BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust SC TO-I, filed Jul 18, 2024
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (BMEZ)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
Under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
(Names of Filing Person(s) (Issuer))
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, Par Value $0.001 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
09260E105
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
John M. Perlowski
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
50 Hudson Yards
New York, New York 10001
(800) 882-0052
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Person(s))
Copies to:
| Margery K. Neale, Esq. | Janey Ahn, Esq. | |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | BlackRock Advisors, LLC | |
| 787 Seventh Avenue | 50 Hudson Yards | |
| New York, New York 10019 | New York, New York 10001 |
July 18, 2024
(Date Tender Offer First Published, Sent or Given to Security Holders)
| ☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which this statement relates:
| ☐ | third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1 |
| ☒ | issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4 |
| ☐ | going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3 |
| ☐ | amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2 |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer. ☐
Introductory Statement
This Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO relates to an offer by BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust, a Maryland statutory trust (the “Fund”), to repurchase 2.5% of its issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), in exchange for cash at a price equal to 98% of the net asset value (“NAV”) per Share (the “Purchase Price”) determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the principal market on which the Shares are traded, on the next day the NAV is calculated after the offer expires (the “Pricing Date”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated July 18, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), and in the related Letter of Transmittal which are filed as Exhibits (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii), respectively, to this Schedule TO.
This Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO is being filed in satisfaction of the reporting requirements of Rule 13e-4(c)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference in answer to Item 1 through Item 9 and Item 11 of Schedule TO.
| Item 1. | Summary Term Sheet |
The information set forth under “Summary Term Sheet” in the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 2. | Subject Company Information |
(a) The name of the issuer is BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust, a diversified closed-end management investment company, organized as Maryland statutory trust (the “Fund”). The principal executive offices of the Fund are located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809. The telephone number of the Fund is (800) 882-0052.
(b) The title of the securities being sought is common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share. As of July 11, 2024, there were 106,514,258 Shares issued and outstanding.
(c) The principal market in which the Shares are traded is the NYSE. For information on the high and low sales prices for the Shares in the principal market for each quarter during the past two years, see Section 10, “Price Range of Shares” of the Offer to Purchase, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 3. | Identity and Background of Filing Person |
(a) The Fund is the filing person. BlackRock Advisors, LLC acts as the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Advisor”). The Investment Advisor, located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. The members of the Fund’s Board of Trustees are Cynthia L. Egan, Lorenzo A. Flores, Stayce D. Harris, J. Phillip Holloman, R. Glenn Hubbard, W. Carl Kester, Catherine A. Lynch, Arthur P. Steinmetz, Robert Fairbairn and John M. Perlowski (each, a “Trustee”). The principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer of the Fund are John M. Perlowski and Trent Walker, respectively. The Trustees and the executive officers of the Fund may be reached at the Fund’s business address and phone number set forth in Item 2(a) above. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Certain Information about the Fund” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 4. | Terms of the Transaction |
(a)(1) The following sections of the Offer to Purchase contain a description of the material terms of the transaction and are incorporated herein by reference:
| • | “Summary Term Sheet” |
| • | “Price; Number of Shares” |
| • | “Purpose of the Offer” |
| • | “Plans or Proposals of the Fund” |
| • | “Certain Conditions of the Offer” |
| • | “Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase” |
| • | “Withdrawal Rights” |
- 2 -
| • | “Payment for Shares” |
| • | “Source and Amount of Consideration” |
| • | “Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation” |
| • | “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangement Concerning the Shares” |
| • | “Certain Information about the Fund” |
| • | “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” |
| • | “Amendments; Extensions of Repurchase Period; Termination” |
| • | “Fees and Expenses” |
(a)(2) Not applicable.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 5. | Past Contracts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements |
(e) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Purpose of the Offer,” “Plans or Proposals of the Fund,” “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares” and “Certain Information about the Fund” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 6. | Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Purpose of the Offer” and “Plans or Proposals of the Fund” is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Purpose of the Offer” is incorporated herein by reference.
(c) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Purpose of the Offer” and “Plans or Proposals of the Fund” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Source and Amount of Consideration” is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Source and Amount of Consideration” is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Source and Amount of Consideration” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 8. | Interests in Securities of the Subject Company |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares” is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares” is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9. | Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used |
(a) No persons have been directly or indirectly employed, retained, or are to be compensated by or on behalf of the Fund to make solicitations or recommendations in connection with the Offer to Purchase. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Fees and Expenses” is incorporated herein by reference.
- 3 -
| Item 10. | Financial Statements |
(a) The audited annual financial statements of the Fund dated December 31, 2023 and the schedule of investments of the Fund dated December 31, 2023, both filed with the SEC on EDGAR on Form N-CSR on March 6, 2024, are incorporated by reference. The unaudited semi-annual financial statements of the Fund dated June 30, 2023 and the schedule of investments of the Fund dated June 30, 2023, both filed with the SEC on EDGAR on Form N-CSRS on September 1, 2023, are incorporated by reference. The Fund will prepare and transmit to shareholders the audited annual financial statements of the Fund and the schedule of investments of the Fund within 60 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(b) Not applicable.
| Item 11. | Additional Information |
(a)(1) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares” is incorporated herein by reference.
(a)(2) None.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(a)(4) Not applicable.
(a)(5) None.
(c) Not applicable.
| Item 12(a). | Exhibits |
- 4 -
| Item 12(b). | Filing Fees |
| Item 13. | Information Required By Schedule 13E-3 |
Not Applicable.
- 5 -
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
| BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust | ||
| By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |
| Name: John M. Perlowski | ||
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Dated: July 18, 2024 | ||
- 6 -
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| (a)(1)(i) | Offer to Purchase, dated July 18, 2024 | |
| (a)(1)(ii) | Form of Letter of Transmittal | |
| (d)(2) | Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC, dated January 24, 2020 | |
| (d)(4) | Discount Management Program Standstill Agreement | |
| Filing Fee Exhibit | ||
- 7 -
Table of Contents
Exhibit (a)(1)(i)
Offer to Purchase
Up to 2.5% of the Issued and Outstanding Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
of
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
at
98% of Net Asset Value Per Share
by
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
in Exchange for Cash
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME,
ON AUGUST 19, 2024, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
To the Common Shareholders of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust:
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust, a diversified, closed-end management investment company, organized as a Maryland Statutory Trust (the “Fund”), is offering to purchase up to 2.5% of its issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”) (the “Offer Amount”). The offer is to purchase Shares in exchange for cash at a price equal to 98% of the net asset value (“NAV”) per Share (the “Purchase Price”) determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the principal market on which the Shares are traded, on the next day the NAV is calculated after the Expiration Date (as defined below) (the “Pricing Date”). The offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the “Offer”). If more than the Offer Amount is tendered and not withdrawn, any purchases will be made on a pro rata basis.
In order to participate, the materials described in the Offer must be delivered to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Depositary”) by 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on August 19, 2024, or such later date to which the Offer is extended (the “Expiration Date”). Should the Offer be extended beyond August 19, 2024, the Pricing Date will be the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE on the next day the NAV is calculated after the newly designated Expiration Date. Shareholders who choose to participate in the Offer can expect payments for Shares tendered and accepted to be made within approximately five business days after the Expiration Date.
The Shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BMEZ.” As of July 11, 2024, the Fund had 106,514,258 Shares outstanding; its NAV per Share was $18.06 and its market price per Share was $15.59, representing a discount to NAV of 13.68%. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 11, 2024, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 11, 2024. For the Fund’s most current NAV and market price per Share, you may view online at https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/312196/health-sciences-term-trust. For additional questions or information during the pendency of this Offer, you may contact Georgeson LLC (the “Information Agent”) by calling (866) 961-4074, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), and 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern time, on Saturday.
The Offer is subject to important terms and conditions, including the conditions listed under Section 4, “Certain Conditions of the Offer.”
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Offer, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Offer, or determined whether this Offer to Purchase is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a crime.
If you are not interested in selling any of your Shares at this time, you do not need to do anything. This Offer is not part of a plan to liquidate the Fund. Shareholders are not required to participate in the Offer.
Table of Contents
You should be aware that, if you tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, tendered Shares will not be entitled to receive any Fund dividend or distribution with a record date on or after August 26, 2024.
Because this Offer is limited as to the number of Shares that the Fund will purchase, not all Shares tendered for purchase by shareholders may be accepted for payment by the Fund. This may occur, for example, if one or more large investors seek to tender a significant number of Shares or if a large number of investors tender Shares.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Shareholders who desire to participate in the Offer should either: (a) properly complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal (in the case of registered shareholders), provide thereon the original of any required signature guarantee(s) and mail or deliver it together with the Shares, if any (in proper form), and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal; or (b) request their broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company (each, a “Nominee”) to effect the transaction on their behalf. Shareholders whose Shares are registered in the name of a Nominee, such as a brokerage firm or other financial intermediary, must contact that firm to instruct the firm to participate in the Offer on their behalf. Tendering shareholders may be charged a fee by their Nominee or other financial intermediary for processing the documentation required to participate in the Offer on their behalf. Shareholders are urged to consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender Shares and, if so, how many Shares to tender, or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer.
The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject Shares determined not to be tendered in appropriate form.
Beneficial owners should be aware that their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in the Offer. Accordingly, beneficial owners wishing to participate in the Offer should contact their Nominee as soon as possible in order to determine the times by which such owner must take action in order to participate in the Offer.
If you want to tender your Shares but your certificates for the Shares are not immediately available or cannot be delivered to the Depositary within the required time or you cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfer, or your other required documents cannot be delivered to the Depositary by the Expiration Date of the Offer, you will not be able to tender your Shares.
None of the Fund, its Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Board”) or BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Investment Advisor”) makes any recommendation to any shareholders as to whether to tender Shares for purchase or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. No person has been authorized to make any recommendation on behalf of the Fund, its Board of Trustees or the Investment Advisor as to whether shareholders should tender Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer or to make any representation or to give any information in connection with the Offer other than as contained herein. If made or given, any such recommendation, representation or information must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund, its Board of Trustees or the Investment Advisor. Shareholders are urged to carefully evaluate all information in the Offer, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender their Shares for purchase or refrain from participating in the Offer.
The Fund has filed with the Commission a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), relating to the Offer.
The making of the Offer may, in some jurisdictions, be restricted or prohibited by applicable law. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, and may not be accepted from within, any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance of the Offer would, absent prior registration, filing or qualification under applicable laws, not be in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, shareholders are required to inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions.
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||
| SUMMARY TERM SHEET | i | |||||
| 1. | 1 | |||||
| 2. | 2 | |||||
| 3. | 2 | |||||
| 4. | 3 | |||||
| 5. | 4 | |||||
| 6. | 8 | |||||
| 7. | 8 | |||||
| 8. | 9 | |||||
| 9. | 9 | |||||
| 10. | 11 | |||||
| 11. | Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares |
11 | ||||
| 12. | 13 | |||||
| 13. | 14 | |||||
| 14. | 14 | |||||
| 15. | 18 | |||||
| 16. | 18 | |||||
| 17. | 19 | |||||
| 18. | 19 | |||||
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 19 | |||||
Table of Contents
This Summary Term Sheet highlights certain information concerning this Offer. To understand the Offer fully and for a more complete discussion of its terms and conditions, you should read carefully the entire Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. We have included section references parenthetically to direct you to a more complete description in the Offer of the topics in this Summary Term Sheet.
What is the Offer?
| • | The Fund is offering to purchase up to 2.5% of its Shares. The Fund will pay cash for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. The Fund will purchase Shares at a price equal to 98% of the NAV per Share as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE on the next day the NAV is calculated after the Expiration Date. If the number of Shares properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the date and time the Offer expires is less than or equal to the Offer Amount, the Fund will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, purchase all Shares tendered. If shareholders tender (and do not timely withdraw) more than the Offer Amount, the Fund will purchase duly tendered Shares from participating shareholders on a pro rata basis, based upon the number of Shares each shareholder tenders for purchase and does not timely withdraw. The Fund does not intend to increase the number of Shares that it is offering to purchase, even if shareholders tender more than the Offer Amount. Shareholders cannot be assured that all of their tendered Shares will be purchased. (See Section 1, “Price; Number of Shares” and Section 7, “Payment for Shares.”) |
When will the Offer expire, and may the Offer be extended?
| • | The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on August 19, 2024, the Expiration Date, unless extended. The Fund may extend the offer period at any time. If it does, the Fund will determine the purchase price as of the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE on the next day the NAV is calculated after the newly designated Expiration Date. The Fund may extend the period of time the Offer will be open by issuing a press release or making some other public announcement by no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next business day after the Offer otherwise would have expired. (See Section 1, “Price; Number of Shares.”) |
What is the purpose of the Offer?
| • | On May 3, 2024, the Fund and the Investment Advisor entered into a standstill agreement (the “Standstill Agreement”) with Karpus Management, Inc. (“Karpus”), pursuant to which the Fund agreed to adopt a discount management program (the “Program”). Under the terms of the Program, the Fund intends to commence tender offers to repurchase 2.5% of its outstanding Shares, at a price per share equal to 98% of the Fund’s NAV per Share, if the Fund’s Shares trade at an average daily discount to NAV greater than 7.50% during a measurement period (each, a “Conditional Tender Offer”). Each measurement period will have a three calendar month term, commencing April 1, 2024 and continuing for a period of 12 months. During the effective period of the Standstill Agreement, Karpus, the Fund and the Investment Advisor agreed to be bound by the terms of the Standstill Agreement, which include an agreement by Karpus to (1) abide by certain standstill covenants, and (2) vote its Shares in accordance with the recommendation of the Board on all proposals submitted to shareholders, including proposals submitted at the Fund’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. The Standstill Agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of (i) May 3, 2027, (ii) 10 days prior to the record date for the Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, (iii) if the Fund has not commenced a Conditional Tender Offer within 15 business days of the applicable calendar quarter end if required to be commenced pursuant to the terms of the Standstill Agreement, the date that is 16 business days after the applicable calendar quarter end, and (iv) such date that the Fund determines not to conduct a Conditional Tender Offer if required to be conducted pursuant to the terms of the Standstill Agreement, unless the Standstill Agreement is terminated earlier by the parties. A copy of the Standstill Agreement |
i
Table of Contents
| is included as an exhibit to the Fund’s Schedule TO for this Offer. This Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal relate solely to the Offer and do not relate to any subsequent Conditional Tender Offers. |
| • | On July 1, 2024, the Fund announced that, under the Program, as a result of the Shares having traded at an average daily discount to NAV of greater than 7.5% during the period from April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024 (the “First Measurement Period”), the Fund intended to offer to repurchase 2.5% of the Shares. The Fund determined to execute the purchase required by the terms of the First Measurement Period by conducting the Offer. |
| • | There can be no assurances as to the effect that the Program will have on the Fund’s market discounts. Common shares of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount to their NAVs, and the Fund’s Shares may also trade at a discount to their NAV, although it is possible that they may trade at NAV or at a premium above NAV. The market price of the Fund’s Shares is determined by such factors as relative demand for and supply of such securities in the market, the Fund’s NAV, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its Shares will trade at, below or above NAV. (See Section 2, “Purpose of the Offer” and Section 3, “Plans or Proposals of the Fund.”) |
Will I have to pay anything to participate in the Offer?
