UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o		Preliminary Proxy Statement.
o		Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).
þ		Definitive Proxy Statement.
o		Definitive Additional Materials.
o		Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12

 

NUVEEN INSURED TAX-FREE ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NEA)

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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o		Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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Important Notice
to Fund Shareholders

August 22, 2007

 

Although we recommend that you read the complete Proxy Statement, for your convenience, we have provided a brief overview of the issues to be voted on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 257-8787

Notice of Special Meeting
of Shareholders

 

August 22, 2007

 

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAC)

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NVX)

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (NZH)

Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund (NCU)

Nuveen Insured California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NKL)

Nuveen Insured California Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NKX)

Nuveen Insured Premium Income Municipal Fund 2 (NPX)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAD)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NXZ)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (NZF)

Nuveen Insured Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NVG)

Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NEA)

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund (NMZ)

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund (NIM)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXP)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 (NXQ)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3 (NXR)

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXC)

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXN)

Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAN)

Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NXK)

Nuveen Insured New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NKO)

Nuveen Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NRK)

 

To the Shareholders of the Above Funds:

 

Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured California Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured Premium Income Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3, Nuveen Insured Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund, Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund, Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2, Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3, Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio, Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2, Nuveen Insured New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund and Nuveen Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund, each a Massachusetts business trust (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), will be held (along with meetings of shareholders of several other Nuveen funds) in the 31st floor conference room of Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago,

Illinois 60606, on Friday, October 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., Central time, for the following purposes and to transact such other business, if any, as may properly come before the Meeting:

 

Matters to Be Voted on by Shareholders:

 

 

Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2007 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.

 

All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. In order to avoid delay and additional expense, and to assure that your shares are represented, please vote as promptly as possible, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting. You may vote by mail, telephone or over the Internet. To vote by mail, please mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. To vote by telephone, please call the toll-free number located on your proxy card and follow the recorded instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. To vote over the Internet, go to the Internet address provided on your proxy card and follow the instructions, using your proxy card as a guide.

 

Kevin J. McCarthy

Vice President and Secretary

 

333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 257-8787

Joint Proxy Statement

 

August 22, 2007

 

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAC)

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NVX)

Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (NZH)

Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund (NCU)

Nuveen Insured California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NKL)

Nuveen Insured California Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NKX)

Nuveen Insured Premium Income Municipal Fund 2 (NPX)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAD)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NXZ)

Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (NZF)

Nuveen Insured Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NVG)

Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NEA)

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund (NMZ)

Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund (NIM)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXP)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 (NXQ)

Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3 (NXR)

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXC)

Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NXN)

Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NAN)

Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (NXK)

Nuveen Insured New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (NKO)

Nuveen Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (NRK)

 

This Joint Proxy Statement is first being mailed to shareholders on or about August 22, 2007.

 

General Information

 

This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Trustees (each a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards,” and each Trustee a “Board Member” and collectively, the “Board Members”) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“California Dividend Advantage”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“California Dividend Advantage 2”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“California Dividend Advantage 3”), Nuveen California Premium Income Municipal Fund (“California Premium Income”), Nuveen Insured California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured California Dividend Advantage”), Nuveen Insured California Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured California Tax-Free Advantage”), Nuveen Insured Premium Income Municipal Fund 2 (“Insured Premium Income 2”), Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Dividend Advantage”), Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”), Nuveen Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3”), Nuveen Insured Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured Dividend Advantage”), Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured Tax-Free Advantage”), Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund (“Municipal High Income”), Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund (“Select Maturities”), Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (“Select Portfolio”), Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 (“Select Portfolio 2”), Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 3

(“Select Portfolio 3”), Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (“California Portfolio”), Nuveen New York Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (“New York Portfolio”), Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“New York Dividend Advantage”), Nuveen New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“New York Dividend Advantage 2”), Nuveen Insured New York Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured New York Dividend Advantage”) and Nuveen Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (“Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage”), each a Massachusetts business trust (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), of proxies to be voted at a Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held (along with the meeting of shareholders of several other Nuveen funds) in the 31st floor conference room of Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, on Friday, October 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., Central time, (for each Fund, a “Meeting” and collectively, the “Meetings”), and at any and all adjournments thereof.

 

On the matters coming before each Meeting as to which a choice has been specified by shareholders on the proxy, the shares will be voted accordingly. If a properly executed proxy is returned and no choice is specified, the shares will be voted FOR approval of the new investment management agreement and FOR the ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm. Shareholders who execute proxies may revoke them at any time before they are voted by filing with that Fund a written notice of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Merely attending the Meeting, however, will not revoke any previously submitted proxy.

 

The Board of each Fund has determined that the use of this Joint Proxy Statement for each Meeting is in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders in light of the similar matters being considered and voted on by the shareholders.

 

The following table indicates which shareholders are solicited with respect to each matter:

 

 

 

A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at each Meeting. A majority of the shares entitled to vote at each Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum of shareholders at that Meeting. Votes cast by proxy or in person at each Meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of election appointed for that Meeting. The inspectors of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Meeting. The inspectors of election will treat abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter) as present for purposes of determining a quorum.

 

For purposes of determining the approval of the new investment management agreement and ratification of the selection of independent auditors, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as shares voted against the proposal. The details of the proposals to be voted on by the shareholders of each Fund and the vote required for approval of the proposals are set forth under the description of the proposals below.

 

Preferred Shares held in “street name” as to which voting instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote as of one business day before the Meeting, or, if adjourned, one business day before the day to which the Meeting is adjourned, and that would otherwise be treated as “broker non-votes” may, pursuant to Rule 452 of the New York Stock Exchange, be voted by the broker on the proposal in the same proportion as the votes cast by all Preferred shareholders as a class who have voted on the proposal or in the same proportion as the votes cast by all Preferred shareholders of the Fund who have voted on that item. Rule 452 permits proportionate voting of Preferred Shares with respect to a particular item if, among other things, (i) a minimum of 30% of the Preferred Shares or shares of a series of Preferred Shares outstanding has been voted by the holders of such shares with respect to such item and (ii) less than 10% of the Preferred Shares or shares of a series of Preferred Shares outstanding has been voted by the holders of such shares against such item. For the purpose of meeting the 30% test, abstentions will be treated as shares “voted” and for the purpose of meeting the 10% test, abstentions will not be treated as shares “voted” against the item.

 

Those persons who were shareholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2007, will be entitled to one vote for each share held and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held (the “Record Date”). As of the Record Date, the shares of the Funds were issued and outstanding as follows:

 

 

 

The number of shares of each Fund beneficially owned by each Board Member and by the Board Members and officers of the Funds as a group as of December 31, 2006 is set forth in Appendix A. On December 31, 2006, Board Members and executive officers as a group beneficially owned approximately 1,400,000 shares of all funds managed by NAM (including shares held by Board Members through the Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Board Members and by executive officers in Nuveen’s 401(k)/profit sharing plan). Each Board Member’s individual beneficial shareholdings of each Fund constituted less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Fund. As of the Record Date, the Board Members and executive officers as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Fund. As of the Record Date, no shareholder beneficially owned more than 5% of any class of shares of any Fund.

