$268,593,405
Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund
Common Shares
Investment Objective. Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that commenced investment operations on December 28, 2004. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to shareholders. The “total return” sought by the Fund includes appreciation in the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares and all distributions made by the Fund to its Common Shareholders, regardless of the tax characterization of such distributions, including distributions characterized as return of capital. The Fund has been structured to seek to provide an efficient vehicle through which Common Shareholders may invest in a portfolio of publicly traded securities of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and MLP Affiliates (as defined in this Prospectus) (collectively with MLPs, “MLP entities”). MLPs combine the tax benefits of limited partnerships with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Investment Parameters. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined in this Prospectus) in MLP entities and invests at least 65% of its Managed Assets in equity securities of MLP entities. A substantial portion of the MLP entities in which the Fund invests are engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors of the economy. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its Managed Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, including up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities issued by non-public companies. The Fund may invest a total of up to 25% of its Managed Assets in debt securities of MLP entities and non-MLP entity issuers, including securities rated below investment grade. The Fund may also invest in common stock of large capitalization companies, including companies engaged primarily in such sectors. To seek to generate current income, the Fund may employ an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on common stocks held in the Fund’s portfolio.
Offering. The Fund may offer, from time to time, up to $268,593,405 aggregate initial offering price of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Shares”), in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). You should read this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement carefully before you decide to invest in the Common Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has sold 2,850,000 Common Shares in an underwritten offering at an aggregate offering price of $71,848,500 and 1,372,935 Common Shares in an at-the-market offering at an aggregate offering price of 35,219,334. As a result, up to 161,525,571 aggregate offering price of Common Shares remain available for subsequent offerings under this Prospectus.
The Fund may offer Common Shares (1) directly to one or more purchasers, (2) through agents that the Fund may designate from time to time or (3) to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular offering of Common Shares will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of Common Shares, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between the Fund and agents or underwriters or among underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Fund may not sell Common Shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of this Prospectus and a Prospectus Supplement. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Tax Status. Because of the Fund’s concentration in MLP investments, the Fund is not eligible to be treated as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Instead, the Fund is treated as a regular corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as a result, unlike most investment companies, is subject to corporate income tax to the extent the Fund recognizes taxable income. The Fund anticipates that a significant portion of the distributions received by the Fund from the MLPs in which it invests will consist of return of capital. If this expectation is not realized, the Fund will have a larger corporate income tax expense sooner than expected, which will result in less cash available to distribute to Common Shareholders in such taxable years. Moreover, although MLP distributions that are treated as returns of capital are generally not taxable to the Fund to that extent, such returns of capital reduce the Fund’s tax basis in its investments, resulting in potential increased gains (or decreased losses) upon dispositions of such investments. While the Fund will generally seek to maximize the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of return of capital, no assurance can be given in this regard. For example, for the taxable year ended November 30, 2015, 78% of the distributions made by the Fund to the holders of Common Shares constituted taxable dividend income and 22% constituted return of capital.
(continued on following page)
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Investing in the Fund’s Common Shares involves certain risks that are described in the “Risks” section beginning on page 57 of this Prospectus.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus dated March 29, 2016
(continued from previous page)
Adviser and Sub-Adviser. The Fund’s investment adviser is Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”). Advisory Research, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) acts as the Fund’s sub-adviser. The Advisory Research MLP & Energy Infrastructure team (hereinafter referred to as the “MLP Team”), is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities. The Sub-Adviser, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Piper Jaffray Companies. As of November 30, 2015, the MLP Team managed approximately $4.4 billion in MLP and energy infrastructure assets for open and closed end mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations and private wealth individuals.
Common Shares. The Fund’s currently outstanding Common Shares are, and the Common Shares offered by this Prospectus, will be, subject to notice of issuance, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “FMO”. The net asset value of the Common Shares at the close of business on March 21, 2016 was $12.08 per share, and the last reported sale price of the Common Shares on the NYSE on such date was $11.03. See “Market and Net Asset Value Information.”
Financial Leverage. The Fund may seek to enhance the level of its current distributions by the use of financial leverage through the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”), through borrowing or the issuance of commercial paper or other forms of debt (“Borrowings”), by engaging in reverse purchase agreements and economically similar transactions or through a combination of Preferred Shares, Borrowings and/or reverse repurchase agreement transactions (collectively “Financial Leverage”). The Fund may utilize Financial Leverage to the limits imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Fund has entered into a committed facility agreement with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. pursuant to which the Fund may borrow up to $325 million. On November 30, 2015, outstanding Borrowings under the committed facility agreement were approximately $263 million, which represented approximately 33.2% of the Fund’s Managed Assets as of such date. See “Use of Financial Leverage” and “Description of Capital Structure—Borrowings.”
You should read this Prospectus, which contains important information about the Fund, together with any Prospectus Supplement, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated March 29, 2016, (the “SAI”) containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 90 of this Prospectus, or request other information about the Fund (including the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports) or make shareholder inquiries by calling (888) 991-0091 or by writing the Fund at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or you may obtain a copy (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov). Free copies of the Fund’s reports and the SAI also are available from the Fund’s website at http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/fmo.
The Fund’s Common Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Summary
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1
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Summary of Fund Expenses
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38
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Financial Highlights
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40
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Deferred Income Tax Expense
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42
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Senior Securities
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43
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The Fund
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44
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Use of Proceeds
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44
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Market and Net Asset Value Information
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44
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Investment Objective and Policies
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45
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The Fund’s Investments
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46
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Use of Financial Leverage
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53
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Risks
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57
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Management of the Fund
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75
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Net Asset Value
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77
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Distributions
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78
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Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
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79
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Description of Capital Structure
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80
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Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Fund’s Governing Documents
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82
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Closed-End Fund Structure
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83
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
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84
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Plan of Distribution
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89
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Custodian, Administrator and Transfer Agent
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91
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Legal Matters
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91
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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91
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Additional Information
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92
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Privacy Principles of the Fund
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92
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Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information
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93
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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus. The Fund’s business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since that date.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Prospectus contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the federal securities laws, that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements describe the Fund’s plans, strategies, and goals and the Fund’s beliefs and assumptions concerning future economic and other conditions and the outlook for the Fund, based on currently available information. In this Prospectus, words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “objectives,” “goals,” “future,” “intends,” “seeks,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” and similar expressions are used in an effort to identify forward-looking statements, although some forward-looking statements may be expressed differently. The Fund is not entitled to the safe harbor for forward-looking statements pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary of information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund’s Common Shares. You should carefully read the more detailed information contained in this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement, especially the information set forth under the headings “Investment Objective and Policies” and “Risks.” You may also wish to request a copy of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, dated March 29, 2016 (the “SAI”), which contains additional information about the Fund.
The Fund
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Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-
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diversified, closed-end management investment company that
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commenced investment operations on December 28, 2004. The Fund’s
|
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investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return
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with an emphasis on current distributions paid to shareholders. The
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Fund’s investment adviser is Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors,
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LLC (the “Adviser”). Advisory Research, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”)
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acts as the Fund’s sub-adviser. The Advisory Research MLP & Energy
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Infrastructure team (hereinafter referred to as the “MLP Team”) is
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responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities.
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The Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per
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share, are called “Common Shares” and the holders of Common
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Shares are called “Common Shareholders” throughout this Prospectus.
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The Offering
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The Fund may offer, from time to time, up to $268,593,405 aggregate
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initial offering price of Common Shares, on terms to be determined at
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the time of the offering. The Fund will offer Common Shares at prices
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and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this
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Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”).
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The Fund may offer Common Shares (1) directly to one or more
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purchasers, (2) through agents that the Fund may designate from time
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to time, or (3) to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus
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Supplement relating to a particular offering will identify any agents or
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underwriters involved in the sale of Common Shares, and will set forth
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any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount
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arrangement between the Fund and agents or underwriters or among
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underwriters or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated.
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The Fund may not sell Common Shares through agents, underwriters
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or dealers without delivery of this Prospectus and a Prospectus
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Supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of
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Common Shares. See “Plan of Distribution.”
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On June 20, 2013, the Fund registered $268,593,405 aggregate initial
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offering price of Common Shares pursuant to the registration statement
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of which this Prospectus is a part. As of the date of this Prospectus, the
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Fund has sold 2,850,000 Common Shares in an underwritten offering at
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an aggregate offering price of $71,848,500 and 1,372,935 Common
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Shares in an at-the-market offering at an aggregate offering price of
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$35,219,334. As a result, up to $161,525,571 aggregate offering price
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of Common Shares remain available for subsequent offerings under this
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Prospectus.
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Use of Proceeds
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Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, the Fund
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intends to invest the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares in
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accordance with its investment objective and policies as stated herein. It
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is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially
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all of the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares in accordance
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with its investment objective and policies within three months after the
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completion of any such offering. Pending such investment, it is
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anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in cash, cash equivalents
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or other securities, including U.S. government securities or high quality,
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short-term debt securities. The Fund may also use the proceeds for
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working capital purposes, including the payment of distributions,
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interest and operating expenses, although the Fund currently has no
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intent to issue Common Shares primarily for these purposes.
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Investment Objective and
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Policies
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The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax
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total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to
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shareholders. The “total return” sought by the Fund includes
|
|
appreciation in the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares and
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all distributions made by the Fund to its Common Shareholders,
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|
regardless of the tax characterization of such distributions, including
|
|
distributions characterized as return of capital. There can be no
|
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assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
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The Fund has been structured to seek to provide an efficient vehicle
|
|
through which Common Shareholders may invest in a portfolio of
|
|
publicly traded securities of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and
|
|
MLP Affiliates (as defined below) (collectively with MLPs, “MLP
|
|
entities”). MLPs combine the tax benefits of limited partnerships with
|
|
the liquidity of publicly traded securities. The Fund anticipates that a
|
|
significant portion of the distributions received by the Fund from the
|
|
MLPs in which it invests will consist of return of capital. If this
|
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expectation is not realized, the Fund will have a larger corporate
|
|
income tax expense sooner than expected, which will result in less
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cash available to distribute to Common Shareholders in such taxable
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years. Moreover, although MLP distributions that are treated as returns
|
|
of capital are generally not taxable to the Fund to that extent, such
|
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returns of capital reduce the Fund’s tax basis in its investments,
|
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resulting in potential increased gains (or decreased losses) upon
|
|
dispositions of such investments. While the Fund will generally seek to
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maximize the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common
|
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Shareholders that will consist of return of capital, no assurance can be
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given in this regard. For example, for the taxable year ended
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November 30, 2015, 78% of the distributions made by the Fund to the
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holders of Common Shares constituted taxable dividend income and
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22% constituted return of capital.
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Portfolio Investment
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Parameters
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Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its
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Managed Assets (as defined below) in MLP entities, and invests at
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least 65% of its Managed Assets in equity securities of MLP entities.
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“Managed Assets” of the Fund means the total assets of the Fund,
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including the assets attributable to the proceeds from any financial
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leverage, minus liabilities, other than liabilities related to any financial
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leverage. “MLP Affiliates” includes affiliates of MLPs that own
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primarily general partner interests or, in some cases, subordinated
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units, registered or unregistered common units, or other limited partner
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units in an MLP. “Equity securities” of MLP entities include MLP
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common units, MLP subordinated units, MLP general partner
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interests, MLP preferred units and equity securities of MLP Affiliates,
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including I-Shares. The market capitalization of equity securities of
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particular MLP entities currently ranges from approximately $50
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million to $50 billion. However, the Fund may invest in equity
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securities of MLP entities without regard for their market
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capitalization. A substantial portion of the MLP entities in which the
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Fund invests are engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and
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real estate sectors of the economy. For as long as the word “MLP” is in
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the name of the Fund, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net
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assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in
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MLP entities.
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The Fund may also invest in common stocks of large capitalization
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companies, including companies engaged in the energy, natural
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resources and real estate sectors. To seek to generate current income,
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the Fund may employ an option strategy of writing (selling) covered
|
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call options on common stocks held in the Fund’s portfolio.
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The Fund may invest up to 40% of its Managed Assets in unregistered
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or otherwise restricted securities, which may consist of equity
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securities of MLP entities and other securities of public and
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non-public companies, provided that the Fund will not invest more
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than 20% of its Managed Assets in restricted securities issued by
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non-public companies.
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The Fund may invest a total of up to 25% of its Managed Assets in
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debt securities of MLP entities and other issuers, including debt
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securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated Ba or lower by
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Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), BB or lower by
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Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”), comparably rated by
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another statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, as determined by
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the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). The Fund will
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typically purchase below investment grade securities which, at the
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time of acquisition, are rated at least B3 by Moody’s, B- by S&P,
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comparably rated by another statistical rating organization, or, if
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unrated, determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit
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quality. The Fund may invest in debt securities without regard for
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their maturity.
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The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in equity
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securities of issuers other than MLP entities.
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The Fund’s Investments
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Master Limited Partnerships. An MLP is an entity receiving
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partnership taxation treatment under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
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of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and whose partnership interests or
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“units” are traded on securities exchanges like shares of corporate
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stock. To qualify as an MLP for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an
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entity must receive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable
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year from qualifying sources such as interest, dividends, real estate
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rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and
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gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain
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from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, gain from the sale or
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disposition of a capital asset held for the production of income
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described in the foregoing, and, in certain circumstances, income and
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gain from commodities or futures, forwards and options with respect
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to commodities. Mineral or natural resources activities include
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exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and
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transportation (including pipelines), of oil and gas, minerals,
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geothermal energy, fertilizer, timber or industrial source carbon
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dioxide. An MLP generally consists of a general partner and limited
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partners. The general partner manages the partnership, has an
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ownership stake in the partnership and is eligible to receive an
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incentive distribution. The limited partners provide capital to the
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partnership, have a limited (if any) role in the operation and
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management of the partnership and receive cash distributions.
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Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy, natural resources or real
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estate sectors. Due to their partnership structure, MLPs generally do
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not pay income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities,
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direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e.,
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corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends) on their shares of
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the MLP’s profits.
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MLP Equity Securities. Equity securities issued by MLPs currently
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consist of common units, subordinated units and preferred units.
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MLP Common Units. MLP common units are typically listed
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and traded on national securities exchanges, including the New
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York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the American Stock
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Exchange (the “AMEX”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market (the
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“NASDAQ”). The Fund will typically purchase MLP common
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units through open market transactions, but may also acquire
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MLP common units through direct placements. Holders of MLP
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common units have limited control and voting rights. Holders of
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MLP common units are entitled to receive minimum quarterly
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distributions, including arrearage rights, from the MLP.
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Minimum quarterly distributions to holders of common units
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must be satisfied before any distributions may be paid to
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subordinated unit holders or incentive distributions may be paid
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to the general partner.
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MLP Subordinated Units. MLP subordinated units are not
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typically listed on an exchange or publicly traded. The Fund will
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typically purchase MLP subordinated units through negotiated
|
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transactions directly with affiliates of MLPs and institutional
|
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holders of such units or will purchase newly-issued subordinated
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units directly from MLPs. Holders of MLP subordinated units
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are entitled to receive minimum quarterly distributions after
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payments to holders of common units have been satisfied and
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prior to incentive distributions to the general partner. MLP
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subordinated units do not provide arrearage rights. Most MLP
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subordinated units are convertible into common units after the
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passage of a specified period of time or upon the achievement by
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the MLP of specified financial goals.
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MLP Preferred Units. MLP preferred units are typically not
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listed on an exchange or publicly traded. The Fund will typically
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purchase MLP preferred units through negotiated transactions
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directly with MLPs, affiliates of MLPs and institutional holders
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of such units. Holders of MLP preferred units can be entitled to
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a wide range of voting and other rights, depending on the
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structure of each separate security.
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I-Shares. I-Shares represent an ownership interest issued by an MLP
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Affiliate. The MLP Affiliate uses the proceeds from the sale of I-
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Shares to purchase limited partnership interests in the MLP in the form
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of I-units. Thus, I-Shares represent an indirect interest in MLP limited
|
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partnership interest. I-units have similar features as MLP common
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units in terms of voting rights, liquidation preference and distribution.
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I-Shares themselves have limited voting rights and are similar in that
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respect to MLP common units. I-Shares differ from MLP common
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units primarily in that instead of receiving cash distributions, holders
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of I-Shares will receive distributions of additional I-Shares in an
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amount equal to the cash distributions received by common unit
|
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holders. I-Shares are traded on the NYSE or the AMEX.
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General Partner Interests. General partner interests of MLPs are
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typically retained by the original sponsors of an MLP, such as its
|
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founders, corporate partners and entities that sell assets to the MLP. A
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holder of general partner interests can be liable in certain
|
|
circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder’s
|
|
investment in the general partner interest. General partner interests
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|
often confer direct board participation rights in, and in many cases
|
|
control over, the operations of the MLP. General partner interests are
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|
not publicly traded, but may be owned by publicly traded entities.
|
|
General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of an
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MLP’s aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in
|
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the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner
|
|
interests typically receive incentive distribution rights, which provide
|
|
them with a larger proportionate share of the aggregate MLP cash
|
|
distributions as the distributions increase. General partner interests
|
|
generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner
|
|
interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unit holders choose
|
|
to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by
|
|
limited partner unit holders.
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Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates and Other Equity Securities. The
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Fund may invest in (i) equity securities issued by MLP Affiliates,
|
|
including the general partners of MLPs, and (ii) equity securities of
|
|
issuers other than MLP entities, including common stocks of issuers
|
|
engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate
|
|
sectors. Such issuers may be organized and/or taxed as corporations
|
|
and therefore may not offer the advantageous tax characteristics of
|
|
MLP units. The Fund intends to purchase equity securities through
|
|
market transactions, but may also acquire equity securities through
|
|
direct placements.
|
|
|
|
Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its Managed
|
|
Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities. “Restricted
|
|
securities” are securities that are unregistered, held by control
|
|
persons of the issuer or are subject to contractual restrictions on resale.
|
|
The Fund will typically acquire restricted securities in directly
|
|
negotiated transactions.
|
|
|
|
In connection with its investments in restricted securities generally, the
|
|
Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in restricted
|
|
securities issued by non-public companies. In some instances, such an
|
|
investment may be made with the expectation that the assets of such
|
|
non-public company will be contributed to a newly-formed MLP
|
|
entity or sold to or merged with an existing MLP entity in the future.
|
|
|
|
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest a total of up to 25% of its
|
|
Managed Assets in debt securities of MLP entities and other issuers,
|
|
including debt securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated
|
|
Ba or lower by Moody’s, BB or lower by S&P, comparably rated by
|
|
another statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, as determined by
|
|
the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). The Fund will
|
|
typically purchase below investment grade securities which, at the
|
|
time of acquisition, are rated at least B3 by Moody’s, B- by S&P,
|
|
comparably rated by another statistical rating organization, or, if
|
|
unrated, determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable
|
|
credit quality.
|
|
|
|
Royalty Trusts. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets
|
|
in royalty trusts. Royalty trusts are publicly traded investment vehicles
|
|
that gather income on royalties and pay out almost all cash flows to
|
|
shareholders as distributions. Royalty trusts typically have no physical
|
|
operations and no management or employees. Typically royalty trusts
|
|
own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural
|
|
resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber. Royalty trusts are, in
|
|
some respects, similar to certain MLPs and include risks similar to
|
|
those MLPs.
|
|
|
|
Energy Sector Investments. Many MLP entities operate within the
|
|
energy sector. Therefore, a substantial portion of the MLP entities in
|
|
which the Fund may invest are engaged primarily in the energy sector
|
|
of the economy. Energy sector MLP entities in which the Fund may
|
|
invest engage in transporting, processing, storing, distributing or
|
|
marketing natural gas, natural gas liquids (including propane), crude
|
|
oil, refined petroleum products or coal, or exploring, developing,
|
|
managing or producing such commodities or products.
|
|
|
|
Other Sector Investments. The Fund may invest in MLP entities in the
|
|
natural resources and real estate sectors and may invest in MLP
|
|
entities operating in any other sector of the economy. MLP entities and
|
|
other companies operating in the natural resources sector include
|
|
companies principally engaged in owning or developing non-energy
|
|
natural resources (including timber and minerals) and industrial
|
|
materials, or supplying goods or services to such companies. MLP
|
|
entities and other companies operating in the real estate sector include
|
|
companies which may develop land, own or manage residential,
|
|
commercial and undeveloped properties, own mortgage securities and
|
|
provide financing to owners and developers of multi-family housing or
|
|
other real estate or building ventures.
|
|
Covered Call Option Strategy. The Fund may employ an option
|
|
strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the
|
|
securities, including common stocks and MLP common units, in the
|
|
Fund’s portfolio to seek to augment its income and gains by generating
|
|
option premiums while possibly offsetting a portion of a market
|
|
decline in the underlying security. Call options are contracts
|
|
representing the right to purchase a security at a specified price (the
|
|
“strike price”) at or before (depending on the type of option) a
|
|
specified future date (the “expiration date”). The price of the option is
|
|
determined from trading activity in the broad options market, and
|
|
generally reflects the relationship between the current market price for
|
|
the underlying security and the strike price, as well as the time
|
|
remaining until the expiration date. The Fund may not sell “naked”
|
|
call options, i.e. options representing more shares of the security than
|
|
are held in the portfolio. The Fund anticipates that it may employ its
|
|
option strategy on a consistent and on-going basis, although it expects
|
|
that the Fund may pursue such strategy to a greater extent during the
|
|
period in which the Fund is investing the proceeds from this offering
|
|
in securities of MLP entities.
|
|
|
|
Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed
|
|
Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. Such
|
|
investments in securities of foreign issuers may include investments in
|
|
American Depositary Receipts, or “ADRs,” and may include
|
|
unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts. ADRs are certificates
|
|
evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by
|
|
depositary banks and generally trade on an established market in the
|
|
United States or elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
Diversification. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed
|
|
Assets, at the time of purchase, in securities of any single issuer.
|
|
|
|
Strategic Transactions. The Fund may, but is not required to,
|
|
use various strategic transactions in futures, options and other derivatives
|
|
contracts (other than the covered call option strategy described above)
|
|
for purposes such as seeking to hedge various market risks inherent in
|
|
the Fund’s portfolio, to earn income, to manage the effective maturity or
|
|
duration of income-producing securities in the Fund’s portfolio or in
|
|
connection with the Fund’s utilization of Financial Leverage. In the
|
|
course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase
|
|
and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on
|
|
individual securities, equity and fixed-income indices, interest rates,
|
|
exchange-traded funds and other instruments, purchase and sell futures
|
|
contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as
|
|
swaps, caps, floors or collars. Such strategic transactions are generally
|
|
accepted under modern portfolio management practices and are
|
|
regularly used by many investment companies and other institutional
|
|
investors. Such transactions entail certain execution, market, liquidity,
|
|
hedging and tax risks. See “Investment Objective and Policies—The
|
|
Fund’s Investments—Strategic Transactions and Derivatives” and
|
|
“Risks—Derivatives Risk.”
|
Use of Financial
|
|
Leverage
|
The Fund may seek to enhance the level of the Fund’s current
|
|
distributions through the use of financial leverage. The Fund may
|
|
utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred
|
|
Shares”), through borrowing or the issuance of commercial paper or
|
|
other forms of debt (“Borrowings”), by engaging in reverse repurchase
|
|
agreements and economically similar transactions or through a
|
|
combination of Preferred Shares, Borrowings and/or reverse
|
|
repurchase agreements (collectively “Financial Leverage”). The Fund
|
|
may utilize Financial Leverage up to the limits imposed by the
|
|
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act’). The
|
|
amounts of the Fund’s Financial Leverage outstanding may vary over
|
|
time and such amounts will be reported in the Fund’s audited and
|
|
unaudited financial statements contained in the Fund’s annual and
|
|
semi-annual reports to shareholders.
|
|
|
Under the 1940 Act the Fund may not incur Borrowings if, immediately
|
|
after incurring such Borrowings, the Fund would have asset coverage
|
|
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 300% (i.e., for every dollar of
|
|
Borrowings outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three
|
|
dollars of assets). However, the 1940 Act does not require the Fund to
|
|
pay down outstanding Borrowings in the event that asset coverage
|
|
declines below 300% as a result of market movements. Therefore, as a
|
|
result of declines in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, the Fund
|
|
may, subject to the terms of the Fund’s credit facility, have outstanding
|
|
borrowings which exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s managed assets. In
|
|
determining whether to pay down outstanding Borrowings in such
|
|
circumstances, the Fund will consider a variety of factors, including
|
|
ARI’s assessment of the market, the structure and terms of the
|
|
borrowings and whether dispositions of portfolio securities would be
|
|
necessary and the impact of any such dispositions.