| • | Shares will be purchased at 98% of the Fund’s NAV, which may help defray certain costs of the offer, including the processing of tender forms, effecting payment, postage and handling. The Fund will not charge a separate service fee in conjunction with the Offer. If your Shares are held through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may charge a service fee for participation in the Offer. (See Section 1, “Price; Number of Shares,” Section 7, “Payment for Shares” and Section 17, “Fees and Expenses.”) |
What is the NAV per Share as of a recent date?
| • | On July 11, 2024, the NAV per Share was $18.06 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE on such date was $15.59, representing a discount to NAV of 13.68%. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 11, 2024, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 11, 2024. For the Fund’s most current NAV and market price per Share, you may view online at https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/312196/health-sciences-term-trust. For additional questions or information during the pendency of this Offer, you may contact the Information Agent by calling (866) 961-4074, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), and 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern time, on Saturday. (See Section 10, “Price Range of Shares.”) |
Will the Fund’s NAV per Share be higher or lower on the Pricing Date?
| • | No one can accurately predict what the Fund’s NAV per Share will be at any future date, including the Pricing Date. You should realize that the NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 11, 2024 set forth above. |
Does the Fund have the financial resources to pay me for my Shares?
| • | Yes. If the Fund purchased 2,662,856 Shares (2.5% of the Shares outstanding as of July 11, 2024, rounded to the nearest whole Share) at a price per share of $17.70, equal to 98% of the NAV as of July 11, 2024 ($18.06 per Share), the Fund’s total cost, not including fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Offer, would be approximately $47.1 million. The Fund intends to first use cash on hand to pay for Shares tendered, and then intends to sell portfolio securities to raise any additional cash |
ii
Table of Contents
| needed for the purchase of Shares. The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money to finance the purchase of Shares in the Offer. (See Section 8, “Source and Amount of Consideration.”) |
How do I participate in the Offer?
| • | If your Shares are registered in the name of a Nominee, you should contact that firm if you wish to tender your Shares. |
| • | All other shareholders wishing to participate in the Offer must, prior to the date and time the Offer expires, complete and execute a Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. You must send these materials to the Depositary at its address set forth on the last page of this offer. If you hold certificates for Shares, you must send the certificates to the Depositary at its address set forth on the last page of this offer. If your Shares are held in book-entry form, you must comply with the book-entry delivery procedure set forth in Section 5.C of this Offer. In all these cases, the Depositary must receive these materials prior to the date and time the Offer expires. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholders should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 699-1236. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. The Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed. |
Must I tender all of my Shares for purchase?
| • | No. You may tender for purchase all or part of the Shares you own. (See Section 1, “Price; Number of Shares.”) |
May I withdraw my Shares after I have tendered them for purchase and, if so, by when?
| • | Yes, you may withdraw all, but not less than all, of your tendered Shares at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on August 19, 2024, which is the Expiration Date. In order for your withdrawal to be effective, you must submit or direct your Nominee to submit a withdrawal request to the Depositary prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on the Expiration Date. You may resubmit withdrawn Shares by following the purchase procedures before the Offer expires, including during any extension period. (See Section 6, “Withdrawal Rights.”) |
How do I withdraw previously tendered Shares?
| • | You must submit or direct your Nominee to submit a request for withdrawal of previously tendered Shares to the Depositary. You may withdraw only all Shares previously tendered by you, and not a portion thereof, and your request for withdrawal must state this. (See Section 6, “Withdrawal Rights.”) |
May my Nominee place any conditions on my tender of Shares?
| • | No. |
May I place any conditions on my tender of Shares?
| • | No. |
Is my tender of Shares in the Offer a taxable transaction?
| • | It is anticipated that the tender of Shares in exchange for cash will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes either in the form of a “sale or exchange” or, under certain |
iii
Table of Contents
| circumstances, a “dividend.” Please consult your tax adviser regarding your individual tax consequences, including potential state, local and foreign tax consequences. (See Section 14, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”) |
Is there any reason Shares tendered by me for purchase would not be accepted?
| • | In addition to those circumstances described under “Certain Conditions of the Offer” in which the Fund is not required to purchase tendered Shares, the Fund has reserved the right to reject any and all tendered Shares determined by the Fund not to have been tendered in the appropriate form. For example, tenders will be rejected if the tender does not include the original signature(s) or the original of any required signature guarantee(s). Moreover, as further described herein, if more than the Offer Amount is tendered and not withdrawn, any purchases will be made on a pro rata basis. |
What should I do if I decide not to tender my Shares for purchase?
| • | Nothing. There are no actions that you need to take if you determine not to participate in the Offer. |
If I decide not to tender, how will the Offer affect my Shares?
| • | If you do not tender your Shares (or if you own Shares following completion of the Offer), you will be subject to any increased risks associated with the reduction in the Fund’s total assets due to the payment for the tendered Shares. These risks may include greater volatility due to a decreased asset base and proportionately higher expenses, as well as the possibility of receiving additional taxable capital gains on the distributions of the sale of portfolio securities to pay for tendered shares. The reduced assets of the Fund as a result of the Offer may result in less investment flexibility for the Fund, depending on the number of Shares purchased, could limit the Fund’s ability to use leverage and may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment performance. The purchase of Shares in the Offer may reduce the number of shareholders in the Fund and will reduce the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly. This could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Shares the public holds. (See Section 9, “Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation” and Section 17, “Fees and Expenses.”) |
Does the Fund’s management recommend that shareholders participate in the Offer, and will management participate in the Offer?
| • | None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees or the Investment Advisor is making any recommendation to shareholders regarding whether to tender Shares for purchase or refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. The Fund has been advised that none of its Board of Trustees or officers intends to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer. (See Section 11, “Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares.”) |
Will there be additional opportunities to tender my Shares to the Fund?
| • | No other tender offers have been approved by the Board, but the Board reserves the right to approve tender offers in the future. (See Section 2, “Purpose of the Offer” and Section 3, “Plans or Proposals of the Fund.”) |
How do I obtain more information?
| • | Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to your financial advisor or other Nominee, or to the Information Agent toll free at (866) 961-4074. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to Purchase and the applicable Letter of Transmittal should also be directed to the Information Agent. |
iv
Table of Contents
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10104
(866) 961-4074 (Toll Free)
The Depositary for the Offer is:
| By First Class, Registered or Certified Mail: | By Express Mail or Overnight Courier: | |
| Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
| Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
| P.O. Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011 |
150 Royall Street, Suite V Canton, MA 02021 |
v
Table of Contents
| 1. | Price; Number of Shares. |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Fund will accept for purchase, and pay for, an aggregate amount of up to 2.5% of its Shares outstanding as of July 11, 2024 (which were 106,514,258 Shares, rounded to the nearest whole Share) that are properly tendered and not timely withdrawn in accordance with Section 6 prior to the Expiration Date. The term “Expiration Date” means 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on August 19, 2024, unless the Fund, in its sole discretion, extends the period during which the Offer is open, in which case “Expiration Date” shall mean the time and date on which the Offer, as so extended by the Fund, shall expire. The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion and for any reason to amend, extend or terminate the Offer prior to the time the Offer expires. See Section 16, “Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination.” The Fund will not be obligated to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer under certain circumstances. See Section 4, “Certain Conditions of the Offer.”
The purchase price of the Shares will be 98% of the NAV per Share determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE on the next day the NAV is calculated after the Expiration Date (previously defined as the “Pricing Date”). On July 11, 2024, the NAV per Share was $18.06 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE on such date was $15.59, representing a discount to NAV of 13.68%. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 11, 2024, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 11, 2024. For the Fund’s most current NAV and market price per Share, you may view online at https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/312196/health-sciences-term-trust. For additional questions or information during the pendency of this Offer, you may contact the Information Agent by calling (866) 961-4074, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), and 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern time, on Saturday. Shareholders tendering Shares shall be entitled to receive all dividends with an “ex date” on or before the Expiration Date provided that they own Shares as of the record date for such dividend. Shareholders should be aware that, if they tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, tendered Shares will not be entitled to receive any Fund dividend or distribution with a record date on or after August 26, 2024.
The Offer is being made to all shareholders and is not conditioned upon shareholders tendering for purchase in the aggregate any minimum number of Shares. If the number of Shares properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the date and time the Offer expires is less than or equal to the Offer Amount, the Fund will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, purchase all Shares tendered. If more than the Offer Amount is duly tendered for purchase pursuant to the Offer (and not timely withdrawn as provided in Section 6), the Fund, subject to the conditions listed in Section 3, will purchase Shares from participating shareholders in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Offer on a pro rata basis based upon the number of Shares duly tendered (and not timely withdrawn) by or on behalf of each shareholder. The Fund does not intend to increase the number of Shares offered for purchase, even if more than the Offer Amount is tendered by all shareholders in the aggregate.
Shares will be purchased at 98% of the Fund’s NAV on the Pricing Date, which may help defray certain costs of the tender, including the processing of tender forms, effecting payment, postage and handling. The Fund will not charge a separate service fee in conjunction with the Offer. If your Shares are held through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may charge a service fee for participation in the Offer. Tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares by the Fund, except in the circumstances set forth in Section 7, “Payment for Shares.”
On July 11, 2024, there were 106,514,258 Shares issued and outstanding. The Fund has been advised that none of its Board of Trustees or officers intends to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time, to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open by giving notice of such extension to the Depositary and making a public
1
Table of Contents
announcement thereof. See Section 16, “Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination.” The Fund makes no assurance that it will extend the Offer. During any extension, all Shares previously tendered and not withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the right of a tendering shareholder to withdraw his or her Shares.
| 2. | Purpose of the Offer. |
On May 3, 2024, the Fund and the Investment Advisor entered into the Standstill Agreement with Karpus, pursuant to which the Fund agreed to adopt the Program. As previously announced, under the Program, the Fund intends to offer to purchase its Shares based on four 3-month measurement periods (each a “Measurement Period”) if the Fund’s Shares trade at an average daily discount to NAV of greater than 7.5% during a Measurement Period (a “Trigger Event”).
The First Measurement Period under the Program commenced on April 1, 2024 and ended on June 30, 2024. In connection with the establishment of the First Measurement Period, the Board determined that if a Trigger Event occurred during the First Measurement Period, the Fund would offer to purchase 2.5% of its outstanding Shares at a price equal to 98% of the Fund’s NAV determined on the next day the NAV is calculated after the Expiration Date. During the First Measurement Period, the Fund’s Shares traded at an average discount to NAV of greater than 7.5%. Therefore, the Fund determined to execute the purchase required by the terms of the First Measurement Period by conducting the Offer.
There can be no assurances as to the effect that the Program will have on the Fund’s market discounts. Common shares of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount to their NAVs, and the Fund’s Shares may also trade at a discount to their NAV, although it is possible that they may trade at or at a premium above NAV. The market price of the Fund’s Shares is determined by such factors as relative demand for and supply of such common stock in the market, the Fund’s NAV, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its Shares will trade at, below or above NAV.
Any Shares purchased by the Fund pursuant to the Offer will be available for issuance by the Fund without further shareholder action (except as required by applicable law or the rules of the NYSE on which the Shares are listed).
None of the Fund, the Board or the Investment Advisor makes any recommendation to any shareholder as to whether to tender Shares for purchase or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. No person has been authorized to make any recommendation on behalf of the Fund, the Board or the Investment Advisor as to whether shareholders should tender Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer or to make any representation or to give any information in connection with the Offer other than as contained herein. If made or given, any such recommendation, representation or information must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund, the Board or the Investment Advisor. Shareholders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender their Shares for purchase or refrain from participating in the Offer.
| 3. | Plans or Proposals of the Fund. |
Except to the extent described herein or in connection with the operation of the Fund’s automatic dividend reinvestment plan, the Fund does not have any present plans or proposals and is not engaged in any negotiations that relate to or would result in:
(a) any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Fund or any of its subsidiaries;
2
Table of Contents
(b) other than in connection with transactions in the ordinary course of the Fund’s operations and for purposes of funding the Offer, any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Fund or any of its subsidiaries;
(c) any material change in the Fund’s present dividend policy, or indebtedness or capitalization of the Fund;
(d) changes to the present Board or management of the Fund, including changes to the number or the term of members of the Board, the filling of any existing vacancies on the Board or changes to any material term of the employment contract of any executive officer;
(e) any other material change in the Fund’s corporate structure or business, including any plans or proposals to make any changes in the Fund’s investment policy for which a vote would be required by Section 13 of the 1940 Act;
(f) any class of equity securities of the Fund being delisted from a national securities exchange or ceasing to be authorized to be quoted in an automated quotations system operated by a national securities association;
(g) any class of equity securities of the Fund becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act;
(h) the suspension of the Fund’s obligation to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(i) the acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Fund, or the disposition of securities of the Fund; or
(j) any changes in the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or other governing instruments or other actions that could impede the acquisition of control of the Fund.
| 4. | Certain Conditions of the Offer. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, and in addition to (and not in limitation of) the Fund’s right to extend, amend or terminate the Offer at any time in its sole discretion, the Fund shall not be required to accept for purchase or, subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, pay for, and may delay the acceptance of or payment for any tendered Shares, if:
(a) such transactions, if consummated, would:
| (i) | result in delisting of the Fund’s Shares from the NYSE (the NYSE Listed Company Manual provides that the NYSE would promptly initiate suspension and delisting procedures with respect to closed-end funds if the total market value of publicly held shares and net assets of the Fund over 60 consecutive calendar days are each below $5,000,000); |
| (ii) | impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (which would make the Fund subject to U.S. federal income taxes on all of its income and gains in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive distributions from the Fund); or |
| (iii) | result in a failure to comply with the applicable asset coverage requirements applicable to senior securities of the Fund that are issued and outstanding; |
(b) the amount of Shares tendered would require liquidation of such a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio securities that the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner in light of the existing market conditions and such liquidation would have an adverse effect on the NAV of the Fund to the detriment of non-tendering shareholders;
3
Table of Contents
(c) there shall be instituted, pending or threatened before any governmental entity or court any action, proceeding, application or claim, or there shall be any judgment, order or injunction sought or any other action taken by any person or entity, which restrains, prohibits or materially delays the making or consummation of the Offer, challenges the acquisition by the Fund of any Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Board’s fulfillment of its fiduciary obligations in connection with the Offer, seeks to obtain any material amount of damages in connection with the Offer, or otherwise directly or indirectly adversely affects the Offer or the Fund;
(d) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading in or limitation on prices for securities on the NYSE, any other exchange on which the Shares are traded or any other exchange on which portfolio securities held by the Fund are traded; (ii) any declaration of a banking moratorium or similar action materially adverse to the Fund by U.S. federal or state authorities or any foreign jurisdiction, or any suspension of payment material to the Fund by banks in the United States, the State of New York, or any other jurisdiction; (iii) any limitation having a material adverse effect on the Fund that is imposed by U.S. federal or state authorities, or by any governmental authority of any foreign jurisdiction, with respect to the extension of credit by lending institutions or the convertibility of foreign currencies; (iv) the commencement of war, armed hostilities, or any other international or national calamity directly involving the United States other than any such event which is currently occurring; or (v) any other event or condition which, in the judgment of the Board, would have a material adverse effect on the Fund if the Offer were consummated; or
(e) the Board determines, in good faith, that effecting the Offer would be inconsistent with applicable legal requirements or would constitute a breach of the Board’s fiduciary duties owed to the Fund or its shareholders.
The foregoing conditions are for the Fund’s sole benefit and may be asserted by the Fund regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (including any action or inaction of the Fund), and any such condition may be waived by the Fund, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in its reasonable judgment. The Fund’s failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts or circumstances; and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination by the Fund concerning the events described in this Section 4 shall be final and binding.
