the authorization of the officers and directors (or their equivalent) of such entity. To the Acquired Funds Knowledge, in the
past five (5) years, there has been no fraud, or claim or allegation of fraud, by or against the named executive officers of the Acquired Fund relating to the operation of the Acquired Fund or the preparation of its financial statements.
(l) Since March 31, 2024, there has not been any change in the Acquired Funds financial condition, assets and
liabilities or business that would be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the Acquired Fund, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquired Fund of indebtedness. For the
purposes of this Section 4.1(l), a decline in net asset value per share of Acquired Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by the Acquired Fund, the discharge of the Acquired Funds liabilities, or purchase or the
redemption of the Acquired Funds shares by shareholders of the Acquired Fund shall not, in and of itself, constitute a material adverse change either individually or in the aggregate (provided, any change, event, occurrence or fact
underlying such decline in market values of the securities may be taken into account in determining where a material adverse change has occurred).
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(m) The Acquired Fund does not have any liabilities or obligations, whether known
or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, due or to become due (collectively, the Liabilities) arising out of or related to its business, other than liabilities or
obligations that (i) are expressly reflected or reserved against on the financial statements of the Acquired Fund, (ii) were incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not arise from a breach of
contract, tort, infringement or violation of Law, including the performance of any contract to which the Acquired Fund is a party as of the date hereof, (iii) individually and in the aggregate would not be materially adverse to the Acquired
Fund, (iv) arise out of the termination of any contract in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, or (v) do not and will not materially impair the ability of the Acquired Fund to perform its obligations hereunder,
or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to conduct the business from and after the Closing as it is currently or proposed to be conducted. Other than the Assumed Liabilities and any Liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be paid by the Acquired
Fund Manager in accordance with Section 8.1(b), the Acquired Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to discharge, or make provisions for, all of its known Liabilities before the Effective Time.
(n) At the Effective Time, all material federal, state, local and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Acquired Fund required by Law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions, if any) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all material
federal, state, local and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns, forms and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and no such return is currently under audit, and no
material assessment has been asserted, in writing, with respect to such returns, which assessment has not been resolved.
(o) The Acquired Fund has not taken any action and, to the Acquired Funds Knowledge, there is no fact or circumstance
that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Reorganization from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(p) The Acquired Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
For each taxable year since and including the taxable year ending in 2020 (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated
investment company within the meaning of Section 851 et seq. of the Code and has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code and expects to continue to meet such requirements at all times through
the Closing Date. The Acquired Fund has not at any time since its inception been liable for, nor is now liable for, any material income or excise tax pursuant to Sections 852 or 4982 of the Code. There is no other material tax liability (including
any foreign, state or local tax liability) of the Acquired Fund except as set forth in the Acquired Fund Disclosures. The Acquired Fund has no earnings or profits accumulated with respect to any taxable year in which the provisions of Subchapter M
of the Code did not apply. The Acquired Fund will not be subject to corporate-level taxation on the sale of any assets currently held by it as a result of the application of Section 337(d) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
(q) Except as set forth in the Acquired Fund Disclosures, the Acquired Fund is in compliance with all Laws applicable to its
business, properties or assets in all material respects. Without limiting the foregoing, the Acquired Fund is in compliance in all material respects with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service pertaining to the reporting of dividends
and other distributions on and redemptions of its shares of beneficial interest. To the Acquired Funds Knowledge, the Acquired Fund has complied in all material respects with applicable requirements for collection and maintenance of Forms W-9 and/or Forms W-8 and has withheld in respect of dividends and other distributions and paid to the proper taxing authorities all taxes required to be withheld and is not
liable for any material penalties which could be imposed thereunder.
(r) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Acquired Fund will, at the time of Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, as provided in Section 3.3. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any
options, warrants or
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other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund Shares.
(s) The Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 5.6), insofar as it relates to information provided by the
Acquired Fund for the use therein, will, as of the effective time of the Acquiring Funds registration statement on Form N-14 (the Registration
Statement) in which it is included and any time prior to the Effective Time: (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statement made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading and (ii) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; provided, however, that the representations and warranties of this subsection (s) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement/Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information that was furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use therein.
(t) Except for UBS Securities LLC, there are no
brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments from, in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(u) The representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund set forth in this Section 4.1 are the only representations and
warranties made by the Acquired Fund with respect to Acquired Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as specifically set forth in this Section 4.1, (i) the Acquired Fund is selling the
Assets to the Acquiring Fund as is and where is and with all faults, and the Acquired Fund makes no other representation or warranty, express or implied, as to any matter whatsoever relating to the Assets, the Assumed
Liabilities, the Acquired Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement, including as to merchantability or fitness for any particular use or purpose and (ii) except with respect
to Fraud or as otherwise agreed in the Purchase Agreement or any other agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquired Fund, any of its affiliates, or any of its or their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, representatives, stockholders or members, will have or will be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Acquiring Fund or any other person resulting from the distribution to the Acquiring Fund or
its affiliates or representatives, or the Acquiring Funds use, of any information relating to the Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, the Acquired Fund or any of its affiliates, or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or any ancillary agreement, including any descriptive memoranda, summary business descriptions or any information, documents or materials made available by the Acquired Fund or any of its affiliates or its or their respective
representatives to the Acquiring Fund or any of its affiliates or its or their respective representatives, whether orally or in writing, in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement.
(v) The Acquired Fund has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the Acquiring Fund, as it has
deemed appropriate, which investigation, review and analysis was done by the Acquired Fund and its representatives. The Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that it and its representatives have been provided access to the personnel and records
relating to the Acquiring Fund. In entering into this Agreement, the Acquired Fund acknowledges and agrees that it has relied solely upon the aforementioned investigation, review and analysis and not on any factual representations or opinions or
representations or warranties of the Acquiring Fund, its representatives or any other person (except the representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund set forth in Section 4.2 and of the Acquiring Fund Manager set forth in any agreement
between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager). The Acquired Fund hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) other than the representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund set forth in Section 4.2, and the
representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund Manager set forth in any agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquiring Fund, Acquiring Fund Manager or any of their respective affiliates,
officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, stockholders or members, make or have made, and the Acquired Fund is not relying on, any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, as to any matter whatsoever
relating to the Acquiring Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions
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contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) except as set forth in Section 4.2, or any agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquiring
Fund, any of its affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, stockholders or members, will have or will be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Acquired Fund or any other
person resulting from the distribution to the Acquired Fund, its affiliates or their respective representatives, or the Acquired Funds use, of any information relating to the Acquiring Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement, including any descriptive memoranda, summary business descriptions or any information, documents or material made available to the Acquired Fund, any of its affiliates or their respective
representatives by the Acquiring Fund, the Acquiring Fund Manager, or their respective affiliates or representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any other form in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary
agreement.