|
|
|
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not issue Preferred Shares if,
|
|
immediately after issuance, the Fund would have asset coverage (as
|
|
defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 200% (i.e., for every dollar of
|
|
Preferred Shares outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least two
|
|
dollars of assets).
|
|
|
With respect to leverage incurred through reverse repurchase
|
|
agreement transactions and economically similar transactions, the
|
|
Fund intends to earmark or segregate cash or liquid securities in
|
|
accordance with applicable interpretations of the staff of the Securities
|
|
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). As a result of such
|
|
segregation, the Fund’s obligations under such transactions will not be
|
|
considered indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act and the Fund’s
|
|
use of leverage through reverse repurchase agreements and
|
|
economically similar transactions will not be limited by the 1940 Act.
|
|
However, the Fund’s use of leverage through reverse repurchase
|
|
agreements and economically similar transactions will be limited by
|
|
the availability of cash or liquid securities to earmark or segregate in
|
|
connection with such transactions.
|
|
|
The Fund has entered into a committed facility agreement with BNP
|
|
Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., pursuant to which the Fund may
|
|
borrow up to $325 million. On November 30, 2015, outstanding
|
|
Borrowings under the committed facility agreement were
|
|
approximately $263 million, which represented approximately 33.2%
|
|
of the Fund’s Managed Assets as of such date.
|
|
|
The issuance of additional Common Shares would enable the Fund to
|
|
increase the amount of Financial Leverage while maintaining the
|
|
percentage of the Fund’s Managed Assets attributable to Financial
|
|
Leverage. So long as the net rate of return on the Fund’s investments
|
|
purchased with the proceeds of Financial Leverage exceeds the cost of
|
|
such Financial Leverage, such excess amounts will be available to pay
|
|
higher distributions to holders of the Fund’s Common Shares. There
|
|
can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful
|
|
during any period during which it is employed. See “Use of Financial
|
|
Leverage” and “Risks—Financial Leverage Risk.” As used in this
|
|
Prospectus, the term “Managed Assets” includes any assets attributable
|
|
to the proceeds of Financial Leverage.
|
|
Advantages over Direct Investment
|
|
in MLP Entities
|
The Fund has been structured to seek to provide an efficient vehicle
|
|
through which the Fund’s shareholders may invest in a portfolio of
|
|
publicly traded securities of MLP entities. An investment in the Fund
|
|
offers investors several advantages as compared to direct investments
|
|
in MLP entities, including the following:
|
|
•
|
The Fund allows shareholders to invest, through a single
|
|
|
investment vehicle, in a portfolio that includes a number of
|
|
|
MLP entities.
|
|
|
|
•
|
The Fund may purchase securities of MLP entities through
|
|
|
direct placements. Purchasing restricted or unrestricted
|
|
|
securities of MLP entities through direct placements may
|
|
|
offer the potential for increased returns as compared to
|
|
|
purchasing securities of MLP entities through open market
|
|
|
transactions. Such opportunities, however, are typically
|
|
|
available only to institutional investors, such as the Fund.
|
|
|
|
•
|
Common Shareholders will receive a single IRS Form
|
|
|
1099. Direct investors in MLPs receive an IRS Schedule
|
|
|
K-1 from each MLP in which they are invested.
|
|
|
|
•
|
An investment in the Fund will not cause a shareholder
|
|
|
to be required to file state income tax returns in any state
|
|
|
in which such investor is not otherwise required to file
|
|
|
a tax return. Direct investors in an MLP are considered
|
|
|
limited partners of the MLP and may be required to
|
|
|
file state income tax returns in each state in which the
|
|
|
MLP operates.
|
|
|
|
•
|
Common Shareholders are not limited by the passive
|
|
|
activity loss rules in their ability to use any losses resulting
|
|
|
from their purchase and sale of Common Shares to offset
|
|
|
other gains. The passive activity loss rules limit the ability
|
|
|
of certain direct investors in MLPs to use their allocable
|
|
|
share of any losses generated by an MLP.
|
|
•
|
For Common Shareholders who are tax-exempt investors,
|
|
|
including employee benefit plans and IRA accounts,
|
|
|
distributions received from the Fund will generally not be
|
|
|
treated as unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”)
|
|
|
unless such investor’s Common Shares are debt-financed.
|
|
|
Income received by tax-exempt investors directly from
|
|
|
MLPs is generally treated as UBTI.
|
|
|
|
•
|
Subject to certain holding period and other requirements,
|
|
|
distributions by the Fund that are taxable as dividends
|
|
|
(i.e., distributions out of the Fund’s current or accumulated
|
|
|
earnings and profits) will be eligible for the dividends
|
|
|
received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders
|
|
|
and will be treated as “qualified dividend income” for
|
|
|
shareholders taxed as individuals.
|
|
Common Shareholders will bear the Fund’s operating costs, including
|
|
management fees, custody and administration charges, and the costs of
|
|
operating as an investment company.
|
|
Tax Considerations
|
The Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for
|
|
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund generally is
|
|
subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at the
|
|
graduated rates applicable to corporations (currently at a maximum
|
|
rate of 35%). Because of the Fund’s concentration in MLP
|
|
investments, the Fund is not eligible to elect to be treated as a
|
|
regulated investment company under the Code.
|
|
|
The types of MLPs in which the Fund intends to invest historically
|
|
have made cash distributions to their limited partners in excess of the
|
|
amount of their taxable income allocable to their limited partners. This
|
|
is the result of a variety of factors, including significant non-cash
|
|
deductions, such as accelerated depreciation. The portion, if any, of the
|
|
cash distributions received by the Fund with respect to its investment
|
|
in the equity securities of an MLP that exceeds the Fund’s allocable
|
|
share of the MLP’s net taxable income will not be treated as taxable
|
|
income to the Fund, but rather will be treated as a return of capital to
|
|
the extent of the Fund’s basis in such MLP equity securities.
|
|
|
The Fund expects to pay cash distributions to its shareholders in
|
|
excess of the Fund’s taxable income. Distributions by the Fund of cash
|
|
or property in respect of the Common Shares will be treated as
|
|
dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from
|
|
the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined
|
|
under U.S. federal income tax principles). Subject to certain holding
|
|
period and other requirements, any such dividend will be eligible (i) to
|
|
be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders
|
|
taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the
|
|
case of corporate shareholders. If the Fund’s distributions exceed the
|
|
Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will
|
|
be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the
|
|
shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares (thus reducing a
|
|
shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares), and
|
|
thereafter as capital gain assuming the Common Shares are held as a
|
|
capital asset. While the Fund will generally seek to maximize the
|
|
portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will
|
|
consist of return of capital, no assurance can be given in this regard.
|
|
Upon the sale of Common Shares, a shareholder generally will
|
|
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the
|
|
amount realized on the sale and the shareholder’s adjusted tax
|
|
basis in the Common Shares sold. See “U.S. Federal Income
|
|
Tax Considerations.”
|
|
Distributions
|
The Fund intends to pay substantially all of its net investment income
|
|
to Common Shareholders through quarterly distributions. In general,
|
|
net investment income of the Fund will consist of cash and paid-in-
|
|
kind distributions from MLP entities, dividends from common stocks,
|
|
interest from debt securities, gains from option writing and income
|
|
from other investments of the Fund; less operating expenses, taxes on
|
|
the Fund’s taxable income and realized gains and the costs of any
|
|
Financial Leverage utilized by the Fund.
|
|
|
The Fund will make distributions that will be treated for U.S. federal
|
|
income tax purposes as (i) first, taxable dividends to the extent of your
|
|
allocable share of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and
|
|
profits, (ii) second, return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in
|
|
your shares of the Fund (for the portion of those distributions that
|
|
exceed the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits) and
|
|
(iii) third, taxable gains (for the balance of those distributions). The
|
|
Fund anticipates that a significant portion of the distributions received
|
|
by the Fund from the MLPs in which it invests will consist of return of
|
|
capital. While the Fund will generally seek to maximize the portion of
|
|
the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of
|
|
return of capital, no assurance can be given in this regard.
|
|
|
If you will be holding the Common Shares in your own name or if you
|
|
hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in
|
|
the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), unless you elect
|
|
to receive cash, all dividends and distributions that are declared by the
|
|
Fund will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares of
|
|
the Fund pursuant to the Plan. If you hold your Common Shares with a
|
|
brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be
|
|
able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be
|
|
effected on different terms than those described herein. Consult your
|
|
financial adviser for more information. See “Automatic Dividend
|
|
Reinvestment Plan.”
|
|
Management of the Fund
|
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC serves as the Fund’s
|
|
investment adviser, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with
|
|
the Fund. As compensation for its services, the Fund pays the Adviser
|
|
a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 1.00% of the
|
|
Fund’s average Managed Assets (from which the Adviser pays to the
|
|
Sub-Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to
|
|
0.50% of the Fund’s average Managed Assets).
|
|
|
Advisory Research, Inc. (the “Sub-Adviser”) acts as the Fund’s sub-
|
|
adviser, pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement with the Fund and the
|
|
Adviser. The Sub-Adviser’s MLP Team is responsible for the
|
|
management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities. The Sub-Adviser, a
|
|
registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Piper
|
|
Jaffray Companies. As of November 30, 2015, the MLP Team managed
|
|
approximately $4.4 billion in MLP and energy infrastructure assets for
|
|
open and closed end mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans,
|
|
endowments and foundations and private wealth individuals.
|
|
Listing and Symbol
|
The Fund’s currently outstanding Common Shares are, and the
|
|
Common Shares offered by this Prospectus, will be, subject to notice
|
|
of issuance, listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FMO.”
|
|
Special Risk
|
|
Considerations
|
Not a Complete Investment Program. The Fund is intended for
|
|
investors seeking a high level of after-tax total return, with an emphasis
|
|
on current distributions paid to shareholders, over the long term. The
|
|
Fund is not meant to provide a vehicle for those who wish to play short-
|
|
term swings in the stock market. An investment in the Common Shares
|
|
of the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.
|
|
Each Common Shareholder should take into account the Fund’s
|
|
investment objective as well as the Common Shareholder’s other
|
|
investments when considering an investment in the Fund.
|
|
|
Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to
|
|
investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal
|
|
amount that you invest. An investment in the Common Shares of the
|
|
Fund represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the
|
|
Fund. The value of those securities may fluctuate, sometimes rapidly
|
|
and unpredictably. The value of the securities owned by the Fund will
|
|
affect the value of the Common Shares. At any point in time, your
|
|
Common Shares may be worth less than your original investment,
|
|
including the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions.
|
|
|
Risk of Investing in MLP Units. An investment in MLP units involves
|
|
risks that differ from a similar investment in equity securities, such as
|
|
common stock, of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have the rights
|
|
typically afforded to limited partners in a limited partnership. As
|
|
compared to common shareholders of a corporation, holders of MLP
|
|
units have more limited control and limited rights to vote on matters
|
|
affecting the partnership. There are certain tax risks associated with an
|
|
investment in MLP units. Additionally, conflicts of interest may exist
|
|
between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the
|
|
general partner of an MLP; for example a conflict may arise as a result
|
|
of incentive distribution payments.
|
|
|
Tax Risks. Much of the benefit the Fund derives from its investment in
|
|
equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated
|
|
as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships
|
|
generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level.
|
|
Rather, each partner of a partnership, in computing its U.S. federal
|
|
income tax liability, will include its allocable share of the partnership’s
|
|
income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current
|
|
tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an
|
|
MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
|
|
purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S.
|
|
federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP
|
|
as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would also have
|
|
the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the
|
|
MLP and causing such distributions received by the Fund to be taxed
|
|
as dividend income to the extent of the MLP’s current or accumulated
|
|
earnings and profits (thus accelerating the recognition of taxable
|
|
income). Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as
|
|
corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the after-tax return
|
|
to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs would be
|
|
materially reduced, which could cause a substantial decline in the
|
|
value of the Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
In addition, recently enacted legislation (which by its terms is
|
|
scheduled to become effective for taxable years beginning after
|
|
December 31, 2017) generally requires that taxes, penalties, and
|
|
interest associated with an audit of a partnership be assessed and
|
|
collected at the partnership level. Accordingly, even if an MLP in
|
|
which we invest were to remain classified as a partnership, it could be
|
|
required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an
|
|
audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of such MLP,
|
|
could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest
|
|
and penalties, which would reduce the value of the Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
If the Fund invests in the equity securities of an MLP, the Fund will be
|
|
a partner in such MLP. Accordingly, the Fund will be required to
|
|
include in its taxable income the Fund’s allocable share of the income,
|
|
gains, losses, deductions and expenses recognized by each such MLP,
|
|
regardless of whether the MLP distributes cash to the Fund.
|
|
Historically, MLPs have been able to offset a significant portion of
|
|
their income with tax deductions. The portion, if any, of a distribution
|
|
received by the Fund from an MLP that exceeds the Fund’s allocable
|
|
share of the MLP’s taxable income is essentially treated as return of
|
|
capital. However, any such return of capital will decrease the Fund’s
|
|
adjusted basis in the equity securities of the MLP, which will result in
|
|
an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss)
|
|
that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes on the sale of any
|
|
such equity securities. In addition, the Fund will incur a current
|
|
income tax liability on its allocable share of the portion of the MLP’s
|
|
income that is not offset by the MLP’s tax deductions. The percentage
|
|
of an MLP’s income that is offset by the MLP’s tax deductions will
|
|
fluctuate over time. For example, new acquisitions by MLPs generate
|
|
accelerated depreciation and other tax deductions, and therefore a
|
|
decline in acquisition activity by the MLPs owned by the Fund could
|
|
increase the Fund’s current tax liability. A decline in the percentage of
|
|
the MLPs’ income that is offset by tax deductions or an increase in the
|
|
Fund’s portfolio turnover could increase the Fund’s tax liability and
|
|
reduce the portion of the distributions paid by the Fund that is treated
|
|
as return of capital and/or capital gain, as the case may be, and
|
|
increase the portion treated as taxable dividend income. This generally
|
|
would result in lower after-tax distributions to shareholders.
|
|
|
|
Changes in tax laws or regulations, or future interpretations of such
|
|
laws or regulations, could adversely affect the Fund or the MLP
|
|
entities in which the Fund invests.
|
|
|
|
Deferred Tax Risk. As a limited partner in the MLPs, the Fund includes
|
|
its allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income in computing its own
|
|
taxable income. Because the Fund is treated as a regular corporation,
|
|
or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund
|
|
will incur tax expenses. In calculating the Fund’s net asset value, the
|
|
Fund will account for its deferred tax liability and/or asset.
|
|
|
|
The Fund will accrue a deferred income tax liability, at an assumed
|
|
federal, state and local income tax rate, for its future tax liability
|
|
associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the
|
|
distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of MLPs
|
|
considered to be return of capital. Any deferred tax liability will
|
|
reduce the Fund’s net asset value. Upon the sale of an equity security
|
|
in an MLP, the Fund generally will be liable for any previously
|
|
deferred taxes. No assurance can be given that such taxes will not
|
|
exceed the Fund’s deferred tax assumptions for purposes of computing
|
|
the Fund’s net asset value per share, which would result in an
|
|
immediate reduction of the Fund’s net asset value per share.
|
|
|
|
The Fund will accrue a deferred tax asset which reflects an estimate of
|
|
the Fund’s future tax benefit associated with realized and unrealized
|
|
net operating losses and capital losses. Any deferred tax asset will
|
|
increase the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund has a
|
|
deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a
|
|
valuation allowance is required, which would offset the value of some
|
|
or all of the deferred tax asset. The need to establish a valuation
|
|
allowance for a deferred tax asset is assessed periodically by the Fund
|
|
based on the criterion established by the Financial Accounting
|
|
Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification 740 (ASC 740)
|
|
that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred
|
|
tax asset will not be realized. In the assessment for a valuation
|
|
allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence
|
|
related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment
|
|
considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of
|
|
current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which
|
|
are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration
|
|
of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that operating
|
|
loss carryforwards may expire unused.
|
|
|
|
The Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset is estimated using
|
|
estimates of effective tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in
|
|
the years such taxes are realized. For purposes of estimating the
|
|
Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset for financial statement
|
|
reporting and determining its net asset value, the Fund will be required
|
|
to rely, to some extent, on information provided by the MLPs in which
|
|
it invests. Such information may not be received in a timely manner,
|
|
with the result that the Fund’s estimates regarding its deferred tax
|
|
liability and/or asset could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual
|
|
tax liability and, as a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax
|
|
liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s net asset value.
|
|
From time to time, the Fund may modify its estimates or assumptions
|
|
regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset as new information
|
|
becomes available. Modifications of such estimates or assumptions or
|
|
changes in applicable tax law could result in increases or decreases in
|
|
the Fund’s net asset value per share, which could be material.
|
|
Affiliated Party Risk. Certain MLPs in which the Fund may invest
|
|
depend upon their parent or sponsor entities for the majority of their
|
|
revenues. Were their parent or sponsor entities to fail to make such
|
|
payments or satisfy their obligations, the revenues and cash flows of
|
|
such MLPs and ability of such MLPs to make distributions to unit
|
|
holders, such as the Fund, would be adversely affected.
|
|
|
|
Equity Securities Risk. A substantial percentage of the Fund’s assets
|
|
will be invested in equity securities, including MLP common units,
|
|
MLP subordinated units, MLP preferred units, equity securities of
|
|
MLP Affiliates, including I-Shares, and common stocks of other
|
|
issuers. Equity risk is the risk that MLP units or other equity securities
|
|
held by the Fund will fall due to general market or economic
|
|
conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of
|
|
securities held by the Fund participate, changes in interest rates, and
|
|
the particular circumstances and performance of particular companies
|
|
whose securities the Fund holds. The price of an equity security of an
|
|
issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock
|
|
market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or
|
|
all of the equity securities held by the Fund. In addition, MLP units or
|
|
other equity securities held by the Fund may decline in price if the
|
|
issuer fails to make anticipated distributions or dividend payments
|
|
because, among other reasons, the issuer experiences a decline in its
|
|
financial condition.
|
|
|
|
MLP subordinated units typically are convertible to MLP common
|
|
units at a one-to-one ratio. The price of MLP subordinated units is
|
|
typically tied to the price of the corresponding MLP common unit, less
|
|
a discount. The size of the discount depends upon a variety of factors,
|
|
including the likelihood of conversion, the length of time remaining
|
|
until conversion and the size of the block of subordinated units being
|
|
purchased or sold.
|
|
|
|
The Fund may invest in equity securities issued by MLP Affiliates,
|
|
including general partners of MLPs. Such issuers may be organized
|
|
and/or taxed as corporations and therefore may not offer the
|
|
advantageous tax characteristics of MLP units. Investments in the
|
|
MLP Affiliates would be expected by the Sub-Adviser to provide
|
|
economic exposure to the MLP asset class; however, such investments
|
|
may not exhibit precise price correlation to any particular MLP or the
|
|
MLP asset class generally.
|
|
|
|
I-Shares represent an indirect investment in MLP I-units. Prices and
|
|
volatilities of I-Shares tend to correlate to the price of common units,
|
|
although the price correlation is not precise. I-Shares differ from MLP
|
|
common units primarily in that instead of receiving cash distributions,
|
|
holders of I-Shares will receive distributions of additional I-Shares, in
|
|
an amount equal to the cash distributions received by common unit
|
|
holders. I-Shares have limited voting rights. Holders of I-Shares are
|
|
subject to the same risks as holders of MLP common units.
|
|
|
|
Concentration Risk. Because the Fund is focused in MLP entities in
|
|
the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors of the economy,
|
|
the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with such
|
|
sectors. The Fund will concentrate its investments in the industry or
|
|
group of industries that make up the energy sector. A downturn in the
|
|
energy sector could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an
|
|
investment company that does not concentrate in such sector. At times,
|
|
the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may
|
|
lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole.
|
|
|
|
Energy Sector Risks. Many MLP entities operate within the energy
|
|
sector. Therefore, the Fund will concentrate its investments in the
|
|
industry or group of industries that make up the energy sector. As a
|
|
result, the Fund will be more susceptible to adverse economic,
|
|
political, legislative or regulatory occurrences affecting the energy
|
|
sector. Risks associated with investments in MLP entities and other
|
|
companies operating in the energy sector include the following:
|
|
|
|
Commodity Price Risk. MLP entities and other companies
|
|
operating in the energy sector may be affected by fluctuations in
|
|
the prices of energy commodities, including, for example,
|
|
natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and coal, in the short-
|
|
and long-term. Fluctuations in energy commodity prices may be
|
|
influenced by changes in general economic conditions or
|
|
political circumstances (especially of key energy producing and
|
|
consuming countries), market conditions, weather patterns,
|
|
domestic production levels, volume of imports, energy
|
|
conservation, domestic and foreign governmental regulation,
|
|
international politics, policies of the Organization of Petroleum
|
|
Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), taxation, tariffs, and the
|
|
availability and costs of local, intrastate and interstate
|
|
transportation methods, among others. Companies engaged in
|
|
crude oil and natural gas exploration, development or
|
|
production, natural gas gathering and processing, crude oil
|
|
refining and transportation and coal mining or sales may be
|
|
directly affected by their respective natural resources commodity
|
|
prices. The volatility of commodity prices may also indirectly
|
|
affect certain companies engaged in the transportation,
|
|
processing, storage or distribution of such commodities. Some
|
|
companies that own the underlying commodities may be unable
|
|
to effectively mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to
|
|
commodity price levels. The energy sector as a whole may also
|
|
be impacted by the perception that the performance of energy
|
|
sector companies is directly linked to commodity prices. High
|
|
commodity prices may drive further energy conservation efforts,
|
|
and a slowing economy may adversely impact energy
|
|
consumption, which may adversely affect the performance of
|
|
MLPs and other companies operating in the energy sector.
|
|
Recently, oil prices have declined significantly and experienced
|
|
greater volatility. This may adversly impact MLP entities and
|
|
other companies operating in the energy sector. Such companies
|
|
growth prospects and ability to pay high dividends may be
|
|
negatively impacted, would could adversly impact the net asset
|
|
value of the Common Shares and the ability of the Fund to
|
|
continue to pay dividends at current levels. Recent economic and
|
|
market events have fueled concerns regarding potential
|
|
liquidations of commodity futures and options positions.
|
|
Supply and Demand Risk. MLP entities and other companies
|
|
operating in the energy sector may be impacted by the levels of
|
|
supply and demand for energy commodities. MLP entities and
|
|
other companies operating in the energy sector could be
|
|
adversely affected by reductions in the supply of or demand for
|
|
energy commodities. The volume of production of energy
|
|
commodities and the volume of energy commodities available
|
|
for transportation, storage, processing or distribution could be
|
|
affected by a variety of factors, including depletion of resources,
|
|
depressed commodity prices, catastrophic events, labor relations,
|
|
increased environmental or other governmental regulation,
|
|
equipment malfunctions and maintenance difficulties, import
|
|
volumes, international politics, policies of OPEC, and increased
|
|
competition from alternative energy sources, among others.
|
|
Alternatively, a decline in demand for energy commodities could
|
|
result from factors such as adverse economic conditions
|
|
(especially in key energy-consuming countries), increased
|
|
taxation, increased environmental or other governmental
|
|
regulation, increased fuel economy, increased energy
|
|
conservation or use of alternative energy sources, legislation
|
|
intended to promote the use of alternative energy sources, and
|
|
increased commodity prices, among others.
|
|
|
|
Depletion Risk. MLP entities and other energy companies
|
|
engaged in the exploration, development, management or
|
|
production of energy commodities face the risk that commodity
|
|
reserves are depleted over time. Such companies seek to increase
|
|
their reserves through expansion of their current businesses,
|
|
acquisitions, further development of their existing sources of
|
|
energy commodities, exploration of new sources of energy
|
|
commodities or by entering into long-term contracts for
|
|
additional reserves; however, there are risks associated with each
|
|
of these potential strategies. If such companies fail to acquire
|
|
additional reserves in a cost-effective manner and at a rate at
|
|
least equal to the rate at which their existing reserves decline,
|
|
their financial performance may suffer. Additionally, failure to
|
|
replenish reserves could reduce the amount and affect the tax
|
|
characterization of the distributions paid by such companies.
|
|
|
|
Regulatory Risk. The energy sector is highly regulated. MLP
|
|
entities and other companies operating in the energy sector are
|
|
subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their
|
|
operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies.
|
|
Such regulation can change rapidly or over time in both scope
|
|
and intensity. For example, a particular by-product or process,
|
|
including hydraulic fracturing, may become subject to additional
|
|
regulation or be declared hazardous sometimes retroactively, by
|
|
a regulatory agency. Such actions could increase production
|
|
costs and reduce supply, which may have an adverse impact on
|
|
MLPs that utilize such by-product on process and on other
|
|
MLPs that rely on a supply of the impacted energy commodity.