The Fund reserves the right, at any time during the pendency of the Offer, to terminate, extend or amend the Offer in any respect. If the Fund determines to terminate or amend the Offer or to postpone the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares tendered, it will, to the extent necessary, extend the period of time during which the Offer is open as provided in Section 16, “Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination.” In the event any of the foregoing conditions are modified or waived in whole or in part at any time, the Fund will promptly make a public announcement of such waiver and may, depending on the materiality of the modification or waiver, extend the Offer period as provided in Section 16, “Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination.”
| 5. | Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase. |
A. Proper Tender of Shares.
Shareholders who desire to tender Shares registered in the name of a Nominee must contact their Nominee to effect a tender on their behalf.
For Shares to be properly tendered pursuant to the Offer, a shareholder must cause a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal bearing original signature(s) and the original of any required signature guarantee(s), and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase, and must cause certificates for tendered Shares to be received by the Depositary at such address or cause such Shares to be delivered pursuant to the
4
Table of Contents
procedures for book-entry delivery set forth below (and confirmation of receipt of such delivery to be received by the Depositary), in each case before the Expiration Date.
Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 699-1236. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.
Letters of Transmittal and certificates representing tendered Shares should not be sent or delivered to the Fund.
Registered shareholders may request to tender some or all of their Shares by delivering or mailing a Letter of Transmittal (together with certificates, if applicable, and other required documents) to the Depositary Agent at the appropriate address and in accordance with the instructions set forth in this Offer to Purchase. The Fund’s transfer agent holds Shares in uncertificated form for certain shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s automatic dividend reinvestment plan.
Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14e-4 promulgated thereunder make it unlawful for any person, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, to request a purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer unless at the time of the request, and at the time the Shares are accepted for payment, the person requesting the purchase has a net long position equal to or greater than the amount requested for purchase in either: (a) Shares, and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares for the purpose of purchase to the Fund within the period specified in the Offer, or (b) an equivalent security and, upon the acceptance of his or her request to purchase, will acquire Shares by conversion, exchange, or exercise of such equivalent security to the extent required by the terms of the Offer, and will deliver or cause to be delivered the Shares so acquired for the purpose of requesting the purchase to the Fund prior to or on the Expiration Date. Section 14(e) and Rule 14e-4 provide a similar restriction applicable to the request to purchase or guarantee of a request to tender on behalf of another person.
The acceptance of Shares by the Fund for purchase will constitute a binding agreement between the participating shareholder and the Fund upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, including the participating shareholder’s representation that the shareholder has a net long position in the Shares being tendered for purchase within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 and that the request to tender such Shares complies with Rule 14e-4.
By submitting the Letter of Transmittal, a tendering shareholder shall, subject to and effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares tendered, be deemed in consideration of such acceptance to sell, assign and transfer to, or upon the order of, the Fund all right, title and interest in and to all the Shares that are being tendered (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or other securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date) and irrevocably constitute and appoint the Depositary the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the tendering shareholder with respect to such Shares (and any such dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (a) deliver certificates for such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights) or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), together, in either such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to or upon the order of the Fund, upon receipt by the Depositary of the purchase price, (b) present such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights) for transfer on the books of the Fund, and (c) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney given by the tendering shareholder with respect to such Shares (and any such dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights) will, without further action, be
5
Table of Contents
revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney may be given by the tendering shareholder with respect to the tendered Shares (and, if given, will be null and void).
By submitting a Letter of Transmittal, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, a tendering shareholder shall be deemed to represent and warrant that: (a) the tendering shareholder has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Shares (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or other securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date); (b) when and to the extent the Fund accepts the Shares for purchase, the Fund will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges, proxies, encumbrances or other obligations relating to their sale or transfer, and not subject to any adverse claim; (c) on request, the tendering shareholder will execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Fund to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the tendered Shares (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date); and (d) the tendering shareholder has read and agreed to all of the terms of the Offer, including this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.
B. Signature Guarantees and Method of Delivery. All signatures on the Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. (See Instruction 2 of the Letter of Transmittal.) An “Eligible Institution” is a firm which is a broker, dealer, commercial bank, credit union, savings association or other entity and which is a member in good standing of a stock transfer association’s approved medallion program (such as STAMP, SEMP or MSP).
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered for purchase thereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificate(s) for the Shares tendered for purchase without any alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If any of the Shares tendered for purchase thereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign the Letter of Transmittal.
If any of the Shares tendered for purchase are registered in different names, it is necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations.
If the Letter of Transmittal or any certificates for Shares tendered for purchase or stock powers relating to Shares tendered for purchase are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Fund of their authority so to act must be submitted together with the Letter of Transmittal.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered for purchase, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers with respect to such Shares are required unless payment is to be made to, or certificates for Shares not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the certificate(s) listed thereon, the certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for the Shares involved. Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF ANY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE PARTY TENDERING SHARES. IF DOCUMENTS ARE SENT BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED.
6
Table of Contents
C. Book-Entry Delivery. Any financial institution that is a participant in the DTC system may make book-entry delivery of tendered Shares in accordance with DTC’s procedures. However, although delivery of Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC, a Letter of Transmittal properly completed and bearing original signature(s) and the original of any required signature guarantee(s) or an Agent’s Message (as defined below) in connection with a book-entry transfer and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.
The term “Agent’s Message” means a message from DTC transmitted to, and received by, the Depositary forming a part of a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares (a “Book-Entry Confirmation”) which states that (a) DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering the Shares for purchase that are the subject of the Book-Entry Confirmation, (b) the DTC participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal, and (c) the Fund may enforce such agreement against the DTC participant. Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
D. Determinations of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders will be determined by the Fund, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders determined not to be in appropriate form or to refuse to accept for payment or purchase, or pay for, any Shares if, in the opinion of the Fund’s counsel, accepting, purchasing or paying for such Shares would be unlawful. The Fund also reserves the absolute right to the extent permitted by law to waive any of the conditions of the Offer or any defect in any tender, whether generally or with respect to any particular Share(s) or shareholder(s). The Fund’s interpretations of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) shall be final and binding.
None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees, the Investment Advisor, the Information Agent, the Depositary nor any other person is or will be obligated to give any notice of any defect or irregularity in any tender, and none of the foregoing persons will incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
E. U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding. Under the U.S. federal income tax backup withholding rules, the Depositary would generally be required to withhold 24% of the gross payments made pursuant to the Offer to any U.S. Shareholder (as defined below) unless such U.S. Shareholder has completed and submitted to the Depositary an IRS Form W-9. In order to avoid the possibility of backup withholding, all participating U.S. Shareholders are required to provide the Depositary with a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-9. A “U.S. Shareholder” is a shareholder that is a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code. In general, a U.S. Shareholder is a shareholder that is (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (b) a corporation or partnership, or other entity taxed as a corporation or partnership, created or organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or of any State thereof; (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of the source of such income; or (d) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
In order to avoid backup withholding, participating Non-U.S. Shareholders (as defined below) must provide the Depositary with a completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or another type of Form W-8 appropriate to the particular Non-U.S. Shareholder. For purposes of this Offer to Purchase, a “Non-U.S. Shareholder” is generally any shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code. Copies of Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E are provided with the Letter of Transmittal for Non-U.S. Shareholders. Other types of Form W-8 can be found on the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions.
Tendering Non-U.S. Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, even if they submit an appropriate IRS Form W-8 in order to claim an exemption from backup withholding. For an additional discussion
7
Table of Contents
of U.S. federal income tax withholding as well as a discussion of certain other U.S. federal income tax consequences to tendering shareholders, see Section 14, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
| 6. | Withdrawal Rights. |
At any time prior to the Expiration Date any shareholder may withdraw all, but not less than all, of the Shares that the shareholder has tendered. In addition, Shareholders will also have the right to withdraw the tender of Shares at any time after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 12, 2024, to the extent the Shares have not yet been accepted for payment as of that date.
To be effective, a written notice of withdrawal of Shares tendered for purchase must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Shareholders may also send a facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal, which must be timely received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, and the original notice of withdrawal must be delivered to the Depositary by overnight courier the next day. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name(s) of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn (which may not be less than all of the Shares tendered by the shareholder) and, if one or more certificates representing such Shares have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, the name(s) of the registered owner(s) of such Shares as set forth in such certificate(s) if different from the name(s) of the person tendering the Shares. If one or more certificates have been delivered to the Depositary, then, prior to the release of such certificate(s), the certificate number(s) shown on the particular certificate(s) evidencing such Shares must also be submitted and the signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. Shares properly withdrawn will not thereafter be deemed to be tendered for purposes of the Offer. Withdrawn Shares, however, may be re-tendered for purchase by following the procedures described in Section 5 prior to the Expiration Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6, tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer will be irrevocable.
None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees, the Investment Advisor, the Information Agent, the Depositary nor any other person is or will be obligated to give any notice of any defect or irregularity in any notice of withdrawal, nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
| 7. | Payment for Shares. |
For purposes of the Offer, the Fund will be deemed to have accepted for payment and purchased Shares that are tendered for purchase (and not timely withdrawn in accordance with Section 6) when, as and if the Fund gives oral or written notice to the Depositary of its acceptance of such Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer. Under the Exchange Act, the Fund is obligated to pay for or return Shares tendered for purchase promptly after the termination, expiration or withdrawal of the Offer. Unless otherwise indicated on the Letter of Transmittal, properly tendered Shares that are not purchased because of proration will be returned at our expense to you or to other persons at your discretion.
Payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by the Depositary out of funds made available to it by the Fund. The Depositary will act as agent for the Fund for the purpose of effecting payment to the tendering shareholder. In all cases, payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of:
| (a) | a Letter of Transmittal (or a copy thereof) properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantee(s), or an Agent’s Message in connection with a book-entry transfer; |
| (b) | a certificate evidencing Shares or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 5; and |
| (c) | all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. |
8
Table of Contents
Accordingly, payment may not be made to all tendering shareholders at the same time and will depend upon when Share certificates are received by the Depositary or Book-Entry Confirmations of tendered Shares are received in the Depositary’s account at DTC.
If any tendered Shares are not accepted for payment or are not paid because of an invalid tender, if certificates are submitted for more Shares than are tendered, or if a shareholder withdraws tendered Shares, (i) the Shares will be issued in book-entry form and will be electronically held in your account for such unpurchased Shares, as soon as practicable following the expiration, termination or withdrawal of the Offer, (ii) Shares delivered pursuant to the book-entry delivery procedures will be credited to the account from which they were delivered, and (iii) uncertificated Shares held by the Fund’s transfer agent pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan will be returned to the automatic dividend reinvestment plan account maintained by the transfer agent.
The Fund will pay all transfer taxes, if any, payable on the transfer to it of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if unpurchased Shares were registered in the name of, any person other than the tendering holder, or if any tendered certificates are registered or the Shares tendered are held in the name of any person other than the person signing the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or such other person) payable on account of such transfer will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted. In addition, if certain events occur, the Fund may not be obligated to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer. See Section 4, “Certain Conditions of the Offer.”
Any tendering shareholder or other payee who fails to complete fully and sign the Substitute IRS Form W-9, if one is included with the Letter of Transmittal, may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding of 24% of the gross proceeds paid to such shareholder or other payee pursuant to the Offer. Non-U.S. Shareholders should provide the Depositary with a completed IRS Form W-8 in order to avoid 24% backup withholding. A copy of IRS Form W-8 will be provided upon request from the Depositary. See Section 5, “Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase—U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding.”
| 8. | Source and Amount of Consideration. |
The actual cost of the Offer to the Fund cannot be determined at this time because the number of Shares to be purchased will depend on the number of Shares tendered for purchase, and the price will be based on the NAV per Share on the Pricing Date. If shareholders tendered all Shares offered for purchase pursuant to the Offer, and the Fund purchased such Shares at a price per share of $17.70, equal to 98% of the NAV as of July 11, 2024 ($18.06 per Share), payments by the Fund to the participating shareholders would be approximately $47.1 million. See Section 9, “Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation.”
The monies to be used by the Fund to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer will be first obtained from any cash on hand and then from the proceeds of sales of securities in the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Board of Trustees believes that the Fund has sufficient liquidity to purchase the Shares that may be tendered pursuant to the Offer. However, if, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, there is not sufficient liquidity of the assets of the Fund to pay for tendered Shares, the Fund may terminate the Offer.
No funds are expected to be borrowed, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of the Offer. There are no alternative financing arrangements or alternative financing plans. There are no material conditions to the availability of the Consideration for the purposes of this Offer, except as set forth herein. See Section 4, “Certain Conditions of the Offer.”
| 9. | Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation. |
The Offer may have certain adverse consequences for tendering and non-tendering shareholders.
9
Table of Contents
A. Effects on NAV and Consideration Received by Tendering Shareholders. To pay the aggregate purchase price of Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, the Fund anticipates that funds will be first derived from any cash on hand and then from the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities held by the Fund. If the Fund is required to sell a substantial amount of portfolio securities to raise cash to finance the Offer, such dispositions of portfolio securities could cause market prices of the Fund’s portfolio securities, and hence the Fund’s NAV, to decline. If such a decline occurs, the Fund cannot predict what its magnitude might be or whether such a decline would be temporary or continue to or beyond the Expiration Date. Because the price per Share to be paid in the Offer will be dependent upon the NAV as determined as of the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE on the Pricing Date, if such a decline continued to the Pricing Date, the consideration received by tendering shareholders would be less than it otherwise might have been. In addition, a sale of portfolio securities will result in increased brokerage and related transaction expenses, and the Fund may receive proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities that are less than the valuations of such securities by the Fund. Accordingly, because of the Offer, the Fund’s NAV may decline more than it otherwise might, thereby reducing the amount of proceeds received by tendering shareholders, and also reducing the NAV for non-tendering shareholders.
The Fund will sell portfolio securities to raise cash for the purchase of Shares. Thus, it is likely that during the pendency of the Offer, and possibly for a short time thereafter, the Fund will hold a greater than normal percentage of its net assets in cash and cash equivalents. This larger cash position may interfere with the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives. The Fund is required by law to pay for tendered Shares it accepts for payment promptly after the Expiration Date of this Offer. If on or prior to the Expiration Date the Fund does not have, or believes it is unlikely to have, sufficient cash to pay for all Shares tendered, it may extend the Offer to allow additional time to sell portfolio securities and raise sufficient cash.
B. Recognition of Capital Gains. As noted, the Fund will likely be required to sell portfolio securities pursuant to the Offer. If the Fund’s tax basis for the securities sold is less than the sale proceeds, the Fund will recognize capital gains. The Fund would expect to distribute any such gains to shareholders of record (reduced by net capital losses realized during the fiscal year, if any, and available capital loss carry-forwards) during, or following the end of, the Fund’s fiscal year. This recognition and distribution of gains, if any, would have two negative consequences: first, while shareholders at the time of a declaration of distributions will receive such distributions, such shareholders would be required to pay taxes on a greater amount of capital gain distributions than otherwise would be the case; and second, to raise cash to make the distributions, the Fund might need to sell additional portfolio securities, thereby possibly being forced to realize and recognize additional capital gains. It is impossible to predict what the amount of unrealized gains or losses would be in the Fund’s portfolio at the time that the Fund is required to liquidate portfolio securities (and hence the amount of capital gains or losses that would be realized and recognized). As of December 31, 2023, the end of the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Fund had net unrealized capital appreciation of approximately $5.7 million. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards of approximately $42.8 million.
