_________ Shares

                NUVEEN INSURED TAX-FREE ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND

                                  COMMON STOCK

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                               November __, 2002

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Nuveen Investments
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Prudential Securities Incorporated
H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.
Fahnestock & Co. Inc.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
Quick & Reilly, Inc. A FleetBoston Financial Company
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc.
Ryan Beck & Co.
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.
Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Dear Sirs:

     The undersigned, Nuveen Insured Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), and Nuveen Advisory Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Manager"), address you as Underwriters and as the
representatives (the "Representatives") of each of the other persons, firms and
corporations, if any, listed in Schedule I hereto (herein collectively called
"Underwriters"). The Fund proposes to issue and sell an aggregate of _______
shares (the "Firm Shares") of its common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par
value per share (the "Common Shares"), to the several Underwriters. The Fund
also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set
forth in Section 2 hereof, up to an additional _______ Common Shares (the
"Additional Shares"). The Firm Shares and Additional Shares are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Shares".



     The Fund and the Manager wish to confirm as follows their agreements with
you and the other several Underwriters on whose behalf you are acting in
connection with the several purchases of the Shares by the Underwriters.

     The Fund is entering into an investment management agreement with the
Manager dated _______, 2002, a master custodian agreement with State Street Bank
and Trust Company dated _______, 2002 and a transfer agency and service
agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company dated _______, 2002 and such
agreements are herein referred to as the "Management Agreement", the "Custodian
Agreement" and the "Transfer Agency Agreement", respectively. Collectively, the
Management Agreement, the Custodian Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement
are herein referred to as the "Fund Agreements". This Underwriting Agreement is
herein referred to as the "Agreement".

     1.   Registration Statement and Prospectus.The Fund has prepared and filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in accordance
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules
and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Rules and
Regulations") and the 1940 Act (the "1940 Act Rules and Regulations" and
together with the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, the "Rules and Regulations") a
registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-100320 and 811-21213) under
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and may pursuant to the Rules and Regulations
prepare and file an additional registration statement relating to a portion of
the Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations (a
"462(b) Registration Statement") (collectively, the "registration statement"),
including a prospectus (including any statement of additional information)
relating to the Shares and a notification of registration of the Fund as an
investment company under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A (the "1940 Act
Notification"). The term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement
means the registration statement (including all financial schedules and
exhibits), as amended at the time it becomes effective under the 1933 Act or, if
the registration statement became effective under the 1933 Act prior to the
execution of this Agreement, as amended or supplemented at the time it became
effective prior to the execution of this Agreement, and includes any information
deemed to be included by Rule 430A under the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations. If
it is contemplated, at the time this Agreement is executed, that a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement will be filed under the
1933 Act and must be declared effective before the offering of the Shares may
commence, the term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement means the
registration statement as amended by said post-effective amendment. For the
avoidance of doubt, if the Fund has filed a 462(b) Registration Statement, the
term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement shall include such
462(b) Registration Statement. The term "Prospectus" as used in this Agreement
means the prospectus (including the statement of additional information) in the
form included in the Registration Statement or, if the prospectus (including the
statement of additional information) included in the Registration Statement
omits information in reliance on Rule 430A and such information is included in a
prospectus (including the statement of additional information) filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 497(h) under the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, the
term "Prospectus" as used in this Agreement means the prospectus (including the
statement of additional information) in the form included in the Registration
Statement as

                                        2



supplemented by the addition of the information contained in the prospectus
(including the statement of additional information) filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 497(h). The term "Prepricing Prospectus" as used in this
Agreement means the prospectus (including the statement of additional
information) subject to completion in the form included in the registration
statement at the time of the initial filing of the registration statement with
the Commission and as such prospectus (including the statement of additional
information) shall have been amended from time to time prior to the date of the
Prospectus, together with any other prospectus (including any other statement of
additional information) relating to the Fund other than the Prospectus.

     The Fund has furnished the Representatives with copies of such registration
statement, each amendment to such registration statement filed with the
Commission and each Prepricing Prospectus.

     2.   Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Fund hereby agrees, subject to
all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to issue and to sell to each
Underwriter and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements of the Fund and the Manager herein contained and subject to all of
the other terms and conditions set forth herein, each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Fund at a purchase price per
share of $14.325 per Share (the "purchase price per share"), the number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or
such number of Firm Shares increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof).

     The Fund also agrees, subject to all the terms and conditions set forth
herein, to issue and to sell to the Underwriters and, upon the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements of the Fund and the Manager herein
contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Underwriters shall have the right to purchase from the Fund, at the purchase
price per share, pursuant to an option (the "over-allotment option") which may
be exercised at any time and from time to time prior to 9:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the 45th day after the date of the Prospectus (or if such 45th day
shall be a Saturday or a Sunday or a holiday, on the next business day
thereafter when the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is open for trading) up
to an aggregate of _______ Additional Shares. Additional Shares may be purchased
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the
offering of the Firm Shares. Upon any exercise of the over-allotment option,
upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Fund and
the Manager herein contained and subject to all of the other terms and
conditions set forth herein, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to purchase from the Fund the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments as you may determine to avoid fractional shares) which bears the
same proportion to the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the
Underwriters as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter in Schedule I (or such number of Firm Shares increased as set forth
in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares.

     3.   Terms of Public Offering.The Fund and the Manager have been advised by
you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Firm

                                        3



Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become
effective as in your judgment is advisable and initially to offer the Firm
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

     4.   Delivery of Shares and Payments Therefor.

               (a)  Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment to the Fund for
     the Firm Shares shall be made at the office of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.,
     388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 or through the facilities of
     the Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable facility, at
     9:00 A.M., New York City time, on November __, 2002 (the "Closing Date").
     The place of closing for the Firm Shares and the Closing Date may be varied
     by agreement between you and the Fund.

               (b)  Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment to the Fund for
     any Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at
     the aforementioned office of Salomon Smith Barney Inc., or through the
     facilities of the Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable
     facility, at such time on such date (an "Option Closing Date"), which may
     be the same as the Closing Date, but shall in no event be earlier than the
     Closing Date nor earlier than two nor later than three business days after
     the giving of the notice hereinafter referred to, as shall be specified in
     a written notice from you on behalf of the Underwriters to the Fund of the
     Underwriters' determination to purchase a number, specified in said notice,
     of Additional Shares. The place of closing for any Additional Shares and
     the Option Closing Date for such Additional Shares may be varied by
     agreement between you and the Fund.

               (c)  Certificates for the Firm Shares and for any Additional
     Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you
     shall request prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City time, (i) in respect of the
     Firm Shares, on the second business day preceding the Closing Date and (ii)
     in respect of Additional Shares, on the day of the giving of the written
     notice in respect of such Additional Shares. Such certificates will be made
     available to you in New York City for inspection and packaging not later
     than 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next preceding the
     Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The
     certificates evidencing the Firm Shares and any Additional Shares to be
     purchased hereunder shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date or the
     Option Closing Date, as the case may be, through the facilities of the
     Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable facility, against
     payment of the purchase price therefor in immediately available funds to
     the order of the Fund.

     5.   Agreements of the Fund and the Manager. The Fund and the Manager,
jointly and severally, agree with the several Underwriters as follows:

               (a)  If, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it
     is necessary for the Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment
     thereto to be declared effective under the 1933 Act before the offering of
     the Firm Shares may commence, the Fund will use its reasonable best efforts
     to cause the Registration Statement or such post-effective amendment to
     become effective under the 1933 Act as soon as possible. If the

                                        4



     Registration Statement has become effective and the Prospectus contained
     therein omits certain information at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
     Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, the Fund will file a
     Prospectus including such information pursuant to Rule 497(h) of the 1933
     Act Rules and Regulations, as promptly as practicable, but no later than
     the second business day following the earlier of the date of the
     determination of the offering price of the Shares or the date the
     Prospectus is first used after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement. If the Registration Statement has become effective and the
     Prospectus contained therein does not so omit such information, the Fund
     will file a Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497 (c) or (j) of the 1933 Act
     Rules and Regulations as promptly as practicable, but no later than the
     fifth business day following the date of the later of the effective date of
     the Registration Statement or the commencement of the public offering of
     the Shares after the effective date of the Registration Statement. The Fund
     will advise you promptly and, if requested by you, will confirm such advice
     in writing (i) when the Registration Statement or such post-effective
     amendment has become effective, (ii) when the Prospectus has been timely
     filed pursuant to Rule 497(c) or Rule 497(h) of the 1933 Act Rules and
     Regulations or the certification permitted pursuant to Rule 497(j) of the
     1933 Act Rules and Regulations has been timely filed, whichever is
     applicable.