|
|
Examples of governmental regulations which impact MLP
|
|
entities and other companies operating in the energy sector
|
|
include regulation of the construction, maintenance and
|
|
operation of facilities, environmental regulation, safety
|
|
regulation, labor regulation, trade regulation and the regulation
|
|
of the prices charged for products and services. Compliance with
|
|
these regulations and the permits issued under them is enforced
|
|
by numerous governmental agencies and authorities through
|
|
administrative, civil and criminal penalties including civil fines,
|
|
injunctions or both. Stricter laws or regulations or stricter
|
|
enforcement policies with respect to existing regulations would
|
|
likely increase the costs of regulatory compliance and could
|
|
have an adverse effect on the financial performance of MLP
|
|
entities and other companies operating in the energy sector.
|
|
MLP entities may be adversely affected by additional regulatory
|
|
requirements enacted in response to environmental disasters,
|
|
which may impose additional costs or limit certain operations by
|
|
MLP entities operating in various sectors.
|
|
|
|
Environmental Risk. There is an inherent risk that MLP entities
|
|
may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of
|
|
their businesses and the substances they handle. For example, an
|
|
accidental release from wells or gathering pipelines could
|
|
subject them to substantial liabilities for environmental cleanup
|
|
and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners
|
|
and other third parties for personal injury and property damage,
|
|
and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental
|
|
laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter
|
|
laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly
|
|
increase the compliance costs of MLP entities, and the cost of
|
|
any remediation that may become necessary. MLP entities may
|
|
not be able to recover these costs from insurance. Specifically,
|
|
the operations of wells, gathering systems, pipelines, refineries
|
|
and other facilities are subject to stringent and complex federal,
|
|
state and local environmental laws and regulations. These
|
|
include, for example: (i) the federal Clean Air Act and
|
|
comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations
|
|
related to air emissions, (ii) the federal Clean Water Act and
|
|
comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations
|
|
related to discharges of pollutants into regulated bodies of water,
|
|
(iii) the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
|
|
(“RCRA”) and comparable state laws and regulations that
|
|
impose requirements for the handling and disposal of waste
|
|
from facilities; and (iv) the federal Comprehensive
|
|
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
|
|
1980 (“CERCLA”), also known as “Superfund,” and comparable
|
|
state laws and regulations that regulate the cleanup of hazardous
|
|
substances that may have been released at properties currently or
|
|
previously owned or operated by MLP entities or at locations to
|
|
which they have sent waste for disposal.
|
|
|
|
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a
|
|
variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement
|
|
measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the
|
|
imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of orders
|
|
enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes,
|
|
including RCRA, CERCLA, the federal Oil Pollution Act and
|
|
analogous state laws and regulations, impose strict, joint and
|
|
several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites
|
|
where hazardous substances have been disposed of or otherwise
|
|
released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring
|
|
landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal
|
|
injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of
|
|
hazardous substances or other waste products into the
|
|
environment. There is an inherent risk that MLP entities may
|
|
incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of
|
|
their businesses and the substances they handle. For example, an
|
|
accidental release from wells or gathering pipelines could
|
|
subject them to substantial liabilities for environmental cleanup
|
|
and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners
|
|
and other third parties for personal injury and property damage,
|
|
and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental
|
|
laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter
|
|
laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly
|
|
increase the compliance costs of MLP entities. For example,
|
|
hydraulic fracturing, a technique used in the completion of
|
|
certain oil and gas wells, has become a subject of increasing
|
|
regulatory scrutiny and may be subject in the future to more
|
|
stringent, and more costly to comply with, requirements.
|
|
Similarly, the implementation of more stringent environmental
|
|
requirements could significantly increase the cost of any
|
|
remediation that may become necessary. MLP entities may not
|
|
be able to recover these costs from insurance.
|
|
|
|
Voluntary initiatives and mandatory controls have been adopted
|
|
or are being discussed both in the United States and worldwide
|
|
to reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” such as carbon
|
|
dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, and methane, the
|
|
major constituent of natural gas, which many scientists and
|
|
policymakers believe contribute to global climate change. Such
|
|
measures, including carbon taxes or future emission restrictions
|
|
or regulations, could result in increased costs to certain
|
|
companies in which the Fund may invest to operate and maintain
|
|
facilities and administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions
|
|
program and may reduce demand for fuels that generate
|
|
greenhouse gases and that are managed or produced by MLP
|
|
entities. The potential for the imposition of such measures may
|
|
negatively impact MLPs generally. In the wake of a Supreme
|
|
Court decision holding that the Environmental Protection
|
|
Agency (“EPA”) has some legal authority to deal with climate
|
|
change under the Clean Air Act, the EPA and the Department of
|
|
Transportation jointly wrote regulations to cut gasoline use and
|
|
control greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. The EPA
|
|
has also taken action to require certain entities to measure and
|
|
report greenhouse gas emissions and certain facilities may be
|
|
required to control emissions of greenhouse gases pursuant to
|
|
EPA air permitting and other regulatory programs. These
|
|
measures, and other programs addressing greenhouse gas
|
|
emissions, could reduce demand for energy or raise prices,
|
|
which may adversely affect the total return of certain of the
|
|
Fund’s investments.
|
|
|
|
Acquisition Risk. MLP entities owned by the Fund may depend
|
|
on the ability of such entities to make acquisitions that increase
|
|
adjusted operating surplus per unit in order to increase
|
|
distributions to unit holders. The ability of such MLP entities to
|
|
make future acquisitions is dependent on their ability to identify
|
|
suitable targets, negotiate favorable purchase contracts, obtain
|
|
acceptable financing and outbid competing potential acquirers.
|
|
To the extent that MLP entities are unable to make future
|
|
acquisitions, or such future acquisitions fail to increase the
|
|
adjusted operating surplus per unit, their growth and ability to
|
|
make distributions to unit holders will be limited. There are risks
|
|
inherent in any acquisition, including erroneous assumptions
|
|
regarding revenues, acquisition expenses, operating expenses,
|
|
cost savings and synergies, assumption of liabilities,
|
|
indemnification, customer losses, key employee defections,
|
|
distraction from other business operations, and unanticipated
|
|
difficulties in operating or integrating new product areas and
|
|
geographic regions, among others.
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate Risk. Rising interest rates could increase the
|
|
costs of capital thereby increasing operating costs and
|
|
reducing the ability of MLP entities and other companies
|
|
operating in the energy sector to carry out acquisitions or
|
|
expansions in a cost-effective manner. As a result, rising
|
|
interest rates could negatively affect the financial performance
|
|
of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy
|
|
sector in which the Fund invests. Rising interest rates may
|
|
also impact the price of the securities of MLP entities and
|
|
other companies operating in the energy sector as the yields
|
|
on alternative investments increase.
|
|
|
|
Weather Risk. Weather plays a role in the seasonality of some
|
|
MLP entities’ cash flows. MLP entities in the propane industry,
|
|
for example, rely on the winter season to generate almost all of
|
|
their earnings. In an unusually warm winter season, propane
|
|
MLP entities experience decreased demand for their product.
|
|
Although most MLP entities can reasonably predict seasonal
|
|
weather demand based on normal weather patterns, extreme
|
|
weather conditions, such as the hurricanes that severely
|
|
damaged cities along the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent years,
|
|
demonstrate that no amount of preparation can protect an MLP
|
|
entity from the unpredictability of the weather or possible
|
|
climate change. The damage done by extreme weather also may
|
|
serve to increase many MLP entities’ insurance premiums and
|
|
could adversely affect such companies’ financial condition and
|
|
ability to pay distributions to shareholders.
|
|
|
|
Catastrophic Event Risk. MLP entities and other companies
|
|
operating in the energy sector are subject to many dangers
|
|
inherent in the production, exploration, management,
|
|
transportation, processing and distribution of natural gas, natural
|
|
gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum and petroleum products
|
|
and other hydrocarbons. These dangers include leaks, fires,
|
|
explosions, damage to facilities and equipment resulting from
|
|
natural disasters, inadvertent damage to facilities and equipment
|
|
and terrorist acts. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the
|
|
U.S. government has issued warnings that energy assets,
|
|
specifically U.S. pipeline infrastructure, may be targeted in future
|
|
terrorist attacks. These dangers give rise to risks of substantial
|
|
losses as a result of loss or destruction of commodity reserves;
|
|
damage to or destruction of property, facilities and equipment;
|
|
pollution and environmental damage; and personal injury or loss
|
|
of life. Any occurrence of such catastrophic events could bring
|
|
about a limitation, suspension or discontinuation of the operations
|
|
of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy
|
|
sector. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy
|
|
sector may not be fully insured against all risks inherent in their
|
|
business operations and therefore accidents and catastrophic
|
|
events could adversely affect such companies’ financial conditions
|
|
and ability to pay distributions to shareholders.
|
|
|
|
Cyclical Industry Risk. The energy industry is cyclical and from
|
|
time to time may experience a shortage of drilling rigs,
|
|
equipment, supplies, or qualified personnel, or due to significant
|
|
demand, such services may not be available on commercially
|
|
reasonable terms. An MLP entity’s ability to successfully and
|
|
timely complete capital improvements to existing or other
|
|
capital projects is contingent upon many variables. Should any
|
|
such efforts be unsuccessful, an MLP entity could be subject to
|
|
additional costs and/or the write-off of its investment in the
|
|
project or improvement. The marketability of oil and gas
|
|
production depends in large part on the availability, proximity
|
|
and capacity of pipeline systems owned by third parties. Oil and
|
|
gas properties are subject to royalty interests, liens and other
|
|
burdens, encumbrances, easements or restrictions, all of which
|
|
could impact the production of a particular MLP entity. Oil and
|
|
gas MLP entities operate in a highly competitive and cyclical
|
|
industry, with intense price competition. A significant portion of
|
|
their revenues may depend on a relatively small number of
|
|
customers, including governmental entities and utilities.
|
|
|
|
Legislation Risk. There have been proposals in Congress to
|
|
eliminate certain tax incentives widely used by oil and gas
|
|
companies and to impose new fees on certain energy producers.
|
|
The elimination of such tax incentives and imposition of such
|
|
fees could adversely affect MLP entities and other companies
|
|
operating in the energy sector in which the Fund invests and/or
|
|
the energy sector generally.
|
|
|
|
Recent Developments Regarding the Energy Sector. Prices of oil
|
|
and other energy commodities have declined significantly and
|
|
experienced significant volatility over the past year. Oil prices
|
|
have recently approached ten year lows. Companies engaged in
|
|
crude oil and natural gas exploration, development or
|
|
production, natural gas gathering and processing, crude oil
|
|
refining and transportation and coal mining or sales may be
|
|
directly affected by their respective natural resources commodity
|
|
prices. The volatility of commodity prices may also indirectly
|
|
affect certain companies engaged in the transportation,
|
|
processing, storage or distribution of such commodities. Some
|
|
companies that own the underlying commodities may be unable
|
|
to effectively mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to
|
|
commodity price levels. The energy sector as a whole may also
|
|
be impacted by the perception that the performance of energy
|
|
sector companies is directly linked to commodity prices. As a
|
|
result, many companies in which the Fund may invest have been
|
|
and may continue to be adversely impacted by declines in, and
|
|
volatility of, prices of energy commodities. Continued low
|
|
prices for energy commodities, or continued volatility of such
|
|
prices, could further erode such companies' growth prospects
|
|
and negatively impact such companies’ ability to sustain
|
|
attractive distribution levels, which could adversely impact the
|
|
NAV of the Common Shares and the ability of the Fund to
|
|
continue to pay distributions on the Common Shares at current
|
|
levels. Because the Fund is focused in MLP and energy
|
|
infrastructure companies operating in the industry or group of
|
|
industries that make up the energy sector of the economy, the
|
|
Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with energy
|
|
commodity prices than an investment company that does not
|
|
concentrate in such sector.
|
|
|
|
The Fund expects that a substantial portion of the cash flow it
|
|
receives will be derived from its investments in equity securities of
|
|
MLPs and energy infrastructure companies. The amount and tax
|
|
characterization of cash available for distribution will depend
|
|
upon the amount of cash generated by such entity's operations.
|
|
Cash available for distribution may vary widely from quarter to
|
|
quarter and is affected by various factors affecting the entity's
|
|
operations. Recently, a number of MLPs have reduced, suspended
|
|
or eliminated their distributions. Such distribution reductions
|
|
could adversely impact the ability of the Fund to continue to pay
|
|
distributions on the Common Shares at current levels.
|
|
|
|
Industry Specific Risks. MLP entities and energy companies are also
|
|
subject to risks that are specific to the industry they serve.
|
|
|
|
Pipelines. Pipeline companies are subject to the demand for
|
|
natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil or refined products in
|
|
the markets they serve, changes in the availability of products
|
|
for gathering, transportation, processing or sale due to natural
|
|
declines in reserves and production in the supply areas serviced
|
|
by the companies’ facilities, sharp decreases in crude oil or
|
|
natural gas prices that cause producers to curtail production or
|
|
reduce capital spending for exploration activities, and
|
|
environmental regulation. Demand for gasoline, which accounts
|
|
for a substantial portion of refined product transportation,
|
|
depends on price, prevailing economic conditions in the markets
|
|
served, and demographic and seasonal factors. Companies that
|
|
own interstate pipelines that transport natural gas, natural gas
|
|
liquids, crude oil or refined petroleum products are subject to
|
|
regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
|
|
(“FERC”) with respect to the tariff rates they may charge for
|
|
transportation services. An adverse determination by FERC with
|
|
respect to the tariff rates of such a company could have a
|
|
material adverse effect on its business, financial condition,
|
|
results of operations and cash flows and its ability to pay cash
|
|
distributions or dividends. In addition, FERC has a tax
|
|
allowance policy, which permits such companies to include in
|
|
their cost of service an income tax allowance to the extent that
|
|
their owners have an actual or potential tax liability on the
|
|
income generated by them. If FERC’s income tax allowance
|
|
policy were to change in the future to disallow a material portion
|
|
of the income tax allowance taken by such interstate pipeline
|
|
companies, it would adversely impact the maximum tariff rates
|
|
that such companies are permitted to charge for their
|
|
transportation services, which would in turn adversely affect the
|
|
results of operations and cash flows of such companies and their
|
|
ability to pay cash distributions or dividends to their unit holders
|
|
or shareholders.
|
|
|
|
Midstream. Midstream MLP entities and energy companies that
|
|
provide crude oil, refined product and natural gas services are
|
|
subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they
|
|
serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors
|
|
including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased
|
|
conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased
|
|
governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising
|
|
interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production,
|
|
accidents or catastrophic events, and economic conditions,
|
|
among others.
|
|
|
|
Upstream. Exploration, development and production companies
|
|
are particularly vulnerable to declines in the demand for and
|
|
prices of crude oil and natural gas. Reductions in prices for
|
|
crude oil and natural gas can cause a given reservoir to become
|
|
uneconomic for continued production earlier than it would if
|
|
prices were higher, resulting in the plugging and abandonment
|
|
of, and cessation of production from, that reservoir. In addition,
|
|
lower commodity prices not only reduce revenues but also can
|
|
result in substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates.
|
|
The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality
|
|
of available data, the accuracy of assumptions regarding future
|
|
commodity prices and future exploration and development costs
|
|
and engineering and geological interpretations and judgments.
|
|
Different reserve engineers may make different estimates of
|
|
reserve quantities and related revenue based on the same data.
|
|
Actual oil and gas prices, development expenditures and
|
|
operating expenses will vary from those assumed in reserve
|
|
estimates, and these variances may be significant. Any
|
|
significant variance from the assumptions used could result in
|
|
the actual quantity of reserves and future net cash flow being
|
|
materially different from those estimated in reserve reports. In
|
|
addition, results of drilling, testing and production and changes
|
|
in prices after the date of reserve estimates may result in
|
|
downward revisions to such estimates. Substantial downward
|
|
adjustments in reserve estimates could have a material adverse
|
|
effect on a given exploration and production company’s financial
|
|
position and results of operations. In addition, due to natural
|
|
declines in reserves and production, exploration and production
|
|
companies must economically find or acquire and develop
|
|
additional reserves in order to maintain and grow their revenues
|
|
and distributions.
|
|
|
|
Gathering and Processing. Gathering and processing companies
|
|
are subject to natural declines in the production of oil and
|
|
natural gas fields, which utilize their gathering and processing
|
|
facilities as a way to market their production, prolonged declines
|
|
in the price of natural gas or crude oil, which curtails drilling
|
|
activity and therefore production, and declines in the prices of
|
|
natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products, which cause
|
|
lower processing margins. In addition, some gathering and
|
|
processing contracts subject the gathering or processing
|
|
company to direct commodities price risk.
|
|
|
|
Oil and Gas Production. In addition to other risks described
|
|
herein, companies involved in the transportation, gathering,
|
|
processing, exploration, development or production of crude oil,
|
|
natural gas and/or refined petroleum products are subject to
|
|
supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which
|
|
will be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating
|
|
commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of
|
|
alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or
|
|
environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates,
|
|
declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or
|
|
catastrophic events and economic conditions, among others. In
|
|
addition the oil and gas industries may be adversely affected by
|
|
increased regulations, increased operating costs and reductions
|
|
in the supply of and/or demand for crude oil, natural gas and
|
|
refined petroleum products as a result of accidents or
|
|
catastrophic events and the reactions thereto, among others.
|
|
|
|
Propane. Propane MLP entities are subject to earnings
|
|
variability based upon weather conditions in the markets they
|
|
serve, fluctuating commodity prices, increased use
|
|
of alternative fuels, increased governmental or environmental
|
|
regulation, and accidents or catastrophic events, among others.
|
|
|
|
Coal. MLP entities and energy companies with coal assets are
|
|
subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they
|
|
serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors
|
|
including fluctuating commodity prices, the level of their
|
|
customers’ coal stockpiles, weather, increased conservation or
|
|
use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or
|
|
environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates,
|
|
declines in domestic or foreign production, mining accidents or
|
|
catastrophic events, and health claims and economic conditions,
|
|
among others. They are also subject to supply variability based
|
|
on geological conditions that reduce the productivity of mining
|
|
operations, the availability of regulatory permits for mining
|
|
activities and the availability of coal that meets the standards of
|
|
the Clean Air Act.
|
|
|
|
Marine Transportation. Marine transportation companies are
|
|
exposed to the highly cyclical nature of the tanker industry and
|
|
may be subject to volatile changes in charter rates and vessel
|
|
values, which may adversely affect the earnings of tanker
|
|
companies. Fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values result
|
|
from changes in the supply and demand for tanker capacity and
|
|
changes in the supply and demand for oil and oil products.
|
|
Historically, the tanker markets have been volatile due to the
|
|
many conditions and factors that may affect the supply and
|
|
demand for tanker capacity. Changes in demand for
|
|
transportation of oil over longer distances and the supply of
|
|
tankers to carry that oil may materially affect the revenues,
|
|
profitability and cash flows of tanker companies. The successful
|
|
operation of vessels in the charter market depends upon, among
|
|
other things, obtaining profitable spot charters and minimizing
|
|
time spent waiting for charters and traveling unladen to pick up
|
|
cargo. The value of tanker vessels may fluctuate and could
|
|
adversely affect the value of tanker company securities in the
|
|
Fund’s portfolio. Declining tanker values could affect the ability
|
|
of tanker companies to raise cash by limiting their ability to
|
|
refinance their vessels, thereby adversely impacting tanker
|
|
company liquidity. Tanker company vessels are at risk of
|
|
damage or loss because of events such as mechanical failure,
|
|
collision, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, cargo loss and bad
|
|
weather. In addition, changing economic, regulatory and
|
|
political conditions in some countries, including political and
|
|
military conflicts, have from time to time resulted in attacks on
|
|
vessels, mining of waterways, piracy, terrorism, labor strikes,
|
|
boycotts and government requisitioning of vessels. These sorts
|
|
of events could interfere with shipping lanes and result in market
|
|
disruptions and a significant loss of tanker company earnings.
|
|
|
|
Fracturing Services. Changes in laws or government regulations
|
|
regarding hydraulic fracturing could increase a company’s costs
|
|
of doing business, limit the areas in which it can operate and
|
|
reduce oil and natural gas production by the company. Congress
|
|
has in recent legislative sessions considered legislation to amend
|
|
the Safe Water Drinking Act, including legislation that would
|
|
repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the definition
|
|
of “underground injection” and require federal permitting and
|
|
regulatory control of hydraulic fracturing, as well as legislative
|
|
proposals to require disclosure of the chemical constituents of
|
|
the fluids used in the fracturing process, were proposed in recent
|
|
sessions of Congress. In addition, the EPA has asserted federal
|
|
regulatory authority over certain hydraulic fracturing activities.
|
|
If hydraulic fracturing becomes regulated at the federal level as a
|
|
result of federal legislation or regulatory initiatives by the EPA,
|
|
fracturing activities could become subject to additional
|
|
permitting requirements, and also to attendant permitting delays
|
|
and potential increases in cost, which could adversely affect a
|
|
company’s business. See “Risks—Industry Specific Risks—
|
|
Fracturing Services.”
|
|
|
|
Other Sector Risk. The Fund also may invest in securities of MLP
|
|
entities in the natural resources sector and the real estate sector, among
|
|
other sectors, which may subject the Fund to additional risks
|
|
associated with investments in those sectors.
|
|
|
|
Natural Resources Sector Risk. The natural resources sector
|
|
includes companies principally engaged in owning or developing
|
|
non-energy natural resources (including timber and minerals) and
|
|
industrial materials, or supplying goods or services to such
|
|
companies. The Fund’s investments in MLP entities and other
|
|
companies operating in the natural resources sector will be subject
|
|
to the risk that prices of these securities may fluctuate widely in
|
|
response to the level and volatility of commodity prices; exchange
|
|
rates; import controls; domestic and global competition;
|
|
environmental regulation and liability for environmental damage;
|
|
mandated expenditures for safety or pollution control; the success
|
|
of exploration projects; depletion of resources; tax policies; and
|
|
other governmental regulation. Investments in the natural
|
|
resources sector can be significantly affected by changes in the
|
|
supply of or demand for various natural resources. The value of
|
|
investments in the natural resources sector may be adversely
|
|
affected by a change in inflation.