In addition, some distributed gains may be realized on securities held for one year or less, which would generate income taxable to the shareholders at ordinary income rates. This could adversely affect the Fund’s after-tax performance.
C. Tax Consequences of Purchases to Shareholders. The Fund’s purchase of tendered Shares pursuant to the Offer will have tax consequences for tendering shareholders. See Section 14, “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
D. Effect on Remaining Shareholders, Higher Expense Ratio and Less Investment Flexibility. The purchase of Shares by the Fund pursuant to the Offer will have the effect of increasing the proportionate interest in the Fund of non-tendering shareholders. All shareholders remaining after the Offer will be subject to any increased risks associated with the reduction in the Fund’s aggregate assets resulting from payment for the tendered Shares, such as greater volatility due to decreased diversification and proportionately higher expenses due to a decreased asset base. The reduced net assets of the Fund as a result of the Offer may result in less investment flexibility for the Fund and may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment performance.
10
Table of Contents
E. Possible Proration. If greater than the Offer Amount of the Fund’s Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer, the Fund would, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, purchase Shares tendered on a pro rata basis. Accordingly, shareholders cannot be assured that all of their tendered Shares will be purchased.
| 10. | Price Range of Shares. |
The following table sets forth, for each of the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low closing market prices for the Shares on the NYSE, the NAV per Share and the premium or discount to NAV per Share at which the Shares were trading.
Price Range of Shares
| During Quarter Ended |
Market Price per Share |
NAV per Share on Date of Market Price High and Low(1) |
Premium/(Discount) on Date of Market Price High and Low(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||||||||
| June 30, 2024 |
$ | 16.34 | $ | 14.44 | $ | 18.59 | $ | 17.09 | (12.10 | )% | (15.51 | )% | ||||||||||||
| March 31, 2024 |
$ | 16.54 | $ | 14.65 | $ | 18.72 | $ | 17.91 | (11.65 | )% | (18.20 | )% | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 |
$ | 14.82 | $ | 13.02 | $ | 17.87 | $ | 15.70 | (17.07 | )% | (17.07 | )% | ||||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 |
$ | 16.42 | $ | 14.14 | $ | 18.93 | $ | 17.12 | (13.26 | )% | (17.41 | )% | ||||||||||||
| June 30, 2023 |
$ | 16.81 | $ | 15.70 | $ | 18.80 | $ | 18.40 | (10.59 | )% | (14.67 | )% | ||||||||||||
| March 31, 2023 |
$ | 16.99 | $ | 15.22 | $ | 19.56 | $ | 18.07 | (13.14 | )% | (15.77 | )% | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 |
$ | 16.53 | $ | 14.50 | $ | 19.49 | $ | 17.60 | (15.19 | )% | (17.61 | )% | ||||||||||||
| September 30, 2022 |
$ | 17.69 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 20.23 | $ | 17.42 | (12.56 | )% | (16.42 | )% | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Based on the Fund’s computations. |
| (2) | Calculated based on the information presented. Percentages are rounded. |
On July 11, 2024, the NAV per Share was $18.06 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE on such date was $15.59. During the pendency of the Offer, daily NAV quotations can be obtained in the manner indicated in Section 1.
The tender of Shares, unless and until such tendered Shares are accepted for payment, will not affect the record ownership of any such tendered Shares for purposes of entitlement to any dividends payable by the Fund.
| 11. | Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares |
Information, as of particular dates, concerning the Fund’s trustees and executive officers, their remuneration, any material interest of such persons in transactions with the Fund and other matters, is required to be disclosed in proxy statements distributed to the Fund’s shareholders and filed with the Commission. The business address and business telephone number of each trustee and executive officer of the Fund are in care of BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.
11
Table of Contents
The table below sets forth the number of Shares and percentage of outstanding Shares beneficially owned by the trustees of the Fund based on the number of Shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024.
| Name and Position | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned | ||
| Independent Trustees |
||||
| Cynthia L. Egan |
1,987 | Less than 1% | ||
| Lorenzo A. Flores |
0 | N/A | ||
| Stayce D. Harris |
0 | N/A | ||
| J. Phillip Holloman |
0 | N/A | ||
| R. Glenn Hubbard |
0 | N/A | ||
| W. Carl Kester |
0 | N/A | ||
| Catherine A. Lynch |
0 | N/A | ||
| Arthur P. Steinmetz |
0 | N/A | ||
| Interested Trustees (1) |
||||
| Robert Fairbairn |
16,636.62 | Less than 1% | ||
| John M. Perlowski |
0 | N/A |
| (1) | Messrs. Fairbairn and Perlowski are both “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund based on their positions with BlackRock, Inc. and its affiliates. |
To the best of the Fund’s knowledge, no executive officer of the Fund beneficially owned Shares of the Fund as of March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Advisor, beneficially owned 5,000 Shares of the Fund (less than 1% of the outstanding Shares as of March 31, 2024). Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, to the best of the Fund’s knowledge, no person controlling the Fund or the Investment Advisor nor any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of such person beneficially owned Shares of the Fund as of March 31, 2024.
None of the Fund, the Investment Advisor or, to the best of the Fund’s knowledge, any of the Fund’s trustees or officers or any person controlling the Fund or the Investment Advisor, has effected any transaction in Shares, except for the issuance of Shares in the ordinary course of business (including dividend reinvestment), during the 60 days prior to the date of this Offer to Purchase.
Commencing December 1, 2023, the Fund may purchase, through November 30, 2024, up to 5% of its shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2023, subject to certain conditions. The Fund and any other person participating in the Offer will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M, which may restrict the ability of any person engaged in a “distribution,” as defined in Regulation M, of the Shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Shares. The Fund did not repurchase any of its Shares during the past 60 days under its open market share repurchase program.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of the Fund, the Investment Advisor or, to the best of the Fund’s knowledge, any of the Fund’s trustees or executive officers or any person controlling the Fund or the Investment Advisor, is a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whether or not legally enforceable, with any other person with respect to any securities of the Fund, including, but not limited to, any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there is no present or proposed material agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship with respect to the Offer between the Fund and any of its executive officers, trustees, controlling persons or subsidiaries.
The Fund has entered into, and may in the future enter into, in the ordinary course, fund of funds investment agreements (each, a “Fund of Funds Agreement”) with certain unaffiliated acquiring funds that are registered investment companies or business development companies (each, an “Acquiring Fund”) which, in each case, provide for the acquisition of Shares by each Acquiring Fund in a manner consistent with the requirements of
12
Table of Contents
Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act, including, among other things, an agreement by each Acquiring Fund to vote its Shares (together with any Shares held by certain of its affiliates) in its own discretion or in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the Fund (i.e., “echo voting”), each under certain circumstances.
The Fund has been advised that neither its Board of Trustees nor its officers intend to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer. Therefore, the Fund does not intend to purchase Shares from any officer or trustee pursuant to the Offer.
Based on the number of Shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024, to the best of the Fund’s knowledge, no person beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund, except for the following:
| Shareholder Name & Address |
Class of Shares | Share Holdings | Percentage Owned | |||||
| Saba Capital Management, L.P. (1) 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor New York, NY 10174 |
Common Shares | 20,346,341 | 19.10 | % | ||||
| (1) | Based on information obtained from a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Commission on March 8, 2024. Saba Capital Management, L.P. filed a Schedule 13D jointly with Saba Capital Management GP, LLC and Boaz R. Weinstein. |
BlackRock Advisors, LLC acts as the investment adviser for the Fund. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Investment Advisor and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund pays the Investment Advisor a monthly fee at an annual rate of 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. For purposes of calculating these fees, “Managed Assets” are determined as total assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) less the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes). Because the management fee is calculated on the basis of Managed Assets, which includes assets purchased with leverage, the fee paid to the Investment Advisor during periods in which the Fund is using leverage will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Investment Management Agreement by the Board is available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2023.
The Fund also is a party to certain other service agreements. The Fund is a party to an Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement with Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”). The Fund pays Computershare a monthly fee plus out-of-pocket expenses for the services it provides as transfer, shareholders services and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) serves as custodian for the Fund’s portfolio securities pursuant to the Custodian Agreement (“Custodian Agreement”) entered into with the Fund. Under the Custodian Agreement, the Fund is obligated to pay State Street reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and State Street.
The amounts paid by the Fund under these service agreements are disclosed in the Fund’s financial statements, which can be found in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports.
| 12. | Certain Information about the Fund. |
The Fund was organized as a Maryland statutory trust on August 14, 2019 pursuant to its Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as subsequently amended, is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, and commenced operations on January 30, 2020. The Fund is registered under the 1940 Act as a diversified,
13
Table of Contents
closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s principal office is located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, and its telephone number is (800) 882-0052. As a closed-end investment company, the Fund differs from an open-end investment company (i.e., a mutual fund) in that it does not redeem its Shares at the election of a shareholder.
The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide total return and income through a combination of current income, current gains and long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objectives may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Fund will be realized.
BlackRock Advisors, LLC acts as the investment adviser for the Fund. The Investment Advisor is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio and provides the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operation of the Fund. The Investment Advisor, located at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.
| 13. | Additional Information. |
The Fund has filed with the Commission a Schedule TO, which provides additional information relating to the Offer. You may inspect and obtain a copy of Schedule TO by visiting the EDGAR database on the Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the Schedule TO can be obtained, for a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
| 14. | Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences. |
The following discussion is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of a participating shareholder’s sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer. This discussion is based on current U.S. federal income tax law, including the Code, existing and proposed Treasury regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not apply to a shareholder that is a member of a class of holders subject to special rules (such as a dealer in securities, a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities holdings, a bank, a life insurance company, a tax-exempt organization, a person that owns Shares as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or as a position in a straddle, a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an accrual basis taxpayer subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code or a U.S. Shareholder (as such term is defined in Section 5, “Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase—U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding” above) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar). This summary assumes that the Fund is and will remain a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year that includes the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer. No ruling has been or will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth below. Shareholders must consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of a sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer, including potential tax consequences in jurisdictions where the shareholder is a citizen, resident or domiciliary.
A. Consequences to U.S. Shareholders of Participating in the Offer.
In General. A shareholder’s tender of all or a part of its Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tax consequences of the sale will be determined in part under the stock redemption rules of Section 302 of the Code. The amount and characterization of income recognized by a shareholder in connection with a sale pursuant to the Offer will depend on whether the sale is treated as an “exchange” or a “dividend” for tax purposes.
Treatment as an Exchange. If the redemption qualifies under any of the provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code, as more fully described below, the cash received pursuant to the Offer will be treated as received in
14
Table of Contents
exchange for the Shares sold. The treatment accorded to such an exchange results in a shareholder’s recognizing gain or loss equal to the difference between (a) the cash received by the shareholder pursuant to the Offer and (b) the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Shares surrendered. Assuming the Shares are held as capital assets, such recognized gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If the Shares were held longer than one year, such capital gain or loss will be long-term. If the Shares were held for one year or less, such capital gain or loss will be short-term. However, any loss upon an exchange of Shares held for six months or less generally will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions received or deemed received from the Fund that were treated as long-term capital gain. In addition, under certain “wash sales” rules, recognition of a loss on Shares sold pursuant to the Offer will ordinarily be disallowed to the extent a shareholder acquires Shares within 30 days before or after the date Shares are purchased pursuant to the Offer and, in that event, the basis and holding period of the Shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to a number of limitations under the Code.
Treatment as a Dividend. If none of the provisions under Section 302(b) of the Code outlined below are satisfied, a shareholder will be treated as having received a distribution on its Shares. Any such distribution will be treated as taxable dividend income in an amount equal to the entire amount of cash received by the shareholder for its Shares pursuant to the Offer to the extent the Fund has current or accumulated earnings and profits. Any amounts treated as distributions to shareholders in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to such shareholders to the extent of their basis in their Shares (reducing that basis accordingly) and then as capital gain (which will be long-term or short-term depending on such shareholder’s applicable holding period for the Shares tendered).
Accordingly, the difference between “dividend” and “sale or exchange” treatment is important with respect to the amount (there is no basis offset for dividends) and character of income that tendering shareholders are deemed to receive. While the marginal tax rate for dividends and capital gains remains the same for corporate shareholders, under the Code the top income tax rate on ordinary dividend income and short-term capital gains of individuals generally exceeds the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains.
Each shareholder’s tax adviser should determine whether that shareholder qualifies under one of the provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code. In the event that the transaction is treated as a dividend distribution to a shareholder for federal income tax purposes, such shareholder’s remaining tax basis in the Shares actually redeemed will be added to the tax basis of such shareholder’s remaining Shares in the Fund. In the event that a shareholder actually owns no Shares in the Fund after the redemption, but the transaction is nevertheless treated as a dividend distribution because such shareholder constructively owns Shares in the Fund (see below), such shareholder’s tax basis may, under certain circumstances, be added to Shares in the Fund owned by related persons that were considered constructively owned by such shareholder, or may be lost entirely. With respect to a purchase of Shares that is treated as a distribution but that is not otherwise taxable as a dividend because it exceeds the Fund’s earnings and profits, the method by which a U.S. holder must reduce its basis is uncertain in situations where the holder owns different blocks of stock that were acquired at different prices and thus have different bases. Each shareholder should consult its tax adviser with respect to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to such shareholder of participating in the Offer.
Constructive Ownership of Stock. In determining whether the provisions under Section 302(b) of the Code, as described below, are satisfied, a shareholder must take into account not only Shares actually owned by such shareholder, but also Shares that are constructively owned within the meaning of Section 318 of the Code. Under Section 318 of the Code, a shareholder may constructively own Shares actually owned, and in some cases constructively owned, by certain related individuals and certain entities in which the shareholder or a related individual or entity has an interest. The rules of constructive ownership are complex and must be applied to a particular shareholder’s situation by a tax adviser.
The Provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code. Under Section 302(b) of the Code, a redemption will be taxed as an exchange, and not as a dividend, if it (a) results in a “complete redemption” of all the Shares owned by a
15
Table of Contents
shareholder, (b) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a shareholder, or (c) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to a shareholder. Each shareholder should be aware that, under certain circumstances, sales, purchases, or transfers of Shares in the market or to or from other parties contemporaneous with sales pursuant to the Offer may be taken into account in determining whether the tests under clause (a), (b), or (c) above are satisfied. Further, the Fund believes that in the event the Offer is oversubscribed, resulting in a proration, it is likely that less than all the Shares tendered by a shareholder will be purchased by the Fund. Proration may affect whether a sale by a shareholder will satisfy the provisions (a), (b), or (c) above.