4.2. Representations and Warranties of the Acquiring Fund. Except as (i) has
been fully disclosed to the Acquired Fund as of the date hereof in a written instrument executed by an officer of the Acquiring Fund (such written instrument, the Acquiring Fund Disclosures), or (ii) has been
disclosed in any material forms, documents or reports (including any amendments thereto and any exhibits or other documents incorporated by reference therein), other than any disclosures set forth under the heading Risk Factors and any
disclosures that are forward looking in nature, filed or furnished by the Acquiring Fund prior to the date of this Agreement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund as
follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws
of the State of Delaware with power under its Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended from
time-to-time, to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is presently conducted. The Acquiring Fund is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction where its business so requires, except for such failures to be so qualified or licensed as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiring
Fund.
(b) The Acquiring Fund is, and at all times since its inception has been, duly registered with the Commission as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and the Acquiring Fund Shares have been registered and sold in compliance with the 1933 Act.
(c) Subject in each case to obtaining the Acquiring Fund Shareholder Approval (as defined below):
(i) the Acquiring Fund has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby by the Acquiring Fund have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund; and
(iii) the Acquiring Fund has duly and validly approved, executed and delivered this Agreement.
(d) Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund, this Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) Laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and
(ii) as to enforceability, Laws governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
(e)
No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental or similar authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the
1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under state securities Laws and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
(f) The shareholder reports, marketing and materials of the Acquiring Fund and each prospectus and statement of additional
information and Form 8-Ks of the Acquiring Fund used for a period of three
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(3) years prior to the date of this Agreement conform or conformed at the time of their use, in each case, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not or did not at the time of their use include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(g) Assuming all requisite filings and approvals contemplated hereby are made or obtained and remain in full force and effect,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result, in: (i) a violation of Laws applicable to the Acquiring Fund, (ii) a conflict with or violation of its Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and
Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended from time to time, (iii) conflict with any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a
party or by which it is bound, (iii) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is
bound, or (iv) the requirement to obtain any governmental authorization or make any filing with or provide any notice to any Governmental Authority or provide any notice to, or obtain any approval, consent or waiver of, any other person,
except, solely with respect to clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) where such breach or default or failure to notify or obtain approval, consent or waiver would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the Acquired Fund or
would not adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(h) No litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over
the Acquired Fund is presently pending or threatened in writing or to the actual knowledge of Rudy Pimentel or Michael Nguyen after due inquiry of those employees immediately reporting to such executive officers (the Acquiring
Funds Knowledge), threatened orally against the Acquiring Fund or any of the Acquiring Funds properties or assets, that, if adversely determined, is individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to be materially
adverse to the Acquiring Funds financial condition or business or would adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the Acquiring Funds Knowledge, there are no facts
which are reasonably likely to form the basis for the institution of such proceedings, and the Acquiring Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any Governmental Authority that would be material to the
Acquiring Funds business or would adversely impact its ability to consummate or materially delay the transactions herein contemplated. There are no outstanding settlements, orders, judgments, injunctions or decrees against the Acquiring Fund
or the Acquiring Fund Shares.
(i) The financial statements and financial highlights of the Acquiring Fund at, as of and
for its most recently completed fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, have been audited by [ ], independent registered public accounting firm to the Acquiring Fund, and have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquired Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, and changes in net assets of the Acquiring Fund as of such
date and for the period then ended, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund required to be reflected on the statement of assets and liabilities (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not
disclosed therein. The Acquiring Fund has established and maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance (i) that its business is operated, in all material respects, in accordance
with applicable Laws, (ii) regarding the reliability of the Acquiring Funds financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and (iii) that material receipts and expenditures of the Acquiring
Fund are being made in accordance with the authorization of the officers and directors (or their equivalent) of such entity. To the Acquiring Funds Knowledge, in the past five (5) years there has been no fraud, or claim or allegation of
fraud, by or against the named executive officers of the Acquiring Fund relating to the operation of the Acquiring Fund or the preparation of its financial statements.
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(j) Since October 31, 2023, there has not been any change in the Acquiring
Funds financial condition, assets and liabilities (on a consolidated basis) or business that would be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the Acquiring Fund, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business,
or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness. For the purposes of this Section 4.2(j), a decline in net asset value per share of Acquiring Fund Shares due to declines in market values of securities held by the Acquiring Fund, the
discharge of the Acquiring Funds liabilities, or purchase or the redemption of the Acquiring Funds shares by shareholders of the Acquiring Fund shall not, in and of itself, constitute a material adverse change either individually or in
the aggregate (provided, any change, event, occurrence or fact underlying such decline in market values of the securities may be taken into account in determining where a material adverse change has occurred).
(k) To the Acquiring Funds Knowledge, the Acquiring Fund does not have any Liabilities arising out of or related to its
business, other than liabilities that (i) are expressly reflected or reserved against on the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund, (ii) were incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, that do not arise
from a breach of contract, tort, infringement or violation of Law, (iii) individually and in the aggregate would not be materially adverse to the Acquiring Fund, (iv) arise out of the termination of any contract in connection with the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, or (v) do not and will not materially impair the ability of the Acquiring Fund to perform its obligations hereunder, or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to conduct the business from and after the
Closing as it is currently or proposed to be conducted.
(l) At the Effective Time, all material federal, state, local and
other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Acquiring Fund required by Law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions, if any) shall have been filed and are
or will be correct in all material respects, and all material federal, state, local and other taxes shown as due or required to be shown as due on said returns, forms and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment
thereof, and no such return is currently under audit, and no material assessment has been asserted, in writing, with respect to such returns, which assessment has not been resolved.
(m) The Acquiring Fund has not taken any action and, to the Acquiring Funds Knowledge, there is no fact or circumstance
that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Reorganization from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(n) The Acquiring Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
For each taxable year since and including the taxable year ending in 2020 (including the period through the Closing Date), the Acquiring Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and treatment as a regulated
investment company within the meaning of Section 851 et seq. of the Code and has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code and expects to continue to meet such requirements at all times through
the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund has not at any time since its inception been liable for, nor is now liable for, any material income or excise tax pursuant to Sections 852 or 4982 of the Code. There is no other material tax liability (including
any foreign, state or local tax liability) of the Acquiring Fund except as set forth in the Acquiring Fund Disclosures. The Acquiring Fund has no earnings or profits accumulated with respect to any taxable year in which the provisions of Subchapter
M of the Code did not apply. The Acquiring Fund will not be subject to corporate-level taxation on the sale of any assets currently held by it as a result of the application of Section 337(d) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
(o) The Acquiring Fund is in compliance in all material respects with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service
pertaining to the reporting of dividends and other distributions on and redemptions of its common shares of beneficial interest. To the Acquiring Funds Knowledge, the Acquiring Fund has complied in all material respects with applicable
requirements for collection and maintenance of Forms W-9 and/or Forms W-8 and has withheld in respect of dividends and other distributions and paid to the proper taxing
authorities all taxes required to be withheld and is not liable for any material penalties which could be imposed thereunder.
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(p) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired Fund,
for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will at the Effective Time have been duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, will be fully
paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund and will have been issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements and applicable securities Laws. The Acquiring Fund does
not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquiring Fund Shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquiring Fund Shares.