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Sector Risk. The Fund may invest in MLP entities or
|
|
other companies operating in the real estate sector, which may
|
|
develop land; own or manage residential, commercial and
|
|
undeveloped properties; own mortgage securities; and provide
|
|
financing to owners and developers of multi-family housing or
|
|
other real estate or building ventures. To the extent that the Fund
|
|
invests in securities of MLP entities and other companies operating
|
|
in the real estate sector, the Fund’s performance may be linked to
|
|
the performance of the real estate markets. Property values may fall
|
|
due to increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from
|
|
economic, legal, cultural or technological developments. Changes
|
|
in interest rates or inflation may adversely affect the value of
|
|
investments in the real estate sector. Other factors such as
|
|
catastrophic events, lack of adequate insurance; and environmental
|
|
issues may contribute to the risks of a real estate investment.
|
|
|
|
Small Capitalization Risk. The Fund may invest in securities of MLP
|
|
entities and other issuers that have comparatively smaller capitalizations
|
|
relative to issuers whose securities are included in major benchmark
|
|
indices, which present unique investment risks. These companies often
|
|
have limited product lines, markets, distribution channels or financial
|
|
resources; and the management of such companies may be dependent
|
|
upon one or a few key people. The market movements of equity
|
|
securities issued by MLP entities with smaller capitalizations may be
|
|
more abrupt or erratic than the market movements of equity securities of
|
|
larger, more established companies or the stock market in general.
|
|
Historically, smaller capitalization companies have sometimes gone
|
|
through extended periods when they did not perform as well as larger
|
|
companies. In addition, equity securities of smaller capitalization
|
|
companies generally are less liquid than those of larger companies. This
|
|
means that the Fund could have greater difficulty selling such securities
|
|
at the time and price that the Fund would like.
|
|
|
|
Restricted Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in unregistered or
|
|
otherwise restricted securities. The term “restricted securities” refers to
|
|
securities that are unregistered, held by control persons of the issuer or
|
|
are subject to contractual restrictions on their resale. Restricted
|
|
securities are often purchased at a discount from the market price of
|
|
unrestricted securities of the same issuer reflecting the fact that such
|
|
securities may not be readily marketable without some time delay.
|
|
Such securities are often more difficult to value and the sale of such
|
|
securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage
|
|
charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the
|
|
sale of liquid securities trading on national securities exchanges or in
|
|
the over-the-counter markets. Contractual restrictions on the resale of
|
|
securities result from negotiations between the issuer and purchaser of
|
|
such securities and therefore vary substantially in length and scope. To
|
|
dispose of a restricted security that the Fund has a contractual right to
|
|
sell, the Fund may first be required to cause the security to be
|
|
registered. A considerable period may elapse between a decision to
|
|
sell the securities and the time when the Fund would be permitted to
|
|
sell, during which time the Fund would bear market risks.
|
|
Risk Associated with an Investment in Initial Public Offerings.
|
|
Securities purchased in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) are often
|
|
subject to the general risks associated with investments in companies
|
|
with small market capitalizations, and typically to a heightened degree.
|
|
Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about
|
|
the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition,
|
|
the prices of securities sold in an IPO may be highly volatile. At any
|
|
particular time or from time to time, the Fund may not be able to invest
|
|
in IPOs, or to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a
|
|
small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be
|
|
available to the Fund. In addition, under certain market conditions, a
|
|
relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. The
|
|
Fund’s investment performance during periods when it is unable to
|
|
invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods
|
|
when it is able to do so. IPO securities may be volatile, and the Fund
|
|
cannot predict whether investments in IPOs will be successful.
|
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies Risk. The Fund may invest in companies that
|
|
(together with their predecessors) have limited operating histories. The
|
|
securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can
|
|
result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the
|
|
case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more
|
|
speculative and entail greater risk than investments in companies with
|
|
an established operating record.
|
|
|
|
Risk Associated with a Private Investment in Public Equity
|
|
Transactions. Investors in private investment in public equity (“PIPE”)
|
|
transactions purchase securities directly from a publicly traded
|
|
company in a private placement transaction, typically at a discount to
|
|
the market price of the company’s common stock. Because the sale of
|
|
the securities is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
|
|
amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities are “restricted” and
|
|
cannot be immediately resold by the investors into the public markets.
|
|
Until the Fund can sell such securities into the public markets, its
|
|
holdings will be less liquid and any sales will need to be made
|
|
pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act.
|
|
|
|
Cash Flow Risk. The Fund expects that a substantial portion of the cash
|
|
flow it receives will be derived from its investments in equity securities
|
|
of MLP entities. The amount and tax characterization of cash available
|
|
for distribution by an MLP entity depends upon the amount of cash
|
|
generated by such entity’s operations. Cash available for distribution by
|
|
MLP entities will vary widely from quarter to quarter and is affected by
|
|
various factors affecting the entity’s operations. In addition to the risks
|
|
described herein, operating costs, capital expenditures, acquisition
|
|
costs, construction costs, exploration costs and borrowing costs may
|
|
reduce the amount of cash that an MLP entity has available for
|
|
distribution in a given period. Reductions in distributions paid by MLP
|
|
entities held by the Fund may reduce the value of such holdings, and as
|
|
a result, the value of the Fund's Common Shares. In addition, any such
|
|
reductions in distributions paid by MLP entities may adversely impact
|
|
the Fund’s ability to maintain its distribution rate.
|
|
|
|
Distribution Risk. The Fund will seek to maximize the portion of the
|
|
Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of
|
|
return of capital. To the extent that the Fund’s cash flow is derived
|
|
primarily from MLP distributions that consist of return of capital, the
|
|
Fund’s anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s distributions
|
|
to Common Shareholders will consist of return of capital. However, to
|
|
the extent that the Fund’s cash flow is derived from distributions of the
|
|
Fund’s share of an MLP’s taxable income, or from other amounts that
|
|
are attributable to taxable income, such as income or gain on the sale
|
|
of portfolio securities or in connection with derivatives transactions,
|
|
the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders
|
|
treated as taxable dividend income could be increased. In addition, if
|
|
the Fund generates current earnings and profits (as determined for U.S.
|
|
federal income tax purposes) in a particular taxable year, a distribution
|
|
by the Fund to its shareholders in that year will be wholly or partially
|
|
taxable even if the Fund has an overall deficit in its accumulated
|
|
earnings and profits and/or net operating loss or capital loss
|
|
carryforwards that reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes in that
|
|
taxable year. There can be no assurance as to what portion of any
|
|
future distribution will consist of return of capital (as opposed to
|
|
taxable dividend income). For example, for the taxable year ended
|
|
November 30, 2015, 78% of the distributions made by the Fund to the
|
|
holders of Common Shares constituted taxable dividend income and
|
|
22% constituted return of capital.
|
|
|
|
Risk Associated with Options on Securities. There are several risks
|
|
associated with transactions in options on securities. A decision as to
|
|
whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and
|
|
judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful
|
|
to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As
|
|
the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the
|
|
option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market
|
|
value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the
|
|
premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss
|
|
should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an
|
|
option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its
|
|
obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received
|
|
an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in
|
|
order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the
|
|
underlying security at the exercise price. There can be no assurance that
|
|
a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option
|
|
position. If trading were suspended in an option purchased by the Fund,
|
|
the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If the Fund were
|
|
unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a
|
|
security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the
|
|
option expired without exercise.
|
|
|
|
ETNs Risk. ETNs are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities
|
|
whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market
|
|
benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an
|
|
exchange (e.g., the NYSE) during normal trading hours. ETNs are
|
|
subject to credit risk, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a
|
|
downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market
|
|
benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN
|
|
may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and
|
|
demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying
|
|
assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s
|
|
credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that
|
|
affect the referenced underlying asset.
|
|
Liquidity Risk. MLP common units and equity securities of MLP
|
|
Affiliates, including I-Shares, and other issuers often trade on national
|
|
securities exchanges, including the NYSE, the AMEX and the
|
|
NASDAQ. However, certain securities, including those of issuers with
|
|
smaller capitalizations, may trade less frequently. The market
|
|
movements of such securities with limited trading volumes may be
|
|
more abrupt or erratic. As a result of the limited liquidity of such
|
|
securities, the Fund could have greater difficulty selling such securities
|
|
at the time and price that the Fund would like and may be limited in its
|
|
ability to make alternative investments.
|
|
|
|
Valuation Risk. Market prices generally will be unavailable for some
|
|
of the Fund’s investments, including MLP subordinated units, direct
|
|
ownership of general partner interests and restricted or unregistered
|
|
securities of certain MLP entities and private companies. The value of
|
|
such securities will be determined by fair valuations determined by the
|
|
Board of Trustees or its designee in accordance with procedures
|
|
governing the valuation of portfolio securities adopted by the Board of
|
|
Trustees. Proper valuation of such securities may require more reliance
|
|
on the judgment of the Sub-Adviser than for valuation of securities for
|
|
which an active trading market exists.
|
|
|
|
Inflation/Deflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of
|
|
assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future, as
|
|
inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real
|
|
value of the Common Shares and distributions on those shares can
|
|
decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, interest
|
|
rates on any borrowings by the Fund would likely increase, which
|
|
would tend to further reduce returns to the holders of Common Shares.
|
|
Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline
|
|
over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation
|
|
of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may
|
|
have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may
|
|
make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the
|
|
value of the Fund’s portfolio.
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income
|
|
securities, such as preferred and debt securities, and certain equity
|
|
securities will decline in value because of a rise in market interest
|
|
rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such
|
|
securities generally will fall. The net asset value and market price of
|
|
the Common Shares will tend to decline as a result of the Fund’s
|
|
investment in such securities if market interest rates rise.
|
|
|
|
During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a fixed-income
|
|
security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than
|
|
scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This
|
|
is known as call or prepayment risk. Preferred and debt securities
|
|
frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the
|
|
security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem such a security
|
|
if the issuer can refinance it at a lower cost due to declining interest rates
|
|
or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. During periods of
|
|
rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be
|
|
extended because of a lower likelihood of prepayments. This may lock in
|
|
a below market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and reduce
|
|
the value of the security. This is known as extension risk.
|
|
In typical interest rate environments, prices of fixed income securities
|
|
with longer maturities generally fluctuate more in response to changes in
|
|
interest rates than do the prices of fixed income securities with shorter-
|
|
term maturities. Because the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in
|
|
fixed-income securities without regard to their maturities, to the extent
|
|
the Fund invests in fixed income securities with longer maturities, the
|
|
net asset value and market price of the Common Shares would fluctuate
|
|
more in response to changes in interest rates than if the Fund were to
|
|
invest such portion of its assets in shorter-term fixed income securities.
|
|
|
|
Market interest rates for investment grade fixed income securities in
|
|
which the Fund may invest are significantly below historical average
|
|
rates for such securities. Interest rates below historical average rates may
|
|
result in increased risk that these rates will rise in the future (which
|
|
would cause the value of the Fund’s net assets to decline) and may
|
|
increase the degree to which asset values may decline in such events.
|
|
|
|
Lower Grade Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in fixed-income
|
|
securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated Ba or lower by
|
|
Moody’s; BB or lower by S&P; comparably rated by another statistical
|
|
rating organization; or, if unrated, as determined by the Sub-Adviser to
|
|
be of comparable credit quality), which are commonly referred to as
|
|
“junk bonds.” Investment in securities of below-investment grade
|
|
quality involves substantial risk of loss. Securities of below investment
|
|
grade quality are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s
|
|
capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due and therefore
|
|
involve a greater risk of default or decline in market value due to
|
|
adverse economic and issuer-specific developments. Securities of
|
|
below investment grade quality display increased price sensitivity to
|
|
changing interest rates and to a deteriorating economic environment.
|
|
The market values for debt securities of below-investment grade
|
|
quality tend to be more volatile and such securities tend to be less
|
|
liquid than investment grade debt securities.
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary
|
|
greatly from year to year. The Fund cannot predict its annual portfolio
|
|
turnover rate with accuracy; however, under normal market conditions
|
|
it is not expected to exceed 30%. Portfolio turnover rate will not be
|
|
considered as a limiting factor in the execution of the Fund’s
|
|
investment decisions. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund’s
|
|
recognition of gains that will be taxable at the Fund level and may
|
|
increase the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits,
|
|
which will result in a greater portion of distributions to Common
|
|
Shareholders being treated as dividends. Additionally, high portfolio
|
|
turnover results in correspondingly higher brokerage commissions and
|
|
transaction costs borne by the Fund.
|
|
|
|
Foreign Securities. Investing in securities of foreign companies (or
|
|
foreign governments) may involve certain risks not typically
|
|
associated with investing in domestic companies. The prices of foreign
|
|
securities may be affected by factors not present with securities traded
|
|
in the U.S. markets, including, political and economic conditions, less
|
|
stringent regulation and higher volatility. As a result, many foreign
|
|
securities may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities.
|
|
Dividend and interest income may be subject to withholding and other
|
|
foreign taxes, which may adversely affect the net return on such
|
|
investments. The Fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers
|
|
may consist of investments in ADRs. ADRs are certificates evidencing
|
|
ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary
|
|
banks and generally trade on an established market, in the United
|
|
States or elsewhere. Although ADRs are alternatives to directly
|
|
purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets
|
|
and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks
|
|
associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Risk. In addition to the risks associated with the covered
|
|
call option strategy described above, the Fund may participate in
|
|
certain derivative transactions. Such transactions entail certain
|
|
execution, market, liquidity, hedging and tax risks. Participation in the
|
|
options or futures markets involves investment risks and transaction
|
|
costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these
|
|
strategies (other than its covered call option writing strategy and put
|
|
option writing strategy). If the Sub-Adviser’s prediction of movements
|
|
in the direction of the securities and interest rate markets is inaccurate,
|
|
the consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position
|
|
than if it had not used such strategies.
|
|
|
|
Market Discount Risk. The Fund’s Common Shares have a limited
|
|
trading history and have traded both at a premium and at a discount in
|
|
relation to NAV. The Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares
|
|
will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The Fund’s
|
|
Common Shares have recently traded at a substantial premium to NAV
|
|
per share, which may not be sustainable. If the Common Shares are
|
|
trading at a premium to net asset value at the time you purchase
|
|
Common Shares, the NAV per share of the Common Shares purchased
|
|
will be less than the purchase price paid. Shares of closed-end
|
|
investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV, but in
|
|
some cases have traded above NAV. Continued development of
|
|
alternative vehicles for investment in securities of MLP entities may
|
|
contribute to reducing or eliminating any premium or may result in the
|
|
Common Shares trading at a discount. The risk of the Common Shares
|
|
trading at a discount is a risk separate from the risk of a decline in the
|
|
Fund’s NAV as a result of the Fund’s investment activities. The Fund’s
|
|
NAV will be reduced immediately following an offering of the
|
|
Common Shares due to the costs of such offering, which will be borne
|
|
entirely by the Fund. The sale of Common Shares by the Fund (or the
|
|
perception that such sales may occur) may have an adverse effect on
|
|
prices of Common Shares in the secondary market. An increase in the
|
|
number of Common Shares available may put downward pressure on
|
|
the market price for Common Shares. The Fund may, from time to
|
|
time, seek the consent of holders of Common Shares to permit the
|
|
issuance and sale by the Fund of Common Shares at a price below the
|
|
Fund’s then current NAV, subject to certain conditions, and such sales
|
|
of Common Shares at price below NAV, if any, may increase downward
|
|
pressure on the market price for Common Shares. These sales, if any,
|
|
also might make it more difficult for the Fund to sell additional
|
|
Common Shares in the future at a time and price it deems appropriate.
|
|
|
|
Whether Common Shareholder will realize a gain or loss upon the sale
|
|
of Common Shares depends upon whether the market value of the
|
|
Common Shares at the time of sale is above or below the price the
|
|
Common Shareholder paid, taking into account transaction costs for
|
|
the Common Shares, and is not directly dependent upon the Fund’s
|
|
NAV. Because the market value of the Common Shares will be
|
|
determined by factors such as the relative demand for and supply of
|
|
the shares in the market, general market conditions and other factors
|
|
outside the Fund’s control, the Fund cannot predict whether the
|
|
Common Shares will trade at, below or above NAV, or at, below or
|
|
above the public offering price for the Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
Dilution Risk. The voting power of current Common Shareholders will be
|
|
diluted to the extent that current Common Shareholders do not purchase
|
|
Common Shares in any future offerings of Common Shares or do not
|
|
purchase sufficient Common Shares to maintain their percentage interest.
|
|
If the Fund is unable to invest the proceeds of such offering as intended,
|
|
the Fund’s per Common Share distribution may decrease and the Fund
|
|
may not participate in market advances to the same extent as if such
|
|
proceeds were fully invested as planned. If the Fund sells Common
|
|
Shares at a price below NAV pursuant to the consent of holders of
|
|
Common Shares, shareholders will experience a dilution of the aggregate
|
|
NAV per Common Share because the sale price will be less than the
|
|
Fund’s then-current NAV per Common Share. This dilution will be
|
|
experienced by all shareholders, irrespective of whether they purchase
|
|
Common Shares in any such offering. See “Description of Capital
|
|
Structure—Common Shares—Issuance of Additional Common Shares.”
|
|
|
|
Other Investment Companies Risk. The Fund may invest in securities
|
|
of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including
|
|
exchange-traded funds. As a stockholder in an investment company,
|
|
the Fund would bear its ratable share of that investment company’s
|
|
expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s
|
|
investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested.
|
|
Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative
|
|
expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies.
|
|
In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be
|
|
leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks
|
|
described in this Prospectus.
|
|
|
|
Royalty Trust Risk. Royalty trusts are, in some respects, similar to
|
|
certain MLPs and include risks similar to those MLPs, including
|
|
commodity price volatility risk, cash flow risk and depletion risk.
|
|
|
|
Financial Leverage Risk. Although the use of Financial Leverage by
|
|
the Fund may create an opportunity for increased after-tax total return
|
|
for the Common Shares, it also results in additional risks and can
|
|
magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and gains earned on
|
|
securities purchased with Financial Leverage proceeds are greater than
|
|
the cost of Financial Leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if
|
|
Financial Leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or
|
|
gains from the securities purchased with such proceeds does not cover
|
|
the cost of Financial Leverage, the return to the Fund will be less than
|
|
if Financial Leverage had not been used.
|
|
|
|
Financial Leverage involves risks and special considerations for
|
|
shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset
|
|
value, market price and dividends on the Common Shares than a
|
|
comparable portfolio without leverage; the risk that fluctuations in
|
|
interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the dividend rates
|
|
on any Financial Leverage that the Fund must pay will reduce the
|
|
return to the Common Shareholders; and the effect of Financial
|
|
Leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater
|
|
decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares than if the Fund
|
|
were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market
|
|
price of the Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
It is also possible that the Fund will be required to sell assets, possibly
|
|
at a loss (or at a gain which could give rise to corporate level tax), in
|
|
order to redeem or meet payment obligations on any leverage. Such a
|
|
sale would reduce the Fund’s net asset value and also make it difficult
|
|
for the net asset value to recover. The Fund in its best judgment
|
|
nevertheless may determine to continue to use Financial Leverage if it
|
|
expects that the benefits to the Fund’s shareholders of maintaining the
|
|
leveraged position will outweigh the current reduced return.
|
|
|
|
Certain types of Borrowings subject the Fund to covenants in credit
|
|
agreements relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition
|
|
requirements. Certain Borrowings issued by the Fund also may subject
|
|
the Fund to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines
|
|
of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for such
|
|
Borrowings. Such guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio
|
|
composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed
|
|
by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines
|
|
will impede the Sub-Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in
|
|
accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
|
|
|
|
Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that the interest
|
|
income earned on the investment of the proceeds will be less than the
|
|
interest expense and Fund expenses associated with the repurchase
|
|
agreement, that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund
|
|
may decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to
|
|
repurchase such securities and that the securities may not be returned
|
|
to the Fund. There is no assurance that reverse repurchase agreements
|
|
can be successfully employed. In connection with reverse repurchase
|
|
agreements, the Fund will also be subject to counterparty risk with
|
|
respect to the purchaser of the securities. If the broker/dealer to whom
|
|
the Fund sells securities becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to
|
|
purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted.
|
|
|
|
Because the fees received by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are based on
|
|
the Managed Assets of the Fund (including the proceeds of any Financial
|
|
Leverage), the Adviser and Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the
|
|
Fund to utilize Financial Leverage, which may create a conflict of interest
|
|
between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and the Common
|
|
Shareholders. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be
|
|
successful during any period during which it is employed.
|
|
|
|
Competition Risk. Since the time of the Fund’s initial public offering a
|
|
number of alternative vehicles for investment in a portfolio of MLPs
|
|
and their affiliates, including other publicly traded investment
|
|
companies and private funds, have emerged. In addition, recent tax law
|
|
changes have increased the ability of regulated investment companies
|
|
or other institutions to invest in MLPs. These competitive conditions
|
|
may adversely impact the Fund’s ability to meet its investment
|
|
objective, which in turn could adversely impact its ability to make
|
|
dividend payments.
|
|
|
|
Affiliated Transaction Restrictions Risk. From time to time, the Fund
|
|
may “control” or may be an “affiliate” of, each as defined in the 1940
|
|
Act, one or more portfolio companies. In general, under the 1940 Act,
|
|
the Fund would “control” a portfolio company if it owned 25% or more
|
|
of its outstanding voting securities and would be an “affiliate” of a
|
|
portfolio company if it owned 5% or more of its outstanding voting
|
|
securities. The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating
|
|
to transactions between investment companies and their affiliates
|
|
(including the Adviser and Sub-Adviser), principal underwriters and
|
|
affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters. Under these restrictions, the
|
|
Fund and any portfolio company that the Fund controls are generally
|
|
prohibited from knowingly participating in a joint transaction,
|
|
including co-investments in a portfolio company, with an affiliated
|
|
person, including any trustees or officers of the Fund, the Adviser or
|
|
Sub-Adviser or any entity controlled or advised by any of them. These
|
|
restrictions also generally prohibit the Fund’s affiliates, principal
|
|
underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters from
|
|
knowingly purchasing from or selling to the Fund or any portfolio
|
|
company controlled by the Fund certain securities or other property and
|
|
from lending to and borrowing from the Fund or any portfolio company
|
|
controlled by the Fund monies or other properties. The Fund and its
|
|
affiliates may be precluded from co-investing in private placements of
|
|
securities, including in any portfolio companies controlled by the Fund.
|
|
The Fund, its affiliates and portfolio companies controlled by the Fund
|
|
may from time to time engage in certain joint transactions, purchases,
|
|
sales and loans in reliance upon and in compliance with the conditions
|
|
of certain positions promulgated by the SEC. There can be no
|
|
assurance that the Fund would be able to satisfy these conditions with
|
|
respect to any particular transaction. As a result of these prohibitions,
|
|
restrictions may be imposed on the size of positions or the type of
|
|
investments that the Fund could make.
|
|
|
|
Risks Associated with Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Adviser and
|
|
Sub-Adviser. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser provide a wide array of
|
|
portfolio management and other asset management services to a mix of
|
|
clients and may engage in ordinary course activities in which their
|
|
respective interests or those of their clients may compete or conflict with
|
|
those of the Fund. For example, the Sub-Adviser may provide investment
|
|
management services to other funds and accounts that follow investment
|
|
objectives similar to that of the Fund. In certain circumstances, and
|
|
subject to its fiduciary obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of
|
|
1940, the Sub-Adviser may have to allocate a limited investment
|
|
opportunity among its clients, which include closed-end funds, open-end
|
|
funds, other commingled funds and other accounts. The Adviser and Sub-
|
|
Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to address such
|
|
situations and other potential conflicts of interests.
|
|
|
|
Delay in Investing the Proceeds of this Offering Risk. Although the
|
|
Fund currently intends to invest the proceeds from any sale of the
|
|
Common Shares offered hereby as soon as practicable following the
|
|
completion of such offering, such investments may be delayed if
|
|
suitable investments are unavailable at the time. The trading market
|
|
and volumes for MLP entities and energy company shares may at
|
|
times be less liquid than the market for other securities. Prior to the
|
|
time the proceeds of this offering are invested, such proceeds may be
|
|
invested in cash, cash equivalents or other securities, pending
|
|
investment in MLP entities or energy company securities. Income
|
|
received by the Fund from these securities would subject the Fund to
|
|
corporate tax before any payment of distributions to Common
|
|
Shareholders. As a result, the return and yield on the Common
|
|
Shares following any offering pursuant to this Prospectus may be
|
|
lower than when the Fund is fully invested in accordance with its
|
|
objective and policies. See “Use of Proceeds.”
|
|
|
|
Non-Diversified Status Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified investment
|
|
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
|
|
“1940 Act”) and will not elect to be treated as a regulated investment
|
|
company under the Code. As a result, there are no regulatory
|
|
requirements under the 1940 Act or the Code that limit the proportion
|
|
of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in securities of a single issue.
|
|
Accordingly, the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in a
|
|
more limited number of issuers than a diversified fund. There are a
|
|
limited number of publicly traded MLPs. The Fund will select its
|
|
investments in MLPs from this small pool of issuers together with
|
|
securities issued by any newly public MLPs, and will invest in
|
|
securities of other MLP entities and securities of issuers other than
|
|
MLP entities, consistent with its investment objective and policies. An
|
|
investment in the Fund may present greater risk to an investor than an
|
|
investment in a diversified portfolio because changes in the financial
|
|
condition or market assessment of a single issuer may cause greater
|
|
fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it
|
|
is an actively managed portfolio. In acting as the Fund’s sub-adviser,
|
|
responsible for management of the Fund’s portfolio securities, the
|
|
Sub-Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in
|
|
making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no
|
|
guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
|
|
|
|
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk. Continuing U.S. military
|
|
operations and instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the
|
|
United States and around the world have contributed to increased
|
|
market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and
|
|
worldwide financial markets and may cause further economic
|
|
uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. The
|
|
Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not know how long the financial markets
|
|
will continue to be affected by these events and cannot predict the
|
|
effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. and global
|
|
economies and securities markets. Global political and economic
|
|
instability could affect the operations of MLP entities and other
|
|
companies in the energy and natural resources sectors in unpredictable
|
|
ways, including through disruptions of natural resources supplies and
|
|
markets and the resulting volatility in commodity prices. Recent
|
|
political and military instability in a variety of countries throughout the
|
|
Middle East and North Africa has heightened these risks.
|
|
|
|
Risks Associated with Recent Market and Economic Developments.
|
|
Global financial markets have experienced periods of unprecedented
|
|
turmoil. The debt and equity capital markets in the United States were
|
|
negatively impacted by significant write-offs in the financial services
|
|
sector relating to subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk
|
|
in the broader market, among other things. These events contributed
|
|
to severe market volatility and caused severe liquidity strains in the
|
|
credit markets.
|
|
|
|
Recently markets have witnessed more stabilized economic activity as
|
|
expectations for an economic recovery increased. However, a return to
|
|
unfavorable economic conditions or sustained economic slowdown
|
|
may place downward pressure on oil and natural gas prices and may
|
|
adversely affect the ability of MLPs to sustain their historical
|
|
distribution levels, which in turn, may adversely affect the Fund.
