We intend to qualify for the special tax treatment afforded to RICs under SubchapterMof the Code. As long as we qualify, we (but not our stockholders) will not be subject to federal income tax on the part of our net ordinary income and net realized capital gains that we distribute to our stockholders. In order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, we must meet three key tests, which are described below, and be registered as a management company under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year. Failure to meet any of the quarterly tests would disqualify us from RIC tax treatment for the entire year. However, in certain situations we may be able to take corrective action within 30 days of the end of a quarter, which would allow us to remain qualified.

The Income Test.

At least 90% of our gross income in each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale of stock or securities, foreign currencies or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies. Net income from a "qualified publicly traded partnership" will also be included as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test. A "qualified publicly traded partnership" is a publicly traded partnership that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derives less than 90% of its gross income from the foregoing types of income. To the extent we hold interests in entities that are taxed as grantor trusts for Federal income tax purposes or are partnerships that are not treated as "qualified publicly traded partnerships," the income derived from such investments may not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test, depending on the underlying source of income to such partnerships or grantor trusts.

The Diversification Tests.

We must diversify our holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of our total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of our total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of our total assets is invested in (a) the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, (b) the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that we control (by owning 20% or more of their voting power) and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or (c) the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.We refer to these tests as the "Diversification Tests."

The Annual Distribution Requirement.

Our deduction for dividends paid to our stockholders during the taxable year must equal or exceed 90% of the sum of (i) our investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss and other taxable income, other than any net long-term capital gain, reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (ii) our net taxexempt interest, if any (the excess of our gross tax-exempt interest over certain disallowed deductions). For purposes of this distribution test, we may elect to treat as paid on the last day of the fiscal year all or part of any distributions that we declare after the end of our taxable year. Such distributions must be declared before the due date for filing our tax return, including any extensions. We intend to distribute at least annually substantially all of such income. We will refer to this distribution requirement as the "Annual Distribution Requirement."

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax at the fund level. To avoid the tax, we must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of our ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year, (ii) 98% of our capital gains in excess of our capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending on November 30, the last day of our taxable year (which we intend to continue to elect to use for this purpose), and (iii) certain undistributed amounts from previous years on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax. We refer to this distribution requirement as the "Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement." While we intend to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of our taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the tax. In that event, we will be liable for the tax only on the amount by which we do not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

A Distribution will be treated as paid during the calendar year if it is paid during the calendar year or declared by us in October, November or December of the year, payable to stockholders of record on a date during such a month and paid by us during January of the following year. Any such Distributions paid during January of the following year will be deemed to be received on December 31 of the year the Distributions are declared, rather than when the Distributions are received.

We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instrumentswith payment-in-kind interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or that were issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of accrual, we may be required to make a Distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.

Investments by us in certain "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFICs") could subject us to federal income tax (including interest charges) on certain distributions or dispositions with respect to those investments which cannot be eliminated by making Distributions to stockholders. Elections may be available to us to mitigate the effect of this provision provided that the PFIC complies with certain reporting requirements, but the elections would generally function to accelerate the recognition of income without a corresponding receipt of cash. Dividends paid by PFICs will not qualify for the reduced tax rates discussed above applicable to qualified dividend income.

Equity securities issued by certain non-traded limited partnerships (or other "pass-through" entities, such as grantor trusts) in which we invest may not produce qualifying income for purposes of determining our compliance with the 90% gross income test applicable to RICs. As a result, we may form one or more wholly owned taxable subsidiaries to make and hold certain investments in accordance with our investment objective. The dividends received from such taxable subsidiaries will be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test. In general, the amount of cash received from such wholly owned subsidiaries will equal the amount of cash received from the limited partnerships as reduced by income taxes paid by such subsidiaries and other expenses.

Although we do not presently expect to do so, we are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy Distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make Distributions to our stockholders while our debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain "asset coverage" tests are met. See "Description of Capital Stock."Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our Distribution requirements may be limited by other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.

The remainder of this discussion assumes that we qualify as a RIC and have satisfied the Annual Distribution Requirement.

