Filed pursuant to Rule 497(c) under

the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,

File No. 333-140457

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement Dated March 21, 2007

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated March 14, 2007)

$70,000,000

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation

 

Auction Rate Senior Notes (“Tortoise Notes”)
$70,000,000 Series D, Due          , 20  
$25,000 Denominations

 

 

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company. Our investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions to stockholders.

 

We are offering an aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000 of our auction rate senior notes (“Series D Tortoise Notes”) in this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement is not complete and should be read in conjunction with our prospectus dated March 14, 2007 (the “prospectus”), which accompanies this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement does not include all information that you should consider before purchasing any Tortoise Notes. You should read this prospectus supplement and our prospectus prior to purchasing any Tortoise Notes.

 

The notes offered in this prospectus supplement, together with the Series A, Series B and Series C Tortoise Notes currently outstanding, are referred to as “Tortoise Notes.” Individual series of Tortoise Notes are referred to as a “series.” Except as otherwise described in this prospectus supplement, the terms of the Series D Tortoise Notes and all other series are the same. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this prospectus supplement shall have the meanings given to such terms in Appendix A to the statement of additional information, which is available from us upon request.

 

The Tortoise Notes will be issued without coupons in denominations of $25,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The principal amount of the Series D Tortoise Notes will be due and payable on          , 20   (the “Stated Maturity”). There is no sinking fund with respect to the Tortoise Notes. The Tortoise Notes will be our unsecured obligations and, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will rank: (1) senior to all of our outstanding common stock and any outstanding preferred stock; (2) on a parity with any of our unsecured creditors and any unsecured senior securities representing our indebtedness, including other series of Tortoise Notes; and (3) junior to any of our secured creditors. We may redeem the Tortoise Notes prior to their Stated Maturity in certain circumstances described in this prospectus supplement.

 

Holders of the Tortoise Notes will be entitled to receive cash interest payments at an annual rate that may vary for each rate period. The initial rate period for the Series D Tortoise Notes is from the issue date through          , 20  . The interest rate for the initial rate period from and including the issue date through          , 20  , will be  % per year for the Series D Tortoise Notes. For each subsequent rate period, the interest rate will be determined by an auction conducted in accordance with the procedures described in this prospectus supplement. Generally, following the initial rate period, each rate period will be 28 days for the Series D Tortoise Notes.

 

The Tortoise Notes will not be listed on any exchange or automated quotation system. Generally, you may only buy and sell Tortoise Notes through an order placed at an auction with or through a broker-dealer that has entered into an agreement with the auction agent or in a secondary market that those broker-dealers may maintain. These broker-dealers are not required to maintain a market in the Tortoise Notes, and a secondary market, if one develops, may not provide you with liquidity. See “The Auction — Certain Considerations Affecting Auction Rate Securities — Existing Holder’s Ability to Resell Auction Rate Securities May Be Limited.”

 

 

Investing in Tortoise Notes involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 of the accompanying prospectus and “The Auction — Auction Risk” beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

The Underwriters expect to deliver the Series D Tortoise Notes in book-entry form, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, to Broker-Dealers on or about March   , 2007.

 

 

 

 

          , 2007

 

The offering is conditioned upon the Series D Tortoise Notes receiving a rating of “Aaa” from Moody’s and “AAA” from Fitch.

 

This prospectus supplement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Additional copies of this prospectus supplement, the prospectus or the statement of additional information dated March 14, 2007, as supplemented from time to time, are available by calling 1-866-362-9331 or by writing to us, or you may obtain copies (and other information regarding us) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov). You also may e-mail requests for these documents to the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or make a request in writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.

 

This prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering, also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus. The prospectus gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

 

If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement; provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

The Tortoise Notes do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement in making an investment decision. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and that our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since this date. We will amend or supplement this prospectus supplement to reflect material changes to the information contained in this prospectus supplement to the extent required by applicable law.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the statement of additional information contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this prospectus supplement, as well as in the accompanying prospectus. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the conditions in the U.S. and international financial, petroleum and other markets, the price at which our shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the SEC.

 

Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus accompanying this prospectus supplement. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus accompanying this prospectus supplement as well as in “— Auction Risk” and “— Certain Considerations Affecting Auction Rate Securities — Existing Holder’s Ability to Resell Auction Rate Securities May Be Limited” in “The Auction” section of this prospectus supplement. We urge you to review carefully those sections for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in the Tortoise Notes.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

Tortoise Notes offered by the Company		Series D Tortoise Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000. Series D Tortoise Notes will be sold in denominations of $25,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The Series D Tortoise Notes are being offered by Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the “Underwriters”). See “Underwriting.”
Use of proceeds		We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $69.1 million. We intend to use all of the net proceeds to retire a portion of our short-term debt of approximately $75.1 million, which we incurred in connection with the acquisition of equity portfolio securities and certain open market purchases in pursuit of our investment objective and policies and for working capital purposes.
Trustee		BNY Midwest Trust Company
Auction Agent		The Bank of New York
Broker-Dealers		Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the “Broker-Dealers”).
Risk factors		See “Risk Factors” and other information included in the accompanying prospectus, as well as “— Auction Risk” and “— Certain Considerations Affecting Auction Rate Securities — Existing Holder’s Ability to Resell Auction Rate Securities May Be Limited” under “The Auction” in this prospectus supplement, for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the Tortoise Notes.

 

The net proceeds of the offering of Series D Tortoise Notes will be approximately $69.1 million, after payment of the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering costs.

 

We intend to use all of the net proceeds of this offering to retire a portion of our short-term debt under our unsecured credit facility. Outstanding balances under the current credit facility accrue interest at a variable annual rate equal to the one-month LIBOR rate plus 0.75%. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the current rate is 6.07%. The current credit facility remains in effect through June 13, 2007, and we may draw on the facility from time to time to invest in accordance with our investment policies and for working capital purposes. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we had approximately $75.1 million outstanding under our current credit facility.

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization: (i) as of November 30, 2006, (ii) pro forma to reflect the outstanding balance under our credit facility through March 1, 2007, the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of our common stock on December 18, 2006 in an underwritten public offering, and the issuance of 40,709 shares of our common stock on March 1, 2007 pursuant to our automatic dividend reinvestment plan; and (iii) pro forma as adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the Series D Tortoise Notes offered hereby. As indicated below, common stockholders will bear the offering costs associated with this offering.

 

 

 

The 1940 Act and each Rating Agency imposes asset coverage requirements which may limit our ability to engage in certain types of transactions and may limit our ability to take certain actions without confirming with each Rating Agency that such action will not impair the ratings.

 

We are required to satisfy two separate asset maintenance requirements with respect to outstanding Tortoise Notes: (1) we must maintain assets in our portfolio that have a value, discounted in accordance with guidelines set forth by each Rating Agency, at least equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Tortoise Notes, plus specified liabilities, payment obligations and other amounts (the “Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount”); and (2) we must satisfy the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements (the “1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage”).

 

The Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount is defined in the Rating Agency Guidelines. Each Rating Agency may amend the definition of Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount from time to time.

 

With respect to the 1940 Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage requirement, we are required to maintain, with respect to outstanding Tortoise Notes, asset coverage of at least 300%. We estimate that based on the composition of our portfolio as of November 30, 2006 (adjusted to reflect the issuance of 1,500,000 and 40,709 shares of our common stock on December 18, 2006 and March 1, 2007, respectively, and to reflect the outstanding balance under our current credit facility through March 1, 2007), assuming the issuance of all Series D Tortoise Notes offered hereby and the application of all the proceeds received in this offering to reduce our outstanding balance under our credit facility, the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage would be:

 

 

A copy of the current Rating Agency Guidelines will be provided to any holder of Tortoise Notes promptly upon written request by such holder to the Company at 10801 Mastin Boulevard, Suite 222, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. See “Rating Agency Guidelines” in the accompanying prospectus for a more detailed description of our asset maintenance requirements.

 

Tortoise Notes of each series will rank on a parity with any other series of Tortoise Notes as to the payment of interest and distribution of assets upon liquidation. All Tortoise Notes rank senior to our common and preferred stock as to the payment of interest and distribution of assets upon liquidation. Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness.

 

The Series D Tortoise Notes will be issued pursuant to the Original Indenture and a Supplemental Indenture dated as of March   , 2007 (referred to herein collectively with the Original Indenture as the “Indenture”). The following summaries of certain significant provisions of the Series D Tortoise Notes and the Indenture are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of the Indenture, a more detailed summary of which is contained in Appendix A to the statement of additional information, which is on file with the SEC. Whenever defined terms are used, but not defined in this prospectus supplement, the terms have the meaning given to them in Appendix A to the statement of additional information.

 

General

 

The Board of Directors has authorized us to issue the Series D Tortoise Notes representing indebtedness pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Currently, the Indenture provides for the issuance of up to $70,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series D Tortoise Notes. The principal amount of the Series D Tortoise Notes is due and payable on          , 20  . The Series D Tortoise Notes, when issued and sold pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, will be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $25,000 and

any integral multiple thereof, unless otherwise provided in the Indenture. The Series D Tortoise Notes, will be unsecured obligations of ours and, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will rank: (1) senior to our outstanding common stock and any outstanding preferred stock, including the MMP Shares; (2) on a parity with any of our unsecured creditors, including any other series of Tortoise Notes; and (3) junior to any of our secured creditors. The Tortoise Notes are subject to optional and mandatory redemption as described below under “— Redemption,” and acceleration of maturity, as described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Securities — Debt Securities — Events of Default and Acceleration of Maturity of Debt Securities; Remedies.”

 

While serving as the Auction Agent in connection with the Auction Procedures described below, the Auction Agent generally will serve merely as our agent, acting in accordance with our instructions.

 

We have the right (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to purchase or otherwise acquire any Tortoise Notes outside of an auction, so long as: (1) we are current in the payment of interest on such Tortoise Notes and on any other series of Tortoise Notes, (2) there is no arrearage in the mandatory or optional redemption price respecting any Tortoise Notes for which a Notice of Redemption has been given, and (3) we are in compliance with the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage requirements and other applicable asset requirements. See “— Redemption” below.

 

The Tortoise Notes have no voting rights, except to the extent required by law or as otherwise provided in the Indenture relating to the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default.

 

Unsecured Investment

 

The Tortoise Notes represent our unsecured obligation to pay interest and principal, when due. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient funds or that we will be able to arrange for additional financing to pay interest on the Tortoise Notes when due or to repay the Tortoise Notes at the Stated Maturity. Our failure to pay interest on the Tortoise Notes when due or to repay the Tortoise Notes upon the Stated Maturity would, subject to the cure provisions under the Indenture, constitute an event of default under the Indenture and could cause a default under other agreements that we may enter into from time to time. There is no sinking fund with respect to the Tortoise Notes, and at the Stated Maturity, the entire outstanding principal amount of the Tortoise Notes will become due and payable.

 

Securities Depository

 

The nominee of the Securities Depository is expected to be the sole record Holder of the Tortoise Notes. Accordingly, each purchaser of Tortoise Notes must rely on (1) the procedures of the Securities Depository and, if such purchaser is not a member of the Securities Depository, such purchaser’s Agent Member, to receive interest payments and notices and (2) the records of the Securities Depository and, if such purchaser is not a member of the Securities Depository, such purchaser’s Agent Member, to evidence its ownership of the Tortoise Notes.

 

Purchasers of Tortoise Notes will not receive certificates representing their ownership interest in such securities. The Depository Trust Company initially will act as Securities Depository for the Agent Members with respect to the Tortoise Notes.

 

Interest and Rate Periods

 

General.  Tortoise Notes will bear interest at the Applicable Rate determined as set forth below under “— Determination of Interest Rate.” Interest on the Tortoise Notes shall be payable when due as described below. If we do not pay interest when due, it will trigger an event of default under the Indenture (subject to the cure provisions), and we will be restricted from declaring dividends and making other distributions with respect to our common stock and preferred stock.

 

On the Business Day next preceding each Interest Payment Date, we are required to deposit with the Paying Agent sufficient funds for the payment of interest. We do not intend to establish any reserves for the payment of interest.

 

All moneys paid to the Paying Agent for the payment of interest shall be held in trust for the payment of such interest to the Holder. Interest will be paid by the Paying Agent to the Holder as its name appears on our securities ledger or securities records, which Holder is expected to be the nominee of the Securities Depository. The Securities Depository will credit the accounts of the Agent Members of the Beneficial Owners in accordance with the Securities Depository’s normal procedures. The Securities Depository’s current procedures provide for it to distribute interest in same-day funds to Agent Members who are, in turn, expected to distribute such interest to the persons for whom they are acting as agents. The Agent Member of a Beneficial Owner will be responsible for holding or disbursing such payments on the applicable Interest Payment Date to such Beneficial Owner in accordance with the instructions of such Beneficial Owner.

 

Interest in arrears for any past Rate Period may be subject to a Default Rate of interest (described below) and may be paid at any time, without reference to any regular Interest Payment Date, to the Holder as its name appears on our securities ledger or securities records on such date, not exceeding 15 days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any interest payment shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid interest. No interest will be payable in respect of any payment or payments which may be in arrears. See “— Default Period” below.

 

The amount of interest payable on each Interest Payment Date (or in respect of interest on another date in connection with a redemption during such Rate Period) shall be computed by multiplying the Applicable Rate (or the Default Rate) for such Rate Period (or a portion thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the number of days in such Rate Period (or portion thereof) that such Tortoise Notes were outstanding and for which the Applicable Rate or the Default Rate was applicable and the denominator of which will be 360, multiplying the amount so obtained by the applicable principal amount, and rounding the amount so obtained to the nearest cent.

 

Determination of Interest Rate.  The interest rate for the initial Rate Period for Series D Tortoise Notes (i.e., the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and including the initial Auction Date) and the initial Auction Date are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. After the initial Rate Period, subject to certain exceptions, the Series D Tortoise Notes will bear interest at the Applicable Rate that the Auction Agent advises us has resulted from an Auction.

 

The initial Rate Period for the Series D Tortoise Notes will be 28 days. Rate Periods after the initial Rate Period shall either be Standard Rate Periods or, subject to certain conditions and with notice to the Holder, Special Rate Periods.

 

A Special Rate Period will not be effective unless, among other things, Sufficient Clearing Bids exist at the Auction in respect of such Special Rate Period (that is, in general, the aggregate amount of a series of Tortoise Notes subject to Buy Orders by Potential Holders is at least equal to the aggregate amount of that series of Tortoise Notes subject to Sell Orders by Existing Holders).

 

Interest will accrue at the Applicable Rate from the Original Issue Date and shall be payable on each Interest Payment Date thereafter. For Rate Periods of less than 30 days, Interest Payment Dates shall occur on the first Business Day following such Rate Period and, if greater than 30 days, then on a monthly basis on the first Business Day of each month within such Rate Period, not including the initial Rate Period, and on the Business Day following the last day of such Rate Period. Interest will be paid through the Securities Depository on each Interest Payment Date.

 

Except during a Default Period as described below, the Applicable Rate resulting from an Auction will not be greater than the Maximum Rate, which is equal to the Applicable Percentage of the Reference Rate, subject to upward but not downward adjustment in the discretion of the Board of Directors after consultation

with the Broker-Dealers. The Applicable Percentage will be determined based on the lower of the credit ratings assigned on that date to a series of Tortoise Notes by Moody’s and Fitch, as follows:

 

 

The Reference Rate is the greater of (1) the applicable AA Composite Commercial Paper Rate (for a Rate Period of fewer than 184 days) or the applicable Treasury Index Rate (for a Rate Period of 184 days or more), or (2) the applicable LIBOR. For Standard Rate Periods or shorter periods only, the Applicable Rate resulting from an Auction will not be less than the Minimum Rate, which is 70% of the applicable AA Composite Commercial Paper Rate. No Minimum Rate is specified for Auctions in respect to Rate Periods of more than the Standard Rate Period.

 

The Maximum Rate for a series of Tortoise Notes will apply automatically following an Auction for the Tortoise Notes in which Sufficient Clearing Bids have not been made (other than because all Tortoise Notes were subject to Submitted Hold Orders). If an Auction for any subsequent Rate Period is not held for any reason, including because there is no Auction Agent or Broker-Dealer, then the Interest Rate on a series of Tortoise Notes for any such Rate Period shall be the Maximum Rate (except for circumstances in which the Interest Rate is the Default Rate, as described below).

 

The All Hold Rate will apply automatically following an Auction in which all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series are subject to (or are deemed to be subject to) Submitted Hold Orders. The All Hold Rate is 80% of the applicable AA Composite Commercial Paper Rate.

 

Prior to each Auction, Broker-Dealers will notify Holders and the Trustee of the term of the next succeeding Rate Period as soon as practicable after the Broker-Dealers have been so advised by us. After each Auction, on the Auction Date, the Broker-Dealers will notify Holders of the Applicable Rate for the next succeeding Rate Period and of the Auction Date of the next succeeding Auction.

 

Notification of Rate Period.  We will designate the duration of subsequent Rate Periods for each series of the Tortoise Notes; provided, however, that no such designation is necessary for a Standard Rate Period and, provided further, that any designation of a Special Rate Period shall be effective only if (1) notice thereof shall have been given as provided herein, (2) any failure to pay in a timely manner to the Trustee the full amount of any interest on, or the redemption price of, a series of Tortoise Notes shall have been cured as provided above, (3) Sufficient Clearing Bids shall have existed in an Auction held on the Auction Date immediately preceding the first day of such proposed Special Rate Period, (4) if we shall have mailed a Notice of Redemption with respect to any Tortoise Notes, the redemption price with respect to such Tortoise Notes shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent, and (5) we have confirmed that as of the Auction Date next preceding the first day of such Special Rate Period, we have Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount, and we have consulted with the Broker-Dealers and have provided notice of such designation and otherwise complied with the Rating Agency Guidelines.

 

Designation of a Special Rate Period.  If we propose to designate any Special Rate Period, not fewer than seven (7) (or two (2) Business Days in the event the duration of the Rate Period prior to such Special Rate Period is fewer than eight (8) days) nor more than 30 Business Days prior to the first day of such Special Rate Period, notice shall be (1) made by press release and (2) communicated by us by telephonic or other means to the Trustee and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter. Each such notice shall state (A) that we propose to exercise our option to designate a succeeding Special Rate Period, specifying the first and last days thereof and (B) that we will by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the first day of such Special Rate Period, notify the Auction Agent and the Trustee, who will promptly notify the Broker-Dealers, of either (x) our determination, subject to certain conditions, to proceed with such Special Rate Period, subject to the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions, or (y) our determination not to

proceed with such Special Rate Period, in which latter event the succeeding Rate Period shall be a Standard Rate Period.

 

No later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the first day of any proposed Special Rate Period, we will deliver to the Trustee and the Auction Agent, who will promptly deliver to the Broker-Dealers and Existing Holders, either:

 

(1) a notice stating (A) that we have determined to designate the next succeeding Rate Period as a Special Rate Period, specifying the first and last days thereof and (B) the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions; or

 

(2) a notice stating that we have determined not to exercise our option to designate a Special Rate Period.

 

If we fail to deliver either such notice with respect to any designation of any proposed Special Rate Period to the Auction Agent and the Auction Agent is unable to make the confirmation described above by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the first day of such proposed Special Rate Period, we shall be deemed to have delivered a notice to the Auction Agent with respect to such Rate Period to the effect set forth in clause (2) above, thereby resulting in a Standard Rate Period.

 

Default Period.  Subject to cure provisions, a “Default Period” with respect to a particular series of Tortoise Notes will commence on any date on which, when required to do so, we fail to deposit irrevocably in trust in same-day funds, with the Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, (A) the full amount of any accrued interest on that series payable on the Interest Payment Date (an “Interest Default”), or (B) the full amount of any redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) payable on the date fixed for redemption (the “Redemption Date”) (a “Redemption Default” and together with an Interest Default, hereinafter referred to as “Default”).

