<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-12-475565.txt : 20130524
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-12-475565.hdr.sgml : 20130524
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121119154957
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-12-475565
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121119

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHN HANCOCK BANK & THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000925683
		IRS NUMBER:				043241844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JOHN HANCOCK BANK & THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20110214

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN BANK & THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940728

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN REGIONAL BANK & THRIFT FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940620
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<TITLE>John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>601 Congress Street </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Boston, Massachusetts 02210 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">November&nbsp;19, 2012 </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">VIA EDGAR </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Brion R. Thompson, Esq. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Senior Counsel </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">United States Securities and
Exchange Commission </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">100 F Street, N.E. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Washington, DC 20549 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Re:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund</U></FONT></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>File No. 811-08568</U></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Thompson: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We have received the Staff&#146;s comments on the preliminary proxy statement filed on Schedule 14A on November&nbsp;2, 2012 (the &#147;Proxy Statement&#148;) for John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity
Fund (the &#147;Fund&#148;). The Staff&#146;s comments were received by telephone on November&nbsp;8, 2012. We respectfully submit this response letter on behalf of the Fund. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We believe that the disclosure changes and supplemental responses discussed in this letter are fully responsive to the Staff&#146;s comments, and resolve any matters raised. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We have, for the convenience of the Staff, repeated below the Staff&#146;s comments followed by the Fund&#146;s response. Defined terms
have the same meanings as used by the Fund in the Proxy Statement. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment:</U></B><B><I><U> Proposal 1(b)</U></I></B><B><U>, page 5
</U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please add risk disclosure to the discussion of the Fund&#146;s proposed removal of the fundamental investment restriction relating to pledging, mortgaging and
hypothecating assets. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> The Proxy Statement has been revised to include the following
underscored risk disclosure: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;Although BTO is permitted to pledge assets in connection with securing borrowings or
issuing senior securities, the elimination of this restriction is recommended to ensure flexibility to engage in such borrowing and other transactions, which may require the fund to encumber its assets, in response to changing market conditions and
circumstances. <U>If shareholders approve the elimination of this restriction, the Fund&#146;s ability to pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets will be increased.&nbsp;If the Fund were to encumber certain of its assets, it
would result in the Fund&#146;s creditors having a lien on&nbsp;such assets.&nbsp;The Fund could be required to maintain such encumbered assets in a segregated account&nbsp;at a third party custodian and&nbsp;to grant&nbsp;its
creditors&nbsp;control&nbsp;over such assets. Such liens and/or control arrangements could limit the ability of the Fund to sell or otherwise dispose of such assets and could grant the Fund&#146;s creditors with control and disposition rights with
respect to such assets.</U> Eliminating this restriction is also being recommended to promote uniformity among the John Hancock group of funds. In addition, there is no express requirement under the 1940 Act that BTO have a fundamental policy
regarding pledging, hypothecating, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering its assets and, accordingly, the Board recommends that this fundamental investment restriction be eliminated to avoid unnecessary <STRIKE>encumbrances
</STRIKE><U>restrictions</U>.&#148; </FONT></P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment:</U></B><B><I><U> Proposed Calculation of Advisory and Subadvisory Fees Under the Advisory and
Subadvisory Agreements</U></I></B><B><U>, page 6 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please provide additional detail as to what the Fund means by &#147;any other means&#148; in the disclosure related to the calculation of &#147;gross assets.&#148; If
the Fund&#146;s use of derivative investments is included in the calculation of &#147;gross assets&#148;, identify how those derivatives will be valued and confirm that the Fund will not use the notional value of its derivative investments for
purposes of determining &#147;gross assets.&#148; </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> The requested change has been made.
The Proxy Statement has been revised to include the following underscored disclosure: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;Gross assets would be defined as
&#147;total assets of the fund, including any form of investment leverage, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations, but not excluding any liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through
(i)&nbsp;indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility/commercial paper program or other forms of borrowings or the issuance of debt securities), (ii)&nbsp;the issuance of preferred shares or other
similar preference securities, and/or (iii)&nbsp;any other means.&#148; &#147;<U>Any other means&#148; in (iii)&nbsp;would include any instrument existing now or created in the future that would involve an obligation of the Fund to repay a third
party (i.e. reverse repurchase agreement).</U> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We confirm that if the Fund were to obtain leverage through certain types
of&nbsp;derivatives exposure, then it is anticipated that such derivative instruments would be valued based upon their market value taking into account the terms of the instrument. The Fund does not use the notional value of its derivative
investments for purposes of determining &#147;gross assets.&#148; </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment: ANNUAL EXPENSES, page 7 </U></B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please revise the <I>Fee and Expense Table</I> to conform to Form N-2 requirements by deleting or moving the fourth column &#147;Pro Forma Based on Gross Assets
Assuming Bank Debt&#148; to a supplemental table or narrative disclosure in a footnote to the <I>Fee and Expense Table</I>. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> The requested change has been made. The column &#147;Pro Forma Based on Gross Assets Assuming Bank Debt&#148; has been deleted. The following supplemental table appears as footnote
4 to the <I>Fee and Expense Table</I>: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="49%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="23%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;<FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>ACTUAL</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>PRO&nbsp;FORMA&nbsp;BASED&nbsp;ON&nbsp;GROSS&nbsp;ASSETS<BR>ASSUMING BANK DEBT</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Management Fees</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Other Expenses</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP
STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex">(1)</SUP></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.37</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.34</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">None</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex"></SUP></FONT><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">0.25</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex"></SUP></FONT><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex">(2)</SUP></FONT><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Total Annual Expenses</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.52</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.74</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Contractual Expense Reimbursement</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><SUP
STYLE="vertical-align:baseline; position:relative; bottom:.8ex">(3)</SUP></FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">-0.15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">-0.15</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Net Fund Operating Expenses</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.37</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.59</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">%&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment: EXAMPLE, page 8 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">4.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please revise the <I>Example</I> to conform to Form N-2 requirements by deleting or moving the fourth column &#147;Pro Forma Based on Gross Assets Assuming Bank
Debt&#148; to a supplemental table or narrative disclosure in a footnote to the Example. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">-2-
</FONT></P>