(q) The Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 5.6), insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund, will, as of
the effective time of the Registration Statement in which it is included and any time prior to the Effective Time: (i) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement
made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading and (ii) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; provided, however, that the representations and warranties of this subsection (q) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement/Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information that was furnished by the Acquired Fund for use therein.
(r) There are no brokers or finders entitled to
receive any payments from, in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
(s) The
representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund set forth in this Section 4.2 are the only representations and warranties made by the Acquiring Fund with respect to Acquiring Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Except as specifically set forth in this Section 4.2, (i) the Acquiring Fund makes no other representation or warranty, express or implied, as to any matter whatsoever relating to the Acquiring Fund or any
other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement, including as to merchantability or fitness for any particular use or purpose and (ii) except with respect to Fraud or as otherwise agreed in
the Purchase Agreement or any other agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquiring Fund, any of its affiliates, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
representatives, stockholders or members, will have or will be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Acquired Fund or any other person resulting from the distribution to the Acquired Fund or its affiliates or representatives,
or the Acquiring Funds use, of any information relating to the Acquiring Fund or any of its affiliates, or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement, including any descriptive
memoranda, summary business descriptions or any information, documents or materials made available by the Acquiring Fund or any of its affiliates or its or their respective representatives to the Acquired Fund or any of its affiliates or its or
their respective representatives, whether orally or in writing, in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement.
(t) The Acquiring Fund has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the Assets and the Assumed
Liabilities, as it has deemed appropriate, which investigation, review and analysis was done by the Acquiring Fund and its representatives. The Acquiring Fund acknowledges and agrees that it and its representatives have been provided access to the
personnel, properties, premises and records relating to the Assets and the Assumed Liabilities for such purpose. In entering into this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund acknowledges and agrees that it has relied solely upon the aforementioned
investigation, review and analysis and not on any factual representations or opinions or representations or warranties of the Acquired Fund, its representatives or any other person (except the representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund set
forth in Section 4.1 and of the Acquired Fund Manager set forth in any agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager). The Acquiring Fund hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) other than the representations
and warranties of the Acquired Fund set forth in Section 4.1, and the representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund Manager set forth in any agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquired
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Fund, Acquired Fund Manager or any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, stockholders or members, make or have made, and the Acquiring Fund is
not relying on, any representation or warranty, express or implied, at law or in equity, as to any matter whatsoever relating to the Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, the Acquired Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and (ii) except as set forth in Section 4.1, or any agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager, none of the Acquired Fund, any of its affiliates, or any of their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, representatives, stockholders or members, will have or will be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to the Acquiring Fund or any other person resulting from the distribution to the Acquiring Fund, its
affiliates or their respective representatives, or the Acquiring Funds use, of any information relating to the Assets, the Assumed Liabilities, the Acquired Fund or any other matter relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or any ancillary agreement, including any descriptive memoranda, summary business descriptions or any information, documents or material made available to the Acquiring Fund, any of its affiliates or their respective representatives by the Acquired
Fund, the Acquired Fund Manager, or their respective affiliates or representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any other form in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary agreement.
5. |
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS |
5.1. Conduct of Business. Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each will operate its business in the ordinary course consistent with prior practice between the date hereof and the Effective Time, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include the
declaration and payment of customary dividends and distributions, and any other distribution that may be advisable. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Acquired Fund will manage its portfolio with the same approximate level of trading, turnover and
leverage consistent with past practice, except as set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or to the extent agreed in advance in writing with the Acquiring Fund.
5.2. No Distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares. The Acquired Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares
to be issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any distribution thereof, other than in connection with the Reorganization and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.3. Information. The Acquired Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the
Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund Shares.
5.4.
Other Necessary Action. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any actions required to be taken after the Closing.
5.5. Shareholder Meeting.
(a) Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, the Acquired Fund shall call and hold a meeting of
its shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take such other action under applicable federal and state law to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein (Acquired Fund Shareholder Approval).
Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, the Acquiring Fund has called or shall call and hold a meeting of its shareholders to consider and act upon and to take such other action under applicable federal and state law
to obtain approval of the issuance of Acquiring Fund shares in connection with the Reorganization (Acquiring Fund Shareholder Approval). The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
hold the respective shareholder meetings as soon as practicable and advisable after the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filing.
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(b) The Acquired Fund, in consultation with the Acquiring Fund, shall
(i) use reasonable best efforts to set a record date for persons entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the shareholder meeting of the Acquired Fund, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to ensure that such record date not be changed or
such shareholder meeting be adjourned or otherwise postponed or delayed (unless the Acquiring Funds prior written consent has been provided). The Acquiring Fund, in consultation with the Acquired Fund, shall (A) use reasonable best
efforts to set a record date for persons entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the shareholder meeting of the Acquiring Fund, and (B) use reasonable best efforts to ensure that such record date not be changed or such shareholder meeting be
adjourned or otherwise postponed or delayed (unless the Acquired Funds prior written consent has been provided).
5.6. Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
(a) The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will mutually cooperate, using reasonable best efforts, to expeditiously prepare
the Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus to be prepared by the Acquiring Fund to be included in the Registration Statement (the Proxy Statement/Prospectus), and have it declared effective by
the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall reasonably cooperate with any review of financial information and financial statements that is reasonably required in connection with the preparation and
filing of the Registration Statement, including the issuance of any consents. The Registration Statement (including the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of Section 14(a) of the
1934 Act and Section 20(a) of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations, respectively, thereunder.
(b) To the
extent the Acquired Fund has not provided the Acquiring Fund with information regarding the Acquired Fund, and the Acquiring Fund has not provided the Acquired Fund with information regarding the Acquiring Fund, reasonably necessary for the
preparation by the Acquiring Fund of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, each party shall provide the materials and information necessary to prepare the Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, for inclusion therein, in connection with the shareholder meeting for the Acquired Fund to consider the approval of the transactions contemplated hereby and of the Acquiring Fund to consider the approval of the issuance of
additional Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with the this Agreement, each as described herein.
(c) If at any time prior
to the Closing, the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund becomes aware of any untrue statement of material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, the party discovering the item will notify the other party and the parties will cooperate in promptly preparing, filing and clearing with the Commission and, if appropriate, distributing to shareholders
appropriate disclosure with respect to the item.
(d) The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund agree to reasonably
cooperate with each other, and shall or will have furnished the information relating to itself to be set forth in the Registration Statement as required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and the
state securities or blue sky laws.
5.7. Liquidating Distribution. As soon as is reasonably
practicable after receipt from the Acquiring Fund, the Acquired Fund will make a liquidating distribution to the Acquired Fund Shareholders consisting of the Acquiring Fund Shares and the Cash Consideration in accordance with Section 1.4 of
this Agreement.
5.8. Efforts. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each use their
reasonable best efforts to fulfill or cause the fulfillment of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as reasonably practicable; provided
that neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund shall be obligated to waive any such condition precedent.