 

Subject to cure provisions, a Default Period with respect to an Interest Default or a Redemption Default shall end on the Business Day on which, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, all unpaid interest and any unpaid Redemption Price, respectively, shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the Paying Agent. In the case of an Interest Default, the Applicable Rate for each Rate Period commencing during a Default Period will be equal to the Default Rate, and each subsequent Rate Period commencing after the beginning of a Default Period shall be a Standard Rate Period; provided, however, that the commencement of a Default Period will not by itself cause the commencement of a new Rate Period.

 

No Auction shall be held during a Default Period with respect to an Interest Default applicable to that series of Tortoise Notes. No Default Period with respect to an Interest Default or Redemption Default shall be deemed to commence if the amount of any interest or any Redemption Price due (if such default is not solely due to our willful failure) is deposited irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds with the Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, within three Business Days after the applicable Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, together with an amount equal to the Default Rate applied to the amount of such non-payment based on the actual number of days comprising such period divided by 360 for each series. The Default Rate shall be equal to the Reference Rate multiplied by three.

 

Redemption

 

Optional Redemption.  To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and Maryland law, we may, at our option, redeem Tortoise Notes having a Rate Period of one year or less, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor, on any Interest Payment Date, upon not less than 15 days’ and not more than 40 days’ prior notice. This optional redemption is not available during the initial Rate Period or during other limited circumstances. The optional redemption price shall be equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Tortoise Notes to be redeemed, plus an amount equal to accrued but unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. Tortoise Notes having a Rate Period of more than one year are redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor, prior to the end of the relevant Rate Period, upon not less than 15 days’, and not more than 40 days’, prior notice, subject to any Specific Redemption Provisions, which may include the payment of redemption premiums in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. We shall

not effect any optional redemption unless after giving effect thereto (1) we have available on such date fixed for the redemption certain Deposit Securities with maturity or tender dates not later than the day preceding the applicable redemption date and having a value not less than the amount (including any applicable premium) due to Holders of a series of Tortoise Notes by reason of the redemption of a series of Tortoise Notes and (2) we would have Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount immediately subsequent to such redemption. Although we ordinarily will not redeem the Tortoise Notes prior to their Stated Maturity, we may voluntarily redeem Tortoise Notes if, for example, the Board of Directors determines that we could obtain more favorable interest rates from an alternative source of financing.

 

Mandatory Redemption.  If we fail to maintain Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount as of any Valuation Date or, fail to satisfy the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage as of the last Business Day of any month, and such failure is not cured within ten (10) Business Days following such Valuation Date, in the case of a failure to maintain the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount, or on the last Business Day of the following month, in the case of a failure to maintain the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage as of such last Business Day (each an “Asset Coverage Cure Date”), the Tortoise Notes will be subject to mandatory redemption out of funds legally available therefor. See “Rating Agency Guidelines” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed under these circumstances will be equal to the lesser of (1) the minimum principal amount of Tortoise Notes the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the relevant Asset Coverage Cure Date, would result in our having Eligible Assets with an aggregated Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount or sufficient to satisfy the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage, as the case may be, in either case as of the relevant Asset Coverage Cure Date (provided that, if there is no such minimum principal amount of Tortoise Notes the redemption of which would have such result, all Tortoise Notes then outstanding will be redeemed), and (2) the maximum principal amount of Tortoise Notes that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be available therefor on the Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below) at the Mandatory Redemption Price (as defined below).

 

Any redemption of less than all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series will be made from Tortoise Notes designated by us. We shall designate Tortoise Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis among the Holders in proportion to the principal amount of Tortoise Notes they hold, by lot or such other method as we shall deem equitable. No optional or mandatory redemption of less than all outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series will be made unless the aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed is equal to $25,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any redemption of less than all Tortoise Notes outstanding will be made in such a manner that all Tortoise Notes outstanding after such redemption are in authorized denominations.

 

We are required to effect such a mandatory redemption not later than 40 days after the Asset Coverage Cure Date, as the case may be (the “Mandatory Redemption Date”), except that if we do not have funds legally available for the redemption of, or are not otherwise legally permitted to redeem, all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series that are subject to mandatory redemption, or we otherwise are unable to effect such redemption on or prior to such Mandatory Redemption Date, we will redeem those Tortoise Notes on the earliest practicable date on which we will have such funds available, upon notice to record owners of Tortoise Notes and the Paying Agent. Our ability to make a mandatory redemption may be limited by the provisions of the 1940 Act or Maryland law. The redemption price per Tortoise Note in the event of any mandatory redemption will be the principal amount, plus an amount equal to accrued but unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption, plus (in the case of a Rate Period of more than one year) a redemption premium, if any, determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion after consultation with the Broker-Dealers and set forth in any applicable Specific Redemption Provisions (the “Mandatory Redemption Price”).

 

Redemption Procedure.  Pursuant to Rule 23c-2 under the 1940 Act, we will file a notice of our intention to redeem with the SEC so as to provide at least the minimum notice required by such rule or any successor provision (notice currently must be filed with the SEC generally at least 30 days prior to the redemption date). We shall deliver a notice of redemption to the Auction Agent and the Trustee containing the information

described below one Business Day prior to the giving of notice to Holders in the case of an optional redemption and on or prior to the 30th day preceding the Mandatory Redemption Date in the case of a mandatory redemption. The Trustee will use its reasonable efforts to provide notice to each Holder of Tortoise Notes called for redemption by electronic means not later than the close of business on the Business Day immediately following the Business Day on which the Trustee determines the principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed (or, during a Default Period with respect to such Tortoise Notes, not later than the close of business on the Business Day immediately following the day on which the Trustee receives notice of redemption from us). Such notice will be confirmed promptly by the Trustee in writing not later than the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date by providing the notice to each Holder of record of Tortoise Notes called for redemption, the Paying Agent (if different from the Trustee) and the Securities Depository (“Notice of Redemption”). The Notice of Redemption will be addressed to the registered owners of the Tortoise Notes at their addresses appearing on our books or records. Such notice will set forth (1) the redemption date, (2) the principal amount and identity of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed, (3) the redemption price (specifying the amount of accrued interest to be included therein and the amount of the redemption premium, if any), (4) that interest on the Tortoise Notes to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date, and (5) the 1940 Act provision under which redemption shall be made. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or in the transmittal or mailing thereof will affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

 

If less than all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series are redeemed on any date, the amount per Holder to be redeemed on such date will be selected by us on a pro rata basis in proportion to the principal amount of Tortoise Notes held by such Holder, by lot or by such other method as is determined by us to be fair and equitable, subject to the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions and subject to maintaining authorized denominations as described above. Tortoise Notes may be subject to mandatory redemption as described herein notwithstanding the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions. The Auction Agent will give notice to the Securities Depository, whose nominee will be the record Holder of all of the Tortoise Notes, and the Securities Depository will determine the Tortoise Notes to be redeemed from the account of the Agent Member of each Beneficial Owner. Each Agent Member will determine the principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed from the account of each Beneficial Owner for which it acts as agent. An Agent Member may select for redemption Tortoise Notes from the accounts of some Beneficial Owners without selecting for redemption any Tortoise Notes from the accounts of other Beneficial Owners. In this case, in selecting the Tortoise Notes to be redeemed, the Agent Member will select by lot or by other fair and equitable method. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if neither the Securities Depository nor its nominee is the record Holder of all of the Tortoise Notes, the particular principal amount to be redeemed shall be selected by us by lot, on a pro rata basis between each series or by such other method as we shall deem fair and equitable, as contemplated above.

 

If Notice of Redemption has been given, then upon the deposit of funds with the Paying Agent sufficient to effect such redemption, interest on such Tortoise Notes will cease to accrue and such Tortoise Notes will no longer be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose and all rights of the holders of the Tortoise Notes so called for redemption will cease and terminate, except the right of the holders of such Tortoise Notes to receive the redemption price, but without any interest or additional amount. We shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent, promptly after the date fixed for redemption, any cash deposited with the Paying Agent in excess of (1) the aggregate redemption price of the Tortoise Notes called for redemption on such date and (2) such other amounts, if any, to which owners of Tortoise Notes called for redemption may be entitled. We will be entitled to receive, from time to time after the date fixed for redemption, from the Paying Agent the interest, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent and the owners of Tortoise Notes so redeemed will have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so deposited which are unclaimed two years after such redemption date will be paid, to the extent permitted by law, by the Paying Agent to us upon our request. After such payment, Holders of Tortoise Notes called for redemption may look only to us for payment.

 

So long as any Tortoise Notes are held of record by the nominee of the Securities Depository, the redemption price for such Tortoise Notes will be paid on the redemption date to the nominee of the Securities

Depository. The Securities Depository’s normal procedures provide for it to distribute the amount of the redemption price to Agent Members who, in turn, are expected to distribute such funds to the persons for whom they are acting as agent.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions for redemption described above, no Tortoise Notes may be redeemed unless all interest in arrears on the outstanding Tortoise Notes, and any of our indebtedness ranking on a parity with the Tortoise Notes, have been or are being contemporaneously paid or set aside for payment, except in connection with our liquidation, in which case all Tortoise Notes and all indebtedness ranking on a parity with the Tortoise Notes must receive proportionate amounts. At any time we may purchase or acquire all the outstanding Tortoise Notes pursuant to the successful completion of an otherwise lawful purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to, and accepted by, Holders of all outstanding Tortoise Notes.

 

Except for the provisions described above, nothing contained in the Indenture limits any legal right of ours to purchase or otherwise acquire Tortoise Notes outside of an Auction at any price, whether higher or lower than the price that would be paid in connection with an optional or mandatory redemption, so long as, at the time of any such purchase, there is no arrearage in the payment of interest on, or the mandatory or optional redemption price with respect to, any Tortoise Notes for which Notice of Redemption has been given and we are in compliance with the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage and have Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount after giving effect to such purchase or acquisition on the date thereof. If less than all outstanding Tortoise Notes are redeemed or otherwise acquired by us, we shall give notice of such transaction to the Auction Agent, in accordance with the procedures agreed upon by the Board of Directors.

 

Payment of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.

 

In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to us or to our creditors, as such, or to our assets, or (b) our liquidation, dissolution or other winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) our assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities, then (after any payments with respect to our secured creditor outstanding at such time) and in any such event the holders of Tortoise Notes shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Tortoise Notes (including any interest accruing thereon after the commencement of any such case or proceeding), or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of the Tortoise Notes, before the holders of any of our common or preferred stock are entitled to receive any payment on account of any redemption proceeds, liquidation preference or dividends from such shares, and to that end the holders of Tortoise Notes shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any of our other indebtedness being subordinated to the payment of the Tortoise Notes, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Tortoise Notes in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.

 

Unsecured creditors of ours may include, without limitation, service providers including the Adviser, Custodian, Auction Agent, the Broker-Dealers and Trustee, pursuant to the terms of various contracts with us. Secured creditors of ours may include, without limitation, parties entering into any interest rate swap, floor or cap transactions, or other similar transactions with us that create liens, pledges, charges, security interests, security agreements or other encumbrances on our assets.

 

Our consolidation, reorganization or merger with or into any other company, or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets of in consideration for the issuance of equity securities of another company shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

 

Role of Auction Agent

 

Auction Agency Agreement.  The Auction Agency Agreement between us and the Auction Agent (currently, The Bank of New York) (the “Auction Agency Agreement”) provides, among other things, that the Auction Agent will follow the Auction Procedures for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate for the Series D Tortoise Notes so long as the Applicable Rate for the Series D Tortoise Notes is to be based on the results of an Auction. The Auction Agent acts as a non-fiduciary agent for us in connection with Auctions. In the absence of bad faith or gross negligence on its part, the Auction Agent will not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted or for any error of judgment made by it in the performance of its duties under the Auction Agency Agreement and will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith unless the Auction Agent will have been grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

The Auction Agent may terminate the Auction Agency Agreement upon notice to us on a date no earlier than 60 days after the notice. If the Auction Agent should resign, we will use our best efforts to enter into an agreement with a successor Auction Agent containing substantially the same terms and conditions as the Auction Agency Agreement. We may remove the Auction Agent provided that prior to such removal we shall have entered into such an agreement with a successor Auction Agent.

 

Auction Risk

 

You may not be able to sell your Tortoise Notes at an Auction if the Auction fails; that is, if there are more Tortoise Notes offered for sale than there are buyers for those Tortoise Notes. Also, if you place hold orders (orders to retain Tortoise Notes) at an Auction only at a specified rate, and that bid rate exceeds the rate set at the Auction, you will not retain your Tortoise Notes. Finally, if you buy Tortoise Notes or elect to retain Tortoise Notes without specifying a rate below which you would not wish to buy or continue to hold those Tortoise Notes, and the Auction sets a below-market rate, you may receive a lower rate of return on your Tortoise Notes than the market rate.

 

Auction Procedures

 

Beneficial Owners.  Prior to the Submission Deadline on each Auction Date for a series of Tortoise Notes, each customer of a Broker-Dealer who is listed on the records of that Broker-Dealer (or, if applicable, the Auction Agent) as a holder of Tortoise Notes of such series (a “Beneficial Owner”) may submit orders (“Orders”) with respect to Tortoise Notes of such series to that Broker-Dealer as follows:

 

 

Orders submitted (or the failure to do so) by Beneficial Owners under certain circumstances will have the effects described below. A Beneficial Owner of Tortoise Notes of such series that submits a Bid with respect to Tortoise Notes of such series to its Broker-Dealer having a rate higher than the Maximum Rate for Tortoise Notes of such series on the Auction Date therefore will be treated as having submitted a Sell Order with respect to such Tortoise Notes. A Beneficial Owner of Tortoise Notes of such series that fails to submit an Order with respect to such Tortoise Notes to its Broker-Dealer will be deemed to have submitted a Hold Order

with respect to such Tortoise Notes of such series; provided, however, that if a Beneficial Owner of Series D Tortoise Notes fails to submit an Order with respect to Series D Tortoise Notes to its Broker-Dealer for an Auction relating to a Special Rate Period of more than 28 days, such Beneficial Owner will be deemed to have submitted a Sell Order with respect to such Tortoise Notes. A Sell Order shall constitute an irrevocable offer to sell the Tortoise Notes subject thereto. A Beneficial Owner that offers to become the Beneficial Owner of additional Tortoise Notes is, for purposes of such offer, a Potential Beneficial Owner as discussed below.

 

Potential Beneficial Owners.  A customer of a Broker-Dealer that is not a Beneficial Owner of a series of Tortoise Notes but that wishes to purchase Tortoise Notes of such series, or that is a Beneficial Owner of Tortoise Notes of such series that wishes to purchase additional Tortoise Notes of such series (in each case, a “Potential Beneficial Owner”), may submit Bids to its Broker-Dealer in which it offers to purchase such principal amount of outstanding Tortoise Notes of such series specified in such Bid if the Applicable Rate for Tortoise Notes of such series determined on such Auction Date shall be higher than the rate specified in such Bid. A Bid placed by a Potential Beneficial Owner of Tortoise Notes of such series specifying a rate higher than the Maximum Rate for Tortoise Notes of such series on the Auction Date therefor will not be accepted.

 

The Auction Process.  Each Broker-Dealer shall submit in writing, which shall include a writing delivered via e-mail or other electronic means, to the Auction Agent, prior to the Submission Deadline on each Auction Date, all Orders for Tortoise Notes of a series subject to an Auction on such Auction Date obtained by such Broker-Dealer, designating itself (unless otherwise permitted by us) as an Existing Holder in respect of Tortoise Notes subject to Orders submitted or deemed submitted to it by Beneficial Owners and as a Potential Holder in respect of Tortoise Notes subject to Orders submitted to it by Potential Beneficial Owners. However, neither we nor the Auction Agent will be responsible for a Broker-Dealer’s failure to comply with the foregoing. Any Order placed with the Auction Agent by a Broker-Dealer as or on behalf of an Existing Holder or a Potential Holder will be treated in the same manner as an Order placed with a Broker-Dealer by a Beneficial Owner or Potential Beneficial Owner. Similarly, any failure by a Broker-Dealer to submit to the Auction Agent an Order in respect of Tortoise Notes held by it or customers who are Beneficial Owners will be treated in the same manner as a Beneficial Owner’s failure to submit to its Broker-Dealer an Order in respect of Tortoise Notes held by it. A Broker-Dealer may also submit Orders to the Auction Agent for its own account as an Existing Holder or Potential Holder, provided it is not an affiliate of ours.

 

If Sufficient Clearing Bids for a series of Tortoise Notes exist (that is, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Tortoise Notes of such series subject to Submitted Bids of Potential Holders specifying one or more rates between the Minimum Rate (for Standard Rate Periods or shorter periods, only) and the Maximum Rate (for all Rate Periods) for Tortoise Notes of such series exceeds or is equal to the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Tortoise Notes of such series subject to Submitted Sell Orders), the Applicable Rate for Tortoise Notes of such series for the next succeeding Rate Period thereof will be the lowest rate specified in the Submitted Bids which, taking into account such rate and all lower rates bid by Broker-Dealers as or on behalf of Existing Holders and Potential Holders, would result in Existing Holders and Potential Holders owning the aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes of such series available for purchase in the Auction (such rate, the “Winning Bid Rate”). If Sufficient Clearing Bids for a series of Tortoise Notes do not exist (other than because all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of such series are subject to Submitted Hold Orders), then the Applicable Rate for all Tortoise Notes of such series for the next succeeding Rate Period thereof will be equal to the Maximum Rate for Tortoise Notes of such series. In such event, Holders of Tortoise Notes of such series that have submitted or are deemed to have submitted Sell Orders may not be able to sell in such Auction all aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes of such series subject to such Sell Orders. In any particular Auction, if all outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series are the subject of Submitted Hold Orders, the Applicable Rate for such series of Tortoise Notes for the next succeeding Auction Period will be the All Hold Rate (such a situation is called an “All Hold Auction”).

 

The Auction Procedures include a pro rata allocation of Tortoise Notes for purchase and sale, which may result in an Existing Holder continuing to hold or selling, or a Potential Holder purchasing, a number of Tortoise Notes that is less than the number of Tortoise Notes specified in its Order. To the extent the allocation procedures have that result, Broker-Dealers that have designated themselves as Existing Holders or Potential

Holders in respect of customer Orders will be required to make appropriate pro rata allocations among their respective customers.

 

Settlement of purchases and sales will be made on the next Business Day (also an Interest Payment Date) after the Auction Date through the Securities Depository. Purchasers will make payment through their Agent Members in same-day funds to the Securities Depository against delivery to their respective Agent Members. The Securities Depository will make payment to the sellers’ Agent Members in accordance with the Securities Depository’s normal procedures, which now provide for payment against delivery by their Agent Members in same-day funds.

 

Certain Considerations Affecting Auction Rate Securities

 

Role of Broker-Dealers.  Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the “Broker-Dealers”) have been appointed by the issuers or obligors of various auction rate securities to serve as a dealer in the auctions for those securities and is paid by the issuers or obligors for its services. The Broker-Dealers receive broker-dealer fees from such issuers or obligors at an agreed upon annual rate that is applied to the principal amount of securities sold or successfully placed through them in such auctions.

 

The Broker-Dealers are designated in the Broker-Dealer Agreements as the Broker-Dealers to contact Existing Holders and Potential Holders and solicit Bids for the Tortoise Notes. The Broker-Dealers will receive Broker-Dealer Fees from us with respect to the Tortoise Notes sold or successfully placed through it in Auctions. The Broker-Dealers may share a portion of such fees with other dealers that submit Orders through it that are filled in the Auction.