 

Background

 

Under an investment management agreement between the Adviser and each Fund (each, an “Original Investment Management Agreement” and collectively, the “Original Investment Management Agreements”), NAM serves as each Fund’s investment adviser and is responsible for each Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation. The date of each Fund’s Original Investment Management Agreement and the date on which it was last approved by shareholders and approved for continuance by the Board are provided in Appendix B. NAM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”). Nuveen is currently a publicly traded company.

 

On June 19, 2007, Nuveen entered into a merger agreement (the “Transaction Agreement”) providing for the acquisition of Nuveen by Windy City Investments, Inc. (“Windy City”), a corporation formed by investors led by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC (“MDP”), a private equity investment firm based in Chicago, Illinois (the “Transaction”). Windy City is controlled by MDP on behalf of the Madison Dearborn Capital Partner V funds. Other owners of Windy City include Merrill Lynch & Co.’s Global Private Equity group and affiliates (including private equity funds) of Wachovia, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank. If the Transaction is completed, Nuveen will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Windy City and Nuveen will become a privately-held company. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including obtaining the approval of Nuveen’s stockholders and obtaining consent to the Transaction by a certain percentage of NAM’s clients representing at least 80% of annualized revenue (which includes fund shareholder approval of new investment management agreements with NAM). Nuveen and Windy City currently expect to complete the Transaction in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

Upon completion of the Transaction, it is anticipated that Merrill Lynch will be an indirect “affiliated person” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of each Fund. As a result, each Fund would then generally be prohibited from entering into principal transactions with Merrill Lynch and certain of its affiliates. NAM does not believe that any such prohibition or limitation would have a materially adverse effect on any Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objective and policies.

 

Nuveen is relying on Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act. Section 15(f) provides in substance that when a sale of a controlling interest in an investment adviser occurs, the investment adviser or any of its affiliated persons may receive any amount or benefit in connection with the sale so long as two conditions are satisfied. The first condition of Section 15(f) is that, during the three-year period following the consummation of a transaction, at least 75% of the investment company’s board of directors must not be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the investment adviser or predecessor adviser. Each of the Funds currently meets this test. Second, an “unfair burden” (as defined in the 1940 Act, including any interpretations or no-action letters of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) must not be imposed on the investment company as a result of the transaction relating to the sale of such interest, or any express or implied terms, conditions or understandings applicable thereto. The term “unfair burden” (as defined in the 1940 Act) includes any arrangement, during the two-year period after the transaction, whereby the investment adviser (or predecessor or successor adviser), or any “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such an adviser, receives or is entitled to receive any compensation directly or indirectly, from the investment company or its security holders (other than fees for bona fide investment advisory or other services) or from any person

in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other property to, from or on behalf of the investment company (other than bona fide ordinary compensation as principal underwriter for the investment company). Under the Transaction Agreement, Windy City acknowledges Nuveen’s reliance on Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act and has agreed that it and its affiliates (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) shall conduct its business and use commercially reasonable efforts to enable the provisions of Section 15(f) to be true in relation to the Funds.

 

In addition, to help ensure that an unfair burden is not imposed on the Funds, Nuveen has committed for a period of two years from the date of the closing of the Transaction (i) not to increase gross management fees for any Fund; (ii) not to reduce voluntary expense reimbursement levels for any Fund from their currently scheduled prospective levels during that period; (iii) that no Fund whose portfolio is managed by a Nuveen affiliate shall use Merrill Lynch as a broker with respect to portfolio transactions done on an agency basis, except as may be approved in the future by the Compliance Committee of the Board; and (iv) that NAM shall not cause the Funds and other municipal funds that NAM manages, as a whole, to enter into portfolio transactions with or through the other minority owners of Nuveen, on either a principal or an agency basis, to a significantly greater extent than both what one would expect an investment team to use such firm in the normal course of business, and what NAM has historically done, without prior Board or Compliance Committee approval (excluding the impact of proportionally increasing the use of such other “minority owners” to fill the void necessitated by not being able to use Merrill Lynch).

 

Each Original Investment Management Agreement, as required by Section 15 of the 1940 Act, provides for its automatic termination in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). Any change in control of the Adviser is deemed to be an assignment. The consummation of the Transaction will result in a change in control of the Adviser and therefore cause the automatic termination of each Original Investment Management Agreement, as required by the 1940 Act.

 

In anticipation of the Transaction, each Fund’s Board met in person at a joint meeting on July 31, 2007 for purposes of, among other things, considering whether it would be in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to approve a new investment management agreement between the Fund and NAM in substantially the same form as the Original Investment Management Agreement to take effect immediately after the Transaction or shareholder approval, whichever is later (each a “New Investment Management Agreement” and collectively, the “New Investment Management Agreements”). The form of the New Investment Management Agreement is attached hereto as Appendix C.

 

The 1940 Act requires that each New Investment Management Agreement be approved by the Fund’s shareholders in order for it to become effective. At the July 31, 2007 Board meeting, and for the reasons discussed below (see “Board Considerations” below), each Board, including the Board Members who are not parties to the Original Investment Management Agreements or New Investment Management Agreements entered into by the Adviser with respect to any Fund or who are not “interested persons” of the Funds or the Adviser as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Board Members”), unanimously approved the New Investment Management Agreement and unanimously recommended its approval by shareholders in order to assure continuity of investment advisory services to the Fund after the Transaction. In the event shareholders of a Fund do not approve the New Investment Management Agreement at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof prior to the closing of the Transaction, an interim investment management agreement between the Adviser and each such Fund (each, an

“Interim Investment Management Agreement” and collectively, the “Interim Investment Management Agreements”) will take effect upon the closing of the Transaction.

 

At the July 31, 2007 meeting, each Board, including the Independent Board Members, also unanimously approved the Interim Investment Management Agreements in order to assure continuity of investment advisory services to the Funds after the Transaction. The terms of each Interim Investment Management Agreement are substantially identical to those of the Original Investment Management Agreements and New Investment Management Agreements, except for the term and escrow provisions described below. If a Fund’s shareholders have not approved a New Investment Management Agreement prior to the Transaction, an Interim Investment Management Agreement will take effect upon the closing of the Transaction and will continue in effect for a term ending on the earlier of 150 days from the closing of the Transaction (the “150-day period”) or when shareholders of a Fund approve the New Investment Management Agreement. Pursuant to Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act, compensation earned by the Adviser under an Interim Investment Management Agreement will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account. If shareholders of a Fund approve the New Investment Management Agreement prior to the end of the 150-day period, the amount held in the escrow account under the Interim Investment Management Agreement will be paid to the Adviser. If shareholders of a Fund do not approve the New Investment Management Agreement prior to the end of the 150-day period, the Board will take such action as it deems to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, and the Adviser will be paid the lesser of its costs incurred in performing its services under the Interim Investment Management Agreement or the total amount in the escrow account, plus interest earned.