               (b)  The Fund will advise you promptly and, if requested by you,
     will confirm such advice in writing: (i) of any request made by the
     Commission for amendment of or a supplement to the Registration Statement,
     any Prepricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
     to any of the foregoing) or for additional information, (ii) of the
     issuance by the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc. (the "NASD"), any state securities commission, any national securities
     exchange, any arbitrator, any court or any other governmental, regulatory,
     self-regulatory or administrative agency or any official of any order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prohibiting or
     suspending the use of the Prospectus, any Prepricing Prospectus or any
     sales material (as hereinafter defined), of any notice pursuant to Section
     8(e) of the 1940 Act, of the suspension of qualification of the Shares for
     offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or contemplated
     initiation of any proceeding for any such purposes, (iii) of receipt by the
     Fund, the Manager, any affiliate of the Fund or the Manager or any
     representative or attorney of the Fund or the Manager of any other material
     communication from the Commission, the NASD, any state securities
     commission, any national securities exchange, any arbitrator, any court or
     any other governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative
     agency or any official relating to the Fund (if such communication relating
     to the Fund is received by such person within three years after the date of
     this Agreement), the Registration Statement, the 1940 Act Notification, the
     Prospectus, any Prepricing Prospectus, any sales material (as hereinafter
     defined) (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), this
     Agreement or any of the Fund Agreements and (iv) within the period of time
     referred to in paragraph (f) below, of any material adverse change in the
     condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net assets
     or results of operations of the Fund or the Manager or of the happening of
     any event which makes any statement of a material fact made in the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prepricing Prospectus or any

                                        5



     sales material (as hereinafter defined) (or any amendment or supplement to
     any of the foregoing) untrue or which requires the making of any additions
     to or changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prepricing
     Prospectus or any sales materials (as hereinafter defined) (or any
     amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) in order to state a
     material fact required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and
     Regulations to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
     statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the
     circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or of the
     necessity to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the
     Prospectus, any Prepricing Prospectus or any sales material (as hereinafter
     defined) (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) to comply
     with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Rules and Regulations or any other law
     or order of any court or regulatory body. If at any time the Commission,
     the NASD, any state securities commission, any national securities
     exchange, any arbitrator, any court or any other governmental, regulatory,
     self-regulatory or administrative agency or any official shall issue any
     order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
     prohibiting or suspending the use of the Prospectus, any Prepricing
     Prospectus or any sales material (as hereinafter defined) (or any amendment
     or supplement to any of the foregoing) or suspending the qualification of
     the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, the Fund will use its
     reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the
     earliest possible time.

               (c)  The Fund will furnish to you, without charge, three signed
     copies of the registration statement and the 1940 Act Notification as
     originally filed with the Commission and of each amendment thereto,
     including financial statements and all exhibits thereto (except any
     post-effective amendment required by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act Rules and
     Regulations which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one
     year from the date of this Agreement and (y) the date on which the
     distribution of the Shares is completed) and will also furnish to you,
     without charge, such number of conformed copies of the registration
     statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (except any
     post-effective amendment required by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act Rules and
     Regulations which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one
     year from the date of this Agreement and (y) the date on which the
     distribution of the Shares is completed), with or without exhibits, as you
     may reasonably request.

               (d)  The Fund will not (i) file any amendment to the Registration
     Statement or make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, any
     Prepricing Prospectus or any sales material (as hereinafter defined) (or
     any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) of which you shall not
     previously have been advised or to which you shall reasonably object within
     a reasonable time after being so advised or (ii) so long as, in the opinion
     of counsel for the Underwriters, a Prospectus is required to be delivered
     in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, file any
     information, documents or reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), without delivering a copy of such
     information, documents or reports to you, as Representatives of the
     Underwriters, prior to or concurrently with such filing.

                                        6



               (e)  Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
     Fund has delivered to you, without charge, in such quantities as you have
     reasonably requested, copies of each form of any Prepricing Prospectus. The
     Fund consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions of the 1933 Act
     and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the
     Shares are offered by the several Underwriters and by dealers, prior to the
     date of the Prospectus, of each Prepricing Prospectus so furnished by the
     Fund.

               (f)  As soon after the execution and delivery of this Agreement
     as possible and thereafter from time to time, for such period as in the
     opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is required by the
     1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of Shares by any
     Underwriter or dealer, the Fund will expeditiously deliver to each
     Underwriter and each dealer, without charge, as many copies of the
     Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) as you may
     reasonably request. The Fund consents to the use of the Prospectus (and of
     any amendments or supplements thereto) in accordance with the provisions of
     the 1933 Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions
     in which the Shares are offered by the several Underwriters and by all
     dealers to whom Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering or
     sale of the Shares and for such period of time thereafter as the Prospectus
     is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of Shares by
     any Underwriter or dealer. If during such period of time any event shall
     occur that in the judgment of the Fund or in the opinion of counsel for the
     Underwriters is required to be set forth in the Prospectus (as then amended
     or supplemented) or should be set forth therein in order to make the
     statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the
     Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Rules and
     Regulations or any other law, rule or regulation, the Fund will forthwith
     prepare and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (d) above, file with
     the Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement thereto and will
     expeditiously furnish to the Underwriters and dealers, without charge, such
     number of copies thereof as they shall reasonably request. In the event
     that the Prospectus is to be amended or supplemented, the Fund, if
     requested by you, will promptly issue a press release announcing or
     disclosing the matters to be covered by the proposed amendment or
     supplement.

               (g)  The Fund will cooperate with you and with counsel for the
     Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the
     Shares for offering and sale by the several Underwriters and by dealers
     under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you may
     designate and will file such consents to service of process or other
     documents necessary or appropriate in order to effect such registration or
     qualification; provided that in no event shall the Fund be obligated to
     qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified
     or to take any action which would subject it to service of process in
     suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares,
     in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

                                        7



               (h)  The Fund will make generally available to its security
     holders an earnings statement, which need not be audited, covering a
     twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as
     practicable after the end of such period, which earnings statement shall
     satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 of the
     1933 Act Rules and Regulations.

               (i)  The Fund will comply with the undertaking set forth in
     paragraph 6 of Item 33 of Part C of the Registration Statement.

               (j)  During the period of five years hereafter, the Fund will
     furnish to you (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report of the Fund
     mailed to shareholders or filed with the Commission and (ii) from time to
     time such other information concerning the Fund as you may reasonably
     request.

               (k)  If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated
     after execution pursuant to any provisions hereof (other than pursuant to
     the second paragraph of Section 10 hereof or by notice given by you
     terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 or Section 11 hereof) or
     if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because of any
     failure or refusal on the part of the Fund or the Manager to comply with
     the terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Fund and
     the Manager, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse the Representatives
     for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel for
     the Underwriters) incurred by you in connection herewith, but the Fund and
     the Manager shall in no event be liable for any internal cost of the
     Underwriters or any loss of anticipated profits or speculative,
     consequential or similar damages for such termination.

               (l)  The Fund will direct the investment of the net proceeds of
     the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the
     investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as described
     in the Prospectus.

               (m)  The Fund will file the requisite copies of the Prospectus
     with the Commission in a timely fashion pursuant to Rule 497(c) or Rule
     497(h) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations, whichever is applicable or,
     if applicable, will file in a timely fashion the certification permitted by
     Rule 497(j) of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations and will advise you of
     the time and manner of such filing.