 

Bidding by Broker-Dealers.  A Broker-Dealer is permitted, but not obligated, to submit Orders in Auctions for its own account either as a buyer or seller and routinely does so in the auction rate securities market in its sole discretion. If a Broker-Dealer submits an Order for its own account, it would have an advantage over other Bidders because a Broker-Dealer would have knowledge of the other Orders placed through it in that Auction and thus could determine the rate and size of its Order so as to increase the likelihood that (i) its Order will be accepted in the Auction and (ii) the Auction will clear at a particular rate. For this reason, and because the Broker-Dealers are appointed and paid by us to serve as a Broker-Dealer in the Auction, a Broker-Dealer’s interests in serving as a Broker-Dealer in an Auction may differ from those of Existing Holders and Potential Holders who participate in Auctions. See “— Role of Broker-Dealers.” A Broker-Dealer would not have knowledge of Orders submitted to the Auction Agent by any other firm that is, or may in the future be, appointed to accept Orders pursuant to a Broker-Dealer Agreement.

 

The Broker-Dealers are the only Broker-Dealers appointed by us to serve as a Broker-Dealer in the Auction, and as long as that remains the case, they will be the only Broker-Dealers that submit Orders to the Auction Agent in that Auction. As a result, in such circumstances, the Broker-Dealers may discern the clearing rate before the Orders are submitted to the Auction Agent and set the clearing rate with its Order.

 

A Broker-Dealer may place one or more Bids in an Auction for its own account to acquire securities for its inventory, to prevent an Auction Failure (which occurs if there are insufficient clearing bids and results in the auction rate being set at the Maximum Rate) or to prevent Auctions from clearing at a rate that the Broker-Dealer believes does not reflect the market for the Tortoise Notes. A Broker-Dealer may place such Bids even after obtaining knowledge of some or all of the other Orders submitted through it. When bidding in an Auction for its own account, a Broker-Dealer also may Bid inside or outside the range of rates that it posts in its Price Talk (as defined herein). See “— Price Talk.”

 

A Broker-Dealer also may encourage bidding by others in Auctions, including to prevent an Auction Failure or to prevent an Auction from clearing at a rate that a Broker-Dealer believes does not reflect the market for the Tortoise Notes. A Broker-Dealer may encourage such Bids even after obtaining knowledge of some or all of the other Orders submitted through it.

 

Bids by a Broker-Dealer or by those it may encourage to place Bids are likely to affect (i) the Applicable Rate — including preventing the Applicable Rate from being set at the Maximum Rate or otherwise causing Potential Beneficial Owners to receive a lower rate than they might have received had a Broker-Dealer not Bid (or not encouraged others to Bid) and (ii) the allocation of the Tortoise Notes being auctioned, including displacing some Potential Beneficial Owners who may have their Bids rejected or receive fewer Tortoise Notes than they would have received if a Broker-Dealer had not Bid (or encouraged others to Bid). Because of these practices, the fact that an Auction clears successfully does not mean that an investment in the Tortoise Notes involves no significant liquidity or credit risk. A Broker-Dealer is not obligated to continue to place such Bids (or to continue to encourage other Bidders to do so) in any particular Auction to prevent an Auction Failure or an Auction from clearing at a rate a Broker-Dealer believes does not reflect the market for the Tortoise Notes. Investors should not assume that a Broker-Dealer will place Bids or encourage others to do so or that Auction Failures will not occur. Investors should also be aware that Bids by a Broker-Dealer (or by those it may encourage to place Bids) may cause lower Applicable Rates to occur.

 

The statements herein regarding Bidding by a Broker-Dealer apply only to a Broker-Dealer’s auction desk and any other business units of a Broker-Dealer that are not separated from the auction desk by an information barrier designed to limit inappropriate dissemination of bidding information.

 

In any particular Auction, an All Hold Auction will result if all outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series are the subject of Submitted Hold Orders, the Applicable Rate for the next succeeding Auction Period will be the All Hold Rate. If a Broker-Dealer holds any Tortoise Notes of a series for its own account on an Auction Date, a Broker-Dealer may, but is not obligated to submit a Sell Order into the Auction with respect to such Tortoise Notes, which would prevent that Auction from being an All Hold Auction. A Broker-Dealer may, but is not obligated to, submit Bids for its own account in that same Auction, as set forth above.

 

Price Talk.  Before the start of an Auction, a Broker-Dealer, in its discretion, may make available to its customers who are Existing Holders and Potential Holders a Broker-Dealer’s good faith judgment of the range of likely clearing rates for the Auction based on market and other information. This is known as “Price Talk.” Price Talk is not a guaranty that the Applicable Rate established through the Auction will be within the Price Talk, and Existing Holders and Potential Holders are free to use it or ignore it. A Broker-Dealer occasionally may update and change the Price Talk based on changes in our credit quality or macroeconomic factors that are likely to result in a change in interest rate levels, such as an announcement by the Federal Reserve Board of a change in the Federal Funds rate or an announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of unemployment numbers. Potential Holders should confirm with a Broker-Dealer the manner by which such Broker-Dealer will communicate Price Talk and any changes to Price Talk.

 

“All-or-Nothing” Bids.  The Broker-Dealers will not accept “all-or-nothing” Bids (i.e., Bids whereby the bidder proposes to reject an allocation smaller than the entire quantity Bid) or any other type of Bid that allows the bidder to avoid Auction Procedures that require the pro rata allocation of Tortoise Notes of a series where there are not sufficient Sell Orders to fill all Bids at the Winning Bid Rate.

 

No Assurances Regarding Auction Outcomes.  The Broker-Dealers provide no assurance as to the outcome of any Auction. The Broker-Dealers also do not provide any assurance that any Bid will be successful, in whole or in part, or that the Auction will clear at a rate that a bidder considers acceptable. Bids may be only partially filled, or not filled at all, and the Applicable Rate on any Tortoise Notes purchased or retained in the Auction may be lower than the market rate for similar investments.

 

The Broker-Dealers will not agree before an Auction to buy Tortoise Notes of any series from, or sell Tortoise Notes of any series to, a customer after the Auction.

 

Deadlines.  Each particular Auction has a formal deadline by which all Bids must be submitted by the Broker-Dealers to the Auction Agent. This deadline is called the “Submission Deadline.” To provide sufficient time to process and submit customer Bids to the Auction Agent before the Submission Deadline, each Broker-Dealer imposes an earlier deadline for all customers, called the “Broker-Dealer Deadline,” by which bidders must submit Bids to a Broker-Dealer. The Broker-Dealer Deadline is subject to change by a Broker-Dealer. Potential Beneficial Owners should consult with their Broker-Dealer as to its Broker-Dealer Deadline. A

Broker-Dealer may allow for correction of clerical errors after the Broker-Dealer Deadline and prior to the Submission Deadline. A Broker-Dealer may submit Bids for its own account at any time until the Submission Deadline and may change Bids it has submitted for its own account at any time until the Submission Deadline. The Auction Procedures provide that until one hour after the Auction Agent completes the dissemination of the results of an Auction, new Orders can be submitted to the Auction Agent if such Orders were received by a Broker-Dealer or generated by a Broker-Dealer for its own account prior to the Submission Deadline and the failure to submit such Orders prior to the Submission Deadline was the result of force majeure, a technological failure or a clerical error. In addition until one hour after the Auction Agent completes dissemination of the results of an Auction, a Broker-Dealer may modify or withdraw an Order submitted to the Auction Agent prior to the Submission Deadline if a Broker-Dealer determines that such Order contained a clerical error. In the event of such a submission, modification or withdrawal the Auction Agent will rerun the Auction, if necessary, taking into account such submission, modification or withdrawal.

 

Existing Holder’s Ability to Resell Auction Rate Securities May Be Limited.  An Existing Holder may sell, transfer or dispose of a Tortoise Note of a series (i) in an Auction, only pursuant to a Bid or Sell Order in accordance with the Auction Procedures, or (ii) outside an Auction, only to or through a Broker-Dealer.

 

Existing Holders will be able to sell all of the Tortoise Notes of a series that are the subject of their Submitted Sell Orders only if there are bidders willing to purchase all those Tortoise Notes in the Auction. If Sufficient Clearing Bids have not been made, Existing Holders that have submitted Sell Orders will not be able to sell in the Auction all, and may not be able to sell any, of the Tortoise Notes of such series subject to such Submitted Sell Orders. As discussed above (See “— Bidding by Broker-Dealers”), a Broker-Dealer may submit a Bid in an Auction to avoid an Auction Failure, but it is not obligated to do so. There may not always be enough bidders to prevent an Auction Failure in the absence of bidding by a Broker-Dealer in the Auction for its own account or encouraging others to Bid. Therefore, Auction Failures are possible, especially if our credit were to deteriorate, if a market disruption were to occur or if, for any reason, a Broker-Dealer were unable or unwilling to Bid.

 

Between Auctions, there can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Tortoise Notes of any series will develop or, if it does develop, that it will provide Existing Holders the ability to resell the Tortoise Notes of such series on the terms or at the times desired by an Existing Holder. A Broker-Dealer, in its own discretion, may decide to buy or sell the Tortoise Notes of a series in the secondary market for its own account from or to investors at any time and at any price, including at prices equivalent to, below, or above par for the Tortoise Notes of such series. However, a Broker-Dealer is not obligated to make a market in the Tortoise Notes of a series and may discontinue trading in the Tortoise Notes of such series without notice for any reason at any time. Existing Holders who resell between Auctions may receive an amount less than par, depending on market conditions.

 

If an Existing Holder purchased Tortoise Notes through a dealer which is not a Broker-Dealer for the securities, such Existing Holder’s ability to sell its securities may be affected by the continued ability of its dealer to transact trades for the Tortoise Notes through a Broker-Dealer.

 

The ability to resell the Tortoise Notes of any series will depend on various factors affecting the market for the Tortoise Notes, including news relating to us, the attractiveness of alternative investments, investor demand for short term securities, the perceived risk of owning the Tortoise Notes (whether related to credit, liquidity or any other risk), the tax or accounting treatment accorded the Tortoise Notes (including U.S. generally accepted accounting principles as they apply to the accounting treatment of auction rate securities), reactions of market participants to regulatory actions (such as those described in “— Securities and Exchange Commission Settlements” below) or press reports, financial reporting cycles and market conditions generally. Demand for the Tortoise Notes may change without warning, and declines in demand may be short-lived or continue for longer periods.

 

Resignation of the Auction Agent or a Broker-Dealer Could Impact the Ability to Hold Auctions.  The Auction Agent Agreement provides that the Auction Agent may resign from its duties as Auction Agent by giving us at least 60 days’ notice and does not require, as a condition to the effectiveness of such resignation that a replacement Auction Agent be in place. The Broker-Dealer Agreement provides that a Broker-Dealer

thereunder may resign upon five days’ notice and does not require, as a condition to the effectiveness of such resignation, that a replacement Broker-Dealer be in place. For any Auction Period during which there is no duly appointed Broker-Dealer, it will not be possible to hold Auctions for the Tortoise Notes, with the result that the dividend rate on the Tortoise Notes will be determined as described in the supplemental indenture.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Settlements.  On May 31, 2006, the SEC announced that it had settled its investigation of 15 firms, including Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the “Settling Broker-Dealers”), that participate in the auction rate securities market regarding their respective practices and procedures in this market. The SEC alleged in the settlement that the firms had managed auctions for auction rate securities in which they participated in ways that were not adequately disclosed or that did not conform to disclosed auction procedures. As part of the settlement, the Settling Broker-Dealers agreed to pay a civil penalty. In addition, the Settling Broker-Dealers, without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations, agreed to provide to customers written descriptions of its material auction practices and procedures, and to implement procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent any failures by the Settling Broker-Dealers to conduct the auction process in accordance with disclosed procedures. No assurance can be provided as to how the settlement may affect the market for auction rate securities or the Tortoise Notes.

 

In addition, on January 9, 2007, the SEC announced that it had settled its investigation of three banks, including The Bank of New York (the “Settling Auction Agents”), that participate as auction agents in the auction rate securities market, regarding their respective practices and procedures in this market. The SEC alleged in the settlement that the Settling Auction Agents allowed broker-dealers in auctions to submit bids or revise bids after the submission deadlines and allowed broker-dealers to intervene in auctions in ways that affected the rates paid on the auction rate securities. As part of the settlement, the Settling Auction Agents agreed to pay civil penalties. In addition, each Settling Auction Agent, without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations, agreed to provide to broker-dealers and issuers written descriptions of its material auction practices and procedures and to implement procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent any failures by that Settling Auction Agent to conduct the auction process in accordance with disclosed procedures. No assurance can be offered as to how the settlement may affect the market for auction rate securities or the Tortoise Notes.

 

The underwriters named below (the “Underwriters”), acting through their representative, Lehman Brothers Inc., are acting as underwriters in this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the underwriting agreement by and among the Underwriters, the Adviser and us, dated the date of this prospectus supplement, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from us, and we have agreed to sell to the Underwriters, the principal amount of Series D Tortoise Notes set forth opposite their names below.

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase, subject to certain conditions, all of the Series D Tortoise Notes being offered. The conditions contained in the underwriting agreement include requirements that (1) the representations and warranties made by us and the Adviser to the Underwriters are true, (2) there has been no material change in the financial markets, and (3) we and the Adviser deliver customary closing documents to the Underwriters.

 

After the first Auction that includes Series D Tortoise Notes issued pursuant to this prospectus supplement, payment by each purchaser of Series D Tortoise Notes sold through the Auction will be made in accordance with the procedures described under “The Auction.”

 

Sales Load

 

The Underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the Series D Tortoise Notes directly to the public at the public offering price presented on the cover page of this prospectus supplement less an underwriting discount and commission equal to $      per $25,000 principal amount of Tortoise Notes which is equal to  % of the initial offering price. Investors must pay for any Tortoise Notes purchased on or before March   , 2007. After the offering, the Underwriters may change the price at which they re-offer the notes to dealers and other selling terms.

 

Indemnification

 

We and the Adviser have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities relating to this offering, including liabilities under the 1933 Act and to contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make for those liabilities; provided that such indemnification shall not extend to any liability or action resulting directly from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of applicable obligations and duties of the Underwriters.

 

Listing

 

The Tortoise Notes, which have no history of public trading, will not be listed on an exchange or automated quotation system. Broker-Dealers may maintain a secondary trading market in the Tortoise Notes outside of Auctions; however, they have no obligation to do so, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market for the Tortoise Notes will develop or, if it does develop, that it will provide holders with a liquid trading market (i.e., trading will depend on the presence of willing buyers and sellers and the trading price will be subject to variables to be determined at the time of the trade by such Broker-Dealers). The

Underwriters are not obligated to make a market in the Tortoise Notes between Auctions and the market making may be discontinued at any time at their sole discretion.

 

Electronic Distribution

 

The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by the Underwriters or their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The Underwriters may allocate a specific principal amount of Series D Tortoise Notes for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the representative on the same basis as other allocations.

 

Other than the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format, the information on the Underwriters’ web sites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by the Underwriters are not part of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

Certain Relationships and Fees

 

To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, we anticipate that the Underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of our portfolio transactions after an Underwriter has ceased to be an Underwriter and, subject to certain restrictions, may act as a broker while it is an Underwriter. We anticipate that an Underwriter or one of its affiliates may from time to time act in Auctions as a Broker-Dealer or dealer and receive fees as described under “The Auction — Certain Considerations Affecting Auction Rate Securities.”

 

Addresses

 

Lehman Brothers Inc.’s principal office is located at 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019.

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated’s principal office is located at 4 World Financial Center, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10080.

 

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.’s principal office is located at One North Jefferson, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

 

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.’s principal office is located at 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004.

 

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated’s principal office is located at 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

 

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC’s principal office is located at 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288.

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act and are required to file reports, including annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We voluntarily file quarterly shareholder reports. Our most recent shareholder report filed with the SEC is for the period ended November 30, 2006 and is incorporated by reference into our registration statement. These documents are available on the SEC’s EDGAR system and can be inspected and copied for a fee at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Additional information about the operation of the public reference room facilities may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-5850.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information in our registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this prospectus

supplement and the accompanying prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

 

Additional information about us can be found on our Adviser’s website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com and in our registration statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. Information included on our Adviser’s website does not form part of this prospectus supplement. The SEC maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains our registration statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information we have filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the 1934 Act.

 

Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, L.L.P. (“Blackwell”), Kansas City, Missouri, serves as our counsel. Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, P.C. (“Vedder Price”), Chicago, Illinois, is serving as our special counsel in connection with the offering under this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Vedder Price. Vedder Price may rely on the opinion of Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, on certain matters of Maryland law. Morrison & Foerster LLP, New York, New York, is serving as counsel to the Underwriters.

 

Base Prospectus

 

 

$350,000,000

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

 

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (the “Company,” “we” or “our”) is a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company. Our investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to stockholders. We seek to provide our stockholders with an efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio of publicly traded master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) in the energy infrastructure sector. Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 90% of our total assets (including assets obtained through leverage) in securities of energy infrastructure companies and invest at least 70% of our total assets in equity securities of MLPs. We cannot assure you that we will achieve our investment objective. Unlike most investment companies, we have not elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

We may offer, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, up to $350,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of our common stock ($0.001 par value per share), preferred stock ($0.001 par value per share) or debt securities, which we refer to in this prospectus collectively as our securities, in one or more offerings. We may offer our common stock, preferred stock and debt securities separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. In addition, from time to time, certain of our stockholders may offer our common stock in one or more offerings. The sale of such stock by certain of our stockholders may involve shares of common stock that were issued to the stockholders in one or more private transactions and will be registered by us for resale. The identity of any selling stockholder, the number of shares of our common stock to be offered by such selling stockholder, the price and terms upon which our shares of common stock are to be sold from time to time by such selling stockholder, and the percentage of common stock held by any selling stockholder after the offering, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you decide to invest in any of our securities.

 

We may offer our securities, or certain of our stockholders may offer our common stock, directly to one or more purchasers, through agents that we or they designate from time to time, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The prospectus supplement relating to the particular offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our securities, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us or any selling stockholder and such agents or underwriters or among the underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. For more information about the manner in which we may offer our securities, or a selling stockholder may offer our common stock, see “Plan of Distribution” and “Selling Stockholders.” Our securities may not be sold through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TYG.” As of March 14, 2007, the last reported sale price for our common stock was $36.77.

 

Investing in our securities involves certain risks.  You could lose some or all of your investment. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 27 of this prospectus. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Prospectus dated March 14, 2007

This prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely the information that you should know before investing. You should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. You should retain the prospectus and prospectus supplement for future reference. A statement of additional information, dated March 14, 2007, as supplemented from time to time, containing additional information, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this prospectus. You may request a free copy of the statement of additional information, the table of contents of which is on page 61 of this prospectus, request a free copy of our annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports, request other information or make stockholder inquiries, by calling toll-free 1-866-362-9331 or by writing to us at 10801 Mastin Boulevard, Suite 222, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. Our annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports and the statement of additional information also are available on our investment adviser’s website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com. Information included on our website does not form part of this prospectus. You can review and copy documents we have filed at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-5850 for information. The SEC charges a fee for copies. You can get the same information free from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also e-mail requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov or make a request in writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.

 

Our securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution and is not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement in making your investment decisions. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information appearing in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since such dates. We will advise investors of any material changes to the extent required by applicable law.

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the statement of additional information contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this prospectus as well as in any accompanying prospectus supplement. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors that could materially affect our actual results are the performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the conditions in the U.S. and international financial, petroleum and other markets, the price at which our shares will trade in the public markets and other factors discussed in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in our forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. All forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement are made as of the date of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, as the case may be. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. We urge you to review carefully that section for a more detailed discussion of the risks of an investment in our securities.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

	•	We may invest up to 30% of our total assets in restricted securities, primarily through direct placements. Subject to this policy, we may invest without limitation in illiquid securities. The types of restricted securities that we may purchase include securities of private energy infrastructure companies and privately issued securities of publicly traded energy infrastructure companies. Restricted securities, whether issued by public companies or private companies, are generally considered illiquid. Investments in private companies that do not have any publicly traded shares or units are limited to 5% of total assets.
	•	We may invest up to 25% of our total assets in debt securities of energy infrastructure companies, including securities rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Below investment grade debt securities will be rated at least B3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and at least B- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) at the time of purchase, or comparably rated by another statistical rating organization or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser.
	•	We will not invest more than 10% of total assets in any single issuer.
	•	We will not engage in short sales.

