We are treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Thus, we are obligated to pay federal income tax on our net taxable income. We are also obligated to pay state income tax on our net taxable income, either because the states follow the federal treatment or because the states separately impose a tax on us. We invest our assets principally in MLPs, which generally are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in the MLPs, we report our allocable share of the MLP's taxable income, loss, deduction, and credits in computing our taxable income. 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. In addition, we will take into account in our taxable income amounts of gain or loss recognized on the sale of MLP units. Currently, the maximum regular federal income tax rate for a corporation is 35%, but we may be subject to a 20% alternative minimum tax on our alternative minimum taxable income to the extent that the alternative minimum tax exceeds our regular income tax.

Deferred income taxes reflect (1) taxes on unrealized gains/(losses) which are attributable to the difference between the fair market value and tax basis of our investments and (2) the tax benefit of accumulated capital or net operating losses. We will accrue a net deferred tax liability if our future tax liability on our unrealized gains exceeds the tax benefit of our accumulated capital or net operating losses, if any. We will accrue a net deferred tax asset if our future tax liability on our unrealized gains is less than the tax benefit of our accumulated capital or net operating losses or if we have net unrealized losses on our investments.

To the extent we have a net deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required. The need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on the criterion established by the Statement of Financial Standards, Accounting for Income Taxes (ASC 740) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In our assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that capital or net operating loss carryforwards may expire unused.

Recovery of the deferred tax asset is dependent on continued payment of the MLP cash distributions at or near current levels in the future and the resultant generation of taxable income. Unexpected significant decreases in MLP cash distributions or significant further declines in the fair value of our portfolio of investments may change our assessment regarding the recoverability of the deferred tax asset and would likely result in a valuation allowance.

If a valuation allowance is required to reduce the deferred tax asset in the future, it could have a material impact on our net asset value and results of operations in the period it is recorded.

Our earnings and profits are calculated using accounting methods that may differ from tax accounting methods used by an entity in which we invest. For instance, to calculate our earnings and profits we will use the straight-line depreciation method rather than the accelerated depreciation method. This treatment may, for example, affect our earnings and profits if an MLP in which we invest calculates its income using the accelerated depreciation method. Our earnings and profits would not be increased solely by the income passed through from the MLP, but we would also have to include in our earnings and profits the amount by which the accelerated depreciation exceeded straight-line depreciation.

Because of the differences in the manner in which earnings and profits and taxable income are calculated, we may make distributions out of earnings and profits, treated as tax dividends, in years in which we have no taxable income.

In addition, in calculating our alternative minimum taxable income, certain percentage depletion deductions and intangible drilling costs may be treated as items of tax preference. Items of tax preference increase alternative minimum taxable income and increase the likelihood that we may be subject to alternative minimum tax.

We have not, and we will not, elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. The 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 and satisfies certain source of income and asset diversification requirements. Thus, the regulated investment company taxation rules have no current application to us or to our stockholders.

Unlike a holder of a direct interest in MLPs, a stockholder will not include its allocable share of our gross income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits in computing its own taxable income. Our distributions are treated as a tax dividend to the stockholder to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. If the distribution exceeds our earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated as a return of capital to our common stockholder to the extent of the stockholder's basis in our common stock, and then as capital gain. Common stockholders will receive a Form 1099 from us (rather than a Schedule K-1 from each MLP if the stockholder had invested directly in the MLPs) and will recognize dividend income only to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

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 an MLP will exceed our share of such MLP's income. Thus, we anticipate that only a portion of distributions of cash and other income from investments will be treated as dividend income to our common stockholders. As a corporation for tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be calculated using (i) straight-line depreciation rather than accelerated depreciation, and cost rather than a percentage depletion method, and (ii) intangible drilling costs and exploration and development costs are amortized over a five-year and ten-year period, respectively. Because of the differences in the manner in which earnings and profits and taxable income are calculated, we may make distributions out of earnings and profits, treated as dividends, in years in which we have no taxable income.

Our distributions that are treated as dividends generally will be taxable as ordinary income to holders, but (i) are expected to be treated as "qualified dividend income" that is currently subject to reduced rates of federal income taxation for noncorporate stockholders, and (ii) may be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate stockholders, in each case provided that certain holding period requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is currently taxable to noncorporate stockholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. Thereafter, qualified dividend income will be taxed at ordinary income rates unless further legislative action is taken.