|
|
Volatile financial markets can expose the Fund to greater market and
|
|
liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments
|
|
held by the Fund.
|
|
|
|
Additionally, the Federal Reserve has begun to reduce, with a view
|
|
toward eventually eliminating, its bond-buying program known as
|
|
“quantitative easing.” While such tapering is one indicator of the
|
|
Federal Reserve’s views as to the strength of the U.S. economy, the
|
|
anticipation of such tapering in the past has led to market volatility,
|
|
and such anticipation, or actual additional tapering, in the future may
|
|
lead to additional market volatility and rising interest rates.
|
|
|
|
Legal and Regulatory Risk. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
|
|
Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into
|
|
law in July 2010, has resulted in significant revisions to the U.S. financial
|
|
regulatory framework. The Dodd-Frank Act covers a broad range of
|
|
topics, including, among many others, a reorganization of federal
|
|
financial regulators; a process designed to ensure financial system
|
|
stability and the resolution of potentially insolvent financial firms; new
|
|
rules for derivatives trading; the creation of a consumer financial
|
|
protection watchdog; the registration and regulation of managers of
|
|
private funds; the regulation of credit rating agencies; and new federal
|
|
requirements for residential mortgage loans. The regulation of various
|
|
types of derivative instruments pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act may
|
|
adversely affect MLPs and other issuers in which the Fund invests that
|
|
utilize derivatives strategies for hedging or other purposes. The ultimate
|
|
impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, and resulting regulation, is not yet certain
|
|
and issuers in which the Fund invests may also be affected by the new
|
|
legislation and regulation in ways that are currently unforeseeable.
|
|
|
|
On December 11, 2015, the SEC published a proposed rule that, if
|
|
adopted, would change the regulation of the use of derivative
|
|
instruments and financial commitment transactions by registered
|
|
investment companies. The SEC sought public comments on numerous
|
|
aspects of the proposed rule, and as a result the nature of any final
|
|
regulations is uncertain at this time. Such regulations could limit the
|
|
implementation of the Fund’s use of derivatives and reverse repurchase
|
|
agreement transactions and impose additional compliance costs on the
|
|
Fund, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund.
|
|
|
|
Certain lawmakers support an increase in federal revenue as a
|
|
component of a plan to address the growing federal budget deficit.
|
|
Also, comprehensive federal tax reform is the subject of political
|
|
attention. There can be no assurance that any change in federal tax
|
|
law will not adversely affect MLPs and other issuers in which the
|
|
Fund invests or the Fund itself.
|
|
|
|
At any time after the date of this Prospectus, legislation may be enacted
|
|
that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund. Legislation or
|
|
regulation may change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. The
|
|
Adviser and the Sub-Adviser cannot predict the effects of any new
|
|
governmental regulation that may be implemented, and there can be no
|
|
assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect
|
|
the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
|
Anti-Takeover Provisions in the
|
|
Fund’s Governing Documents
|
The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Bylaws (the
|
|
“Governing Documents”) include provisions that could limit the ability
|
|
of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the
|
|
Fund to an open-end fund. These provisions could have the effect of
|
|
depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their
|
|
Common Shares at a premium over the then-current market price of the
|
|
Common Shares. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the
|
|
Fund’s Governing Documents” and “Risks—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”
|
Custodian, Administrator and
|
|
Transfer Agent
|
The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the custodian of the Fund’s
|
|
assets pursuant to a custody agreement. Under the custody agreement,
|
|
the custodian holds the Fund’s assets in compliance with the 1940 Act.
|
|
For its services, the custodian will receive a monthly fee based upon,
|
|
among other things, the average value of the total assets of the Fund,
|
|
plus certain charges for securities transactions.
|
|
|
|
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC serves as the Fund’s,
|
|
dividend disbursing agent, agent under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend
|
|
Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan Agent”), transfer agent and registrar with
|
|
respect to the Common Shares of the Fund.
|
|
|
|
Rydex Fund Services, LLC, an affiliate of Guggenheim Funds
|
|
Investment Advisors, LLC, serves as the Fund’s administrator. Pursuant
|
|
to an administration agreement, Rydex Fund Services, LLC provides
|
|
certain administrative services to the Fund. Pursuant to a fund
|
|
accounting agreement, Rydex Fund Services, LLC is responsible for
|
|
maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s securities and cash.
|
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table contains information about the costs and expenses that Common Shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. The table is based on the capital structure of the Fund as of November 30, 2015 (except as noted below). The purpose of the table and the example below is to help you understand the fees and expenses that you, as a holder of Common Shares, would bear directly or indirectly.
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
|
|
|
|
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
— |
%(1) |
Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
— |
%(1)(2) |
Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees(3)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of Net Assets
|
Annual Expenses
|
Attributable to Common Shares(4)
|
Management Fees (5)(6)
|
1.50%
|
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds (7)
|
0.48%
|
Other Expenses (8)
|
0.15%
|
Current Income Tax Expense
|
1.63%
|
Deferred Income Tax Expense/Benefit (9)
|
0.0%
|
Total Annual Expenses
|
3.76%
|
________________
(1)
|
If Common Shares to which this Prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters, the Prospectus
|
|
Supplement will set forth any applicable sales load and the estimated offering expenses borne by the Fund.
|
|
|
(2)
|
The Adviser has incurred on behalf of the Fund all costs associated with the Fund’s registration statement
|
|
and any offerings pursuant to such registration statement. The Fund has agreed, in connection with any
|
|
offering, to reimburse the Adviser for offering expenses incurred by the Adviser on the Fund’s behalf in an
|
|
amount up to the lesser of the Fund’s actual offering costs or 0.60% of the total offering price of the
|
|
Common Shares sold in such offering.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Common Shareholders will pay brokerage charges if they direct the Plan Agent to sell Common Shares held
|
|
in a dividend reinvestment account. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
|
|
|
(4)
|
Based upon net assets attributable to common shares as of November 30, 2015.
|
|
|
(5)
|
The Fund pays the Adviser an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.00% of the Fund’s
|
|
average daily Managed Assets (net assets plus any assets attributable to Financial Leverage). The fee
|
|
shown above is based upon outstanding Financial Leverage of 331/3% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. If
|
|
Financial Leverage of more than 331/3% of the Fund’s Managed Assets is used, the management fees
|
|
shown would be higher.
|
|
|
(6)
|
The Adviser has agreed to waive the advisory fees payable with respect to the assets attributable to
|
|
Common Shares issued pursuant to the Fund’s shelf registration statement (including Common Shares
|
|
issued pursuant to this Prospectus) for the first three months after such Common Shares are issued and to
|
|
waive half the advisory fees payable with respect to the assets attributable to such Common Shares for the
|
|
subsequent three months.
|
|
|
(7)
|
Based upon the Fund’s outstanding Borrowings as of November 30, 2015 of approximately $263 million and
|
|
the borrowing rate on the facility as of November 30, 2015, of 1.37%. The Fund has entered into a
|
|
committed facility agreement with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., pursuant to which the Fund may
|
|
borrow up to $325 million.
|
|
|
(8)
|
Other expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Other expenses do not include
|
|
expense related to realized or unrealized investment gains or losses.
|
(9)
|
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, the Fund accrued approximately $203 million in net deferred
|
|
tax benefit primarily related to unrealized depreciation on investments. Deferred income tax expense/benefit
|
|
represents an estimate of the Fund’s potential tax expense/benefit if it were to recognize the unrealized
|
|
gains/losses on portfolio assets that occurred during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, based on the
|
|
market value and basis of the Fund’s assets as of November 30, 2015.
|
Example
As required by relevant Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, the following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Shares, assuming (1) “Total annual expenses” of 3.76% (excluding the Fund’s estimate of Deferred Income Tax Expense/Benefit for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015) of net assets attributable to Common Shares and (2) a 5% annual return*:
|
Cumulative Expenses Paid for the Period of:
|
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Total Expenses paid by Common Shareholders (1)
|
$38
|
$115
|
$194
|
$400
|
(1)
|
The example above does not include sales loads or estimated offering costs.
|
|
*
|
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses or returns. Actual expenses
|
|
may be higher or lower than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be higher or
|
|
lower than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. The example assumes that the estimated “Other
|
|
expenses” set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are
|
|
reinvested at net asset value.
|
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance. The information in this table for the past five years is derived from the Fund’s financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, whose report on such financial statements, together with the financial statements of the Fund, are included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended November 30, 2015, and are incorporated by reference into the SAI.
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Per share operating performance for a share
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
outstanding throughout the period
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
|
$ |
26.73 |
|
|
$ |
24.60 |
|
|
$ |
20.96 |
|
|
$ |
20.17 |
|
|
$ |
19.69 |
|
Income from investment operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss (a) (b) (g)
|
|
|
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
(0.25 |
) |
|
|
(0.25 |
) |
|
|
(0.23 |
) |
|
|
(0.24 |
) |
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss (b)
|
|
|
(9.17 |
) |
|
|
4.06 |
|
|
|
5.54 |
|
|
|
2.53 |
|
|
|
2.11 |
|
Total from investment operations
|
|
|
(9.28 |
) |
|
|
3.81 |
|
|
|
5.29 |
|
|
|
2.30 |
|
|
|
1.87 |
|
Common shares’ offering expenses charged to paid-in capital
|
|
|
(0.00 |
)* |
|
|
(0.00 |
)* |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
– |
|
Distributions to Common Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return of capital (c)
|
|
|
(1.71 |
) |
|
|
(1.68 |
) |
|
|
(1.63 |
) |
|
|
(1.50 |
) |
|
|
(1.39 |
) |
Net asset value, end of period
|
|
$ |
15.74 |
|
|
$ |
26.73 |
|
|
$ |
24.60 |
|
|
$ |
20.96 |
|
|
$ |
20.17 |
|
Market value, end of period
|
|
$ |
13.76 |
|
|
$ |
27.51 |
|
|
$ |
25.11 |
|
|
$ |
22.03 |
|
|
$ |
21.71 |
|
Total investment return (d)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value
|
|
|
-36.06 |
% |
|
|
15.61 |
% |
|
|
25.72 |
% |
|
|
11.69 |
% |
|
|
9.60 |
% |
Market value
|
|
|
-45.44 |
% |
|
|
16.58 |
% |
|
|
21.66 |
% |
|
|
8.93 |
% |
|
|
10.73 |
% |
Ratios and supplemental data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
|
|
$ |
528,392 |
|
|
$ |
891,626 |
|
|
$ |
800,228 |
|
|
$ |
570,127 |
|
|
$ |
494,532 |
|
Ratios of net expenses to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Including current and deferred income taxes
|
|
|
(23.57 |
)% |
|
|
10.58 |
% |
|
|
13.09 |
% |
|
|
9.98 |
% |
|
|
9.36 |
% |
Excluding current and deferred income taxes (f)
|
|
|
2.01 |
% |
|
|
1.79 |
% |
|
|
1.77 |
% |
|
|
1.99 |
% |
|
|
2.06 |
% |
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss, excluding current and deferred income taxes
|
|
|
(0.78 |
)% |
|
|
(1.54 |
)% |
|
|
(1.63 |
)% |
|
|
(1.96 |
)% |
|
|
(2.06 |
)% |
Net investment loss, including current and deferred income taxes
|
|
|
24.80 |
% |
|
|
(10.33 |
)% |
|
|
(12.95 |
)% |
|
|
(9.96 |
)% |
|
|
(9.36 |
)% |
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
|
|
17 |
% |
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
30 |
% |
|
|
18 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
Senior Indebtedness
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total borrowings outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
$ |
263,000 |
|
|
$ |
290,000 |
|
|
$ |
259,000 |
|
|
$ |
190,000 |
|
|
$ |
190,000 |
|
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness (e)
|
|
$ |
3,009 |
|
|
$ |
4,075 |
|
|
$ |
4,090 |
|
|
$ |
4,001 |
|
|
$ |
3,603 |
|
|
|
(footnotes on following page)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(financial highlights, cont.)
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
|
For the
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
$ |
15.00 |
|
|
$ |
12.09 |
|
|
$ |
23.11 |
|
|
$ |
22.49 |
|
|
$ |
19.78 |
|
|
|
|
(0.22 |
) |
|
|
(0.26 |
) |
|
|
(0.42 |
) |
|
|
(0.40 |
) |
|
|
(0.20 |
) |
|
6.27 |
|
|
|
4.58 |
|
|
|
(9.13 |
) |
|
|
2.39 |
|
|
|
4.16 |
|
|
6.05 |
|
|
|
4.32 |
|
|
|
(9.55 |
) |
|
|
1.99 |
|
|
|
3.96 |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.00 |
)* |
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
|
(1.34 |
) |
|
|
(1.41 |
) |
|
|
(1.47 |
) |
|
|
(1.37 |
) |
|
|
(1.25 |
) |
$ |
19.69 |
|
|
$ |
15.00 |
|
|
$ |
12.09 |
|
|
$ |
23.11 |
|
|
$ |
22.49 |
|
$ |
20.96 |
|
|
$ |
16.24 |
|
|
$ |
11.42 |
|
|
$ |
22.66 |
|
|
$ |
21.87 |
|
|
|
|
41.57 |
% |
|
|
38.03 |
% |
|
|
-43.55 |
% |
|
|
8.53 |
% |
|
|
20.70 |
% |
|
38.56 |
% |
|
|
57.32 |
% |
|
|
-45.67 |
% |
|
|
9.70 |
% |
|
|
29.68 |
% |
|
|
$ |
479,171 |
|
|
$ |
282,089 |
|
|
$ |
221,155 |
|
|
$ |
418,438 |
|
|
$ |
406,295 |
|
|
|
|
24.45 |
% |
|
|
26.32 |
% |
|
|
(28.34 |
)% |
|
|
9.40 |
% |
|
|
16.89 |
% |
|
2.08 |
% |
|
|
2.99 |
% |
|
|
3.62 |
% |
|
|
3.75 |
% |
|
|
3.86 |
% |
|
|
|
(2.04 |
)% |
|
|
(3.37 |
)% |
|
|
(3.54 |
)% |
|
|
(2.75 |
)% |
|
|
(1.62 |
)% |
|
(24.41 |
)% |
|
|
(26.70 |
)% |
|
|
28.42 |
% |
|
|
(8.40 |
)% |
|
|
(14.66 |
)% |
|
15 |
% |
|
|
30 |
% |
|
|
22 |
% |
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
$ |
170,000 |
|
|
$ |
110,263 |
|
|
$ |
72,263 |
|
|
$ |
175,000 |
|
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
$ |
3,819 |
|
|
$ |
3,558 |
|
|
$ |
4,060 |
|
|
$ |
3,391 |
|
|
$ |
3,709 |
|
________________
*
|
Less than $0.005
|
(a) |
Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
|
(b) |
The character of dividends received for each period is based upon estimates made at the time the distribution was received. Any necessary adjustments are |
|
reflected in the following fiscal year when the actual character is known.
|
(c) |
For the years ended November 30, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, approximately $1.36, $1.23, $1.52, $0.88, $1.02 and $1.34 per common share
|
|
represents qualified dividend income for federal income tax purposes, respectively. The remaining distributions represent return of capital for federal income
|
|
tax purposes. For GAAP purposes, all of the distributions were considered return of capital.
|
(d) |
Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the beginning of the period and a sale on the last day of the period reported
|
|
either at net asset value ("NAV") or market price per share. Dividends and distributions are assumed to be reinvested at NAV for NAV returns or the prices
|
|
obtained under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan for market value returns. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions. A return
|
|
calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.
|
(e) |
Calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities (not including the borrowings) from the Fund's total assets and dividing by the total borrowings.
|
(f)
|
Excluding current and deferred income taxes and interest expense the net operating expense ratio for the years ended November 30 would be:
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
1.53%
|
1.42%
|
1.38%
|
1.49%
|
1.57%
|
1.52%
|
1.76%
|
1.79%
|
1.62%
|
1.69%
|
DEFERRED INCOME TAX EXPENSE
The annual expense table set forth under “Summary of Fund Expenses” includes an estimate of deferred income tax expenses. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, the Fund accrued approximately $203 million in net deferred tax benefit primarily related to unrealized depreciation on investments. Of the $203 million, all of the deferred income tax benefit represents an estimate of the Fund’s potential tax expense if it were to recognize the unrealized gains/losses on portfolio assets that occurred during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, based on the market value and basis of the Fund’s assets as of November 30, 2015. An estimate of deferred income tax expense/(benefit) is dependent upon the Fund’s net investment gains/losses and realized and unrealized gains/losses on investments and such expenses may vary greatly from year to year depending on the nature of the Fund’s investments, the performance of those investments and general market conditions. Therefore, any estimate of deferred income tax expense/(benefit) cannot be reliably predicted from year to year. Actual income tax expense (if any) will be incurred over many years, depending on if and when investment gains/losses are realized, the then-current basis of the Fund’s assets, the level of net loss carry-forwards and other factors. The Fund’s deferred income tax expense/(benefit) for the current fiscal year or any future fiscal year may vary greatly from the deferred income tax expense estimated based on the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015. The Fund’s deferred income tax expense/(benefit) as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares at the end of each fiscal year, from inception through November 30, 2015, has been as follows:
|
|
|
Deferred Income Tax
|
|
Expense/(Benefit)
|
Period December 28, 2004 (commencement of operations)
|
|
through November 30, 2005
|
5.52%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2006
|
11.91%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2007
|
5.81%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2008
|
(52.31)%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2009
|
19.49%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2010
|
16.89%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2011
|
6.59%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2012
|
6.27%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2013
|
5.98%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2014
|
8.54%
|
|
Year ended November 30, 2015
|
(38.40)%
|
|
The table set forth below presents the Fund’s annual operating expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to Common Shares, excluding Deferred Income Tax Expense/Benefit.
|
Percentage of Net Assets
|
|
Annual Expenses Attributable
|
|
to Common Shares
|
Management Fees
|
1.50%
|
|
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds
|
0.48%
|
|
Other Expenses
|
0.15%
|
|
Current Income Tax Expense
|
1.63%
|
|
Total Annual Expenses (Excluding
|
|
Deferred Income Tax Expense)
|
3.76%
|
|
SENIOR SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information about the Fund’s outstanding senior securities as of the end of each fiscal year since its inception:
|
|
|
Asset Coverage Per
|
|
|
Total Principal
|
$1,000 of
|
Fiscal Period Ended
|
Title of Security
|
Amount Outstanding
|
Principal Amount
|
November 30, 2005
|
Borrowings
|
$150,000,000
|
$3,383
|
November 30, 2006
|
Borrowings
|
$150,000,000
|
$3,709
|
November 30, 2007
|
Borrowings
|
$175,000,000
|
$3,391
|
November 30, 2008
|
Borrowings
|
$72,262,708
|
$4,060
|
November 30, 2009
|
Borrowings
|
$110,262,708
|
$3,558
|
November 30, 2010
|
Borrowings
|
$170,000,000
|
$3,819
|
November 30, 2011
|
Borrowings
|
$190,000,000
|
$3,603
|
November 30, 2012
|
Borrowings
|
$190,000,000
|
$4,001
|
November 30, 2013
|
Borrowings
|
$259,000,000
|
$4,090
|
November 30, 2014
|
Borrowings
|
$290,000,000
|
$4,075
|
November 30, 2015
|
Borrowings
|
$263,000,000
|
$3,009
|
THE FUND
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund was organized as a statutory trust on October 4, 2004 pursuant to a Certificate of Trust and is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund commenced investment operations on December 28, 2004. The Fund’s principal office is located at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (312) 827-0100. Except as otherwise noted, all percentage limitations set forth in this Prospectus apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations does not require any action.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”), the Fund intends to invest the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares in accordance with its investment objective and policies as stated herein. It is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares in accordance with its investment objective and policies within three months after the completion of such offering. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in cash, cash equivalents or other securities, including U.S. government securities or high quality, short-term debt securities. The Fund may also use the proceeds for working capital purposes, including the payment of distributions, interest and operating expenses, although the Fund currently has no intent to issue Common Shares primarily for this purpose.
On June 20, 2013, the Fund registered $268,593,405 aggregate initial offering price of Common Shares pursuant to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has sold 2,850,000 Common Shares in an underwritten offering at an aggregate offering price of $71,848,500 and 1,372,935 Common Shares in an at-the-market offering at an aggregate offering price of $35,219,334. As a result, up to $161,525,571 aggregate offering price of Common Shares remain available for subsequent offerings under this Prospectus.
MARKET AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION
The Fund’s currently outstanding Common Shares are, and the Common Shares offered by this Prospectus, will be, subject to notice of issuance, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The Fund’s Common Shares commenced trading on the NYSE on December 28, 2004.
The Common Shares have traded both at a premium and at a discount in relation to the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share. Although the Common Shares recently have traded at a premium to NAV, there can be no assurance that this will continue after the offering nor that the Common Shares will not trade at a discount in the future. The continued development of alternative vehicles for investment in a portfolio of securities of MLP entities (as defined in this Prospectus), including other publicly traded investment companies and private funds, may reduce or eliminate any tendency of the Common Shares to trade at a premium in the future. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The Fund’s NAV will be reduced immediately following an offering of the Common Shares due to the costs of such offering, which will be borne entirely by the Fund. The sale of Common Shares by the Fund (or the perception that such sales may occur) may have an adverse effect on prices of Common Shares in the secondary market. An increase in the number of Common Shares available may put downward pressure on the market price for Common Shares. See “Risks—Market Discount Risk.”
The following table sets forth, for each of the periods indicated, the high and low closing market prices for the Common Shares on the NYSE, the NAV per Common Share and the premium or discount to net asset value per Common Share at which the Common Shares were trading. NAV is generally determined on each Tuesday that the NYSE is open for business and the last business day of each calendar month. See “Net Asset Value” for information as to the determination of the Fund’s NAV.
|
|
|
NAV per Common
|
Premium/(Discount) on
|
|
NYSE Market
|
Share on Date of Market
|
Date of Market Price
|
|
Price Per Share
|
Price High and Low(1)
|
High and Low(2)
|
During Quarter Ended
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
February 29, 2016
|
$13.78
|
$8.42
|
$15.45
|
$9.04
|
(4.84)%
|
(15.43)%
|
November 30, 2015
|
$20.19
|
$13.60
|
$19.37
|
$14.99
|
4.61%
|
(13.13)%
|
August 31, 2015
|
$21.85
|
$8.10
|
$24.90
|
$18.21
|
0.72%
|
(5.63)%
|
May 31, 2015
|
$26.50
|
$25.15
|
$25.74
|
$23.38
|
7.90%
|
(2.33)%
|
February 28, 2015
|
$26.66
|
$23.19
|
$26.48
|
$23.06
|
0.68%
|
(0.09)%
|
November 30, 2014
|
$28.90
|
$24.07
|
$29.17
|
$24.40
|
(0.93)%
|
(1.35)%
|
August 31, 2014
|
$28.89
|
$26.79
|
$29.19
|
$27.02
|
(1.03)%
|
(2.12)%
|
May 31, 2014
|
$27.29
|
$25.41
|
$27.08
|
$24.87
|
0.78%
|
1.32%
|
February 28, 2014
|
$25.84
|
$24.33
|
$25.38
|
$23.71
|
1.81%
|
2.61%
|
(1)
|
Based on the Fund’s computations.
|
(2)
|
Calculated based on the information presented. Percentages are rounded.
|
The last reported sale price, NAV per Common Share and percentage discount to NAV per Common Share on March 21, 2016 was $11.03, $12.08 and 8.69%, respectively. As of March 21, 2016, 33,572,117 Common Shares of the Fund were outstanding.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of after-tax total return with an emphasis on current distributions paid to shareholders. The “total return” sought by the Fund includes appreciation in the net asset value of the Fund’s Common Shares and all distributions made by the Fund to its Common Shareholders, regardless of the tax characterization of such distributions, including distributions characterized as return of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund has been structured to seek to provide an efficient vehicle through which Common Shareholders may invest in a portfolio of publicly traded securities of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and MLP Affiliates (as defined below) (collectively with MLPs, “MLP entities”). MLPs combine the tax benefits of limited partnerships with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. The Fund anticipates that a significant portion of the distributions received by the Fund from the MLPs in which it invests will consist of return of capital. If this expectation is not realized, the Fund will have a larger corporate income tax expense than expected, which will result in less cash available to distribute to Common Shareholders. While the Fund will generally seek to maximize the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of return of capital, no assurance can be given in this regard. For example, for the taxable year ended November 30, 2015, 78% of the distributions made by the Fund to the holders of Common Shares constituted taxable dividend income and 22% constituted return of capital.