 

The following table and example contain information about the costs and expenses that common stockholders will bear directly or indirectly. In accordance with SEC requirements, the table below shows our expenses, including leverage costs, as a percentage of our net assets as of November 30, 2006, and not as a percentage of gross assets or Managed Assets. By showing expenses as a percentage of net assets, expenses are not expressed as a percentage of all of the assets we invest. The table and example are based on our capital structure as of November 30, 2006. As of that date, we had $235 million in senior securities outstanding (MMP Shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $70 million and Tortoise Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $165 million) and approximately $32.45 million outstanding under our unsecured credit facility. Such senior securities and borrowings under our unsecured credit facility represent 28.8% of total assets as of November 30, 2006.

 

Stockholder Transaction Expense

 

 

 

Example:

 

The following example illustrates the expenses that common stockholders would pay on a $1,000 investment in common stock, assuming (1) net annual expenses (excluding current and deferred income tax expenses) of 4.56% of net assets attributable to common shares in years 1 and 2 and increasing to 4.73% in years 3 through 10; (2) a 5% annual return; and (iii) all distributions are reinvested at NAV:⁽⁸⁾

 

 

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, our actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of the table and the example above is to help investors understand the fees and expenses that they, as common stockholders, would bear directly or indirectly. For additional information with respect to our expenses, see “Management of the Company.”

 

Information contained in the table below under the heading “Per Common Share Data” and “Supplemental Data and Ratios” shows our per common share operating performance. The information in this table is derived from our financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report on such financial statements is contained in our 2006 Annual Report and incorporated by reference into the statement of additional information, both of which are available from us.

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth information about our outstanding senior securities as of each fiscal year ended November 30 since our inception:

 

 

 

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “TYG.” Shares of our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE on February 25, 2004.

 

Our common stock has a limited trading history and has traded both at a premium and at a discount in relation to NAV. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The provisions of the 1940 Act generally require that the public offering price of common stock (less any underwriting commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the NAV per share of a company’s common stock (calculated within 48 hours of pricing). However, at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 15, 2005, our common stockholders granted to us the authority to sell a limited number of shares of our common stock for less than NAV, subject to certain conditions. We expect to resubmit the matter for stockholder approval at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for April 13, 2007. Our issuance of common stock may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for our common stock by increasing the number of shares of common stock available, which may put downward pressure on the market price for our common stock. The continued development of alternatives as vehicles for investing in a portfolio of energy infrastructure MLPs, including other publicly traded investment companies and private funds, may reduce or eliminate any tendency of our shares of common stock to trade at a premium in the future. Shares of common stock of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV. See “Risk Factors — Additional Risks to Common Stockholders — Market Discount Risk.”

 

The following table sets forth for each of the periods indicated the high and low closing market prices for our shares of common stock on the NYSE, the NAV per share and the premium or discount to NAV per share at which our shares of common stock were trading. NAV is generally determined on the last business day of each calendar month. See “Determination of Net Asset Value” for information as to the determination of our NAV.

 

 

 

Source: Bloomberg Financial and Fund Accounting Records.

 

 

The last reported sale price, NAV per share and percentage premium to NAV per share of our common stock on March 14, 2007 were $36.77, $35.55 and 3.4%, respectively. As of March 14, 2007, we had 18,272,774 shares of our common stock outstanding and net assets of approximately $649,632,310.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we will invest the net proceeds of any sales of securities in accordance with our investment objective and policies as described under “Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies” within approximately 3 months of receipt of such proceeds. We may also use proceeds from the sale of our securities to retire all or a portion of any short-term debt we incur in pursuit of our investment objective and policies, and for working capital purposes, including the payment of distributions, interest and operating expenses, although there is currently no intent to issue securities primarily for this purpose. Our investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time or for other reasons. Such investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time or for other reasons. Pending such investment, we anticipate that we will invest the proceeds in securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term or long-term debt obligations. A delay in the anticipated use of proceeds could lower returns, reduce our distribution to common stockholders and reduce the amount of cash available to make dividend and interest payments on preferred stock and debt securities, respectively. We will not receive any of the proceeds from a sale of our common stock by any selling stockholder.

 

We are a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. We were organized as a corporation on October 30, 2003, pursuant to a charter (the “Charter”) governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Our fiscal year ends on November 30. In our initial public offering on February 27, 2004, and the exercise of subsequent overallotment options, we raised aggregate gross proceeds of $315,000,000. We completed three additional offerings of common stock in December 2004, August 2006 and December 2006. As of February 28, 2007, we had net assets of approximately $635,000,000 attributable to our common stock. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “TYG.” As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued three series of Tortoise Notes and two series of MMP Shares. The outstanding Tortoise Notes are rated “Aaa” and “AAA” by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively. The outstanding MMP Shares are rated “Aa2” and “AA” by Moody’s and Fitch, respectively.

 

The following table provides information about our outstanding securities as of February 28, 2007:

 

 

 

 

Investment Objective

 

Our investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to stockholders. For purposes of our investment objective, total return includes capital appreciation of, and all distributions received from, securities in which we invest regardless of the tax character of the distributions. We seek to provide our stockholders with an efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio of publicly traded MLPs in the energy infrastructure sector. Similar to the federal income tax characterization of cash distributions made by MLPs to its unit holders, we believe that our common stockholders will have relatively high levels of return of capital associated with cash distributions made by us to stockholders.

 

Energy Infrastructure Industry

 

We concentrate our investments in the energy infrastructure sector. We pursue our objective by investing principally in a portfolio of equity securities issued by MLPs. MLP common units historically have generated higher average total returns than domestic common stock (as measured by the S&P 500) and fixed income securities. A more detailed description of investment policies and restrictions and more detailed information about portfolio investments are contained in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Energy Infrastructure Companies.  For purposes of our policy of investing 90% of total assets in securities of energy infrastructure companies, an energy infrastructure company is one that derives each year at least 50% of its revenues from “Qualifying Income” under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code or one that derives at least 50% of its revenues from the provision of services directly related to the generation of Qualifying

Income. Qualifying Income is defined as including any income and gains from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resource (including fertilizer, geothermal energy, and timber).

 

Energy infrastructure companies (other than most pipeline MLPs) do not operate as “public utilities” or “local distribution companies,” and therefore are not subject to rate regulation by state or federal utility commissions. However, energy infrastructure companies may be subject to greater competitive factors than utility companies, including competitive pricing in the absence of regulated tariff rates, which could cause a reduction in revenue and which could adversely affect profitability. Most pipeline MLPs are subject to government regulation concerning the construction, pricing and operation of pipelines. Pipeline MLPs are able to set prices (rates or tariffs) to cover operating costs, depreciation and taxes, and provide a return on investment. These rates are monitored by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) which seeks to ensure that consumers receive adequate and reliable supplies of energy at the lowest possible price while providing energy suppliers and transporters a just and reasonable return on capital investment and the opportunity to adjust to changing market conditions.

 

Master Limited Partnerships.  Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 70% of our total assets in equity securities of MLPs that each year derive at least 90% of their gross income from Qualifying Income and are organized as partnerships, thereby eliminating federal income tax at the entity level. An MLP generally has two classes of partners, the general partner, and the limited partners. The general partner is usually a major energy company, investment fund or the direct management of the MLP. The general partner normally controls the MLP through a 2% equity interest plus units that are subordinated to the common (publicly traded) units for at least the first five years of the partnership’s existence and then only converting to common if certain financial tests are met.

 

As a motivation for the general partner to successfully manage the MLP and increase cash flows, the terms of most MLP partnership agreements typically provide that the general partner receives a larger portion of the net income as distributions reach higher target levels. As cash flow grows, the general partner receives a greater interest in the incremental income compared to the interest of limited partners. The general partner’s incentive compensation typically increases to up to 50% of incremental income. Nevertheless, the aggregate amount of distributions to limited partners will increase as MLP distributions reach higher target levels. Given this incentive structure, the general partner has an incentive to streamline operations and undertake acquisitions and growth projects in order to increase distributions to all partners.

 

Energy infrastructure MLPs in which we invest generally can be classified in the following categories:

 

 

 

Although we also may invest in equity and debt securities of energy infrastructure companies that are organized and/or taxed as corporations, it is likely that any such investments will be in debt securities because the equity dividends from such corporations typically do not meet our investment objective. We also may invest in securities of general partners or other affiliates of MLPs and private companies operating energy infrastructure assets.

 

Investment Process

 

Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 90% of our total assets (including assets obtained through leverage) in securities of energy infrastructure companies. The Adviser seeks to invest in securities that offer a combination of quality, growth and yield intended to result in superior total returns over the long run. The Adviser’s securities selection process includes a comparison of quantitative, qualitative, and relative value factors. Although the Adviser uses research provided by broker-dealers and investment firms, primary emphasis is placed on proprietary analysis and valuation models conducted and maintained by the Adviser’s in-house investment analysts. To determine whether a company meets its criteria, the Adviser generally looks for a strong record of distribution growth, a solid ratio of debt to equity and coverage ratio with respect to distributions to unit holders, and a proven track record, incentive structure and management team. All of the public energy infrastructure companies in which we invest have a market capitalization greater than $100 million.

 

Investment Policies

 

We seek to achieve our investment objective by investing primarily in securities of MLPs that the Adviser believes offer attractive distribution rates and capital appreciation potential. We also may invest in other securities set forth below if the Adviser expects to achieve our objective with such investments.

 

Our policy of investing at least 90% of our total assets (including assets obtained through leverage) in securities of energy infrastructure companies is nonfundamental and may be changed by the Board of Directors without stockholder approval, provided that stockholders receive at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any change.

 

We have adopted the following additional nonfundamental policies:

 

 

 

Unless otherwise stated, these investment restrictions apply at the time of purchase and we will not be required to reduce a position due solely to market value fluctuations.

 

Investment Securities

 

The types of securities in which we may invest include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

Equity Securities of MLPs.  Consistent with our investment objective, we may invest up to 100% of total assets in equity securities issued by energy infrastructure MLPs, including common units, convertible subordinated units, pay-in-kind units (typically, “I-Shares”) and common units, subordinated units and preferred units of limited liability companies (“LLCs”) (that are treated as MLPs for federal income tax purposes). The table below summarizes the features of these securities, and a further discussion of these securities follows.

 

 

 

 

MLP Common Units.  MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in a partnership, providing limited voting rights and entitling the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Unlike stockholders of a corporation, common unit holders do not elect directors annually and generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the partnership agreement. MLPs are required by their partnership agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. Common unit holders generally have first right to a MQD prior to distributions to the convertible subordinated unit holders or the general partner (including incentive distributions). Common unit holders typically

have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, MLP common unit holders have first rights to the partnership’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders, and preferred unit holders have been paid in full. MLP common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter.

 

Limited Liability Company Common Units.  Some energy infrastructure companies in which we may invest have been organized as LLCs. Such LLCs are generally treated in the same manner as MLPs for federal income tax purposes. Consistent with our investment objective and policies, we may invest in common units or other securities of such LLCs including preferred units, subordinated units and debt securities. LLC common units represent an equity ownership interest in an LLC, entitling the holder to a share of the LLC’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Similar to MLPs, LLCs typically do not pay federal income tax at the entity level and are required by their operating agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. LLC common unit holders generally have first right to a MQD prior to distributions to subordinated unit holders and typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, LLC common unit holders have a right to the LLC’s remaining assets after bond holders, other debt holders and preferred unit holders, if any, have been paid in full. LLC common units may trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter.

 

In contrast to MLPs, LLCs have no general partner and there are no incentives that entitle management or other unit holders to increased percentages of cash distributions as distributions reach higher target levels. In addition, LLC common unit holders typically have voting rights with respect to the LLC, whereas MLP common units have limited voting rights.

 

MLP Convertible Subordinated Units.  MLP convertible subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to MLPs, and institutional investors. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unit holders. We expect to purchase convertible subordinated units in direct placements from such persons. Convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified MQD, plus any arrearages, and may receive less in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unit holders generally are entitled to MQD prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner, but are not entitled to arrearage rights. Therefore, they generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. They are generally convertible automatically into the senior common units of the same issuer at a one-to-one ratio upon the passage of time or the satisfaction of certain financial tests. These units generally do not trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. The value of a convertible security is a function of its worth if converted into the underlying common units. Convertible subordinated units generally have similar voting rights to MLP common units. Distributions may be paid in cash or in-kind.

 

MLP I-Shares.  I-Shares represent an indirect investment in MLP I-units. I-units are equity securities issued to affiliates of MLPs, typically a limited liability company, that owns an interest in and manages the MLP. The I-Share issuer has management rights but is not entitled to incentive distributions. The I-Share issuer’s assets consist exclusively of MLP I-units; however, the MLP does not allocate income or loss to the I-Share issuer. Distributions by MLPs to I-unit holders are made in the form of additional I-units, generally equal in amount to the cash received by common unit holders of MLPs. Distributions to I-Share holders are made in the form of additional I-Shares, generally equal in amount to the I-units received by the I-Share issuer. The issuer of the I-Share is taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, investors receive a Form 1099, are not allocated their proportionate share of income of the MLPs and are not subject to state filing obligations.

 

Debt Securities.  We may invest up to 25% of our total assets in debt securities of energy infrastructure companies, including securities rated below investment grade. These debt securities may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features. To the extent that we invest in below investment grade debt securities, such securities will be rated, at the time of investment, at least B — by S&P or B3 by Moody’s or a comparable rating by at least one other rating agency or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. If a security satisfies our minimum rating criteria at the time of purchase and subsequently is downgraded below such rating, we will not be required to dispose of such security. If a

downgrade occurs, the Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of such security, is in the best interest of us and our stockholders.

 

Because the risk of default is higher for below investment grade securities than investment grade securities, the Adviser’s research and credit analysis is an especially important part of managing securities of this type. The Adviser attempts to identify those issuers of below investment grade securities whose financial condition the Adviser believes are adequate to meet future obligations or have improved or are expected to improve in the future. The Adviser’s analysis focuses on relative values based on such factors as interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage, earnings prospects and the experience and managerial strength of the issuer.

 

Restricted Securities.  We may invest up to 30% of our total assets in restricted securities, primarily through direct placements. An issuer may be willing to offer the purchaser more attractive features with respect to securities issued in direct placements because it has avoided the expense and delay involved in a public offering of securities. Adverse conditions in the public securities markets also may preclude a public offering of securities. MLP convertible subordinated units typically are purchased in private placements and do not trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. MLP convertible subordinated units typically are purchased from affiliates of the issuer or other existing holders of convertible units rather than directly from the issuer.

 

Restricted securities obtained by means of direct placements are less liquid than securities traded in the open market because of statutory and contractual restrictions on resale. Such securities are, therefore, unlike securities that are traded in the open market, which are likely to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. This lack of liquidity creates special risks. However, we could sell such securities in privately negotiated transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in public offerings under the 1933 Act. MLP convertible subordinated units also convert to publicly traded common units upon the passage of time and/or satisfaction of certain financial tests.

 

Temporary and Defensive Investments.  Pending investment of offering or leverage proceeds, we may invest such proceeds in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, short-term debt securities, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and other bank obligations, commercial paper rated in the highest category by a rating agency or other liquid fixed income securities deemed by the Adviser to be of similar quality (collectively, “short-term securities”), or in cash or cash equivalents, all of which are expected to provide a lower yield than the securities of energy infrastructure companies. We also may invest in short-term securities or cash on a temporary basis to meet working capital needs including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions, and to facilitate the payment of expenses and settlement of trades.

 

Under adverse market or economic conditions, we may invest up to 100% of our total assets in short-term securities or cash. The yield on short-term securities or cash may be lower than the returns on MLPs or yields on lower rated fixed income securities. To the extent we invest in short-term securities or cash for defensive purposes, such investments are inconsistent with, and may result in us not achieving, our investment objective.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

Our annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. Although we cannot accurately predict our annual portfolio turnover rate, it is not expected to exceed 30% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, our actual portfolio turnover rate was 2.18% and 4.92%, respectively. Portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for us. A higher turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that the Company bears. High portfolio turnover may result in our recognition of gains that will increase our tax liability and thereby lower the amount of our after-tax distributions. In addition, high portfolio turnover may increase our current and accumulated earnings and profits, resulting in a greater portion of our distributions being treated as taxable dividends for federal income tax purposes. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that the Adviser and its affiliates carry on substantial investment activities for other clients, in which we have no interest, some of which may have similar investment strategies as us. The Adviser or its affiliates may have financial incentives to favor certain of such accounts over us. Any of their proprietary accounts and other customer accounts may compete with us for specific trades. The Adviser or its affiliates may give advice and recommend securities to, or buy or sell securities for, us which advice or securities may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought or sold for, other accounts and customers, even though their investment objectives may be the same as, or similar to, our objectives. When two or more clients advised by the Adviser or its affiliates seek to purchase or sell the same publicly traded securities, the securities actually purchased or sold will be allocated among the clients on a good faith equitable basis by the Adviser in its discretion and in accordance with the client’s various investment objectives and the Adviser’s procedures. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the price or size of the position we may obtain or sell. In other cases, our ability to participate in volume transactions may produce better execution for us.

 

The Adviser also serves as investment adviser to Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation (“TYY”) and Tortoise North American Energy Corporation (“TYN”), which are nondiversified, closed-end investment management companies, and managed accounts that invest in MLPs. TYY, which commenced operations on May 31, 2005, invests primarily in equity securities of MLPs and their affiliates in the energy infrastructure sector. TYN, which commenced operations on October 31, 2005, invests primarily in equity securities of companies in the energy sector whose primary operations are in North America. The Adviser also serves as the investment adviser to Tortoise Capital Resources Corporation (“TTO”), a non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act. TTO, which commenced operations on December 8, 2005, invests primarily in privately held and micro-cap public energy companies operating in the midstream and downstream segments, and to a lesser extent the upstream segment. To the extent certain MLP securities or other energy infrastructure company securities meet our investment objective and the objectives of other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser, we may compete with such companies or accounts for the same investment opportunities.

 

The Adviser will evaluate a variety of factors in determining whether a particular investment opportunity or strategy is appropriate and feasible for the relevant account at a particular time, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the nature of the investment opportunity taken in the context of the other investments at the time; (2) the liquidity of the investment relative to the needs of the particular entity or account; (3) the availability of the opportunity (i.e., size of obtainable position); (4) the transaction costs involved; and (5) the investment or regulatory limitations applicable to the particular entity or account. Because these considerations may differ when applied to us and relevant accounts under management in the context of any particular investment opportunity, our investment activities, on the one hand, and other managed accounts, on the other hand, may differ considerably from time to time. In addition, our fees and expenses will differ from those of the other managed accounts. Accordingly, investors should be aware that our future performance and future performance of other accounts of the Adviser may vary.

 

Situations may occur when we could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by the Adviser and its affiliates for its other funds or accounts. Such situations may be based on, among other things, the following: (1) legal or internal restrictions on the combined size of positions that may be taken for us or the other accounts, thereby limiting the size of our position; (2) the difficulty of liquidating an investment for us or the other accounts where the market cannot absorb the sale of the combined position; or (3) limits on co-investing in negotiated transactions under the 1940 Act, as discussed further below.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we may be precluded from co-investing in negotiated private placements of securities with our affiliates, including other funds managed by the Adviser. We and the Adviser have applied to the SEC for exemptive relief to permit us and our affiliates to make such investments. There is no guarantee that the requested relief will be granted by SEC. Unless and until we obtain an exemptive order, we will not co-invest with our affiliates in negotiated private placement transactions. Unless we receive exemptive relief, the Adviser will observe a policy for allocating negotiated private placement opportunities among its clients that takes into account the amount of each client’s available cash and its investment objectives.