If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distribution will be treated as a non-taxable adjustment to the basis of the stock to the extent of such basis, and then as capital gain to the extent of the excess distribution. Such gain will be long-term capital gain if the holding period for the stock is more than one year. Individuals are currently subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% on long-term capital gains. This rate is currently scheduled to increase to 20% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2010. Corporations are taxed on capital gains at their ordinary graduated rates.

If a holder of our common stock participates in our automatic dividend reinvestment plan, such stockholder will be taxed upon the amount of distributions as if such amount had been received by the participating stockholder and the participating stockholder reinvested such amount in additional common stock, even though such holder has received no cash distribution from us with which to pay such tax.

Sale of Our Common Stock
The sale of our stock by holders will generally be a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. Holders of our 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 such shares of stock are held as a capital asset at the time of the sale, the gain or loss will generally be a capital gain or loss, generally taxable as described above. A holder's ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

Investment by Tax-Exempt Investors and Regulated Investment Companies
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, or UBTI. Because we are a corporation for federal income tax purposes, an owner of our 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 will not have UBTI attributable to its ownership or sale of our common stock unless its ownership of our common stock is debt-financed. In general, common stock would be debt-financed if the tax-exempt owner of common stock incurs debt to acquire common stock or otherwise incurs or maintains a debt that would not have been incurred or maintained if that common stock had not been acquired.

As stated above, an owner of our common stock will not report on its federal income tax return any of our items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction. Instead, the owner will simply report income with respect to our distributions or gain with respect to the sale of our common stock. Thus, distributions with respect to our common stock will result in income that is qualifying income for a regulated investment company. Furthermore, any gain from the sale or other disposition of our common stock will constitute gain from the sale of stock or securities and will also result in income that is qualifying income for a regulated investment company. Finally, our common stock will constitute qualifying assets to regulated investment companies, which generally must own at least 50% in qualifying assets and not more than 25% in certain non-qualifying assets at the end of each quarter, provided such regulated investment companies do not violate certain percentage ownership limitations with respect to our stock.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 28% may apply to the distributions on our common stock to be made by us if you fail to timely provide taxpayer identification numbers or if we are so instructed by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder under the backup withholding rules are allowable as a refund or credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required 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. In addition, recently enacted legislation may impose additional U.S. reporting and withholding requirements on certain foreign financial institutions and other foreign entities with respect to distributions on and proceeds from the sale or disposition of our stock. This legislation will generally be effective for payments made on or after January 1, 2013. Foreign stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation as well as the other U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in our stock.

Under present law, we are of the opinion that Series A MRP Shares constitute our equity, and thus distributions with respect to Series A MRP Shares (other than distributions in redemption of Series A MRP Shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of our allocable current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes.

Unlike a holder of a direct interest in MLPs, a preferred stockholder will not include its allocable share of our gross income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits in computing its own taxable income. Our distributions are treated as a tax dividend to the stockholder to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. If the distribution exceeds our earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated as a return of capital to our common stockholder to the extent of the stockholder's basis in our common stock, and then as capital gain. Common stockholders will receive a Form 1099 from us (rather than a Schedule K-1 from each MLP if the stockholder had invested directly in the MLPs) and will recognize dividend income only to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

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 an MLP will exceed our share of such MLP's income. As a corporation for tax purposes, our earnings and profits will be calculated using (i) straight-line depreciation rather than accelerated depreciation, and cost rather than a percentage depletion method, and (ii) intangible drilling costs and exploration and development costs are amortized over a five-year and ten-year period, respectively. Because of the differences in the manner in which earnings and profits and taxable income are calculated, we may make distributions out of earnings and profits, treated as dividends, in years in which we have no taxable income.

Our distributions that are treated as dividends generally will be taxable as ordinary income to holders, but (i) are expected to be treated as "qualified dividend income" that is currently subject to reduced rates of federal income taxation for noncorporate stockholders, and (ii) may be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate stockholders, in each case provided that certain holding period requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is currently taxable to noncorporate stockholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. Thereafter, qualified dividend income will be taxed at ordinary income rates unless further legislative action is taken.

If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distribution will be treated as a non-taxable adjustment to the basis of the stock to the extent of such basis, and then as capital gain to the extent of the excess distribution. Such gain will be long-term capital gain if the holding period for the stock is more than one year. Individuals are currently subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% on long-term capital gains. This rate is currently scheduled to increase to 20% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2010. Corporations are taxed on capital gains at their ordinary graduated rates.