A brief description of the three major applicable provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code is as follows:
| 1. | A Complete Redemption of Interest. The receipt of cash by a shareholder will result in a “complete redemption” of all the Shares owned by the shareholder within the meaning of Section 302(b)(3) of the Code if either (i) all the Shares actually and constructively owned by the shareholder are sold pursuant to the Offer or (ii) all the Shares actually owned by the shareholder are sold pursuant to the Offer, the only Shares the shareholder constructively owns are actually owned by such shareholder’s family members, and the shareholder is eligible to waive and effectively waives, under procedures described in Section 302(c) of the Code, such constructive ownership. Shareholders wishing to satisfy the “complete termination” test through waiver of the constructive ownership rules should consult their tax advisers. |
| 2. | A Substantially Disproportionate Redemption. The receipt of cash by a shareholder will be “substantially disproportionate” with respect to such shareholder within the meaning of Section 302(b)(2) of the Code if (i) the percentage of the total outstanding Shares actually and constructively owned by the shareholder immediately following the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer is less than 80 percent of the percentage of the total outstanding Shares actually and constructively owned by such shareholder immediately before such sale, and (ii) immediately following the exchange, the shareholder actually and constructively owns less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting shares of the Fund. |
| 3. | Not Essentially Equivalent to a Dividend. Even if a sale by a shareholder fails to meet the “complete redemption” or “substantially disproportionate” tests, a shareholder may nevertheless meet the “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” test. Whether a specific redemption is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” depends on the individual shareholder’s facts and circumstances. In any event, the redemption must result in a “meaningful reduction” of the shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Fund. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that, in the case of a minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation whose relative stock investment in the corporation was minimal and who exercised no control over corporate affairs, a small reduction in the percentage ownership interest of such shareholder in such corporation was sufficient to constitute a “meaningful reduction.” Shareholders seeking to rely on this test should consult their own tax advisers as to the application of this particular standard to their own situations. |
Backup Withholding. The Depositary may be required to withhold 24% of the gross proceeds paid to a shareholder or other payee pursuant to the Offer unless either: (a) the shareholder has completed and submitted to the Depositary an IRS Form W-9 (including the Substitute IRS Form W-9, if one is included with the Letter of Transmittal) providing the shareholder’s taxpayer identification number/social security number and certifying under penalties of perjury: (i) that such number is correct, (ii) either that (A) the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding, (B) the shareholder has not been notified by the IRS that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of an under-reporting of interest or dividends, or (C) the IRS has notified the shareholder that the shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding, (iii) the shareholder is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (as defined in IRS Form W-9), and (iv) the FATCA code(s) entered on the form (if any) indicating that the shareholder is exempt from FATCA reporting is correct; or (b) an exception applies under applicable law and Treasury regulations.
16
Table of Contents
Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. Shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which generally includes capital gains or dividends recognized upon a sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
B. Consequences to Non-U.S. Shareholders of the Fund’s Purchase of Shares Pursuant to the Offer
U.S. Withholding at the Source. Since the Fund cannot determine whether a payment made pursuant to the Offer should be characterized for any particular shareholder as an “exchange” or a “dividend” for tax purposes at the time of the payment, we or the applicable withholding agent may treat any payments to a tendering shareholder that is a Non-U.S. Shareholder and that does not hold its Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, a U.S. permanent establishment) as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty). This U.S. withholding tax will apply even if the Non-U.S. Shareholder has provided the required certification to avoid backup withholding. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding under an applicable tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Shareholder must deliver to the Depositary before the payment a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. In order to obtain an exemption from withholding on the grounds that the Non-U.S. Shareholder holds its Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted in the United States, the Non-U.S. Shareholder must deliver to the Depositary a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI. Such forms (and additional IRS forms) may be obtained from the Information Agent or the IRS at www.irs.gov.
A tendering Non-U.S. Shareholder who realizes a capital gain on a tender of Shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the Non-US. Shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder is an individual who is physically present in the United States for 183 days or more during the tax year and certain other conditions are satisfied. A tendering Non-U.S. Shareholder who realizes a capital gain may be eligible to claim a refund of any withheld tax by filing a U.S. tax return and demonstrating that it satisfies one of the provisions of Section 302 described above or is otherwise able to establish that no withholding or a reduced amount of withholding is due. Dividend income or capital gains that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) will generally be taxed on a net income basis at the same rates applicable to U.S. persons (and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a corporation, may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at the rate of 30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty)). Different rules may also apply in the case of certain Non-U.S. Shareholders that are subject to special rules, including former citizens or residents of the United States and “controlled foreign corporations.” Non-U.S. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers.
Backup Withholding and Certification Rules. Non-U.S. Shareholders have special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding at a rate of 24%, and if applicable, to obtain the benefit of any income tax treaty between the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s country of residence and the United States. To claim these tax benefits, the non-U.S. Shareholder must provide the Depositary with a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other IRS Form W-8, where applicable, or their substitute forms) to establish his or her status as a Non-U.S. Shareholder, to claim beneficial ownership over Shares, and to claim, if applicable, a reduced rate of or exemption from withholding tax under the applicable treaty. Backup withholding generally will not apply to amounts subject to the 30% or a treaty-reduced rate of withholding.
FATCA Withholding. A Non-U.S. Shareholder (other than an individual) may be subject to a 30% withholding tax under FATCA unless such Non-U.S. Shareholder establishes an exemption from such withholding tax under FATCA, typically on IRS Form W-8BEN-E. Amounts withheld under FATCA will be credited against any withholding due for U.S. federal income tax. Non-U.S. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their participation in the Offer.
17
Table of Contents
Non-U.S. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding, including eligibility for a withholding tax reduction or exemption, and the refund procedure.
The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is a summary included for general information purposes only. In view of the individual nature of tax consequences, each shareholder is advised to consult its own tax adviser with respect to the specific tax consequences to it of the Offer, including the effect and applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
| 15. | Certain Legal and Regulatory Matters. |
The Fund is not aware of any approval or action by any government or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required to effect the Offer. Should any such approval or other action be required, the Fund presently contemplates that such approval or other action will be sought. The Fund is unable to predict whether it may determine that it is required to delay the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter. There can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained without substantial conditions or that the failure to obtain any such approval or other action might not have a material adverse effect on the Fund. The Fund’s obligations under the Offer to accept for payment and pay for Shares are subject to certain conditions described in Section 4, “Certain Conditions of the Offer.”
| 16. | Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination. |
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the Fund expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to extend the period during which the Offer is open for any reason, including the failure to satisfy any of the conditions specified in Section 4, and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares, by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary and by making a public announcement thereto. There can be no assurance that the Fund will exercise its right to extend the Offer. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not properly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the rights of a tendering shareholder to withdraw such shareholder’s Shares. See Section 6, “Withdrawal Rights.”
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the Fund also expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to: (a) terminate the Offer and not accept for payment (or pay for) any Shares if any of the conditions referred to in Section 4 has not been satisfied or upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any of the events specified in Section 5; and (b) waive any condition or amend the Offer in any respect, in each case by giving oral or written notice of termination, waiver or amendment to the Depositary and by making a public announcement thereof. The Fund acknowledges that Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act requires the Fund to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares tendered for purchase promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer, and that the Fund may not delay acceptance or payment for any Shares upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified in Section 6 without extending the period during which the Offer is open.
Any extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof, such announcement, in the case of an extension, to be made no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Without limiting the manner in which the Fund may choose to make any public announcement, except as provided by applicable law (including Rules 13e-4(c), 13e-4(e) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which require that material changes be promptly disseminated to holders of Shares), the Fund will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by issuing a press release and filing such release with the Commission.
18
Table of Contents
If the Fund makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or the information concerning the Offer, or waives a material condition of the Offer, the Fund will disseminate additional Offer materials and extend the Offer to the extent required by Rules 13e-4(e) and 13e-4(f) under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which the Offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the Offer or information concerning the Offer, other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the materiality of the changes. With respect to a change in price or, subject to certain limitations, a change in the percentage of securities sought, a minimum ten business day period from the date of such change is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination of such change to shareholders. Accordingly, if, for example, prior to the Expiration Date, the Fund decreased the number of Shares being sought, increased the consideration offered pursuant to the Offer or added a dealer’s soliciting fee, and if the Offer were scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the tenth business day from the date that notice of such increase, decrease or addition is first published, sent or given to shareholders, the Offer would be extended until at least the expiration of such ten business day period. For purposes of the Offer, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a U.S. federal holiday and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through midnight Eastern time.
| 17. | Fees and Expenses. |
The Fund will not pay to any broker or dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other person any solicitation fee for any Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. The Fund will reimburse these firms for customary handling and mailing expenses incurred in forwarding the Offer. No broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company has been authorized to act as the agent of the Fund or the Depositary for purposes of the Offer.
The Fund has retained Georgeson LLC to act as the Information Agent and Computershare to act as the Depositary. The Fund will pay the Information Agent and the Depositary reasonable and customary compensation for their services and will also reimburse them for certain out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify them against certain liabilities.
| 18. | Miscellaneous. |
The Offer is not being made to, nor will the Fund accept tenders from, or on behalf of, owners of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or its acceptance would not comply with the securities or “blue sky” laws of that jurisdiction. The Fund is not aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance of tenders of, purchase of, or payment for, Shares in accordance with the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. The Fund, however, reserves the right to exclude shareholders in any jurisdiction in which it is asserted that the Offer cannot lawfully be made or tendered Shares cannot lawfully be accepted, purchased or paid for. So long as the Fund makes a good-faith effort to comply with any state law deemed applicable to the Offer, the Fund believes that the exclusion of shareholders residing in any such jurisdiction is permitted under Rule 13e-4(f)(9) promulgated under the Exchange Act. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on the Fund’s behalf by one or more brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
The audited annual financial statements of the Fund dated December 31, 2023 and the schedule of investments of the Fund dated December 31, 2023, both filed with the SEC on EDGAR on Form N-CSR on March 6, 2024, are incorporated by reference. The unaudited semi-annual financial statements of the Fund dated June 30, 2023 and the schedule of investments of the Fund dated June 30, 2023, both filed with the SEC on EDGAR on Form N-CSRS on September 1, 2023, are incorporated by reference. The Fund will prepare and transmit to shareholders the audited annual financial statements of the Fund and the schedule of investments of the Fund within 60 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the 1940 Act.
19
Table of Contents
The Letter of Transmittal and Share certificates and any other required documentation should be sent or delivered by each shareholder or the shareholder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of the addresses set forth below.
The Depositary for the Offer is:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
| By First Class, Registered or Certified Mail: | By Express Mail or Overnight Courier: | |
| Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
| Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
| P.O. Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011 |
150 Royall Street, Suite V Canton, MA 02021 |
Any questions or requests for assistance or additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other documents may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone number and location listed below.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10104
(866) 961-4074 (Toll Free)
BLACKROCK HEALTH SCIENCES TERM TRUST
July 18, 2024
OTP_BMEZ_0724
Exhibit (a)(1)(ii)
Letter of Transmittal
Regarding Common Shares of Beneficial Interest of
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust
Tendered Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase Dated July 18, 2024
ALL TENDER REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN PROPER FORM ON OR
BEFORE 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON AUGUST 19, 2024.
The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
| By First Class, Registered or Certified Mail: | By Express Mail or Overnight Courier: | |
| Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
| Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
| P.O. Box 43011 | 150 Royall Street, Suite V | |
| Providence, RI 02940-3011 | Canton, MA 02021 |
|
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED | ||||||
|
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Shareholder(s) (Please fill in, if blank, exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificate(s) or Direct Registration System statement) |
Share Certificate(s) and Share(s) Tendered (Attach additional list, if necessary) | |||||
| Share Certificate Number(s)* |
Total Number of Shares Evidenced By Share Certificate(s) or Direct Registration |
Number of Shares Tendered** | ||||
| Total Shares | ||||||
|
* Need not be completed if Shares are delivered by Direct Registration ** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares evidenced by each Share Certificate (as defined below) or book-entry, if applicable, delivered to the Depositary Agent are being tendered hereby. See Instruction 4.
| ||||||
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by shareholders of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (the “Purchaser”) if certificates representing Shares (as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith.
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders the above-described common shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust for purchase by the Purchaser at a price equal to 98% of the net asset value (“NAV”) per Share as determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the principal market in which the Shares are traded, on the next day the NAV is calculated after the Offer (as defined below) expires, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated July 18, 2024 and in this Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the “Offer”).
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of any such extension or amendment), and subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of Shares tendered herewith, in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of the Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all Shares that are being tendered hereby and all dividends, distributions (including, without limitation, distributions of additional Shares) and rights declared, paid or distributed in respect of such Shares that are declared, paid or distributed in respect of a record date on or after the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) (collectively, “Distributions”) and irrevocably appoints Computershare Trust Company (the “Depositary Agent”) the true and lawful agent of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and all Distributions), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver certificates representing such Shares (and all Distributions) (“Share Certificates”), if applicable, together with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares (and all Distributions) for transfer on the books of the Purchaser and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and all Distributions), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints the Purchaser as the attorney and proxy of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote in such manner as each such attorney and proxy or his substitute shall, in its sole discretion, deem proper and otherwise act (by written consent or otherwise) with respect to all Shares tendered hereby which have been accepted for payment by the Purchaser prior to the time of such vote or other action and all Shares and other securities issued in Distributions in respect of such Shares, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders of the Purchaser (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) or consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise. This proxy and power of attorney is coupled with an interest in Shares tendered hereby, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of, and is effective upon, the acceptance for payment of such Shares by the Purchaser in accordance with the other terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall revoke all other proxies and powers of attorney granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and all Shares and other securities issued as Distributions in respect of such Shares), and no subsequent proxies, powers of attorney, consents or revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and if given will not be deemed effective). The undersigned understands that, in order for Shares (and Distributions) to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment, the Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), including, without limitation, voting at any meeting of the Purchaser’s shareholders. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions, that when such Shares are accepted for payment by the Purchaser, the Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all Distributions, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that none of such Shares and Distributions will be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned, upon request, shall execute and deliver all additional documents deemed by the Depositary Agent or the Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions. In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary Agent for the account of the Purchaser all Distributions in
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
- 2 -
respect of Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, the Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of Shares tendered hereby, or deduct from such purchase price, the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion.
No authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. All obligations of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.
The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. The Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms or conditions of any such extension or amendment).
Unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions,” the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a Direct Registration System (“DRS”) statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, be issued in the name(s) of the registered shareholder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered”. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions,” the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, be mailed to the address of the registered shareholder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered.”
In the event that the boxes below entitled “Special Payment Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” are both completed, the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment be issued and mailed to the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that the Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions or the Special Delivery Instructions, to make any payment or to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered shareholder(s) thereof if the Purchaser does not accept for payment any Shares tendered by the undersigned pursuant to the Offer. If Shares are held in book-entry form only, the Shares purchased will be debited from the book-entry account of the undersigned.
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
- 3 -
SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)
To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares purchased and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for you in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.
Issue Check and DRS Statement to:
| Name: |
| |||
| (Please Print) | ||||
| Address: |
| |||
| (Zip Code) | ||||
|
(Tax Identification or Social Security Number) (Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9)
| ||||
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7)
To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares purchased and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for you in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, are to be mailed to someone other than the undersigned, or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown under “Description of Shares Tendered.”
Mail Check and DRS Statement to:
| Name: |
| |||
| (Please Print) | ||||
| Address: |
| |||
| (Zip Code) | ||||
|
(Tax Identification or Social Security Number) (Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9) | ||||
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
- 4 -
IMPORTANT
SHAREHOLDERS,
SIGN HERE:
(Please Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9)
| Signature(s) of Shareholder(s) |
Dated: , 2024.