5.9. Other Instruments. Each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund covenants that it will, from time
to time as and when reasonably requested by the other party, execute and deliver or cause to be
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executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action as the other party may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to
vest in and confirm: (a) to the Acquired Fund, title to and possession of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered hereunder, and (b) to the Acquiring Fund, title to and possession of all the Assets and assumption of the Assumed
Liabilities assumed hereunder and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.10.
Regulatory Approvals. The Acquiring Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state blue sky or securities laws and
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, as may be necessary in order to continue its operations after the Effective Time.
5.11. Final Tax Distribution. To the extent necessary to avoid entity-level income or excise tax, the
Acquired Fund will declare one or more dividends payable prior to the time of Closing to its shareholders.
5.12.
Supplemental Listing Application. The Acquiring Fund shall file a Supplemental Listing Application with the NYSE for the authorization of the listing of the number of additional Acquiring Fund Shares to be exchanged in the
Reorganization as set forth in Section 1.4 of this Agreement.
6.1. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Acquired Fund. The obligations of the Acquired Fund to
complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund (other than representations and warranties in Sections 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(c) and 4.2(r)) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date
(other than any such representation or warranty that speaks only as of the date hereof or any other specific date, in which case such representation or warranty must have been true and correct in all respects as of such date) without giving
effect to any materiality qualification or exception contained therein. The representations and warranties in Sections 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(c) and 4.2(r) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date (other than any such representation and warranty speaks only as of the date hereof or any other specific date, in which case such representation or warranty must have been true and correct in all respects as of such date).
(b) The Acquiring Fund shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants and complied in all material respects
with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Acquiring Fund, at or before the Closing Date.
(c) The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund a certificate executed in the name of the Acquiring Fund by
its President or Vice President and its Treasurer dated as of the Closing Date certifying the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1(a) and Section 6.1(b).
(d) Certified copies of the resolutions evidencing the approval of the Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein by
the Acquiring Fund Board shall have been delivered to the Acquired Fund.
(e) The Acquired Fund Manager shall provide for a
trustees liability insurance policy (Supplemental Policy) to replace, as of the Effective Time, the Acquired Funds existing trustees liability insurance policies with respect to matters existing or occurring at or
prior to the Effective Time (Current Policy), which Supplemental Policy shall (i) name each Trustee of the Acquired Fund Board as a named insured, (ii) provide for a claims reporting or discovery period of six
(6) years from and after the Effective Time and have terms and conditions that are not materially less advantageous to the insureds as the Current Policy, and (iii) provide for coverage of not less than $5,000,000.
(f) The Acquired Fund shall have received on the Closing Date the opinion of Dechert LLP, counsel to the Acquiring Fund (which
may reasonably rely as to matters governed by the laws of the
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State of Delaware on an opinion of Delaware counsel and/or certificates of officers or Trustees of the Acquiring Fund) dated as of the Closing Date, covering the following points:
(i) the Acquiring Fund is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business including as a registered investment company, and the Acquiring Fund has all necessary federal, state and local authorizations to carry on its
business as now being conducted;
(ii) the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Acquiring
Fund and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Acquired Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and to general equity principles;
(iii) the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly
authorized, upon such delivery will be validly issued and outstanding, and are fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has any preemptive rights to
subscription or purchase in respect thereof;
(iv) the execution and delivery of the Agreement did not, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a violation of the Acquiring Funds Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust or its Amended and Restated By-Laws,
each as amended from time-to-time, or a material violation of any provision of any agreement (known to such counsel) to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which
it is bound or, to the knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty under any agreement not disclosed to the Acquired Fund, judgment or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by
which it is bound;
(v) to the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
Governmental Authority of the United States or the State of Delaware is required to be obtained by the Acquiring Fund in order to consummate the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and
the 1940 Act, and such as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws (other than those of the State of Delaware);
(vi) the Acquiring Fund is a registered investment company classified as a management company of the closed-end type under the 1940 Act, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect; and
(vii) to the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or
governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets and the Acquiring Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body
which materially and adversely affects its business.
6.2. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of
Acquiring Fund. The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions provided for herein shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Acquired Fund (other than representations and warranties in Sections 4.1(a),
4.1(b), 4.1(c), 4.1(d) and 4.1(t)) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (other than any such representation or warranty that speaks only as of the date hereof or any other specific date,
in which case such representation or warranty must have been true and correct in all respects as of such date) without
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giving effect to any materiality qualification or exception contained therein. The representations and warranties in Sections 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.1(c), 4.1(d) and 4.1(t) shall be
true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (other than any such representation and warranty speaks only as of the date hereof or any other specific date, in which case such representation or warranty must have
been true and correct in all respects as of such date).
(b) The Acquired Fund shall have performed in all material
respects all of the covenants and complied in all material respects with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Acquired Fund, at or before the Closing Date.
(c) The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a certificate executed in the name of the Acquired Fund by its
President or Vice President and its Treasurer, dated as of the Closing Date certifying the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(b).
(d) Certified copies of the resolutions evidencing the approval of the Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein by
the Acquired Fund Board shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund.
(e) The Acquiring Fund shall have received on the
Closing Date the opinion of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, counsel to the Acquired Fund (which may reasonably rely on certificates of officers of the Acquired Fund) dated as of the Closing Date, covering the following points:
(i) The Acquired Fund is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as so described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including as a registered investment company, and the Acquired Fund has all necessary federal,
state and local authorizations to carry on its business as now being conducted and as so described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus;
(ii) The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Acquired Fund and, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Acquiring Fund is a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund enforceable against the Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and to general equity principles;
(iii) The execution and delivery of the Agreement did not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not, result in a violation of the Acquired Funds Declaration of Trust or its Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended from
time-to-time, or a material violation of any provision of any agreement (known to such counsel) to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound or, to the
knowledge of such counsel, result in the acceleration of any obligation or the imposition of any penalty under any agreement not disclosed to the Acquiring Fund, judgment or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound;
(iv) To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or Governmental Authority of
the United States or the State of Delaware is required to be obtained by the Acquired Fund in order to consummate the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, and such as
may be required under state securities or blue sky laws;
(v) The Acquired Fund is a registered investment company
classified as a management company of the closed-end type under the 1940 Act, and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect;
(vi) The outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund have been registered under the 1933 Act; and
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(vii) To the knowledge of such counsel, no litigation or administrative
proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or threatened as to the Acquired Fund or any of its properties or assets and the Acquired Fund is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order,
decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business.
6.3.
Other Conditions Precedent. If any of the conditions set forth in this Section 6.3 have not been satisfied on or before the Effective Time, the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund shall, at its option, not be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
(a) The Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein
shall have been approved by the Acquired Fund Board and shall have received the Acquired Fund Shareholder Approval, and certified copies of the resolutions of the Acquired Fund Board shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund.
(b) The issuance of the Acquiring Fund Shares has been approved by shareholders of the Acquiring Fund.
(c) Each of the conditions to Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) set forth in Article 6 of the Purchase Agreement
have been satisfied (or validly waived in accordance with the terms thereof) and the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement will close concurrently with the Closing.
(d) The Registration Statement of the Acquiring Fund shall have become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop orders
suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued.