               (n)  Except as provided in this Agreement or pursuant to any
     dividend reinvestment plan of the Fund in effect on the date hereof, the
     Fund will not sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, any Common
     Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
     for Common Shares or grant any options or warrants to purchase Common
     Shares, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, without
     the prior written consent of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

               (o)  Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus,
     neither the Fund nor the Manager has taken, nor will it take, directly or
     indirectly, any action designed to

                                        8



     or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
     manipulation of the price of the Common Shares.

               (p)  The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts to have the
     Common Shares listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the American Stock
     Exchange (the "AMEX") concurrently with the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement and to comply with the rules and regulations of such
     exchange.

     6.   Representations and Warranties of the Fund and the Manager. The Fund
and the Manager, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each
Underwriter that:

               (a)  Each Prepricing Prospectus included as part of the
     registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or
     supplement thereto complied when so filed in all material respects with the
     provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations.

               (b)  The Registration Statement, in the form in which it became
     or becomes effective and also in such form as it may be when any
     post-effective amendment thereto shall become effective and the Prospectus
     and any amendment or supplement thereto when filed with the Commission
     under Rule 497 of the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations and the 1940 Act
     Notification when originally filed with the Commission and any amendment or
     supplement thereto when filed with the Commission complied or will comply
     in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act
     and the Rules and Regulations and did not or will not at any such times
     contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
     which they were made) not misleading; except that this representation and
     warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made
     in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
     Underwriter furnished to the Fund in writing by or on behalf of any
     Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

               (c)  All the outstanding Common Shares of the Fund have been duly
     authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and, except as described in
     the Registration Statement, nonassessable and are free of any preemptive or
     similar rights; the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
     delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with
     the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and, except as
     described in the Registration Statement, nonassessable and free of any
     preemptive or similar rights and the capital stock of the Fund conforms to
     the description thereof in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     (and any amendment or supplement to either of them).

               (d)  The Fund has been duly formed and is validly existing in
     good standing as a business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth of
     Massachusetts, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its
     properties and to conduct its business as

                                        9



     described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any
     amendment or supplement to either of them) and is duly registered and
     qualified to conduct business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
     or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business
     requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to
     register or to qualify does not have a material, adverse effect on the
     condition (financial or other), business, properties, net assets or results
     of operations of the Fund. The Fund has no subsidiaries.

               (e)  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or,
     to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened, against the Fund or to which the
     Fund or any of its properties is subject, that are required to be described
     in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
     supplement to either of them) but are not described as required by the 1933
     Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations and there are no agreements,
     contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
     or supplement to either of them) or to be filed as an exhibit to the
     Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the
     1933 Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations.

               (f)  The Fund is not in violation of its Declaration of Trust or
     By-Laws or in material violation of any material law, ordinance,
     administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Fund or
     of any material decree of the Commission, the NASD, any state securities
     commission, any national securities exchange, any arbitrator, any court or
     any other governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative
     agency or any official having jurisdiction over the Fund or in breach or
     default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation,
     agreement or condition contained in any material bond, debenture, note or
     any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or
     other instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it or any of its
     properties may be bound.

               (g)  Neither the issuance and sale of the Shares, the execution,
     delivery or performance of this Agreement nor any of the Fund Agreements by
     the Fund, nor the consummation by the Fund of the transactions contemplated
     hereby or thereby (A) requires any consent, approval, authorization or
     other order of or registration or filing which has not yet been obtained or
     made with the Commission, the NASD, any national securities exchange, any
     arbitrator, any court or any other governmental, regulatory,
     self-regulatory or administrative agency or any official (except compliance
     with the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions which have
     been or will be effected in accordance with this Agreement and except for
     compliance with the filing requirements of the NASD Division of Corporate
     Finance) or conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will
     constitute a breach of the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Fund or
     (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a
     breach of or a default under, any material agreement, indenture, lease or
     other instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it or any of its
     properties may be bound or materially violates or will materially violate
     any material statute, law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction,
     order or decree applicable to the Fund or any of its properties or will
     result in

                                       10



     the creation or imposition of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon
     any property or assets of the Fund pursuant to the terms of any agreement
     or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to
     which any of the property or assets of the Fund is subject.

               (h)  Since the date as of which information is given in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
     to either of them), except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been
     no material, adverse change in the condition (financial or other),
     business, properties, net assets or results of operations of the Fund or
     business prospects (other than as a result of a change in the financial
     markets generally) of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary
     course of business, (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the
     Fund which are material to the Fund other than those in the ordinary course
     of its business as described in the Prospectus (and any amendment or
     supplement thereto) and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of
     any kind declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its common
     stock.

               (i)  The accountants, Ernst & Young LLP, who have audited or
     shall audit the Statement of Net Assets included in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of
     them), are an independent public accounting firm as required by the 1933
     Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations.

               (j)  The financial statements, together with related schedules
     and notes, included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or
     any amendment or supplement to either of them) present fairly the financial
     position of the Fund on the basis stated in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus at the respective dates or for the respective periods to
     which they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been
     prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as disclosed
     therein; and the other financial and statistical information and data
     included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment
     or supplement thereto) are accurately derived from such financial
     statements and the books and records of the Fund.

               (k)  The Fund, subject to the Registration Statement having been
     declared effective and the filing of the Prospectus under Rule 497 under
     the Rules and Regulations, has taken all required action under the 1933
     Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations to make the public offering
     and consummate the sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement.

               (l)  The execution and delivery of and the performance by the
     Fund of its obligations under this Agreement and the Fund Agreements have
     been duly and validly authorized by the Fund and this Agreement and the
     Fund Agreements have been duly executed and delivered by the Fund and
     constitute the valid and legally binding agreements of the Fund,
     enforceable against the Fund in accordance with their terms, except as
     rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or
     state securities laws and subject to the qualification that the
     enforceability of the Fund's obligations hereunder and thereunder may be
     limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,

                                       11



     reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles.

               (m)  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them), subsequent
     to the respective dates as of which such information is given in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
     to either of them), the Fund has not incurred any liability or obligation,
     direct or contingent, that is material to the Fund and there has not been
     any change in the capital stock or material increase in the short-term debt
     or long-term debt of the Fund.

               (n)  The Fund has not distributed and, prior to the later to
     occur of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) completion of the distribution of the
     Shares, will not distribute to the public in either printed or electronic
     form any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
     Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prepricing Prospectus
     included in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement,
     the Prospectus and the advertisements/sales literature filed by Nuveen
     Investments with the NASD on _______, 2002.

               (o)  The Fund has such licenses, permits, and authorizations of
     governmental or regulatory authorities ("permits") as are necessary to own
     its property and to conduct its business in the manner described in the
     Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto); the Fund has
     fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such
     permits and no event has occurred which allows or, after notice or lapse of
     time, would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any
     other material impairment of the rights of the Fund under any such permit,
     subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the
     Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto); and, except as
     described in the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), none
     of such permits contains any restriction that is materially burdensome to
     the Fund.

               (p)  The Fund maintains and will maintain a system of internal
     accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
     transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
     specific authorization and with the investment policies and restrictions of
     the Fund and the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act
     Rules and Regulations and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
     (the "Code"); (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
     preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles, to calculate net asset value, to maintain
     accountability for assets and to maintain material compliance with the
     books and records requirements under the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Rules
     and Regulations; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance
     with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
     account for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals
     and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

                                       12



               (q)  The conduct by the Fund of its business (as described in the
     Prospectus) does not require it to be the owner, possessor or licensee of
     any patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks or trade names
     which it does not own, possess or license.

               (r)  Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus
     (and any amendment or supplement thereto), the Fund has not taken and will
     not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which should
     reasonably be expected to cause or result in or which will constitute
     stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares in
     violation of federal securities laws and the Fund is not aware of any such
     action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Fund.

