<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
[LOGO OF NUVEEN APPEARS HERE]
34,300,000 Shares
Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund
Common Shares
$15.00 per share
------------
Investment Objectives. The Fund is a newly organized, closed-end,
diversified management investment company. The Fund's investment objectives
are:
. to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax; and
. to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by
investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Fund's investment adviser
believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market
sectors that are undervalued.
Portfolio Contents. The Fund will invest its net assets in a diversified
portfolio of municipal bonds that are exempt from regular federal income tax.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to be fully invested in such
tax-exempt municipal bonds. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net
assets in investment grade
(continued on following page)
------------
These securities involve certain risks. See "Risks" beginning on page 14.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per Share Total
--------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Public Offering Price $15.00 $514,500,000
Sales Load $ 0.675 $ 23,152,500
Proceeds to the Fund $14.325 $491,347,500
</TABLE>
The underwriters are offering the common shares subject to various
conditions. The underwriters expect to deliver the common shares to purchasers
on or about May 28, 1999.
------------
Salomon Smith Barney John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
PaineWebber Incorporated Prudential Securities
Dain Rauscher Wessels EVEREN Securities, Inc. Fahnestock & Co. Inc.
a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated
Gruntal & Co. Legg Mason Wood Walker
Incorporated
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. The Robinson-Humphrey Company
May 25, 1999
<PAGE>
(continued from previous page)
quality municipal bonds. Investment grade quality bonds are those rated by
national rating agencies within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or
better), or bonds that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by
the Fund's investment adviser. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets
in municipal bonds that are rated Ba/BB or B or that are unrated but judged to
be of comparable quality by the Fund's investment adviser. Bonds of below
investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative
characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
and are commonly referred to as junk bonds. See "The Fund's Investments." The
Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objectives. A
substantial portion of the Fund's income may be subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax. In addition, capital gains distributions will be
subject to capital gains taxes. See "Tax Matters."
No Prior History. Because the Fund is newly organized, its common shares
have no history of public trading. Shares of closed-end investment companies
frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. This risk may be
greater for investors expecting to sell their shares in a relatively short
period after completion of the public offering. The common shares have been
approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of
issuance. The trading or "ticker" symbol of the common shares is expected to
be "NAD".
MuniPreferred(R) Shares. The Fund intends to offer preferred shares, called
"MuniPreferred Shares" in this Prospectus. The Fund expects that the
MuniPreferred Shares will represent about 35% of the Fund's capital. The
issuance of MuniPreferred Shares will leverage your common shares, meaning
that the issuance of the MuniPreferred Shares may cause you to receive a
larger return or loss on your common shares than you would have received
without the issuance of the MuniPreferred Shares. Leverage involves special
risks, but also affords an opportunity for greater return. There is no
assurance that the Fund's leveraging strategy will be successful. See
"MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage" and "Description of Shares."
The underwriters named in this prospectus may purchase up to 5,145,000
additional common shares from the Fund under certain circumstances.
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated has agreed to pay (i) all organizational
expenses and (ii) offering costs (other than sales load) that exceed $0.02 per
common share.
This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund. You should
read the Prospectus before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future
reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated May 25, 1999,
containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety into this Prospectus. You can review the table of contents of the
Statement of Additional Information on page 33 of this Prospectus. You may
request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information by calling
(800) 257-8787. You may also obtain the Statement of Additional Information on
the Securities and Exchange Commission web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Fund's common shares 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.
2
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information
contained in the Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Fund............... Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the "Fund")
is a newly organized, closed-end, diversified
management investment company. See "The Fund."
The Offering........... The Fund is offering 34,300,000 common shares of
beneficial interest at $15.00 per share through a
group of underwriters (the "Underwriters") led by
Salomon Smith Barney Inc., John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, A.G.
Edwards & Sons, Inc., PaineWebber Incorporated,
Prudential Securities, Dain Rauscher Wessels, a
division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated, EVEREN
Securities, Inc., Fahnestock & Co. Inc., Gruntal &
Co., L.L.C., Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated,
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and The Robinson-
Humphrey Company, LLC. The common shares of
beneficial interest are called "Common Shares" in the
rest of this Prospectus. You must purchase at least
100 Common Shares. The Fund has given the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to 5,145,000
additional Common Shares to cover orders in excess of
34,300,000 Common Shares. See "Underwriting."
Investment Objectives.. The Fund's investment objectives are to provide
current income exempt from regular federal income tax
and enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal
bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal
bonds that the Fund's investment adviser believes are
underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal
markets that are undervalued. The Fund will invest
its net assets in a diversified portfolio of
municipal bonds that are exempt from regular federal
income tax. Under normal market conditions, the Fund
expects to be fully invested in such tax-exempt
municipal bonds. The Fund will invest at least 80% of
its net assets in municipal bonds that at the time of
investment are investment grade quality. Investment
grade quality bonds are bonds rated within the four
highest grades (Baa or BBB or better by Moody's
Investor Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poors
Corporation ("S&P") or Fitch IBCA, Inc. ("Fitch")),
or bonds that are unrated but judged to be of
comparable quality by the Fund's investment adviser.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in
municipal bonds that, at the time of investment, are
rated Ba/BB or B by Moody's, S&P or Fitch or unrated
but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund's
investment adviser. Bonds of below investment grade
quality are regarded as having predominately
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity
to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly
referred to as junk bonds. The Fund cannot assure you
that it will attain its investment objectives. See
"The Fund's Investments."
3
<PAGE>
Special The Fund expects that a substantial portion of its
Considerations......... investments will pay interest that is taxable under
the federal alternative minimum tax. If you are, or
as a result of investment in the Fund would become,
subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, the
Fund may not be a suitable investment for you. In
addition, capital gains distributions will be subject
to capital gains taxes. See "Tax Matters."
Proposed Offering of Approximately one to three months after completion of
MuniPreferred(R) this offering (subject to market conditions), the
Shares................. Fund intends to offer preferred shares of beneficial
interest ("MuniPreferred Shares") representing
approximately 35% of the Fund's capital after their
issuance. The issuance of MuniPreferred Shares will
leverage your shares. Leverage involves special
risks. There is no assurance that the Fund's
leveraging strategy will be successful. See "Risks".
The money the Fund obtains by selling the
MuniPreferred Shares will be invested in long-term
municipal bonds which will generally pay fixed rates
of interest over the life of the bond. The
MuniPreferred Shares will pay dividends based on
shorter-term rates, which will be reset frequently.
So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund
expenses, on the long-term bonds purchased by the
Fund exceeds MuniPreferred Share dividend rates as
reset periodically, the investment of the proceeds of
the MuniPreferred Shares will generate more income
than will be needed to pay dividends on the
MuniPreferred Shares. If so, the excess will be used
to pay higher dividends to holders of Common Shares
("Common Shareholders"). However, the Fund cannot
assure you that the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares
will result in a higher yield on your Common Shares.
Once MuniPreferred Shares are issued, the net asset
value and market price of the Common Shares and the
yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile.
See "MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage" and
"Description of Shares--MuniPreferred Shares."
Investment Adviser..... Nuveen Advisory Corp. ("Nuveen Advisory") will be the
Fund's investment adviser. Nuveen Advisory will
receive an annual fee, payable monthly, in a maximum
amount equal to .65% of the Fund's average daily
total net assets (including assets attributable to
any MuniPreferred Shares that may be outstanding),
with lower fee levels for assets that exceed $125
million. Nuveen Advisory has agreed to reimburse the
Fund for fees and expenses in the amount of .30% of
average daily total net assets of the Fund for the
first five years of the Fund's operations (through
July 31, 2004), and for a declining amount for an
additional five years (through July 31, 2009). Nuveen
Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of John Nuveen
& Co. Incorporated ("Nuveen"). See "Management of the
Fund."
Distributions..........
Commencing with the Fund's first dividend, the Fund
intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to
you at a level rate based on the projected
performance of the Fund. The Fund's ability to
maintain a
4
<PAGE>
level dividend rate will depend on a number of
factors, including dividends payable on the
MuniPreferred Shares. As portfolio and market
conditions change, the rate of dividends on the
Common Shares and the Fund's dividend policy could
change. Over time, the Fund will distribute all of
its net investment income (after it pays accrued
dividends on any outstanding MuniPreferred Shares).
In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to
distribute net realized capital gains and taxable
ordinary income, if any, to you so long as the net
realized capital gains and taxable ordinary income
are not necessary to pay accrued dividends on, or
redeem or liquidate, any MuniPreferred Shares. Your
initial distribution is expected to be declared
approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to
90 days, from the completion of this offering,
depending on market conditions. You may elect to
automatically reinvest some or all of your
distributions in additional Common Shares under the
Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan. See
"Distributions" and "Dividend Reinvestment Plan."
Listing............... The Common Shares have been approved for listing on
the New York Stock Exchange, subject to notice of
issuance. See "Description of Shares--Common Shares."
The trading or "ticker" symbol of the Common Shares
is expected to be "NAD."
Custodian............. The Chase Manhattan Bank will serve as custodian of
the Fund's assets. See "Custodian and Transfer
Agent."
Market Price of Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently
Shares................ trade at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of
closed-end investment companies like the Fund that
invest predominately in investment grade municipal
bonds have during some periods traded at prices
higher than net asset value and during other periods
have traded at prices lower than net asset value. The
Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade
at a price higher than net asset value in the future.
Net asset value will be reduced immediately following
the offering by the sales load and the amount of the
organization and offering expenses paid by the Fund.
See "Use of Proceeds." In addition to net asset
value, market price may be affected by such factors
as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by
expenses), call protection, dividend stability,
portfolio credit quality and liquidity and market
supply and demand. See "MuniPreferred Shares and
Leverage," "Risks," "Description of Shares,"
"Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End
Fund" and the Statement of Additional Information
under "Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-
End Fund." The Common Shares are designed primarily
for long-term investors, and you should not view the
Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.
Special Risk
Considerations........
No Operating History. The Fund is a newly organized
closed-end investment company with no history of
operations.
5
<PAGE>
Interest Rate Risk. When market interest rates fall,
bond prices rise, and vice versa. Interest rate risk
is the risk that the municipal bonds in the Fund's
portfolio will decline in value because of increases
in market interest rates. The prices of longer-term
bonds fluctuate more than prices of shorter-term
bonds as interest rates change. Because the Fund will
invest primarily in long-term bonds, the Common Share
net asset value and market price per share will
fluctuate more in response to changes in market
interest rates than if the Fund invested primarily in
shorter-term bonds. The Fund's use of leverage, as
described below, will tend to increase Common Share
interest rate risk.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that one or more
municipal bonds in the Fund's portfolio will decline
in price, or fail to pay interest or principal when
due, because the issuer of the bond experiences a
decline in its financial status. The Fund may invest
up to 20% (measured at the time of investment) of its
net assets in municipal bonds that are rated Ba/BB or
B or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable
quality by Nuveen Advisory. The prices of these lower
grade bonds are more sensitive to negative
developments, such as a decline in the issuer's
revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the
prices of higher grade securities.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage through the
issuance of MuniPreferred Shares creates an
opportunity for increased Common Share net income,
but also creates special risks for Common
Shareholders. There is no assurance that the Fund's
leveraging strategy will be successful. It is
anticipated that MuniPreferred dividends will be
based on shorter-term municipal bond rates of return
(which would be redetermined periodically, pursuant
to an auction process), and that the Fund will invest
the proceeds of the MuniPreferred Shares offering in
long-term, typically fixed rate, municipal bonds. So
long as the Fund's municipal bond portfolio provides
a higher rate of return (net of Fund expenses) than
the MuniPreferred dividend rate, as reset
periodically, the leverage will cause Common
Shareholders to receive a higher current rate of
return than if the Fund were not leveraged. If,
however, long and/or short-term rates rise, the
MuniPreferred dividend rate could exceed the rate of
return on long-term bonds held by the Fund that were
acquired during periods of generally lower interest
rates, reducing return to Common Shareholders.
Leverage creates two major types of risks for Common
Shareholders:
. the likelihood of greater volatility of net
asset value and market price of Common
Shares, because changes in the value of the
Fund's bond portfolio (including bonds bought
with the proceeds of the MuniPreferred Shares
offering) are borne entirely by the Common
Shareholders; and
6
<PAGE>
. the possibility either that Common Share
income will fall if the MuniPreferred
dividend rate rises, or that Common Share
income will fluctuate because the
MuniPreferred dividend rate varies.
Municipal Bond Market Risk. The amount of public
information available about the municipal bonds in
the Fund's portfolio is generally less than that for
corporate equities or bonds, and the investment
performance of the Fund may therefore be more
dependent on the analytical abilities of Nuveen
Advisory than would be a stock fund or taxable bond
fund. The secondary market for municipal bonds,
particularly the below investment grade bonds in
which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less
well-developed or liquid than many other securities
markets, which may adversely affect the Fund's
ability to sell its bonds at attractive prices.
Anti-takeover Provisions. The Declaration of Trust
includes provisions that could limit the ability of
other entities or persons to acquire control of the
Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. The
provisions of the Declaration described above could
have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders
of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a
premium over the then current market price of the
Common Shares.
7
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table assumes the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares in an
amount equal to 35% of the Fund's capital (after their issuance), and shows
Fund expenses both as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares
and as a percentage of total net assets.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of
Total Net Assets
----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Sales Load Paid by You (as a percentage
of offering price)..................... 4.50%
Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees......... None*
<CAPTION>
Percentage of Net
Assets Attributable Percentage of
to Common Shares Total Net Assets
------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Annual Expenses
Management Fees......................... .97% .63%
Fee and Expense Reimbursement (Years 1-
5)..................................... (.46%)** (.30%)**
----- -----
Net Management Fees....................... .51%** .33%**
Other Expenses............................ .23% .15%
----- -----
Total Net Annual Expenses................. .74%** .48%**
===== =====
</TABLE>
- --------
* You will be charged a $2.50 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you
direct the Plan Agent to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend
reinvestment account.
** Nuveen Advisory has agreed to reimburse the Fund for fees and expenses in
the amount of .30% of average daily total net assets for the first 5 years
of the Fund's operations, .25% of average daily total net assets in year 6,
.20% in year 7, .15% in year 8, .10% in year 9 and .05% in year 10. Without
the reimbursement, "Total Net Annual Expenses" would be estimated to be
.78% of average daily total net assets and 1.20% of average daily net
assets attributable to Common Shares. Nuveen has agreed to pay (i) all
organizational expenses and (ii) offering costs (other than sales load)
that exceed $0.02 per Common Share (.13% of offering price).
The purpose of the table above is to help you understand all fees and
expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly.
The expenses shown in the table are based on estimated amounts for the Fund's
first year of operations and assume that the Fund issues 27,000,000 Common
Shares. See "Management of the Fund" and "Dividend Reinvestment Plan."
The following example illustrates the expenses (including the sales load of
$45) that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares, assuming (1)
total net annual expenses of .74% of net assets attributable to Common Shares
and .43% of total net assets in years 1 through 5, increasing to 1.12% and
.73%, respectively, in year 10 and (2) a 5% annual return:(/1/)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Expenses Based on a Percentage of 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years(2)
--------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Assets Attributable to Common
Shares............................... $52 $68 $84 $148
Total Net Assets...................... $50 $60 $71 $113
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses.
The example assumes that the estimated Other Expenses set forth in the
Annual Expenses table are accurate, that fees and expenses increase as
described in note 2 below and that all dividends and distributions are
reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than
those assumed. Moreover, the Fund's actual rate of return may be greater
or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
(2) Assumes reimbursement of fees and expenses of .25% of average daily net
assets in year 6, .20% in year 7, .15% in year 8, .10% in year 9 and .05%
in year 10. Nuveen Advisory has not agreed to reimburse the Fund for any
portion of its fees and expenses beyond July 31, 2009.
8
<PAGE>
THE FUND
The Fund is a recently organized, closed-end, diversified management
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"). The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business
trust on January 15, 1999, pursuant to a Declaration of Trust governed by the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Declaration"). As a newly
organized entity, the Fund has no operating history. The Fund's principal
office is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its
telephone number is (800) 257-8787.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares will be approximately
$491,278,900 ($564,970,735 if the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment
option in full) after payment of the estimated organization and offering
costs. Nuveen has agreed to pay (i) all organizational expenses and (ii)
offering costs (other than sales load) that exceed $0.02 per Common Share. The
Fund will invest the net proceeds of the offering in accordance with the
Fund's investment objectives and policies as stated below. It is presently
anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net
proceeds in municipal bonds that meet those investment objectives and policies
within three months after the completion of the offering. Pending such
investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-
term, tax-exempt securities.
THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
Investment Objectives and Policies
The Fund's investment objectives are:
. to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax; and
. to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by
investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that Nuveen Advisory believes
are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors
that are undervalued.
Underrated municipal bonds are those whose ratings do not, in Nuveen
Advisory's opinion, reflect their true creditworthiness. Undervalued municipal
bonds are bonds that, in Nuveen Advisory's opinion, are worth more than the
value assigned to them in the marketplace. Nuveen Advisory may at times
believe that bonds associated with a particular municipal market sector (for
example, electric utilities), or issued by a particular municipal issuer, are
undervalued. Nuveen Advisory may purchase such a bond for the Fund's portfolio
because it represents a market sector or issuer that Nuveen Advisory considers
undervalued, even if the value of the particular bond appears to be consistent
with the value of similar bonds. Municipal bonds of particular types (e.g.,
hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular
municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of
supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market
price of municipal bonds of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to
the particular municipal bonds that are considered undervalued. The Fund's
investment in underrated or undervalued municipal bonds will be based on
Nuveen Advisory's belief that their yield is higher than that available on
bonds bearing equivalent levels of interest rate risk, credit risk and other
forms of risk, and that their prices will ultimately rise (relative to the
market) to reflect their true value. The Fund attempts to increase its
portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by prudent selection of
municipal bonds regardless of the direction the market may move. Any capital
appreciation realized by the Fund will generally result in the distribution of
taxable capital gains to Common Shareholders.