(e) On the Closing Date, the Commission shall not have issued
an unfavorable report under Section 25(b) of the 1940 Act or instituted any proceeding seeking to enjoin the consummation of the Reorganization contemplated by this Agreement under Section 25(c) of the 1940 Act.
(f) At the Effective Time, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending before any court or governmental agency in
which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or make illegal, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
(g)
All consents, orders and permits of Federal, state and local regulatory authorities or other third parties set forth on Schedule C hereto shall have been obtained.
(h) BNY shall have delivered such certificates or other documents as set forth in Section 3.2.
(i) The Transfer Agent shall have delivered a certificate of its authorized officer as set forth in Section 3.3.
(j) The NYSE shall have authorized the listing of the number of additional Acquiring Fund Shares exchanged in the
Reorganization as set forth in Section 1.1.
(k) The parties hereto shall have received the opinion of the law firm of
Dechert LLP (based on certain facts, assumptions and representations), as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, substantially to the effect that the Reorganization will constitute a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code. In rendering the opinion, Dechert LLP may require and rely upon (and may incorporate by reference) reasonable and customary representations and covenants from the parties. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this Section 6.3(k).
7.1. Survival. No representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of either Acquiring Fund or
Acquired Fund will survive beyond the Closing Date, except that any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement which by its terms is to be performed following the Closing shall in respect of performance after Closing survive in accordance
with its terms and then terminate. All representations and warranties set
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forth in this Agreement are contractual in nature only and subject to the sole and exclusive remedies set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall limit (a) any rights that may be available to either Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund in respect of a claim for Fraud, and (b) any rights that may be available to either the Acquiring Fund Manager
and the Acquired Fund Manager (whether in contract, in tort or at law or in equity) under any other agreement to which the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager is a party, as it relates to a breach of the terms of this Agreement. For
the purposes of this Agreement, Fraud means Delaware common law fraud, in the making of a specific representation or warranty expressly set forth in Section 4 and requires (i) an intentional false
representation expressly set forth in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, (ii) actual knowledge that such representation is false (as opposed to any fraud claim based on constructive knowledge, negligent or reckless
misrepresentation or a similar theory), (iii) reasonable detrimental reliance by such party upon such false representation in acting or refraining from acting and (iv) the incurrence of damage by such party by reason of such reliance. For
the avoidance of doubt, nothing set forth herein shall limit the rights of the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager in any other agreement between such parties.
7.2. Remedies Exclusive. From and after the Closing Date, except in the case of Fraud, the remedies
provided for in this Section 7 and under any other agreement between the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedies for any claims made for a breach of this Agreement. Each party hereby
waives any provision of applicable Law to the extent that it would limit or restrict this Section 7.2.
7.3.
Liability of the Acquired Fund. The parties understand and agree that the obligations of the Acquired Fund under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any trustee, shareholder, nominee, officer, agent or employee of or adviser
to the Acquired Fund personally, but bind only the Acquired Funds property. Moreover, all persons shall look only to the assets of the Acquired Fund to satisfy the obligations of the Acquired Fund hereunder. The parties represent that they
each have notice of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Acquired Fund disclaiming such shareholder and trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Acquired Fund.
7.4. Liability of the Acquiring Fund. The parties understand and agree that the obligations of the
Acquiring Fund under this Agreement shall not be binding upon any trustee, shareholder, nominee, officer, agent or employee of or adviser to the Acquiring Fund personally, but bind only the Acquiring Funds property. Moreover, all persons shall
look only to the assets of the Acquiring Fund to satisfy the obligations of the Acquiring Fund hereunder. The parties represent that they each have notice of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Acquiring Fund disclaiming such
shareholder and trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Acquiring Fund.
8.1. Expenses of Reorganization.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or unless otherwise agreed in writing, each of the Acquiring Fund Manager
and the Acquired Fund Manager shall pay its own direct and indirect expenses incurred by it, or by the respective Fund managed by each, in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of its advisors and representatives.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing:
(i) to the extent there are any transaction costs (including brokerage commissions, transaction charges
and related fees) associated with the sales and purchases of portfolio securities made in connection with the Reorganization, these will be borne by (A) the Acquired Fund with respect to the sales and purchases conducted before the Effective
Time and (B) by the Acquiring Fund with respect to the sales and purchases conducted at or after the Effective Time;
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(ii) the Acquiring Fund Manager or the Acquiring Fund shall pay all costs and
expenses incurred (A) with respect to the registration of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganization on Form N-14 and the filing of any proxy solicitation
materials, including any filing fees associated with the filing of the Form N-14 or any other registration statement or proxy solicitation materials as may be necessary in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any ancillary agreement among or between any parties to this Agreement among or between any parties to this Agreement, and (B) all expenses for preparation, printing and distributing (or re-distributing) any proxy and proxy solicitation materials in connection with the Reorganization and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any ancillary agreement among or between any parties to this
Agreement or any amendments or supplements thereto; provided that the budget for such proxy and proxy solicitation materials shall be determined by Acquiring Fund after reasonable consultation with Acquired Fund;
(iii) (A) any and all expenses or losses incurred by any Trustee of the Acquired Fund Board, with respect to a claim
covered by the Supplemental Policy, shall be payable or otherwise borne exclusively by the Acquired Fund Manager up to the retention amount under the Supplemental Policy, and (B) the premium of the Supplemental Policy shall be borne equally
between the Acquired Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund; and
(iv) any expenses or costs related to the winding up or
dissolution of the Acquired Fund after the Effective Time shall be paid by the Acquired Fund Manager.
9. |
AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION |
9.1. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in a signed writing in
such manner as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the authorized officers of each of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, subject to the authorization of each such Funds Board of Trustees; provided, however, that following a
meeting of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund called by the Acquired Fund Board pursuant to Section 5.5, no such amendment may have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the
Acquired Fund Shareholders under this Agreement to the detriment of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund without the approval of the Acquired Fund Board and the Acquiring Fund Board and the Acquired Fund Shareholders and, provided, further,
that the officers of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund may change the Effective Time and Closing Date through an agreement in writing without additional specific authorization by their respective Board of Trustees.
9.2. Termination.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by mutual written agreement of
the parties, at any time prior to the Closing.
(b) Either the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund may at its option
terminate this Agreement by written notice to the other party at or before the Closing due to: (i) a breach by the other of any representation, warranty, or agreement contained herein to be performed at or before the Closing (so long as the
terminating party is not then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, unless such breach was primarily or principally caused by the other partys breach of any of its
representatives, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement), if not cured within 30 days after being provided notice of such breach by the non-breaching party, (ii) the failure of a condition
set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3, and such failure is incapable of being cured, or if curable, is not cured by the applicable party within 30 days after being provided written notice of such failure, unless such condition is waived by the
applicable party or parties (if applicable); (iii) if the Closing does not occur on or prior to March 31, 2025; or (iv) any Governmental Authority has enacted, issued, promulgated or entered any Law or
non-appealable final Judgment or taken any
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other non-appealable final action, in each case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining, making illegal or otherwise prohibiting the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.2(b) shall not be available to a party that has materially breached any of its representations, warranties, covenants
or other agreements contained herein so as to have caused the relevant Governmental Authority to enact, issue, promulgate or enter any such Law or Judgment or other non-appealable action, including any breach
by the any party of its obligations under Section 5.6(a) unless such breach was primarily or principally caused by the other partys breach of any of its representatives, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Acquiring Fund Manager validly terminates the Purchase Agreement, the Acquiring Fund
shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the Acquired Fund, and if the Acquired Fund Manager validly terminates the Purchase Agreement, the Acquired Fund shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement by providing
written notice to the Acquiring Fund.