               (s)  The Fund is duly registered under the 1940 Act as a
     closed-end, diversified management investment company and the 1940 Act
     Notification has been duly filed with the Commission and, at the time of
     filing thereof and at the time of filing any amendment or supplement
     thereto, conformed in all material respects with all applicable provisions
     of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Rules and Regulations. The Fund has not
     received any notice from the Commission pursuant to Section 8(e) of the
     1940 Act with respect to the 1940 Act Notification or the Registration
     Statement (or any amendment or supplement to either of them).

               (t)  All advertising, sales literature or other promotional
     material (including "prospectus wrappers" and "broker kits"), whether in
     printed or electronic form, authorized in writing by or prepared by the
     Fund or the Manager for use in connection with the offering and sale of the
     Shares (collectively, "sales material") complied and comply in all material
     respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
     Rules and Regulations and the rules and interpretations of the NASD and if
     required to be filed with the NASD under the NASD's conduct rules were so
     filed. No sales material contained or contains an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact required to be
     stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

               (u)  This Agreement and each of the Fund Agreements complies in
     all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
     1940 Act Rules and Regulations, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
     amended (the "Advisers Act") and the rules and regulations adopted by the
     Commission under the Advisers Act (the "Advisers Act Rules and
     Regulations").

               (v)  No holder of any security of the Fund has any right to
     require registration of Common Shares or any other security of the Fund
     because of the filing of the registration statement or consummation of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

               (w)  The Shares have been duly approved for listing upon notice
     of issuance on the AMEX and the Fund's registration statement on Form 8-A,
     under the 1934 Act, has become effective.

                                       13



               (x)  The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of
     the offering of the Shares in such a manner as to comply with the
     requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.

     7.   Representations and Warranties of the Manager. The Manager represents
and warrants to each Underwriter as follows:

               (a)  The Manager is a corporation duly organized and validly
     existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
     full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
     and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them) and is
     duly registered and qualified to conduct business and is in good standing
     in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or conduct
     of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where
     the failure so to register or to qualify would not have a material, adverse
     effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, net
     assets or results of operations of the Manager.

               (b)  The Manager is duly registered as an investment adviser
     under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the 1940
     Act, the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations or the 1940 Act Rules and
     Regulations from acting under the Management Agreement for the Fund as
     contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any
     amendment or supplement thereto).

               (c)  The Manager has full power and authority to enter into this
     Agreement and the Management Agreement, the execution and delivery of, and
     the performance by the Manager of its obligations under, this Agreement and
     the Management Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the
     Manager and this Agreement and the Management Agreement have been duly
     executed and delivered by the Manager and constitute the valid and legally
     binding agreements of the Manager, enforceable against the Manager in
     accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution
     hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and subject to
     the qualification that the enforceability of the Manager's obligations
     hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles.

               (d)  The Manager has the financial resources available to it
     necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as
     contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any
     amendment or supplement thereto) and under this Agreement and the
     Management Agreement.

               (e)  The description of the Manager and its business, and the
     statements attributable to the Manager, in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) complied and
     comply in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the
     1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act
     Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue

                                       14



     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
     of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
     not misleading.

               (f)  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or,
     to the knowledge of the Manager, threatened against the Manager or to which
     any of its properties is subject, that are required to be described in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to
     either of them) but are not described as required or that reasonably should
     be expected to result in any material, adverse change in the condition
     (financial or other), business, properties, net assets or results of
     operations of the Manager or that reasonably should be expected to have a
     material, adverse effect on the ability of the Manager to fulfill its
     obligations hereunder or under the Management Agreement.

               (g)  Since the date as of which information is given in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
     to either of them), except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been
     no material, adverse change in the condition (financial or other),
     business, properties, net assets or results of operations or business
     prospects of the Manager, whether or not arising from the ordinary course
     of business and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the
     Manager which are material to the Manager other than those in the ordinary
     course of its business as described in the Prospectus.

               (h)  The Manager has such licenses, permits and authorizations of
     governmental or regulatory authorities ("permits") as are necessary to own
     its property and to conduct its business in the manner described in the
     Prospectus; the Manager has fulfilled and performed all its material
     obligations with respect to such permits and no event has occurred which
     allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or
     termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the
     rights of the Manager under any such permit.

               (i)  This Agreement and the Management Agreement comply in all
     material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940
     Act Rules and Regulations, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Rules and
     Regulations.

               (j)  Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this
     Agreement or the Management Agreement by the Manager, nor the consummation
     by the Manager of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (A)
     requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of or
     registration or filing with the Commission, the NASD, any state securities
     commission, any national securities exchange, any arbitrator, any court or
     any other governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative
     agency or any official (except compliance with the securities or Blue Sky
     laws of various jurisdictions which have been or will be effected in
     accordance with this Agreement and except for compliance with the filing
     requirements of the NASD Division of Corporate Finance) or conflicts or
     will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of or a
     default under, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Manager
     or (B) conflicts

                                       15



     or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of or a
     default under, any material agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument
     to which the Manager is a party or by which it or any of its properties may
     be bound or materially violates or will materially violate any material
     statute, law, regulation or filing or judgment, injunction, order or decree
     applicable to the Manager or any of its properties or will result in the
     creation or imposition of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
     property or assets of the Manager pursuant to the terms of any agreement or
     instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound or to which
     any of the property or assets of the Manager is subject.

               (k)  Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus
     (and in any amendment or supplement thereto), the Manager has not taken and
     will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which
     should reasonably be expected to cause or result in or which will
     constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Shares
     in violation of federal securities laws and the Manager is not aware of any
     such action taken or to be taken by any affiliates of the Manager.

               (l)  In the event that the Fund or the Manager makes available
     any promotional materials intended for use only by qualified broker-dealers
     and registered representatives thereof by means of an Internet web site or
     similar electronic means, the Manager will install and maintain
     pre-qualification and password-protection or similar procedures which are
     reasonably designed to effectively prohibit access to such promotional
     materials by persons other than qualified broker-dealers and registered
     representatives thereof.

     8.   Indemnification and Contribution.

               (a)  The Fund and the Manager, jointly and severally, agree to
     indemnify and hold harmless each of you and each other Underwriter and each
     person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section
     15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and
     all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several
     (including reasonable costs of investigation) arising out of or based upon
     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
     contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prepricing
     Prospectus, any sales material (or any amendment or supplement to any of
     the foregoing) or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged
     omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in
     light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading,
     except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
     arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged
     untrue statement or omission which has been made therein or omitted
     therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with the information relating
     to such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Fund by or on behalf of
     any Underwriter through you expressly for use in connection therewith;
     provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity with respect to the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prepricing Prospectuses (or
     any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing)

                                       16



     shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person
     asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased Shares,
     if it is shown that a copy of the Prospectus, as then amended or
     supplemented, which would have cured any defect giving rise to such loss,
     claim, damage, liability or expense was not sent or delivered to such
     person by or on behalf of such Underwriter, if required by law to be so
     delivered, at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Shares to
     such person and such Prospectus, amendments and supplements had been
     provided by the Fund to the Underwriters in the requisite quantity and on a
     timely basis to permit proper delivery. The foregoing indemnity agreement
     shall be in addition to any liability which the Fund or the Manager may
     otherwise have.