Sale of Our Preferred Stock
The sale of our preferred stock by holders will generally be a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes. Holders of our 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 such shares of stock are held as a capital asset at the time of the sale, the gain or loss will generally be a capital gain or loss, generally taxable as described above. A holder's ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

Similarly, a redemption by us (including a redemption resulting from our liquidation), if any, of all our preferred stock actually and constructively held by a stockholder generally will give rise to capital gain or loss under Section 302(b) of the Code if the stockholder does not own (and is not regarded under certain tax law rules of constructive ownership as owning) any of our common stock, and 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 Code must be satisfied to achieve such treatment, and Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding such conditions.

Backup Withholding
Backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 28% may apply to the distributions on our common stock to be made by us if you fail to timely provide taxpayer identification numbers or if we are so instructed by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. holder under the backup withholding rules are allowable as a refund or credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required 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. In addition, recently enacted legislation may impose additional U.S. reporting and withholding requirements on certain foreign financial institutions and other foreign entities with respect to distributions on and proceeds from the sale or disposition of our stock. This legislation will generally be effective for payments made on or after January 1, 2013. Foreign stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation as well as the other U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in our stock.

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

Taxation of Interest on Our Debt Securities
Payments or accruals of interest on our debt securities will generally be taxable to you as ordinary 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 Our Debt Securities
Initially, your tax basis in our debt securities acquired will generally be equal to your cost to acquire such debt securities. This basis will increase by the amount, if any, that you are required or elect to 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 our debt securities, or if any of our 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 in the manner described above under "Taxation of Interest on Our Debt Securities") and your tax basis in our 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 our debt securities generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will 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 held for one year or less. Net long-term capital gain recognized by a noncorporate U.S. holder generally will be subject to tax at a lower rate (currently a maximum rate of 15%, although this rate will increase to 20% for taxable years beginning after 2010) than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income (currently a maximum rate of 35%). A holder's ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

Amortizable Premium
If you purchase our debt securities at a cost greater than the stated principal amount, plus accrued interest, you will be considered to have purchased our debt securities at a premium, and you may generally elect to amortize this premium as an offset to interest income, using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of our debt securities. If you make the election to amortize the premium, the election 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 our 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 our debt securities. Therefore, if you do not elect to amortize the premium and you hold our debt securities to maturity, you generally will be required to treat the premium as a capital loss when our debt securities are redeemed.

Market Discount
If you purchase our debt securities at a price that reflects a "market discount," any principal payments on, or any gain that you realize on the disposition of, our debt securities generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the market discount that accrued on our debt securities during the time you held such debt securities. "Market discount" is defined under the Code as the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the purchase price of the note, except that if market discount is less than 0.0025% 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 our debt securities that were acquired at a market discount. In general, market discount will be treated as accruing ratably over the term of our 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 our 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. 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.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Beneficial Owners
If you are a non-resident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a "non-U.S. holder"), the payment of interest on our debt securities generally will be considered "portfolio interest" and thus will generally be exempt from United States federal withholding tax. This exemption will apply to you provided that (1) interest paid on our 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 our debt securities is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (3) you do not actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (4) you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related, directly or indirectly to us through stock ownership and (5) you satisfy the certification requirements described below.

To satisfy the certification requirements, either (1) the beneficial owner of any of our 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 our debt securities on behalf of the beneficial owner 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 our debt securities held by a foreign partnership and other intermediaries.

Interest on our debt securities received by a non-U.S. holder which 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 us 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 taxable disposition (including a redemption) of our 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 a period or periods aggregating 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. Investors are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences that may affect them.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, interest, and premium, if any, paid on our debt securities and to the proceeds of the sale of our debt securities (including redemption proceeds) paid to U.S. holders other than certain exempt recipients (such as corporations). Information reporting will generally apply to interest payments on our debt securities to non-U.S. holders 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 our debt securities within the United States or conducted through United States related financial intermediaries unless the certification requirements described above have been complied with and the statement described above in "Taxation of Non-U.S. Beneficial Owners" has been received (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner 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 our 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 stockholders specified in the 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 above will satisfy these requirements.

Payment and distributions with respect to our common stock and preferred stock also may be subject to state and local taxes.

Tax matters are very complicated, and the federal, state local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in and holding of our common stock and preferred stock will depend on the facts of each investor's situation. Investors are encouraged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the specific tax consequences that may affect them.

Investing in our common stock involves certain tax risks, which are more fully described in our prospectus and other SEC filings.