(d) In the event of any such termination, in the absence of any Fraud or willful
breach of this Agreement, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of any of the Acquiring Fund, the Acquired Fund or their respective Trustees or officers, to the other party or its Trustees or officers.
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by
facsimile, electronic delivery (i.e., e-mail) (provided that no bounce-back or delivery failure notice is received), personal service or prepaid or certified mail addressed as follows:
If to the Acquired Fund:
Insight Select Income Fund
200 Park Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10166
Attention: John Awad and Vivek Nayar
Email:
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Insight North America LLC
200 Park Avenue
7th Floor
New York NY 10166
Attention:
Email:
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
3000 Two Logan Square, Eighteenth & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attention:
E-mail:
Clifford Chance US LLP
Two Manhattan West
375 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Attention:
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Email:
If to the Acquiring Fund:
KKR Income Opportunities Fund
555 California Street, 50th Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
Attention:
E-mail:
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC
555 California Street, 50th Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
Attention:
E-mail:
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY, 10036
Attention:
E-Mail:
11. |
PUBLICITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY |
11.1. Each party to this Agreement agrees not to issue any press release or make any other public announcement
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein without the prior written approval of the other party to this Agreement (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except that the Acquiring Fund and
the Acquiring Fund Manager, on the one hand, and the Acquired Fund and the Acquired Fund Manager, on the other hand, each reserves the right, without the other partys prior consent, to make any public disclosure it believes in good faith is
required by applicable Laws or securities listing standards or exchange requirements (in which case the disclosing party agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to notify and consult with the
non-disclosing party prior to making the disclosure).
11.2. The
Acquired Fund, Acquiring Fund, the Acquiring Fund Manager and the Acquired Fund Manager (for purposes of this Section 11.2, the Protected Persons) will hold, and will direct their board members, officers, employees,
representatives, agents and affiliates to hold, in strict confidence, and not disclose to any other person, and not use in any way except in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, without the prior written consent of the other
Protected Persons, all non-public, confidential or proprietary information obtained from the other Protected Persons in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, further,
that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any party hereto from disclosing any notes, analyses, compilations, studies, interpretations, documents or records containing, referring, relating to, based upon or derived from such information, in
whole or in part or the existence of this Agreement and its terms where (a) the disclosure is reasonably made to a Governmental Authority in relation to such partys taxes, (b) the disclosure is made to any party to whom assignment is
permitted under the terms of this Agreement, (c) the disclosure is made on a confidential basis to actual or potential debt or equity financiers of any party hereto and in each case their professional advisers provided that such persons
need to know the information for the purposes of considering, evaluating, advising on or furthering the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters arising in connection with them or (d) the other party has given prior written
consent to the disclosure. In addition, notwithstanding anything
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in this Agreement to the contrary, each party (and each employee, agent or other representative of the party) may disclose the U.S. tax treatment and U.S. tax structure of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and information relating to such U.S. tax treatment and U.S. tax structure, except to the extent nondisclosure is reasonably necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws.
11.3. Following the Closing, or upon an earlier termination of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund, the Acquired
Fund, the Acquiring Fund Manager, and the Acquired Fund Manager agree that they along with their board members, employees, representative agents and affiliates shall, and shall direct their affiliates to, except with the prior written consent of the
other Protected Persons, keep secret and retain in strict confidence, and not use for the benefit of itself or themselves, nor disclose to any other persons, any and all non-public, confidential or proprietary
information relating to the other Protected Persons and their affiliates, whether obtained through their due diligence investigation, this Agreement or otherwise, except such information may be disclosed: (a) in connection with any requirement
to governmental or regulatory bodies, and, where necessary, to any other person in connection with the obtaining of consents or waivers as contemplated by this Agreement; provided, any person to whom such information is disclosed shall be
informed of the confidential nature of the information being provided and requested to keep such information confidential, (b) if required by court order or decree or applicable law (upon advice of external legal counsel); (c) if it is
publicly available through no act or failure to act of such party and other than as a result of a direct or indirect disclosure in breach hereof; (d) if it was already known to such party on a
non-confidential basis on the date of receipt, provided the source of such information was not bound by a confidentiality agreement or subject to a fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the
applicable party; (e) during the course of or in connection with any litigation, government investigation, arbitration, or other proceedings based upon or in connection with the subject matter of this Agreement, including, without limitation,
the failure of the transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated; or (f) if it is otherwise expressly provided for herein.
12.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Acquired Fund Disclosures, any other schedules and
exhibits hereto), the Purchase Agreement and other documents and instruments referred to in this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement that are to be delivered at the Closing, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Agreement and
supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties to this Agreement, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter thereof.
12.2. Headings. The table of contents and the headings of Sections, subsections, paragraphs, schedules and
any exhibits are provided for convenience only and are not intended to affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
12.3. Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement, and any controversy or proceeding arising out of, or with respect to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated herein, shall be construed in accordance with and governed for all purposes by the internal substantive Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed and to be wholly performed within Delaware.
(b) Any proceeding against the parties arising out of, or with respect to, this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the
Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, New Castle County, or, if such court does not have proper jurisdiction, the United States federal district court or any other state court sitting in the State of Delaware, New Castle County
(the Designated Courts), and the parties hereto accept the exclusive jurisdiction of the Designated Courts for the purpose of any proceeding. Each party hereto agrees that service of any process, summons, notice, or
document by U.S. registered mail addressed to such party in accordance with Section 10 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit, or proceeding brought against such party in any such court. The Acquired Fund hereby
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designates the individual(s) listed in Section 10 to whom notice may be given on behalf of the Acquired Fund as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be served any lawful process in any
proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund hereby designates the individual(s) listed in Section 10 to whom notice may be given on behalf of the Acquiring Fund as its true and lawful agent upon whom may be
served any lawful process in any proceeding instituted by or on behalf of the Acquired Fund. Each party hereto agrees that a final, non-appealable judgment in any proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and
may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.
(c) In addition, each party hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any Designated Court or any judgment entered by any
of the Designated Courts and hereby further irrevocably waives any claim that any proceeding brought in the Designated Courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(d) EACH OF THE PARTIES KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IN NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT.
12.4. Assignment; No Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party
without the written consent of the other party. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or with respect to this Agreement.
12.5. Specific
Performance.