9
<PAGE>
The Fund will invest its net assets in a diversified portfolio of municipal
bonds that are exempt from regular federal income tax. Under normal market
conditions, the Fund expects to be fully invested (at least 95% of its assets)
in such tax-exempt municipal bonds. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its
net assets in investment grade quality municipal bonds. Investment grade
quality means that such bonds are rated, at the time of investment, within the
four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better by Moody's, S&P or Fitch) or are
unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory. The Fund
may invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal bonds that are rated, at
the time of investment, Ba/BB or B by Moody's, S&P or Fitch or that are
unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory. Bonds of
below investment grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as
junk bonds. Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having
predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. The foregoing credit quality policies apply only
at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose
of a security in the event that a rating agency downgrades its assessment of
the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to
retain or sell such a security, Nuveen Advisory may consider such factors as
Nuveen Advisory's assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such
security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if
any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. A general description
of Moody's, S&P's and Fitch's ratings of municipal bonds is set forth in
Appendix A to the Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may also
invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that
invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest
directly. See "--Other Investment Companies" and "--Initial Portfolio
Composition."
The Fund may purchase municipal bonds that are additionally secured by
insurance, bank credit agreements, or escrow accounts. The credit quality of
companies which provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of
those securities. Although the insurance feature reduces certain financial
risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured
obligations may reduce the Fund's income. Insurance generally will be obtained
from insurers with a claims-paying ability rated Aaa by Moody's or AAA by S&P
or Fitch. The insurance feature does not guarantee the market value of the
insured obligations or the net asset value of the Common Shares.
Upon Nuveen Advisory's recommendation, during temporary defensive periods
and in order to keep the Fund's cash fully invested, including the period
during which the net proceeds of the offering are being invested, the Fund may
invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments including high
quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The
Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event
that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at
reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments
would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal
income taxes. For more information, see the Statement of Additional
Information.
The Fund cannot change its investment objectives without the approval of
the holders of a "majority of the outstanding" Common Shares and MuniPreferred
Shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a "majority of
the outstanding" MuniPreferred Shares voting as a separate class. A "majority
of the outstanding," means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting,
if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by
proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less. See
"Description of Shares--MuniPreferred Shares--Voting Rights" and the Statement
of Additional Information under "Description of Shares--MuniPreferred Shares--
Voting Rights" for additional information with respect to the voting rights of
holders of MuniPreferred Shares.
10
<PAGE>
If you are, or as a result of investment in the Fund would become, subject
to the federal alternative minimum tax, the Fund may not be a suitable
investment for you because the Fund expects that a substantial portion of its
investments will pay interest that is taxable under the federal alternative
minimum tax. Special rules apply to corporate holders. In addition, capital
gains distributions will be subject to capital gains taxes. See "Tax Matters."
Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are either general obligation or revenue bonds and
typically are issued to finance public projects (such as roads or public
buildings), to pay general operating expenses, or to refinance outstanding
debt. Municipal bonds may also be issued for private activities, such as
housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned
industrial development and pollution control projects. General obligation
bonds are backed by the full faith and credit, or taxing authority, of the
issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source; revenue bonds may be repaid
only from the revenues of a specific facility or source. The Fund also may
purchase municipal bonds that represent lease obligations. These carry special
risks because the issuer of the bonds may not be obligated to appropriate
money annually to make payments under the lease. In order to reduce this risk,
the Fund will only purchase municipal bonds representing lease obligations
where Nuveen Advisory believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue
making appropriations until maturity.
The municipal bonds in which the Fund will invest are generally issued by
states, cities and local authorities and certain possessions and territories
of the United States (such as Puerto Rico or Guam), and pay interest that, in
the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority
believed by Nuveen Advisory to be reliable), is exempt from regular federal
income tax, although the interest may be subject to the federal alternative
minimum tax.
The yields on municipal bonds are dependent on a variety of factors,
including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money
market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the
maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The market value of
municipal bonds will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result
of changing evaluations of the ability of their issuers to meet interest and
principal payments.
The Fund will primarily invest in municipal bonds with long-term maturities
in order to maintain a weighted average maturity of 15-30 years, but the
weighted average maturity of obligations held by the Fund may be shortened,
depending on market conditions.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
The Fund may buy and sell municipal bonds on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally
within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. This type of transaction may involve
an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to
settlement and, since bonds are subject to market fluctuations, the value of
the bonds at time of delivery may be less (or more) than cost. A separate
account of the Fund will be established with its custodian consisting of cash,
cash equivalents, or liquid securities having a market value at all times at
least equal to the amount of the commitment.
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of other
open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal
bonds of the types in which the Fund may
11
<PAGE>
invest directly. The Fund generally expects to invest in other investment
companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash,
such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the
offering of its Common Shares or MuniPreferred Shares, or during periods when
there is a shortage of attractive, high-yielding municipal bonds available in
the market. As a stockholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its
ratable share of that investment company's expenses, and would remain subject
to payment of the Fund's management, advisory and administrative fees with
respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject
to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment
companies. Nuveen Advisory will take expenses into account when evaluating the
investment merits of an investment in the investment company relative to
available municipal bond investments. In addition, the securities of other
investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to
the same leverage risks described herein. As described in the Prospectus in
the section entitled "Risks", the net asset value and market value of
leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend
to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
Initial Portfolio Composition
If current market conditions persist, the Fund expects that approximately
85% of its initial portfolio will consist of investment grade quality
municipal bonds, rated as such at the time of investment, meaning that such
bonds are rated by national rating agencies within the four highest grades of
the investment grade category or are unrated but judged to be of comparable
quality by Nuveen Advisory (approximately 50% in Aaa/AAA; 15% in A; and 20% in
Baa/BBB). The Fund will generally select obligations which may not be redeemed
at the option of the issuer for approximately seven to nine years from the
date of purchase by the Fund. See the Statement of Additional Information
under "Certain Trading Strategies of the Fund--Portfolio Trading and Turnover
Rate." Subject to market availability, the Fund would likely seek to invest
approximately 15% of its initial portfolio in municipal bonds that are, at the
time of investment, either rated below investment grade or that are unrated
but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory. See "The Fund's
Investments--Investment Objectives and Policies."
MUNIPREFERRED SHARES AND LEVERAGE
Approximately one to three months after the completion of the offering of
the Common Shares (subject to market conditions), the Fund intends to offer
MuniPreferred Shares representing approximately 35% of the Fund's capital
immediately after the issuance of the MuniPreferred Shares. The MuniPreferred
Shares have complete priority upon distribution of assets over the Common
Shares. The issuance of MuniPreferred Shares will leverage the Common Shares.
Leverage involves special risks. There is no assurance that the Fund's
leveraging strategy will be successful. Although the timing and other terms of
the offering and the terms of the MuniPreferred Shares will be determined by
the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Fund expects to invest the proceeds of the
MuniPreferred Shares offering in long-term municipal bonds. The MuniPreferred
Shares will pay dividends based on shorter-term rates (which would be
redetermined periodically by an auction process). So long as the Fund's
portfolio is invested in securities that provide a higher rate of return than
the dividend rate of the MuniPreferred Shares (after taking expenses into
consideration), the leverage will cause you to receive a higher current rate
of return than if the Fund were not leveraged.
Changes in the value of the Fund's bond portfolio (including bonds bought
with the proceeds of the MuniPreferred Shares offering) will be borne entirely
by the Common Shareholders. If there is a net
12
<PAGE>
decrease (or increase) in the value of the Fund's investment portfolio, the
leverage will decrease (or increase) the net asset value per Common Share to a
greater extent than if the Fund were not leveraged. During periods in which
the Fund is using leverage, the fees paid to Nuveen Advisory for advisory
services will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees
paid will be calculated on the basis of the Fund's total net assets, including
the proceeds from the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares.
For tax purposes, the Fund is currently required to allocate net capital
gains and other taxable income, if any, between the Common Shares and
MuniPreferred Shares in proportion to total distributions paid to each class
for the year in which the net capital gains or other taxable income is
realized. If net capital gains or other taxable income is allocated to
MuniPreferred Shares (instead of solely tax-exempt income), the Fund will
likely have to pay higher total dividends to MuniPreferred Shareholders or
make special payments to MuniPreferred Shareholders to compensate them for the
increased tax liability. This would reduce the total amount of dividends paid
to the Common Shareholders, but would increase the portion of the dividend
that is tax-exempt. On an after-tax basis, Common Shareholders may still be
better off than if they had been allocated all of the Fund's net capital gains
or other taxable income (resulting in a higher amount of total dividends), but
received a lower amount of tax-exempt income. If the increase in dividend
payments or the special payments to MuniPreferred Shareholders are not
entirely offset by a reduction in the tax liability of, and an increase in the
tax-exempt dividends received by, the Common Shareholders, the advantage of
the Fund's leveraged structure to Common Shareholders will be reduced.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment
Company Act" or the "1940 Act"), the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred
shares unless immediately after such issuance the value of the Fund's total
net assets is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding
preferred shares (i.e., such liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the
Fund's total net assets). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare
any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the
time of such declaration, the value of the Fund's total net assets is at least
200% of such liquidation value. If MuniPreferred Shares are issued, the Fund
intends, to the extent possible, to purchase or redeem MuniPreferred Shares
from time to time to the extent necessary in order to maintain coverage of any
MuniPreferred Shares of at least 200%. If the Fund has MuniPreferred Shares
outstanding, two of the Fund's trustees will be elected by the holders of
MuniPreferred Shares, voting separately as a class. The remaining trustees of
the Fund will be elected by holders of Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares
voting together as a single class. In the event the Fund failed to pay
dividends on MuniPreferred Shares for two years, MuniPreferred Shareholders
would be entitled to elect a majority of the trustees of the Fund.
The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of
one or more rating agencies which may issue ratings for MuniPreferred Shares
issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or Fund
composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the
Fund by the Investment Company Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants
or guidelines will impede Nuveen Advisory from managing the Fund's portfolio
in accordance with the Fund's investment objectives and policies.
The Fund may also borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or
emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of
securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of
Fund securities.
13
<PAGE>
Assuming that the MuniPreferred Shares will represent approximately 35% of
the Fund's capital and pay dividends at an annual average rate of 2.90%, the
income generated by the Fund's portfolio (net of estimated expenses) must
exceed 1.02% in order to cover such dividend payments and other expenses
specifically related to the MuniPreferred Shares. Of course, these numbers are
merely estimates, used for illustration. Actual MuniPreferred Share dividend
rates will vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the
rate estimated above.
The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. It is designed to illustrate the effect of
leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total
returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of bonds held in the
Fund's portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment
portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative
of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced
by the Fund. The table further reflects the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares
representing 35% of the Fund's total capital, a 4.95% yield on the Fund's
investment portfolio, net of expenses, and the Fund's currently projected
annual MuniPreferred Share dividend rate of 2.90%. See "Risks" and
"MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage."
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Components of Portfolio Return
Net Income............................. 4.95% 4.95% 4.95% 4.95% 4.95%
Capital (Loss) or Gain................. (14.95)% (9.95)% (4.95)% 0.05% 5.05%
Assumed Portfolio Total Return........... (10.00)% (5.00)% (0.00)% 5.00% 10.00%
Common Share Dividends................. 6.05% 6.05% 6.05% 6.05% 6.05%
Common Share Capital Gain/(Loss)....... (23.00)% (15.31)% (7.62)% 0.08% 7.77%
Common Share Total Return................ (16.95)% (9.25)% (1.56)% 6.13% 13.82%
</TABLE>
Common Share total return is composed of two elements--the Common Share
dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the
net investment income of the Fund after paying dividends on MuniPreferred
Shares) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the table assumes
that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital
appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must
assume that the tax-exempt interest it receives on its municipal bond
investments is entirely offset by losses in the value of those bonds.
Unless and until MuniPreferred Shares are issued, the Common Shares will
not be leveraged and this section will not apply.
RISKS
The net asset value of the Common Shares will fluctuate with and be
affected by, among other things, interest rate risk, credit risk, reinvestment
risk and leverage risk, and an investment in Common Shares will be subject to
market discount risk, inflation risk, municipal bond market risk and "Year
2000" risk, each of which is more fully described below.
Newly Organized. The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, closed-end
management investment company and has no operating history.
Market Discount Risk. Shares of closed-end management investment companies
frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that bonds (and the
Fund's net assets) will decline in value because of changes in interest rates.
Generally, municipal bonds will decrease in value when interest rates rise and
increase in value when interest rates decline. This means that the net asset
value
14
<PAGE>
of the Common Shares will fluctuate with interest rate changes and the
corresponding changes in the value of the Fund's municipal bond holdings. The
value of the longer-term bonds in which the Fund generally invests fluctuates
more in response to changes in interest rates than does the value of shorter-
term bonds. Because the Fund will invest primarily in long-term bonds, the
Common Share net asset value and market price per share will fluctuate more in
response to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested
primarily in shorter-term bonds. The Fund's use of leverage, as described
below, will tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a municipal bond
will become unable to meet its obligation to make interest and principal
payments. In general, lower rated municipal bonds carry a greater degree of
risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal
payments, which could have a negative impact to the Fund's net asset value or
dividends. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal bonds
that are rated Ba/BB or B by Moody's, S&P or Fitch or that are unrated but
judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund's investment adviser. Bonds
rated Ba/BB or B are regarded as having predominately speculative
characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal,
and these bonds are commonly referred to as junk bonds. The prices of these
lower grade bonds are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a
decline in the issuer's revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the
prices of higher grade securities.
The Fund intends to invest substantially all its assets in municipal bonds
issued by states, cities and local authorities and certain possessions and
territories of the United States. As a result, the Fund bears the investment
risk that economic, political or regulatory changes could hurt many municipal
bond issuers, which would likely reduce the value of the Fund's bond portfolio
and a Common Shareholder's investment in the Fund.
Municipal Bond Market Risk. Investing in the municipal bond market involves
certain risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal
bonds in the Fund's portfolio is generally less than that for corporate
equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund may therefore be
more dependent on the analytical abilities of Nuveen Advisory than would be a
stock fund or taxable bond fund. The secondary market for municipal bonds,
particularly the below investment grade bonds in which the Fund may invest,
also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities
markets, which may adversely affect the Fund's ability to sell its bonds at
attractive prices.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the
Fund's bond portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds
from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are below
the portfolio's current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the
Common Shares' market price or their overall returns.
Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is the risk associated with the issuance of
the MuniPreferred Shares to leverage the Common Shares. There is no assurance
that the Fund's leveraging strategy will be successful. Once the MuniPreferred
Shares are issued, the net asset value and market value of Common Shares will
be more volatile, and the yield to Common Shareholders will tend to fluctuate
with changes in the shorter-term dividend rates on the MuniPreferred Shares.
Long-term municipal bond rates of return are typically, although not always,
higher than shorter-term municipal bond rates of return. If the dividend rate
on the MuniPreferred Shares approaches the net rate of return on the Fund's
investment portfolio, the benefit of leverage to Common Shareholders would be
reduced. If the dividend rate on the MuniPreferred Shares exceeds the net rate
of return on the Fund's portfolio, the leverage
15
<PAGE>
will result in a lower rate of return to Common Shareholders than if the Fund
were not leveraged. Because the long-term bonds included in the Fund's
portfolio will typically pay fixed rates of interest while the dividend rate
on the MuniPreferred Shares will be adjusted periodically, this could occur
even when both long-term and short-term municipal rates rise. In addition, the
Fund will pay (and Common Shareholders will bear) any costs and expenses
relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the MuniPreferred Shares.
Accordingly, the Fund cannot assure you that the issuance of MuniPreferred
Shares will result in a higher yield or return to Common Shareholders.
Similarly, any decline in the net asset value of the Fund's investments
will be borne entirely by Common Shareholders. Therefore, if the market value
of the Fund's portfolio declines, the leverage will result in a greater
decrease in net asset value to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not
leveraged. Such greater net asset value decrease will also tend to cause a
greater decline in the market price for the Common Shares. The Fund might be
in danger of failing to maintain the required 200% asset coverage or of losing
its expected AAA/aaa ratings on the MuniPreferred Shares or, in an extreme
case, the Fund's current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the
dividend requirements on the MuniPreferred Shares. In order to counteract such
an event, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a
redemption of some or all of the MuniPreferred Shares. Liquidation at times of
low municipal bond prices may result in capital loss and may reduce returns to
Common Shareholders.
While the Fund may from time to time consider reducing leverage in response
to actual or anticipated changes in interest rates in an effort to mitigate
the increased volatility of current income and net asset value associated with
leverage, there can be no assurance that the Fund will actually reduce
leverage in the future or that any reduction, if undertaken, will benefit the
Common Shareholders. Changes in the future direction of interest rates are
very difficult to predict accurately. If the Fund were to reduce leverage
based on a prediction about future changes to interest rates, and that
prediction turns out to be incorrect, the reduction in leverage would likely
operate to reduce the income and/or total returns to Common Shareholders
relative to the circumstance where the Fund had not reduced leverage. The Fund
may decide that this risk outweighs the likelihood of achieving the desired
reduction to volatility in income and share price if the prediction were to
turn out to be correct, and determine not to reduce leverage as described
above.
The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies. Such
securities may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the leverage
risks described above. Such additional leverage may in certain market
conditions serve to reduce the net asset value of the Fund's Common Shares and
the returns to Common Shareholders.
Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or
income from investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases
the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common
Shares and distributions can decline. In addition, during any periods of
rising inflation, MuniPreferred Share dividend rates would likely increase,
which would tend to further reduce returns to Common Shareholders.
"Year 2000" Risk. "Year 2000" risk is the risk that the computer systems
used by Nuveen Advisory, its service providers and industry wide information
and transaction clearinghouses to manage the Fund's investments and process
shareholder transactions may not be able to correctly process activity
occurring in the year 2000 because of the way computers historically have
stored dates. In addition, Year 2000 issues may affect the ability of
municipal issuers to meet their interest and principal payment obligations to
their bond holders, and may adversely affect their credit ratings.
16
<PAGE>
In addition, it is possible that the markets for municipal securities in
which the Fund invests may be detrimentally affected by computer failures
throughout the financial services industry beginning on or before January 1,
2000. Improperly functioning trading systems may result in settlement problems
and liquidity issues. In addition, corporate and governmental data processing
errors may result in production problems for individual issuers and overall
economic uncertainties. Earnings of individual issuers will be affected by
remediation costs, which may be substantial and may be reported inconsistently
in financial statements. Accordingly, the Fund's investments may be adversely
affected. The statements above are subject to the Year 2000 Information and
Readiness Disclosure Act, which may limit the legal rights regarding the use
of such statements in the case of a dispute.