Distributions by us generally are taxable to U.S. stockholders as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions of our "investment company taxable income" (which is, generally, our ordinary income plus net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. stockholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. Distributions of our net capital gains (which is generally our net long- term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses) properly designated by us as "capital gain dividends" will be taxable to a U.S. stockholder as long-term capital gains currently at a maximum rate of 15% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. stockholder's holding period for his, her or its common stock and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. stockholder's adjusted tax basis in such stockholder's common stock and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. stockholder. Such capital gain will be long-term capital gain and thus, will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15% for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010, if the Distributions are attributable to common stock held by the U.S. stockholder for more than one year. To the extent that Distributions paid by us are attributable to dividends received by us from corporations, our Distributions may be eligible for the maximum tax rate of 15% currently applicable to qualified dividend income, or for the dividends received deduction, in each case provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. The favorable rates for qualified dividend income are currently scheduled to increase for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010.

Under the DRIP, a U.S. stockholder can have all cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. See "Distribution Reinvestment Plan." Any Distributions reinvested under the DRIP will nevertheless remain taxable to the U.S. stockholder. The U.S. stockholder will have an adjusted basis in the additional common shares purchased through the DRIP equal to the amount of the reinvested Distribution. The additional shares will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the U.S. stockholder's account.

Although we currently intend to distribute any long-term capital gains at least annually, we may in the future decide to retain some or all of our long-term capital gains, but designate the retained amount as a "deemed distribution." We cannot, however, treat any of our "investment company taxable income" as a "deemed distribution." If we designate any of our retained capital gains as a deemed distribution, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. stockholder will be required to include his, her or its share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been actually distributed to the U.S. stockholder, and the U.S. stockholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to his, her or its allocable share of the tax paid thereon by us. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the U.S. stockholder's tax basis for his, her or its common stock. Since we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gains at our regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual stockholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder's other federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds a stockholder's liability for federal income tax. A stockholder that is not subject to federal income tax or otherwise required to file a federal income tax return would be required to file a federal income tax return on the appropriate form in order to claim a refund for the taxes we paid. In order to utilize the deemed distribution approach, we must provide written notice to our stockholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year.We will be subject to alternative minimum tax, also referred to as AMT, but any items that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be apportioned between us and our stockholders and this may affect the stockholders' AMT liabilities. Although regulations explaining the precise method of apportionment have not yet been issued, such items will generally be apportioned in the same proportion that dividends paid to each stockholder bear to our taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction), unless a different method for a particular item is warranted under the circumstances.

For purposes of determining (1) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (2) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year,we may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If we make such an election, the U.S. stockholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which theDistribution is made. However, any dividend declared by us in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by our U.S. stockholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

A U.S. stockholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the U.S. stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of his, her or its shares of our common stock. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain if the stockholder has held his, her or its shares for more than one year and such shares are held as capital assets. Otherwise, it would be classified as short-term capital gain. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of shares of our common stock held for six months or less (determined by applying the holding period rules contained in Section 852(b)(4)(C) of the Code) will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such shares.

In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of shares of our common stock may be disallowed if other shares of our common stock are purchased (whether through reinvestment of Distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.

In general, individual U.S. stockholders currently are subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% (for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010) on their net capital gain, i.e., the excess of realized net long-term capital gain over realized net short-term capital loss for a taxable year, including a long-term capital gain derived from an investment in our shares. Such rate is lower than the maximum rate on ordinary income currently payable by individuals. The maximum federal income tax rate on the net capital gain of individual U.S. stockholders is currently scheduled to increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. Corporate U.S. stockholders currently are subject to federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum 35% rate also applied to ordinary income. Non-corporate stockholders with net capital losses for a year (i.e., capital losses in excess of capital gains) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital losses of a non-corporate stockholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate stockholders generally may not deduct any net capital losses against ordinary income for a year, but may carry back such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.

We will send to each of our U.S. stockholders, as promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, a notice detailing, on a per share and per Distribution basis, the amounts includible in such U.S. stockholder's taxable income for such year as ordinary income (including the portion, if any, taxable at the lower effective rate currently applicable to "qualified dividends") and as long-term capital gain. In addition, the federal tax status of each year's Distributions generally will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (including the amount of dividends, if any, eligible for treatment as "qualified dividends"). Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local, and foreign taxes depending on a U.S. stockholder's particular situation. To the extent that Distributions paid by us are attributable to dividends received by us from corporations, dividends distributed by us may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or the preferential rate applicable to qualified dividends, in each case provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. The favorable rates for qualified dividend income are currently scheduled to increase for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010.