 

To the extent that the Adviser sources and structures private investments in MLPs, certain employees of the Adviser may become aware of actions planned by MLPs, such as acquisitions, that may not be announced to the public. It is possible that we could be precluded from investing in or selling securities of an MLP about which the Adviser has material, non-public information; however, it is the Adviser’s intention to ensure that any material, non-public information available to certain employees of the Adviser is not shared with the employees responsible for the purchase and sale of publicly traded MLP securities. Our investment opportunities also may be limited by affiliations of the Adviser or its affiliates with energy infrastructure companies.

 

The Adviser and its principals, officers, employees, and affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts and may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on our behalf. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by principals, officers, employees, and affiliates of the Adviser that are the same as, different from, or made at a different time than positions taken for us. Further, the Adviser may at some time in the future, manage other investment funds with the same investment objective as ours.

 

Use of Leverage

 

We currently engage in leverage and intend to borrow money or issue additional debt securities, and/or issue additional preferred stock, which may be auction rate securities, to provide us with additional funds to invest. The borrowing of money and the issuance of preferred stock and debt securities represent the leveraging of our common stock. Currently, we anticipate using leverage to represent approximately 33% of our total assets, including the proceeds from such leverage. However, we reserve the right at any time, if we believe that market conditions are appropriate, to use financial leverage to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act (50% for preferred stock and 331/3% for debt). On July 24, 2006, our Board of Directors approved a policy permitting temporary increases in the amount of leverage we may use from 33% of our total assets to up to 38% of our total assets at the time of incurrence, provided that (i) such leverage is consistent with the limits set forth in the 1940 Act, and (ii) such increased leverage is reduced over time in an orderly fashion. We generally will not use leverage unless we believe that leverage will serve the best interests of our stockholders. The principal factor used in making this determination is whether the potential return is likely to exceed the cost of leverage. We will not issue additional leverage where the estimated costs of issuing such leverage and the on-going cost of servicing the payment obligations on such leverage exceed the estimated return on the proceeds of such leverage. We note, however, that in making the determination of whether to issue leverage, we must rely on estimates of leverage costs and expected returns. Actual costs of leverage vary over time depending on interest rates and other factors. Actual returns vary, of course, depending on many factors. Our Board also will consider other factors, including whether the current investment opportunities will help us achieve our investment objective and strategies.

 

We have established an unsecured credit facility with U.S. Bank N.A., which currently allows us to borrow up to $120,000,000. Outstanding balances under the credit facility accrue interest at a variable annual rate equal to the one-month LIBOR rate plus 0.75%. As of November 30, 2006, the current rate was 6.07%. The credit facility remains in effect through June 13, 2007 and we may draw on the facility from time to time in accordance with our investment policies. As of November 30, 2006, we had approximately $32.45 million outstanding on our credit facility.

 

We also may borrow up to an additional 5% of our total assets (not including the amount so borrowed) for temporary purposes, including the settlement and clearance of securities transactions, which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of portfolio holdings.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to issue preferred stock unless immediately after such issuance we have total assets (including the proceeds of such issuance) at least equal to 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred stock. Stated another way, we may not issue preferred stock that, together with outstanding preferred stock, has an aggregate liquidation value of more than 50% of our total assets (less liabilities and indebtedness), including the amount leveraged. In addition, we are not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on our common stock unless, at the time of such declaration, the total assets less liabilities and indebtedness (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) is at least 200% of such liquidation value. We may, as a result of market conditions or otherwise, be required to purchase or redeem preferred stock, or sell a portion of our investments when it may be disadvantageous to do so, in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Common stockholders would bear the costs of issuing additional preferred stock, which may include offering expenses and the ongoing payment of dividends. Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of preferred stock. So long as MMP Shares are outstanding, any preferred stock offered pursuant to this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement will rank on parity with any outstanding MMP Shares.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to issue debt securities or incur other indebtedness constituting senior securities unless immediately thereafter we have total assets (including the proceeds of the indebtedness) at least equal to 300% of the amount of the outstanding indebtedness. Stated another way, we may not borrow for investment purposes more than 331/3% of our total assets, including the amount borrowed. We also must maintain this 300% “asset coverage” for as long as the indebtedness is outstanding. The 1940 Act provides that we may not declare any cash dividend or other distribution on common or preferred stock, or purchase any of our shares of stock (through tender offers or otherwise), unless we would satisfy this 300% asset coverage after deducting the amount

of the dividend, other distribution or share purchase price, as the case may be. If the asset coverage for indebtedness declines to less than 300% as a result of market fluctuations or otherwise, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments when it may be disadvantageous to do so. Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness. So long as Tortoise Notes are outstanding, any debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement will be ranked on parity with any outstanding Tortoise Notes.

 

Hedging Transactions

 

In an attempt to reduce the interest rate risk arising from our leveraged capital structure, we currently use, and may in the future use, interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps and floors. The use of interest rate transactions is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an interest rate swap, we would agree to pay to the other party to the interest rate swap (which is known as the “counterparty”) a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay to us a variable rate payment intended to approximate our variable rate payment obligation on any variable rate borrowings, such as Tortoise Notes and variable rate preferred shares, such as MMP Shares. The payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the swap. In an interest rate cap, we would pay a premium to the counterparty up to the interest rate cap and, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate of interest, would receive from the counterparty payments equal to the difference based on the notional amount of such cap. In an interest rate floor, we would be entitled to receive, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, our use of interest rate transactions could affect our ability to make required interest payments on the Tortoise Notes or dividend payments on MMP Shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate transactions could decline. If the counterparty to an interest rate transaction defaults, we would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the interest rate transaction to offset our cost of financial leverage.

 

We have entered into interest rate swap transactions intended to hedge our interest and dividend payment obligations under the currently outstanding Tortoise Notes and MMP Shares, respectively, against material increases in interest rates. See “Risk Factors — Company Risks — Hedging Strategy Risk.”

 

Effects of Leverage

 

As of November 30, 2006, we were obligated to pay a rate of 5.57% on $35 million aggregate liquidation preference for Series I MMP Shares and $35 million aggregate liquidation preference for Series II MMP Shares, respectively. These rates include commissions paid to the auction agent in the amount of 0.25%. However, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements to protect ourselves from increasing dividend expense on MMP Shares resulting from increasing short-term interest rates. Under the terms of outstanding swap agreements as of November 30, 2006, we were instead obligated to pay a rate of 5.20% and 5.21%, respectively, on a notional amount of $35 million for Series I MMP Shares and a notional amount of $35 million for Series II MMP Shares.

 

As of November 30, 2006, we were obligated to pay a rate of 5.53%, 5.52% and 5.49% on a principal amount of $60 million for Series A Tortoise Notes, $50 million principal amount for Series B Tortoise Notes and $55 million principal amount for Series C Tortoise Notes, respectively. These rates include commissions paid to the auction agent in the amount of 0.25%. However, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements to protect ourselves from increasing interest expense on Tortoise Notes resulting from increasing short-term interest rates. Under the terms of outstanding swap agreements as of November 30, 2006, we were instead obligated to pay a rate of 3.54%, 3.56% and 4.54% on a notional amount of $60 million for Series A Tortoise Notes, $50 million notional amount for Series B Tortoise Notes and $55 million notional amount for Series C Tortoise Notes, respectively.

 

Assuming that the dividend rates payable on the MMP Shares and the interest rates payable on the Tortoise Notes and borrowings under our unsecured credit facility remain as described above (an average annual cost of 5.62%, based on the amount of leverage outstanding at November 30, 2006), the annual return that our portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover leverage costs would be 2.63%.

 

The following table is designed to illustrate the effect of the foregoing level of leverage on the return to a common stockholder, assuming hypothetical annual returns (net of expenses) of our portfolio of -10% to 10%. As the table shows, the leverage generally increases the return to common stockholders when portfolio return is positive or greater than the cost of leverage and decreases the return when the portfolio return is negative or less than the cost of leverage. The figures appearing in the table are hypothetical, and actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table.

 

 

While we use leverage, the amount of the fees paid to the Adviser for investment advisory and management services are higher than if we did not use leverage because the fees paid are calculated based on our Managed Assets, which include assets purchased with leverage. Therefore, the Adviser has a financial incentive to use leverage, which will create a conflict of interest between the Adviser and our common stockholders. Because payments on any leverage would be paid by us at a specified rate, only our common stockholders would bear management fees and other expenses we incur.

 

We cannot fully achieve the benefits of leverage until we have invested the proceeds resulting from the use of leverage in accordance with our investment objective and policies. For further information about leverage, see “Risk Factors — Additional Risks to Common Stockholders — Leverage Risk.”

 

Investing in any of our securities involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Therefore, before investing in any of our securities you should consider carefully the following risks, as well as any risk factors included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Company Risks

 

We are a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment vehicle and not as a trading tool. An investment in our securities should not constitute a complete investment program for any investor and involves a high degree of risk. Due to the uncertainty in all investments, there can be no assurance that we will achieve our investment objective.

 

The following are the general risks of investing in our securities that affect our ability to achieve our investment objective. The risks below could lower the returns and distributions on common stock and reduce the amount of cash and net assets available to make dividend payments on preferred stock and interest payments on debt securities.

 

Concentration Risk.  Under normal circumstances, we concentrate our investments in the energy infrastructure sector, with an emphasis on securities issued by MLPs. Risks inherent in the energy infrastructure business of these types of MLPs include the following:

 

 

 

Industry Specific Risk.  Energy infrastructure companies also are subject to risks specific to the industry they serve.

 

 

 

MLP Risk.  We invest primarily in equity securities of MLPs. As a result, we are subject to the risks associated with an investment in MLPs, including cash flow risk, tax risk and deferred tax risk, as described in more detail below.

 

 

We will accrue deferred income taxes for any future tax liability associated with that portion of MLP distributions considered to be a tax-deferred return of capital as well as capital appreciation of our investments. Upon the sale of an MLP security, we may be liable for previously deferred taxes. We will rely to some extent on information provided by the MLPs, which is not necessarily timely, to estimate deferred tax liability for purposes of

financial statement reporting and determining our NAV. From time to time we will modify our estimates or assumptions regarding our deferred tax liability as new information becomes available.

 

Equity Securities Risk.  MLP common units and other equity securities can be affected by macro economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment towards MLPs or the energy sector, changes in a particular issuer’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs and other equity securities also can be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including earnings power and coverage ratios.

 

Investing in securities of smaller companies may involve greater risk than is associated with investing in more established companies. Companies with smaller capitalization may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than larger more established companies.

 

Because MLP convertible subordinated units generally convert to common units on a one-to-one ratio, the price that we can be expected to pay upon purchase or to realize upon resale is generally tied to the common unit price less a discount. The size of the discount varies depending on a variety of factors including the likelihood of conversion, and the length of time remaining to conversion, and the size of the block purchased.

 

The price of I-Shares and their volatility tend to be correlated to the price of common units, although the price correlation is not precise.

 

Hedging Strategy Risk.  We currently use, and may in the future use, interest rate transactions for hedging purposes only, in an attempt to reduce the interest rate risk arising from our leveraged capital structure. Interest rate transactions that we may use for hedging purposes will expose us to certain risks that differ from the risks associated with our portfolio holdings. There are economic costs of hedging reflected in the price of interest rate swaps, floors, caps and similar techniques, the costs of which can be significant, particularly when long-term interest rates are substantially above short-term rates. In addition, our success in using hedging instruments is subject to the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedging instruments to our leverage risk, and there can be no assurance that the Adviser’s judgment in this respect will be accurate. Consequently, the use of hedging transactions might result in a poorer overall performance, whether or not adjusted for risk, than if we had not engaged in such transactions.

 

Depending on the state of interest rates in general, our use of interest rate transactions could enhance or decrease the cash available to us for payment of distributions, dividends or interest, as the case may be. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of interest rate swaps or caps could decline, and result in a decline in our net assets. In addition, if the counterparty to an interest rate transaction defaults, we would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the interest rate swap or cap to offset our cost of financial leverage.

 

Competition Risk.  At the time we completed our initial public offering in February 2004, we were the only publicly traded investment company offering access to a portfolio of energy infrastructure MLPs. Since that time a number of alternatives to us as vehicles for investment in a portfolio of energy infrastructure MLPs, including other publicly traded investment companies and private funds, have emerged. In addition, tax law changes have increased the ability of regulated investment companies or other institutions to invest in MLPs. These competitive conditions may adversely impact our ability to meet our investment objective, which in turn could adversely impact our ability to make interest or dividend payments.

 

Restricted Security Risk.  We may invest up to 30% of total assets in restricted securities, primarily through direct placements. Restricted securities are less liquid than securities traded in the open market because of statutory and contractual restrictions on resale. Such securities are, therefore, unlike securities that are traded in the open market, which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. As discussed further below, this lack of liquidity creates special risks for us. However, we could sell such securities in privately negotiated transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in public offerings under the 1933 Act. MLP convertible subordinated units also convert to publicly-traded common units upon the passage of time and/or satisfaction of certain financial tests.

 

Restricted securities are subject to statutory and contractual restrictions on their public resale, which may make it more difficult to value them, may limit our ability to dispose of them and may lower the amount we could realize upon their sale. To enable us to sell our holdings of a restricted security not registered under the 1933 Act, we may have to cause those securities to be registered. The expenses of registering restricted securities may be negotiated by us with the issuer at the time we buy the securities. When we must arrange registration because we wish to sell the security, a considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered so that we could sell it. We would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.

 

Liquidity Risk.  Although common units of MLPs trade on the NYSE, AMEX, and the NASDAQ National Market, certain MLP securities may trade less frequently than those of larger companies due to their smaller capitalizations. In the event certain MLP securities experience limited trading volumes, the prices of such MLPs may display abrupt or erratic movements at times. Additionally, it may be more difficult for us to buy and sell significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. As a result, these securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price at the times when we believe it is desirable to do so. Investment of our capital in securities that are less actively traded or over time experience decreased trading volume may restrict our ability to take advantage of other market opportunities or to dispose of securities. This also may affect adversely our ability to make required interest payments on the debt securities and dividend distributions on the preferred stock, to redeem such securities, or to meet asset coverage requirements.

 

Valuation Risk.  Market prices generally will not be available for MLP convertible subordinated units, or securities of private companies, and the value of such investments ordinarily will be determined based on fair valuations determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. Similarly, common units acquired through direct placements will be valued based on fair value determinations because of their restricted nature; however, the Adviser expects that such values will be based on a discount from publicly available market prices. Restrictions on resale or the absence of a liquid secondary market may adversely affect our ability to determine our NAV. The sale price of securities that are not readily marketable may be lower or higher than our most recent determination of their fair value. Additionally, the value of these securities typically requires more reliance on the judgment of the Adviser than that required for securities for which there is an active trading market. Due to the difficulty in valuing these securities and the absence of an active trading market for these investments, we may not be able to realize these securities’ true value, or may have to delay their sale in order to do so. This may affect adversely our ability to make required interest payments on the debt securities and dividend distributions on the preferred stock, to redeem such securities, or to meet asset coverage requirements.

 

Nondiversification Risk.  We are a nondiversified, closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and are not treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, there are no regulatory limits under the 1940 Act or the Internal Revenue Code on the number or size of securities that we hold and we may invest more assets in fewer issuers as compared to a diversified fund. There currently are approximately 54 companies presently organized as MLPs and only a limited number of those companies operate energy infrastructure assets. We select MLP investments from this small pool of issuers. We may invest in non-MLP securities issued by energy infrastructure companies to a lesser degree, consistent with our investment objective and policies.

 

Interest Rate Risk.  Generally, when market interest rates rise, the values of debt securities decline, and vice versa. Our investment in such securities means that the NAV and market price of our common stock will tend to decline if market interest rates rise. During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing us to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Lower grade securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem a lower grade obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer.

 

Below Investment Grade Securities Risk.  Investing in lower grade debt instruments involves additional risks than investment grade securities. Adverse changes in economic conditions are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of a below investment grade issuer to make principal payments and interest payments than an

investment grade issuer. An economic downturn could adversely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers to service their obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Similarly, downturns in profitability in the energy infrastructure industry could adversely affect the ability of below investment grade issuers in that industry to meet their obligations. The market values of lower quality securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher quality securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates.

 

The secondary market for below investment grade securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities. There are fewer dealers in the market for below investment grade securities than investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers may vary significantly, and the spread between the bid and asked price is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse change in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, it may be more difficult to sell these securities or we may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. This may affect adversely our ability to make required dividend or interest payments on our outstanding senior securities. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower-rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating our NAV.

 

Because investors generally perceive that there are greater risks associated with lower quality securities of the type in which we may invest a portion of our assets, the yields and prices of such securities may tend to fluctuate more than those for higher rated securities. In the lower quality segments of the debt securities market, changes in perceptions of issuers’ creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more pronounced manner than do changes in higher quality segments of the debt securities market, resulting in greater yield and price volatility.

 

Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of below investment grade securities may have an adverse effect on our NAV and the market value of our common stock. In addition, we may incur additional expenses to the extent we are required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on our portfolio holdings. In certain circumstances, we may be required to foreclose on an issuer’s assets and take possession of its property or operations. In such circumstances, we would incur additional costs in disposing of such assets and potential liabilities from operating any business acquired.

 

Counterparty Risk.  We may be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to certain derivative agreements entered into by us. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, we may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. We may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

 

Effects of Terrorism.  The U.S. securities markets are subject to disruption as a result of terrorist activities, such as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001; the war in Iraq and its aftermath; other hostilities; and other geopolitical events. Such events have led, and in the future may lead, to short-term market volatility and may have long-term effects on the U.S. economy and markets.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions.  Our Charter and Bylaws include provisions that could delay, defer or prevent other entities or persons from acquiring control of us, causing us to engage in certain transactions or modifying our structure. These provisions may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions. Such provisions could limit the ability of common stockholders to sell their shares at a premium over the then- current market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of us. See “Certain Provisions in the Company’s Charter and Bylaws.”

 

Management Risk.  The Adviser was formed in October 2002 to provide portfolio management to institutional and high-net worth investors seeking professional management of their MLP investments. The Adviser has been managing investments in portfolios of MLP investments since that time, including since February 2004, management of our investments, and management of the investments of TYY since May 2005 and of TYN since October 2005. TYY is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that commenced operations on May 31, 2005 and invests primarily in MLPs and their affiliates in the energy infrastructure sector. TYN is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, that commenced operations on October 31, 2005 and invests primarily in Canadian royalty trusts and income trusts and publicly traded United States MLPs. The Adviser

also serves as the investment adviser to TTO, a non-diversified closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act. TTO, which commenced operations on December 8, 2005, invests primarily in privately held and micro-cap public energy companies operating in the midstream and downstream segments, and to a lesser extent the upstream segment. Our investments and those of TYY, TYN and TTO are managed by the Adviser’s investment committee. We share the same officers as TYY, TYN and TTO. As of November 30, 2006, the Adviser had client assets under management of approximately $2.0 billion, including our assets and those of TYY, TYN and TTO. The Adviser relies in part on the officers, employees, and resources of Fountain Capital for certain functions. These services are provided pursuant to an informal arrangement between the parties. To the extent that the Adviser’s assets under management continue to grow, the Adviser may have to hire additional personnel and to the extent it is unable to hire qualified individuals its operations may be adversely affected. Three (of the five) members of the investment committee are affiliates of, but not employees of, the Adviser, and have other significant responsibilities with Fountain Capital. Fountain Capital conducts business and activities of its own in which the Adviser has no economic interest. If these separate activities become significantly greater than the Adviser’s activities, there could be material competition for the efforts of key personnel.