HOW THE FUND MANAGES RISK
Investment Limitations
The Fund has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit
investment risk and maintain portfolio diversification. These limitations are
fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares voting
together as a single class, and the approval of the holders of a majority of
the MuniPreferred Shares voting as a separate class. The Fund may not:
. Invest more than 25% of total fund assets in securities of issuers in
any one industry; except that this limitation does not apply to
municipal bonds backed by the assets and revenues of governments or
political subdivisions of governments; and
. Invest more than 5% of total fund assets in securities of any one
issuer, except that this limitation does not apply to bonds issued by
the United States Government, its agencies and instrumentalities or to
the investment of 25% of its total assets.
The Fund may become subject to guidelines which are more limiting than the
investment restrictions set forth above in order to obtain and maintain
ratings from Moody's or S&P on the MuniPreferred Shares that it intends to
issue. The Fund does not anticipate that such guidelines would have a material
adverse effect on the Fund's Common Shareholders or the Fund's ability to
achieve its investment objectives. See "Investment Objectives and Policies--
Investment Restrictions" in the Statement of Additional Information for
information about these guidelines and additional fundamental and non-
fundamental investment policies of the Fund.
Quality Investments
The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in bonds of investment
grade quality at the time of investment. Investment grade quality means that
such bonds are rated by national rating agencies within the four highest
grades (Baa or BBB or better by Moody's, S&P or Fitch) or are unrated but
judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory.
Limited Issuance of MuniPreferred Shares
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue MuniPreferred Shares having a
total liquidation value (original purchase price of the shares being
liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends ) of up to one-half of the
value of the total net assets of the Fund. If the total liquidation value of
the MuniPreferred Shares was ever more than one-half of the value of the
Fund's total net assets, the Fund would not be able to declare dividends on
the Common Shares until the liquidation value, as a
17
<PAGE>
percentage of the Fund's assets, was reduced. The Fund intends to issue
MuniPreferred Shares representing about 35% of the Fund's total capital at the
time of issuance, if the Fund sells all the Common Shares and MuniPreferred
Shares discussed in this Prospectus. This higher than required margin of net
asset value provides a cushion against later fluctuations in the value of the
Fund's portfolio and will subject Common Shareholders to less income and net
asset value volatility than if the Fund were more leveraged. The Fund intends
to purchase or redeem MuniPreferred Shares, if necessary, to keep the
liquidation value of the MuniPreferred Shares below one-half of the value of
the Fund's total net assets.
Management of Investment Portfolio and Capital Structure to Limit Leverage
Risk
The Fund may take certain actions if short-term rates increase or market
conditions otherwise change (or the Fund anticipates such an increase or
change) and the Fund's leverage begins (or is expected) to adversely affect
Common Shareholders. In order to attempt to offset such a negative impact of
leverage on Common Shareholders, the Fund may shorten the average maturity of
its investment portfolio (by investing in short-term, high quality securities)
or may extend the maturity of outstanding MuniPreferred Shares. The Fund may
also attempt to reduce the leverage by redeeming or otherwise purchasing
MuniPreferred Shares. As explained above under "Risks--Leverage Risk", the
success of any such attempt to limit leverage risk depends on Nuveen
Advisory's ability to accurately predict interest rate or other market
changes. Because of the difficulty of making such predictions, the Fund may
never attempt to manage its capital structure in the manner described above.
If market conditions suggest that additional leverage would be beneficial,
the Fund may sell previously unissued MuniPreferred Shares or MuniPreferred
Shares that the Fund previously issued but later repurchased.
Currently, the Fund may not invest in inverse floating rate securities,
which are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with
changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and which represent
a leveraged investment in an underlying municipal bond. This restriction is a
non-fundamental policy of the Fund that may be changed by vote of the Fund's
Board of Trustees.
Hedging Strategies
The Fund may use various investment strategies designed to limit the risk
of bond price fluctuations and to preserve capital. These hedging strategies
include using financial futures contracts, options on financial futures or
options based on either an index of long-term municipal securities or on
taxable debt securities whose prices, in the opinion of Nuveen Advisory,
correlate with the prices of the Fund's investments. Successful implementation
of most hedging strategies would generate taxable income, and the Fund has no
present intention to use these strategies.
Year 2000 Issues
Nuveen Advisory is working with the Fund's service providers and
clearinghouses to adapt their systems to address the Year 2000 issue. Nuveen
Advisory and the Fund expect, but there can be no assurance, that the
necessary work will be completed on a timely basis. Nuveen Advisory is also
requesting information from municipal issuers so that issuers' Year 2000
readiness, if made available, can be taken into account in making investment
decisions. However, there can be no assurance that the requested information
will be provided to Nuveen Advisory, or that issuers of municipal bonds in the
Fund's portfolio will begin or complete the work necessary to address any Year
2000 issues on a timely basis.
18
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the management of the Fund,
including supervision of the duties performed by Nuveen Advisory. There are
seven trustees of the Fund, one of whom is an "interested person" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) and six of whom are not "interested persons." The names and
business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their
principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are
set forth under "Management of the Fund" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Advisory, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as
the investment adviser to the Fund. In this capacity, Nuveen Advisory is
responsible for the selection and on-going monitoring of the municipal bonds
in the Fund's investment portfolio, managing the Fund's business affairs and
providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services. Nuveen
Advisory serves as investment adviser to investment portfolios with more than
$35 billion in assets under management. See the Statement of Additional
Information under "Management of the Fund--Investment Adviser."
Overall investment management strategy and operating policies for the Fund
are set by the Investment Management Committee of John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated ("Nuveen") subject to the ultimate oversight and supervision of
the Board of Trustees. The Investment Management Committee is comprised of
several principal executive officers and portfolio managers of Nuveen and
Nuveen Advisory. Day to day operations and execution of specific investment
strategies is the responsibility of Nuveen Advisory. Nuveen Advisory manages
the Fund using a team of analysts and portfolio managers that focus on a
specific group of funds. Stephen S. Peterson is the portfolio manager of the
Fund and will provide daily oversight for, and execution of, the Fund's
investment activities. Mr. Peterson currently manages nine municipal bond
funds for Nuveen Advisory with assets aggregating more than $2.8 billion. He
is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Vice President of Nuveen Advisory.
Nuveen Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen, 333 West Wacker
Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Founded in 1898, Nuveen and its affiliates
have over $60 billion of net assets under management or surveillance. Nuveen
is a subsidiary of The John Nuveen Company which, in turn, is a majority-owned
subsidiary of The St. Paul Companies, Inc., a publicly-traded company which is
principally engaged in providing property-liability insurance through
subsidiaries.
Investment Management Agreement
Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Advisory and
the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay for the services and facilities provided
by Nuveen Advisory an annual management fee, payable on a monthly basis,
according to the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Management
Daily Total Net Assets* Fee
----------------------- ----------
<S> <C>
For the first $125 million..................................... .6500%
For the next $125 million...................................... .6375%
For the next $250 million...................................... .6250%
For the next $500 million...................................... .6125%
For the next $1 billion........................................ .6000%
For assets over $2 billion..................................... .5750%
</TABLE>
- --------
* Including net assets attributable to MuniPreferred Shares.
19
<PAGE>
In addition to the fee of Nuveen Advisory, the Fund pays all other costs
and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other
than those affiliated with Nuveen Advisory), custodian, transfer and dividend
disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of
repurchasing shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing
shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental
agencies, and taxes, if any.
For the first ten years of the Fund's operation, Nuveen Advisory has agreed
to reimburse the Fund for fees and expenses in the amounts, and for the time
periods, set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage
Reimbursed
(as a
percentage
Year of average
Ending daily net
July 31, assets)
- -------- ----------
<S> <C>
1999*........... .30%
2000............ .30%
2001............ .30%
2002............ .30%
2003............ .30%
2004............ .30%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage
Reimbursed
(as a
percentage
Year of average
Ending daily net
July 31, assets)
- -------- ----------
<S> <C>
2005............ 0.25%
2006............ 0.20%
2007............ 0.15%
2008............ 0.10%
2009............ 0.05%
</TABLE>
- --------
* From the commencement of operations.
Nuveen Advisory has not agreed to reimburse the Fund for any portion of its
fees and expenses beyond July 31, 2009.
NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund's net asset value per share is determined as of the close of
trading (normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time) on each day the New York Stock
Exchange is open for business. Net asset value is calculated by taking the
fair value of the Fund's total assets, including interest or dividends accrued
but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number
of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net
asset value per share.
In determining net asset value, expenses are accrued and applied daily and
securities and other assets for which market quotations are available are
valued at market value. The prices of municipal bonds are provided by a
pricing service and based on the mean between the bid and asked price. When
price quotes are not readily available (which is usually the case for
municipal bonds), the pricing service establishes a fair market value based on
prices of comparable municipal bonds. All valuations are subject to review by
the Fund's Board of Trustees or its delegate, Nuveen Advisory.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Commencing with the first dividend, the Fund intends to make regular
monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders at a rate that reflects the
past and projected performance of the Fund. Distributions can only be made
from net investment income after paying any accrued dividends to MuniPreferred
Shareholders. The Fund's ability to maintain a level dividend rate will depend
on a number of factors, including dividends payable on the MuniPreferred
Shares. The net income of the Fund consists of all interest income accrued on
portfolio assets less all expenses of the Fund. Expenses of the Fund are
accrued each day. Over time, all the net investment income of the Fund will be
distributed. At least annually, the Fund also intends to distribute net
capital gains and ordinary taxable income, if any, after paying any accrued
dividends or making any liquidation payments to MuniPreferred Shareholders.
Initial distributions to Common Shareholders are expected to be declared
approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the
completion of this offering, depending on
20
<PAGE>
market conditions. Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board of
Trustees may change the Fund's dividend policy and the amount or timing of the
distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the
Fund's undistributed net investment income and historical and projected
investment income and the amount of the expenses and dividend rates on the
outstanding MuniPreferred Shares.
To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund
will initially distribute less than the entire amount of net investment income
earned in a particular period. The undistributed net investment income would
be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the
distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more
or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund
during the period. Undistributed net investment income will be added to the
Fund's net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed
net investment income will be deducted from the Fund's net asset value.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
You may elect to have all dividends or capital gains distributions on your
Common Shares, or both, automatically reinvested by Chase Global Funds
Services Company, as agent for the Common Shareholders (the "Plan Agent"), in
additional Common Shares under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan").
You may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Application Form. If you do not participate, you will
receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you by
Chase Global Funds Services Company as dividend paying agent.
If you decide to participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you
will receive will be determined as follows:
(1) If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time
of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the then current market
price; or
(2) If Common Shares are trading below net asset value at the time of
valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash
and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the New York Stock
Exchange or elsewhere, for the participants' accounts. It is possible that
the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan Agent
has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per
share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of
valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend
or distribution had been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan
Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase
Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the dividend payment
date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments.
You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the
Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a
certificate for each whole share in your account under the Plan and you will
receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you
wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus
brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders' accounts in the Plan and gives
written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including
information you may need for tax records. Common Shares in your account will
be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will
include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or
distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata
share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open
market purchases.
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<PAGE>
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that
you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and
distributions.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if change seems
desirable to the Board of Trustees. There is no direct service charge to
participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the
Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional
information about the Plan may be obtained from Chase Global Funds Services
Company, P.O. Box 5186, Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10275-0672
(regular mail) or 4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10004 (for
overnight courier), (800) 257-8787.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Common Shares
The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common
Shares, par value $.01 per share. All Common Shares have equal rights to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common
Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in
"Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust," non-assessable, and will
have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting.
Whenever MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding, Common Shareholders will not be
entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless all accrued
dividends on MuniPreferred Shares have been paid, and unless asset coverage
(as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to MuniPreferred Shares would be at
least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See "MuniPreferred
Shares" below.
The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange subject to notice of issuance. The Fund intends to hold annual
meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national
securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such
listing.
The Fund's net asset value per share generally increases when interest
rates decline, and decreases when interest rates rise, and these changes are
likely to be greater because the Fund intends to have a leveraged capital
structure. Net asset value will be reduced immediately following the offering
by the amount of the sales load and organization and offering expenses paid by
the Fund. Nuveen has agreed to pay (i) all organizational expenses and (ii)
offering costs (other than sales load) that exceed $0.02 per Common Share. See
"Use of Proceeds."
Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously
offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder
determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the
shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker
or otherwise. Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade
on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end
investment companies like the Fund that invest predominately in investment
grade municipal bonds have during some periods traded at prices higher than
net asset value and during other periods have traded at prices lower than net
asset value. Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced
by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses),
call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, net asset
value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general
market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the
Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price
equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Shares are
designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares
should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See "MuniPreferred
Shares and Leverage" and the Statement of Additional Information under
"Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund."
22
<PAGE>
MuniPreferred Shares
The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of
MuniPreferred Shares, par value $.01 per share, in one or more classes or
series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the
Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders.
The Fund's Board of Trustees has indicated its intention to authorize an
offering of MuniPreferred Shares (representing approximately 35% of the Fund's
capital immediately after the time the MuniPreferred Shares are issued)
approximately one to three months after completion of the offering of Common
Shares. Any such decision is subject to market conditions and to the Board's
continuing belief that leveraging the Fund's capital structure through the
issuance of MuniPreferred Shares is likely to achieve the benefits to the
Common Shareholders described in this Prospectus. Although the terms of the
MuniPreferred Shares will be determined by the Board of Trustees (subject to
applicable law and the Fund's Declaration) if and when it authorizes a
MuniPreferred Shares offering, the Board has determined that the MuniPreferred
Shares, at least initially, would likely pay cumulative dividends at rates
determined over relatively shorter-term periods (such as 7 days), by providing
for the periodic redetermination of the dividend rate through an auction or
remarketing procedure. The Board of Trustees has indicated that the preference
on distribution, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption
provisions of the MuniPreferred Shares will likely be as stated below.
Limited Issuance of MuniPreferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund
could issue MuniPreferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to
one-half of the value of the Fund's total net assets, measured immediately
after issuance of the MuniPreferred Shares. "Liquidation value" means the
original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash
dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation
value of the MuniPreferred shares is less than one-half of the value of the
Fund's total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such
dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution. If the Fund
sells all the Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares discussed in this
Prospectus, the liquidation value of the MuniPreferred Shares is expected to
be approximately 35% of the value of the Fund's total net assets. The Fund
intends to purchase or redeem MuniPreferred Shares, if necessary, to keep that
fraction below one-half.
Distribution Preference. The MuniPreferred Shares have complete priority
over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.
Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of
MuniPreferred Shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating
distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus
accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared)
before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares.
Voting Rights. MuniPreferred Shares are required to be voting shares and to
have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in
this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information and except as
otherwise required by applicable law, holders of MuniPreferred Shares will
vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.
Holders of MuniPreferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be
entitled to elect two of the Fund's trustees. The remaining trustees will be
elected by Common Shareholders and holders of MuniPreferred Shares, voting
together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of
accrued dividends are unpaid on the MuniPreferred Shares, the holders of all
outstanding MuniPreferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled
to elect a majority of the Fund's
23
<PAGE>
trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set
apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into
certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of MuniPreferred Shares
will be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of
MuniPreferred Shares and Common Shares. See the Statement of Additional
Information under "Description of Shares--MuniPreferred Shares--Voting
Rights."
Redemption, Purchase and Sale of MuniPreferred Shares. The terms of the
MuniPreferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable at certain times, in
whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated
dividends. The terms may also state that the Fund may tender for or purchase
MuniPreferred Shares and resell any shares so tendered. Any redemption or
purchase of MuniPreferred Shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage
applicable to Common Shares, while any resale of shares by the Fund will
increase such leverage. See "MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage."
The discussion above describes the Board of Trustees' present intention
with respect to a possible offering of MuniPreferred Shares. If the Board of
Trustees determines to authorize such an offering, the terms of the
MuniPreferred Shares may be the same as, or different from, the terms
described above, subject to applicable law and the Fund's Declaration.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances,
be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the
Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts
or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability
be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed
by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration further provides for
indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and
expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the
Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be
unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such
circumstances is very remote.
The Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other
entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to
open-end status. Specifically, the Declaration requires a vote by holders of
at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares, voting
together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a
conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company,
(2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund,
with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a
reorganization or recapitalization of the Fund, or a series or class of the
Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund's
assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund's investment activities),
(4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class
of the Fund, or (5) removal of trustees, and then only for cause, unless, with
respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in
accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund's Common Shares and
MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a single
class, is required, provided, however, that where only a particular class or
series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee
has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable
class or series will be required. None of the foregoing provisions may be
amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and
MuniPreferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In the case of the
conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of
any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which
adversely affects the holders of MuniPreferred Shares, the action in question
will
24
<PAGE>
also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the
Fund's MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate
class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-
thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the
Declaration or the By-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the Fund's MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as
a separate class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund
from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions
constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of
MuniPreferred Shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board
of Trustees believes that the provisions of the Declaration relating to such
higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. See
the Statement of Additional Information under "Certain Provisions in the
Declaration of Trust."
The provisions of the Declaration described above could have the effect of
depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares
at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares by
discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a
tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is
to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of
control by a third party. They provide, however, the advantage of potentially
requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management
regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund's
investment objectives and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has
considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are
in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.
Reference should be made to the Declaration on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the full text of these provisions.
REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders
will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the
Common Shares 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), net asset value, call protection, price, dividend stability,
relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market
and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end
investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset
value, the Fund's Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least
annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate
any material discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which
may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private
transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value,
or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund
cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these
actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce
market discount.
If the Fund converted to an open-end company, it would be required to
redeem all MuniPreferred Shares then outstanding (requiring in turn that it
liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the Common Shares would
no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In contrast to a closed-
end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may
require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain
circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset
value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption.
See the Statement of Additional Information under "Certain Provisions in the
Declaration of Trust" for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable
to the conversion of the Fund to an open-end company.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below
net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the
extent and duration of the discount, the
25
<PAGE>
liquidity of the Fund's portfolio, the impact of any action that might be
taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on
these considerations, even if the Fund's shares should trade at a discount,
the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its
shareholders, no action should be taken. See the Statement of Additional
Information under "Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund" for
a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate such discount
to net asset value.
TAX MATTERS
Federal Income Tax Matters
The discussion below and in the Statement of Additional Information
provides general tax information related to an investment in the Common
Shares. Because tax laws are complex and often change, you should consult your
tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.