(a) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur, that no adequate remedy at Law would exist
and that damages would be difficult to determine, in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by the parties in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. The parties accordingly agree that in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity, the parties shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and otherwise to enforce specifically the provisions of this Agreement. Each party
expressly waives any requirement that the other party obtain any bond or provide any indemnity in connection with any proceeding seeking injunctive relief or specific enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement. The parties further agree that
nothing set forth in this Section 12.5 shall (a) require any party to institute any action or proceeding for (or limit any partys right to institute any action or proceeding for) injunctive relief or specific enforcement under this
Section 12.5 before or as a condition to exercising any termination right under Section 9.2 (and pursuing damages after such termination) or (b) restrict or limit any partys right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.2 (and to pursue damages after such termination).
(b) With respect to the specific performance contemplated
by subsection (a) above, the parties agree not to raise any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance to prevent any such breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to specifically enforce the
terms and provisions of this Agreement to prevent any such breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the
parties hereby agrees that the Acquired Fund shall be entitled to specific performance to cause the Closing to occur if the Closing is required to be consummated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (x) the Acquired Fund has
A-25
irrevocably confirmed to the Acquiring Fund in writing that the Acquired Fund is ready, willing and able to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (y) the Acquired
Fund Manager has irrevocably confirmed to the Acquiring Fund in writing that the Acquired Fund Manager is ready, willing and able to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
12.6. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain in full force and effect if the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for each party remain valid, binding and enforceable. If any provision of this
Agreement (or any portion thereof) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely
as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent legally permissible.
12.7. Counterparts. The parties hereto may execute this Agreement in multiple counterparts, each of which
constitutes an original as against the party that signed it, and all of which together constitute one agreement. This Agreement is effective upon delivery of one executed counterpart from each party to the other party. The signatures of both parties
need not appear on the same counterpart. The execution of counterparts by electronic signature or delivery of duly executed counterparts by electronic transmission is as effective as signing and delivering the counterpart in person.
12.8. Waiver. The Acquired Fund Board or the Acquiring Fund Board (whichever is entitled to the
benefit thereof) may (a) extend the time for performance of any of the obligations or other acts, in each case, of another party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the another party hereto contained
in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance with any of the covenants or conditions for the benefit of such party contained in this Agreement; provided that (i) any such extension or waiver by a party will be valid only if
expressly set forth in a written document signed on behalf of the party against whom the extension or waiver is to be effective; (ii) no extension or waiver will apply to any time for performance, inaccuracy in any representation or warranty,
or noncompliance with any covenant or condition, as the case may be, other than that which is expressly specified in the written extension or waiver; and (iii) no failure or delay by a party in exercising any right or remedy under this
Agreement or any of the documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties, operates as a waiver of such right or remedy, and no single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy precludes any other or
further exercise of such right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including Section 7.2, any enumeration of a partys rights and remedies in this Agreement is not
intended to be exclusive, and a partys rights and remedies are intended to be cumulative to the extent permitted by law and include any rights and remedies authorized in law or in equity.
12.9. Interpretation. In the negotiation of this Agreement, each party has received advice from its
own attorneys. The language used in this Agreement is the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted for or against any party because that party or its attorney drafted the
provision.
12.10. No Admission. Nothing in this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any
Section of either the Acquiring Fund Disclosures or the Acquired Fund Disclosures (together, the Fund Disclosures)) shall be deemed an admission by either the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund or any of their
respective affiliates, in any proceeding involving any Governmental Authority or any other third party, that the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, respectively, or any such third party or any of their respective affiliates is or is not in breach
or violation of, or in default in, the performance or compliance with any term or provisions of any contract, any Law, any governmental authorization, permit or intellectual property of any other person.
A-26
12.11. Exhibits and Schedules.
(a) The exhibits and schedules to this Agreement and the Fund Disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
of this Agreement as though completely set forth herein. All references to this Agreement herein or in any part of the exhibits, schedules, and the Fund Disclosures shall be deemed to refer to this entire Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules
and Fund Disclosures. Any item disclosed in a Fund Disclosures shall be deemed to have been disclosed not only for purposes of the provision of this Agreement to which such Fund Disclosures directly relates, but also for any other provisions of
Section 4.1 or Section 4.2, as applicable, to which the disclosure is relevant to the extent that the relevance of such disclosure to such other provisions is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure (it being understood that to
be so reasonably apparent it is not required that the other provisions be expressly cross-referenced). Capitalized terms used in the exhibits, schedules and Fund Disclosures and not otherwise defined therein have the meanings given to them in this
Agreement. Any contract referred to in the exhibits, schedules and Fund Disclosures shall be deemed to include reference to all exhibits, schedules and other documents or agreements attached thereto, provided the same have been made available
to the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund, as applicable. Neither the specification of any dollar amount in any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item in any exhibit, schedule and Fund Disclosure
is intended to imply that such amount, or higher or lower amounts, or the item so included or other items, are or are not material, and the fact of setting forth of any such amount or the inclusion of any such items shall not be an admission or
construed as an admission in any dispute or controversy between the parties as to whether any obligation, item or matter not described in this Agreement or included in any exhibit, schedule or Fund Disclosure is or is not material for the purposes
of this Agreement.
(b) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any disclosure made with reference to a Section of
the Fund Disclosures shall be deemed sufficient for purposes of disclosure in any other Section or Sections of the Fund Disclosures that may require disclosure therein to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that
such disclosure is applicable to such other Section or Sections. The Fund Disclosures are intended only to qualify and limit the representations, warranties and covenants of Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, respectively, contained in this
Agreement and shall not be deemed to expand in any way the scope or effect of any such representations, warranties or covenants. The disclosures in the Fund Disclosures may be over-inclusive, considering the materiality standard contained in the
Section of this Agreement relating to the corresponding Section of the Fund Disclosures, and any items or matters disclosed in the Fund Disclosures are not intended to set or establish standards of materiality different from those set forth in the
corresponding Section of this Agreement. The disclosure of any item or information in the Fund Disclosures is not an admission that such item or information (or any non-disclosed item or information of
comparable or greater significance) is material, required to have been disclosed in the Fund Disclosures, or is of a nature that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect. Prior to the Closing, each of the Acquired Fund and the
Acquiring Fund shall have the right from time to time to supplement, modify or update the Fund Disclosures by written notice to the other party to reflect events occurring after the date hereof which, if occurring prior to the date hereof, would
have been required to be set forth or described on the Fund Disclosures. Neither the Acquired Fund nor the Acquiring Fund shall be deemed to be in breach of any representation or warranty hereunder, and no representation or warranty of the Acquired
Fund or the Acquiring Fund, as applicable, shall be deemed to be untrue or inaccurate with respect to the information disclosed in any such supplement, modification or update, except to the extent such update would reasonably be expected to,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect.
[Signature Pages Follow]
A-27
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed as
of the date first above written.