 

Additional Risks to Common Stockholders

 

Leverage Risk.  Our use of leverage through the issuance of MMP Shares and Tortoise Notes along with the issuance of any additional preferred stock or debt securities, and any additional borrowings or other transactions involving indebtedness (other than for temporary or emergency purposes) are or would be considered “senior securities” for purposes of the 1940 Act and create risks. Leverage is a speculative technique that may adversely affect common stockholders. If the return on securities acquired with borrowed funds or other leverage proceeds does not exceed the cost of the leverage, the use of leverage could cause us to lose money. Successful use of leverage depends on the Adviser’s ability to predict or hedge correctly interest rates and market movements, and there is no assurance that the use of a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is used. Because the fee paid to the Adviser will be calculated on the basis of Managed Assets, the fees will increase when leverage is utilized, giving the Adviser an incentive to utilize leverage.

 

Our issuance of senior securities involves offering expenses and other costs, including interest payments, which are borne indirectly by our common stockholders. Fluctuations in interest rates could increase interest or dividend payments on our senior securities, and could reduce cash available for dividends on common stock. Increased operating costs, including the financing cost associated with any leverage, may reduce our total return to common stockholders.

 

The 1940 Act and/or the rating agency guidelines applicable to senior securities impose asset coverage requirements, dividend limitations, voting right requirements (in the case of the senior equity securities), and restrictions on our portfolio composition and our use of certain investment techniques and strategies. The terms of any senior securities or other borrowings may impose additional requirements, restrictions and limitations that are more stringent than those currently required by the 1940 Act, and the guidelines of the rating agencies that rate outstanding senior securities. These requirements may have an adverse effect on us and may affect our ability to pay distributions on common stock and preferred stock. To the extent necessary, we intend to redeem our senior securities to maintain the required asset coverage. Doing so may require that we liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would not otherwise be desirable to do so. Nevertheless, it is not anticipated that the 1940 Act requirements, the terms of any senior securities or the rating agency guidelines will impede the Adviser in managing our portfolio in accordance with our investment objective and policies. See “Leverage — Use of Leverage.”

 

Market Impact Risk.  The sale of our common stock (or the perception that such sales may occur) may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for our common stock. An increase in the number of common shares available may put downward pressure on the market price for our common stock. Our ability to sell shares of common stock below NAV may increase this pressure. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell additional equity securities in the future at a time and price we deem appropriate.

 

Dilution Risk.  The voting power of current stockholders will be diluted to the extent that current stockholders do not purchase shares in any future common stock offerings or do not purchase sufficient shares to

maintain their percentage interest. In addition, if we sell shares of common stock below NAV, our NAV will fall immediately after such issuance. See “Description of Securities — Common Stock — Issuance of Additional Shares” which includes a table reflecting the dilutive effect of selling our common stock below NAV.

 

If we are unable to invest the proceeds of such offering as intended, our per share distribution may decrease and we may not participate in market advances to the same extent as if such proceeds were fully invested as planned.

 

Market Discount Risk.  Our common stock has a limited trading history and has traded both at a premium and at a discount in relation to NAV. We cannot predict whether our shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV, but in some cases have traded above NAV. Continued development of alternatives as a vehicle for investment in MLP securities may contribute to reducing or eliminating any premium or may result in our shares trading at a discount. The risk of the shares of common stock trading at a discount is a risk separate from the risk of a decline in our NAV as a result of investment activities. Our NAV will be reduced immediately following an offering of our common or preferred stock, due to the offering costs for such stock, which are borne entirely by us. Although we also bear the offering costs of debt securities, such costs are amortized over time and therefore do not impact our NAV immediately following an offering.

 

Whether stockholders will realize a gain or loss upon the sale of our common stock depends upon whether the market value of the common shares at the time of sale is above or below the price the stockholder paid, taking into account transaction costs for the common shares, and is not directly dependent upon our NAV. Because the market value of our common stock will be determined by factors such as the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict whether our common stock will trade at, below or above NAV, or at, below or above the public offering price for common stock.

 

Additional Risks to Senior Security Holders

 

Generally, an investment in preferred stock or debt securities (collectively, “senior securities”) is subject to the following risks:

 

Interest Rate Risk.  Auction rate senior securities pay dividends or interest based on short-term interest rates. If short-term interest rates rise, dividends or interest on the auction rate senior securities may rise so that the amount of dividends or interest due to holders of auction rate senior securities would exceed the cash flow generated by our portfolio securities. This might require us to sell portfolio securities at a time when we would otherwise not do so, which may affect adversely our future ability to generate cash flow. In addition, rising market interest rates could impact negatively the value of our investment portfolio, reducing the amount of assets serving as asset coverage for the senior securities.

 

Senior Leverage Risk.  Preferred stock will be junior in liquidation and with respect to distribution rights to debt securities and any other borrowings. Senior securities representing indebtedness may constitute a substantial lien and burden on preferred stock by reason of their prior claim against our income and against our net assets in liquidation. We may not be permitted to declare dividends or other distributions with respect to any series of preferred stock unless at such time we meet applicable asset coverage requirements and the payment of principal or interest is not in default with respect to the Tortoise Notes or any other borrowings.

 

Ratings and Asset Coverage Risk.  To the extent that senior securities are rated, a rating does not eliminate or necessarily mitigate the risks of investing in our senior securities, and a rating may not fully or accurately reflect all of the credit and market risks associated with a security. A rating agency could downgrade the rating of our shares of preferred stock or debt securities, which may make such securities less liquid at an auction or in the secondary market, though probably with higher resulting interest rates. If a rating agency downgrades the rating assigned to a senior security, we may alter our portfolio or redeem the senior security. We may voluntarily redeem a senior security under certain circumstances.

 

Inflation Risk.  Inflation is the reduction in the purchasing power of money resulting from an increase in the price of goods and services. Inflation risk is the risk that the inflation adjusted or “real” value of an investment in preferred stock or debt securities or the income from that investment will be worth less in the future. As inflation occurs, the real value of the preferred stock or debt securities and the dividend payable to

holders of preferred stock or interest payable to holders of debt securities declines. In an inflationary period, however, it is expected that, through the auction process, dividend or interest rates would increase, tending to offset this risk.

 

Auction Risk.  To the extent that senior securities trade through an auction, there are certain risks associated with participating in an auction and certain risks if you try to sell senior securities outside of an auction in the secondary market. These risks will be described in more detail in an applicable prospectus supplement if we issue senior securities pursuant to this registration statement.

 

Decline in Net Asset Value Risk.  A material decline in our NAV may impair our ability to maintain required levels of asset coverage for our preferred stock or debt securities.

 

Directors and Officers

 

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors provides broad supervision over our affairs, including supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser. Our officers are responsible for our day-to-day operations. The names and business addresses of our directors and officers, together with their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, are set forth in the statement of additional information. The Board of Directors consists of a majority of directors who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

Investment Adviser

 

Pursuant to an advisory agreement, the Adviser provides us with investment research and advice and furnishes us with an investment program consistent with our investment objective and policies, subject to the supervision of the Board. The Adviser determines which portfolio securities will be purchased or sold, arranges for the placing of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, selects brokers or dealers to place those orders, maintains books and records with respect to our securities transactions and reports to the Board on our investments and performance.

 

The Adviser is located at 10801 Mastin Boulevard, Suite 222, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. The Adviser specializes in managing portfolios of investments in MLPs and other energy infrastructure companies. The Adviser was formed in October 2002 to provide portfolio management services to institutional and high net worth investors seeking professional management of their MLP investments. As of November 30, 2006, the Adviser had approximately $2.0 billion of client assets under management. The Adviser’s investment committee is comprised of five seasoned portfolio managers.

 

Fountain Capital and Kansas City Equity Partners LC (“KCEP”) control our Advisor through their equity ownership and management rights in our Advisor. Fountain Capital was formed in 1990 and is focused primarily on providing investment advisory services to institutional investors with respect to below investment grade debt. Fountain Capital had approximately $1.7 billion of client assets under management as of November 30, 2006, of which approximately $237 million was in energy industry investments. KCEP was formed in 1993 and until recently, managed KCEP Ventures II, L.P. (“KCEP II”), a private equity fund with committed capital of $55 million invested in a variety of companies in diverse industries. KCEP II wound up its operations in late 2006, has no remaining portfolio investments and has distributed proceeds to its partners. KCEP Ventures I, L.P. (“KCEP I”), a start-up and early-stage venture capital fund launched in 1994 and previously managed by KCEP, also recently completed the process of winding down. As a part of that process, KCEP I entered into a consensual order of receivership, which was necessary to allow KCEP I to distribute its remaining $1.3 million of assets to creditors and the Small Business Association (“SBA”). The consensual order acknowledged a capital impairment condition and the resulting nonperformance by KCEP I of its agreement with the SBA, both of which were violations of the provisions requiring repayment of capital under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 and the regulations thereunder.

 

The Adviser relies in part on the officers, employees and resources of its affiliate, Fountain Capital, for certain functions. These services are provided pursuant to an informal arrangement between the parties. Three of the five members of the investment committee of the Adviser are affiliates of, but not employees of, the Adviser, and have other significant responsibilities with Fountain Capital. Fountain Capital conducts business and activities of its own in which the Adviser has no economic interest. If these separate activities are significantly greater than the Adviser’s activities, there could be material competition for the efforts of key personnel.

 

The investment management of our portfolio is the responsibility of the Adviser’s investment committee. The investment committee’s members are H. Kevin Birzer, Zachary A. Hamel, Kenneth P. Malvey, Terry C. Matlack and David J. Schulte, all of whom share responsibility for such investment management. It is the policy of the investment committee that any one member can require the Adviser to sell a security and any one member can veto the committee’s decision to invest in a security. Each committee member has been a portfolio manager since we commenced operations in February 2004.

 

H. Kevin Birzer.  Mr. Birzer has been a Managing Director of the Adviser since 2002 and also is a Partner with Fountain Capital. Mr. Birzer is also a Director of TYY, TYN and TTO. Mr. Birzer, who joined Fountain Capital in 1990, has 22 years of investment experience including 19 in high-yield securities. Mr. Birzer began his career with Peat Marwick. His subsequent experience includes three years working as a Vice President for F. Martin Koenig & Co., focusing on equity and option investments, and three years at Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he was a Vice President in the Corporate Finance Department. Mr. Birzer graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University. He earned his CFA designation in 1988.

 

Zachary A. Hamel.  Mr. Hamel has been a Managing Director of the Adviser since 2002 and also is a Partner with Fountain Capital. Mr. Hamel joined Fountain Capital in 1997. He covers energy, chemicals and utilities. Prior to joining Fountain Capital, Mr. Hamel worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) for eight years as a Bank Examiner and a Regional Capital Markets Specialist. Mr. Hamel graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also attained a Master in Business Administration from the University of Kansas School of Business. He earned his CFA designation in 1998.

 

Kenneth P. Malvey.  Mr. Malvey has been a Managing Director of the Adviser since 2002 and also is a Partner with Fountain Capital. Prior to joining Fountain Capital in 2002, Mr. Malvey was one of three members of the Global Office of Investments for GE Capital’s Employers Reinsurance Corporation. Most recently he was the Global Investment Risk Manager for a portfolio of approximately $24 billion of fixed-income, public equity and alternative investment assets. Prior to joining GE Capital in 1996, Mr. Malvey was a Bank Examiner and Regional Capital Markets Specialist with the FDIC for nine years. Mr. Malvey graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota. He earned his CFA designation in 1996.

 

Terry C. Matlack.  Mr. Matlack has been a Managing Director of the Adviser since 2002 and also is a Managing Director of KCEP. Mr. Matlack is also a Director of TYY, TYN and TTO. Prior to joining KCEP in 2001, Mr. Matlack was President of GreenStreet Capital and its affiliates in the telecommunications service industry. Prior to 1995, he was Executive Vice President and a member of the board of directors of W.K. Communications, Inc., a cable television acquisition company, and Chief Operating Officer of W.K. Cellular, a cellular rural service area operator. He also has served as a specialist in corporate finance with George K. Baum & Company, and as Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance at B.C. Christopher Securities Company. Mr. Matlack graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University and holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas. He earned his CFA designation in 1985.

 

David J. Schulte.  Mr. Schulte has been a Managing Director of the Adviser since 2002 and also is a Managing Director of KCEP. While a Managing Director of KCEP, he led private financing for two growth MLPs in the energy infrastructure sector. Since February 2004, Mr. Schulte has been an employee of the Adviser. Prior to joining KCEP in 1993, Mr. Schulte had over five years of experience completing acquisition and public equity financings as an investment banker at the predecessor of Oppenheimer & Co, Inc. From 1986 to 1989, he was a securities law attorney. Mr. Schulte holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drake University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa. He passed the CPA examination in 1983, earned his CFA designation in 1992.

 

The statement of additional information provides additional information about the compensation structure of, the other accounts managed by, and the ownership of our securities by the portfolio managers listed above.

 

Compensation and Expenses

 

Under the advisory agreement, we pay the Adviser quarterly, as compensation for the services rendered by it, a fee equal on an annual basis to 0.95% of our average monthly Managed Assets. Managed Assets means our total assets (including any assets attributable to leverage that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities other than (1) deferred taxes, (2) debt entered into for the purpose of leverage and (3) the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. Because the fee paid to the Adviser is determined on the basis of our Managed Assets, the Adviser’s interest in determining whether we should incur additional leverage will conflict with our

interests. Our average monthly Managed Assets are determined for the purpose of calculating the management fee by taking the average of the monthly determinations of Managed Assets during a given calendar quarter. The fees are payable for each calendar quarter within five days after the end of that quarter. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse us for fees and expenses, including the investment advisory fee and other expenses in the amount of 0.10% of average monthly Managed Assets through February 28, 2009.

 

The advisory agreement has a term ending on December 31st of each year. The advisory agreement was most recently approved by the Board of Directors in November 2006. A discussion regarding the basis of the Board of Directors’ decision to approve the renewal of the advisory agreement is available in our Annual Report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006.

 

We bear all expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser incurred in our operations and will bear the expenses of all future offerings. Expenses we bear include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) expenses of maintaining and continuing our existence and related overhead, including, to the extent services are provided by personnel of the Adviser or its affiliates, office space and facilities and personnel compensation, training and benefits; (2) registration under the 1940 Act; (3) commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments, including placement and similar fees in connection with direct placements in which we participate; (4) auditing, accounting and legal expenses; (5) taxes and interest; (6) governmental fees; (7) expenses of listing our shares with a stock exchange, and expenses of the issue, sale, repurchase and redemption (if any) of our interests, including expenses of conducting tender offers for the purpose of repurchasing our interests; (8) expenses of registering and qualifying us and our shares under federal and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements and amendments for such purposes; (9) expenses of communicating with stockholders, including website expenses and the expenses of preparing, printing and mailing press releases, reports and other notices to stockholders and of meetings of stockholders and proxy solicitations therefor; (10) expenses of reports to governmental officers and commissions; (11) insurance expenses; (12) association membership dues; (13) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to us (including without limitation safekeeping of funds, securities and other investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of NAV); (14) fees, expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend paying agents, stockholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to us; (15) compensation and expenses of our directors who are not members of the Adviser’s organization; (16) pricing and valuation services employed by us; (17) all expenses incurred in connection with leveraging of our assets through a line of credit, or issuing and maintaining notes or preferred stock; (18) all expenses incurred in connection with the offerings of our common and preferred stock and debt securities; and (19) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and our obligation to indemnify our directors, officers and stockholders with respect thereto.

 

We are a nondiversified closed-end management investment company and as such our stockholders will not have the right to cause us to redeem their shares. Instead, our common stock will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors.

 

Shares of common stock of closed-end companies frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. This characteristic of shares of closed-end management investment companies is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that our NAV may decrease as a result of investment activities. To the extent that our common stock does trade at a discount, the Board of Directors may from time to time engage in open-market repurchases or tender offers for shares after balancing the benefit to stockholders of the increase in the NAV per share resulting from such purchases against the decrease in our assets and potential increase in the expense ratio of our expenses to assets and the decrease in asset coverage with respect to any outstanding senior securities. The Board of Directors believes that in addition to the beneficial effects described above, any such purchases or tender offers may result in the temporary narrowing of any discount but will not have any long-term effect on the level of any discount. There is no guarantee or assurance that the Board of Directors will decide to engage in any of these actions. There is also no guarantee or

assurance that such actions, if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close to NAV per share. Any stock repurchases or tender offers will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the 1940 Act and the principal stock exchange on which the common stock is traded. Conversion to an open-end mutual fund is extremely unlikely and would require stockholder approval of an amendment to our Charter.

 

The following is a general summary of certain federal income tax considerations affecting us and our security holders. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to stockholders in light of their particular circumstances or who are subject to special rules, such as banks, thrift institutions and certain other financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies, brokers and dealers in securities or currencies, certain securities traders, tax-exempt investors, individual retirement accounts, certain tax-deferred accounts, and foreign investors. Tax matters are very complicated, and the tax consequences of an investment in and holding of our securities will depend on the particular facts of each investor’s situation. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the application to their own circumstances of the general federal income taxation rules described below and with respect to other federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences to them before making an investment in our securities. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that the investors are U.S. persons and hold our securities as capital assets. More detailed information regarding the federal income tax consequences of investing in our securities is in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Pursuant to U.S. Treasury Department Circular 230, we are informing you that (1) this discussion is not intended to be used, was not written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the U.S. federal tax laws, (2) this discussion was written by us in connection with the registration of our securities and our promotion or marketing, and (3) each taxpayer should seek advice based on his, her or its particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

 

Company Federal Income Taxation

 

We are treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes. Thus, we are obligated to pay federal and state income tax on our taxable income. We invest our assets primarily in MLPs, which generally are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in the MLPs, we must report our allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income in computing our taxable income regardless of whether the MLPs make any distributions. Based upon our review of the historic results of the type of MLPs in which we invest, we expect that the cash flow received by us with respect to our MLP investments will exceed the taxable income allocated to us. There is no assurance that our expectation regarding the tax character of MLP distributions will be realized. If this expectation is not realized, there will be greater tax expense borne by us and less cash available to distribute to stockholders or to pay to creditors. In addition, we will take into account in determining our taxable income the amounts of gain or loss recognized on the sale of MLP interests. Currently, the maximum regular federal income tax rate for a corporation is 35 percent. We may be subject to a 20 percent federal alternative minimum tax on our alternative minimum taxable income to the extent that the alternative minimum tax exceeds our regular federal income tax.

 

We are not treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Code generally provides that a regulated investment company does not pay an entity level income tax, provided that it distributes all or substantially all of its income. Our assets do not, and are not expected to, meet current tests for qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. The regulated investment company taxation rules therefore have no application to us or to our stockholders. Although changes to the federal tax laws permit regulated investment companies to invest up to 25% of their total assets in securities of MLPs, such changes still would not allow us to pursue our objective. Accordingly, we do not intend to change our tax status as a result of such legislation.

 

Federal Income Taxation of Common and Preferred Stock

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Holders of Common Stock.  Unlike a holder of a direct interest in MLPs, a stockholder will not include its allocable share of our income, gains, losses or deductions in computing its own taxable income. Instead, since we are of the opinion that, under present law, the common stock will constitute equity, distributions with respect to such shares (other than distributions in redemption of shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Internal Revenue Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of our allocable current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Generally, a corporation’s earnings and profits are computed based upon taxable income, with certain specified adjustments. As explained above, based upon the historic performance of the MLPs, we anticipate that the distributed cash from the MLPs will exceed our share of the MLPs’ income and our gain on the sale of MLP interests. In addition, earnings and profits are treated generally, for federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on preferred stock, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the common stock. Thus, we anticipate that only a portion of the distributions of DCF will be treated as dividend income to common stockholders. To the extent that distributions to a stockholder exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the stockholder’s basis in shares of stock with respect to which the distribution is made will be reduced, which may increase the amount of gain realized upon the sale of such shares. If a stockholder has no further basis in its shares, the stockholder will report any excess as capital gain if the stockholder holds such shares as a capital asset.