The Fund primarily invests in municipal bonds issued by states, cities and
local authorities and certain possessions and territories of the United States
(such as Puerto Rico or Guam) or in municipal bonds whose income is otherwise
exempt from regular federal income tax. Consequently, the regular monthly
dividends you receive will be exempt from regular federal income taxes. A
portion of these dividends, however, will likely be subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax.
Although the Fund does not seek to realize taxable income or capital gains,
the Fund may realize and distribute taxable income or capital gains from time
to time as a result of the Fund's normal investment activities. The Fund will
distribute at least annually any taxable income or realized capital gains.
Distributions of net short-term gains are taxable as ordinary income.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital
gains regardless of how long you have owned your investment. Taxable dividends
do not qualify for a dividends received deduction if you are a corporate
shareholder.
Each year, you will receive a year-end statement that describes the tax
status of dividends paid to you during the preceding year, including the
source of investment income by state and the portion of income that is subject
to the federal alternative minimum tax. You will receive this statement from
the firm where you purchased your Common Shares if you hold your investment in
street name; the Fund will send you this statement if you hold your shares in
registered form.
The tax status of your dividends is not affected by whether you reinvest
your dividends or receive them in cash.
In order to avoid corporate taxation of its earnings and to pay tax-free
dividends, the Fund must meet certain I.R.S. requirements that govern the
Fund's sources of income, diversification of assets and distribution of
earnings to shareholders. The Fund intends to meet these requirements. If the
Fund failed to do so, the Fund would be required to pay corporate taxes on its
earnings and all your distributions would be taxable as ordinary income. In
particular, in order for the Fund to pay tax-free dividends, at least 50% of
the value of the Fund's total assets must consist of tax-exempt obligations.
The Fund intends to meet this requirement. If the Fund failed to do so, it
would not be able to pay tax-free dividends and your distributions
attributable to interest received by the Fund from any source would be taxable
as ordinary income.
The Fund may be required to withhold 31% of certain of your dividends if
you have not provided the Fund with your correct taxpayer identification
number (normally your Social Security number), or
26
<PAGE>
if you are otherwise subject to back-up withholding. If you receive Social
Security benefits, you should be aware that tax-free income is taken into
account in calculating the amount of these benefits that may be subject to
federal income tax. If you borrow money to buy Fund shares, you may not deduct
the interest on that loan. Under I.R.S. rules, Fund shares may be treated as
having been bought with borrowed money even if the purchase of the Fund shares
cannot be traced directly to borrowed money.
If you are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of
your regular monthly dividends may be taxable.
State and Local Tax Matters
The exemption from federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does
not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the income or
other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. Some states exempt from
state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived
from interest received by a regulated investment company on its holdings of
securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities.
Therefore, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of
interest income earned by the Fund during the preceding year on tax-exempt
obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such income.
Shareholders of the Fund are advised to consult with their own tax advisers
about state and local tax matters.
Please refer to the Statement of Additional Information for more detailed
information. You are urged to consult your tax adviser.
OTHER MATTERS
A lawsuit brought in June 1996 (Green et al. v. Nuveen Advisory Corp., et
al.) by certain individual common shareholders of six leveraged closed-end
funds sponsored by Nuveen is currently pending in federal district court. The
plaintiffs allege that the leveraged closed-end funds engaged in certain
practices that violated various provisions of the 1940 Act and common law. The
plaintiffs also alleged, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duty by the
funds' directors and Nuveen Advisory and various misrepresentations and
omissions in prospectuses and shareholder reports relating to the use of
leverage through the issuance and periodic auctioning of preferred stock and
the basis of the calculation and payment of management fees to Nuveen Advisory
and Nuveen. Plaintiffs also filed a motion to certify defendant and plaintiff
classes.
The defendants are vigorously defending the case and filed motions to
dismiss the entire lawsuit asserting that the claims are without merit and to
oppose certification of any classes. By opinion dated March 30, 1999, the
court granted most of the defendants' motion to dismiss and denied plaintiffs'
motion to certify defendant and plaintiff classes. The court dismissed all
claims against the funds, the funds' directors and Nuveen. The court dismissed
these claims without prejudice (which means that the plaintiffs can re-file
the claims if they can correct the defect that led to the claim being
dismissed) on the ground that the claims should have been brought as
derivative claims on behalf of the funds. The only remaining claim is brought
under Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act against Nuveen Advisory, and relates
solely to advisory fees Nuveen Advisory received from the six relevant funds.
While the Fund cannot assure you that the litigation will be decided in Nuveen
Advisory's favor, Nuveen Advisory believes a decision, if any, against the
defendants would have no material effect on the Fund, its Common Shares or the
ability of Nuveen Advisory to perform its duties under the investment
management agreement.
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<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement
dated the date hereof, each Underwriter named below has severally agreed to
purchase, and the Fund has agreed to sell to such Underwriter, the number of
Common Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number
Name of Shares
- ---- ----------
<S> <C>
Salomon Smith Barney Inc............................................. 1,983,000
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated....................................... 1,978,000
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.......................................... 1,978,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc............................................. 1,978,000
PaineWebber Incorporated............................................. 1,978,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated................................... 1,978,000
Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated...... 1,978,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc............................................... 1,978,000
Fahnestock & Co. Inc................................................. 1,978,000
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C................................................. 1,978,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated................................. 1,978,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc...................................... 1,978,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC................................... 1,978,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.............................................. 335,000
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp................................................ 335,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.................................................. 335,000
Advest, Inc.......................................................... 206,000
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated................................... 206,000
William Blair & Company, L.L.C....................................... 206,000
J.C. Bradford & Co................................................... 206,000
Crowell, Weedon & Co................................................. 206,000
Fifth Third Bank..................................................... 206,000
First Union Capital Markets.......................................... 206,000
Fleet Securities, Inc................................................ 206,000
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc.......................................... 206,000
Josephthal & Co. Inc................................................. 206,000
McDonald Investments Inc., A KeyCorp Company......................... 206,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc......................................... 206,000
Ragen MacKenzie Incorporated......................................... 206,000
Roney Capital Markets................................................ 206,000
Scott & Stringfellow, Inc............................................ 206,000
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated............................. 206,000
Sutro & Co. Incorporated............................................. 206,000
Tucker Anthony Incorporated.......................................... 206,000
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. ..................................... 206,000
Wachovia Securities, Inc............................................. 206,000
Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc........................................ 206,000
Allen & Company of Florida, Inc...................................... 130,000
Anderson & Strudwick, Incorporated................................... 130,000
BHC Securities, Inc.................................................. 130,000
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number
Name of Shares
- ---- ----------
<S> <C>
Branch, Cabell & Company............................................. 130,000
City Securities Corporation.......................................... 130,000
Cruttenden Roth Incorporated......................................... 130,000
D.A. Davidson & Co., Inc............................................. 130,000
Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc............................................. 130,000
First Security Van Kasper............................................ 130,000
Hanifen, Imhoff Inc.................................................. 130,000
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc..................................... 130,000
Howe Barnes Investments, Inc......................................... 130,000
Wayne Hummer & Co.................................................... 130,000
Huntleigh Securities Corporation..................................... 130,000
JWGenesis Securities, Inc............................................ 130,000
Kirkpatrick, Pettis, Smith, Polian Inc. ............................. 130,000
Mesirow Financial, Inc. ............................................. 130,000
Natcity Investments, Inc............................................. 130,000
David A. Noyes & Company............................................. 130,000
Parker/Hunter Incorporated........................................... 130,000
Pennsylvania Merchant Group Ltd...................................... 130,000
Southwest Securities, Inc. .......................................... 130,000
M.L. Stern & Co., Inc................................................ 130,000
Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc............................................ 130,000
H.C. Wainwright & Co., Inc........................................... 130,000
----------
Total.............................................................. 34,300,000
----------
</TABLE>
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase the Common Shares included in this offering are
subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and to certain other
conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Common Shares
(other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if
they purchase any of the Common Shares. The representatives have advised the
Fund that the Underwriters do not intend to confirm any sales to any accounts
over which they exercise discretionary authority.
The Underwriters, for whom Salomon Smith Barney Inc., John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.,
PaineWebber Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated, Dain Rauscher
Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated, EVEREN Securities, Inc.,
Fahnestock & Co. Inc., Gruntal & Co., L.L.C., Legg Mason Wood Walker,
Incorporated, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and The Robinson-Humphrey
Company, LLC are acting as representatives, propose to offer some of the
Common Shares directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus and some of the Common Shares to certain
dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of $0.45
per Common Share. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession not in excess of $0.10 per Common Share on sales to certain other
dealers. If all of the Common Shares are not sold at the initial offering
price, the representatives may change the public offering price and other
selling terms. Investors must pay for any Common Shares purchased on or before
May 28, 1999. In connection with this offering, Nuveen may perform clearing
services without charge for brokers and dealers for whom it regularly provides
clearing services that are participating in the offering as members of the
selling group.
29
<PAGE>
The Fund has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days
from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 5,145,000 additional
Common Shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The
Underwriters may exercise such option solely for the purpose of covering over-
allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. To the extent such
option is exercised, each Underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase a number of additional Common Shares approximately
proportionate to such Underwriter's initial purchase commitment.
The Fund and Nuveen Advisory have agreed that, for a period of 180 days
from the date of this Prospectus, they will not, without the prior written
consent of Salomon Smith Barney Inc., on behalf of the Underwriters, dispose
of or hedge any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Shares. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. in its sole
discretion may release any of the securities subject to these agreements at
any time without notice.
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Shares. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the Common Shares
was determined by negotiation among the Fund, Nuveen Advisory and the
representatives. There can be no assurance, however, that the price at which
the Common Shares will sell in the public market after this offering will not
be lower than the price at which they are sold by the Underwriters or that an
active trading market in the Common Shares will develop and continue after
this offering. The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
The Fund and Nuveen Advisory have each agreed to indemnify the several
Underwriters or contribute to losses arising out of certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The Fund has agreed to pay the Underwriters $75,000 as partial
reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the offering. Nuveen has
agreed to pay (i) all organizational expenses and (ii) offering costs (other
than sales load) that exceed $0.02 per share.
In connection with the requirements for listing the Fund's Common Shares on
the New York Stock Exchange, the Underwriters have undertaken to sell lots of
100 or more Common Shares to a minimum of 2,000 beneficial owners in the
United States. The minimum investment requirement is 100 Common Shares.
Certain Underwriters may make a market in the Common Shares after trading
in the Common Shares has commenced on the New York Stock Exchange. No
Underwriter is, however, obligated to conduct market-making activities and any
such activities may be discontinued at any time without notice, at the sole
discretion of the Underwriter. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity
of, or the trading market for, the Common Shares as a result of any market-
making activities undertaken by any Underwriter. This Prospectus is to be used
by any Underwriter in connection with the offering and, during the period in
which a prospectus must be delivered, with offers and sales of the Common
Shares in market-making transactions in the over-the-counter market at
negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of the sale.
The Underwriters have advised the Fund that, pursuant to Regulation M under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, certain persons participating
in the offering may engage in transactions, including stabilizing bids,
covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids, which may have the
effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the Common Shares at
a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. A
"stabilizing bid" is a bid for or the
30
<PAGE>
purchase of the Common Shares on behalf of an Underwriter for the purpose of
fixing or maintaining the price of the Common Shares. A "covering transaction"
is a bid for or purchase of the Common Shares on behalf of an Underwriter to
reduce a short position incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the
offering. A "penalty bid" is a contractual arrangement whereby if, during a
specified period after the issuance of the Common Shares, the Underwriters
purchase Common Shares in the open market for the account of the underwriting
syndicate and the Common Shares purchased can be traced to a particular
Underwriter or member of the selling group, the underwriting syndicate may
require the Underwriter or selling group member in question to purchase the
Common Shares in question at the cost price to the syndicate or may recover
from (or decline to pay to) the Underwriter or selling group member in
question any or all compensation (including, with respect to a representative,
the applicable syndicate management fee) applicable to the Common Shares in
question. As a result, an Underwriter or selling group member and, in turn,
brokers may lose the fees that they otherwise would have earned from a sale of
the Common Shares if their customer resells the Common Shares while the
penalty bid is in effect. The Underwriters are not required to engage in any
of these activities, and any such activities, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time.
The underwriting agreement provides that it may be terminated in the
absolute discretion of the representatives without liability on the part of
any Underwriter to the Fund or Nuveen Advisory if, prior to delivery of and
payment for the Common Shares, (i) trading in the Common Shares or securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended or
materially limited, (ii) additional material governmental restrictions not in
force on the date of the Underwriting Agreement have been imposed upon trading
in securities generally or a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either federal or state
authorities or (iii) any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or
other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in political,
financial or economic conditions, occurs, the effect of which is such as to
make it, in the judgment of the representatives, impracticable or inadvisable
to commence or continue the offering of the Common Shares at the offering
price to the public set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus or to
enforce contracts for the resale of the Common Shares by the Underwriters.
Representatives that sell at least a specified number of Common Shares will
share in the syndicate management fee based on the respective number of shares
sold by them.
The Fund anticipates that from time to time the representatives of the
Underwriters and certain other Underwriters may act as brokers or dealers in
connection with the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions after they
have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, may act
as brokers while they are Underwriters.
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, one of the representatives of the
Underwriters, is the parent company of Nuveen Advisory.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is The Chase Manhattan Bank, 4 New
York Plaza, New York, NY 10004-2413. The Custodian performs custodial, fund
accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund's transfer, shareholder
services and dividend paying agent is Chase Global Funds Services Company,
P.O. Box 5186, Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10275-0672 (regular mail)
or 4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10004 (for overnight courier).
31
<PAGE>
LEGAL OPINIONS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed
upon for the Fund by Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, Chicago, Illinois, and for the
Underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Boston,
Massachusetts. Bell, Boyd & Lloyd and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of Bingham
Dana LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
32
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Use of Proceeds...................................................... B-2
Investment Objectives and Policies................................... B-2
Investment Policies and Techniques................................... B-6
Other Investment Policies and Techniques............................. B-12
Management of the Fund............................................... B-14
Investment Adviser................................................... B-18
Portfolio Transactions............................................... B-20
Distributions........................................................ B-21
Description of Shares................................................ B-21
Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust....................... B-24
Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund............... B-26
Tax Matters.......................................................... B-28
Performance Related and Comparative Information...................... B-31
Experts.............................................................. B-33
Additional Information............................................... B-33
Report of Independent Auditors....................................... B-34
Financial Statements................................................. B-35
Ratings of Investments (Appendix A).................................. A-1
Taxable Equivalent Yield Table (Appendix B).......................... B-1
Hedging Strategies and Risks (Appendix C)............................ C-1
</TABLE>
33
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. The Fund
has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund
is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information provided by this Prospec-
tus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this Pro-
spectus.
----------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary......................................................... 3
Summary of Fund Expenses................................................... 8
The Fund................................................................... 9
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 9
The Fund's Investments..................................................... 9
MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage.......................................... 12
Risks...................................................................... 14
How the Fund Manages Risk.................................................. 17
Management of the Fund..................................................... 19
Net Asset Value............................................................ 20
Distributions.............................................................. 20
Dividend Reinvestment Plan................................................. 21
Description of Shares...................................................... 22
Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust............................. 24
Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund................... 25
Tax Matters................................................................ 26
Other Matters.............................................................. 27
Underwriting............................................................... 28
Custodian and Transfer Agent............................................... 31
Legal Opinions............................................................. 32
Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information.............. 33
</TABLE>
----------------
Until June 19, 1999 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus), all dealers
that buy, sell or trade the Common Shares, whether or not participating in this
offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the
dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and
with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34,300,000 Shares
Nuveen
Dividend Advantage
Municipal Fund
Common Shares
--------
PROSPECTUS
May 25, 1999
--------
Salomon Smith Barney
John Nuveen & Co.
Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
PaineWebber Incorporated
Prudential Securities
Dain Rauscher Wessels
a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated
EVEREN Securities, Inc.
Fahnestock & Co. Inc.
Gruntal & Co.
Legg Mason Wood Walker
Incorporated
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
The Robinson-Humphrey Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRH-ANT-4-99
<PAGE>
Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the "Fund") is a newly organized,
closed-end, diversified management investment company. On April 9, 1999, the
name of the Fund was changed from Nuveen National Municipal Advantage Fund II to
Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund. The Fund's investment objective is to
provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax, and enhance
portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt
municipal bonds that the Fund's investment adviser believes are underrated or
undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.
This Statement of Additional Information relating to Common Shares does not
constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus
relating thereto dated May 25, 1999 (the "Prospectus"). This Statement of
Additional Information does not include all information that a prospective
investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares, and investors should
obtain and read the Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. A copy of the
Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787. You may
also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the Securities and Exchange Commission's
web site (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this
Statement of Additional Information have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... B-2
Investment Objectives and Policies....................................... B-2
Investment Policies and Techniques....................................... B-6
Other Investment Policies and Techniques................................. B-12
Management of the Fund................................................... B-14
Investment Adviser....................................................... B-18
Portfolio Transactions................................................... B-20
Distributions............................................................ B-21
Description of Shares.................................................... B-21
Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust........................... B-24
Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund................... B-26
Tax Matters.............................................................. B-28
Performance Related and Comparative Information.......................... B-31
Experts.................................................................. B-33
Additional Information................................................... B-33
Report of Independent Auditors........................................... B-34
Financial Statements..................................................... B-35
Ratings of Investments (Appendix A)...................................... A-1
Taxable Equivalent Yield Table (Appendix B).............................. B-1
Hedging Strategies and Risks (Appendix C)................................ C-1
</TABLE>
This Statement of Additional Information is dated May 25, 1999
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares will be approximately
$491,278,900 ($564,970,735 if the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment
option in full) after payment of organizational and offering costs. Nuveen has
agreed to pay (i) all organizational expenses and (ii) offering costs (other
than sales load) that exceed $0.02 per Common Share.