 

Comparison of Original Investment Management Agreement and New Investment Management Agreement

 

The terms of each New Investment Management Agreement, including fees payable to the Adviser by the Fund thereunder, are substantially identical to those of the Original Investment Management Agreement, except for the date of effectiveness. There is no change in the fee rate payable by each Fund to the Adviser. If approved by shareholders of a Fund, the New Investment Management Agreement for the Fund will expire on August 1, 2008, unless continued. Each New Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year thereafter if such continuance is approved for the Fund at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Below is a comparison of certain terms of the Original Investment Management Agreement to the terms of the New Investment Management Agreement.

 

Investment Management Services. The investment management services to be provided by the Adviser to each Fund under the New Investment Management Agreements will be identical to those services currently provided by the Adviser to each Fund under the Original Investment Management Agreements. Both the Original Investment Management Agreements and New Investment Management Agreements provide that the Adviser shall manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and limitations and administer the Fund’s affairs to the extent requested by and subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board. In addition, the investment management services will be provided by the same Adviser personnel under the New Investment Management Agreements as under the Original Investment Management Agreements. The Adviser does not anticipate that the Transaction will have any adverse effect on the performance of its obligations under the New Investment Management Agreements.

 

Fees. Under each Original Investment Management Agreement and New Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays to the Adviser an investment management fee that consists of two components—a fund-level fee, calculated by applying a Fund-specific breakpoint fee schedule that pays progressively reduced fee rates at increased Fund-specific asset levels to the average daily managed assets (which includes assets attributable to all types of leverage used in leveraged funds) of that individual Fund, and a complex-level fee, calculated by applying a fee rate based on the aggregate managed assets of all Nuveen-branded closed-end and open-end registered investment companies organized in the United States to a complex-wide fee schedule that would pay ever-reducing effective fee rates at increasing complex-wide assets, multiplied by that Fund’s average daily managed assets. The investment management fee paid by each Fund equals the sum of the fund-level fee and complex-level fee calculated for that Fund.

 

The fee schedules for the fund-level fee and complex-level fee breakpoint schedules under the New Investment Management Agreements for each Fund are identical to the fund-level fee and complex-level fee breakpoint schedules under the Original Investment Management Agreements. The annual fund-level fee schedule for each Fund under the Original Investment Management Agreements and the New Investment Management Agreements, the fees paid by each Fund to the Adviser during each Fund’s last fiscal year and the Fund’s net assets as of June 30, 2007 are set forth in Appendix D to this Proxy Statement. The fee schedule for the complex-level component is the same for each Fund under both the Original Investment Management Agreements and New Investment Management Agreements and is also set forth in Appendix D. That complex-wide fee schedule was recently reduced with an effective date of August 20, 2007, as reflected in Appendix D.

 

Payment of Expenses. Under each Original Investment Management Agreement and each New Investment Management Agreement, the Adviser shall furnish office facilities and equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services (other than such services, if any, provided by the Fund’s transfer agent) for the Fund.

 

Limitation on Liability. The Original Investment Management Agreements and New Investment Management Agreements provide that the Adviser will not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.

 

Continuance. The Original Investment Management Agreement of each Fund originally was in effect for an initial term and could be continued thereafter for successive one-year periods if such continuance was specifically approved at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act. If the shareholders of a Fund approve the New Investment Management Agreement for that Fund, the New Investment Management Agreement will expire on August 1, 2008, unless continued. The New Investment Management Agreement may be continued for successive one-year periods if approved at least annually in the manner required by the 1940 Act.

 

Termination. The Original Investment Management Agreement and New Investment Management Agreement for each Fund provide that the Agreement may be terminated at any time

without the payment of any penalty by the Fund or Adviser on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party. A Fund may effect termination by action of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, accompanied by appropriate notice.

 

Board Considerations

 

 

The Board Members are responsible for overseeing the performance of the investment adviser to the Funds and determining whether to approve or continue the advisory arrangements. At a meeting held on May 21, 2007 (the “May Meeting”), the Board of each Fund, including the Independent Board Members, performed a full annual review of each Original Investment Management Agreement and unanimously approved the continuance of such agreements. Because the information provided and the considerations made at the annual review continue to be relevant with respect to the evaluation of the New Investment Management Agreements, the Board considered the foregoing as part of their deliberations of the New Investment Management Agreements. Accordingly, the discussions immediately below outline the materials and information presented to the Board in connection with the Board’s May annual review and the analysis undertaken and the conclusions reached by Board Members when determining to continue the Original Investment Management Agreements.

 

During the course of the year, the Board received a wide variety of materials relating to the services provided by NAM and the performance of the Funds. At each of its quarterly meetings, the Board reviewed investment performance and various matters relating to the operations of the Funds, including the compliance program, shareholder services, valuation, custody, distribution and other information relating to the nature, extent and quality of services provided by NAM. Between the regularly scheduled quarterly meetings, the Board Members received information on particular matters as the need arose. In preparation for their considerations at the May Meeting, the Independent Board Members also received extensive materials, well in advance of their meeting, which outlined or are related to, among other things:

 

 

 

At the May Meeting, NAM made a presentation to, and responded to questions from, the Board. Prior to and after the presentations and reviewing the written materials, the Independent Board Members met privately with their legal counsel to review the Board’s duties in reviewing advisory contracts and considering the renewal of the advisory contracts. The Independent Board Members, in consultation with independent counsel, reviewed the factors set out in judicial decisions and SEC directives relating to the renewal of advisory contracts. As outlined in more detail below, the Board Members considered all factors they believed relevant with respect to each Fund, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by NAM; (b) the investment performance of the Fund and NAM; (c) the costs of the services to be provided and profits to be realized by Nuveen and its affiliates; (d) the extent to which economies of scale would be realized; and (e) whether fee levels reflect those economies of scale for the benefit of the Fund’s investors. In addition, as noted, the Board Members met regularly throughout the year to oversee the Funds. In evaluating the Original Investment Management Agreements, the Board Members also relied upon their knowledge of NAM, its services and the Funds resulting from their meetings and other interactions throughout the year. It is with this background that the Board Members considered each Original Investment Management Agreement.

 

 

In considering renewal of the Original Investment Management Agreements, the Board Members considered the nature, extent and quality of NAM’s services. The Board Members reviewed materials outlining, among other things, Nuveen’s organization and business; the types of services that NAM or its affiliates provide and are expected to provide to the Funds; the performance record of the applicable Fund (as described in further detail below); and any initiatives Nuveen had taken for the municipal fund product line. As noted, the Board Members were already familiar with the organization, operations and personnel of NAM due to the Board Members’ experience in governing the respective Funds and working with NAM on matters relating to the Funds. With respect to personnel, the Board Members recognized NAM’s investment in additional qualified personnel throughout the various groups in the organization and recommended to NAM that it continue to review staffing needs as necessary. In addition, the Board Members reviewed materials describing the current status and, in particular, the developments in 2006 with respect to NAM’s investment process, investment strategies (including additional tools used in executing such strategies), personnel (including portfolio management and research teams), trading process, hedging activities, risk management operations (e.g., reviewing credit quality, duration limits, and derivatives use, as applicable), and investment operations (such as enhancements to trading procedures, pricing procedures, and client services). The Board Members recognized Nuveen’s investment of resources and efforts to continue to enhance and refine its investment process.