The Fund’s investment objective is considered fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Portfolio Investment Parameters
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined herein) in MLP entities, and invests at least 65% of its Managed Assets in equity securities of MLP entities. “Managed Assets” of the Fund means the total assets of the Fund, including the assets attributable to the proceeds from any Financial Leverage, minus liabilities, other than liabilities related to any Financial Leverage. “MLP Affiliates” includes affiliates of MLPs that own primarily general partner interests or, in some cases, subordinated units, registered or unregistered common units, or other limited partner units in an MLP. “Equity securities” of MLP entities include MLP common units, MLP subordinated units, MLP preferred units, MLP general partner interests and equity securities of MLP Affiliates, including I-Shares. The market capitalization of equity securities of MLP entities currently ranges from approximately $50 million to $50 billion.
However, the Fund may invest in equity securities of MLP entities without regard for their market capitalization. A substantial portion of the MLP entities in which the Fund invests will be engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors of the economy. For as long as the word “MLP” is in the name of the Fund, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in MLP entities.
The Fund may also invest in common stocks of large capitalization companies, including companies engaged in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors. To seek to generate current income, the Fund may employ an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on common stocks held in the Fund’s portfolio.
The Fund may invest up to 40% of its Managed Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, which may consist of equity securities of MLP entities and other securities of public and non-public companies, provided that the Fund will not invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in restricted securities issued by non-public companies.
The Fund may invest a total of up to 25% of its Managed Assets in debt securities of MLP entities and other issuers, including debt securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”); BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”); comparably rated by another statistical rating organization; or, if unrated, as determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). The Fund will typically purchase below investment grade securities which, at the time of acquisition, are rated at least B3 by Moody’s; B- by S&P; comparably rated by another statistical rating organization; or, if unrated, determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality. The Fund may invest in debt securities without regard for their maturity.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in equity securities of issuers other than MLP entities.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets, at the time of purchase, in securities of any single issuer.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in royalty trusts.
These policies may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, but no change is anticipated. If the Fund’s policy with respect to investing at least 80% of the Managed Assets of the Fund in MLP entities changes, the Fund will provide shareholders at least 60 days’ notice before implementation of the change.
THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS
Master Limited Partnerships
An MLP is an entity receiving partnership taxation treatment under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and whose interests or “units” are traded on securities exchanges like shares of corporate stock. An MLP consists of a general partner and limited partners. The general partner manages the partnership; has an ownership stake in the partnership, typically a 2% general partner equity interest and usually additional common units and subordinated units; and is eligible to receive an incentive distribution. The limited partners provide capital to the partnership, have a limited (if any) role in the operation and management of the partnership, and receive cash distributions. An MLP typically pays an established minimum quarterly distribution to common unit holders. Common units have arrearage rights in distributions to the extent that the MLP fails to make minimum quarterly distributions. Once the MLP distributes the minimum quarterly distribution to common units, subordinated units then are entitled to receive distributions of up to the minimum quarterly distribution, but have no arrearage rights. Any distributable cash that exceeds the minimum quarterly distribution that the MLP distributed to the common and subordinated units is then distributed to both common and subordinated units, typically on a pro rata basis. An incentive distribution to the general partner provides that as the distribution increases, the general partner may receive a proportionately larger share of the total distribution. Incentive distributions are designed to encourage the general partner, who controls and operates the partnership, to maximize the partnership’s cash flow and increase distributions to the limited partners. To qualify as an MLP for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an entity must receive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from qualifying sources such as interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for the production of income described in the
foregoing and, in certain circumstances, income and gain from commodities or futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities. Mineral or natural resources activities include exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and transportation (including pipelines), of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal energy, fertilizer, timber or industrial source carbon dioxide. Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy, natural resources, or real estate sectors. Therefore, the Fund anticipates that a substantial portion of the MLP entities in which the Fund invests will be engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors. The Fund may, however, invest in MLP entities in any sector of the economy. Due to their partnership structure, MLPs generally do not pay income taxes. Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e., corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends on their shares of the MLP’s income).
Advantages of Investment in the Fund Over Direct Investment in MLPs
The Fund is structured to seek to provide an efficient vehicle through which the Fund’s shareholders may invest in a portfolio of publicly traded securities of MLP entities. An investment in the Fund offers investors several advantages as compared to direct investments in MLP entities, including the following:
|
The Fund allows shareholders to invest, through a single investment vehicle, in a portfolio that includes a number of MLP entities.
|
•
|
The Fund may purchase securities of MLP entities through direct placements. Purchasing restricted or unrestricted securities of MLP entities through direct placements may offer the potential for increased returns as compared to purchasing securities of MLP entities through open market transactions. Such opportunities, however, are typically available only to institutional investors, such as the Fund.
|
•
|
Common Shareholders will receive a single IRS Form 1099. Direct investors in MLPs receive an IRS Schedule K-1 from each MLP in which they are invested.
|
•
|
An investment in the Fund will not cause a shareholder to be required to file state income tax returns in any state in which such investor is not otherwise required to file a tax return. Direct investors in an MLP are considered limited partners of the MLP and may be required to file state income tax returns in each state in which the MLP operates.
|
•
|
Common Shareholders are not limited by the passive activity loss rules in their ability to use any losses resulting from their purchase and sale of Common Shares to offset other gains. The passive activity loss rules limit the ability of certain direct investors in MLPs to use their allocable share of any losses generated by an MLP.
|
•
|
For Common Shareholders who are tax-exempt investors, including employee benefit plans and IRA accounts, distributions received from the Fund will generally not be treated as unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) unless such investor’s Common Shares are debt-financed. Income received by tax-exempt investors directly from MLPs is generally treated as UBTI.
|
•
|
Subject to certain holding period and other requirements, distributions by the Fund that are taxable as dividends (i.e., distributions out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits) will be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and will be treated as “qualified dividend income” for shareholders taxed as individuals.
|
Common Shareholders bear the Fund’s operating costs, including management fees, custody and administration charges, and the costs of operating as an investment company.
Investment Philosophy
Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in securities of MLP entities that the Sub-Adviser believes offer attractive distribution rates and capital appreciation potential. A substantial portion of the MLP entities in which the Fund invests are engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors of the economy. The Sub-Adviser seeks to identify securities offering a combination of quality, growth and yield intended to produce superior total returns over the long run. The stock selection process employed by the Sub-Adviser includes consideration of quantitative, qualitative and relative value factors. The Sub-Adviser emphasizes proprietary analysis and valuation models constructed and maintained by its in-house investment analysts, while maintaining active dialogues with research analysts covering the MLP entities in
which the Fund invests. In applying its criteria, the Sub-Adviser considers a company’s proven track record, business prospects, strong record of distribution or dividend growth, ratios of debt to cash flow, coverage ratios with respect to distributions to unit holders, incentive structure and management team.
Portfolio Contents
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in securities of MLP entities that the Sub-Adviser believes offer attractive distribution rates and capital appreciation potential. The Fund may invest in other securities described below consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
MLP Equity Securities. Equity securities issued by MLPs currently consist of common units, subordinated units and preferred units.
MLP Common Units. MLP common units are typically listed and traded on national securities exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the American Stock Exchange (the “AMEX”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market (the “NASDAQ”). The Fund will typically purchase MLP common units through open market transactions, but may also acquire MLP common units through direct placements. Holders of MLP common units have limited control and voting rights. Holders of MLP common units are entitled to receive minimum quarterly distributions, including arrearage rights, from the MLP. Minimum quarterly distributions to holders of common units must be satisfied before any distributions may be paid to convertible subordinated unit holders or incentive distributions may be paid to the general partner. In the event of a liquidation, common unit holders have preference to the remaining assets of the MLP over subordinated units, but not over debt holders or preferred unit holders.
MLP Subordinated Units. MLP subordinated units are typically not listed on an exchange or publicly traded. The Fund will typically purchase MLP subordinated units through negotiated transactions directly with affiliates of MLPs and institutional holders of such units or will purchase newly issued subordinated units directly from MLPs. Holders of MLP subordinated units are entitled to receive minimum quarterly distributions after payments to holders of common units have been satisfied and prior to incentive distributions to the general partner. MLP subordinated units do not provide arrearage rights. Subordinated units typically have limited voting rights similar to common units. Most MLP subordinated units are convertible into common units after the passage of a specified period of time or upon the achievement by the MLP of specified financial goals.
MLP Preferred Units. MLP preferred units are typically not listed on an exchange or publicly traded. The Fund will typically purchase MLP preferred units through negotiated transactions directly with MLPs, affiliates of MLPs and institutional holders of such units. Holders of MLP preferred units can be entitled to a wide range of voting and other rights, depending on the structure of each separate security.
I-Shares. I-Shares represent an ownership interest issued by an MLP Affiliate. The MLP affiliate uses the proceeds from the sale of I-Shares to purchase limited partnership interests in the MLP in the form of I-units. Thus, I-Shares represent an indirect interest in MLP limited partnership interest. I-units have similar features as MLP common units in terms of voting rights, liquidation preference and distribution. I-Shares themselves have limited voting rights and are similar in that respect to MLP common units. I-Shares differ from MLP common units primarily in that instead of receiving cash distributions, holders of I-Shares will receive distributions of additional I-Shares, in an amount equal to the cash distributions received by common unit holders. I-Shares are traded on the NYSE or the AMEX.
General Partner Interests. General partner interests of MLPs are typically retained by the original sponsors of an MLP, such as its founders, corporate partners and entities that sell assets to the MLP. A holder of general partner interests can be liable in certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder’s investment in the general partner interest. General partner interests often confer direct board participation rights in, and in many cases control over, the operations of the MLP. General partner interests are not publicly traded, but may be owned by publicly traded entities. General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of an MLP’s aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner interests typically receive incentive distribution rights, which provide them with a larger proportionate share of the aggregate MLP cash distributions as the distributions increase. General partner interests generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unit holders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unit holders.
Equity Securities of Entities Related to MLPs and Other Equity Securities. The Fund may invest in (i) equity securities issued by MLP Affiliates, including general partners of MLPs, and (ii) equity securities of issuers other than MLP entities, including common stocks of issuers engaged primarily in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors. Such issuers may be organized and/or taxed as corporations and therefore may not offer the advantageous tax characteristics of MLP units. The Fund intends to purchase equity securities through market transactions, but may also acquire equity securities through direct placements.
Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its Managed Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities. “Restricted securities” are securities that are unregistered, held by control persons of the issuer or are subject to contractual restrictions on resale. The Fund will typically acquire restricted securities in directly negotiated transactions.
In connection with its investments in restricted securities, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in restricted securities issued by non-public companies. In some instances, such investments may be made with the expectation that the assets of such non-public company will be contributed to a newly-formed MLP entity or sold to or merged with an existing MLP entity in the future.
Debt Securities. The Fund may invest a total of up to 25% of its Managed Assets in debt securities of MLP entities and other issuers, including debt securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated Ba or lower by Moody’s, BB or lower by S&P, comparably rated by another statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, as determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality). The Fund may invest in debt securities which provide for fixed or variable principal payments and various types of interest rate and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, payment-in-kind and auction rate features. The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity. Certain bonds are “perpetual” in that they have no maturity date. The Fund will typically purchase below investment grade securities which, at the time of acquisition, are rated at least B3 by Moody’s, B- by S&P, comparably rated by another statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality. If a debt security purchased by the Fund, which satisfied the Fund’s minimum rating criteria at the time of purchase, is subsequently downgraded below such rating, the Fund will not be required to sell such security. In the event of a such a downgrade, the Sub-Adviser will consider what action to take in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
Royalty Trusts. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in royalty trusts. Royalty trusts are publicly traded investment vehicles that gather income on royalties and pay out almost all cash flows to shareholders as distributions. Royalty trusts typically have no physical operations and no management or employees. Typically royalty trusts own the rights to royalties on the production and sales of a natural resource, including oil, gas, minerals and timber. Royalty trusts are, in some respects, similar to certain MLPs and include risks similar to those MLPs.
Energy Sector Investments. Many MLP entities operate within the energy sector. Therefore, a substantial proportion of the MLP entities in which the Fund invests are concentrated in the energy sector of the economy. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector, in which the Fund may invest, engage in transporting, processing, storing, distributing or marketing natural gas, natural gas liquids (including propane), crude oil, refined petroleum products or coal, or exploring, developing, managing or producing such commodities or products.
Other Sectors Investments. The Fund may invest in MLP entities in the natural resources and real estate sectors and may invest in MLP entities operating in any other sector of the economy. MLP entities and other companies operating in the natural resources sector, include companies principally engaged in owning or developing non-energy natural resources (including timber and minerals) and industrial materials, or supplying goods or services to such companies. MLP entities and other companies operating in the real estate sector, include companies which may develop land, own or manage residential, commercial and undeveloped properties, own mortgage securities, and provide financing to owners and developers of multi-family housing or other real estate or building ventures.
Covered Call Option Strategy. The Fund may employ an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the securities, including common stock and MLP common units, in the Fund’s portfolio to seek to augment its income and gains by generating option premiums while possibly offsetting a portion of a market decline in the underlying security. The Fund may pursue such option strategy to a greater extent during the period in which the Fund is investing the proceeds from this offering in securities of MLP entities.
Call options are contracts representing the right to purchase a security at a specified price (the “strike price”) at or before (depending on the type of option) a specified future date (the “expiration date”). The price of the option is determined from trading activity in the broad options market, and generally reflects the relationship between the current market price for the underlying security and the strike price, as well as the time remaining until the expiration date. The Fund may write call options on securities (including those of MLP entities) and securities indices that are listed on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market.
The Fund will write call options and put options only if they are “covered.” In the case of a call option on a common stock, MLP unit or other security, the option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser (in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees) in such amount are segregated by the Fund’s custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser as described above. The Fund may not write (sell) “naked” call options, i.e. options representing more shares of the security than are held in the portfolio.
If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund must deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price at the time called for by the option. If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, underlying security, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund’s ability to close out over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss.
See “Investment Objective and Policies—Additional Information Regarding Options” in the SAI.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. Such investments in securities of foreign issuers may include investments in American Depositary Receipts, or “ADRs,” and may include unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts. ADRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market, in the United States or elsewhere.
Diversification. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets, at the time of purchase, in securities of any single issuer.
Temporary Defensive Investments
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in MLP entities and will invest at least 65% of its Managed Assets in equity securities of MLP entities. However, when a temporary defensive posture is believed by the Sub-Adviser to be warranted (“temporary defensive periods”), the Fund may, without limitation, hold cash or invest its assets in money market instruments and repurchase agreements in respect of those instruments. The money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated A-1 or higher by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s; and certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. During temporary defensive periods, the Fund may also invest, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in shares of money market mutual funds, which, under current law, in the absence of an exemptive order will not be affiliated with the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser. Money market mutual funds are investment companies, and the investments in those companies by the Fund are in some cases subject to certain fundamental investment restrictions and applicable law. See “Investment Restrictions” in the Fund’s SAI. As a shareholder in a mutual fund, the Fund will bear its ratable share of its expenses, including management fees, and will
remain subject to payment of the fees to the Adviser and Sub-Adviser, with respect to assets so invested. See “Management of the Fund.” The Fund may not achieve its investment objective during temporary defensive periods.
Certain Other Investment Practices
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. In addition to the covered call option strategy described above, the Fund may, but is not required, to utilize certain strategies for purposes such as seeking to hedge various market risks inherent in the Fund’s portfolio, to earn income, to manage the effective maturity or duration of income-producing securities in the Fund’s portfolio or in connection with the Fund’s utilization of Financial Leverage. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts. In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on individual securities, equity and fixed-income indices, interest rates, exchange-traded funds and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). Certain of these Strategic Transactions, such as options, futures contracts and swaps are described briefly below.
In addition to the covered call option strategy described above, the Fund may purchase or sell, i.e., write, options on securities (including those of MLP entities) and securities indices that are listed on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market, as a means of achieving additional return or of hedging the value of the Fund’s portfolio among other purposes.
The Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon which are traded on a commodities exchange or board of trade for certain hedging, yield enhancement and risk management purposes. A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell an agreed amount of securities or currencies at a set price for delivery in the future. These futures contracts and related options may be on debt securities, financial indices, securities indices or U.S. government securities.
The Fund may enter into swap transactions. A swap contract is an agreement between two parties pursuant to which the parties exchange payments at specified dates on the basis of a specified notional amount, with the payments calculated by reference to specified securities, indexes, reference rates, currencies or other instruments. Swap contracts are typically individually negotiated and structured to provide exposure to a variety of particular types of investments or market factors. To the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, the Fund is not limited to any particular form or variety of swap contract, including interest rate, total return, currency, credit default and other swaps. For more information about the Fund’s use of interest rate swaps and related transactions, see “Use of Financial Leverage—Interest Rate Transactions.”
In addition, Strategic Transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. New financial products continue to be developed and the Fund may invest in such products, or utilize new techniques or strategies, as they may be developed to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and regulatory and federal tax requirements applicable to the Fund. For example, to the extent new products are developed, the Fund could seek to obtain exposure to MLPs and MLP Affiliates through the use of options, swaps or other derivative instruments.
The Fund has not adopted a maximum percentage limit with respect to derivative investments. However, the Board of Trustees will receive regular reports from the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser regarding the Fund’s use of derivative instruments and the effect of derivative transactions on the management of the Fund’s portfolio and the performance of the Fund.
For a more complete discussion of the Fund’s investment practices involving Strategic Transactions in derivatives and certain other investment techniques, see “Investment Objective and Policies—Additional Information Regarding Options” and “Investment Objective and Policies—Other Derivative Instruments” in the Fund’s SAI.
When Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may enter into forward commitments for the purchase or sale of securities, including on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary settlement periods for the type of security involved. In some cases, a forward commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring, i.e., a when, as and if issued security. When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally a month
or more after the date of the commitment. While it will only enter into a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the security, the Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. Securities purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement date. The Fund will segregate with its custodian cash or liquid securities in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of its outstanding forward commitments.
Short Sales. Although the Fund has no present intention of doing so, the Fund is authorized to make short sales of securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. To the extent the Fund engages in short sales, the Fund will not make a short sale, if, after giving effect to such sale, the market value of all securities sold short exceeds 25% of the value of its Managed Assets. Also, the market value of the securities sold short of any one issuer will not exceed either 10% of the Fund’s Managed Assets or 5% of such issuer’s voting securities. The Fund may also make short sales “against the box” without respect to such limitations. In this type of short sale, at the time of the sale, the Fund owns, or has the immediate and unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost, the identical security. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss will be increased, by the transaction costs incurred by the Fund, including the costs associated with providing collateral to the broker-dealer (usually cash and liquid securities) and the maintenance of collateral with its custodian. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements may be seen as loans by the Fund collateralized by underlying debt securities. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund would acquire an underlying debt obligation for a relatively short period (usually not more than one week) subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and the Fund to resell, the obligation at an agreed price and time. This arrangement results in a fixed rate of return to the Fund that is not subject to market fluctuations during the holding period. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed in or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period in which it seeks to assert these rights. The Sub-Adviser, acting under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, reviews the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate these risks and monitors on an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject to repurchase agreements to ensure that the value is maintained at the required level. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or any of their affiliates.
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest up to 10% of the Fund’s Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Sub-Adviser generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds from this offering of Common Shares or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive securities available in the market. As a stockholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described in this Prospectus. As described in the section entitled “Risks,” the net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to holders of common stock in such leveraged investment companies will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
Loans of Portfolio Securities. To increase income, the Fund is permitted to lend its portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions if (i) the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and (ii) no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed 33% of the value of the Fund’s Managed Assets. If the borrower fails to maintain the requisite amount of collateral, the loan automatically terminates and the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over the value of the collateral. As with any extension of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. There
can be no assurance that borrowers will not fail financially. On termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund, and any gain or loss in the market price during the loan would inure to the Fund. If the other party to the loan petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss. The Fund has no present intention to lend its portfolio securities. See “Investment Objective and Policies—Loans of Portfolio Securities” in the Fund’s SAI.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund will buy and sell securities to seek to accomplish its investment objective. Portfolio turnover generally involves some expense to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities. The portfolio turnover rate is computed by dividing the lesser of the amount of the securities purchased or securities sold by the average monthly value of securities owned during the year (excluding securities whose maturities at acquisition were one year or less). For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2015, November 30, 2014 and November 30, 2013, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17%, 8% and 30%, respectively.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund has adopted certain other investment limitations designed to limit investment risk. These limitations are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares, as defined in the 1940 Act, (and preferred shares, if any, voting together as a single class). See “Investment Restrictions” in the Fund’s SAI for a complete list of the fundamental investment policies of the Fund. As a result of the use of Financial Leverage (as defined below), the Fund may become subject to rating agency guidelines that are more limiting than its fundamental investment restrictions in order to obtain and maintain a desired rating on the Financial Leverage.
USE OF FINANCIAL LEVERAGE
The Fund may seek to enhance the level of its current distributions by the use of financial leverage through the issuance of preferred shares (“Preferred Shares”), through borrowing or the issuance of commercial paper or other forms of debt (“Borrowings”) or through a combination of Preferred Shares, Borrowings and/or reverse repurchase agreement transactions (collectively, “Financial Leverage”). The Fund may utilize Financial Leverage up to the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. The amounts of the Fund’s Leverage outstanding may vary over time and such amounts will be reported in the Fund’s audited and unaudited financial statements contained in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. Following the issuance of additional Common Shares pursuant to this Prospectus, the Fund may increase the amount of Financial Leverage while maintaining the percentage of the Fund’s Managed Assets attributable to Financial Leverage. Under current market conditions, the Sub-Adviser generally targets financial leverage of 22% to 28% of the Fund’s Managed Assets; however, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leverage target will be achieved. So long as the net rate of return on the Fund’s investments purchased with the proceeds of Financial Leverage exceeds the cost of such Financial Leverage, such excess amounts will be available to pay higher distributions to holders of the Fund’s Common Shares. Any use of Financial Leverage must be approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period during which it is employed.
Borrowings
As noted above, the Fund is authorized to borrow or issue debt securities for financial leveraging purposes and for temporary purposes such as the settlement of transactions. Under the 1940 Act the Fund may not incur Borrowings if, immediately after incurring such Borrowings, the Fund would have asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 300% (i.e., for every dollar of Borrowings outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets). However, the 1940 Act does not require the Fund to pay down outstanding Borrowings in the event that asset coverage declines below 300% as a result of market movements. Therefore, as a result of declines in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, the Fund may, subject to the terms of the Fund’s credit facility, have outstanding borrowings which exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s managed assets. In determining whether to pay down outstanding Borrowings in such circumstances, the Fund will consider a variety of factors, including ARI’s assessment of the market, the structure and terms of the borrowings and whether dispositions of portfolio securities would be necessary
and the impact of any such dispositions. Except with respect to certain privately arranged Borrowings, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on the Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by Borrowings is at least 300% of such principal amount after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution. The Fund may also utilize Borrowings in compliance with the 1940 Act for temporary purposes, such as the settlement of transactions, in an amount not to exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.
The terms of any such Borrowings may require the Fund to pay a fee to maintain a line of credit, such as a commitment fee, or to maintain minimum average balances with a lender. Any such requirements would increase the cost of such Borrowings over the stated interest rate. Such lenders would have the right to receive interest on and repayment of principal of any such Borrowings, which right will be senior to those of the Common Shareholders. Any such Borrowings may contain provisions limiting certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances. Any Borrowings will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future Borrowings of the Fund.
Certain types of Borrowings subject the Fund to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. Certain Borrowings issued by the Fund also may subject the Fund to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for such Borrowings. Such guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede the Sub-Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
The 1940 Act grants to the lenders to the Fund, under certain circumstances, certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal. For certain types of Borrowings, failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default and entitle the debt holders to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees.
Credit Facility. The Fund has entered into a committed facility agreement with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, dated as of September 26, 2008, as amended through the date hereof, pursuant to which the Fund may borrow up to $325 million. On November 30, 2015, outstanding Borrowings under the committed facility agreement were approximately $263 million, which represented approximately 33.2% of the Fund’s Managed Assets as of such date. See “Description of Capital Structure—Borrowings—Credit Facility.”
Preferred Shares
Any offering of Preferred Shares is subject to market conditions and the Fund’s receipt of a top credit rating on the Preferred Shares from one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”) (most likely Moody’s and/or Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”)).