Pending investment in municipal bonds that meet the Fund's investment
objectives and policies, the net proceeds of the offering will be invested in
high quality, short-term tax-exempt money market securities or in high quality
municipal bonds with relatively low volatility (such as pre-refunded and
intermediate-term bonds), to the extent such securities are available. If
necessary to invest fully the net proceeds of the offering immediately, the Fund
may also purchase, as temporary investments, short-term taxable investments of
the type described under "Investment Objectives and Policies--Portfolio
Investments," the income on which is subject to regular Federal income tax and
securities of other open or closed-end investment companies that invest
primarily in municipal bonds of the type in which the Fund may invest directly.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The Fund's investment objective is to provide current income exempt from
regular Federal income tax and enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal
bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that Nuveen Advisory
Corp. ("Nuveen Advisory") believes are underrated or undervalued or that
represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued. Underrated municipal
bonds are those whose ratings do not, in Nuveen Advisory's opinion, reflect
their true creditworthiness. Municipal bonds may be underrated because of the
time that has elapsed since their rating was assigned or reviewed, or because of
positive factors that may not have been fully taken into account by rating
agencies, or for other similar reasons. Undervalued municipal bonds are bonds
that, in Nuveen Advisory's opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to
them in the marketplace. Nuveen Advisory may at times believe that bonds
associated with a particular municipal market sector (for example, electric
utilities), or issued by a particular municipal issuer, are undervalued. Nuveen
Advisory may purchase such a bond for the Fund's portfolio because it represents
a market sector or issuer that Nuveen Advisory considers undervalued, even if
the value of the particular bond appears to be consistent with the value of
similar bonds. Municipal bonds of particular types or purposes (e.g., hospital
bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular municipal
issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that
market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal
bonds of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular
municipal bonds that are considered undervalued.
The Fund's investment in underrated or undervalued municipal bonds will be
based on Nuveen Advisory's belief that their yield is higher than that available
on bonds bearing equivalent levels of interest rate risk, credit risk and other
forms of risk, and that their prices will ultimately reflect their true
creditworthiness. The Fund attempts to increase its portfolio value relative to
the municipal bond market by prudent selection of municipal bonds, regardless of
which direction the market may move. Any capital appreciation realized by the
Fund will generally result in the distribution of taxable capital gains to
holders of Common Shares. The Fund's investment objectives are fundamental
policies of the Fund.
B-2
<PAGE>
The Fund has not established any limit on the percentage of its portfolio
that may be invested in municipal bonds subject to the alternative minimum tax
provisions of federal tax law, and the Fund expects that a substantial portion
of the income it produces will be includable in alternative minimum taxable
income. Common Shares therefore would not ordinarily be a suitable investment
for investors who are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax or who
would become subject to such tax by purchasing Common Shares. The suitability
of an investment in Common Shares will depend upon a comparison of the after-tax
yield likely to be provided from the Fund with that from comparable tax-exempt
investments not subject to the alternative minimum tax, and from comparable
fully taxable investments, in light of each such investor's tax position.
Special considerations apply to corporate investors. See "Tax Matters."
Investment Restrictions
Except as described below, the Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not,
without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common
Shares and MuniPreferred Shares voting together as a single class, and of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding MuniPreferred Shares voting as a
separate class:
(1) Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, other than MuniPreferred Shares, except to the extent permitted
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and except as otherwise described
in the Prospectus;
(2) Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes or for repurchase of its shares, and then only in an amount not
exceeding one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the
amount borrowed) less the Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings);
(3) Act as underwriter of another issuer's securities, except to the
extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities;
(4) Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers
in any one industry; provided, however, that such limitation shall not
apply to municipal bonds other than those municipal bonds backed only by
the assets and revenues of non-governmental users;
(5) Purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund
from investing in municipal bonds secured by real estate or interests
therein or foreclosing upon and selling such security;
(6) Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result
of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent
the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, derivative
instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by
physical commodities);
(7) Make loans, other than by entering into repurchase agreements and
through the purchase of municipal bonds or short-term investments in
accordance with its investment objectives, policies and limitations;
B-3
<PAGE>
(8) Invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any one
issuer, except that this limitation shall not apply to bonds issued by the
United States Government, its agencies and instrumentalities or to the
investment of 25% of its total assets.
For purposes of the foregoing and "Description of Shares--MuniPreferred
Shares--Voting Rights" below, "majority of the outstanding," when used with
respect to particular shares of the Fund, means (i) 67% or more of the shares
present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present
or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less.
For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (8)
above, an issuer shall be deemed the sole issuer of a security when its assets
and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities
are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-
governmental issuer, such as an industrial corporation or a privately owned or
operated hospital, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of
the non-governmental issuer, then such non-governmental issuer would be deemed
to be the sole issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable
obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental or other entity (other than a
bond insurer), it shall also be included in the computation of securities owned
that are issued by such governmental or other entity. Where a security is
guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank
guarantee or letter of credit, such a guarantee or letter of credit would be
considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such
government, other entity or bank. When a municipal bond is insured by bond
insurance, it shall not be considered a security that is issued or guaranteed by
the insurer; instead, the issuer of such municipal bond will be determined in
accordance with the principles set forth above. The foregoing restrictions do
not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be invested in municipal
bonds insured by any given insurer.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund may invest only up to
10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies
and only up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided
the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the
acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a
stockholder in any investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of
that investment company's expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the
Fund's management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so
invested. Holders of Common Shares would therefore be subject to duplicative
expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In
addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and
will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. As
described in the Prospectus in the section entitled "Risks", the net asset value
and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to
shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged
shares.
B-4
<PAGE>
In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is
also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which
may be changed by the Board of Trustees. The Fund may not:
(1) Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to
obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold at
no added cost, and provided that transactions in options, futures
contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments
are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.
(2) Purchase securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies
except in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any
exemptive relief obtained thereunder.
(3) Enter into futures contracts or related options or forward
contracts, if more than 30% of the Fund's net assets would be represented
by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund's net assets would be
committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts and
related options.
(4) Purchase securities when borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets
if and so long as MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding.
(5) Purchase securities of companies for the purpose of exercising
control.
(6) Invest in inverse floating rate securities (which are securities
that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing
short-term tax-exempt interest rates and which represent a leveraged
investment in an underlying municipal bond).
The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at
the time of purchase of securities and will not be considered violated unless an
excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an
acquisition of securities.
The Fund intends to apply for ratings for the MuniPreferred Shares from
Moody's and/or S&P. In order to obtain and maintain the required ratings, the
Fund may be required to comply with investment quality, diversification and
other guidelines established by Moody's or S&P. Such guidelines will likely be
more restrictive than the restrictions set forth above. The Fund does not
anticipate that such guidelines would have a material adverse effect on the
Fund's Common Shareholders or its ability to achieve its investment objectives.
The Fund presently anticipates that any MuniPreferred Shares that it intends to
issue would be initially given the highest ratings by Moody's ("Aaa") or by S&P
("AAA"), but no assurance can be given that such ratings will be obtained. No
minimum rating is required for the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares by the Fund.
Moody's and S&P receive fees in connection with their ratings issuances.
B-5
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund's
investment objectives, policies, and techniques that are described in the
Prospectus.
Investment in Municipal Bonds
Portfolio Investments
The Fund will invest its net assets in a diversified portfolio of municipal
bonds that are exempt from regular federal income tax. Under normal market
conditions, and except for the temporary investments described below, the Fund
expects to be fully invested (at least 95% of its assets) in such tax-exempt
municipal bonds. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in
investment grade quality municipal bonds rated as such at the time of
investment. Investment grade quality means that such bonds are rated within the
four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by Moody's, S&P or Fitch or are
unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory. The Fund may
invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal bonds that are, at the time of
investment, rated Ba/BB or B by Moody's, S&P or Fitch or that are unrated but
judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Advisory. Bonds of below investment
grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as junk bonds. Issuers
of bonds rated Ba/BB or B are regarded as having current capacity to make
principal and interest payments but are subject to business, financial or
economic conditions which could adversely affect such payment capacity. The
foregoing policies are fundamental policies of the Fund. Municipal bonds rated
Baa or BBB are considered "investment grade" securities; municipal bonds rated
Baa are considered medium grade obligations which lack outstanding investment
characteristics and have speculative characteristics, while municipal bonds
rated BBB are regarded as having adequate capacity to pay principal and
interest. Municipal bonds rated AAA in which the Fund may invest may have been
so rated on the basis of the existence of insurance guaranteeing the timely
payment, when due, of all principal and interest. Municipal bonds rated below
investment grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered
predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest
and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore,
carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and
bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal bonds rated below
investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality bonds because
the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated municipal bonds is
even narrower. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread
between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund
may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be
more dependent on Nuveen Advisory's research and analysis when investing in
these securities.
A general description of Moody's, S&P's and Fitch's ratings of municipal
bonds is set forth in Appendix A hereto. The ratings of Moody's, S&P and Fitch
represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal bonds they rate. It
should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute
standards of quality. Consequently, municipal bonds with the same maturity,
coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same
maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.
B-6
<PAGE>
The Fund will primarily invest in municipal bonds with long-term maturities
in order to maintain a weighted average maturity of 15-30 years, but the average
weighted maturity may be shortened from time to time depending on market
conditions. As a result, the Fund's portfolio at any given time may include both
long-term and intermediate-term municipal bonds. Moreover, during temporary
defensive periods (e.g., times when, in Nuveen Advisory's opinion, temporary
imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-
exempt bond market adversely affect the price at which long-term or
intermediate-term municipal bonds are available), and in order to keep cash on
hand fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of the
offering are being invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its assets in
short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities which may
be either tax-exempt or taxable and securities of other open or closed-end
investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the type in
which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund intends to invest in taxable short-
term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt temporary
investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Tax-exempt
temporary investments include various obligations issued by state and local
governmental issuers, such as tax-exempt notes (bond anticipation notes, tax
anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes or other such municipal bonds
maturing in three years or less from the date of issuance) and municipal
commercial paper. The Fund will invest only in taxable temporary investments
which are U.S. Government securities or securities rated within the highest
grade by Moody's, S&P or Fitch, and which mature within one year from the date
of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest. See Appendix A for
a general description of Moody's, S&P's and Fitch's ratings of securities in
such categories. Taxable temporary investments of the Fund may include
certificates of deposit issued by U.S. banks with assets of at least $1 billion,
or commercial paper or corporate notes, bonds or debentures with a remaining
maturity of one year or less, or repurchase agreements. See "Certain Trading
Strategies of The Fund--Repurchase Agreements." To the extent the Fund invests
in taxable investments, the Fund will not at such times be in a position to
achieve its investment objective of tax-exempt income.
The foregoing policies as to ratings of portfolio investments will apply
only at the time of the purchase of a security, and the Fund will not be
required to dispose of securities in the event Moody's, S&P or Fitch downgrades
its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer.
Nuveen Advisory seeks to enhance portfolio value relative to the municipal
bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that it believes are
underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are
undervalued. Underrated municipal bonds are those whose ratings do not, in
Nuveen Advisory's opinion, reflect their true creditworthiness. Undervalued
municipal bonds are bonds that, in Nuveen Advisory's opinion, are worth more
than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Nuveen Advisory may at times
believe that bonds associated with a particular municipal market sector (for
example, electric utilities), or issued by a particular municipal issuer, are
undervalued. Nuveen Advisory may purchase such a bond for the Fund's portfolio
because it represents a market sector or issuer that Nuveen Advisory considers
undervalued, even if the value of the particular bond is consistent with the
value of similar bonds. Municipal bonds of particular types or purposes (e.g.,
hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular
municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of
supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market
B-7
<PAGE>
price of municipal bonds of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to
the particular municipal bonds that are considered undervalued. The Fund's
investment in underrated or undervalued municipal bonds will be based on Nuveen
Advisory's belief that their yield is higher than that available on bonds
bearing equivalent levels of interest rate risk, credit risk and other forms of
risk, and that their prices will ultimately reflect their true value.
The Fund has not established any limit on the percentage of its portfolio
investments that may be invested in municipal bonds subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax provisions of Federal tax law. The Fund expects that a
substantial portion of the current income it produces will be included in
alternative minimum taxable income. Special considerations apply to corporate
investors. See "Tax Matters."
Also included within the general category of municipal bonds described in
the Prospectus are participations in lease obligations or installment purchase
contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called "Municipal Lease
Obligations") of municipal authorities or entities. Although a Municipal Lease
Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the municipality for
which the municipality's taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation
is ordinarily backed by the municipality's covenant to budget for, appropriate
and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However, certain
Municipal Lease Obligations contain "non-appropriation" clauses which provide
that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase
payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a
yearly basis. In the case of a "non-appropriation" lease, the Fund's ability to
recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be
limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to
the general credit of the lessee, and disposition or releasing of the property
might prove difficult. In order to reduce this risk, the Fund will only purchase
Municipal Lease Obligations where Nuveen Advisory believes the issuer has a
strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
During temporary defensive periods and in order to keep the Fund's cash
fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of the
offering are being invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in
short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities that may be
either tax-exempt or taxable. To the extent the Fund invests in taxable short-
term investments, the Fund will not at such times be in a position to achieve
that portion of its investment objective of seeking current income exempt from
Federal income tax. For further information, see, "Short-Term Investments"
below.
Obligations of issuers of municipal bonds are subject to the provisions of
bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors, such as the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the
obligations of such issuers may become subject to the laws enacted in the future
by Congress, state legislatures or referenda extending the time for payment of
principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement
of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the
possibility that, as a result of legislation or other conditions, the power or
ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its
municipal bonds may be materially affected.
The Fund may also invest in securities of other open or closed-end
investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the type in
which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund will generally select obligations
which may not be redeemed at the option of the issuer for approximately seven
to nine years.
B-8
<PAGE>
Short-Term Investments
Short-Term Taxable Fixed Income Securities
For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested,
the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in cash equivalents and
short-term taxable fixed-income securities, although the Fund intends to invest
in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt
short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Short-
term taxable fixed income investments are defined to include, without
limitation, the following:
(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds
differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or
instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities
issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home
Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business
Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose
securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States;
(b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the
Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of
the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National
Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary
authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the
agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association,
whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S.
government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored
agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always
will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its
agencies, and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their
securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.
(2) Certificates of Deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank
or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite
period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally
negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount
deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date
specified thereon. Under current FDIC regulations, the maximum insurance
payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $100,000; therefore,
certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully
insured.
(3) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities.
At the time the Fund purchases securities pursuant to a repurchase
agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities
to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at
a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund
during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than
the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions
afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to
obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
certificates of deposit; or bankers' acceptances in which the Fund may
invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered
B-9
<PAGE>
loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk
to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon
sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase
agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying
collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is
entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when
the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price,
the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The investment
adviser monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is
entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement.
The investment adviser does so in an effort to determine that the value of
the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to
be paid to the Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal
bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the collateral
could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the
bankruptcy laws.
(4) Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured
promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by
corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are
direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no
secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund
at any time. The investment adviser will consider the financial condition
of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity
ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation's ability to meet all
of its financial obligations, because the Fund's liquidity might be
impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on
demand. Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper
rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature
within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating
rate of interest.
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Securities
Short-term tax-exempt fixed-income securities are securities that are
exempt from regular federal income tax and mature within three years or less
from the date of issuance. Short-term tax-exempt fixed income securities are
defined to include, without limitation, the following:
Bond Anticipation Notes ("BANs") are usually general obligations of state
and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain interim financing for
projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt
obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its
BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer's access to the long-term municipal
bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used
to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.
Tax Anticipation Notes ("TANs") are issued by state and local governments
to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to
be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general
obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer's capacity to raise taxes due
to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies,
could adversely affect the issuer's ability to meet its obligations on
outstanding TANs.
B-10
<PAGE>
Revenue Anticipation Notes ("RANs") are issued by governments or
governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated
source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general
obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such
as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect
an issuer's ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition,
the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other
obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and
interest on RANs.
Construction Loan Notes are issued to provide construction financing for
specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from
the Federal Housing Administration.
Bank Notes are notes issued by local government bodies and agencies as
those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The
purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently
issued to meet short-term working capital or capital-project needs. These notes
may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.
Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper ("Municipal Paper") represents very short-term
unsecured, negotiable promissory notes, issued by states, municipalities and
their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper
may be made from various sources, to the extent the funds are available
therefrom. Maturities or municipal paper generally will be shorter than the
maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues
of Municipal Paper.
Certain municipal bonds may carry variable or floating rates of interest
whereby the rate of interest is not fixed but varies with changes in specified
market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or a tax-exempt money market
indexes.
While the various types of notes described above as a group represent the
major portion of the tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are available
in the marketplace and the Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the
extent permitted under its investment objectives, policies and limitations. Such
notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from
those mentioned above.
Hedging Strategies
The Fund may periodically engage in hedging transactions. Hedging is a term
used for various methods of seeking to preserve portfolio capital value of
offsetting price changes in one investment through making another investment
whose price should tend to move in the opposite direction. It may be desirable
and possible in various market environments to partially hedge the portfolio
against fluctuations in market value due to interest rate fluctuations by
investment in financial futures and index futures as well as related put and
call options on such instruments. Both parties entering into an index or
financial futures contract are required to post an initial deposit of 1% to 5%
of the total contract price. Typically, option holders enter into offsetting
closing transactions to enable settlement in cash rather than take delivery of
the position in the future of the underlying security. The Fund will only sell
covered futures contracts, which means that the Fund segregates assets equal to
the amount of the obligations.
B-11
<PAGE>
These transactions present certain risks. In particular, the imperfect
correlation between price movements in the futures contract and price movements
in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge
by the Fund may be greater than gains in the value of the securities in the
Fund's portfolio. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in
all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to
close out the transaction without incurring losses substantially greater than
the initial deposit. Finally, the potential deposit requirements in futures
contracts create an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do options
transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium.
Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce yield. Net gains, if any, from
hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable
distributions to shareholders. The Fund will not make any investment (whether an
initial premium or deposit or a subsequent deposit) other than as necessary to
close a prior investment if, immediately after such investment, the sum of the
amount of its premiums and deposits would exceed 5% of the Fund's net assets.
The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by Nuveen
Advisory to be active and sufficiently liquid. Successful implementation of most
hedging strategies would generate taxable income, and the Fund has no present
intention to use these strategies. For further information regarding
these investment strategies and risks presented thereby, see Appendix C to this
Statement of Additional Information.
OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
Illiquid Securities
The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not
readily marketable), including, but not limited to, restricted securities
(securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities
laws), securities that may only be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"); and repurchase
agreements with maturities in excess of seven days.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions
or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in
effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be
obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable
period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund
may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement.