(Must be signed by registered shareholder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificates, Direct Registration System statement or on a security position listing by person(s) authorized to become registered shareholder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information and see Instruction 5.)
| Name(s): |
| |
| Please Print | ||
|
Capacity (full title): |
|
|
Address: |
|
| Include Zip Code | ||
|
Daytime Area Code and Telephone No.: |
|
|
Taxpayer Identification or |
| Social Security No.: |
|
| (Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9) |
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(See Instructions 1 and 5)
FOR USE BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: PLACE MEDALLION
GUARANTEE IN SPACE BELOW
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
INSTRUCTIONS
Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer
1. Guarantee of Signatures. All signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, or by any other “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each of the foregoing being an “Eligible Institution”), unless (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered shareholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby and such shareholder(s) has (have) not completed the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” in this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) such Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.
2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Shares. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used only if Shares being tendered are to be forwarded herewith or if Shares being tendered are held in book-entry form on the books of the Depositary Agent. Share Certificates evidencing all physically tendered Shares, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary Agent at one of its addresses set forth below prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase). If Share Certificates are forwarded to the Depositary Agent in multiple deliveries, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery. If Shares are held in book-entry form, please indicate the number of Shares being tendered in the box titled “Number of Shares Tendered” on this Letter of Transmittal.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, Shares and all other required documents is at the option and risk of the tendering shareholder, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. By execution of this Letter of Transmittal, all tendering shareholders waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.
3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided under “Description of Shares Tendered” is inadequate, the Share Certificate numbers (if applicable), the number of Shares evidenced by such Share Certificates (if applicable) and the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate signed schedule and attached hereto.
4. Partial Tenders. If fewer than all Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary Agent herewith are to be tendered hereby, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the box entitled “Number of Shares Tendered.” In such cases, a DRS statement evidencing the remainder of Shares that were evidenced by the Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent herewith will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions,” as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date or the termination of the Offer. All Shares evidenced by Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered shareholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificates or DRS statement, evidencing such Shares without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever.
If any Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
If any Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Shares.
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered shareholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required, unless payment is to be made to, or DRS statements evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered shareholder(s). If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered shareholder(s) of the Shares tendered, the Share(s) tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered shareholder(s) appear(s) on the Share Certificate(s) or DRS statement. Signatures on such Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any Share Certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, of such person’s authority so to act must be submitted.
6. Share Transfer Taxes. Share transfer taxes may be applicable under certain circumstances. You should consult your own tax advisor for a complete description of the tax consequences to you of any sale of transfer of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the purchase price of any Shares tendered hereby is to be issued in the name of, and/or DRS statements evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of and/or returned to, a person other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or if such check or any such DRS statements are to be sent to a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal but at an address other than that shown in the box entitled “Description of Shares Tendered,” the boxes entitled “Special Payment Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” herein, as appropriate, must be completed.
8. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to Georgeson LLC (the “Information Agent”) at the telephone number set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, and the Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Form W-9 may be obtained from the Information Agent.
9. Important Tax Information. Under Federal income tax law, a shareholder whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the Depositary Agent (as payer) with the shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number, which is accomplished by completing and signing the enclosed Form W-9.
10. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 699-1236. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.
Voluntary Corporate Action — BMEZ
This Letter of Transmittal and, if applicable, Share Certificates and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each shareholder or such shareholder’s broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary Agent at one of its addresses set forth below:
The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:
| By First Class, Registered or Certified Mail:
|
By Express Mail or Overnight Courier:
| |
| Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
| Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
| P.O. Box 43011 | 150 Royall Street, Suite V | |
| Providence, RI 02940-3011 | Canton, MA 02021 |
Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the
Information Agent at its telephone number listed below.
Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Information Agent.
A shareholder may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10104
(866) 961-4074 (Toll Free)
LT_BMEZ_0724
Voluntary Corporate Action – BMEZ
| Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service |
Request for Taxpayer
Identification Number and Certification
Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information. |
Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS. | ||
| Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below. | ||||
|
Print or type. See Specific Instructions on |
1 Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner’s name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded entity’s name on line 2.)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3a Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes. |
4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals; see instructions on page 3): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ☐ Individual/sole proprietor | ☐ C corporation | ☐ | S corporation | ☐ | Partnership | ☐ | Trust/estate |
Exempt payee code (if any) | ||||||||||||||||
|
☐ LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership) u
Note: Check the “LLC” box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner.
☐ Other (see instructions) u
|
Exemption from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting code (if any)
(Applies to accounts maintained outside the United States.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate in which you have an ownership interest, check this box if you have any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries. See instructions ☐
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.). See instructions.
|
Requester’s name and address (optional) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
6 City, state, and ZIP code
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
7 List account number(s) here (optional)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part I | Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) |
|
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later.
Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. See also What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Social security number | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| or | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Employer identification number |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part II | Certification |
|
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and
2. I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and
3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and
4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.
Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later. |
| Sign Here |
Signature of U.S. person u |
Date u |
General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9.
What’s New
Line 3a has been modified to clarify how a disregarded entity completes this line. An LLC that is a disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Otherwise, it should check the “LLC” box and enter its appropriate tax classification.
| Cat. No. 10231X | Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) | Page | 2 |
New line 3b has been added to this form. A flow-through entity is required to complete this line to indicate that it has direct or indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries when it provides the Form W-9 to another flow-through entity in which it has an ownership interest. This change is intended to provide a flow-through entity with information regarding the status of its indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, so that it can satisfy any applicable reporting requirements. For example, a partnership that has any indirect foreign partners may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3. See the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).
Purpose of Form
An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS is giving you this form because they must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following.
| • | Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid). |
| • | Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds). |
| • | Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds). |
| • | Form 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation). |
| • | Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers). |
| • | Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions). |
| • | Form 1099-K (merchant card and third-party network transactions). |
| • | Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), and 1098-T (tuition). |
| • | Form 1099-C (canceled debt). |
| • | Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property). |
Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.
Caution: If you don’t return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later.
By signing the filled-out form, you:
1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued);
2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; or
3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee; and
4. Certify to your non-foreign status for purposes of withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code (if applicable); and
5. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting is correct. See What Is FATCA Reporting, later, for further information.
Note: If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.
Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:
| • | An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien; |
| • | A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States; |
| • | An estate (other than a foreign estate); or |
| • | A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7). |
Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding. Payments made to foreign persons, including certain distributions, allocations of income, or transfers of sales proceeds, may be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or chapter 4 of the Code (sections 1441-1474). Under those rules, if a Form W-9 or other certification of non-foreign status has not been received, a withholding agent, transferee, or partnership (payor) generally applies presumption rules that may require the payor to withhold applicable tax from the recipient, owner, transferor, or partner (payee). See Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities.
The following persons must provide Form W-9 to the payor for purposes of establishing its non-foreign status.
| • | In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the disregarded entity. |
| • | In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the grantor trust. |
| • | In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust and not the beneficiaries of the trust. |
See Pub. 515 for more information on providing a Form W-9 or a certification of non-foreign status to avoid withholding.
Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person (under Regulations section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) or other applicable section for chapter 3 or 4 purposes), do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Pub. 515). If you are a qualified foreign pension fund under Regulations section 1.897(l)-1(d), or a partnership that is wholly owned by
qualified foreign pension funds, that is treated as a non-foreign person for purposes of section 1445 withholding, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use Form W-8EXP (or other certification of non-foreign status).
Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a saving clause. Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.
If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items.
1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.
2. The treaty article addressing the income.
3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.
4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.
5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.
Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if their stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first Protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on their scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.
If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.
Backup Withholding
What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 24% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include, but are not limited to, interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.
You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.
Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:
1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester;
2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details);
3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN;
4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only); or
5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding, as described in item 4 under “By signing the filled-out form” above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).
Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code, later, and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier.
What Is FATCA Reporting?
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all U.S. account holders that are specified U.S. persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code, later, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
Updating Your Information
You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you are no longer tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account, for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.
Penalties
Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) | Page | 3 |
Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.
Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Specific Instructions
Line 1
You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.
If this Form W-9 is for a joint account (other than an account maintained by a foreign financial institution (FFI)), list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9. If you are providing Form W-9 to an FFI to document a joint account, each holder of the account that is a U.S. person must provide a Form W-9.
• Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.
Note for ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040 you filed with your application.
• Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your Form 1040 on line 1. Enter your business, trade, or “doing business as” (DBA) name on line 2.
• Partnership, C corporation, S corporation, or LLC, other than a disregarded entity. Enter the entity’s name as shown on the entity’s tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
• Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. Enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
• Disregarded entity. In general, a business entity that has a single owner, including an LLC, and is not a corporation, is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (a disregarded entity). See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2). A disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Enter the owner’s name on line 1. The name of the owner entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner’s name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity’s name on line 2. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.
Line 2
If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, enter it on line 2.
Line 3a
Check the appropriate box on line 3a for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box on line 3a.
| IF the entity/individual on line 1 is a(n) . . . | THEN check the box for . . . | |
| ● Corporation | Corporation. | |
| ● Individual or
● Sole proprietorship |
Individual/sole proprietor. | |
| ● LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes or
● LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 electing to be taxed as a corporation |
Limited liability company and enter the appropriate tax classification: P = Partnership, C = C corporation, or S = S corporation. | |
| ● Partnership | Partnership. | |
| ● Trust/estate | Trust/estate. | |
Line 3b
Check this box if you are a partnership (including an LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes), trust, or estate that has any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate, in which you have an ownership interest. You must check the box on line 3b if you receive a Form W-8 (or documentary evidence) from any partner, owner, or beneficiary establishing foreign status or if you receive a Form W-9 from any partner, owner, or beneficiary that has checked the box on line 3b.
Note: A partnership that provides a Form W-9 and checks box 3b may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). For more information, see the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065).
If you are required to complete line 3b but fail to do so, you may not receive the information necessary to file a correct information return with the IRS or furnish a correct payee statement to your partners or beneficiaries. See, for example, sections 6698, 6722, and 6724 for penalties that may apply.
Line 4 Exemptions
If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space on line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.
Exempt payee code.
• Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.
• Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.
• Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions.
• Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys’ fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.
The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space on line 4.
1 — An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2).
2 — The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
3 — A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities.
4 — A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities.
5 — A corporation.
6 — A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or territory.
7 — A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
8 — A real estate investment trust.
9 — An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
10 — A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).
11 — A financial institution as defined under section 581.
12 — A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.
13 — A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.
The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.
| IF the payment is for . . . | THEN the payment is exempt for . . . | |
| ● Interest and dividend payments |
All exempt payees except for 7. | |
| ● Broker transactions |
Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012. | |
| ● Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends |
Exempt payees 1 through 4. | |
| ● Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001 |
Generally, exempt payees 1 through 5.2 | |
| ● Payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions |
Exempt payees 1 through 4. | |
| 1 | See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information, and its instructions. |
| 2 | However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency. |
Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with “Not Applicable” (or any similar indication) entered on the line for a FATCA exemption code.
A — An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37).
B — The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) | Page | 4 |
C — A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities.
D — A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i).
E — A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i).
F — A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state.
G — A real estate investment trust.
H — A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
I — A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a).
J — A bank as defined in section 581.
K — A broker.
L — A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1).
M — A tax-exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan.
Note: You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.
Line 5
Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns. If this address differs from the one the requester already has on file, enter “NEW” at the top. If a new address is provided, there is still a chance the old address will be used until the payor changes your address in their records.
Line 6
Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.
Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have, and are not eligible to get, an SSN, your TIN is your IRS ITIN. Enter it in the entry space for the Social security number. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN.
If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.
Note: See What Name and Number To Give the Requester, later, for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.SSA.gov. You may also get this form by calling 800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/EIN. Go to www.irs.gov/Forms to view, download, or print Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.irs.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4 mailed to you within 15 business days.
If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and enter “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, you will generally have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note: Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon. See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier, for when you may instead be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code.
Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Part II. Certification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, 4, or 5 below indicates otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code, earlier.
Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.
1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.
4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).
5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts (under section 529A), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
What Name and Number To Give the Requester
| For this type of account: | Give name and SSN of: | |||
| 1. | Individual | The individual | ||
| 2. | Two or more individuals (joint account) other than an account maintained by an FFI | The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account1 | ||
| 3. | Two or more U.S. persons (joint account maintained by an FFI) | Each holder of the account | ||
| 4. | Custodial account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) | The minor2 | ||
| 5. | a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) | The grantor-trustee1 | ||
| b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law | The actual owner1 | |||
| 6. | Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual | The owner3 | ||
| 7. | Grantor trust filing under Optional Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))** | The grantor* | ||
| For this type of account: | Give name and EIN of: | |||
| 8. | Disregarded entity not owned by an individual | The owner | ||
| 9. | A valid trust, estate, or pension trust | Legal entity4 | ||
| 10. | Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553 | The corporation | ||
| 11. | Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization | The organization | ||
| 12. | Partnership or multi-member LLC | The partnership | ||
| 13. | A broker or registered nominee | The broker or nominee | ||
| 14. | Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments | The public entity | ||
| 15. | Grantor trust filing Form 1041 or under the Optional Filing Method 2, requiring Form 1099 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))** | The trust | ||
| 1 | List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished. |
| 2 | Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN. |
| 3 | You must show your individual name on line 1, and enter your business or DBA name, if any, on line 2. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN. |
| 4 | List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) |
* Note: The grantor must also provide a Form W-9 to the trustee of the trust.
** For more information on optional filing methods for grantor trusts, see the Instructions for Form 1041.
Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) | Page | 5 |
Secure Your Tax Records From Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.
To reduce your risk:
| • | Protect your SSN, |
| • | Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and |
| • | Be careful when choosing a tax return preparer. |
If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.
If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity, or a questionable credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.
For more information, see Pub. 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers.
Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 800-829-4059.
Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.
If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or report them at www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been the victim of identity theft, see www.IdentityTheft.gov and Pub. 5027.
Go to www.irs.gov/IdentityTheft to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories for use in administering their laws. The information may also be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payors must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividends, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payor. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.
Exhibit (d)(2)
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated January 24, 2020, between BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II (the “Trust”), a Maryland statutory trust, and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), a Delaware limited liability company.
WHEREAS, the Advisor has agreed to furnish investment advisory services to the Trust, a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, and the Advisor is willing to furnish such services upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. In General. The Advisor agrees, all as more fully set forth herein, to act as investment advisor to the Trust with respect to the investment of the Trust’s assets and to supervise and arrange for the day-to-day operations of the Trust and the purchase of securities for and the sale of securities held in the investment portfolio of the Trust.
2. Duties and Obligations of the Advisor with Respect to Investment of Assets of the Trust. Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section and subject to the direction and control of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Advisor shall (i) act as investment advisor for and supervise and manage the investment and reinvestment of the Trust’s assets and in connection therewith have complete discretion in purchasing and selling securities and other assets for the Trust and in voting, exercising consents and exercising all other rights appertaining to such securities and other assets on behalf of the Trust; (ii) supervise continuously the investment program of the Trust and the composition of its investment portfolio; (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 hereof, for the purchase and sale of securities and other assets held in the investment portfolios of the Trust; and (iv) provide investment research to the Trust.