               (b)  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against
     any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter in respect of
     which indemnity may be sought against the Fund or the Manager, such
     Underwriter or such controlling person shall promptly notify the Fund or
     the Manager and the Fund or the Manager shall assume the defense thereof,
     including the employment of counsel and the payment of all fees and
     expenses. Such Underwriter or any such controlling person shall have the
     right to employ separate counsel in any such action, suit or proceeding and
     to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
     counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or controlling person
     unless (i) the Fund or the Manager have agreed in writing to pay such fees
     and expenses, (ii) the Fund and the Manager have failed within a reasonable
     time to assume the defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to
     any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
     include both such Underwriter or such controlling person and the Fund or
     the Manager and such Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been
     advised by its counsel that representation of such indemnified party and
     the Fund or the Manager by the same counsel would be inappropriate under
     applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such
     representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or
     potential differing interests between them (in which case the Fund and the
     Manager shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, suit
     or proceeding on behalf of such Underwriter or such controlling person). It
     is understood, however, that the Fund and the Manager shall, in connection
     with any one such action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially
     similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction
     arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances be liable for
     the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in
     addition to any local counsel if there is any action, suit or proceeding in
     more than one jurisdiction) at any time for all such Underwriters and
     controlling persons not having actual or potential differing interests with
     you or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by
     Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and that, subject to the requirements of 1940 Act
     Release No. 11330, all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly
     as they are incurred. The Fund and the Manager shall not be liable for any
     settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding effected without the
     written consent of the Fund or the Manager, but if settled with such
     written consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any
     such action, suit or proceeding, the Fund and the Manager agree to
     indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter, to the extent provided in the
     preceding

                                       17



     paragraph, and any such controlling person from and against any loss,
     liability, damage or expense by reason by such settlement or judgment.

               (c)  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
     indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Manager, their trustees,
     directors, any officers of the Fund who sign the Registration Statement and
     any person who controls the Fund or the Manager within the meaning of
     Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, to the same
     extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Fund and the Manager to each
     Underwriter, but only with respect to information relating to such
     Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter
     through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
     or any Prepricing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
     foregoing). If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against the
     Fund or the Manager, any of their trustees, directors, any such officer or
     any such controlling person, based on the Registration Statement, the
     Prospectus or any Prepricing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to
     any of the foregoing) and in respect of which indemnity may be sought
     against any Underwriter pursuant to this paragraph (c), such Underwriter
     shall have the rights and duties given to the Fund and the Manager by
     paragraph (b) above (except that if the Fund or the Manager shall have
     assumed the defense thereof such Underwriter shall not be required to do
     so, but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense
     thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such
     Underwriter's expense) and the Fund and the Manager, their trustees,
     directors, any such officer and any such controlling person shall have the
     rights and duties given to the Underwriters by paragraph (b) above. The
     foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which
     the Underwriters may otherwise have.

               (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
     unavailable to an indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (c) hereof in
     respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to
     therein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
     indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
     indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
     or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
     relative benefits received by the Fund and the Manager on the one hand
     (treated jointly for this purpose as one person) and the Underwriters on
     the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation
     provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
     proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
     referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund and
     the Manager on the one hand (treated jointly for this purpose as one
     person) and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the
     statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
     liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
     considerations. The relative benefits received by the Fund and the Manager
     on the one hand (treated jointly for this purpose as one person) and the
     Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
     as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses)
     received by the Fund as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
     Prospectus bear to the total payments received by the Underwriters with
     respect to the Firm Shares as set

                                       18



     forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault
     of the Fund and the Manager on the one hand (treated jointly for this
     purpose as one person) and of the Underwriters on the other hand shall be
     determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
     omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
     Fund and the Manager on the one hand (treated jointly for this purpose as
     one person) or by the Underwriters on the other hand and the parties'
     relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
     correct or prevent such statement or omission.

               (e)  The Fund, the Manager and the Underwriters agree that it
     would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8
     were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
     treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
     allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
     referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an
     indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
     and expenses referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include,
     subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
     reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with defending
     any such action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
     Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
     excess of the amount by which the total price of the Shares underwritten by
     it and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
     such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
     untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
     person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
     Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
     person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
     Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are
     several in proportion to the respective number of Firm Shares set forth
     opposite their names in Schedule I (or such numbers of Firm Shares
     increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) and not joint.

               (f)  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
     consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
     threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified
     party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
     hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
     unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability from
     claimants on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
     proceeding.

               (g)  Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for
     which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution
     under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the
     indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
     are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
     Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Fund and the
     Manager set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full
     force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf
     of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Fund, the
     Manager or their trustees, directors or officers or any person controlling
     the Fund or the Manager, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment

                                       19



     therefor hereunder and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor
     to any Underwriter or to the Fund, the Manager or their trustees, directors
     or officers or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Fund or the
     Manager shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution
     and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.

     9.   Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.The several obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase any Shares hereunder are subject to, in the good faith
judgment of the Underwriters, the accuracy of and compliance with the
representations, warranties and agreements of and by the Fund and the Manager
contained herein on and as of the date hereof, the date on which the
Registration Statement becomes or became effective, the date of the Prospectus
(and of any amendment or supplement thereto), the Closing Date and, with respect
to any Additional Shares, any Option Closing Date; to the accuracy and
completeness of all statements made by the Fund, the Manager or any of their
officers in any certificate delivered to the Representatives or their counsel
pursuant to this Agreement and to the following conditions:

               (a)  If, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it
     is necessary for the Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment
     thereto to be declared effective before the offering of the Shares may
     commence, the Registration Statement or such post-effective amendment shall
     have become effective not later than 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the
     date hereof or at such later date and time as shall be consented to in
     writing by you and all filings, if any, required by Rules 497 and 430A
     under the 1933 Act Rules and Regulations shall have been timely made; no
     order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
     been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted
     or, to the knowledge of the Fund, the Manager or any Underwriter,
     threatened by the Commission and any request of the Commission for
     additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to your
     satisfaction.

               (b)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
     Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC, special counsel for the Fund and Manager, dated the
     Closing Date and addressed to you, as Representatives of the several
     Underwriters, to the effect that:

                    (i)     The Fund is a business trust duly established,
               validly existing and in good standing under the laws of The
               Commonwealth of Massachusetts with full power and authority to
               own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
               as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
               (and any amendment or supplement thereto through the date of the
               opinion) and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its
               business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
               nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires
               such registration or qualification, except where the failure so
               to register or to qualify does not have a material, adverse
               effect on the condition (financial or other), business,
               properties, net assets or results of operations of the Fund;

                    (ii)    The authorized and outstanding capital stock of the
               Fund is as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
               (or any amendment or

                                       20



               supplement thereto through the date of the opinion); and the
               description of the authorized capital stock of the Fund contained
               in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto through
               the date of the opinion) under the caption "Description of
               Shares" conforms in all material respects as to legal matters to
               the terms thereof contained in the Fund's Declaration of Trust;

                    (iii)   All of the shares of capital stock of the Fund
               outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly
               authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
               nonassessable, except that, as described in the Prospectus under
               the heading, "Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,"
               shareholders of the Fund may under certain circumstances be held
               personally liable for its obligations;

                    (iv)    The Shares have been duly authorized and, when
               issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor
               in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued,
               fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive
               rights that entitle or will entitle any person to acquire any
               Shares upon the issuance thereof by the Fund, except that, as
               described in the Prospectus under the heading, "Certain
               Provisions in the Declaration of Trust," shareholders of the Fund
               may under certain circumstances be held personally liable for its
               obligations;

                    (v)     The form of certificate for the Shares is in due and
               proper form and complies with the requirements of all applicable
               laws and the AMEX;

                    (vi)    The Fund has the power and authority to enter into
               this Agreement and the Fund Agreements and to issue, sell and
               deliver the Shares to the Underwriters as provided herein and
               this Agreement and each of the Fund Agreements have been duly
               authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and assuming due
               authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties
               thereto and that the performance of this Agreement and the Fund
               Agreements by such other parties will not violate law, agreements
               to which such other parties or their properties are subject or
               orders applicable to such other parties, constitute the valid,
               legal and binding agreements of the Fund, enforceable against the
               Fund in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement of
               rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state
               securities laws or principles of public policy and subject to the
               qualification that the enforceability of the Fund's obligations
               hereunder and thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy,
               insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to
               or affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
               principles, whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
               equity or at law;

                    (vii)   This Agreement constitutes a valid, legal and
               binding agreement of the Manager, enforceable against the Manager
               in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of rights to
               indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities
               laws or principles of public policy and subject to the
               qualification that the enforceability of the Manager's
               obligations hereunder may

                                       21



               be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
               and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
               generally and by general equitable principles, whether
               enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