 

Dividends of current or accumulated earnings and profits generally will be taxable as ordinary income to holders but are expected to be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is generally subject to reduced rates of federal income taxation for noncorporate investors and are also expected to be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate stockholders under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under federal income tax law, qualified dividend income received by individual and other noncorporate stockholders is taxed at long-term capital gain rates, which currently reach a maximum of 15%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic corporations and dividends from non-U.S. corporations that meet certain criteria. To be treated as qualified dividend income, the stockholder must hold the shares paying otherwise qualifying dividend income more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date (or more than 90 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before the ex-dividend date in the case of certain preferred stock dividends). A stockholder’s holding period may be reduced for purposes of this rule if the stockholder engages in certain risk reduction transactions with respect to the common or preferred stock. The provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to qualified dividend income are effective through 2010. Thereafter, higher tax rates will apply unless further legislative action is taken.

 

Corporate holders should be aware that certain limitations apply to the availability of the dividends received deduction, including limitations on the aggregate amount of the deduction that may be claimed and limitations based on the holding period of the shares of common or preferred stock on which the dividend is paid, which holding period may be reduced if the holder engages in risk reduction transactions with respect to its shares. Corporate holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these limitations to their particular situation.

 

If a common stockholder participates in our Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan, such stockholder will be treated as receiving the amount of the distributions made by the Company, which amount generally will be either equal to the amount of the cash distribution the stockholder would have received if the stockholder had elected to receive cash or, for shares issued by the Company, the fair market value of the shares issued to the stockholder.

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Holders of Preferred Stock.  Under present law, we are of the opinion that preferred stock will constitute equity, and thus distributions with respect to preferred stock (other than distributions in redemption of preferred stock subject to Section 302(b) of the Internal Revenue Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes. Such dividends generally will be taxable as ordinary income to holders but are expected to be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is generally subject to reduced rates of federal income taxation for noncorporate investors and are also expected to be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate stockholders under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code. Please see the discussion above on qualified dividend income and dividends received deductions.

 

Earnings and profits are generally treated, for federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on the preferred stock, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the common stock. Distributions in excess of the Company’s earnings and profits, if any, will first reduce a stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in his or her preferred stock and, after the adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to a stockholder who holds such shares as a capital asset.

 

Sale of Shares.  The sale of shares of common or preferred stock by holders will generally be a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. Holders of shares of stock who sell such shares will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the net proceeds of the sale and their adjusted tax basis in the shares sold. If the shares are held as a capital asset at the time of the sale, the gain or loss will generally be a capital gain or loss. Similarly, a redemption by us (including a redemption resulting from our liquidation), if any, of all the shares actually and constructively held by a stockholder generally will give rise to capital gain or loss under Section 302(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, provided that the redemption proceeds do not represent declared but unpaid dividends. Other redemptions may also give rise to capital gain or loss, but certain conditions imposed by Section 302(b) of the Internal Revenue Code must be satisfied to achieve such treatment.

 

Capital gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for more than one year and will be short-term capital gain or loss if the disposed shares were held for one year or less. Net long-term capital gain recognized by a noncorporate U.S. holder generally will be subject to federal income tax at a lower rate (currently a maximum rate of 15%) than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income (currently a maximum rate of 35%). Under current law, the maximum federal income tax rate on capital gain for noncorporate holders is scheduled to increase to 20% for taxable years after 2010. For corporate holders, capital gain is generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income, that is, currently at a maximum rate of 35%. A holder’s ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Investment by Tax-Exempt Investors and Regulated Investment Companies.  Employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations and regulated investment companies may want to invest in our securities. Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Because we are a corporation for federal income tax purposes, an owner of shares of common stock will not report on its federal income tax return any of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction. Therefore, a tax-exempt investor generally will not have UBTI attributable to its ownership or sale of our common or preferred stock unless its ownership of the stock is debt-financed. In general, stock would be debt-financed if the tax-exempt owner of stock incurs debt to acquire the stock or otherwise incurs or maintains debt that would not have been incurred or maintained if the stock had not been acquired.

 

For federal income tax purposes, a regulated investment company or “mutual fund,” may not have more than 25% of the value of its total assets, at the close of any quarter, invested in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships, which will include most MLPs. Shares of our common stock are not securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership and will not be treated as such for purposes of calculating the limitation imposed upon regulated investment companies.

 

Backup Withholding.  We may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a portion of all taxable distributions (including redemption proceeds) payable to stockholders who fail to provide us with their correct taxpayer identification number, who fail to make required certifications or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding (or if we have been so notified). Certain corporate and other stockholders specified in the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

 

Other Taxation.  Foreign stockholders, including stockholders who are nonresident alien individuals, may be subject to U.S. withholding tax on certain distributions at a rate of 30% or such lower rates as may be prescribed by any applicable treaty. Our distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Federal Income Taxation of Debt Securities

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Holders of Debt Securities.  Under present law, we are of the opinion that the debt securities will constitute indebtedness of the Company for federal income tax purposes, which the discussion below assumes. We intend to treat all payments made with respect to the debt securities consistent with this characterization.

 

Taxation of Interest.  Payments or accruals of interest on debt securities generally will be taxable to you as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is received (actually or constructively) or accrued, in accordance with your regular method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

 

Purchase, Sale and Redemption of Debt Securities.  Initially, your tax basis in debt securities acquired generally will be equal to your cost to acquire such debt securities. This basis will increase by the amounts, if any, that you include in income under the rules governing market discount, and will decrease by the amount of any amortized premium on such debt securities, as discussed below. When you sell or exchange any of your debt securities, or if any of your debt securities are redeemed, you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the transaction (less any accrued and unpaid interest, which will be subject to tax as interest in the manner described above) and your tax basis in the debt securities relinquished.

 

Except as discussed below with respect to market discount, the gain or loss that you recognize on the sale, exchange or redemption of any of your debt securities generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the disposed debt securities were held for more than one year and will be short-term capital gain or loss if the disposed debt securities were held for one year or less. Net long-term capital gain recognized by a noncorporate U.S. holder generally will be subject to federal income tax at a lower rate (currently a maximum rate of 15%, although this rate will increase to 20% after 2010) than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income (currently a maximum rate of 35%). For corporate holders, capital gain is generally taxed as ordinary income, that is, currently at a maximum rate of 35%. A holder’s ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

Amortizable Premium.  If you purchase debt securities at a cost greater than their stated principal amount, plus accrued interest, you will be considered to have purchased the debt securities at a premium, and you generally may elect to amortize this premium as an offset to interest income, using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of the debt securities. If you make the election to amortize the premium, it generally will apply to all debt instruments that you hold at the time of the election, as well as any debt instruments that you subsequently acquire. In addition, you may not revoke the election without the consent of the IRS. If you elect to amortize the premium, you will be required to reduce your tax basis in the debt securities by the amount of the premium amortized during your holding period. If you do not elect to amortize premium, the amount of premium will be included in your tax basis in the debt securities. Therefore, if you do not elect to amortize the premium and you hold the debt securities to maturity, you generally will be required to treat the premium as a capital loss when the debt securities are redeemed.

 

Market Discount.  If you purchase debt securities at a price that reflects a “market discount,” any principal payments on, or any gain that you realize on the disposition of the debt securities generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the market discount that accrued on the debt securities during the time you held such debt securities. “Market discount” is defined under the Internal Revenue Code as, in general, the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the purchase price of the debt security, except that if the market discount is less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, the market discount is considered to be zero. In addition, you may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of any interest paid on any indebtedness that you incurred or continued to purchase or carry the debt securities that were acquired at a market discount. In general, market discount will be treated as accruing ratably over the term of the debt securities, or, at your election, under a constant yield method.

 

You may elect to include market discount in gross income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield basis), in lieu of treating a portion of any gain realized on a sale of the debt securities as ordinary income. If you elect to include market discount on a current basis, the interest deduction deferral rule described above will not apply and you will increase your basis in the debt security by the amount of market discount you include in gross income. If you do make such an election, it will apply to all market discount debt instruments that you acquire on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. This election may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.  In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, interest, and premium, if any, paid on debt securities and to the proceeds of the sale of debt securities paid to U.S. holders other than certain exempt recipients (such as certain corporations). Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on the debt securities to non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. In addition, for non-U.S. Holders, information reporting will apply to the proceeds of the sale of debt securities within the United States or conducted through United States-related financial intermediaries unless the certification requirements described below have been complied with and the statement described below in “Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders” has been received (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a United States person) or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

 

We may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a portion of all taxable payments (including redemption proceeds) payable to holders of debt securities who fail to provide us with their correct taxpayer identification number, who fail to make required certifications or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding (or if we have been so notified). Certain corporate and other shareholders specified in the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. If you are a non-U.S. Holder, you may have to comply with certification procedures to establish your non-U.S. status in order to avoid backup withholding tax requirements. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest income described below will satisfy these requirements.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders.  If you are a non-resident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a “non-U.S. Holder”), the payment of interest on the debt securities generally will be considered “portfolio interest” and thus generally will be exempt from United States federal withholding tax. This exemption will apply to you provided that (1) interest paid on the debt securities is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (2) you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on the debt securities is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (3) you do not actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of the combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s stock entitled to vote, (4) you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related, directly or indirectly to the Company through stock ownership, and (5) you satisfy the certification requirements described below.

 

To satisfy the certification requirements, either (1) the holder of any debt securities must certify, under penalties of perjury, that such holder is a non-U.S. person and must provide such owner’s name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, on IRS Form W-8BEN, or (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customer securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the debt securities on behalf of the holder thereof must certify, under penalties of perjury, that it has received a valid and properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN from the beneficial holder and comply with certain other requirements. Special certification rules apply for debt securities held by a foreign partnership and other intermediaries.

 

Interest on debt securities received by a non-U.S. Holder that is not excluded from U.S. federal withholding tax under the portfolio interest exemption as described above generally will be subject to withholding at a 30% rate, except where a non-U.S. Holder can claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty to reduce or eliminate such withholding tax and such non-U.S. Holder provides the Company with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN claiming such exemption or reduction.

 

Any capital gain that a non-U.S. Holder realizes on a sale, exchange or other disposition of debt securities generally will be exempt from United States federal income tax, including withholding tax. This exemption will not apply to you if your gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. or you are an individual holder and are present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and either your gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business that you maintain in the U.S. or you have a tax home in the United States.

 

We compute the NAV of our common stock as of the close of trading of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) no less frequently than the last business day of each calendar month and at such other times as the Board may determine. We make our NAV available for publication monthly. The NAV per share of common stock equals our NAV divided by the number of outstanding shares of common stock. Our NAV equals the value of our total assets (the value of the securities held plus cash or other assets, including interest accrued but not yet received) less (i) all of our liabilities (including accrued expenses and both current and deferred income taxes), (ii) accumulated and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred stock, (iii) the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock, (iv) accrued and unpaid interest payments on any outstanding indebtedness, (v) the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding indebtedness, and (vi) any distributions payable on our common stock.

 

Pursuant to an agreement with U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the “Accounting Services Provider”), the Accounting Services Provider values our assets in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The Accounting Services Provider obtains securities market quotations from independent pricing services approved by the Adviser and ratified by the Board of Directors. Securities for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued at “market value.” Any other securities shall be valued at “fair value.”

 

Valuation of certain assets at market value will be as follows:

 

 

If the Accounting Services Provider cannot obtain a market value or the Adviser determines that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent a fair value as of the valuation time (due to a significant development subsequent to the time its price is determined or otherwise), fair value for the security shall be determined pursuant to the valuation procedures. A report of any prices determined pursuant to fair value methodologies will be presented to the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof for approval at the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

 

Our Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) allows participating common stockholders to reinvest distributions including dividends, capital gains and return of capital in additional shares of our common stock and allows participants to purchase additional shares of our common stock through additional optional cash investments in amounts from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $5,000 per month. Shares of common stock will be issued by us under the Plan when our common stock is trading at a premium to NAV. If our common stock is trading at a discount to NAV, shares distributed under the Plan will be purchased on the open market at market price. Shares of common stock issued directly from us under the Plan will be acquired at the greater of (1) NAV at the close of business on the payment date of the distribution or on the day preceding the relevant cash purchase investment date or (2) 95% of the market price per common share on the distribution payment date or on the day preceding the relevant cash purchase investment date. See below for more details about the Plan.

 

Automatic Dividend Reinvestment

 

If a stockholder’s shares are registered directly with us or with a brokerage firm that participates in our Plan, all distributions are automatically reinvested for stockholders by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the

“Plan Agent”), in additional shares of our common stock (unless a stockholder is ineligible or elects otherwise). Stockholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all distributions payable in cash paid by check mailed directly to the stockholder of record (or, if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent. Such stockholders may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all distributions in cash by sending written, telephone or Internet instructions to the Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by giving notice in writing to the Plan Agent; such termination will be effective with respect to a particular distribution if notice is received prior to the record date for such distribution.

 

Whenever we declare a distribution payable either in shares or in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash, and participants in the Plan will receive the amount set forth below in shares of common stock. The shares are acquired by the Plan Agent for the participant’s account, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional common stock directly from us (“Additional Common Stock”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common stock on the open market (“open-market purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. If, on the payment date, the NAV per share of our common stock is equal to or less than the market price per share of common stock plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as “market premium”), the Plan Agent will receive Additional Common Stock from us for each participant’s account. The number of shares of Additional Common Stock to be credited to the participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the distribution by the greater of (i) the NAV per share of common stock on the payment date, or (ii) 95% of the market price per share of common stock on the payment date.

 

If, on the payment date, the NAV per share of common stock exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as “market discount”), the Plan Agent will invest the distribution amount in shares acquired in open-market purchases as soon as practicable but not later than thirty (30) days following the payment date. We expect to declare and pay quarterly distributions. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all common stock purchased by the Plan Agent as Plan Agent will be the price per share of common stock allocable to each participant.

 

The Plan Agent maintains all stockholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of each acquisition made for the participant’s account as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 60 days after the date thereof. Shares in the account of each Plan participant may be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form in the Plan Agent’s name or that of its nominee, and each stockholder’s proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held pursuant to the Plan first in accordance with the instructions of the participants, and then with respect to any proxies not returned by such participant, in the same proportion as the Plan Agent votes the proxies returned by the participants.

 

There are no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued directly by us as a result of distributions payable either in shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of distributions. If a participant elects to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her common stock and remit the proceeds, such participant will be charged a transaction fee plus his or her pro rata share of brokerage commissions on the shares sold.

 

The automatic reinvestment of distributions will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such distributions. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters.”

 

Stockholders participating in the Plan may receive benefits not available to stockholders not participating in the Plan. If the market price plus commissions of our shares of common stock is higher than the NAV, participants in the Plan will receive shares of our common stock at less than they could otherwise purchase such shares and will have shares with a cash value greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their shares. If the market price plus commissions is below the NAV, participants will receive distributions of shares of common stock with a NAV greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have received on their shares. However, there may be insufficient shares available in the market to make distributions in shares at prices below the

NAV. Also, because we do not redeem our common stock, the price on resale may be more or less than the NAV. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Matters” for a discussion of the federal income tax consequences of the Plan.

 

Cash Purchase Option

 

Participants in the Plan may elect to purchase additional shares of common stock through optional cash investments in amounts ranging from $100 to $5,000 per month unless a request for waiver has been granted. Optional cash investments may be delivered to the Plan Agent by personal check, by automatic or electronic bank account transfer or by online access at www.computershare.com. We reserve the right to reject any purchase order. We do not accept cash, travelers checks, third party checks, money orders and checks drawn on non-US banks.

 

In order for participants to participate in the cash investment option in any given month, the Plan Agent must receive from the participant any optional cash investment no later than two business days prior to the monthly investment date (the “payment date”) for purchase of common shares on the next succeeding purchase date. All optional cash investments received on or prior to the payment date will be applied by the Plan Agent to purchase shares on the next succeeding purchase date. Participants may obtain a schedule of relevant dates on our website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com or by calling 1-866-362-9331.

 

Common stock purchased pursuant to this option will be issued by us when our shares are trading at a premium to net asset value. If our common stock is trading at a discount to net asset value, shares of common stock will be purchased in the open market by the Plan Agent as described above with respect to reinvestments of distributions.

 

General

 

Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, we reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Directors such a change is warranted. The Plan may be terminated by the Plan Agent or us upon notice in writing mailed to each participant at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the termination. Upon any termination, the Plan Agent will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held by each participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for any fraction of a share of common stock at the then current market value of common stock to be delivered to him or her. If preferred, a participant may request the sale of all of the common stock held by the Plan Agent in his or her Plan account in order to terminate participation in the Plan. If such participant elects in advance of such termination to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her shares, the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct from the proceeds a $15.00 transaction fee plus a $0.05 fee per share for the transaction. If a participant has terminated his or her participation in the Plan but continues to have common stock registered in his or her name, he or she may re-enroll in the Plan at any time by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. The terms and conditions of the Plan may be amended by the Plan Agent or by us at any time. Any such amendments to the Plan may be made by mailing to each participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the amendment, except, when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the SEC or any other regulatory authority, such prior notice does not apply. The amendment shall be deemed to be accepted by each participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Agent receives notice of the termination of the participant’s account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Agent of a successor Plan Agent, subject to our prior written approval of the successor Plan Agent.

 

All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940.

 

The information contained under this heading is only a summary and is subject to the provisions contained in our Charter and Bylaws and the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

Common Stock

 

General.  Our Charter authorizes us to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share. The Board of Directors may, without any action by the stockholders, amend our Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue under our Charter and the 1940 Act. Additionally, the Charter authorizes our Board of Directors, without any action by our stockholders, to classify and reclassify any unissued common stock and preferred stock into other classes or series of stock from time to time by setting or changing the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Although there is no present intention of doing so, we could issue a class or series of stock that could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might otherwise be in the stockholders’ best interests. Under Maryland law, stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations.

 

All common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement will be, upon issuance, duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. All outstanding common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement will be of the same class and will have identical rights, as described below. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive distributions when authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of distributions. Holders of common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. All shares of common stock have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.

 

Distributions.  We intend to pay out substantially all of our DCF to holders of common stock through quarterly distributions. DCF is the amount we receive as cash or paid-in-kind distributions from MLPs or affiliates of MLPs in which we invest, and interest payments received on debt securities we own, less current or anticipated operating expenses, taxes on our taxable income, and leverage costs we pay (including costs related to Tortoise Notes, MMP Shares and short-term borrowings under our credit facility). Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy to target distributions to common stockholders in an amount equal to at least 95% of DCF on an annual basis. It is expected that we will declare and pay a distribution to holders of common stock at the end of each fiscal quarter. There is no assurance that we will continue to make regular distributions. All realized capital gains, if any, net of applicable taxes, will be retained by us.

 

If a stockholder’s shares are registered directly with us or with a brokerage firm that participates in the Plan, distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional common stock under the Plan unless a stockholder elects to receive distributions in cash. If a stockholder elects to receive distributions in cash, payment will be made by check. The federal income tax treatment of distributions is the same whether they are reinvested in our shares or received in cash. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan.”

 

The yield on our common stock will likely vary from period to period depending on factors including the following:

 

 

Consequently, we cannot guarantee any particular yield on our common stock, and the yield for any given period is not an indication or representation of future yields on the common stock.

 

Limitations on Distributions.  So long as shares of preferred stock are outstanding, holders of shares of common stock will not be entitled to receive any distributions from us unless we have paid all accumulated dividends on preferred stock, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred stock would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Leverage.”