If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund
might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to
sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at a fair value as determined in good
faith by the Board of Trustees or its delegate.
Portfolio Trading and Turnover Rate
Portfolio trading may be undertaken to accomplish the investment objectives
of the Fund in relation to actual and anticipated movements in interest rates.
In addition, a security may be sold and another of comparable quality purchased
at approximately the same time to take advantage of what Nuveen Advisory
believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two securities. Temporary
price disparities between two comparable securities may result from supply and
demand imbalances where, for example, a temporary oversupply of certain bonds
may cause a temporarily low price for such bonds, as compared with other bonds
of like quality and characteristics. The Fund may also engage to a limited
extent in short-term trading consistent with its investment objectives.
Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market
B-12
<PAGE>
decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise
(a decline in interest rates) and later sold, but the Fund will not engage in
trading solely to recognize a gain.
Subject to the foregoing, the Fund will attempt to achieve its investment
objectives by prudent selection of municipal bonds with a view to holding them
for investment. While there can be no assurance thereof, the Fund anticipates
that its annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 100%.
However, the rate of turnover will not be a limiting factor when the Fund deems
it desirable to sell or purchase securities. Therefore, depending upon market
conditions, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund may exceed 100% in
particular years.
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in securities of other open or closed-end investment
companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the type in which the Fund
may invest directly. The Fund generally expects to invest in other investment
companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash,
such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering
of its Common Shares or MuniPreferred Shares, or during periods when there is a
shortage of attractive, high-yielding municipal bonds available in the market.
As a stockholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share
of that investment company's expenses, and would remain subject to payment of
the Fund's management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets
so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative
expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. Nuveen
Advisory will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits
of an investment in the investment company relative to available municipal bond
investments. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also
be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described
herein. As described in the Prospectus in the section entitled "Risks," the net
asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the
yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by
unleveraged shares.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
The Fund may buy and sell municipal bonds on a when-issued or delayed
delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally
within 15-45 days of the trade date. On such transactions the payment obligation
and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the
commitment. Beginning on the date the Fund enters into a commitment to purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required
under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to maintain in a separate
account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities
having a market value at all times of at least equal to the amount of the
commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for
federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of the Fund. The
Fund may enter into contracts to purchase municipal bonds on a forward basis
(i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the
transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such
obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within sixty
days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The
commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward
basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds
prior to settlement and at the time of delivery the market value may be less
than cost.
B-13
<PAGE>
Repurchase Agreements
As temporary investments, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A
repurchase agreement is a contractual agreement whereby the seller of securities
(U.S. Government securities or municipal bonds) agrees to repurchase the same
security at a specified price on a future date agreed upon by the parties. The
agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund's holding
period. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the
underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. Income
generated from transactions in repurchase agreements will be taxable. See "Tax
Matters" for information relating to the allocation of taxable income between
Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares, if any. The Fund will only enter into
repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that,
in the opinion of Nuveen Advisory, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the
Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase
price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying
collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds
the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there
is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the
collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the
collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in
connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy
proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security,
realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Nuveen
Advisory will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is
entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase
agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the
agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines
below the repurchase price, Nuveen Advisory will demand additional collateral
from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the
repurchase price, including interest.
Zero Coupon Bonds
The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. A zero coupon bond is a bond that
does not pay interest for its entire life. The market prices of zero coupon
bonds are affected to a greater extent by changes in prevailing levels of
interest rates and thereby tend to be more volatile in price than securities
that pay interest periodically. In addition, because the Fund accrues income
with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of such interest, it may
have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in
order to obtain cash needed to pay income dividends in amounts necessary to
avoid unfavorable tax consequences.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties
performed for the Fund under the Management Agreement, is the responsibility of
the Board of Trustees. The number of trustees of the Fund is currently set at
seven, one of whom is an "interested person" (as the term "interested persons"
is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) and six of whom are not
"interested persons." The names and business addresses of the trustees and
officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations
during the past five years are set forth below, with those trustees who are
"interested persons" of the Fund indicated by an asterisk.
B-14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=====================================================================================================================
Positions and Principal Occupations
Name and Address Age Offices with the During Past Five Years
Fund
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Timothy R. Schwertfeger* 50 Chairman and Trustee Chairman since July 1, 1996 of The John Nuveen
333 W. Wacker Drive Company, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated, Nuveen
Chicago, IL 60606 Advisory Corp. and Nuveen Institutional Advisory
Corp.; prior thereto, Executive Vice President and
Director of The John Nuveen Company, John Nuveen &
Co. Incorporated, Nuveen Advisory Corp. and Nuveen
Institutional Advisory Corp.; Chairman and Director
(since January 1997) of Nuveen Asset Management,
Inc.; Director (since 1996) of Institutional Capital
Corporation.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert P. Bremner 58 Trustee Private Investor and Management Consultant.
3725 Huntington Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20015
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence H. Brown 64 Trustee Retired (August 1989) as Senior Vice President of
201 Michigan Avenue The Northern Trust Company.
Highwood, IL 60040
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anne E. Impellizzeri 66 Trustee Executive Director of Manitoga (Center for Russel
5 Peter Cooper Rd. Wright's Design with Nature); formerly President and
New York, NY 10010 Chief Executive Officer of Blanton-Peale Institute.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter R. Sawers 66 Trustee Adjunct Professor of Business and Economics,
22 The Landmark University of Dubuque, Iowa; Adjunct Professor, Lake
Northfield, IL 60093 Forest Graduate School of Management, Lake Forest,
Illinois; Chartered Financial Analyst; Certified
Management Consultant.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William J. Schneider 54 Trustee Senior Partner, Miller-Valentine Partners, Vice
4000 Miller-Valentine Ct. President, Miller-Valentine Group.
P.O. Box 744
Dayton, OH 45401
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judith M. Stockdale 51 Trustee Executive Director, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley
35 E. Wacker Drive Foundation (since 1994); prior thereto, Executive
Suite 2600 Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (from 1990 to
Chicago, IL 60601 1994).
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan G. Berkshire 38 Vice President and Vice President and General Counsel (since September
333 W. Wacker Drive Assistant Secretary 1997) and Secretary (since May 1998) of The John
Chicago, IL 60606 Nuveen Company, John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated,
Nuveen Advisory Corp. and Nuveen Institutional
Advisory Corp., prior thereto, Partner in the law
firm of Kirkland & Ellis.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
B-15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
Positions and Principal Occupations
Name and Address Age Offices with the During Past Five Years
Fund
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Peter H. D'Arrigo 31 Vice President and Vice President of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive Treasurer (January 1999), prior thereto, Assistant Vice
Chicago, IL 60606 President (January 1997); formerly, Associate of
John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated; Chartered Financial
Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael S. Davern 41 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Advisory Corp. (since
333 W. Wacker Drive January 1997); prior thereto, Vice President and
Chicago, IL 60606 Portfolio Manager of Flagship Financial.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lorna C. Ferguson 53 Vice President Vice President of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated;
333 W. Wacker Drive Vice President (since January 1998) of Nuveen
Chicago, IL 60606 Advisory Corp. and Nuveen Institutional Advisory
Corp.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William M. Fitzgerald 35 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Advisory Corp. (since
333 W. Wacker Drive December 1995); Assistant Vice President of Nuveen
Chicago, IL 60606 Advisory Corp. (from September 1992 to December
1995), prior thereto, Assistant Portfolio Manager of
Nuveen Advisory Corp.; Chartered Financial Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen D. Foy 44 Vice President and Vice President of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated;
333 W. Wacker Drive Controller Certified Public Accountant.
Chicago, IL 60606
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Thomas Futrell 43 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Advisory Corp.; Chartered
333 W. Wacker Drive Financial Analyst.
Chicago, IL 60606
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard A. Huber 36 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Institutional Advisory
333 W. Wacker Drive Corp. (since March 1998) and Nuveen Advisory Corp.
Chicago, IL 60606 (since January 1997); prior thereto, Vice President
and Portfolio Manager of Flagship Financial.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven J. Krupa 41 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Advisory Corp.
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry W. Martin 47 Vice President and Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant
333 W. Wacker Drive Assistant Secretary General Counsel of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated;
Chicago, IL 60606 Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen
Advisory Corp. and Nuveen Institutional Advisory
Corp.; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since
January 1997) of Nuveen Asset Management, Inc.;
Assistant Secretary of The John Nuveen Company.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
B-16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
Positions and Principal Occupations
Name and Address Age Offices with the During Past Five Years
Fund
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Edward F. Neild, IV 33 Vice President Vice President (since September 1996), previously
333 W. Wacker Drive Assistant Vice President (since December 1993) of
Chicago, IL 60606 Nuveen Advisory Corp., Portfolio Manager prior
thereto; Vice President (since September 1996),
previously Assistant Vice President (since May
1995), of Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp.,
Portfolio Manager prior thereto; Chartered Financial
Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen S. Peterson 41 Vice President Vice President (since September 1997), previously
333 W. Wacker Drive Assistant Vice President (since September 1996) of
Chicago, IL 60606 Nuveen Advisory Corp., Portfolio Manager prior
thereto; Chartered Financial Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stuart W. Rogers 42 Vice President Vice President of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated.
333 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas C. Spalding, Jr. 47 Vice President Vice President of Nuveen Advisory Corp. and Nuveen
333 W. Wacker Drive Institutional Advisory Corp.; Chartered Financial
Chicago, IL 60606 Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William S. Swanson 33 Vice President Vice President of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated
333 W. Wacker Drive (since October 1997), prior thereto, Assistant Vice
Chicago, IL 60606 President (since September 1996); formerly,
Associate of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated;
Chartered Financial Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gifford R. Zimmerman 42 Vice President and Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Associate
333 W. Wacker Drive Secretary General Counsel of John Nuveen & Co. Incorporated;
Chicago, IL 60606 Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen
Advisory Corp., Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp.;
Assistant Secretary, The John Nuveen Company (since
May 1994); Chartered Financial Analyst.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Peter R. Sawers and Timothy R. Schwertfeger serve as members of the
Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Executive Committee, which
meets between regular meetings of the Board of Trustees, is authorized to
exercise all of the powers of the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Schwertfeger is also a director or trustee, as the case may be, of 100
Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds advised by Nuveen Advisory and Nuveen
Institutional Advisory Corp.
The other trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may
be, of 36 open-end funds and 53 Nuveen closed-end funds advised by Nuveen
Advisory.
B-17
<PAGE>
The Common Shareholders will elect trustees at the next annual meeting of
Common Shareholders, unless any MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding at that
time, in which event holders of MuniPreferred Shares, voting as a separate
class, will elect two trustees and the remaining trustees shall be elected by
Common Shareholders and holders of MuniPreferred Shares, voting together as a
single class. Holders of MuniPreferred Shares will be entitled to elect a
majority of the Fund's trustees under certain circumstances. See "Description
of Shares--MuniPreferred Shares--Voting Rights."
The following table sets forth compensation to be paid by the Fund
projected through the end of the Fund's first full fiscal year. The Fund has no
retirement or pension plans. The officers and trustees affiliated with Nuveen
serve without any compensation from the Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> Estimated Aggregate Compensation Estimated Total Compensation From
Name of Trustee From Fund* Fund and Fund Complex**
- --------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert P. Bremner $330 $68,000(1)
Lawrence H. Brown $359 $74,000
Anne E. Impellizzeri $330 $68,000(2)
Peter R. Sawers $330 $68,000(2)
William J. Schneider $330 $68,000(2)
Judith M. Stockdale $330 $68,000(3)
</TABLE>
__________________
* Based on the estimated compensation to be earned by the independent
trustees for the period from inception to the fiscal year ending 10/31/99 for
services to the Fund.
**Based on the estimated compensation paid to the trustees for the one year
period ending 12/31/99 for services to the open-end and closed-end funds advised
by Nuveen Advisory.
(1) Includes $7,871 in estimated deferred compensation.
(2) Includes $52,470 in estimated deferred compensation.
(3) Includes $13,118 in estimated deferred compensation.
The Fund has no employees. Its officers are compensated by Nuveen Advisory
or Nuveen.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Nuveen Advisory acts as investment adviser to the Fund, with responsibility
for the overall management of the Fund. Its address is 333 West Wacker Drive,
Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Advisory is also responsible for managing the
Fund's business affairs and providing day-to-day administrative services to the
Fund. For additional information regarding the management services performed by
Nuveen Advisory, see "Management of the Fund" in the Prospectus.
B-18
<PAGE>
Nuveen Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen, which is also a co-
managing underwriter of the Fund's shares. Nuveen is sponsor of the Nuveen
Defined Portfolios, registered unit investment trusts, is the principal
underwriter for the Nuveen Mutual Funds, and has served as co-managing
underwriter for the shares of the Nuveen Exchange-Traded Funds. Over 1,300,000
individuals have invested to date in Nuveen's funds and trusts. Founded in 1898,
Nuveen brings over a century of expertise to the municipal bond market.
According to data from Strategic Insight, Nuveen is the leading sponsor of
exchange-traded municipal bond funds as measured by number of funds (57) and
fund assets under management ($26 billion). Overall, Nuveen and its affiliates
manage more than $55 billion in assets in a variety of products. Nuveen is a
subsidiary of The John Nuveen Company which, in turn, is approximately 78% owned
by The St. Paul Companies, Inc. ("St. Paul"). St. Paul is a publicly-traded
company located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is principally engaged in providing
property-liability insurance through subsidiaries.
Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Advisory and
the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay for the services and facilities provided by
Nuveen Advisory an annual management fee, payable on a monthly basis, according
to the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Average Daily Net Asset Value Management Fee
----------------------------- --------------
<S> <C>
For the first $125 million .6500%
For the next $125 million .6375%
For the next $250 million .6250%
For the next $500 million .6125%
For the next $1 billion .6000%
For assets over $2 billion .5750%
</TABLE>
All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of
dividends to investors. The investment management agreement has been approved by
a majority of the disinterested trustees of the Fund and the sole shareholder of
the Fund.
For the first ten years of the Fund's operation, Nuveen Advisory has agreed
to reimburse the Fund for fees and expenses in the amounts, and for the time
periods, set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Percentage
Reimbursed Reimbursed
(as a percentage (as a percentage
Year Ending of average daily Year Ending of average daily
July 31, net assets) July 31, net assets)
-------- ---------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1999* .30% 2005 0.25%
2000 .30% 2006 0.20%
2001 .30% 2007 0.15%
2002 .30% 2008 0.10%
2003 .30% 2009 0.05%
2004 .30%
</TABLE>
---------------
*From the commencement of operations.
B-19
<PAGE>
Reducing fund expenses in this manner will tend to increase the amount of
income available for the Common Shareholders. Nuveen Advisory has not agreed to
reimburse the Fund for any portion of its fees and expenses beyond July 31,
2009.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Nuveen Advisory is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
the Fund and for the placement of the Fund's securities business, the
negotiation of the prices to be paid for principal trades and the allocation of
its transactions among various dealer firms. Portfolio securities will normally
be purchased directly from an underwriter or in the over-the-counter market from
the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price
or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not
be purchased from Nuveen or its affiliates except in compliance with the 1940
Act.
The Fund expects that substantially all portfolio transactions will be
effected on a principal (as opposed to an agency) basis and, accordingly, does
not expect to pay any brokerage commissions. Purchases from underwriters will
include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and
purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and asked price.
It is the policy of Nuveen Advisory to seek the best execution under the
circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Advisory evaluates price as the primary
consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of
the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best
execution obtainable, it will be Nuveen Advisory's practice to select dealers
which, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of
issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to
Nuveen Advisory. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and
statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only
supplementary to Nuveen Advisory's own research efforts, the receipt of research
information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Advisory's expenses.
While Nuveen Advisory will be primarily responsible for the placement of the
business of the Fund, the policies and practices of Nuveen Advisory in this
regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject
to review by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
Nuveen Advisory may manage other investment accounts and investment
companies for other clients which have investment objectives similar to those of
the Fund. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, Nuveen Advisory seeks to
allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made
to purchase or sell securities by the Fund and another advisory account. In
making such allocations the main factors to be considered will be the respective
investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or
comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment and the size of
investment commitments generally held. While this procedure could have a
detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the
Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board of Trustees that the
benefits available from Nuveen Advisory's organization will outweigh any
disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not purchase portfolio securities from any
underwriting syndicate of which Nuveen is a member except under certain limited
conditions set forth in Rule 10f-3. The rule sets forth requirements relating
to, among other things, the terms
B-20
<PAGE>
of an issue of municipal bonds purchased by the Fund, the amount of municipal
bonds which may be purchased in any one issue and the assets of the Fund that
may be invested in a particular issue. In addition, purchases of securities made
pursuant to the terms of the Rule must be approved at least quarterly by the
Board of Trustees, including a majority of the members thereof who are not
interested persons of the Fund.
DISTRIBUTIONS
As described in the Prospectus, initial distributions to Common
Shareholders are expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid
approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of the offering, depending on
market conditions. To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly
distribution, the Fund will initially (prior to its first distribution) and may
from time to time thereafter, distribute less than the entire amount of net
investment income earned in a particular period. Such undistributed net
investment income would be available to supplement future distributions,
including distributions which might otherwise have been reduced by a decrease in
the Fund's monthly net income due to fluctuations in investment income or
expenses, or due to an increase in the dividend rate on the Fund's outstanding
MuniPreferred Shares. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any
particular period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income
actually earned by the Fund during such period. Undistributed net investment
income will be added to the Fund's net asset value and, correspondingly,
distributions from undistributed net investment income will be deducted from the
Fund's net asset value.
For tax purposes, the Fund is currently required to allocate net capital
gains and other taxable income, if any, between Common Shares and MuniPreferred
Shares in proportion to total distributions paid to each class for the year in
which such net capital gains or other taxable income is realized. For
information relating to the impact of the issuance of MuniPreferred Shares on
the distributions made by the Fund to Common Shareholders, see the Prospectus
under "MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage."
While any MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding, the Fund may not declare
any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless at the time
of such declaration (1) all accumulated dividends on the MuniPreferred Shares
have been paid and (2) the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio (determined
after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) is at least
200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding MuniPreferred Shares. This
latter limitation on the Fund's ability to make distributions on its Common
Shares could under certain circumstances impair the ability of the Fund to
maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company. See
"Tax Matters."