                    (viii)  The Fund Agreements comply in all material respects
               with all applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the
               Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act
               Rules and Regulations;

                    (ix)    The Fund is not in violation of its Declaration of
               Trust or By-Laws or to the best knowledge of such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry, is not in material default in the performance
               of any material obligation, agreement or condition contained in
               any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness,
               except as may be disclosed in the Prospectus (and any amendment
               or supplement thereto);

                    (x)     No consent, approval, authorization or order of or
               registration or filing with the Commission, the NASD, any state
               securities commission, any national securities exchange, any
               arbitrator, any court or any other governmental body, agency or
               regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative agency or any
               official is required on the part of the Fund (except as have been
               obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act or such as may be
               required under state securities or Blue Sky laws governing the
               purchase and distribution of the Shares) for the valid issuance
               and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters as contemplated by
               this Agreement, performance of the Fund Agreements or this
               Agreement by the Fund, the consummation by the Fund of the
               transactions contemplated thereby or hereby or the adoption of
               the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan;

                    (xi)    Neither the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares,
               the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
               Fund Agreements, compliance by the Fund with the provisions
               hereof or thereof, consummation by the Fund of the transactions
               contemplated hereby or thereby nor the adoption of the Fund's
               Dividend Reinvestment Plan violates the Declaration of Trust or
               By-Laws of the Fund or any material agreement, indenture, lease
               or other instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it
               or any of its properties is bound that is an exhibit to the
               Registration Statement or that is known to such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge
               after reasonable inquiry, will result in the creation or
               imposition of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
               property or assets of the Fund, nor, to the best of such
               counsel's knowledge after reasonable inquiry, will any such
               action result in any violation of any existing material law,
               regulation, ruling (assuming compliance with all applicable state
               securities and Blue Sky laws), judgment, injunction, order or
               decree known to such counsel after reasonable inquiry, applicable
               to the Fund or any of its properties, except that, in the
               published opinion of the Commission, the indemnification
               provisions in this Agreement and the Fund Agreements, insofar

                                       22



               as they relate to indemnification for liabilities arising under
               the 1933 Act, are against public policy as expressed in the 1933
               Act and therefore unenforceable;

                    (xii)   The Registration Statement and all post-effective
               amendments, if any, have become effective under the 1933 Act and,
               to the best knowledge of such counsel after reasonable inquiry,
               no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
               Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are
               pending before or contemplated by the Commission; and any filing
               of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
               required pursuant to Rule 497 of the 1933 Act Rules and
               Regulations prior to the date of such opinion has been made in
               accordance with Rule 497;

                    (xiii)  The Fund is duly registered with the Commission
               under the 1940 Act as a closed-end, diversified management
               investment company and all action has been taken by the Fund as
               required by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the Rules and
               Regulations in connection with the issuance and sale of the
               Shares to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the
               Shares as contemplated by this Agreement;

                    (xiv)   The statements made in the Registration Statement
               and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of
               them through the date of the opinion) under the caption "Tax
               Matters" have been reviewed by such counsel and to the extent
               they describe or summarize tax laws, doctrines or practices of
               the United States, present a fair and accurate description or
               summary thereof as of the date of the opinion;

                    (xv)    The statements in the Registration Statement and
               Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement to either of them
               through the date of the opinion), insofar as they are
               descriptions of contracts, agreements or other legal documents or
               refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, are accurate and
               present fairly the information required to be shown;

                    (xvi)   The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and
               any amendment or supplement to either of them through the date of
               the opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the
               requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and
               Regulations (except that no opinion need be expressed as to the
               financial statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and
               other financial and statistical data included therein as to which
               such counsel need not express any opinion);

                    (xvii)  To the best knowledge of such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry, (A) other than as described or contemplated
               in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto through
               the date of the opinion), there are no actions, suits or other
               legal or governmental proceedings pending or expressly threatened
               against the Fund (through the date of the opinion) and (B) there
               are no material agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or
               other instruments that are required to

                                       23



               be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or
               any amendment or supplement to either of them through the date of
               the opinion) or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
               Statement that are not described or filed as required, as the
               case may be;

                    (xviii) To the best knowledge of such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry, the Fund is not in violation of any law,
               ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation
               applicable to the Fund or of any decree of the Commission, the
               NASD, any state securities commission, any national securities
               exchange, any arbitrator, any court or any other governmental,
               regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative agency or any
               official having jurisdiction over the Fund; and

                    (xix)   The Shares are duly authorized for listing, subject
               to official notice of issuance, on the American Stock Exchange
               and the Fund's registration statement on Form 8-A under the 1934
               Act is effective.

               Such counsel shall also state that although counsel has not
     undertaken, except as otherwise indicated in their opinion, to determine
     independently and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy or
     completeness of the statements in the Registration Statement, such counsel
     has participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, including review and discussion of the contents thereof, and
     nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that has caused it to
     believe that the Registration Statement, at the time the Registration
     Statement became effective or the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the
     Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which
     they were made) not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to the
     Prospectus, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, contained an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being
     understood that such counsel need express no view with respect to the
     financial statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other
     financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus).

               In rendering such opinion, such counsel may limit such opinion to
     matters involving the application of the laws of the State of Illinois, The
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States. To the extent they
     deem proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, such counsel may
     rely, as to matters involving the application of laws of The Commonwealth
     of Massachusetts, upon the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP or, as to other
     matters, other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable
     and who are satisfactory to the Representatives; provided that (X) such
     reliance is expressly authorized by the opinion so relied upon and a copy
     of each such opinion is delivered to the Representatives and is, in form
     and substance, satisfactory to them and their counsel and (Y) Bell, Boyd &
     Lloyd LLC states in their opinion that they believe that they and the
     Underwriters are justified in relying thereon. As to matters involving the
     application of the

                                       24



     federal laws of the United States to the Taxable Equivalent Yield Tables
     contained in Appendix B to the statement of additional information, such
     counsel may rely on the comfort letter provided by Chapman and Cutler. In
     addition, in giving the opinion contained in Section 9(b)(vii) above, such
     counsel may rely on the paragraphs in the opinion of Gifford R. Zimmerman
     corresponding to Sections 9(c)(i), (iii) and (v) below; provided that (x)
     such reliance is expressly authorized by the opinion so relied upon and (y)
     Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC states in its opinion that it believes that it and
     the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon.

               (c)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
     Gifford R. Zimmerman, Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and General
     Counsel for the Manager, dated the Closing Date and addressed to you, as
     Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the effect that:

                    (i)     The Manager is a corporation duly incorporated and
               validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of
               Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own, lease
               and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
               described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and
               any amendment or supplement to either of them) and is duly
               registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good
               standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its
               properties or the conduct of its business requires such
               registration or qualification, except where the failure to so
               register or to qualify does not have a material, adverse effect
               on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, net
               assets or results of operations of the Manager;

                    (ii)    The Manager is duly registered with the Commission
               under the Advisers Act as an investment adviser and is not
               prohibited by the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and
               Regulations under such acts from acting for the Fund under the
               Management Agreement as contemplated by the Prospectus (and any
               amendment or supplement thereto);

                    (iii)   The Manager has corporate power and authority to
               enter into this Agreement and the Management Agreement and this
               Agreement and the Management Agreement have been duly authorized,
               executed and delivered by the Manager and the Management
               Agreement is a valid, legal and binding agreement of the Manager,
               enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms,
               except as enforcement of rights to indemnity and contribution
               hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or
               principles of public policy and subject to the qualification that
               the enforceability of the Manager's obligations hereunder and
               thereunder may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
               reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or
               affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
               principles;

                    (iv)    The Management Agreement complies in all material
               respects with all applicable provisions of the Advisers Act, the
               1940 Act and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and the 1940
               Act Rules and Regulations;