Because the aggregate liquidation preference of Preferred Shares would have a senior claim on the assets of the Fund, changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and costs attributable to Preferred Shares, will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders. If there is a net decrease (or increase) in the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the Financial Leverage will decrease (or increase) the net asset value per Common Share to a greater extent than if the Fund were not leveraged. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not issue Preferred Shares unless, immediately after such issuance, it has an “asset coverage” of at least 200%. For these purposes, “asset coverage” means the ratio of (i) total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by “senior securities” to (ii) the amount of “senior securities representing indebtedness” plus the “involuntary liquidation preference” of the Preferred Shares. “Senior security” means any bond, note, or similar security evidencing indebtedness and any class of shares having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends. “Senior security representing indebtedness” means any “senior security” other than equity shares. The “involuntary liquidation preference” of the Preferred Shares is the amount that holders of Preferred Shares would be entitled to receive in the event of an involuntary liquidation of the Fund in preference to the Common Shares.
In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any dividend (except a dividend payable in Common Shares), or to declare any other distribution on its Common Shares, or to purchase any Common Shares, unless the Preferred Shares have at the time of the declaration of any such dividend or other distribution, or at the time of any such purchase of Common Shares, an asset coverage of at least 200% after deducting the amount of such dividend,
distribution or purchase price. If Preferred Shares are issued, the Fund intends, to the extent possible, to purchase or redeem Preferred Shares from time to time to the extent necessary to maintain asset coverage of any Preferred Shares of at least 200%.
If Preferred Shares are outstanding, two of the Fund’s Trustees will be elected by the holders of Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class. The remaining Trustees of the Fund will be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event the Fund failed to pay dividends on Preferred Shares for two years, holders of Preferred Shares would be entitled to elect a majority of the Trustees of the Fund.
The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more NRSROs that may issue ratings for Preferred Shares issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these guidelines will impede the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, as the case may be, from managing the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. In addition to other considerations, to the extent that the Fund believes that the guidelines required by the NRSROs would impede its ability to meet its investment objective, or if the Fund is unable to obtain its desired rating on Preferred Shares (expected to be AAA/Aaa), the Fund will not issue Preferred Shares.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
In reverse repurchase agreement transactions, the Fund sells portfolio securities to financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers and agrees to repurchase them at a particular date and price. The use by the Trust of reverse repurchase agreements involves many of the same risks of leverage since the proceeds of the sale will be invested in additional instruments for the Fund, and the income from these investments will generate income for the Fund. If such income does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the reverse repurchase transaction, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what the performance would have been without the use of reverse repurchase transactions.
With respect to any reverse repurchase agreement or similar transaction, the Fund’s Managed Assets shall include any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date.
With respect to Financial Leverage incurred through reverse repurchase agreement transactions and economically similar transactions, the Fund intends to earmark or segregate cash or liquid securities in accordance with applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC. As a result of such segregation, the Fund’s obligations under such transactions will not be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act and the Fund’s use of leverage through reverse repurchase agreements and economically similar transactions will not be limited by the 1940 Act. However, the Fund’s use of leverage through reverse repurchase agreements and economically similar transactions will be limited by the availability of cash or liquid securities to earmark or segregate in connection with such transactions.
Effects of Financial Leverage
The Fund has entered into a committed facility agreement with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc., pursuant to which the Fund may borrow up to $325 million. Interest payable by the Fund on borrowings under the committed facility agreement is based on 3-month LIBOR plus 0.95%. On November 30, 2015, outstanding Borrowings under the committed facility agreement were approximately $263 million, which represented approximately 33.2% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. As of November 30, 2015, the interest rate payable by the Fund on Borrowings under the committed facility agreement was 1.37%. Assuming that the Fund’s leverage costs remain as described above, then the incremental income generated by the Fund’s portfolio (net of estimated expenses including expenses related to the Financial Leverage) must exceed approximately 0.45% to cover such interest specifically related to the debt. These numbers are merely estimates used for illustration. Actual interest rates may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above.
The following table is furnished pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income, net expenses and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily
indicative of what the Fund’s investment portfolio returns will be. The table further reflects the issuance of Financial Leverage representing approximately 25% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. See “Risks.” The table does not reflect any offering costs of Common Shares or Borrowings.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
Assumed portfolio total return
|
|
|
(10.00 |
)% |
|
|
(5.00 |
)% |
|
|
0.00 |
% |
|
|
5.00 |
% |
|
|
10.00 |
% |
Common Share total return
|
|
|
(15.65 |
)% |
|
|
(8.16 |
)% |
|
|
(0.68 |
)% |
|
|
6.81 |
% |
|
|
14.29 |
% |
Common Share total return is composed of two elements—the Common Share dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the Fund’s net investment income after paying the carrying cost of Financial Leverage) and realized and unrealized gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital loss than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must assume that the net investment income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses on the value of those investments. This table reflects the hypothetical performance of the Fund’s portfolio and not the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares, the value of which will be determined by market and other factors.
During the time in which the Fund is utilizing Financial Leverage, the amount of the fees paid to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser for investment advisory services will be higher than if the Fund did not utilize Financial Leverage because the fees paid will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets which may create a conflict of interest between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and the Common Shareholders. Because the Financial Leverage costs will be borne by the Fund at a specified rate, only the Fund’s Common Shareholders will bear the cost of the Fund’s fees and expenses. The Fund generally will not use Financial Leverage if the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser anticipate that such use would result in a lower return to Common Shareholders for any significant amount of time.
Interest Rate Transactions
In connection with any such use by the Fund of Financial Leverage, the Fund may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions. Interest rate swaps involve the Fund’s agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed-rate payment in exchange for the counterparty’s paying the Fund a variable rate payment that is intended to approximate all or a portion of the Fund’s variable-rate payment obligation on the Fund’s Financial Leverage. The payment obligation would be based on the notional amount of the swap, which will not exceed the amount of the Fund’s Financial Leverage.
The Fund may use an interest rate cap, which would require it to pay a premium to the cap counterparty and would entitle it, to the extent that a specified variable-rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, to receive payment from the counterparty of the difference based on the notional amount. The Fund would use interest rate swaps or caps only with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on Common Share net earnings as a result of leverage.
The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund’s receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund intends to segregate cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked to market daily. The Fund will treat such amounts as illiquid.
The use of interest rate swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate instruments could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Common Shares. To the extent that there is a decline in interest rates, the net amount receivable by the Fund under the interest rate swap or cap could decline and could thus result in a decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce Common Share net earnings if the Fund must make net payments to the counterparty. If, on the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance Common Share net earnings if the Fund receives net payments from the counterparty. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the Common Shares by limiting the Fund’s maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the Common Shares if the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional cost of the Financial Leverage that the Fund would have been required to pay had it not entered into the cap agreement.
Interest rate swaps and caps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset the costs of the Financial Leverage. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the Common Shares.
Although this will not guarantee that the counterparty does not default, the Fund will not enter into an interest rate swap or cap transaction with any counterparty that the Sub-Adviser believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligation under the interest rate swap or cap transaction. Further, the Sub-Adviser will regularly monitor the financial stability of a counterparty to an interest rate swap or cap transaction in an effort to proactively protect the Fund’s investments.
In addition, at the time the interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Common Shares.
The Fund may choose or be required to prepay Borrowings. Such a prepayment would likely result in the Fund’s seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transaction. Such early termination of a swap could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund. An early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund. There may also be penalties associated with early termination.
RISKS
Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.
Not a Complete Investment Program
The Fund is intended for investors seeking a high level of after-tax total return, with an emphasis on current distributions paid to shareholders, over the long term. The Fund is not meant to provide a vehicle for those who wish to play short-term swings in the stock market. An investment in the Common Shares of the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program. Each Common Shareholder should take into account the Fund’s investment objective as well as the Common Shareholder’s other investments when considering an investment in the Fund.
Investment and Market Risk
An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. An investment in the Common Shares of the Fund represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. The value of those securities may fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The value of the securities owned by the Fund will affect the value of the Common Shares. At any point in time, your Common Shares may be worth less than your original investment, including the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions.
Risk of Investing in MLP Units
An investment in MLP units involves risks that differ from a similar investment in equity securities, such as common stock, of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have the rights typically afforded to limited partners in a limited partnership. As compared to common shareholders of a corporation, holders of MLP units have more limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. There are certain tax risks associated with an investment in MLP units. Additionally, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of an MLP; for example, a conflict may arise as a result of incentive distribution payments.
Tax Risks
As a result of the unique characteristics of MLP investments, the Fund will be subject to certain tax related risks.
MLP Tax Risk. The Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective will depend largely on the amount of the distributions it receives (in relation to the taxable income it recognizes) with respect to its investments in the MLP entities, which is something over which the Fund has no control. Much of the benefit the Fund derives from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner of a partnership, in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability, will include its allocable share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would also have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and causing such distributions received by the Fund to be taxed as dividend income to the extent of the MLP’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (thus accelerating the recognition of taxable income). Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the after-tax return to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs would be materially reduced, which could cause a substantial decline in the value of the Common Shares.
In addition, recently enacted legislation (which by its terms is scheduled to become effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017) generally requires that taxes, penalties, and interest associated with an audit of a partnership be assessed and collected at the partnership level. Accordingly, even if an MLP in which we invest were to remain classified as a partnership, it could be required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of such MLP, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest and penalties, which would reduce the value of the Common Shares.
If the Fund invests in the equity securities of an MLP, the Fund will be a partner in such MLP. Accordingly, the Fund will be required to include in its taxable income the Fund’s allocable share of the income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses recognized by each such MLP, regardless of whether the MLP distributes cash to the Fund. Historically, MLPs have been able to offset a significant portion of their income with tax deductions. The portion, if any, of a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP that exceeds the Fund’s allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income is essentially treated as return of capital. However, any such return of capital will decrease the Fund’s adjusted basis in the equity securities of the MLP, which will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes on the sale of any such equity securities. In addition, the Fund will incur a current income tax liability on its allocable share of the portion of the MLP’s income that is not offset by the MLP’s tax deductions. The percentage of an MLP’s income that is offset by the MLP’s tax deductions will fluctuate over time. For example, new acquisitions by MLPs generate accelerated depreciation and other tax deductions, and therefore a decline in acquisition activity by the MLPs owned by the Fund could increase the Fund’s current tax liability. A decline in the percentage of the MLPs’ income that is offset by tax deductions or an increase in the Fund’s portfolio turnover could increase the Fund’s tax liability and reduce the portion of the distributions paid by the Fund that is treated as return of capital and/or capital gain, as the case may be, and increase the portion treated as taxable dividend income. This generally would result in lower after-tax distributions to shareholders.
Tax Law Change Risk. Changes in tax laws or regulations or future interpretations of such laws or regulations could adversely affect the Fund, the MLP entities in which the Fund invests and/or the Fund’s shareholders. For example, if as a result of a change in the tax laws, MLPs are required to be treated as corporations rather than partnerships for tax purposes, MLPs would be subject to entity level tax at corporate tax rates and any distributions received by the Fund from an MLP would be treated as dividend income to the extent it was attributable to the MLP’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such treatment would negatively impact the amount and tax characterization of distributions received by the Fund’s shareholders.
Deferred Tax Risk
As a limited partner in the MLPs, the Fund includes its allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income in computing its own taxable income. Because the Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund will incur tax expenses. In calculating the Fund’s net asset value, the Fund will account for its deferred tax liability and/or asset.
The Fund will accrue a deferred income tax liability, at an assumed federal, state and local income tax rate, for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of MLPs considered to be return of capital. Any deferred tax liability will reduce the Fund’s net asset value. The portion, if any, of a distribution on an MLP equity security received by the Fund that is offset by the MLP’s tax deductions or losses will be treated as a return of capital. However, those distributions will reduce the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the equity securities of the MLP, which will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or a decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized on the sale of an equity security in the MLP by the Fund. Upon the sale of an equity security in an MLP, the Fund generally will be liable for any previously deferred taxes. No assurance can be given that such taxes will not exceed the Fund’s deferred tax assumptions for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value per share, which would result in an immediate reduction of the Fund’s net asset value per share.
The Fund will accrue a deferred tax asset which reflects an estimate of the Fund’s future tax benefit associated with realized and unrealized net operating losses and capital losses. Any deferred tax asset will increase the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund has a deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required, which would offset the value of some or all of the deferred tax asset. The need to establish a valuation allowance for a deferred tax asset is assessed periodically by the Fund based on the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification 740 (ASC 740, formerly SFAS No. 109) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that operating loss carryforwards may expire unused.
The Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset is estimated using estimates of effective tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years such taxes are realized. For purposes of estimating the Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset for financial statement reporting and determining its net asset value, the Fund will be required to rely, to some extent, on information provided by the MLPs in which it invests. Such information may not be received in a timely manner, with the result that the Fund’s estimates regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual tax liability and, as a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s net asset value. From time to time, the Fund may modify its estimates or assumptions regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset as new information becomes available. Modifications of such estimates or assumptions or changes in applicable tax law could result in increases or decreases in the Fund’s net asset value per share, which could be material.
Affiliated Party Risk
Certain MLPs in which the Fund may invest depend upon their parent or sponsor entities for the majority of their revenues. Were their parent or sponsor entities to fail to make such payments or satisfy their obligations, the revenues and cash flows of such MLPs and ability of such MLPs to make distributions to unit holders, such as the Fund, would be adversely affected.
Equity Securities Risk
A substantial percentage of the Fund’s assets will be invested in equity securities, including MLP common units, MLP subordinated units, MLP preferred units, equity securities of MLP Affiliates, including I-Shares, and common stocks of other issuers. Equity risk is the risk that MLP units or other equity securities held by the Fund will fall due to general market or economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, changes in interest rates, and the particular circumstances and performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund holds. The price of an equity security of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the equity securities held by the Fund. In addition, MLP units or other equity securities held by the Fund may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated distributions or dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer experiences a decline in its financial condition.
MLP subordinated units typically are convertible to MLP common units at a one-to-one ratio. The price of MLP subordinated units is typically tied to the price of the corresponding MLP common unit, less a discount. The size of the discount depends upon a variety of factors, including the likelihood of conversion, the length of time remaining until conversion and the size of the block of subordinated units being purchased or sold.
The Fund may invest in equity securities issued by MLP Affiliates, including general partners of MLPs. Such issuers may be organized and/or taxed as corporations and therefore may not offer the advantageous tax characteristics of MLP units. Investments in the MLP Affiliates would be expected by the Sub-Adviser to provide economic exposure to the MLP asset class; however, such investments may not exhibit precise price correlation to any particular MLP or the MLP asset class generally.
I-Shares represent an indirect investment in MLP I-units. Prices and volatilities of I-Shares tend to correlate to the price of common unit, although the price correlation may not be precise. I-Shares differ from MLP common units primarily in that instead of receiving cash distributions, holders of I-Shares will receive distributions of additional I-Shares, in an amount equal to the cash distributions received by common unit holders. I-Shares have limited voting rights. Holders of I-Shares are subject to the same risks as holders of MLP common units.
Concentration Risk
Because the Fund is focused in MLP entities in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors of the economy, the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with such sectors. The Fund will concentrate its investments in the industry or group of industries that make up the energy sector. A downturn in the energy sector could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not concentrate in such sector. At times, the performance of securities of companies in the energy sector may lag the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole.
Energy Sector Risks
Many MLP entities operate within the energy sector. Therefore, the Fund will concentrate its investments in the industry or group of industries that make up the energy sector. As a result, the Fund will be more susceptible to adverse economic, political, legislative or regulatory occurrences affecting the energy sector. Risks associated with investments in MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector, include the following:
Commodity Price Risk. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector may be affected by fluctuations in the prices of energy commodities, including, for example, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and coal, in the short- and long-term. Fluctuations in energy commodity prices may be influenced by changes in general economic conditions or political circumstances (especially of key energy producing and consuming countries), market conditions, weather patterns, domestic production levels, volume of imports, energy conservation, domestic and foreign governmental regulation, international politics, policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), taxation, tariffs, and the availability and costs of local, intrastate and interstate transportation methods, among others. Companies engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration, development or production, natural gas gathering and processing, crude oil refining and transportation and coal mining or sales may be directly affected by their respective natural resources commodity prices. The volatility of commodity prices may also indirectly affect certain companies engaged in the transportation, processing, storage or distribution of such commodities. Some companies that own the underlying commodities may be unable to effectively mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to commodity price levels. The energy sector as a whole may also be impacted by the perception that the performance of energy sector companies is directly linked to commodity prices. High commodity prices may drive further energy conservation efforts, and a slowing economy may adversely impact energy consumption, which may adversely affect the performance of MLPs and other companies operating in the energy sector. Recently, oil prices have declined significantly and experienced greater volatility. This may adversly impact MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector. Such companies growth prospects and ability to pay high dividends may be negatively impacted, would could adversly impact the net asset value of the Common Shares and the ability of the Fund to continue to pay dividends at current levels.
Supply and Demand Risk. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector may be impacted by the levels of supply and demand for energy commodities. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector could be adversely affected by reductions in the supply of or demand for energy commodities. The volume of production of energy commodities and the volume of energy commodities available for transportation, storage, processing or distribution could be affected by a variety of factors, including depletion of resources, depressed
commodity prices, catastrophic events, labor relations, increased environmental or other governmental regulation, equipment malfunctions and maintenance difficulties, import volumes, international politics, policies of OPEC, and increased competition from alternative energy sources, among others. Alternatively, a decline in demand for energy commodities could result from factors such as adverse economic conditions (especially in key energy-consuming countries); increased taxation; increased environmental or other governmental regulation; increased fuel economy; increased energy conservation or use of alternative energy sources, legislation intended to promote the use of alternative energy sources; and increased commodity prices, among others.
Depletion Risk. MLP entities and other energy companies engaged in the exploration, development, management or production of energy commodities face the risk that commodity reserves are depleted over time. Such companies seek to increase their reserves through expansion of their current businesses, acquisitions, further development of their existing sources of energy commodities, exploration of new sources of energy commodities or by entering into long-term contracts for additional reserves; however, there are risks associated with each of these potential strategies. If such companies fail to acquire additional reserves in a cost-effective manner and at a rate at least equal to the rate at which their existing reserves decline, their financial performance may suffer. Additionally, failure to replenish reserves could reduce the amount and affect the tax characterization of the distributions paid by such companies.
Regulatory Risk. The energy sector is highly regulated. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to significant regulation of nearly every aspect of their operations by federal, state and local governmental agencies. Such regulation can change rapidly or over time in both scope and intensity. For example, a particular by-product or process, including hydraulic fracturing, may become subject to additional regulation or be declared hazardous, sometimes retroactively, by a regulatory agency. Such actions could increase production costs and reduce supply, which may have an adverse impact on MLPs that utilize such by-product or process and on other MLPs that rely on a supply of the impacted energy commodity. Examples of governmental regulations which impact MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector include regulation of the construction, maintenance and operation of facilities, environmental regulation, safety regulation, labor regulation, trade regulation and the regulation of the prices charged for products and services. Compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them is enforced by numerous governmental agencies and authorities through administrative, civil and criminal penalties including civil fines, injunctions or both. Stricter laws or regulations or stricter enforcement policies with respect to existing regulations would likely increase the costs of regulatory compliance and could have an adverse effect on the financial performance of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector. MLP entities may be adversely affected by additional regulatory requirements enacted in response to environmental disasters, which may impose additional costs or limit certain operations by MLP entities operating in various sectors.
Environmental Risk. There is an inherent risk that MLP entities may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and the substances they handle. For example, an accidental release from wells or gathering pipelines could subject them to substantial liabilities for environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase the compliance costs of MLP entities, and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. MLP entities may not be able to recover these costs from insurance. Specifically, the operations of wells, gathering systems, pipelines, refineries and other facilities are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These include, for example: (i) the federal Clean Air Act and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to air emissions, (ii) the federal Clean Water Act and comparable state laws and regulations that impose obligations related to discharges of pollutants into regulated bodies of water, (iii) the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state laws and regulations that impose requirements for the handling and disposal of waste from facilities; and (iv) the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), also known as “Superfund,” and comparable state laws and regulations that regulate the cleanup of hazardous substances that may have been released at properties currently or previously owned or operated by MLP entities or at locations to which they have sent waste for disposal.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes, including RCRA, CERCLA, the
federal Oil Pollution Act and analogous state laws and regulations, impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have been disposed of or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other waste products into the environment. There is an inherent risk that MLP entities may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and the substances they handle. For example, an accidental release from wells or gathering pipelines could subject them to substantial liabilities for environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase the compliance costs of MLP entities. For example, hydraulic fracturing, a technique used in the completion of certain oil and gas wells, has become a subject of increasing regulatory scrutiny and may be subject in the future to more stringent, and more costly to comply with, requirements. Similarly, the implementation of more stringent environmental requirements could significantly increase the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. MLP entities may not be able to recover these costs from insurance.
Voluntary initiatives and mandatory controls have been adopted or are being discussed both in the United States and worldwide to reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” such as carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, and methane, the major constituent of natural gas, which many scientists and policymakers believe contribute to global climate change. Such measures, including carbon taxes or further emission restrictions or regulations, could result in increased costs to certain companies in which the Fund may invest to operate and maintain facilities and administer and manage a greenhouse gas emissions program and may reduce demand for fuels that generate greenhouse gases and that are managed or produced by MLP entities. The potential for the imposition of such measures may negatively impact MLPs generally. In the wake of a Supreme Court decision holding that the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has some legal authority to deal with climate change under the Clean Air Act, the EPA and the Department of Transportation jointly wrote regulations to cut gasoline use and control greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. The EPA has also taken action to require certain entities to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions and certain facilities may be required to control emissions of greenhouse gases pursuant to EPA air permitting and other regulatory programs. These measures, and other programs addressing greenhouse gas emissions, could reduce demand for energy or raise prices, which may adversely affect the total return of certain of the Fund’s investments.
Acquisition Risk. MLP entities owned by the Fund may depend on the ability of such entities to make acquisitions that increase adjusted operating surplus per unit in order to increase distributions to unit holders. The ability of such MLP entities to make future acquisitions is dependent on their ability to identify suitable targets, negotiate favorable purchase contracts, obtain acceptable financing and outbid competing potential acquirers. To the extent that MLP entities are unable to make future acquisitions, or such future acquisitions fail to increase the adjusted operating surplus per unit, their growth and ability to make distributions to unit holders will be limited. There are risks inherent in any acquisition, including erroneous assumptions regarding revenues, acquisition expenses, operating expenses, cost savings and synergies, assumption of liabilities, indemnification, customer losses, key employee defections, distraction from other business operations, and unanticipated difficulties in operating or integrating new product areas and geographic regions, among others.
Interest Rate Risk. Rising interest rates could increase the costs of capital thereby increasing operating costs and reducing the ability of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector to carry out acquisitions or expansions in a cost-effective manner. As a result, rising interest rates could negatively affect the financial performance of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector in which the Fund invests. Rising interest rates may also impact the price of the securities of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector as the yields on alternative investments increase.
Weather Risk. Weather plays a role in the seasonality of some MLP entities’ cash flows. MLP entities in the propane industry, for example, rely on the winter season to generate almost all of their earnings. In an unusually warm winter season, propane MLP entities experience decreased demand for their product. Although most MLP entities can reasonably predict seasonal weather demand based on normal weather patterns, extreme weather conditions, such as the hurricanes that severely damaged cities along the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent years, demonstrate that no amount of preparation can protect an MLP entity from the unpredictability of the weather or possible climate change. The damage done by extreme weather also may serve to increase many MLP entities’ insurance premiums and could adversely affect such companies’ financial condition and ability to pay distributions to shareholders.
Catastrophic Event Risk. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to many dangers inherent in the production, exploration, management, transportation, processing and distribution of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined petroleum and petroleum products and other hydrocarbons. These dangers include leaks, fires, explosions, damage to facilities and equipment resulting from natural disasters, inadvertent damage to facilities and equipment and terrorist acts. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has issued warnings that energy assets, specifically U.S. pipeline infrastructure, may be targeted in future terrorist attacks. These dangers give rise to risks of substantial losses as a result of loss or destruction of commodity reserves; damage to or destruction of property, facilities and equipment; pollution and environmental damage; and personal injury or loss of life. Any occurrence of such catastrophic events could bring about a limitation, suspension or discontinuation of the operations of MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector. MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector may not be fully insured against all risks inherent in their business operations and therefore accidents and catastrophic events could adversely affect such companies’ financial conditions and ability to pay distributions to shareholders.
Cyclical Industry Risk. The energy industry is cyclical and from time to time may experience a shortage of drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, or qualified personnel, or due to significant demand, such services may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. An MLP entity’s ability to successfully and timely complete capital improvements to existing or other capital projects is contingent upon many variables. Should any such efforts be unsuccessful, an MLP entity could be subject to additional costs and/or the write-off of its investment in the project or improvement. The marketability of oil and gas production depends in large part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipeline systems owned by third parties. Oil and gas properties are subject to royalty interests, liens and other burdens, encumbrances, easements or restrictions, all of which could impact the production of a particular MLP entity. Oil and gas MLP entities operate in a highly competitive and cyclical industry, with intense price competition. A significant portion of their revenues may depend on a relatively small number of customers, including governmental entities and utilities.