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<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> The requested change has been made. The column &#147;Pro Forma Based
on Gross Assets Assuming Bank Debt&#148; has been deleted. The following supplemental table appears as footnote 1 to the <I>Example</I>: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="49%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="22%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="22%"></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD>
<TD></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:31pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>PERIOD</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>ACTUAL</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1px solid #000000"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>PRO&nbsp;FORMA&nbsp;BASED&nbsp;ON&nbsp;GROSS&nbsp;ASSETS<BR>ASSUMING BANK DEBT</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>


<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1 year</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">14</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$&nbsp;&nbsp;16</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3 years</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">47</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$&nbsp;&nbsp;53</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">5 years</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">81</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$&nbsp;&nbsp;93</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">10 years</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">180</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">$204</FONT></TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment:</U></B><B><I><U> Subadvisory Agreement</U></I></B><B><U>, page 8 </U></B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">5.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please disclose the date on which the Subadvisory Agreement was approved by Fund shareholders. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> We note that the Subadvisory Agreement was entered into in connection with a reorganization of the Adviser. In
2005, the investment management teams of the Adviser were reorganized into an affiliated subadviser. The restructuring did not have an impact on the Fund, which continued to be managed by same personnel. In reliance on the Staff&#146;s no action
positions and existing statutes, rules and regulations, the reorganization did not constitute a change of control and, therefore, shareholder approval of the Subadvisory Agreement was not required. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment: Board&#146;s Evaluation and Recommendation, page 11 </U></B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">6.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please provide additional disclosure as to how the Board determined that &#147;the fees charged by the Adviser and the Subadviser were reasonable based on average
advisory and subadvisory fees and operating expenses for comparable funds.&#148; Please provide specific support for this statement. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> The requested change has been made. The following underscored disclosure has been added to the Proxy Statement: </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;The Board considered the expense ratio of the fund on a historical basis and after giving effect to leverage and the benefits to the
Adviser and the Subadviser from the revised fee calculation in the Advisory Agreement and the Subadvisory Agreement Amendments. <U>The Board reviewed the Fund&#146;s advisory fee and expense ratios against those of comparable funds.&nbsp;The Board
also received information about the investment subadvisory fee rate payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser for investment subadvisory services. The Board noted that on a historical basis the Fund&#146;s net expense ratio was equal to the
applicable median of a group of comparable funds determined by Lipper, an independent third party.&nbsp;(See Appendix B for further details.) The Board also noted that after the implementation of the new 80% investment policy and after giving effect
to leverage of approximately 25%, there would be only one other leveraged fund in the Fund&#146;s peer group and that the Fund&#146;s advisory fee and net expense ratio would be in line with that fund.</U> The Board noted that the fees charged by
the Adviser and the Subadviser were reasonable based on average advisory and subadvisory fees and operating expenses for comparable funds<U>, including open-end funds</U>.&#148; </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Comment: APPENDIX A, page 16 and page 17 </U></B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">7.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Please provide additional detail as to what the Fund means by &#147;any other means&#148; in the disclosure related to the calculation of &#147;gross assets.&#148; If
the Fund&#146;s use of derivative investments is included in the calculation of &#147;gross assets&#148;, identify how those derivatives will be valued and confirm that the Fund will not use the notional value of its derivative investments for
purposes of determining &#147;gross assets.&#148; </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B><U>Response:</U></B> Please see the response above to
<I>Comment 2</I>. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* </FONT></P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">-3-
</FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Fund acknowledges that: (1)&nbsp;it is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the Proxy Statement; (2)&nbsp;Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments in the Proxy Statement reviewed by the Staff do not foreclose the SEC from taking any action with respect to the Proxy Statement; and
(3)&nbsp;it may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the SEC or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Thank you for your attention to these matters. If you have any questions, I may be reached at 617-663-3872. </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Sincerely,</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><U>/s/ Kinga Kapuscinski</U></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Kinga Kapuscinski</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman" SIZE="2">-4-
</FONT></P>

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