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INSIGHT SELECT INCOME FUND |
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By: |
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Name: |
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David C. Leduc |
Title: |
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President |
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INSIGHT NORTH AMERICA LLC, solely with respect to Sections 7.1, 8.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3: |
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By: |
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Name: |
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David C. Leduc |
Title: |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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KKR INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
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By: |
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Name: |
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Rudy Pimentel |
Title: |
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KKR CREDIT ADVISORS (US) LLC, solely with respect to Sections 7.1, 8.1, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3: |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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SCHEDULE A
ADJUSTMENT AND PRORATION PROCEDURES
The
Acquired Fund has appointed or will appoint an exchange agent reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring Fund (the Exchange Agent) to process the calculation, delivery and payment of the Stock Consideration and the Cash
Consideration. Elections by Acquired Fund Shareholders for Cash Consideration shall be made on a form (the Election Form) reasonably acceptable to the Exchange Agent and the parties hereto. The adjustment and proration
process for the Stock Consideration and Cash Consideration will occur as follows:
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1. |
Subject to adjustment and proration in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and this Schedule A,
each Acquired Fund Shareholder, with respect to each Acquired Fund Share held by that Acquired Fund Shareholder immediately before the Election Deadline (as defined below), shall be entitled to receive Cash Consideration and/or Stock Consideration
based on the election made by that Acquired Fund Shareholder on the Election Form. Acquired Fund Shares for which an Acquired Fund Shareholder has elected to receive Cash Consideration are referred to as Cash Election
Shares. Acquired Fund Shares for which an Acquired Fund Shareholder has elected to receive Stock Consideration are referred to as Stock Election Shares. With respect to any Acquired Fund Share for which no
election has been affirmatively made on an Election Form, such Acquired Fund Share shall be deemed to be and treated for all purposes as a Stock Election Share. Acquired Fund Shareholders electing to receive Cash Consideration in lieu of Stock
Consideration for some or all of their Acquired Fund Shares are referred to as Cash Electing Shareholders and, as used herein, Election Deadline means 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the Business Day that
is five (5) Business Days before the Effective Time. |
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2. |
If the aggregate number of Cash Election Shares (Aggregate Cash Election Shares)
exceeds the Maximum Cash Shares (an Over Subscription), the number of Cash Election Shares of each Cash Electing Shareholder shall be reduced (as so reduced, the Reduced Cash Shares), pro
rata, in accordance with the following formula: |
Where in relation to any Cash Electing Shareholder:
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RCS |
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= |
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the number of Reduced Cash Shares for which such Cash Electing Shareholder shall be entitled to receive Cash Consideration |
CES |
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= |
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the number of Cash Election Shares originally elected by such Cash Electing Shareholder |
CESA |
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= |
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The aggregate number of Cash Election Shares originally elected by all Cash Electing Shareholders |
MCS |
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= |
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Maximum Cash Shares (as defined in Section 2.3) |
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3. |
In the event of an Over Subscription, each Acquired Fund Shareholder shall receive (a) Stock Consideration
in respect of (i) its Stock Election Shares and (ii) its Cash Election Shares which are not deemed to be Reduced Cash Shares in accordance with the formula set forth in Section 2 above (Increased Stock
Shares), if any, and (b) Cash Consideration with respect to its Reduced Cash Shares, if any. For illustrative purposes, the Increased Stock Shares of each Acquired Fund Shareholder shall be calculated in accordance with the
following formula: |
Where in relation to each Acquired Fund Shareholder:
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ISS |
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= |
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the number of Increased Stock Shares for such Acquired Fund Shareholder |
CES |
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= |
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the number of Cash Election Shares originally elected by such Acquired Fund Shareholder |
RCS |
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= |
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the number of Reduced Cash Shares for which such Acquired Fund Shareholder shall be entitled to receive Cash Consideration pursuant to the formula in Section 2 above |
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4. |
If there is not an Over Subscription, each Acquired Fund Shareholder will receive (a) Cash Consideration
with respect to its Cash Election Shares, if any; and (b) Stock Consideration with respect to its Stock Election Shares. |
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5. |
The Acquired Fund shall cause the Exchange Agent to pay Cash Consideration to Acquired Fund Shareholders in the
amounts calculated as provided in this Schedule A, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Acquired Fund deposits or causes to be deposited with the Exchange Agent the Cash Consideration received from the Acquiring Fund. |
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6. |
Stock Consideration shall be issued to Acquired Fund Shareholders in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3.3 of the Agreement. All Stock Consideration shall be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Acquiring Funds Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws. |
END PROXY CARD SIGN, DATE AND VOTE ON THE REVERSE SIDE PROXY VOTING OPTIONS YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES 1. MAIL
your signed and voted Proxy back in YOU OWN. PLEASE CAST YOUR the postage paid envelope provided PROXY VOTE TODAY! 2. ONLINE at [] using your Proxy control number found below SHAREHOLDERS REGISTRATION PRINTED HERE 3. By PHONE when you
dial toll-free [] to reach an automated touchtone voting ***BOXES FOR TYPSETTING PURPOSES ONLY*** line THIS BOX AND BOX ABOVE ARE NOT PRINTED ON ACTUAL PROXY BALLOTS. THEY IDENTIFY LOCATION OF WINDOWS ON L NUMBER 12345678910 OUTBOUND 9X12
ENVELOPES. KKR INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND PROXY FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [ ], 2024 The undersigned hereby revokes all previous proxies for his/her shares of the Fund named above and appoints [], or any one of them,
proxies, each with full power of substitution, to vote and act with respect to all shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the special meeting of shareholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of [], located at [], on [
], 2024, at [ a.m./p.m.] [ Time] (with any postponements, adjournments or any other meeting called for voting on the same proposals, the Meeting) upon the matter set forth on the reverse side (the Proposal) and
instructs them to vote upon any other matters that may properly be acted upon at the Meeting. Please refer to the Proxy Statement for a discussion of the Proposal. NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS: The Notice of Meeting, Proxy
Statement and Proxy Card are available at: [] Please sign, date, and mail your Proxy Card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.
KKR INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED. Tbe signer(s) arknol~tedges receipt of this Proxy
Statement of the Boord of Trustees. Your signaturE-is) should be exottly as your name[s) SIGNATURE [AND TITLE If APPUCABLE) DATE a~ar on t his Proxy [re~seside). If the shares ar e held jointlv, each holder should sign this Proxy.
Attome( .....in-fact, ex:ecutors, administrators, trustees or guardians should inoKate the full tide and cap01:ity in which tb:( are signing. SIGNATURE [IF HELD JOINTlY) DATE THIS PROXY IS
SOLICITED ON BEHALF OFTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR iHE PROPOSAL. When prope.rly executed, this proxy will be voted as indicated or FOR the Proposal if no choice is indicated. The Proxy
will be voted in accordance with the Proxy holders discretion as to any other matters that may arise at the Meeting. TO VOTE, MARK CIRCLES BELOW IN BLU E OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS. Example: . PROPOSAL FOR AGAINST AB·STAIN L To approve the
issuance of additional common shares of beneficial interest of KKR Income Opportunities Fund in connection with the transfer at net asset value 0 0 0 of all of the asset s and certain liabilities of the Insight Select Income Fund to the KKR Income
Opportunities Fund 2. To Transact Such Other Business as M ay Property Come Before the Meeting
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