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Common Shares
The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common
Shares, par value $.01 per share. All Common Shares have equal rights as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common
Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in
"Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust," non-assessable,
B-21
<PAGE>
and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative
voting. At any time when the Fund's MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding, Common
Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund
unless all accrued dividends on MuniPreferred Shares have been paid, and unless
asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to MuniPreferred Shares
would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions. See
"MuniPreferred Shares" below.
The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. The Fund intends to hold annual
meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national
securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such
listing.
Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade at prices
lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the
Fund that invest predominately in investment grade municipal bonds have during
some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and during other
periods have traded at prices lower than net asset value. There can be no
assurance that Common Shares or shares of other municipal funds will trade at a
price higher than net asset value in the future. Net asset value will be reduced
immediately following the offering after payment of the sales load and
organization and offering expenses. Net asset value generally increases when
interest rates decline, and decreases when interest rates rise, and these
changes are likely to be greater in the case of a fund having a leveraged
capital structure. Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale
of Common Shares will not depend upon the Fund's net asset value but will depend
entirely upon whether the market price of the Common Shares at the time of sale
is above or below the original purchase price for the shares. Since the market
price of the Fund's Common Shares will be determined by factors beyond the
control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will
trade at, below, or above net asset value or at, below or above the initial
public offering price. Accordingly, the Common Shares are designed primarily for
long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund
as a vehicle for trading purposes. See "Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to
Open-End Fund" and the Prospectus under "MuniPreferred Shares and Leverage" and
"The Fund's Investments-Municipal Bonds."
MuniPreferred Shares
The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of
MuniPreferred Shares, par value $.01 per share, in one or more classes or
series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the
Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders.
The Fund's Board of Trustees has indicated its intention to authorize an
offering of MuniPreferred Shares (representing approximately 35% of the Fund's
capital immediately after the time the MuniPreferred Shares are issued) within
approximately one to three months after completion of the offering of Common
Shares, subject to market conditions and to the Board's continuing belief that
leveraging the Fund's capital structure through the issuance of MuniPreferred
Shares is likely to achieve the benefits to the Common Shareholders described in
this Statement of Additional Information. Although the terms of the
MuniPreferred Shares,
B-22
<PAGE>
including their dividend rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and
redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board of Trustees (subject to
applicable law and the Fund's Declaration) if and when it authorizes a
MuniPreferred Shares offering, the Board has stated that the initial series of
MuniPreferred Shares would likely pay cumulative dividends at relatively
shorter-term periods (such as 7 days), by providing for the periodic
redetermination of the dividend rate through an auction or remarketing
procedure. The Board of Trustees has indicated that the preference on
distribution, liquidation preference, voting rights and redemption provisions of
the MuniPreferred Shares will likely be as stated below.
Preference on Distribution. The MuniPreferred Shares have complete priority
over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.
Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of
MuniPreferred Shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating
distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus
accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared)
before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Shares. After
payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are
entitled, holders of MuniPreferred Shares will not be entitled to any further
participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation or
merger of the Fund with or into any Massachusetts business trust or corporation
or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund shall not be
deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.
Voting Rights. In connection with any issuance of MuniPreferred Shares,
the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act which requires, among
other things, that MuniPreferred Shares be voting shares and have equal voting
rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this Statement of
Additional Information and except as otherwise required by applicable law,
holders of MuniPreferred Shares will vote together with Common Shareholders as a
single class.
In connection with the election of the Fund's trustees, holders of
MuniPreferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two
of the Fund's trustees, and the remaining trustees shall be elected by Common
Shareholders and holders of MuniPreferred Shares, voting together as a single
class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund's outstanding
MuniPreferred Shares shall be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years'
dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding MuniPreferred Shares, voting
as a separate class, will be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund's trustees
until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for
payment.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
MuniPreferred Shares of any class or series, as the case may be, voting as a
separate class, will be required to, among other things (1) take certain actions
which would affect the preferences, rights, or powers of such class or series or
(2) authorize or issue any class or series ranking prior to the MuniPreferred
Shares. Except as may otherwise be required by law, (1) the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at
the time, voting as a separate class, will be required to approve any conversion
of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company and (2) the
affirmative vote of the
B-23
<PAGE>
holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding MuniPreferred Shares, voting
as a separate class, shall be required to approve any plan of reorganization (as
such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares, provided
however, that such separate class vote shall be a majority vote if the action in
question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the total number of Trustees fixed in accordance with the
Declaration or the By-laws. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding MuniPreferred Shares, voting as a separate class, shall be
required to approve any action not described in the preceding sentence requiring
a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act including, among
other things, changes in the Fund's investment objectives or changes in the
investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under "Investment
Objectives and Policies--Investment Restrictions." The class or series vote of
holders of MuniPreferred Shares described above shall in each case be in
addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and
MuniPreferred Shares necessary to authorize the action in question.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply with respect to the Fund's
MuniPreferred Shares if, at or prior to the time when a vote is required, such
shares shall have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient
funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
Redemption, Purchase and Sale of MuniPreferred Shares by the Fund. The
terms of the MuniPreferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable at
certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share
plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase
MuniPreferred Shares and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so
tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of MuniPreferred Shares by
the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any resale
of shares by the Fund will increase such leverage. See "Special Considerations
Relating to Municipal Bonds and Leverage."
The discussion above describes the Board of Trustees' present intention
with respect to a possible offering of MuniPreferred Shares. If the Board of
Trustees determines to authorize such an offering, the terms of the
MuniPreferred Shares may be the same as, or different from, the terms described
above, subject to applicable law and the Fund's Declaration.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances,
be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the
Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or
obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be
given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by
the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification
out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any
shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the
risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder
liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet
its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is
very remote.
The Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other
entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund. Specifically, the
Declaration requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common
Shares and MuniPreferred Shares, voting together as a single class, except as
described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to
an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a
series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other
B-24
<PAGE>
organization or a reorganization or recapitalization of the Fund, or a series or
class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of
the Fund's assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund's investment
activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a
series or class of the Fund or (5) removal of trustees, and then only for cause,
unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been
authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees
fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-laws, in which case the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund's Common
Shares and MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a
single class, is required, provided, however, that where only a particular class
or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee
has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable
class or series will be required. None of the foregoing provisions may be
amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and
MuniPreferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In the case of the
conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any
of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which
adversely affects the holders of MuniPreferred Shares, the action in question
will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the Fund's MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate
class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-
thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration
or the By-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of
the Fund's MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate
class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-
end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a
plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of MuniPreferred
Shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees
believes that the provisions of the Declaration relating to such higher votes
are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
The provisions of the Declaration described above could have the effect of
depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares
at a premium over market value by discouraging a third party from seeking to
obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall
effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a
merger or the assumption of control by a third party. They provide, however, the
advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to
negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating
the continuity of the Fund's investment objectives and policies. The Board of
Trustees of the Fund has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and
concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its Common
Shareholders.
Reference should be made to the Declaration on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the full text of these provisions.
The Declaration provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding
upon the trustees of the Fund individually, but only upon the assets and
property of the Fund, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of
judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration, however,
protects a trustee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
B-25
<PAGE>
REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders
will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the
Fund's Common Shares 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), net asset value, call protection, price, dividend
stability, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general
market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a closed-end
investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value,
the Fund's Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually,
it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material
discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which may include the
repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the
making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion
of the Fund to an open-end investment company. There can be no assurance,
however, that the Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or
that share repurchases or tender offers, if undertaken, will reduce market
discount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Fund's MuniPreferred
Shares are outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any of its Common Shares unless (1) all accrued MuniPreferred Shares dividends
have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition,
the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio (determined after deducting the
acquisition price of the Common Shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation
value of the outstanding MuniPreferred Shares (expected to equal the original
purchase price per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon). The
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission currently requires that any
tender offer made by a closed-end investment company for its shares must be at a
price equal to the net asset value of such shares on the close of business on
the last day of the tender offer. Any service fees incurred in connection with
any tender offer made by the Fund will be borne by the Fund and will not reduce
the stated consideration to be paid to tendering shareholders.
Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the
repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to
finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in
anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund's net income.
Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the
Board of Trustees would have to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Although the decision to take action in response to a discount from net
asset value will be made by the Board at the time it considers such issue, it is
the Board's present policy, which may be changed by the Board, not to authorize
repurchases of Common Shares or a tender offer for such shares if (1) such
transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in the delisting of the Common
Shares from the New York Stock Exchange, or (b) impair the Fund's status as a
regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the Fund a taxable
entity, causing the Fund's income to be taxed at the corporate level in addition
to the taxation of shareholders who receive dividends from the Fund) or as a
registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act; (2) the Fund would
not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and
consistent with the Fund's investment objectives and policies in order to
repurchase shares; or (3) there is, in the Board's judgment, any (a) material
legal action or proceeding
B-26
<PAGE>
instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially
adversely affecting the Fund, (b) general suspension of or limitation on prices
for trading securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (c) declaration of a
banking moratorium by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment
by United States banks in which the Fund invests, (d) material limitation
affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities by Federal or
state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the
exchange of foreign currency, (e) commencement of war, armed hostilities or
other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the
United States, or (f) other event or condition which would have a material
adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Fund or its
shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board of Trustees may in the future
modify these conditions in light of experience.
Conversion to an open-end company would require the approval of the holders
of at least two-thirds of the Fund's Common Shares and MuniPreferred Shares
outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, and of the holders
of at least two-thirds of the Fund's MuniPreferred Shares outstanding at the
time, voting as a separate class, provided however, that such separate class
vote shall be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been
approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or By-laws.
See the Prospectus under "Description of Shares--Certain Provisions in the
Declaration of Trust" for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to
conversion of the Fund to an open-end company. If the Fund converted to an open-
end company, it would be required to redeem all MuniPreferred Shares then
outstanding, and the Fund's Common Shares would no longer be listed on the New
York Stock Exchange. Shareholders of an open-end investment company may require
the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances
as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such
redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption. In
order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable
investments to meet redemptions, open-end companies typically engage in a
continuous offering of their shares. Open-end companies are thus subject to
periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management.
The Board of Trustees may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-
end company depending upon their judgment as to the advisability of such action
in light of circumstances then prevailing.
The repurchase by the Fund of its shares at prices below net asset value
will result in an increase in the net asset value of those shares that remain
outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or
tenders at or below net asset value will result in the Fund's shares trading at
a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund's
shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at net asset value from
time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end company, may
reduce any spread between market price and net asset value that might otherwise
exist.
In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares will decrease the
Fund's total assets which would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund's
expense ratio. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at a time when
MuniPreferred Shares are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to
the outstanding Common Shares then remaining. See the Prospectus and this
Statement of Additional Information under "Special Considerations Relating to
Municipal Bonds and Leverage."
B-27
<PAGE>
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below
net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the
extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio, the
impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders and
market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund's shares
should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the
interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.
TAX MATTERS
Federal Income Tax Matters
The following discussion of federal income tax matters is based upon the
advice of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, special counsel to the Fund.
The Fund intends to qualify under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), for tax treatment as a regulated investment
company. In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must
satisfy certain requirements relating to the source of its income,
diversification of its assets, and distributions of its income to Common
Shareholders. First, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its annual gross
income (including tax-exempt interest) from dividends, interest, payments with
respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock
or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited
to gains from options and futures) derived with respect to its business of
investing in such stock, securities or currencies (the "90% gross income test").
Second, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each
quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets
is comprised of cash, cash items, United States Government securities,
securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities limited
in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the
value of the Fund's total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the
total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than United
States Government securities and securities of other regulated investment
companies) or two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the
same, similar or related trades or business.
As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal
income tax in any taxable year for which it distributes at least 90% of the sum
of (i) its "investment company taxable income" (which includes dividends,
taxable interest, taxable original issue discount and market discount income,
income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of long-
term capital loss, and any other taxable income other than "net capital gain"
(as defined below) and is reduced by deductible expenses) and (ii) its net tax-
exempt interest (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income over certain
disallowed deductions). The Fund may retain for investment its net capital gain
(which consists of the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its short-
term capital loss). However, if the Fund retains any net capital gain or any
investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular
corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any capital gain,
it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice
to its Common Shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term
capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax
purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount,
and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid
by the Fund against their
B-28
<PAGE>
federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the
credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis
of shares owned by a Common Shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an
amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of
undistributed capital gains included in the Common Shareholder's gross income
and the tax deemed paid by the Common Shareholder under clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its
Common Shareholders all or substantially all of its net tax-exempt interest and
any investment company taxable income and net capital gain.
Treasury regulations permit a regulated investment company, in determining
its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, i.e., the excess of
net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss for any taxable
year, to elect (unless it has made a taxable year election for excise tax
purposes as discussed below) to treat all or part of any net capital loss, any
net long-term capital loss or any net foreign currency loss incurred after
October 31 as if it had been incurred in the succeeding year.
Distributions by the Fund of net interest received from certain taxable
temporary investments (such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper and
obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities) and net
short-term capital gains realized by the Fund, if any, will be taxable to Common
Shareholders as ordinary income whether received in cash or additional shares.
Any net long-term capital gains realized by the Fund and distributed to Common
Shareholders in cash or additional shares, will be taxable to Common
Shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time
investors have owned shares of the Fund. Distributions by the Fund that do not
constitute ordinary income dividends or capital gain dividends will be treated
as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the Common
Shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares. Any excess will be treated as
gain from the sale of his or her shares, as discussed below.
If the Fund engages in hedging transactions involving financial futures and
options, these transactions will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of
which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer the Fund's losses, cause
adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund's securities, convert long-term
capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital
losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the
amount, timing and character of distributions to Common Shareholders.
Prior to purchasing shares in the Fund, an investor should carefully
consider the impact of dividends or distributions which are expected to be or
have been declared, but not paid. Any dividend or distribution declared shortly
after a purchase of such shares prior to the record date will have the effect of
reducing the per share net asset value by the per share amount of the dividend
or distribution.
Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid,
dividends declared in October, November or December, payable to Common
Shareholders of record on a specified date in one of those months and paid
during the following January, will be treated as having been distributed by the
Fund (and received by the Common Shareholders) on December 31.
B-29
<PAGE>
The redemption or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital
gain or loss to the Common Shareholders. Generally, a Common Shareholder's gain
or loss will be long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more
than one year. Present law taxes both long- and short-term capital gains of
corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate
taxpayers, however, net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital
gain over net short-term capital loss) with respect to securities will be taxed
at a maximum rate of 20%, while short-term capital gains and other ordinary
income will be taxed at a maximum rate of 39.6%. Because of the limitations on
itemized deductions and the deduction for personal exemptions applicable to
higher income taxpayers, the effective tax rate may be higher in certain
circumstances.
All or a portion of a sales charge paid in purchasing Common Shares cannot
be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on the redemption
or exchange of such shares within 90 days after their purchase to the extent
Common Shares or shares of another fund are subsequently acquired without
payment of a sales charge pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege.
Any disregarded portion of such charge will result in an increase in the Common
Shareholder's tax basis in the shares subsequently acquired. In addition, no
loss will be allowed on the redemption or exchange of Common Shares if the
Common Shareholder purchases other shares of the Fund (whether through
reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) or the Common Shareholder acquires
or enters into a contract or option to acquire securities that are substantially
identical to shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days
before and ending 30 days after such redemption or exchange. If disallowed, the
loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.
In order to avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Fund must distribute or be
deemed to have distributed by December 31 of each calendar year at least 98% of
its taxable ordinary income for such year, at least 98% of the excess of its
realized capital gains over its realized capital losses (generally computed on
the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year) and 100% of
any taxable ordinary income and any excess of realized capital gains over
realized capital losses for the prior year that was not distributed during such
year and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. For purposes of the
excise tax, a regulated investment company may reduce its capital gain net
income (but not below its net capital gain) by the amount of any net ordinary
loss for the calendar year. The Fund intends to make timely distributions in
compliance with these requirements and consequently it is anticipated that it
generally will not be required to pay the excise tax.
If in any year the Fund should fail to qualify under Subchapter M for tax
treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund would incur a regular
corporate federal income tax upon its income for that year, and distributions to
its Common Shareholders would be taxable to Common Shareholders as ordinary
dividend income for federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Fund's
earnings and profits.
The Fund is required in certain circumstances to withhold 31% of taxable
dividends and certain other payments paid to non-corporate holders of shares who
have not furnished to the Fund their correct taxpayer identification number (in
the case of individuals, their Social Security number) and certain
certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding.
B-30
<PAGE>
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the
Code and Treasury Regulations presently in effect as they directly govern the
taxation of the Fund and its Common Shareholders. For complete provisions,
reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and Treasury
Regulations. The Code and Treasury Regulations are subject to change by
legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive
with respect to Fund transactions. Common Shareholders are advised to consult
their own tax Advisers for more detailed information concerning the federal
taxation of the Fund and the income tax consequences to its Common Shareholders.
State Tax Matters
The exemption from Federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does
not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the income or other
tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. Some states exempt from state
income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived from
interest received by a regulated investment company on its holdings of
securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities.
Therefore, the Fund will report annually to its Common Shareholders the
percentage of interest income earned by the Fund during the preceding year on
tax-exempt obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such
income. Shareholders of the Fund are advised to consult with their own tax
advisers about state and local tax matters.
PERFORMANCE RELATED AND COMPARATIVE INFORMATION
The Fund may quote certain performance-related information and may compare
certain aspects of its portfolio and structure to other substantially similar
closed-end funds as categorized by Lipper, Inc. ("Lipper"), Morningstar or other
independent services. Comparison of the Fund to an alternative investment should
be made with consideration of differences in features and expected performance.
The Fund may obtain data from sources or reporting services, such as Bloomberg
Financial ("Bloomberg") and Lipper that the Fund believes to be generally
accurate.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. At the time Common
Shareholders sell their shares, they may be worth more or less than their
original investment.