 

In addition to advisory services, the Independent Board Members considered the quality of administrative and non-advisory services provided by NAM and noted that NAM and its

affiliates provide the Funds with a wide variety of services and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of the Funds, including,

 

 

As the Funds operate in a highly regulated industry and given the importance of compliance, the Board Members considered, in particular, Nuveen’s compliance activities for the Funds and enhancements thereto. In this regard, the Board Members recognized the quality of Nuveen’s compliance team. The Board Members further noted Nuveen’s negotiations with other service providers and the corresponding reduction in certain service providers’ fees.

 

With respect to closed-end Funds, in addition to the foregoing services, the Board Members also noted the additional services that NAM or its affiliates provide to closed-end Funds, including, in particular, its secondary market support activities. The Board Members recognized Nuveen’s continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end Funds through a variety of programs designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. These efforts include:

 

 

 

 

With respect to the closed-end Funds that utilize leverage through the issuance of Preferred Shares, the Board Members noted Nuveen’s continued support for the holders of Preferred Shares by, among other things:

 

 

Based on their review, the Board Members found that, overall, the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the respective Funds under the Original Investment Management Agreements were satisfactory.

 

 

The Board considered the investment performance for each Fund, including the Fund’s historic performance as well as its performance compared to funds with similar investment objectives (the “Performance Peer Group”) based on data provided by an independent third party (as described below). The Board Members also reviewed portfolio level performance (which does not reflect fund level fees and expenses, and leverage) against customized benchmarks, as described in further detail below.

 

In evaluating the performance information, in certain instances, the Board Members noted that the closest Performance Peer Group for a Fund may not adequately reflect such Fund’s investment objectives and strategies, thereby limiting the usefulness of the comparisons of such Fund’s performance with that of the Performance Peer Group.

 

With respect to state specific municipal funds, the Board Members also recognized that certain funds do not have a corresponding state specific Performance Peer Group in which case their performance is measured against a more general municipal category for various states. Funds that do not have corresponding state-specific Performance Peer Groups are from states other than New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. However, with respect to Funds based in Florida, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the peer group may be so small or the Nuveen funds may dominate the category to such an extent that performance information for such Funds was also compared to a more general category for all states (other than New York and California).

 

The Board Members reviewed performance information including, among other things, total return information compared with the Fund’s Performance Peer Group for the one-, three- and five-year periods (as applicable) ending December 31, 2006. The Board Members also reviewed the Fund’s portfolio level performance (which does not reflect fund level fees and expenses, and leverage) compared to customized portfolio-level benchmarks for the one- and three-year periods ending December 31, 2006 (as applicable). The analysis was used to assess the efficacy of investment decisions against appropriate measures of risk and total return, within specific market segments. This information supplemented the Fund performance information provided to the Board at each of its quarterly meetings. Based on their review, the Board Members determined that each Fund’s investment performance over time had been satisfactory, subject to the following. With respect to various municipal closed-end funds, the Board Members noted relative total return underperformance in recent years compared to peers. The Board Members reviewed materials and discussed with NAM the factors contributing to the shift in performance including, among other things, the degree of risk undertaken by peers compared to the Funds (such as through the increased use of leverage or taking concentrated positions in high risk credits). In addition, the Board Members also considered a Fund’s dividend performance and the extent of any secondary market discounts. The Board Members noted NAM’s efforts to evaluate the factors affecting performance and determine whether modification to a Fund’s investment strategy is necessary or appropriate, and concluded they were satisfied with the steps being taken.

 

 

In evaluating the management fees and expenses of a Fund, the Board reviewed, among other things, the Fund’s advisory fees (net and gross management fees) and total expense ratios (before and after expense reimbursements and/or waivers) in absolute terms as well as comparisons to the gross management fees (before waivers), net management fees (after waivers) and total expense ratios (before and after waivers) of comparable funds in the Peer Universe and the Peer Group. In reviewing the fee schedule for a Fund, the Board Members considered the fund-level and complex-wide breakpoint schedules (described in further detail below) and any fee waivers and reimbursements provided by Nuveen (applicable, in particular, for certain Funds launched since 1999). The Board Members further reviewed data regarding the construction of Peer Groups as well as the methods of measurement for the fee and expense analysis and the performance analysis. In certain cases, due to the small number of peers in the Peer Universe, the Peer Universe and Peer Group had significant overlap or even consisted entirely of the same unaffiliated funds. In reviewing the comparisons of fee and expense information, the Board Members recognized that in certain cases, the Fund size relative to peers, the small size and odd composition of the Peer Group (including differences in objectives and strategies), expense anomalies, timing of information used or other factors impacting the comparisons thereby limited some of the usefulness of the comparative data. The Board Members also considered the differences in the use of leverage. Based on their review of the fee and expense information provided, the Board Members determined that each Fund’s net total expense ratio was within an acceptable range compared to peers.

 

 

The Board Members further reviewed data comparing the advisory fees of NAM with fees NAM charges to other clients. With respect to municipal funds, such other clients include NAM’s municipal separately managed accounts. In general, the advisory fees charged for separate accounts are somewhat lower than the advisory fees assessed to the Funds. The Board Members considered the differences in the product types, including, but not limited to, the services provided, the structure and operations, product distribution and costs thereof, portfolio investment policies, investor profiles, account sizes and regulatory requirements. The Board Members noted, in particular, that the range of services provided to the Funds (as discussed above) is much more extensive than that provided to separately managed accounts. As described in further detail above, such additional services include, but are not limited to: product management, fund administration, oversight of third party service providers, administration of Board relations, and legal support. The Board Members noted that the Funds operate in a highly regulated industry requiring extensive compliance functions compared to other investment products. Given the inherent differences in the products, particularly the extensive services provided to the Funds, the Board Members believe such facts justify the different levels of fees.

 

 

In conjunction with its review of fees, the Board Members also considered the profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities (which incorporated Nuveen’s wholly-owned affiliated sub-advisers) and its financial condition. The Board Members reviewed the revenues and expenses of Nuveen’s advisory activities for the last three years, the allocation methodology used in

preparing the profitability data as well as the 2006 Annual Report for Nuveen. The Board Members noted this information supplemented the profitability information requested and received during the year to help keep them apprised of developments affecting profitability (such as changes in fee waivers and expense reimbursement commitments). In this regard, the Board Members noted the enhanced dialogue and information regarding profitability with NAM during the year, including more frequent meetings and updates from Nuveen’s corporate finance group. The Board Members also reviewed data comparing Nuveen’s profitability with other fund sponsors prepared by three independent third party service providers as well as comparisons of the revenues, expenses and profit margins of various unaffiliated management firms with similar amounts of assets under management prepared by Nuveen.