We may be required to withhold federal income tax, or backup withholding, currently at a rate of 28% from all taxable Distributions to any non-corporate U.S. stockholder (1) who fails to furnish us with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such stockholder is exempt from backup withholding, or (2) with respect to whom notification has been received from the IRS to the effect that such stockholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual's taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder's federal income tax liability and may entitle such stockholder to a refund, provided that proper information is timely provided to the IRS.

Recently-enacted legislation requires certain U.S. stockholders who are individuals, estates or trusts to pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and disposition of our common stock.

Whether an investment in our shares is appropriate for a Non-U.S. stockholder will depend upon that person's particular circumstances. An investment in our shares by a Non-U.S. stockholder may have adverse tax consequences because the interest income and certain short-term capital gains that generally would not be subject to tax if earned directly by a Non-U.S. stockholder are transformed into dividends that are subject to U.S. income tax as described below. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisers before investing in our common stock.

Distributions of our "investment company taxable income" to Non-U.S. stockholders (including interest income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital losses) will generally be subject to withholding of federal tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits unless the Distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. stockholder, and, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States of the Non-U.S. stockholder. In such latter case, the Distributions will be subject to federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. persons, plus, in certain cases where the Non-U.S. stockholder is a corporation, a branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty), and we will not be required to withhold federal tax if the Non-U.S. stockholder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements. Special certification requirements apply to a Non-U.S. stockholder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust, and such entities are urged to consult their own tax advisers.

Actual or deemed distributions of our net capital gains (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of shortterm capital losses) to a Non-U.S. stockholder, and gains realized by a Non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale of our common stock, will not be subject to federal withholding tax and generally will not be subject to federal income tax unless (a) the distributions or gains, as the case may be, are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. stockholder and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. stockholder in the United States, or (b) the Non-U.S. stockholder is an individual, has been present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable, and certain other conditions are satisfied. In addition, gain on your sale of our common stock will be subject to federal income tax if we are or have been a "United States real property holding corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date you sell our common stock and your holding period for such common stock and you held more than5%of our common stock at any time during the five-year period preceding the disposition. Generally, a corporation is a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of its "United States real property interests" equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business.

If we distribute our net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions (which we may do in the future), a Non-U.S. stockholder will be entitled to a federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the stockholder's allocable share of the taxwe pay on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the Non-U.S. stockholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the Non-U.S. stockholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return. For a corporate Non-U.S. stockholder, distributions (both actual and deemed), and gains realized upon the sale of our common stock that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty).

Under the DRIP, a Non-U.S. stockholder can have all cash Distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. See "Distribution Reinvestment Plan." If the Distribution is a distribution of our "investment company taxable income" and is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. stockholder (or, if a treaty applies, it is not attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base), the amount distributed (to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits)will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) and only the net after-tax amount will be reinvested in our common stock. If the Distribution is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business or attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base, generally the full amount of the Distribution will be reinvested in the DRIP and will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the ordinary income rates applicable to U.S. stockholders. The Non-U.S. stockholder will have an adjusted basis in the additional common shares purchased through the DRIP equal to the amount reinvested. The additional shares will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the Non-U.S. stockholder's account.

A Non-U.S. stockholder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to withholding of federal tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of federal income tax on dividends unless the Non-U.S. stockholder provides us or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. stockholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.

Recently-enacted legislation generally imposes aU.S.withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain foreign entities, after December 31, 2012, of U.S.-source dividends and the gross proceeds from dispositions of stock that produces U.S.-source dividends, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements that are different from, and in addition to, the beneficial owner certification requirements described above have been satisfied. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and sale or disposition of our common stock.

If, in any taxable year, we fail to qualify as a RIC, we would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and Distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) to our stockholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. In such case, under current law Distributions to our stockholders generally would be eligible (i) for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual stockholders (provided that certain holding period and other requirements were met), and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate stockholders. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder's tax basis, and any remaining Distributions would be treated as a capital gain. In addition, we could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial Distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.