                                       25



                    (v)     Neither the execution and delivery by the Manager of
               this Agreement or the Management Agreement nor the consummation
               by the Manager of the transactions contemplated hereunder or
               thereunder constitutes or will constitute a breach of or a
               default under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the
               Manager or any material agreement, indenture, lease or other
               instrument to which the Manager is a party or by which it or any
               of its properties is bound that is known to such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry, or will result in the creation or imposition
               of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
               assets of the Manager, nor will any such action result in any
               violation of any existing material law, regulation, ruling
               (assuming compliance with all applicable state securities and
               Blue Sky laws), judgment, injunction, order or decree known to
               such counsel after reasonable inquiry, applicable to the Fund or
               any of its properties;

                    (vi)    The description of the Manager and its business in
               the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) complies
               in all material respects with all requirements of the 1933 Act,
               the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations;

                    (vii)   To the best knowledge of such counsel after
               reasonable inquiry, other than as described or contemplated in
               the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), there
               are no actions, suits or other legal or governmental proceedings
               pending or threatened against the Manager or to which the Manager
               or any of its property is subject which are required to be
               described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any
               amendment or supplement to either of them);

                    (viii)  The Manager owns, possesses or has obtained and
               currently maintains all governmental licenses, permits, consents,
               orders, approvals and other authorizations as are necessary for
               the Manager to carry on its business as contemplated in the
               Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto); and

                    (ix)    No material consent, approval, authorization or
               order of or registration or filing with any court, regulatory
               body, administrative or other governmental body, agency or
               official is required on the part of the Manager for the
               performance of this Agreement or the Management Agreement by the
               Manager or for the consummation by the Manager of the
               transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

                    Such counsel shall also state that although counsel has not
               undertaken, except as otherwise indicated in its opinion, to
               determine independently and does not assume any responsibility
               for, the accuracy or completeness of the statements in the
               Registration Statement, such counsel has participated in the
               preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
               including review and discussion of the contents thereof and
               nothing has come to its attention that has caused it to believe
               that the Registration Statement at the time it became effective
               or the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date or
               the Option Closing Date,

                                       26



               as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material
               fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
               therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
               of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they
               were made) not misleading or that any amendment or supplement to
               the Prospectus, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
               Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
               to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
               statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
               they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such
               counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial
               statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other
               financial and statistical data included in the Registration
               Statement or the Prospectus).

                    In rendering such opinion, counsel may limit such opinion to
               matters involving the application of the laws of the State of
               Illinois, the Delaware General Corporation Law statute and the
               laws of the United States and may rely upon an opinion or
               opinions, each dated the Closing Date, of other counsel retained
               by the Manager as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the
               United States, the State of Illinois and the Delaware General
               Corporation Law statute, provided that (X) each such local
               counsel is acceptable to the Representatives, (Y) such reliance
               is expressly authorized by each opinion so relied upon and a copy
               of each such opinion is delivered to the Representatives and is
               in form and substance satisfactory to them and their counsel and
               (Z) counsel shall state in his view that he believes that he and
               the Underwriters are justified in relying thereon.

               (d)  You shall have received on the Closing Date a comfort
     letter, substantially in the form heretofore approved by you, from Chapman
     and Cutler, special counsel to the Fund, dated the Closing Date and
     addressed to you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, with
     respect to the information presented in Appendix B to the statement of
     additional information under the heading "Taxable Equivalent Yield Tables".

               (e)  That you shall have received on the Closing Date, an
     opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for
     the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date and addressed to you, as
     Representatives of the several Underwriters, with respect to such matters
     as the Underwriters may require and the Fund, the Manager and their
     respective counsels shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as
     they may request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
     matters.

               (f)  That you shall have received letters addressed to you, as
     Representatives of the several Underwriters, and dated the date hereof and
     the Closing Date from Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified public
     accountants, substantially in the forms heretofore approved by you.

               (g)  (i) No order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or prohibiting or suspending the use of the
     Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Prepricing
     Prospectus or any sales material shall have been issued and no proceedings
     for such purpose or for the purpose of commencing an enforcement action

                                       27



     against the Fund, the Manager or, with respect to the transactions
     contemplated by the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and
     this Agreement, any Underwriter, may be pending before or, to the knowledge
     of the Fund, the Manager or any Underwriter or in the reasonable view of
     counsel to the Underwriters, shall be threatened or contemplated by the
     Commission at or prior to the Closing Date and that any request for
     additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus or otherwise) be complied with to
     the satisfaction of the Representatives, (ii) there shall not have been any
     change in the capital stock of the Fund nor any material increase in debt
     of the Fund from that set forth in the Prospectus (and any amendment or
     supplement thereto) and the Fund shall not have sustained any material
     liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, other than those
     reflected in the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto);
     (iii) since the date of the Prospectus there shall not have been any
     material, adverse change in the condition (financial or other), business,
     prospects, properties, net assets or results of operations of the Fund or
     the Manager; (iv) the Fund and the Manager must not have sustained any
     material loss or interference with its business from any court or from
     legislative or other governmental action, order or decree or from any other
     occurrence not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     (and any amendment or supplement to either of them); and (v) all of the
     representations and warranties of the Fund and the Manager contained in
     this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date hereof and
     as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

               (h)  Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there
     shall not have occurred (i) any change or any development involving a
     prospective change in or affecting the condition (financial or other),
     business, prospects, properties, net assets or results of operations of the
     Fund or the Manager not contemplated by the Prospectus (and any amendment
     or supplement thereto), which in your opinion, as Representatives of the
     several Underwriters, would materially, adversely affect the market for the
     Shares or (ii)any event or development relating to or involving the Fund,
     the Manager or any officer or trustee or director of the Fund or the
     Manager which makes any statement of a material fact made in the Prospectus
     (or any amendment or supplement thereto) untrue or which, in the opinion of
     the Fund and its counsel or the Underwriters and their counsel, requires
     the making of any addition to or change in the Prospectus (or any amendment
     or supplement thereto) in order to state a material fact required by the
     1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Rules and Regulations or any other law to be
     stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (in the
     case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made) not misleading, if amending or supplementing the Prospectus (or any
     amendment or supplement thereto) to reflect such event or development
     would, in your opinion, as Representatives of the several Underwriters,
     materially, adversely affect the market for the Shares.

               (i)  That neither the Fund nor the Manager shall have failed at
     or prior to the Closing Date to have performed or complied with any of the
     agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with
     by them at or prior to the Closing Date.

                                       28



               (j)  That you shall have received on the Closing Date a
     certificate, dated such date, of the chief administrative officer,
     president, any managing director or any vice president and of the
     controller or treasurer of each of the Fund and the Manager certifying that
     (i) the signers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the
     Prospectus (and any amendments or supplements to either of them) and this
     Agreement, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Fund (with
     respect to the certificates from such Fund officers) and the
     representations of the Manager (with respect to the certificates from such
     officers of the Manager) in this Agreement are true and correct on and as
     of the date of the certificate as if made on such date, (iii) since the
     date of the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) there has
     not been any material, adverse change in the condition (financial or
     other), business, prospects (other than as a result of a change in the
     financial markets generally), properties, net assets or results of
     operations of the Fund (with respect to the certificates from such Fund
     officers) or the Manager (with respect to the certificates from such
     officers of the Manager), (iv) to the knowledge of such officers after
     reasonable investigation, no order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement or prohibiting the sale of any of the Shares or
     having a material, adverse effect on the Fund (with respect to the
     certificates from such Fund officers) or the Manager (with respect to the
     certificates from such officers of the Manager) has been issued and no
     proceedings for any such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
     Commission or any court or other regulatory body, the NASD, any state
     securities commission, any national securities exchange, any arbitrator,
     any court or any other governmental, regulatory, self-regulatory or
     administrative agency or any official, (v) each of the Fund (with respect
     to certificates from such Fund officers) and the Manager (with respect to
     certificates from such officers of the Manager) has performed and complied
     with all agreements that this Agreement requires it to perform by such
     Closing Date, (vi) neither the Fund (with respect to the certificate from
     such officers of the Fund) nor the Manager (with respect to the certificate
     from such officers of the Manager) has sustained any material loss or
     interference with its business from any court or from legislative or other
     governmental action, order or decree or from any other occurrence not
     described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
     amendment or supplement to either of them and (vii) with respect to the
     certificate from such officers of the Fund, there has not been any change
     in the capital stock of the Fund nor any material increase in the debt of
     the Fund from that set forth in the Prospectus (and any amendment or
     supplement thereto) and the Fund has not sustained any material liabilities
     or obligations, direct or contingent, other than those reflected in the
     Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto).