3. Duties and Obligations of Advisor with Respect to the Administration of the Trust. The Advisor also agrees to furnish office facilities and equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services, if any, provided by the Trust’s custodian, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and other service providers, as the case may be) for the Trust. To the extent requested by the Trust, the Advisor agrees to provide the following administrative services:
(a) Oversee the determination and publication of the Trust’s net asset value in accordance with the Trust’s policy as adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the Trust;
[Signature Page to BMEZ Investment Management Agreement]
(b) Oversee the maintenance by the Trust’s custodian, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, as the case may be, of certain books and records of the Trust as required under Rule 31a-1(b)(4) of the 1940 Act and maintain (or oversee maintenance by such other persons as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust) such other books and records required by law or for the proper operation of the Trust;
(c) Oversee the preparation and filing of the Trust’s federal, state and local income tax returns, as applicable, and any other required tax returns;
(d) Review the appropriateness of and arrange for payment of the Trust’s expenses;
(e) Prepare for review and approval by officers of the Trust, financial information for the Trust’s semi-annual and annual reports, proxy statements and other communications with shareholders required or otherwise to be sent to Trust shareholders, and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports and communications to shareholders;
(f) Prepare for review by an officer of the Trust, the Trust’s periodic financial reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form N-CEN, Form N-CSR, Form N-PX, Form N-PORT, and such other reports, forms and filings, as may be mutually agreed upon;
(g) Prepare such reports relating to the business and affairs of the Trust as may be mutually agreed upon and not otherwise appropriately prepared by the Trust’s custodian, counsel or auditors;
(h) Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any stock exchange or exchanges on which the Trust’s shares are listed;
(i) Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance of the independent accountants as the Board of Trustees of the Trust may reasonably request or deems appropriate;
(j) Make such reports and recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Trust concerning the performance and fees of the Trust’s custodian, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, as the case may be, as the Board of Trustees of the Trust may reasonably request or deems appropriate;
(k) Oversee and review calculations of fees paid to the Trust’s service providers;
(l) Oversee the Trust’s portfolios and perform necessary calculations as required under Section 18 of the 1940 Act;
(m) Consult with the Trust’s officers, independent accountants, legal counsel, custodian, accounting agent, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, as the case may be, in establishing the accounting policies of the Trust and monitor financial and shareholder accounting services;
- 2 -
(n) Review implementation of any share repurchase programs authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Trust;
(o) Determine the amounts available for distribution as dividends and distributions to be paid by the Trust to its shareholders; prepare and arrange for the printing of dividend notices to shareholders; and provide the Trust’s dividend disbursing agent and custodian with such information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of dividends and distributions and to implement the Trust’s dividend reinvestment plan;
(p) Prepare such information and reports as may be required by any banks from which the Trust borrows funds;
(q) Provide such assistance to the Trust’s custodian, counsel and auditors as generally may be required to properly carry on the business and operations of the Trust;
(r) Assist in the preparation and filing of Forms 3, 4, and 5 pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act for the Trustees and officers of the Trust, such filings to be based on information provided by those persons;
(s) Respond to or refer to the Trust’s officers or transfer agent, any shareholder (including any potential shareholder) inquiries relating to the Trust; and
(t) Supervise any other aspects of the Trust’s administration as may be agreed to by the Trust and the Advisor.
All services are to be furnished through the medium of any trustees, officers or employees of the Advisor or its affiliates as the Advisor deems appropriate in order to fulfill its obligations hereunder. The Advisor may from time to time, in its sole discretion to the extent permitted by applicable law, appoint one or more sub-advisors, including, without limitation, affiliates of the Advisor, to perform investment advisory services with respect to the Trust, or assign all or a portion of this Agreement to any of its affiliates. The Advisor may terminate any or all sub-advisors in its sole discretion at any time to the extent permitted by applicable law.
The Trust will reimburse the Advisor or its affiliates for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with the performance of the administrative services described in this paragraph 3.
4. Covenants. (a) In the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Advisor shall at all times conform to, and act in accordance with, any requirements imposed by: (i) the provisions of the 1940 Act, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and all applicable Rules and Regulations of the SEC; (ii) any other applicable provision of law; (iii) the provisions of the Agreement
- 3 -
and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws of the Trust, as such documents are amended from time to time; (iv) the investment objectives and policies of the Trust as set forth in its Registration Statement on Form N-2; and (v) any policies and determinations of the Board of Trustees of the Trust; and
(b) In addition, the Advisor will:
(i) place orders either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer. Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, in placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Advisor will attempt to obtain the best price and the most favorable execution of its orders. In placing orders, the Advisor will consider the experience and skill of the firm’s securities traders as well as the firm’s financial responsibility and administrative efficiency. Consistent with this obligation, the Advisor may select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Trust and other clients of the Advisor. Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Advisor hereunder. A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Advisor determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Advisor to the Trust and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by the Trust will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Trust over the long-term. In no instance, however, will the Trust’s securities be purchased from or sold to the Advisor, or any affiliated person thereof, except to the extent permitted by the SEC or by applicable law;
(ii) maintain a policy and practice of conducting its investment advisory services hereunder independently of the commercial banking operations of its affiliates. When the Advisor makes investment recommendations for the Trust, its investment advisory personnel will not inquire or take into consideration whether the issuer of securities proposed for purchase or sale for the Trust’s accounts are customers of the commercial department of its affiliates; and
(iii) treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust, and the Trust’s prior, current or potential shareholders, and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Advisor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
5. Services Not Exclusive. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Advisor or any officer, employee or other affiliate thereof from acting as investment advisor for any other person, firm or corporation, or from engaging in any other lawful activity, and shall not in any way limit or restrict the Advisor or any of its officers,
- 4 -
employees or agents from buying, selling or trading any securities for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be acting; provided, however, that the Advisor will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
6. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Advisor hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust, and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any such records upon the Trust’s request. The Advisor further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
7. Agency Cross Transactions. From time to time, the Advisor or brokers or dealers affiliated with it may find themselves in a position to buy for certain of their brokerage clients (each an “Account”) securities which the Advisor’s investment advisory clients wish to sell, and to sell for certain of their brokerage clients securities which advisory clients wish to buy. Where one of the parties is an advisory client, the Advisor or the affiliated broker or dealer cannot participate in this type of transaction (known as a cross transaction) on behalf of an advisory client and retain commissions from one or both parties to the transaction without the advisory client’s consent. This is because in a situation where the Advisor is making the investment decision (as opposed to a brokerage client who makes his own investment decisions), and the Advisor or an affiliate is receiving commissions from both sides of the transaction, there is a potential conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities on the Advisor’s part regarding the advisory client. The SEC has adopted a rule under the Advisers Act, which permits the Advisor or its affiliates to participate on behalf of an Account in agency cross transactions if the advisory client has given written consent in advance. By execution of this Agreement, the Trust authorizes the Advisor or its affiliates to participate in agency cross transactions involving an Account. The Trust may revoke its consent at any time by written notice to the Advisor.
8. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Advisor will bear all costs and expenses of its employees and any overhead incurred in connection with its duties hereunder and shall bear the costs of any salaries or Trustees’ fees of any officers or Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Advisor; provided that the Board of Trustees of the Trust may approve reimbursements to the Advisor of the pro rata portion of the salaries, bonuses, health insurance, retirement benefits and all similar employment costs for the time spent on the Trust’s operations (including, without limitation, compliance matters) (other than the provision of investment advice and administrative services required to be provided hereunder) of all personnel employed by the Advisor who devote substantial time to the Trust’s operations or the operations of other investment companies advised by the Advisor.
9. Compensation of the Advisor. (a) The Trust agrees to pay to the Advisor and the Advisor agrees to accept as full compensation for all services rendered by the Advisor pursuant to this Agreement, an aggregate monthly fee in arrears at an annual rate equal to 1.25% of the sum of the average daily value of the Managed Assets of the Trust. “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Trust (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of the Trust’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes).
- 5 -
For any period less than a month during which this Agreement is in effect, the fee shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to a full month of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days, as the case may be.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the Managed Assets of the Trust shall be calculated pursuant to the procedures adopted by resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust for calculating the value of the Trust’s assets or delegating such calculations to third parties.
10. Indemnity. (a) The Trust may, with the prior consent of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act), indemnify the Advisor, and each of the Advisor’s trustees, officers, employees, agents, associates and controlling persons and the trustees, partners, members, officers, employees and agents thereof (including any individual who serves at the Advisor’s request as trustee, officer, partner, member, trustee or the like of another entity) (each such person being an “Indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees (all as provided in accordance with applicable state law) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which such Indemnitee may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such Indemnitee may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth herein or thereafter by reason of such Indemnitee having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which such Indemnitee shall have been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Indemnitee’s action was in the best interest of the Trust and furthermore, in the case of any criminal proceeding, so long as such Indemnitee had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that (1) no Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders or any expense of such Indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Indemnitee’s position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”), (2) as to any matter disposed of by settlement or a compromise payment by such Indemnitee, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless there has been a determination that such settlement or compromise is in the best interests of the Trust and that such Indemnitee appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Indemnitee’s action was in the best interest of the Trust and did not involve disabling conduct by such Indemnitee and (3) with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such Indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the full Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act).
- 6 -
(b) The Trust may make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that such Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if the Trustees of the Trust determine that the facts then known to them would not preclude indemnification. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (A) the Indemnitee shall provide security for such Indemnitee undertaking, (B) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any unlawful advance, or (C) a majority of a quorum consisting of Trustees of the Trust who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”) or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
(c) All determinations with respect to the standards for indemnification hereunder shall be made (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that such Indemnitee is not liable or is not liable by reason of disabling conduct, or (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees of the Trust, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion. All determinations that advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and shall be made in accordance with the immediately preceding clause (2) above.
The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which such Indemnitee may be lawfully entitled.
11. Limitation on Liability. (a) The Advisor will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Advisor or by the Trust in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is executed by the Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, not individually but as such Trustees and/or officers of the Trust, and the obligations hereunder are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers individually but bind only the Trust.
- 7 -
12. Duration and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof and, unless sooner terminated with respect to the Trust as provided herein, shall continue in effect for a period of two years. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Trust for successive periods of 12 months, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by both (a) the vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust at the time outstanding and entitled to vote, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of any penalty, upon giving the Advisor 60 days’ written notice (which notice may be waived by the Advisor), provided that such termination by the Trust shall be directed or approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust in office at the time or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting securities of the Trust at the time outstanding and entitled to vote, or by the Advisor on 60 days’ written notice (which notice may be waived by the Trust). This Agreement will also immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested person” and “assignment” shall have the same meanings of such terms in the 1940 Act.)
13. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing to the other party at such address as the other party may designate from time to time for the receipt of such notice and shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of the date actually received or on the fourth day after the postmark if such notice is mailed first class postage prepaid.
14. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. Any amendment of this Agreement shall be subject to the 1940 Act.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York for contracts to be performed entirely therein without reference to choice of law principles thereof and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
16. Use of the Name BlackRock. The Advisor has consented to the use by the Trust of the name or identifying word “BlackRock” in the name of the Trust. Such consent is conditioned upon the employment of the Advisor as the investment advisor to the Trust. The name or identifying word “BlackRock” may be used from time to time in other connections and for other purposes by the Advisor and any of its affiliates. The Advisor may require the Trust to cease using “BlackRock” in the name of the Trust, if the Trust ceases to employ, for any reason, the Advisor, any successor thereto or any affiliate thereof as investment advisor of the Trust. If so required by the Advisor, the Trust will cease using “BlackRock” in its name as promptly as practicable and make all reasonable efforts to remove “BlackRock” from its name including calling a special meeting of shareholders.
- 8 -
17. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which shall constitute an original counterpart, and all of which, together, shall constitute one Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
- 9 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and the year first above written.
| BLACKROCK HEALTH SCIENCES TRUST II | ||||
| By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |||
| Name: | John M. Perlowski | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| BLACKROCK ADVISORS, LLC | ||||
| By: | /s/ Neal J. Andrews | |||
| Name: | Neal J. Andrews | |||
| Title: | Managing Director | |||
[Signature Page to BMEZ Investment Management Agreement]
- 10 -
Exhibit (d)(4)
Discount Management Program Standstill Agreement
This Discount Management Program Standstill Agreement is entered into as of May 3, 2024 (this “Agreement”), by and among Karpus Management, Inc., doing business as Karpus Investment Management (“Karpus”), BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) and BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (the “Fund”). Karpus, the Manager and the Fund are hereforth referred to as the “Parties,” and each individually as a “Party.”
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Manager serves as the Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Fund and the Manager.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Conditional Tender Offers by the Fund.
1.1. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the performance by Karpus of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and the other conditions set forth herein:
(a) The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) has authorized the Fund, subject to the execution of this Agreement by Karpus, to commence conditional tender offers (each, a “Conditional Tender Offer”) to purchase 2.5% (the “Maximum Amount”) of its then outstanding common shares of beneficial interest (“Common Shares”) as soon as practicable following each calendar quarter end (but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days (as defined below) following each calendar quarter end) during the 12-month period beginning on April 1, 2024, if and only if the Average Trading Discount (as defined below) of the Fund is greater than 7.50% for such calendar quarter. For these purposes, “Average Trading Discount” means the simple average of the trading discounts (and premiums, as the case may be) of the Common Shares on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading (each a “Business Day”) during the applicable calendar quarter, with the trading discount (or premium) on each Business Day equal to the percentage difference between the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Common Shares and the trading price of the Common Shares as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on such Business Day (the “closing price”), with a trading price below NAV expressed as a negative percentage (i.e., percentage discount) and a trading price above NAV as a positive percentage (i.e., percentage premium).1 The Fund shall perform such calculations as soon as practicable after the applicable period (but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days following each calendar quarter end) in good faith and on a consistent basis using the Fund’s published daily NAV calculations and the closing price of the Common Shares as published on the Fund’s website on blackrock.com.
| 1 | For example, if the closing price of the Common Shares is $6 and the NAV is $8 on a Business Day, and the closing price of the Common Shares is $11 and the NAV is $10 on the next Business Day, the Average Trading Discount for those two Business Days would be 7.50%, which is the simple average of a 25% discount on the first Business Day and a 10% premium on the second Business Day. |
(b) Each Conditional Tender Offer, if any, shall include the following terms: (1) all shareholders shall have the opportunity to tender some or all of their Common Shares at a price equal to 98% of the Fund’s NAV as determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE on the next day the NAV is calculated after the expiration date of the Conditional Tender Offer or, if the Conditional Tender Offer is extended, on the next day the Fund’s NAV is calculated after the day to which the Conditional Tender Offer is extended, (2) the Fund shall purchase Common Shares properly tendered and not withdrawn on a prorated basis up to the Maximum Amount if greater than the Maximum Amount of Common Shares is properly tendered and not withdrawn, (3) the consideration to be paid by the Fund for Common Shares purchased under the Conditional Tender Offer shall consist solely of cash, and (4) if less than the Maximum Amount of Common Shares has been properly tendered and not withdrawn, then the Fund shall only be obligated to purchase such amount of Common Shares actually tendered.
(c) Each Conditional Tender Offer shall not provide for preferential treatment for any shareholders of the Fund.
(d) Each Conditional Tender Offer shall require odd lot tenders to be subject to the same proration terms as tenders of 100 shares or more.
(e) Although the Board has authorized the Fund to conduct Conditional Tender Offers under the circumstances set forth above, notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the Fund will not commence a Conditional Tender Offer or accept tenders of its Common Shares during any period when (i) such transactions, if consummated, would: (A) result in the delisting of the Fund’s Common Shares from the NYSE or (B) impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (ii) there is any (A) legal or regulatory action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging the legality of such transaction, (B) suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities generally on the NYSE or other national securities exchange(s), including the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System, or (C) declaration of a banking moratorium by federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by banks in the United States or New York State; or (iii) the Board determines in good faith and upon the written advice of counsel, that effecting any such transaction would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duty owed to the Fund or its shareholders. In the event of a delay pursuant to any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Fund will provide prompt written notice to Karpus. In the event of a delay pursuant to either clause (i) or (ii) above, the Fund will commence the applicable Conditional Tender Offer as soon as practicable and no later than fifteen (15) days after the termination of such delaying event.