Share Prices and Dividends of Similar Funds
(as of March 31, 1999)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Adjusted Not Adjusted
----------------------- ---------------------
National Fund "Ticker" Symbol Div Close Price Div Close Price
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
VKL $0.720 $12.75 $0.0600 $12.75
MPT $0.750 $13.00 $0.0625 $13.00
XAA $0.753 $13.81 $0.0628 $13.81
MVT $0.922 $14.00 $0.0637 $14.00
PIA $0.765 $13.78 $0.0425 $ 9.19
IQM $0.780 $13.63 $0.0650 $13.63
MQT $0.779 $14.50 $0.0649 $14.50
MUH $0.774 $14.38 $0.0645 $14.38
VKS $0.780 $13.69 $0.0650 $13.69
VOT $0.780 $14.13 $0.0650 $14.13
MVF $0.795 $14.72 $0.0441 $ 9.81
</TABLE>
B-31
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
MQY $0.798 $14.69 $0.0664 $14.69
MAF $0.798 $13.75 $0.0665 $13.75
MNP $0.798 $13.56 $0.0665 $13.56
PML $0.800 $13.56 $0.0667 $13.56
NPT $0.834 $14.69 $0.0695 $14.69
MYD $0.857 $15.50 $0.0714 $15.50
NPI $0.852 $15.00 $0.0710 $15.00
VIG $0.833 $13.75 $0.0555 $11.00
BKN $0.863 $15.38 $0.0719 $15.38
AMU $0.870 $13.56 $0.0725* $13.56
MHD $0.886 $15.44 $0.0738 $15.44
IQT $0.900 $15.06 $0.0750 $15.06
NPP $0.900 $15.18 $0.0750 $15.19
PPM $0.900 $15.88 $0.0750 $15.88
VKA $0.900 $15.56 $0.0750 $15.56
VMO $0.900 $16.56 $0.0750 $16.56
PMO $0.906 $14.94 $0.0755 $14.94
IQI $0.930 $15.44 $0.0775 $15.44
NPM $0.930 $16.31 $0.0775 $16.31
DTF $0.960 $16.81 $0.0800 $16.81
NQM $0.960 $15.81 $0.0800 $15.81
NQS $0.954 $15.75 $0.0795 $15.75
PMG $0.960 $14.88 $0.0800 $14.88
VKQ $0.960 $16.31 $0.0800 $16.31
VMT $0.972 $16.03 $0.0540 $10.69
NPF $0.966 $16.00 $0.0805 $16.00
VKI $0.744 $13.13 $0.0620 $13.13
NMA $0.996 $16.56 $0.0830 $16.56
VGM $0.990 $16.69 $0.0825 $16.69
NMO $1.008 $16.50 $0.0840 $16.50
NQU $1.026 $16.31 $0.0855 $16.31
KTF $1.028 $16.02 $0.0685 $12.81
VKV $0.810 $14.38 $0.0675 $14.38
PGM $1.200 $17.81 $0.0800 $14.25
</TABLE>
*Lipper data includes a dividend of $0.1450 per share, which according to
Bloomberg, is the aggregate of two dividends of $0.0725 each.
An analysis of national closed-end municipal funds represented in the
Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged) category show the positive
correlation between higher dividends and higher market prices. For comparative
purposes, the prices and dividends for each fund noted under the heading
"Adjusted" have been normalized as necessary to calibrate each fund's initial
offering price with the Fund's $15 initial offering price.
Market price is affected by many factors, including market interest rates,
income tax rates, the common shares' net asset value and dividend stability, the
portfolio's duration, call protection and credit quality, analyst
recommendations, and other market factors. Any of these factors individually or
collectively may, at any given time, be as or more important to market price
than annualized dividend rates. A positive correlation does not necessarily mean
B-32
<PAGE>
that higher dividends cause or result in higher market prices, and you should
not assume that any particular level of dividends will result in any particular
market price. In addition, the positive correlation between dividends and market
price of this group of funds does not necessarily mean that every fund in the
group exhibits a positive correlation between dividend and market price, and it
is possible that the Fund may not exhibit such a correlation. There can be no
assurance that the correlation suggested by the above data will continue in the
future.
EXPERTS
The Statement of Net Assets of the Fund as of May 21, 1999 appearing in
this Statement of Additional Information has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
223 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and is included in
reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing. Ernst & Young LLP, located at 223 South Wacker Drive,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, provides accounting and auditing services to the
Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto,
relating to the shares offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), Washington, D.C. The
Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of
the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits
and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the
shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement.
Statements contained in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional
Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are
not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of
such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such
reference. A copy of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge
at the Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or
any part thereof may be obtained from the Commission upon the payment of certain
fees prescribed by the Commission.
B-33
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Trustees and Shareholder
Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets of the Nuveen Dividend
Advantage Municipal Fund (the Fund) as of May 21, 1999. This statement of net
assets is the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on this statement of net assets based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted accounting
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the statement of net assets is free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement of net assets. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall statement of net assets
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of net assets referred to above presents fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at May 21, 1999, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
May 21, 1999
B-34
<PAGE>
NUVEEN DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
May 21, 1999
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Cash................................................................ $100,021
--------
NET ASSETS............................................................ $100,021
========
NET ASSETS REPRESENTS:
Cumulative preferred shares, $.01 par value; unlimited number of
shares authorized, no shares outstanding........................ $ --
Common Shares, $.01 par value; unlimited number of shares
authorized, shares outstanding.................................. 70
Paid-in surplus................................................... 99,951
--------
$100,021
========
Net asset value per Common Share outstanding ($100,021 divided by
6,982.238 Common Shares outstanding)................................ $ 14.325
========
</TABLE>
- ---------
NOTES--
The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 15, 1999
and has been inactive since that date except for matters relating to its
organization and registration as a closed-end, diversified management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the sale of 6,982.238 Common
Shares to Nuveen Advisory Corp. (the Adviser), the Fund's investment
adviser. All organization costs (approximately $10,000) and offering costs,
limited to $0.02 per Common Share, incurred by the Fund in connection with
the initial seeding will be absorbed by Nuveen. All other offering costs
relating to the Fund's offering of Common Shares, limited to $0.02 per
Common Share, will be reflected as a reduction of net assets at the time of
the public offering of Common Shares. All offering costs (other than sales
load) that exceed $0.02 per Common Share will be absorbed by Nuveen.
The Fund is authorized by its Declaration of Trust to issue an unlimited
number of preferred shares having a par value of $.01 per share in one or
more classes or series, with dividend, liquidation preference and other
rights as determined by the Fund's Board of Trustees, by action of the Board
of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders.
The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles which require the use of management
estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
B-35
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
Ratings of Investments
Standard & Poor's Corporation--A brief description of the applicable Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by
S&P) follows:
Long Term Debt
An S&P corporate or municipal debt rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers,
or lessees.
The debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a security,
inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a
particular investor.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. S&P does not perform
an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited
financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as
a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on
other circumstances.
The ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
1. Likelihood of default--capacity and willingness of the obligor as to
the timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation;
2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in
the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under
the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Investment Grade
AAA Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay
interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree.
A Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal
although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated
categories.
BBB Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate
protection parameters, adverse
A-1
<PAGE>
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this
category than in higher rated categories.
Speculative Grade Rating
Debt rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" is regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. "BB" indicates the least degree of speculation and "C" the highest.
While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics
these are outweighed by major uncertainties or major exposures to adverse
conditions.
BB Debt rated "BB" has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could
lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
The "BB" rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt
that is assigned an actual or implied "BBB--" rating.
B Debt rated "B" has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the
capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
The "B" rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt
that is assigned an actual or implied "BB" or "BB--" rating.
CCC Debt rated "CCC" has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and
is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to
meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to
have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
The "CCC" rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt
that is assigned an actual or implied "B" or "B--" rating.
CC The rating "CC" typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
that is assigned an actual or implied "CCC" debt rating.
C The rating "C" typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt
which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC--" debt rating. The "C" rating
may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been
filed, but debt service payments are continued.
CI The rating "CI" is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being
paid.
D Debt rated "D" is in payment default. The "D" rating category is used when
interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even
if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such
A-2
<PAGE>
grace period. The "D" rating also will be used upon the filing of a
bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.
Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the
addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.
Provisional Ratings: The letter "p" indicates that the rating is provisional. A
provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by
the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is
largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the
project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to
completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of
default upon failure of, such completion. The investor should exercise judgment
with respect to such likelihood and risk.
L The letter "L" indicates that the rating pertains to the principal amount
of those bonds to the extent that the underlying deposit collateral is
federally insured by the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corp. or the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.* and interest is adequately collateralized.
In the case of certificates of deposit the letter "L" indicates that the
deposit, combined with other deposits being held in the same right and
capacity will be honored for principal and accrued pre-default interest up
to the federal insurance limits within 30 days after closing of the insured
institution or, in the event that the deposit is assumed by a successor
insured institution, upon maturity.
* Continuance of the rating is contingent upon S&P's receipt of an executed copy
of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and
cash flow.
NR Indicates no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient
information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a
particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Municipal Notes
An S&P note rating reflects the liquidity concerns and market access risks
unique to notes. Notes due in 3 years or less will likely receive a note rating.
Notes maturing beyond 3 years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.
The following criteria will be used in making that assessment:
--Amortization schedule (the larger the final maturity relative to other
maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note).
--Source of payment (the more dependent the issue is on the market for
its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note).
Note rating symbols are as follows:
SP-1 Very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues
determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be given a
plus (+) designation.
A-3
<PAGE>
SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
A note rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a security
inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a
particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to
S&P by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.
S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on
occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed,
suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such
information or based on other circumstances.
Commercial Paper
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of
timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.
Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from "A-1" for the highest
quality obligations to "D" for the lowest. These categories are as follows:
A-1 This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely
payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong
safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2 Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated "A-1."
A-3 Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B Issues rated "B" are regarded as having only speculative capacity for
timely payment.
C This rating is assigned to short-term debt obligations with a doubtful
capacity for payment.
D Debt rated "D" is in payment default. The "D" rating category is used when
interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due, even
if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period.
A commercial rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a
security inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a
particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to
S&P by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable.
S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on
occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed,
suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such
information or based on other
A-4
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circumstances.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.--A brief description of the applicable Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") rating symbols and their meanings (as
published by Moody's) follows:
Municipal Bonds
Aaa Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large
or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While
the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as
can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong
position of such issues.
Aa Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are
generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the
best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa
securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater
amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-
term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors
giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but
elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment
sometime in the future.
Baa Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest
payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such
bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.
Ba Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;
their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the
protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and
thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the
future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or
of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of
time may be small.
Caa Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to
principal or interest.
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Ca Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.
C Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of
ever attaining any real investment standing.
Con(...) Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act
or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These
are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b)
earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals
which begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which
some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes
probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination
of basis of condition.
Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating
category from Aa to B in the public finance sectors. The modifier 1 indicates
that the issuer is in the higher end of its letter rating category; the modifier
2 indicates a mid-range ranking; the modifier 3 indicates that the issuer is in
the lower end of the letter ranking category.
Short-Term Loans
MIG 1/VMIG 1 This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support
or demonstrated broadbased access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2/VMIG 2 This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are
ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3/VMIG 3 This designation denotes favorable quality. All security elements
are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of
the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be
narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less
well-established.
MIG 4/VMIG 4 This designation denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly
regarded as required of an investment security is present and
although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is
specific risk.
S.G. This designation denotes speculative quality. Debt instruments in
this category lack margins of protection.
Commercial Paper
Issuers rated Prime-1 (or related supporting institutions) have a superior
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Prime-1 repayment
capacity will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
-- Leading market positions in well-established industries.
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-- High rates of return on funds employed.
-- Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt
and ample asset protection.
-- Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high
internal cash generation.
-- Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured
sources of alternate liquidity.
Issuers rated Prime-2 (or related supporting institutions) have a strong
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This will normally
be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated Prime-3 (or related supporting institutions) have an acceptable
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. The effect of
industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced.
Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of
debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively high financial
leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Fitch IBCA, Inc.--A brief description of the applicable Fitch IBCA, Inc.
("Fitch") ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade
AAA Highest credit quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of
credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is
highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA Very high credit quality. 'AA' ratings denote a very low expectation of
credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable events.
A High credit quality. 'A' ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk.
The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered
strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in
circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher
ratings.
BBB Good credit quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that there is currently a low
expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances
and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This
is the lowest investment-grade category.
A-7
<PAGE>
Speculative Grade
BB Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate that there is a possibility
of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of
adverse economic change over time; however, business or
financial alternatives may be available to allow financial
commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are
not investment grade.
B Highly speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that significant
credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains.
Financial commitments are currently being met; however,
capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained,
favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained,
favorable business or economic developments. A 'CC' rating
indicates that default of some kind appears probable. 'C'
ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based
on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a
reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected
recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated
with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines.
'DDD' obligations have the highest potential for recovery,
around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest.
'DD' indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%,
and 'D' the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.
Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all
of their obligations. Entities rated 'DDD' have the highest
prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation
with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated
'DD' and 'D' are generally undergoing a formal reorganization
or liquidation process; those rated 'DD' are likely to satisfy
a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while
entities rated 'D' have a poor prospect for repaying all
obligations.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 12 months for most
obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities, and thus
places greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial
commitments in a timely manner.
F1 Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely
payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any
exceptionally strong credit feature.
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<PAGE>
F2 Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the
case of the higher ratings.
F3 Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result
in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments,
plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic
conditions.
C High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting
financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Notes:
"+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major
rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' long-term rating
category, to categories below 'CCC', or to short-term ratings other than 'F1'.
'NR' indicates that Fitch IBCA does not rate the issuer or issue in question.
'Withdrawn': A rating is withdrawn when Fitch IBCA deems the amount of
information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an
obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.
RatingAlert: Ratings are placed on RatingAlert to notify investors that there is
a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such
change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential upgrade,
"Negative", for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving", if ratings may be raised,
lowered or maintained. RatingAlert is typically resolved over a relatively short
period.
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<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
TAXABLE EQUIVALENT YIELD TABLE
The taxable equivalent yield is the current yield you would need to earn on
a taxable investment in order to equal a stated tax-free yield on a municipal
investment. To assist you to more easily compare municipal investments like the
Fund with taxable alternative investments, the table below presents the taxable
equivalent yields for a range of hypothetical tax-free yields and tax rates:
Taxable Equivalent of Tax-Free Yields
Tax Free Yield
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Tax Rate 4.00% 4.50% 5.00% 5.50% 6.00%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
28.0% 5.56% 6.25% 6.94% 7.64% 8.33%
31.0% 5.80% 6.52% 7.25% 7.97% 8.70%
36.0% 6.25% 7.03% 7.81% 8.59% 9.38%
39.6% 6.62% 7.45% 8.28% 9.11% 9.93%
</TABLE>
B-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX C
HEDGING STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Set forth below is additional information regarding the various defensive
hedging techniques.
Futures and Index Transactions
Financial Futures
A financial future is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a
security for a set price on a future date. They have been designed by boards of
trade which have been designated "contracts markets" by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission ("CFTC").
The purchase of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging a Fund's
existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. When a Fund
purchases a financial future, it deposits in cash or securities an "initial
margin" of between 1% and 5% of the contract amount. Thereafter, the Fund's
account is either credited or debited on a daily basis in correlation with the
fluctuation in price of the underlying future or other requirements imposed by
the exchange in order to maintain an orderly market. The Fund must make
additional payments to cover debits to its account and has the right to withdraw
credits in excess of the liquidity, the Fund may close out its position at any
time prior to expiration of the financial future by taking an opposite position.
At closing a final determination of debits and credits is made, additional cash
is paid by or to the Fund to settle the final determination and the Fund
realizes a loss or gain depending on whether on a net basis it made or received
such payments.
The sale of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging a Fund's
existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if
a Fund owns long-term bonds and interest rates were expected to increase, it
might sell financial futures. If interest rates did increase, the value of
long-term bonds in the Fund's portfolio would decline, but the value of the
Fund's financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same
rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as
it otherwise would have.
Among the risks associated with the use of financial futures by the Funds
as a hedging device, perhaps the most significant is the imperfect correlation
between movements in the price of the financial futures and movements in the
price of the debt securities which are the subject of the hedge.
Thus, if the price of the financial future moves less or more than the
price of the securities which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not
be fully effective. To compensate for this imperfect correlation, the Fund may
enter into financial futures in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount
of the securities being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of
such securities has been greater than the historical volatility of the financial
futures. Conversely, the Fund may enter into fewer financial futures if the
historical volatility of the price of the securities being hedged is less than
the historical volatility of the financial futures.
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<PAGE>
The market prices of financial futures may also be affected by factors
other than interest rates. One of these factors is the possibility that rapid
changes in the volume of closing transactions, whether due to volatile markets
or movements by speculators, would temporarily distort the normal relationship
between the markets in the financial future and the chosen debt securities. In
these circumstances as well as in periods of rapid and large price movements,
the Fund might find it difficult or impossible to close out a particular
transaction.
Options on Financial Futures
The Fund may also purchase put or call options on financial futures which
are traded on a U.S. Exchange or board of trade and enter into closing
transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position.
Currently, options can be purchased with respect to financial futures on U.S.
Treasury Bonds on The Chicago Board of Trade. The purchase of put options on
financial futures is analogous to the purchase of put options by a Fund on its
portfolio securities to hedge against the risk of rising interest rates. As
with options on debt securities, the holder of an option may terminate his
position by selling an option of the same Fund. There is no guarantee that such
closing transactions can be effected.
Index Contracts
Index Futures
A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the tax-exempt
bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index
fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included
rather than a single bond. An index future is a bilateral agreement pursuant to
which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash-rather
than any security-equal to specified dollar amount times the difference between
the index value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the
price at which the index future was originally written. Thus, an index future
is similar to traditional financial futures except that settlement is made in
cash.
Index Options
The Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. Government or tax-
exempt bond index futures and enter into closing transactions with respect to
such options to terminate an existing position. Options on index futures are
similar to options on debt instruments except that an option on an index future
gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a
position in an index contract rather than an underlying security at a specified
exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of
the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to
the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated
balance of the writer's futures margin account which represents the amount by
which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, is less than
the exercise price of the option on the index future.
Bond index futures and options transactions would be subject to risks
similar to transactions in financial futures and options thereon as described
above. No series will enter into transactions in index or financial futures or
related options unless and until, in the Adviser's opinion, the market for such
instruments has developed sufficiently.
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Nuveen Dividend
Advantage Municipal Fund
34,300,000 Common Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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May 25, 1999