               (k)  That the Fund and the Manager shall have furnished to you
     such further certificates, documents and opinions of counsel as you shall
     reasonably request (including certificates of officers of the Fund and the
     Manager).

               All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will
     be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory
     in form and substance to you and your counsel acting in good faith.

                                       29



               Any certificate or document signed by any officer of the Fund or
     the Manager and delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters or
     to Underwriters' counsel, shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
     the Fund or the Manager to each Underwriter as to the statements made
     therein.

               The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase
     Additional Shares hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy of and
     compliance with the representations and warranties of the Fund and the
     Manager contained herein on and as of the Option Closing Date as though
     made on any Option Closing Date, (ii) satisfaction on and as of any Option
     Closing Date of the conditions set forth in this Section 9 except that, if
     any Option Closing Date is other than the Closing Date, the certificates,
     opinions and letters referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f),
     (j), (k) and this paragraph shall be dated the Option Closing Date in
     question and the opinions and letters called for by paragraphs (b), (c),
     (d) and (e) shall be revised to reflect the sale of Additional Shares and
     (iii) the absence of circumstances on or prior to the Option Closing Date
     which would permit termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11
     hereof if they existed on or prior to the Closing Date.

     10.  Effective Date of Agreement.This Agreement shall become effective: (i)
upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto; or (ii) if, at the
time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary for the
Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment thereto to be declared
effective before the offering of the Shares may commence, when notification of
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or such post-effective amendment
has been released by the Commission. Until such time as this Agreement shall
have become effective, it may be terminated by the Fund by notifying you or by
you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, by notifying the Fund.

          If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder and the
aggregate number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth
of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares, each non-defaulting Underwriter
shall be obligated, severally, in the proportion which the aggregate number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in Schedule I hereto bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all
non-defaulting Underwriters or in such other proportion as you may specify in
accordance with of the Salomon Smith Barney Master Agreement Among Underwriters,
to purchase Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with
respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate
number of Firm Shares and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Fund for the
purchase of such Firm Shares by one or more non-defaulting Underwriters or other
party or parties approved by you and the Fund are not made within 36 hours after
such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Fund. In any such case which does not result
in termination of this Agreement, either you or the Fund shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the

                                       30



Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements
may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any such default of any such
Underwriter under this Agreement. The term "Underwriter" as used in this
Agreement includes, for all purposes of this Agreement, any party not listed in
Schedule I hereto who, with your approval and the approval of the Fund,
purchases Firm Shares which a defaulting Underwriter agreed, but failed or
refused, to purchase.

          Any notice under this Section 10 may be made by telegram, telecopy or
telephone but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

     11.  Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination in your absolute discretion, without liability on the part of the
Underwriters to the Fund or the Manager, by notice given to the Fund or the
Manager prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares and any Additional
Shares, as the case may be, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the
Fund's Common Shares shall have been suspended by the Commission or the AMEX or
trading in securities generally on the NYSE or the AMEX shall have been
suspended or limited or minimum prices for trading in securities generally shall
have been established on either of such Exchanges, (ii) a commercial banking
moratorium shall have been declared by either federal or New York state
authorities, or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or
other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets in the United
States is such as to make it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as
contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). Notice of
such termination may be given to the Fund or the Manager by telegram, telecopy
or telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

     12.  Expenses. The Fund agrees to pay the following costs and expenses and
all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Fund of its
obligations hereunder: (a) the preparation, printing or reproduction, filing
(including, without limitation, the filing fees prescribed by the 1933 Act, the
1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations) and distribution of the Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto), the Prospectus, each Prepricing
Prospectus and the 1940 Act Notification and all amendments or supplements to
any of them, (b) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage,
air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, each Prepricing Prospectus, any
sales material and all amendments or supplements to any of them as may be
reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares, (c) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of
certificates for the Shares, including any stamp taxes and transfer agent and
registrar fees payable in connection with the original issuance and sale of such
Shares, (d) the registrations or qualifications of the Shares for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states as provided in
Section 5(g) hereof (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements
of counsel for the Underwriters relating to the preparation, printing or
reproduction and delivery of the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda
and such registration and qualification), (e) the fees and expenses of the
Fund's independent accountants, counsel for the Fund and of the transfer agent,
(f) the expenses of delivery to the Underwriters and dealers (including postage,
air freight and the

                                       31



cost of counting and packaging) of copies of the Prospectus, the Prepricing
Prospectus, any sales material and all amendments or supplements to the
Prospectus as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale
of the Shares, (g) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this
Agreement, any dealer agreements, the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky
Memoranda and all other company-authorized agreements or other documents printed
(or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares, (h)
the filing fees and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD and incurred with
respect to the review of the offering of the Shares by the NASD and (i) the
registration of the Shares under the 1934 Act and the listing of the Shares on
the AMEX.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the sale of the Firm
Shares is not consummated pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Manager will pay the
costs and expenses of the Fund set forth above in this Section 12 (a) through
(i), and reimbursements of Underwriter expenses in connection with the offering
shall be made in accordance with Section 5(k) hereof.

     13.  Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The names of the
underwriters and numbers of Shares listed opposite such names in the first
paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus, as well as, under
the same caption, the last sentence of the second paragraph, the first sentence
of the eleventh paragraph, the first sentence of the thirteenth paragraph and
the eighteenth paragraph constitute the only information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Fund in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters
through you as such information is referred to herein, expressly for use in the
Prospectus.

     14.  Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5, 10 and 11
hereof, notice given pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be delivered (a) if to the Fund or the Manager, c/o Nuveen
Investments at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Alan
G. Berkshire or (b) if to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, at the
office of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York
10013, Attention: Manager, Investment Banking Division.

     This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several
Underwriters, the Fund, the Manager, their trustees, directors and officers and
the other controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof and their
respective successors and assigns to the extent provided herein and no other
person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
Neither the term "successor" or the term "successors and assigns" as used in
this Agreement shall include a purchaser from any Underwriter of any of the
Shares in his status as such purchaser.

     A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Consistent with the
Fund's Declaration of Trust, notice is hereby given and the parties hereto agree
that this Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund by the Trustee(s) or
officer(s) of the Fund in such capacity and not individually by them and that
the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any of
them or the shareholders of the Fund individually but are binding only upon the
assets and property of the Fund.

                                       32



     15.  Applicable Law; Counterparts.This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together
constitute one and the same instrument. If signed in counterparts, this
Agreement shall not become effective unless at least one counterpart hereof
shall have been executed and delivered on behalf of each party hereto.

                                       33



     Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among
the Fund and the Manager and the several Underwriters.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        NUVEEN INSURED TAX-FREE ADVANTAGE
                                        MUNICIPAL FUND


                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Title:  Chief Administrative Officer


                                        NUVEEN ADVISORY CORP.


                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Title:  Managing Director

                                       34



                                        Confirmed as of the date
                                        first above written on
                                        behalf of themselves and
                                        the other several
                                        Underwriters named in
                                        Schedule I hereto.
By:                         Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
                            Nuveen Investments
                            A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
                            Prudential Securities Incorporated
                            H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.
                            Fahnestock & Co. Inc.
                            Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
                            Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
                            Quick & Reilly, Inc. A FleetBoston Financial Company
                            Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
                            RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc.
                            Ryan Beck & Co.
                            SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.
                            Wachovia Securities, Inc.
                            Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc.

AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS

By:      SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


         By:
            ---------------------------------
            Title:

                                       35



                                   SCHEDULE I

NAME OF UNDERWRITERS                            NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES
- -------------------------                       -----------------------

Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Nuveen Investments

        Total