 

So long as senior securities representing indebtedness are outstanding, holders of shares of common stock will not be entitled to receive any distributions from us unless we have paid all accrued interest on such senior indebtedness, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any outstanding senior indebtedness would be at least 300% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Leverage.”

 

Liquidation Rights.  Common stockholders are entitled to share ratably in the assets legally available for distribution to stockholders in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all known debts and liabilities, including any outstanding debt securities or other borrowings and any interest accrued thereon. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our stock, including the preferred stock. The rights of common stockholders upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up are subordinated to the rights of holders of Tortoise Notes and MMP Shares.

 

Voting Rights.  Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. The presence of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. The Charter provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. The Bylaws provide that directors are elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Consequently, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote will be able to elect all of the successors of the class of directors whose terms expire at that meeting provided that holders of preferred stock have the right to elect two directors at all times. Pursuant to the Charter and Bylaws, the Board of Directors may amend the Bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.

 

Under the rules of the NYSE applicable to listed companies, we normally will be required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders in each fiscal year. If we are converted to an open-end company or if for any other reason the shares are no longer listed on the NYSE (or any other national securities exchange the rules of which require annual meetings of stockholders), we may amend our Bylaws so that we are not otherwise required to hold annual meetings of stockholders.

 

Issuance of Additional Shares.  The provisions of the 1940 Act generally require that the public offering price of common stock of a closed-end investment company (less underwriting commissions and discounts) must equal or exceed the NAV of such company’s common stock (calculated within 48 hours of pricing), unless such sale is made with the consent of a majority of the company’s outstanding common stockholders. At our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 15, 2005, our stockholders granted us the authority to sell a limited number of shares of our common stock for less than NAV, subject to the conditions listed below. We expect to resubmit the matter for stockholder approval at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for April 13, 2007. If approved by stockholders in April 2007, such authorization to issue shares below NAV will expire after one year unless re-approved by stockholders. We believe that having the ability to issue and sell a limited number of shares of common stock below NAV benefits all stockholders in that it allows us to quickly raise cash and capitalize on attractive investment opportunities while remaining fully invested at all times. We expect to sell shares of common stock below NAV only when we have identified attractive near-term investment opportunities. Currently, we may only sell shares of common stock below NAV in accordance with the following conditions:

 

1. the aggregate number of shares issued below NAV will not exceed more than 20% of our outstanding common stock as of any offering date;

 

2. we will not sell our shares at a net sale price, after deduction of all offering expenses and underwriting fees and commissions, that represents a discount of more than 5% of the NAV, as determined at any time within 48 hours of pricing of the shares of common stock to be sold below NAV; and

 

3. we will only issue shares below NAV if a majority of the independent directors makes a determination that they reasonably expect that the investment(s) to be made with the net proceeds of such issuance will increase stockholder distributions.

 

The table below sets forth the pro forma maximum dilutive effect on our NAV if we were to have issued shares below our NAV as of December 31, 2006. The table assumes that we issue 1,636,353 shares, which represents all of the shares we are currently authorized to issue, at a net sale price to us after deducting all expenses of issuance, including underwriting discounts and commissions, equal to $30.99, which is 95% of the NAV of our common shares as of December 31, 2006.

 

Maximum Impact of Below NAV Issuances of Common Shares

 

 

Because the Adviser’s management fee is based upon our average monthly Managed Assets, the Adviser’s interest in recommending the issuance and sale of common stock below NAV will conflict with our interests and those of our stockholders.

 

Market.  Our common stock trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “TYG.” Common stock issued pursuant to this prospectus and related prospectus supplement will trade on the NYSE.

 

Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan Agent.  Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, serves as the transfer agent, the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan agent and the dividend paying agent for our common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

General.  Our Charter authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions or redemption as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors may, without any action by the stockholders, amend our Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. Additionally, the Charter authorizes the Board of Directors, without any action by the stockholders, to classify and reclassify any unissued preferred stock into other classes or series of stock from time to time by setting or changing the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series.

 

Preferred stock (including outstanding MMP Shares) ranks junior to our debt securities (including Tortoise Notes), and senior to all common stock. Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of senior equity securities, which in the aggregate may represent no more than 50% of our total assets. So long as MMP Shares are outstanding, additional issuances of preferred stock must be considered to be of the same class as MMP Shares under the 1940

Act and interpretations thereunder and must rank on a parity with the MMP Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and upon the distribution of our assets. It is expected that any issuance of preferred stock would be additional MMP Shares or additional series of MMP Shares. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, any preferred stock will be issued pursuant to articles supplementary (a form of which is attached as Appendix B to the statement of additional information) in substantially the same form as outstanding preferred stock and will be subject to the provisions therein. The terms to be stated in a prospectus supplement will include the following:

 

 

Dividends.  Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends, when, as and if authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by us, out of funds legally available therefor. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, dividend rates will generally be determined by the results of an auction for such shares, as more fully described in the related prospectus supplement. Dividends so declared and payable shall be paid to the extent permitted under Maryland law and to the extent available and in preference to and priority over any distribution declared and payable on the common stock. Because of our emphasis on investments in MLPs, which are expected to generate cash in excess of the taxable income allocated to holders, it is possible that dividends payable on preferred stock could exceed our earnings and profits, which would be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the basis of the shares on which the dividend is paid and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of the preferred stock.

 

Limitations on Dividends.  So long as any debt securities (including Tortoise Notes) are outstanding, holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to receive any dividends from us unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to outstanding debt securities and preferred stock would be at least 200% after giving effect to such dividends. See “Leverage.”

 

Liquidation Rights.  In the event of any voluntary or our involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of preferred stock would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution, which is expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets. Preferred stock ranks junior to our debt securities upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Voting Rights.  Except as otherwise indicated in the Charter or Bylaws, or as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of preferred stock have one vote per share and vote together with holders of common stock as a single class.

 

The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred stock, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect at least two directors at all times. The remaining directors will be elected by holders of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class. In addition, subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of any other class of senior securities outstanding (including Tortoise Notes), the holders of any shares of preferred stock have the right to elect a majority of the directors at any time two years’ accumulated dividends on any preferred stock are unpaid. The 1940 Act also requires that, in addition to any approval by stockholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority of shares of any outstanding preferred stock, voting separately as a class, would be required to (i) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred stock, and (ii) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including, among other things, changes in our subclassification as a closed-end investment company or changes in

its fundamental investment restrictions. See “Certain Provisions in the Company’s Charter and Bylaws.” As a result of these voting rights, our ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the extent that any shares of its preferred stock are outstanding.

 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred stock, voting as a separate class, will be required to amend, alter or repeal any of the preferences, rights or powers of holders of preferred stock so as to affect materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers. The class vote of holders of preferred stock described above will in each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in question.

 

We will have the right (to the extent permitted by applicable law) to purchase or otherwise acquire any preferred stock, so long as we are current in the payment of dividends on the preferred stock and on any other of our shares ranking on a parity with the preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation.

 

Market.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, our preferred stock may be bought or sold at an auction that normally will be held periodically (every twenty-eight (28) days for outstanding MMP Shares) by submitting orders through a broker-dealer who has entered into an agreement with us (a “broker-dealer”). Our preferred stock is not listed on an exchange or automated quotation system. Preferred stock may be transferred outside of an auction through a broker-dealer, but we cannot assure you that any such secondary market will exist or whether it will provide preferred stockholders with liquidity. The details of the auction process will be further described in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.  Unless otherwise indicated in the related prospectus supplement, preferred stock will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more share certificates in registered global form. The global certificates will be held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will maintain the certificates in specified denominations per share through its book-entry facilities.

 

We may treat the persons in whose names any global certificates are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Therefore, so long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global certificates, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole holder of outstanding preferred stock.

 

A global certificate may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC, its successors or their respective nominees, subject to the provisions restricting transfers of shares contained in the related articles supplementary.

 

Auction Agent, Transfer Agent, Registrar, Dividend Paying Agent and Redemption Agent.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York, serves as the auction agent, transfer agent, registrar, dividend paying agent and redemption agent with respect to our preferred stock.

 

Debt Securities

 

General.  Under Maryland law and our Charter, we may borrow money, without prior approval of holders of common and preferred stock. We may issue debt securities, including additional Tortoise Notes, or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such notes or borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security our assets to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or rating agency guidelines. Any borrowings, including without limitation the Tortoise Notes, will rank senior to the preferred stock and the common stock.

 

Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue one class of senior securities representing indebtedness, which in the aggregate, may represent no more than 331/3% of our total assets. So long as Tortoise Notes are outstanding, additional debt securities must rank on a parity with Tortoise Notes with respect to the payment of interest and upon the distribution of our assets. It is expected that any issuance of debt securities would be additional Tortoise Notes or additional series of Tortoise Notes. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, any additional debt securities will be issued pursuant to the indenture dated as of July 14, 2004 (the “Indenture”) and will be subject to the provisions therein. A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture (a summary of which is attached as

Appendix A to the statement of additional information) relating to any additional debt securities will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include the following:

 

 

Interest.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, debt securities will bear interest as generally determined by the results of an auction for such securities and/or by the Board of Directors, as more fully described in the related prospectus supplement. Interest on debt securities shall be payable when due as described in the related prospectus supplement. If we do not pay interest when due, it will trigger an event of default and we will be restricted from declaring dividends and making other distributions with respect to our common stock and preferred stock.

 

Limitations.  Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, immediately after issuing any senior securities representing indebtedness, we must have an asset coverage of at least 300%. Asset coverage means the ratio which the value of our total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. We currently are subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that have issued ratings for outstanding Tortoise Notes, including restrictions related to asset coverage and portfolio composition. Such restrictions may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. Other types of borrowings also may result in our being subject to similar covenants in credit agreements.

 

Events of Default and Acceleration of Maturity of Debt Securities; Remedies.  Unless stated otherwise in the related prospectus supplement, any one of the following events will constitute an “event of default” for that series under the Indenture:

 

 

Upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, the holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of outstanding debt securities or the trustee may declare the principal amount of that series of debt securities immediately due and payable upon written notice to us. A default that relates only to one series of debt

securities does not affect any other series and the holders of such other series of debt securities are not entitled to receive notice of such a default under the Indenture. Upon an event of default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, acceleration of maturity occurs automatically with respect to all series. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to a series of debt securities has been made, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration and its consequences if all events of default with respect to that series of debt securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of that series of debt securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived and other conditions have been met.

 

Liquidation Rights.  In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to us or to our creditors, as such, or to our assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of ours, then (after any payments with respect to any secured creditor of ours outstanding at such time) and in any such event the holders of debt securities shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all debt securities (including any interest accruing thereon after the commencement of any such case or proceeding), or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of the debt securities, before the holders of any common or preferred stock of the Company are entitled to receive any payment on account of any redemption proceeds, liquidation preference or dividends from such shares. The holders of debt securities shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of ours being subordinated to the payment of the debt securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the debt securities in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event.

 

Unsecured creditors of ours may include, without limitation, service providers including the Adviser, custodian, administrator, auction agent, broker-dealers and the trustee, pursuant to the terms of various contracts with us. Secured creditors of ours may include without limitation parties entering into any interest rate swap, floor or cap transactions, or other similar transactions with us that create liens, pledges, charges, security interests, security agreements or other encumbrances on our assets.

 

A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Company with or into any other company, or a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets in consideration for the issuance of equity securities of another company shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

 

Voting Rights.  Debt securities have no voting rights, except to the extent required by law or as otherwise provided in the Indenture relating to the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default. In connection with any other borrowings (if any), the 1940 Act does in certain circumstances grant to the lenders certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal.

 

Market.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, our debt securities may be bought or sold at an auction held periodically (every seven (7) or twenty-eight (28) days for outstanding Tortoise Notes), by submitting orders through a broker-dealer who has entered into an agreement with us (a “broker-dealer”). Our debt securities are not listed on an exchange or automated quotation system. Debt securities may be transferred outside of an auction through a broker-dealer, but we cannot assure you that any such secondary market will exist or whether it will provide holders of debt securities with liquidity. The details of the auction process are further described in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.  Unless otherwise stated in the related prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more notes in registered global form. The global notes will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will maintain the notes in designated denominations through its book-entry facilities.

 

Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the trustee may treat the persons in whose names any notes, including the global notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Therefore, so long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global notes, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole holder of outstanding notes under the Indenture. We or the trustee may give effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or its nominee.

 

A global note may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the global note may be transferred or exchanged for definitive securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC. In addition, a global note may be exchangeable for notes in definitive form if:

 

 

In each instance, upon surrender by DTC or its nominee of the global note, notes in definitive form will be issued to each person that DTC or its nominee identifies as being the beneficial owner of the related notes.

 

Under the Indenture, the holder of any global note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including its participants and persons who may hold interests through DTC participants, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the Indenture.

 

Trustee, Transfer Agent, Registrar, Paying Agent, Redemption Agent and Auction Agent.  Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, BNY Midwest Trust Company, 2 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, serves as the trustee under the Indenture and acts as transfer agent, registrar, paying agent and redemption agent with respect to our debt securities. The Bank of New York serves as the auction agent with respect to our debt securities.

 

The Rating Agencies, which assign ratings to our senior securities, impose asset coverage requirements, which may limit our ability to engage in certain types of transactions and may limit our ability to take certain actions without confirming that such action will not impair the ratings. The Tortoise Notes are currently rated “Aaa” and “AAA” by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively. The MMP Shares are currently rated “Aa2” and “AA” by Moody’s and Fitch, respectively. Moody’s and Fitch, and any other agency that may rate our debt securities (including Tortoise Notes) or preferred stock (including MMP Shares) in the future, are collectively referred to as the “Rating Agencies.”

 

We may, but are not required to, adopt any modification to the guidelines that may hereafter be established by any Rating Agency. Failure to adopt any modifications, however, may result in a change in the ratings described above or a withdrawal of ratings altogether. In addition, any Rating Agency may, at any time, change or withdraw any rating. The Board may, without stockholder approval, modify, alter or repeal certain of the definitions and related provisions which have been adopted pursuant to each Rating Agency’s guidelines (“Rating Agency Guidelines”) only in the event we receive written confirmation from the Rating Agency or Agencies that any amendment, alteration or repeal would not impair the ratings then assigned to the senior securities.

 

We are required to satisfy two separate asset maintenance requirements with respect to outstanding debt securities and with respect to outstanding preferred stock: (1) we must maintain assets in our portfolio that have a value, discounted in accordance with guidelines set forth by each Rating Agency, at least equal to the aggregate principal amount/aggregate liquidation preference of the debt securities/preferred stock, respectively, plus specified liabilities, payment obligations and other amounts (the “Basic Maintenance Amount”); and (2) we must satisfy the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements.

 

Basic Maintenance Amounts.  We must maintain, as of each valuation date on which senior securities are outstanding, eligible assets having an aggregate discounted value at least equal to the applicable Basic Maintenance

Amount, which is calculated separately for debt securities and preferred stock for each Rating Agency that is then rating the senior securities and so requires. If we fail to maintain eligible assets having an aggregated discounted value at least equal to the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount as of any valuation date and such failure is not cured, we will be required in certain circumstances to redeem certain of the senior securities.

 

The applicable Basic Maintenance Amount is defined in the Rating Agency Guidelines. Each Rating Agency may amend the definition of the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount from time to time.

 

The market value of our portfolio securities (used in calculating the discounted value of eligible assets) is calculated using readily available market quotations when appropriate, and in any event, consistent with our valuation procedures. For the purpose of calculating the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount, portfolio securities are valued in the same manner as we calculate our NAV. See “Determination of Net Asset Value.”

 

Each Rating Agency’s discount factors, the criteria used to determine whether the assets held in our portfolio are eligible assets, and the guidelines for determining the discounted value of our portfolio holdings for purposes of determining compliance with the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount are based on Rating Agency Guidelines established in connection with rating the senior securities. The discount factor relating to any asset, the applicable basic maintenance amount requirement, the assets eligible for inclusion in the calculation of the discounted value of our portfolio and certain definitions and methods of calculation relating thereto may be changed from time to time by the applicable Rating Agency, without our approval, or the approval of our Board of Directors or stockholders.

 

A Rating Agency’s Guidelines will apply to the senior securities only so long as that Rating Agency is rating such securities. We will pay certain fees to Moody’s, Fitch and any other Rating Agency that may provide a rating for the senior securities. The ratings assigned to the senior securities are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the senior securities. Such ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal by the assigning Rating Agency at any time.

 

1940 Act Asset Coverage.  We are also required to maintain, with respect to senior securities, as of the last business day on any month in which any senior securities are outstanding, asset coverage of at least 300% for debt securities and 200% for preferred stock (or such other percentage as may in the future be specified in or under the 1940 Act as the minimum asset coverage for senior securities representing shares of a closed-end investment company as a condition of declaring dividends on its common stock). If we fail to maintain the applicable 1940 Act asset coverage as of the last business day of any month and such failure is not cured as of the last business day of the following month, we will be required to redeem certain senior securities.

 

Notices.  Under the current Rating Agency Guidelines, in certain circumstances, we are required to deliver to any Rating Agency which is then rating the senior securities (1) a certificate with respect to the calculation of the applicable Basic Maintenance Amount; (2) a certificate with respect to the calculation of the applicable 1940 Act asset coverage and the value of our portfolio holdings; and (3) a letter prepared by our independent accountants regarding the accuracy of such calculations.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Rating Agency Guidelines, as they may be amended from time to time by each Rating Agency will be reflected in a written document and may be amended by each Rating Agency without the vote, consent or approval of the Company, the Board of Directors or any stockholder of the Company.

 

A copy of the current Rating Agency Guidelines will be provided to any holder of senior securities promptly upon request made by such holder to the Company by writing the Company at 10801 Mastin Boulevard, Suite 222, Overland Park, Kansas 66210.

 

The following description of certain provisions of the Charter and Bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, please refer to the Charter and Bylaws, which have been filed as exhibits to our registration statement on Form N-2, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Our Charter and Bylaws include provisions that could delay, defer or prevent other entities or persons from acquiring control of us, causing us to engage in certain transactions or modifying our structure. These provisions may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions. Such provisions could limit the ability of stockholders to sell their shares at a premium over the then-current market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of us.

 

Classification of the Board of Directors; Election of Directors

 

Our Charter provides that the number of directors may be established only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws, but may not be less than one. The Bylaws provide that, unless the Bylaws are amended, the number of directors may not be greater than nine. Subject to any applicable limitations of the 1940 Act, any vacancy may be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if those remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Pursuant to the Charter, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Directors of each class will be elected to serve for three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Each year only one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. The classification of the Board of Directors should help to assure the continuity and stability of our strategies and policies as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

The classified Board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time-consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one, generally will be required to effect a change in a majority of the Board of Directors. Thus, the classified Board provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. The staggered terms of directors may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Board, even though a change in control might be in the best interests of the stockholders.

 

Removal of Directors

 

The Charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the provision in the Bylaws authorizing only the Board of Directors to fill vacant directorships, precludes stockholders from removing incumbent directors, except for cause and by a substantial affirmative vote, and filling the vacancies created by the removal with nominees of stockholders.

 

Approval of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and Bylaws

 

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for stockholder approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our Charter generally provides for approval of Charter amendments and extraordinary transactions by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our Charter also provides that certain Charter amendments and any proposal for our conversion, whether by merger or otherwise, from a closed-end company to an open-end company or any proposal for our liquidation or dissolution requires the approval of stockholders entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. However, if such amendment or proposal is approved by at least two-thirds of our continuing directors (in addition to the approval by our Board of Directors otherwise required), such amendment or proposal may be approved by stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such a matter. The “continuing directors” are defined in our Charter as the directors named in our Charter as well as those directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the continuing directors then on the Board of Directors.

 

Our Charter and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors will have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of our Bylaws.

 

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

 

The Bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the Bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in the Company’s notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to notice of the meeting by the Company, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (3) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the Bylaws.