 

In reviewing profitability, the Board Members recognized the subjective nature of determining profitability which may be affected by numerous factors, including the allocation of expenses. Further, the Board Members recognized the difficulties in making comparisons as the profitability of other advisers generally is not publicly available and the profitability information that is available for certain advisers or management firms may not be representative of the industry and may be affected by, among other things, the adviser’s particular business mix, capital costs, types of funds managed and expense allocations.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board Members reviewed Nuveen’s methodology and assumptions for allocating expenses across product lines to determine profitability. Last year, the Board Members also designated an Independent Board Member as a point person for the Board to review the methodology determinations during the year and any refinements thereto, which relevant information produced from such process was reported to the full Board. In reviewing profitability, the Board Members recognized Nuveen’s increased investment in its fund business. Based on its review, the Board Members concluded that Nuveen’s level of profitability for its advisory activities was reasonable in light of the services provided.

 

In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the Board Members also considered other amounts paid to NAM by the Funds as well as any indirect benefits (such as soft dollar arrangements, if any) NAM and its affiliates receive, or are expected to receive, that are directly attributable to the management of the Funds, if any. See Section E below for additional information on indirect benefits NAM may receive as a result of its relationship with the Funds. Based on their review of the overall fee arrangements of each Fund, the Board Members determined that the advisory fees and expenses of the Fund were reasonable.

 

 

With respect to economies of scale, the Board Members recognized the potential benefits resulting from the costs of a Fund being spread over a larger asset base. To help ensure the shareholders share in these benefits, the Board Members reviewed and considered the breakpoints in the advisory fee schedules that reduce advisory fees. In addition to advisory fee breakpoints, the Board also approved a complex-wide fee arrangement in 2004. Pursuant to the complex-wide fee arrangement, the fees of the funds in the Nuveen complex, including the Funds, are reduced as the assets in the fund complex reach certain levels. In evaluating the complex-wide fee arrangement, the Board Members noted that the last complex-wide asset level breakpoint for the complex-wide fee schedule was at $91 billion and that the Board Members anticipated further review and/or negotiations prior to the assets of the Nuveen

complex reaching such threshold. Based on their review, the Board Members concluded that the breakpoint schedule and complex-wide fee arrangement were acceptable and desirable in providing benefits from economies of scale to shareholders, subject to further evaluation of the complex-wide fee schedule as assets in the complex increase. See Section II, Paragraph D—“Approval of the New Investment Management Agreements—Economies of Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of Scale” for information regarding subsequent modifications to the complex-wide fee.

 

 

In evaluating fees, the Board Members also considered any indirect benefits or profits NAM or its affiliates may receive as a result of its relationship with each Fund. With respect to closed-end funds, the Board Members considered revenues received by affiliates of NAM for serving as agent at Nuveen’s preferred trading desk and for serving as a co-manager in the initial public offering of new closed-end exchange traded funds.

 

In addition to the above, the Board Members considered whether NAM received any benefits from soft dollar arrangements whereby a portion of the commissions paid by a Fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research that may be useful to NAM in managing the assets of the Funds and other clients. With respect to NAM, the Board Members noted that NAM does not currently have any soft dollar arrangements; however, to the extent certain bona fide agency transactions that occur on markets that traditionally trade on a principal basis and riskless principal transactions are considered as generating “commissions,” NAM intends to comply with the applicable safe harbor provisions.

 

Based on their review, the Board Members concluded that any indirect benefits received by NAM as a result of its relationship with the Funds were reasonable and within acceptable parameters.

 

 

The Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously concluded that the terms of the Original Investment Management Agreements are fair and reasonable, that NAM’s fees are reasonable in light of the services provided to each Fund and that the renewal of the Original Investment Management Agreements be approved.

 

 

Following the May Meeting, the Board Members were advised of the potential Transaction. As noted above, the completion of the Transaction would terminate each of the Original Investment Management Agreements. Accordingly, at a meeting held on July 31, 2007 (the “July Meeting”), the Board of each Fund, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the New Investment Management Agreement on behalf of each Fund. Leading up to the July Meeting, the Board Members had several meetings and deliberations with and without Nuveen management present, and with the advice of legal counsel, regarding the proposed Transaction as outlined below.

 

On June 8, 2007, the Board Members held a special telephonic meeting to discuss the proposed Transaction. At that meeting, the Board Members established a special ad hoc committee

comprised solely of Independent Board Members to focus on the Transaction and to keep the Independent Board Members updated with developments regarding the Transaction. On June 15, 2007, the ad hoc committee discussed with representatives of NAM the Transaction and modifications to the complex-wide fee schedule that would generate additional fee savings at specified levels of complex-wide asset growth (as set forth in Appendix D). Following the foregoing meetings and several subsequent telephonic conferences among Independent Board Members and independent counsel, and between Independent Board Members and representatives of Nuveen, the Board met on June 18, 2007 to further discuss the proposed Transaction. Immediately prior to and then again during the June 18, 2007 meeting, the Independent Board Members met privately with their independent legal counsel. At that meeting, the Board met with representatives of MDP, of Goldman Sachs, Nuveen’s financial adviser in the Transaction, and of the Nuveen Board to discuss, among other things, the history and structure of MDP, the terms of the proposed Transaction (including the financing terms), and MDP’s general plans and intentions with respect to Nuveen (including with respect to management, employees, and future growth prospects). On July 9, 2007, the Board also met to be updated on the Transaction as part of a special telephonic Board meeting. The Board Members were further updated at a special in-person Board meeting held on July 19, 2007 (one Independent Board Member participated telephonically). Subsequently, on July 27, 2007, the ad hoc committee held a telephonic conference with representatives of Nuveen and MDP to further discuss, among other things, the Transaction, the financing of the Transaction, retention and incentive plans for key employees, the effect of regulatory restrictions on transactions with affiliates after the Transaction, and current volatile market conditions and their impact on the Transaction.

 

In connection with their review of the New Investment Management Agreements, the Independent Board Members, through their independent legal counsel, also requested in writing and received additional information regarding the proposed Transaction and its impact on the provision of services by NAM and its affiliates.

 

The Independent Board Members received, well in advance of the July Meeting, materials which outlined, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

Immediately preceding the July Meeting, representatives of MDP met with the Board to further respond to questions regarding the Transaction. After the meeting with MDP, the Independent Board Members met with independent legal counsel in executive session. At the July Meeting, Nuveen also made a presentation and responded to questions. Following the presentations and discussions of the materials presented to the Board, the Independent Board Members met again in executive session with their counsel. As outlined in more detail below, the Independent Board Members considered all factors they believed relevant with respect to each Fund, including the impact that the Transaction could be expected to have on the following: (a) the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided; (b) the investment performance of the Funds; (c) the costs of the services and profits to be realized by Nuveen and its affiliates; (d) the extent to which economies of scale would be realized; and (e) whether fee levels reflect those economies of scale for the benefit of investors. As noted above, the Board Members had completed their annual review of the Original Investment Management Agreements at the May Meeting and many of the factors considered at the annual review were applicable to their evaluation of the New Investment Management Agreements. Accordingly, in evaluating the New Investment Management Agreements, the Board Members relied upon their knowledge and experience with NAM and considered the information received and their evaluations and conclusions drawn at the annual review. The Independent Board Members evaluated all information available to them on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and their determinations were made separately in respect of each Fund.