Section 2. Additional Agreements.
2.1. Karpus covenants and agrees that during the period from the date of this Agreement through the date that is the earlier of (A) three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, (B) ten (10) days prior to the record date for the Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, (C) if the Fund has not commenced a Conditional Tender Offer within fifteen (15) Business Days of the applicable calendar quarter end if required to be commenced pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the date that is sixteen (16) Business Days after the applicable calendar quarter end
2
and (D) such date that the Fund determines not to conduct a Conditional Tender Offer if required to be conducted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (which date shall not include a determination to delay a Conditional Tender Offer pursuant to the last sentence of Section 1.1(e)) (the “Standstill Period”), it will not, and will cause the affiliated persons of Karpus (as defined in the 1940 Act and which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include (without limitation) any account or pooled investment vehicle now or in the future managed, advised or sub-advised by Karpus or its affiliated persons) (all such persons, collectively, the “Karpus Entities”) and the directors, officers and employees of Karpus (collectively with the Karpus Entities, the “Karpus Affiliates”) and its and their respective representatives not to, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others (including, by directing, requesting or suggesting that any other person take any of the actions set forth below), take any of the actions set forth below with respect to the Fund, unless specifically permitted in writing in advance by the Board:
(a) effect, seek, offer, engage in, propose (whether publicly or otherwise and whether or not subject to conditions) or cause, participate in or act to, or assist any other person to effect, seek, engage in, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) or cause, participate in or act to or take action with respect to (other than as specifically contemplated by this Agreement):
(i) any “solicitation” of “proxies” or become a “participant” in any such “solicitation” as such terms are defined in Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including an otherwise exempt solicitation pursuant to clause (iv) of Rule 14a-1(l)(2) and including any otherwise exempt solicitation pursuant to Rule 14a-2(b), in each case, with respect to securities of the Fund (including, without limitation, any solicitation of consents to act by written consent or call a special meeting of shareholders);
(ii) publicly or privately encourage or advise any other person or assist or act to assist any person in so encouraging or advising any person with respect to the giving or withholding of any proxy, consent or other authority to vote (other than such encouragement or advice that is consistent with the recommendation of the Board with respect to the Fund);
(iii) any (i) tender or exchange offer for securities of the Fund (other than any Conditional Tender Offer contemplated by Section 1.1 or any other tender offer offered by the Fund to all shareholders), or any merger, consolidation, business combination or acquisition or disposition of assets of the Fund or (ii) recapitalization, restructuring, open-ending, liquidation, dissolution or other similar extraordinary transaction with respect to the Fund (it being understood that the foregoing shall not restrict any person from tendering Common Shares, receiving payment for Common Shares or otherwise participating in any such transaction on the same basis as other shareholders of the Fund or from participating in any such transaction that has been approved by the Board, subject to the terms of this Agreement);
(iv) engage, directly or indirectly, in any short sale that includes, relates to or derives any part of its value from a decline in the market price or value of the securities issued by the Fund;
(b) form, join or in any way participate in any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-5(b)(1) thereunder) (other than the existing group) with respect to the securities of the Fund or in connection with seeking the election or removal of any trustee of the Fund;
3
(c) deposit any securities of the Fund in any voting trust or subject any securities of the Fund to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of the securities of the Fund, including, without limitation, lend any securities of the Fund to any person or entity for the purpose of allowing such person or entity to vote such securities in connection with any shareholder vote or consent of the Fund or to sell such securities, other than any such voting trust, arrangement or agreement solely among the members of Karpus and the Karpus Affiliates;
(d) seek or encourage, alone or in concert with others, (i) the election or appointment to, or representation on, the Board of the Fund, including by nominating or proposing the nomination of, or recommending the nomination of, any candidate to the Board of the Fund, or (ii) the removal or resignation of any trustee from the Board;
(e) make any proposal for consideration by shareholders of the Fund at, or bring any other business before, any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Fund (pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or otherwise), or take any action (other than in accordance with Section 2.1 and Section 2.2) with respect to any shareholder proposal or written consent submitted prior to the date of this Agreement or during the Standstill Period;
(f) conduct a referendum of shareholders of the Fund, or make a request for a shareholder list or other books and records of the Fund under Maryland or New York law or any other statutory or regulatory provision or under the agreement and declaration of trust (the “Charter”) or By-Laws of the Fund;
(g) seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Fund;
(h) institute, solicit, assist or join any litigation, arbitration or other proceeding against or involving the Fund or any of its current or former trustees or officers (including derivative actions); provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not prevent Karpus from (A) bringing litigation to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, (B) making counterclaims with respect to any proceeding initiated by, or on behalf of, the Fund against Karpus, or (C) responding to or complying with a validly initiated legal process;
(i) make any public statement or proposal with respect to (i) any change in the number or term of trustees or the filling of any vacancies on the Board, (ii) any change in the capitalization, share repurchase program, dividend policy or distribution policy of the Fund, (iii) any other material change in the Fund’s management, business, policies or corporate structure, or (iv) any waiver, amendment or modification to the Charter or By-Laws of the Fund;
(j) publicly or privately disclose any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing;
(k) enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any of the foregoing, or advise, assist, encourage or seek to persuade others to take any action with respect to any of the foregoing; or
(l) publicly, or privately in a manner that is intended to or would reasonably be expected to require any public disclosure by the Fund or Karpus, request that (x) the Fund, the Board, or any of their respective representatives amend or waive any provision of this Section 2.1 (including this sentence) or (y) the Board to specifically invite Karpus or any of the Karpus Affiliates to take any of the actions prohibited by this Section 2.1.
4
Nothing in this Section 2.1 shall be deemed to prohibit Karpus and the Karpus Affiliates from communicating privately with Fund’s trustees, officers, investment adviser (including the Manager) and any sub-adviser, so long as (i) such private communications are not intended to and would not reasonably be expected to trigger public disclosure obligations for any Party and (ii) such private communications do not violate the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the term “affiliate” with respect to Karpus shall not include (and the defined terms “Karpus”, “Karpus Entities” and “Karpus Affiliates” shall not include) any separately operated affiliated registered investment adviser or any account or pooled investment vehicle now or in the future managed, advised or sub-advised by such separately operated affiliated registered investment adviser that is disaggregated from Karpus for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (a “Separate RIA”), provided that (i) any common shares of the Fund owned, controlled or held by such Separate RIA were acquired in the ordinary course of such Separate RIA’s investment management business and not with the intent or purpose of influencing control of the Fund, and (ii) information barriers and related procedures between Karpus and each Separate RIA have been established and maintained.
2.2. Karpus covenants and agrees that during the Standstill Period, and provided that it (or any of the Karpus Affiliates) owns or controls Common Shares of the Fund, it will, and will cause the Karpus Affiliates to:
(a) appear by proxy or otherwise at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Fund, including for the avoidance of doubt the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund, and to cause all Common Shares it and the Karpus Affiliates beneficially own as of the record date for such meeting to be counted as present thereat for purposes of a quorum; and
(b) vote or cause to be voted at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Fund, including for the avoidance of doubt the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund, all of the Common Shares it and the Karpus Affiliates beneficially own as of the record date for such meeting (i) in favor of any proposal with respect to which the Board recommends a vote in favor of such proposal (including in favor of election of the nominees of the Board), and (ii) against any proposal with respect to which the Board recommends a vote against such proposal or any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition or inconsistent with, the recommendation of the Board (including regarding the election of the nominees to the Board or a shareholder proposal submitted to the Fund pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or otherwise).
For the avoidance of doubt, if Karpus or any of the Karpus Affiliates lends any Common Shares of the Fund to any third party (in compliance with the restrictions in Section 2.1), Karpus or the Karpus Affiliates, as applicable, shall recall any such stock loan in advance of the record date for any vote of or consent by the shareholders of the Fund so that Karpus shall have full voting rights with respect to all such loaned Common Shares. In no event shall Karpus or any Karpus Affiliate enter into any agreement with the intent of disposing, or resulting in the disposition of, its rights to vote any of the Common Shares of the Fund in circumvention of the requirements of this Section 2.2; provided, however, that a final sale of Common Shares of the Fund (not coupled with any repurchase agreement or similar reacquisition agreement) shall not be considered a prohibited sale of voting rights in contravention of this Section 2.2.
5
2.3. During the Standstill Period: (i) upon the written request of the Fund, which shall be no more frequently than once each fiscal year of the Fund, Karpus will notify the Fund in writing of the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by it and the Karpus Affiliates and (ii) Karpus shall take such reasonable actions as are necessary and practical to prevent the present and future Karpus Affiliates from engaging in conduct otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.
2.4. Karpus represents and warrants as follows:
(a) It has the power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is enforceable against Karpus in accordance with its terms.
(c) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not contravene any agreement, organizational document or provision of law applicable to it.
(d) Karpus beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, and has the sole power to vote all of the Common Shares of the Fund described in the recitals to this Agreement, and its ownership of such Common Shares has at all times complied with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules under such Acts.
(e) As of the date hereof, neither Karpus nor any of the Karpus Affiliates is a party to any derivative securities, including without limitation any swap or hedging transactions or other derivative agreement, or any securities lending or short sale arrangements, of any nature with respect to the Common Shares of the Fund.
2.5. The Fund and the Manager each represent and warrant as follows:
(a) It has the power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
(c) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not contravene any agreement, organizational document or provision of law applicable to it.
Section 3. Press Releases; Public Statements.
3.1. Karpus, the Manager and the Fund agree that, no later than two business days following the execution of this Agreement, the Fund will issue a press release in the form attached hereto as Appendix A announcing the entry into and terms of this Agreement, and the determination of the Board to authorize the Conditional Tender Offers (the “Fund Press Release”), and no Party shall make any statement inconsistent with the Fund Press Release during the Standstill Period. No Party shall issue any press release in connection with this Agreement or the actions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of the other Parties (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent
6
(a) any Party from taking any action required by any governmental or regulatory authority (except to the extent such requirement arose as a result of the discretionary act(s) of such Party), including without limitation any statements, filings, notices or announcements made in the context of an issuer tender offer conducted under Section 13(e)(1) of, or pursuant to Schedule TO under, the Exchange Act, and (b) any Party from making any factual statement that is required in any compelled testimony or production of information, either by legal process, by subpoena or as part of a response to a request for information from any governmental authority with jurisdiction over such Party or as otherwise legally required and (c) subject to Section 5.1 of this Agreement, any Party from communicating privately with their respective investors, prospective investors and governance boards regarding the terms of this Agreement; provided that such communication is otherwise consistent with this Agreement and the Fund Press Release.
Section 4. Termination.
4.1. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and except for regulatory requirements or natural disasters/occurrences beyond the Fund’s control, if the Fund fails to conduct a Conditional Tender Offer if required to be conducted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, this Agreement shall immediately terminate.
4.2. Otherwise, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of:
(a) the expiration of the Standstill Period; and
(b) such other date as may be established by mutual written agreement of the Fund, the Manager and Karpus.
4.3. Section 6 and Section 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. No termination pursuant to Section 4.1 relieves any Party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
Section 5. No Disparagement.
5.1. During the Standstill Period, the Fund, the Manager and Karpus shall each refrain from making, and shall cause their respective affiliates and its and their respective principals, directors, trustees, members, general partners, officers, agents, advisors, and employees not to make or cause to be made any statement or announcement, including in any document or report filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or through the press, media, analysts or other persons, that constitutes an ad hominem attack on, or otherwise, whether true or false, disparages, defames, slanders, impugns or is reasonably likely to damage the reputation, character, honesty, integrity, morality, business acumen or abilities of, (a) in the case of such statements or announcements by Karpus: the Fund or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or advisors (including the Manager and any sub-adviser to the Fund), or any of its or their respective current or former officers, directors, trustees or employees (including, without limitation, any statements or announcements regarding the Fund’s strategy, operations, performance, products or services), and (b) in the case of statements or announcements by the Fund or the Manager: Karpus and the Karpus Affiliates, subsidiaries or advisors, or any of its or their respective principals, directors, members, general partners, officers, or employees or any person who has served in any such capacity with respect to Karpus and Karpus’s advisors.
7
Section 6. Miscellaneous.
6.1. Specific Performance. Each Party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that irreparable harm will occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties will be entitled to seek specific performance hereunder, including, without limitation, an injunction or injunctions to prevent and enjoin breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any state or federal court in the State of New York, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to any such remedy are hereby waived. All rights and remedies under this Agreement are cumulative, not exclusive, and will be in addition to all rights and remedies available to any Party at law or in equity.
6.2. Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial. The Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to and submit to the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts in the State of New York for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby, in the state or federal courts in the State of New York, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Parties waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
6.3. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by an agreement in writing executed by the Parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes all previous negotiations, representations and discussions by the Parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof, and integrates the whole of all of their agreements and understanding concerning same. No prior oral representations or undertakings concerning the subject matter hereof will operate to amend, supersede, or replace any of the terms or conditions set forth in this Agreement, nor will they be relied upon.
6.4. Section Headings. Descriptive headings are for convenience only and will not control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
6.5. Notice. All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other communications provided for herein and all legal process in regard hereto will be validly given, made or served, if in writing and sent by email, with a copy by personal delivery, certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight courier service to:
If to the Fund and/or the Manager, to:
BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (BMEZ)
BlackRock Advisors, LLC
50 Hudson Yards
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Janey Ahn, Secretary
8
with a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Elliot J. Gluck
If to Karpus, to:
Karpus Management, Inc.
183 Sully’s Trail
Pittsford, New York 14534
Attn: Daniel Lippincott, President & CIO
with copies to (which copies shall not constitute notice):
Baker & Hostetler LLP
45 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10111
Attn: Adam Finerman
6.6. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. In addition, the Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to agree upon and substitute a valid and enforceable term, provision, covenant or restriction for any such term, provision, covenant or restriction that is held invalid, void or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction.
6.7 Expenses. All attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and all matters related hereto will be paid by the party incurring such fees, costs or expenses.
6.8. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.
6.9. Binding Effect; No Assignment. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by and against, as applicable, the successors and assigns of the Parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the Parties hereto and those persons or categories of persons specifically enumerated herein, or their respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Party to this Agreement may, directly or indirectly, assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder (whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Any such attempted assignment will be null and void.
9
6.10. Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties hereto, and no provision hereof may be waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Party against whom enforcement is sought.
6.11. Receipt of Adequate Information; No Reliance; Representation by Counsel. Each Party acknowledges that it has received adequate information to enter into this Agreement, that is has not relied on any promise, representation or warranty, express or implied not contained in this Agreement and that it has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would provide any Party with a defense to the enforcement of the terms of this Agreement against such Party by reason of the foregoing shall have no application and is expressly waived. The provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of the Parties.
6.12. Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by email or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterparty hereof.
[Signatures appear on next page]
10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| BLACKROCK HEALTH SCIENCES TERM TRUST | ||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Diorio | |
| Name: | Jonathan Diorio | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
| BLACKROCK ADVISORS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Diorio | |
| Name: | Jonathan Diorio | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| KARPUS MANAGEMENT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel L. Lippincott | |
| Name: | Daniel L. Lippincott | |
| Title: | President and Chief Investment Officer | |
11
Appendix A
Press Release
[See next page]
12