 

 

In evaluating the nature, quality and extent of the services expected to be provided by NAM under the New Investment Management Agreements, the Independent Board Members considered, among other things, the expected impact, if any, of the Transaction on the operations, facilities, organization and personnel of NAM; the potential implications of regulatory restrictions on the Funds following the Transaction; the ability of NAM and its affiliates to perform their duties after the Transaction; and any anticipated changes to the current investment and other practices of the Funds.

 

The Board noted that the terms of each New Investment Management Agreement, including fees payable thereunder, are substantially identical to those of the Original Investment Management Agreement relating to the same Fund (with both reflecting reductions to fee levels in the complex-wide fee schedule for complex-wide assets in excess of $80 billion that have an effective date of August 20, 2007). The Board considered that the services to be provided and the standard of care under the New Investment Management Agreements are the

same as the Original Investment Management Agreements. The Board Members further noted that key personnel who have responsibility for the Funds in each area, including portfolio management, investment oversight, fund management, fund operations, product management, legal/compliance and board support functions, are expected to be the same following the Transaction. The Board Members considered and are familiar with the qualifications, skills and experience of such personnel. The Board also considered certain information regarding anticipated retention or incentive plans designed to retain key personnel. Further, the Board Members noted that no changes to Nuveen’s infrastructure or operations as a result of the Transaction were anticipated other than potential enhancements as a result of an expected increase in the level of investment in such infrastructure and personnel. The Board noted MDP’s representations that it does not plan to have a direct role in the management of Nuveen, appointing new management personnel, or directly impacting individual staffing decisions. The Board Members also noted that there were not any planned “cost cutting” measures that could be expected to reduce the nature, extent, or quality of services. After consideration of the foregoing, the Board Members concluded that no diminution in the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Funds and their shareholders is expected.

 

In addition to the above, the Board Members considered potential changes in the operations of each Fund. In this regard, the Board Members considered the potential effect of regulatory restrictions on the Funds’ transactions with future affiliated persons. During their deliberations, it was noted that, after the Transaction, a subsidiary of Merrill Lynch is expected to have an ownership interest in Nuveen at a level that will make Merrill Lynch an affiliated person of Nuveen. The Board Members recognized that applicable law would generally prohibit the Funds from engaging in securities transactions with Merrill Lynch as principal, and would also impose restrictions on using Merrill Lynch for agency transactions. They recognized that having MDP and Merrill Lynch as affiliates may restrict the Funds’ ability to invest in securities of issuers controlled by MDP or issued by Merrill Lynch and its affiliates even if not bought directly from MDP or Merrill Lynch as principal. They also recognized that various regulations may require the Funds to apply investment limitations on a combined basis with affiliates of Merrill Lynch. The Board Members considered information provided by NAM regarding the potential impact on the Funds’ operations as a result of these regulatory restrictions. The Board Members considered, in particular, the Funds that may be impacted most by the restricted access to Merrill Lynch, including: municipal funds (particularly certain state-specific funds), senior loan funds, taxable fixed income funds, preferred security funds and funds that heavily use derivatives. The Board Members considered such Funds’ historic use of Merrill Lynch as principal in their transactions and information provided by NAM regarding the expected impact resulting from Merrill Lynch’s affiliation with Nuveen and available measures that could be taken to minimize such impact. NAM informed the Board Members that, although difficult to determine with certainty, its management did not believe that MDP’s or Merrill Lynch’s status as an affiliate of Nuveen would have a material adverse effect on any Fund’s ability to pursue its investment objectives and policies.

 

In addition to the regulatory restrictions considered by the Board, the Board Members also considered potential conflicts of interest that could arise between the Funds and various parties to the Transaction and discussed possible ways of addressing such conflicts.

 

Based on its review along with its considerations regarding services at the annual review at the May Meeting, the Board concluded that the Transaction was not expected to adversely affect the nature, quality or extent of services provided by NAM and that the expected nature, quality

and extent of such services supported approval of the New Investment Management Agreements.

 

 

With respect to the performance of the Funds, the Board considered that the portfolio management personnel responsible for the management of the Funds’ portfolios were expected to continue to manage the portfolios following the completion of the Transaction.

 

In addition, the Board Members recently reviewed Fund performance at the May Meeting as described above and determined that Fund performance was satisfactory or better, subject to the following. With respect to certain municipal closed-end funds with relative short-term underperformance, the Board Members concluded NAM was taking steps to evaluate the factors affecting performance and those steps would continue following the Transaction. Further, the investment policies and strategies were not expected to change as a result of the Transaction.

 

In light of the foregoing factors, along with the prior findings regarding performance at the annual review, the Board concluded that its findings with respect to performance supported approval of the New Investment Management Agreements.

 

 

As described in more detail above, during the annual review the Board Members considered, among other things, the management fees and expenses of the Funds, the breakpoint schedules, and comparisons of such fees and expenses with peers. At the annual review, the Board Members determined that the Fund’s advisory fees and expenses were reasonable. In evaluating the costs of services to be provided by NAM under the New Investment Management Agreements and the profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities, the Board Members considered their prior conclusions at the annual review and whether the management fees or other expenses would change as a result of the Transaction. As described above, the investment management fee is composed of two components — a fund-level component and complex-wide level component. The fee schedule under the New Investment Management Agreements to be paid to NAM is identical to that under the Original Investment Management Agreements, including the modified complex-wide fee schedule. As noted above, the Board recently approved a modified complex-wide fee schedule that would generate additional fee savings on complex-wide assets above $80 billion. See Appendix D for both the prior and the new complex-wide fee schedule. The modifications have an effective date of August 20, 2007 and are part of the Original Investment Agreements. Accordingly, the terms of the complex-wide component under the New Investment Management Agreements are the same as under the Original Investment Management Agreements. The Board Members also noted that Nuveen has committed for a period of two years from the date of closing of the Transaction that it will not increase gross management fees for any Fund and will not reduce voluntary expense reimbursement levels for any Fund from their currently scheduled prospective levels. Based on the information provided, the Board Members did not expect that overall Fund expenses would increase as a result of the Transaction. In addition, the Board Members considered that additional fund launches were anticipated after the Transaction which would result in an increase in total assets under management in the complex and a corresponding

decrease in overall management fees under the complex-wide fee schedule. Taking into consideration the Board’s prior evaluation of fees and expenses at the annual renewal, and the modification to the complex-wide fee schedule, the Board determined that the management fees and expenses were reasonable.

 

While it is difficult to predict with any degree of certainty the impact of the Transaction on Nuveen’s profitability, at the recent annual review, the Board Members were satisfied that Nuveen’s level of profitability for its advisory activities was reasonable. During the year, the Board Members had noted the enhanced dialogue regarding profitability and the appointment of an Independent Board Member as a point person to review methodology determinations and refinements in calculating profitability. Given their considerations at the annual review and the modifications to the complex-wide fee schedule, the Board Members were satisfied that Nuveen’s level of profitability for its advisory activities continues to be reasonable.

 

 

The Board Members have been cognizant of economies of scale and the potential benefits resulting from the costs of a Fund being spread over a larger asset base. To help ensure that shareholders share in the benefits derived from economies of scale, the Board adopted the complex-wide fee arrangement in 2004. At the May Meeting, the Board Members reviewed the complex-wide fee arrangements and noted that additional negotiations may be necessary or appropriate as the assets in the complex approached the $91 billion threshold. In light of this assessment coupled with the upcoming Transaction, at the June 15, 2007 meeting, the ad hoc committee met with representatives of Nuveen to further discuss modifications to the complex-wide fee schedule that would generate additional savings for shareholders as the assets of the complex grow. The proposed terms for the complex-wide fee schedule are expressed in terms of targeted cumulative savings at specified levels of complex-wide assets, rather than in terms of targeted marginal complex-wide fee rates. Under the modified schedule, the schedule would generate additional fee savings beginning at complex-wide assets of $80 billion in order to achieve targeted cumulative annual savings at $91 billion of $28 million on a complex-wide level (approximately $0.6 million higher than those generated under the then current schedule) and generate additional fee savings for asset growth above complex-wide assets of $91 billion in order to achieve targeted annual savings at $125 billion of assets of approximately $50 million on a complex-wide level (approximately $2.2 million higher annually than that generated under the then current schedule). At the July Meeting, the Board approved the modified complex-wide fee schedule for the Original Investment Management Agreements and these same terms will apply to the New Investment Management Agreements. Accordingly, the Board Members believe that the breakpoint schedules and revised complex-wide fee schedule are appropriate and desirable in ensuring that shareholders participate in the benefits derived from economies of scale.

 

 

During their recent annual review, the Board Members considered any indirect benefits that NAM may receive as a result of its relationship with the Funds, as described above. As the policies and operations of Nuveen are not anticipated to change significantly after the Transaction, such indirect benefits should remain after the Transaction. The Board Members further considered any additional indirect benefits to be received by NAM or its affiliates after

the Transaction. The Board Members noted that other than benefits from its ownership interest in Nuveen and indirect benefits from fee revenues paid by the Funds under the management agreements and other Board-approved relationships, it was currently not expected that MDP or its affiliates would derive any benefit from the Funds as a result of the Transaction or transact any business with or on behalf of the Funds (other than perhaps potential Fund acquisitions, in secondary market transactions, of securities issued by MDP portfolio companies); or that Merrill Lynch or its affiliates would derive any benefits from the Funds as a result of the Transaction (noting that, indeed, Merrill Lynch would stand to experience the discontinuation of principal transaction activity with the Funds and likely would experience a noticeable reduction in the volume of agency transactions with the Funds).

 

 

In addition to the factors above, the Board Members also considered the following with respect to the Funds:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously concluded that the terms of the New Investment Management Agreements are fair and reasonable, that the fees therein are reasonable in light of the services to be provided to each Fund and that the New Investment Management Agreements should be approved and recommended to shareholders.

 

 

As noted above, at the July Meeting, the Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved Interim Investment Management Agreements. If necessary to assure continuity of advisory services, the Interim Investment Management Agreements will take effect upon the closing of the Transaction if shareholders have not yet approved the New Investment Management Agreements. The terms of each Interim Investment Management Agreement are substantially identical to those of the corresponding Original Investment Management Agreement and New Investment Management Agreement, respectively, except for the term and escrow provisions described above. In light of the foregoing, the Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously determined that the scope and quality of services to be provided to the Funds under the respective Interim Investment Management Agreement are at least equivalent to the scope and quality of services provided under the applicable Original Investment Management Agreement.

 

Information about the Adviser

 

NAM, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen. Founded in 1898, Nuveen and its affiliates had approximately $172 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2007. Nuveen is currently a publicly traded company. Nuveen is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol “JNC.”

 

The principal occupation of the officers and directors of NAM is shown in Appendix E. The business address of NAM, Nuveen and each principal executive officer and director of NAM is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

Tim Schwertfeger, Chairman of the Board, acquired 1,035,000 shares of Class A common stock of Nuveen and sold 813,449 shares of Class A common stock of Nuveen since October 1, 2005. Mr. Schwertfeger received $32,862,547 in exchange for his shares of Nuveen sold.

 

Mr. Schwertfeger is currently a Director and Non-Executive Chairman of Nuveen. Prior to July 1, 2007, he was Chairman and CEO of Nuveen. In addition to his interests as a stockholder of Nuveen, Mr. Schwertfeger has interests in the Transaction. As a result of the Transaction,

Mr. Schwertfeger’s outstanding options to acquire shares of Nuveen common stock under various Nuveen stock option plans will be cashed out and his outstanding shares of restricted stock (and deferred restricted stock) granted under Nuveen’s equity incentive plans will become fully vested and will be converted into the right to receive a cash payment. Based on the number of options and shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Schwertfeger as of July 19, 2007, without regard to any deductions for withholding taxes, his options and restricted stock are valued at $118,621,561.61 and $29,405,661.18, respectively.

 

Mr. Schwertfeger has an employment agreement with Nuveen which provides for certain payments to Mr. Schwertfeger if his employment is terminated under the circumstances described in such agreement. The appointment of another individual to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen effective July 1, 2007 gives Mr. Schwertfeger a basis to terminate his employment agreement for good reason and the right to receive the payments described therein. Windy City and Mr. Schwertfeger have informed Nuveen that they have reached an agreement in principle under which, among other things, Mr. Schwertfeger would waive his rights upon a good reason termination and Windy City would permit Mr. Schwertfeger to purchase, on terms similar to MDP, equity of Windy City or the surviving corporation after the Transaction.

 

If Mr. Schwertfeger’s employment were to be terminated immediately following the completion of the Transaction and assuming that the Transaction were to be completed on October 1, 2007, he would be entitled to severance payments totaling $54,908,238.

 

If Mr. Schwertfeger were to retire on October 1, 2007, under Nuveen’s Retirement Plan and Excess Benefit Retirement Plan, the present value of his early retirement benefits would be $4,691,653.

 

Shareholder Approval

 

To become effective with respect to a particular Fund, the New Investment Management Agreement must be approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, with the Common and Preferred shareholders voting together as a single class for those Funds that issued Preferred Shares. The “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of such outstanding shares are present in person or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of such outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote thereon. Each New Investment Management Agreement was approved by the Board of the respective Fund after consideration of all factors which it determined to be relevant to its deliberations, including those discussed above. The Board of each Fund also determined to submit the Fund’s New Investment Management Agreement for consideration by the shareholders of the Fund.

 

The Board of each Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders of the Fund vote FOR approval of the New Investment Management Agreement.

 

 

The Independent Board Members of each Fund’s Board have unanimously selected Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to

audit the books and records of each Fund for each Fund’s current fiscal year. The selection of E&Y as the independent registered public accounting firm of each Fund is being submitted to the shareholders for ratification, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Fund present and entitled to vote on the matter. A representative of E&Y is expected to be present at the Meeting and will be available to respond to any appropriate questions and to make a statement if he or she wishes. E&Y has informed each Fund that it has no direct or indirect material financial interest in the Funds, Nuveen, the Adviser or any other investment management company sponsored by Nuveen.

 

Audit and Related Fees. The following tables provide the aggregate fees billed during each Fund’s last two fiscal years by each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for engagements directly related to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund, including those relating (i) to each Fund for services provided to the Fund and (ii) to the Adviser and certain entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to each Fund (“Adviser Entities”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Audit Fees. The following tables provide the aggregate non-audit fees billed by each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for services rendered to each Fund, the Adviser and the Adviser Entities during each Fund’s last two fiscal years.

 

 

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, the audit committee must approve each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm’s engagements (i) with the Fund for audit or non-audit services and (ii) with the Adviser and Adviser Entities for non-audit services if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. Regarding tax and research projects conducted by the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund and the Adviser and Adviser Entities (with respect to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund), such engagements will be (i) pre-approved by the audit committee if they are expected to be for amounts greater than $10,000; (ii) reported to the audit committee chairman for his verbal approval prior to engagement if they are expected to be for amounts under $10,000 but greater than $5,000; and (iii) reported to the audit committee at the next audit committee meeting if they are expected to be for an amount under $5,000. The audit committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by each Board, a copy of which is attached as Appendix F.

 

For engagements with each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the audit committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that the independent registered public accounting firm provided to each Fund and to the Adviser and Adviser Entities (with respect to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund). None of the services rendered by the independent registered accounting firm to each Fund or the Adviser or Adviser Entities were pre-approved by the audit committee pursuant to the pre-approval exception under Rule 2.01(c)(7)(i)(C) or Rule 2.01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X.

 

The Board of each Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders of the Fund vote FOR ratification of the selection of the independent auditors.

 

Additional Information

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Interest Reporting Compliance

 

Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act require Board Members and officers, the Adviser, affiliated persons of the Adviser and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of a Fund’s equity securities to file forms reporting their affiliation with that Fund and reports of ownership and changes in ownership of that Fund’s shares with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange or American Stock Exchange, as applicable. These persons and entities are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Funds with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on a review of these forms furnished to each Fund, each Fund believes that its Board Members and officers, investment adviser and affiliated persons of the investment adviser have complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements during its last fiscal year. To the knowledge of management of the Funds, no shareholder of a Fund owns more than 10% of a registered class of a Fund’s equity securities.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

To be considered for presentation at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Funds, except New York Dividend Advantage, New York Dividend Advantage 2, Insured New York Dividend Advantage and Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage, to be held in 2008, a shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Act must be received at the offices of the Fund, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, not later than February 29, 2008. A shareholder wishing to provide notice in the manner prescribed by Rule 14a-4(c)(1) of a

proposal submitted outside of the process of Rule 14a-8 must, pursuant to each Fund’s By-Laws, submit such written notice to the Fund not later than May 14, 2008 nor prior to April 29, 2008.

 

To be considered for presentation at the annual meeting of shareholders of California Dividend Advantage, California Dividend Advantage 2, California Dividend Advantage 3, California Premium Income, Insured California Dividend Advantage and Insured California Tax-Free Advantage to be held in 2007, a shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Act must have been received at the address above, not later than June 6, 2007. A shareholder wishing to provide notice in the manner prescribed by Rule 14a-4(c)(1) of a proposal submitted outside of the process of Rule 14a-8 must, pursuant to each Fund’s By-Laws, have submitted such written notice to the Fund not later than August 20, 2007 nor prior to August 5, 2007.

 

To be considered for presentation at the annual meeting of shareholders of New York Dividend Advantage, New York Dividend Advantage 2, Insured New York Dividend Advantage and Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage to be held in 2008, a shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Act must be received at the address above, not later than November 2, 2007. A shareholder wishing to provide notice in the manner prescribed by Rule 14a-4(c)(1) of a proposal submitted outside of the process of Rule 14a-8 must, pursuant to each Fund’s By-Laws, submit such written notice to the Fund not later than January 16, 2008 nor prior to January 1, 2008.

 

Timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

Shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any individual Board Member should write their Fund to the attention of Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder, and identify the Fund (or Funds). If the communication is intended for a specific Board Member and so indicates it will be sent only to that Board Member. If a communication does not indicate a specific Board Member it will be sent to the chair of the nominating and governance committee and the outside counsel to the Independent Board Members for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.

 

Expenses of Proxy Solicitation

 

The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, accompanying notice and proxy statement and all other costs in connection with the solicitation of proxies will be paid by Nuveen. Solicitation may be made by letter or telephone by officers or employees of Nuveen or the Adviser, or by dealers and their representatives. The Funds have engaged Computershare Fund Services to assist in the solicitation of proxies at an estimated cost of $14,000 per Fund plus reasonable expenses, which costs will be borne by Nuveen.

 

Fiscal Year

 

The last fiscal year end for each of the Funds is as follows: August 31, 2006 for California Dividend Advantage, California Dividend Advantage 2, California Dividend Advantage 3, California Premium Income, Insured California Dividend Advantage, and Insured California

Tax-Free Advantage September 30, 2006 for New York Dividend Advantage New York Dividend Advantage 2, Insured New York Dividend Advantage and Insured New York Tax-Free Advantage; October 31, 2006 for Insured Premium Income 2, Dividend Advantage, Dividend Advantage 2, Dividend Advantage 3, Insured Dividend Advantage, Insured Tax-Free Advantage and Municipal High Income; and March 31, 2007 for Select Maturities, Select Portfolio, Select Portfolio 2, Select Portfolio 3, California Portfolio and New York Portfolio.

 

Annual Report Delivery

 

Annual reports will be sent to shareholders of record of each Fund following each Fund’s fiscal year end. Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and/or semi-annual report as available upon request. Such written or oral requests should be directed to such Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling 1-800-257-8787.

 

Please note that only one annual report or proxy statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or proxy statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of such documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of such documents are received, shareholders should contact the applicable Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.

 

General

 

Management does not intend to present and does not have reason to believe that any other items of business will be presented at the Meetings. However, if other matters are properly presented to the Meetings for a vote, the proxies will be voted by the persons acting under the proxies upon such matters in accordance with their judgment of the best interests of the Fund.

 

A list of shareholders entitled to be present and to vote at each Meeting will be available at the offices of the Funds, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours beginning ten days prior to the date of the Meetings.

 

Failure of a quorum to be present at any Meeting will necessitate adjournment and will subject that Fund to additional expense. The persons named in the enclosed proxy may also move for an adjournment of any Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to a proposal if they determine that adjournment and further solicitation is reasonable and in the best interests of the shareholders. Under each Fund’s By-Laws, an adjournment of a meeting with respect to a matter requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting.

 

IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

Kevin J. McCarthy
Vice President and Secretary

August 22, 2007

 

Appendix A

 

Beneficial Ownership

 

The following table sets forth, for each Board Member and for the Board Members and Officers as a group, the amount of shares beneficially owned in each Fund as of December 31, 2006. The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished by each Board Member and Officer.