Legislation Risk. There have been proposals in Congress to eliminate certain tax incentives widely used by oil and gas companies and to impose new fees on certain energy producers. The elimination of such tax incentives and imposition of such fees could adversely affect MLP entities and other companies operating in the energy sector in which the Fund invests and/or the energy sector generally.
Recent Development Regarding the Energy Sector
Recent Developments Regarding Commodity Prices. Prices of oil and other energy commodities have declined significantly and experienced significant volatility over the past year. Oil prices have recently approached ten year lows. Companies engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration, development or production, natural gas gathering and processing, crude oil refining and transportation and coal mining or sales may be directly affected by their respective natural resources commodity prices. The volatility of commodity prices may also indirectly affect certain companies engaged in the transportation, processing, storage or distribution of such commodities. Some companies that own the underlying commodities may be unable to effectively mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to commodity price levels. The energy sector as a whole may also be impacted by the perception that the performance of energy sector companies is directly linked to commodity prices. As a result, many companies in which the Fund may invest have been and may continue to be adversely impacted by declines in, and volatility of, prices of energy commodities. Continued low prices for energy commodities, or continued volatility of such prices, could further erode such companies' growth prospects and negatively impact such companies’ ability to sustain attractive distribution levels, which could adversely impact the NAV of the Common Shares and the ability of the Fund to continue to pay distributions on the Common Shares at current levels. Because the Fund is focused in MLP and energy infrastructure companies operating in the industry or group of industries that make up the energy sector of the economy, the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with energy commodity prices than an investment company that does not concentrate in such sector.
Recent Developments Regarding MLP Distributions. The Fund expects that a substantial portion of the cash flow it receives will be derived from its investments in equity securities of MLPs and energy infrastructure companies. The amount and tax characterization of cash available for distribution will depend upon the amount of cash generated by such entity's operations. Cash available for distribution may vary widely from quarter to quarter and is affected by various factors affecting the entity's operations. Recently, a number of MLPs have reduced, suspended or eliminated their distributions. Such distribution reductions could adversely impact the ability of the Fund to continue to pay distributions on the Common Shares at current levels.
Industry Specific Risks
MLP entities and energy companies are also subject to risks that are specific to the industry they serve.
Pipelines. Pipeline companies are subject to the demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil or refined products in the markets they serve, changes in the availability of products for gathering, transportation, processing or sale due to natural declines in reserves and production in the supply areas serviced by the companies’ facilities, sharp decreases in crude oil or natural gas prices that cause producers to curtail production or reduce capital spending for exploration activities, and environmental regulation. Demand for gasoline, which accounts for a substantial portion of refined product transportation, depends on price, prevailing economic conditions in the markets served, and demographic and seasonal factors. Companies that own interstate pipelines that transport natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil or refined petroleum products are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) with respect to the tariff rates they may charge for transportation services. An adverse determination by FERC with respect to the tariff rates of such a company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of those companies and their ability to pay cash distributions or dividends. In addition, FERC has a tax allowance policy, which permits such companies to include in their cost of service an income tax allowance to the extent that their owners have an actual or potential tax liability on the income generated by them. If FERC’s income tax allowance policy were to change in the future to disallow a material portion of the income tax allowance taken by such interstate pipeline companies, it would adversely impact the maximum tariff rates that such companies are permitted to charge for their transportation services, which would in turn adversely affect the results of operations and cash flows and its ability to pay cash distributions or dividends to their unit holders or shareholders.
Midstream. Midstream MLP entities and energy companies that provide crude oil, refined product and natural gas services are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which will be impacted by a wide range of factors including, fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, and economic conditions, among others.
Upstream. Exploration, development and production companies are particularly vulnerable to declines in the demand for and prices of crude oil and natural gas. Reductions in prices for crude oil and natural gas can cause a given reservoir to become uneconomic for continued production earlier than it would if prices were higher, resulting in the plugging and abandonment of, and cessation of production from, that reservoir. In addition, lower commodity prices not only reduce revenues but also can result in substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, the accuracy of assumptions regarding future commodity prices and future exploration and development costs and engineering and geological interpretations and judgments. Different reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserve quantities and related revenue based on the same data. Actual oil and gas prices, development expenditures and operating expenses will vary from those assumed in reserve estimates, and these variances may be significant. Any significant variance from the assumptions used could result in the actual quantity of reserves and future net cash flow being materially different from those estimated in reserve reports. In addition, results of drilling, testing and production and changes in prices after the date of reserve estimates may result in downward revisions to such estimates. Substantial downward adjustments in reserve estimates could have a material adverse effect on a given exploration and production company’s financial position and results of operations. In addition, due to natural declines in reserves and production, exploration and production companies must economically find or acquire and develop additional reserves in order to maintain and grow their revenues and distributions.
Gathering and Processing. Gathering and processing companies are subject to natural declines in the production of oil and natural gas fields, which utilize their gathering and processing facilities as a way to market their production, prolonged declines in the price of natural gas or crude oil, which curtails drilling activity and therefore production, and declines in the prices of natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products, which cause lower processing margins. In addition, some gathering and processing contracts subject the gathering or processing company to direct commodities price risk.
Oil and Gas Production. In addition to other risks described herein, companies involved in the transportation, gathering, processing, exploration, development or production of crude oil, natural gas and/or refined petroleum products are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which will be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel
sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events and economic conditions, among others. In addition the oil and gas industries may be adversely affected by increased regulations, increased operating costs and reductions in the supply of and/or demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products as a result of accidents or catastrophic events and the reactions thereto, among others.
Propane. Propane MLP entities are subject to earnings variability based upon weather conditions in the markets they serve, fluctuating commodity prices, increased use of alternative fuels, increased governmental or environmental regulation, and accidents or catastrophic events, among others.
Coal. MLP entities and energy companies with coal assets are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, the level of their customers’ coal stockpiles, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, mining accidents or catastrophic events and health claims and economic conditions, among others. They are also subject to supply variability based on geological conditions that reduce the productivity of mining operations, the availability of regulatory permits for mining activities and the availability of coal that meets the standards of the Clean Air Act.
Marine Transportation. Marine transportation companies are exposed to the highly cyclical nature of the tanker industry and may be subject to volatile changes in charter rates and vessel values, which may adversely affect the earnings of tanker companies. Fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values result from changes in the supply and demand for tanker capacity and changes in the supply and demand for oil and oil products. Historically, the tanker markets have been volatile due to the many conditions and factors that may affect the supply and demand for tanker capacity. Changes in demand for transportation of oil over longer distances and the supply of tankers to carry that oil may materially affect the revenues, profitability and cash flows of tanker companies. The successful operation of vessels in the charter market depends upon, among other things, obtaining profitable spot charters and minimizing time spent waiting for charters and traveling unladen to pick up cargo. The value of tanker vessels may fluctuate and could adversely affect the value of tanker company securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Declining tanker values could affect the ability of tanker companies to raise cash by limiting their ability to refinance their vessels, thereby adversely impacting tanker company liquidity. Tanker company vessels are at risk of damage or loss because of events such as mechanical failure, collision, human error, war, terrorism, piracy, cargo loss and bad weather. In addition, changing economic, regulatory and political conditions in some countries, including political and military conflicts, have from time to time resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways, piracy, terrorism, labor strikes, boycotts and government requisitioning of vessels. These sorts of events could interfere with shipping lanes and result in market disruptions and a significant loss of tanker company earnings.
Fracturing Services. Changes in laws or government regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could increase a company’s costs of doing business, limit the areas in which it can operate and reduce oil and natural gas production by the company. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or an alternative proppant and chemicals under pressure into target geological formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. Recently, there has been increased public concern regarding an alleged potential for hydraulic fracturing to adversely affect drinking water supplies, and proposals have been made to enact separate federal, state and local legislation that would increase the regulatory burden imposed on hydraulic fracturing. Congress has in recent legislative sessions considered legislation to amend the Safe Water Drinking Act (the “SDWA”), including legislation that would repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the definition of “underground injection” and require federal permitting and regulatory control of hydraulic fracturing, as well as legislative proposals to require disclosure of the chemical constituents of the fluids used in the fracturing process, were proposed in recent sessions of Congress. The U.S. Congress may consider similar SDWA legislation in the future. In addition, the EPA has asserted federal regulatory authority pursuant to the SDWA over certain hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel fuels and published permitting guidance on February 11, 2014 addressing the performance of such activities using diesel fuels in those states where EPA is the permitting authority.
Presently, hydraulic fracturing is regulated primarily at the state level, typically by state oil and natural gas commissions and similar agencies. Several states, such as Texas and Pennsylvania, have either adopted or proposed laws and/or regulations to require oil and natural gas operators to disclose chemical ingredients and water volumes used to hydraulically fracture wells, in addition to more stringent well construction and monitoring requirements. The
availability of information regarding the constituents of hydraulic fracturing fluids could make it easier for third parties opposing the hydraulic fracturing process to initiate legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater. Disclosure of proprietary chemical formulas to third parties or to the public, even if inadvertent, could diminish the value of those formulas and could result in competitive harm to companies. Various federal, state and local limitations may prohibit or restrict drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations in certain locales including geographic locales considered environmentally sensitive such as wetlands, endangered species habitats, floodplains, and the like. If hydraulic fracturing becomes regulated at the federal level as a result of federal legislation or regulatory initiatives by the EPA, fracturing activities could become subject to additional permitting requirements, and also to attendant permitting delays and potential increases in cost, which could adversely affect a company’s business.
Other Sector Risk
The Fund also may invest in securities of MLP entities in the natural resources sector and the real estate sector, among other sectors, which may subject the Fund to additional risks associated with investments in those sectors.
Natural Resources Sector Risk. The natural resources sector includes companies principally engaged in owning or developing non-energy natural resources (including timber and minerals) and industrial materials, or supplying goods or services to such companies. The Fund’s investments in MLP entities and other companies operating in the natural resources sector will be subject to the risk that prices of these securities may fluctuate widely in response to the level and volatility of commodity prices; exchange rates; import controls; domestic and global competition; environmental regulation and liability for environmental damage; mandated expenditures for safety or pollution control; the success of exploration projects; depletion of resources; tax policies; and other governmental regulation. Investments in the natural resources sector can be significantly affected by changes in the supply of or demand for various natural resources. The value of investments in the natural resources sector may be adversely affected by a change in inflation.
Real Estate Sector Risk. The Fund may invest in MLP entities and other companies operating in the real estate sector, which may develop land; own or manage residential, commercial and undeveloped properties; own mortgage securities; and provide financing to owners and developers of multi-family housing or other real estate or building ventures. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities of MLP entities and other companies operating in the real estate sector, the Fund’s performance may be linked to the performance of the real estate markets. Property values may fall due to increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from economic, legal, cultural or technological developments. Changes in interest rates or inflation may adversely affect the value of investments in the real estate sector. Other factors such as catastrophic events, lack of adequate insurance and environmental issues may contribute to the risks of a real estate investment.
Small Capitalization Risk
The Fund may invest in securities of MLP entities and other issuers that have comparatively smaller capitalizations relative to issuers whose securities are included in major benchmark indices, which present unique investment risks. These companies often have limited product lines, markets, distribution channels or financial resources; and the management of such companies may be dependent upon one or a few key people. The market movements of equity securities issued by MLP entities with smaller capitalizations may be more abrupt or erratic than the market movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the stock market in general. Historically, smaller capitalization companies have sometimes gone through extended periods when they did not perform as well as larger companies. In addition, equity securities of smaller capitalization companies generally are less liquid than those of larger companies. This means that the Fund could have greater difficulty selling such securities at the time and price that the Fund would like.
Restricted Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities. The term “restricted securities” refers to securities that are unregistered, held by control persons of the issuer or are subject to contractual restrictions on their resale. Restricted securities are often purchased at a discount from the market price of unrestricted securities of the same issuer reflecting the fact that such securities may not be readily marketable without some time delay. Such securities are often more difficult to value and the sale of such securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of liquid securities trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Contractual restrictions on the resale of securities result from negotiations between the issuer and purchaser of such securities and therefore vary substantially in length
and scope. To dispose of a restricted security that the Fund has a contractual right to sell, the Fund may first be required to cause the security to be registered. A considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when the Fund would be permitted to sell, during which time the Fund would bear market risks.
Risk Associated with an Investment in Initial Public Offerings
Securities purchased in initial public offerings (“IPOs”) are often subject to the general risks associated with investments in companies with small market capitalizations, and typically to a heightened degree. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in an IPO may be highly volatile. At any particular time or from time to time, the Fund may not be able to invest in IPOs, or to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be available to the Fund. In addition, under certain market conditions, a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. The Fund’s investment performance during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when it is able to do so. IPO securities may be volatile, and the Fund cannot predict whether investments in IPOs will be successful.
Unseasoned Companies Risk
The Fund may invest in companies that (together with their predecessors) have shorter operating histories. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than investments in companies with an established operating record.
Risk Associated with a Private Investment in Public Equity Transactions
Investors in private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) transactions purchase securities directly from a publicly traded company in a private placement transaction, typically at a discount to the market price of the company’s common stock. Because the sale of the securities is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities are “restricted” and cannot be immediately resold by the investors into the public markets. Until the Fund can sell such securities into the public markets, its holdings will be less liquid and any sales will need to be made pursuant to an exemption under the Securities Act.
Cash Flow Risk
The Fund expects that a substantial portion of the cash flow it receives will be derived from its investments in equity securities of MLP entities. The amount and tax characterization of cash available for distribution by an MLP entity depends upon the amount of cash generated by such entity’s operations. Cash available for distribution by MLP entities will vary widely from quarter to quarter and is affected by various factors affecting the entity’s operations. In addition to the risks described herein, operating costs, capital expenditures, acquisition costs, construction costs, exploration costs and borrowing costs may reduce the amount of cash that an MLP entity has available for distribution in a given period. Reductions in distributions paid by MLP entities held by the Fund may reduce the value of such holdings, and as a result, the value of the Fund's Common Shares. In addition, any such reductions in distributions paid by MLP entities may adversely impact the Fund’s ability to maintain its distribution rate.
Distribution Risk
The Fund will seek to maximize the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of return of capital. To the extent that the Fund’s cash flow is derived primarily from MLP distributions that consist of return of capital, the Fund anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders will consist of return of capital. However, to the extent that the Fund’s cash flow is derived from distributions of the Fund’s share of an MLP’s taxable income, or from other amounts that are attributable to taxable income, such as income or gain on the sale of portfolio securities or in connection with derivatives transactions, the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders treated as taxable dividend income could be increased. In addition, if the Fund generates current earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) in a particular taxable year, a distribution by the Fund to its shareholders in that year will be wholly or partially taxable even if the Fund has an overall deficit in its accumulated earnings and profits and/or net operating loss or capital loss carryforwards that reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes in that taxable year. There can be no assurance as to what portion of any future distribution will consist of return of capital or taxable dividend income. For example, for the taxable year ended November 30, 2015, 78% of the distributions made by the Fund to the holders of Common Shares constituted taxable dividend income and 22% constituted return of capital.
Risk Associated with Options on Securities
There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. If trading were suspended in an option purchased by the Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.
ETNs Risk
ETNs are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange (e.g., the NYSE) during normal trading hours. ETNs are subject to credit risk, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset.
Liquidity Risk
MLP common units, and equity securities of MLP Affiliates, including I-Shares, and other issuers often trade on national securities exchanges, including the NYSE, the AMEX and the NASDAQ. However, certain securities, including those of issuers with smaller capitalizations, may trade less frequently. The market movements of such securities with limited trading volumes may be more abrupt or erratic. As a result of the limited liquidity of such securities, the Fund could have greater difficulty selling such securities at the time and price that the Fund would like and may be limited in its ability to make alternative investments.
Valuation Risk
Market prices generally will be unavailable for some of the Fund’s investments, including MLP subordinated units, direct ownership of general partner interests and restricted or unregistered securities of certain MLP entities and private companies. The value of such securities will be determined by fair valuations determined by the Board of Trustees or its designee in accordance with procedures governing the valuation of portfolio securities adopted by the Board of Trustees. Proper valuation of such securities may require more reliance on the judgment of the Sub-Adviser than for valuation of securities for which an active trading market exists.
Inflation/Deflation Risk
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future, as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions on those shares can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, interest rates on any borrowings by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to the holders of Common Shares. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income securities, such as preferred and debt securities, and certain equity securities will decline in value because of a rise in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. The net asset value and market price of the Common Shares will tend to decline as a result of the Fund’s investment in such securities if market interest rates rise.
During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a fixed-income security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Preferred and debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem such a security if the issuer can refinance it at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of a lower likelihood of prepayments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This is known as extension risk.
In typical interest rate environments, prices of fixed income securities with longer maturities generally fluctuate more in response to changes in interest rates than do the prices of fixed income securities with shorter-term maturities. Because the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in fixed-income securities without regard to their maturities, to the extent the Fund invests in fixed income securities with longer maturities, the net asset value and market price of the Common Shares would fluctuate more in response to changes in interest rates than if the Fund were to invest such portion of its assets in shorter-term fixed income securities.
Market interest rates for investment grade fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest are significantly below historical average rates for such securities. Interest rates below historical average rates may result in increased risk that these rates will rise in the future (which would cause the value of the Fund’s net assets to decline) and may increase the degree to which asset values may decline in such events.
Lower Grade Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities rated below investment grade (that is, rated Ba or lower by Moody’s; BB or lower by S&P; comparably rated by another statistical rating organization; or, if unrated, as determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Investment in securities of below-investment grade quality involves substantial risk of loss. Securities of below investment grade quality are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due and therefore involve a greater risk of default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and issuer-specific developments. Securities of below investment grade quality display increased price sensitivity to changing interest rates and to a deteriorating economic environment. The market values for debt securities of below-investment grade quality tend to be more volatile and such securities tend to be less liquid than investment grade debt securities.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. The Fund cannot predict its annual portfolio turnover rate with accuracy; however, under normal market conditions it is not expected to exceed 30%. Portfolio turnover rate will not be considered as a limiting factor in the execution of the Fund’s investment decisions. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund’s recognition of gains that will be taxable at the Fund level and may increase the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, which will result in a greater portion of distributions to Common Shareholders being treated as dividends. Additionally, high portfolio turnover results in correspondingly higher brokerage commissions and transaction costs borne by the Fund.
Foreign Securities Risk
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve certain considerations and risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. Foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies may be subject to less government supervision and regulation than exists in the United States. Dividend and interest income may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may adversely affect the net return on such investments. There may be difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad. In addition, it may be difficult to effect repatriation of capital invested in certain countries. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there are risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries.
There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than a U.S. company. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and some foreign company securities are less liquid than securities of otherwise comparable U.S. companies. Foreign markets also have different
clearance and settlement procedures that could cause the Fund to encounter difficulties in purchasing and selling securities on such markets and may result in the Fund missing attractive investment opportunities or experiencing a loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes foreign securities can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the increased transaction costs on non-U.S. securities markets and the increased costs of maintaining the custody of foreign securities.
ADRs are receipts issued by United States banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the United States securities markets. While ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted, many of the risks associated with foreign securities may also apply to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Derivatives Risk
In addition to the covered call option strategy described above, the risks of which are described above, the Fund may, but is not required to, utilize futures contracts, options and over-the-counter derivatives contracts, among other Strategic Transactions, for purposes such as to seek to earn income, facilitate portfolio management and mitigate risks. Participation in options or futures markets transactions involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies (other than its covered call writing strategy). If the Sub-Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities and interest rate markets is inaccurate, the consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used such strategies. Risks inherent in the use of options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts and securities indices include:
• dependence on the Sub-Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates and securities prices;
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• imperfect correlation between the price of options and futures contracts and options thereon and movements in the prices of the securities being hedged;
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• the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities;
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• the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time;
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• the possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences;
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• the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a security at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund
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to sell a security at a disadvantageous time due to a need for the Fund to maintain “cover” or to segregate securities in connection with the hedging techniques; and
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• the creditworthiness of counterparties.
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Futures Transactions Risk. The Fund may invest in futures contracts. Futures and options on futures entail certain risks, including but not limited to the following:
• no assurance that futures contracts or options on futures can be offset at favorable prices;
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• possible reduction of the return of the Fund due to their use for hedging;
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• possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument;
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• possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations;
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• imperfect correlation between the contracts and the securities being hedged; and
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• losses from investing in futures transactions that are potentially unlimited and the segregation requirements for such transactions.
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Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
Market Discount Risk
The Fund’s Common Shares have a limited trading history and have traded both at a premium and at a discount in relation to NAV. The Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will trade in the future at a premium or discount to NAV. The Fund’s Common Shares have recently traded at a substantial premium to NAV per share, which may not be sustainable. If the Common Shares are trading at a premium to net asset value at the time you purchase Common Shares, the NAV per share of the Common Shares purchased will be less than the purchase price paid. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV, but in some cases have traded above NAV. Continued development of alternative vehicles for investment in securities of MLP entities may contribute to reducing or eliminating any premium or may result in the Common Shares trading at a discount. The risk of the Common Shares trading at a discount is a risk separate from the risk of a decline in the Fund’s NAV as a result of the Fund’s investment activities. The Fund’s NAV will be reduced immediately following an offering of the Common Shares due to the costs of such offering, which will be borne entirely by the Fund. The sale of Common Shares by the Fund (or the perception that such sales may occur) may have an adverse effect on prices of Common Shares in the secondary market. An increase in the number of Common Shares available may put downward pressure on the market price for Common Shares. The Fund may, from time to time, seek the consent of holders of Common Shares to permit the issuance and sale by the Fund of Common Shares at a price below the Fund’s then-current NAV, subject to certain conditions, and such sales of Common Shares at price below NAV, if any, may increase downward pressure on the market price for Common Shares. These sales, if any, also might make it more difficult for the Fund to sell additional Common Shares in the future at a time and price it deems appropriate.
Whether Common Shareholder will realize a gain or loss upon the sale of Common Shares depends upon whether the market value of the Common Shares at the time of sale is above or below the price the Common Shareholder paid, taking into account transaction costs for the Common Shares, and is not directly dependent upon the Fund’s NAV. Because the market value of the Common Shares will be determined by factors such as the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general market conditions and other factors outside the Fund’s control, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will trade at, below or above NAV, or at, below or above the public offering price for the Common Shares.
Dilution Risk
The voting power of current Common Shareholders will be diluted to the extent that current Common Shareholders do not purchase Common Shares in any future offerings of Common Shares or do not purchase sufficient Common Shares to maintain their percentage interest. If the Fund is unable to invest the proceeds of such offering as intended, the Fund’s per Common Share distribution may decrease and the Fund may not participate in market advances to the same extent as if such proceeds were fully invested as planned. If the Fund sells Common Shares at a price below NAV pursuant to the consent of holders of Common Shares, shareholders will experience dilution of the aggregate NAV per Common Share because the sale price will be less than the Fund’s then-current NAV per Common Share. This dilution will be experienced by all shareholders, irrespective of whether they purchase Common Shares in any such offering. See “Description of Capital Structure—Common Shares—Issuance of Additional Common Shares.”
Other Investment Companies Risk
The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies, including exchange traded funds. As a stockholder in an investment company, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described in this Prospectus.
Royalty Trust Risk
Royalty trusts are, in some respects, similar to certain MLPs and include risks similar to those MLPs, including commodity price volatility risk, cash flow risk and depletion risk.
Financial Leverage Risk
Although the use of Financial Leverage by the Fund may create an opportunity for increased after-tax total return for the Common Shares, it also results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses. If the income and
gains earned on securities purchased with Financial Leverage proceeds are greater than the cost of Financial Leverage, the Fund’s return will be greater than if Financial Leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or gains from the securities purchased with such proceeds does not cover the cost of Financial Leverage, the return to the Fund will be less than if Financial Leverage had not been used.
Financial Leverage involves risks and special considerations for shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value, market price and dividends on the Common Shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage; the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the dividend rates on any Financial Leverage that the Fund must pay will reduce the return to the Common Shareholders; and the effect of Financial Leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the Common Shares.
It is also possible that the Fund will be required to sell assets, possibly at a loss (or at a gain which could give rise to corporate level tax), in order to redeem or meet payment obligations on any leverage. Such a sale would reduce the Fund’s net asset value and also make it difficult for the net asset value to recover. The Fund in its best judgment nevertheless may determine to continue to use Financial Leverage if it expects that the benefits to the Fund’s shareholders of maintaining the leveraged position will outweigh the current reduced return.
Certain types of Borrowings subject the Fund to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. Certain Borrowings issued by the Fund also may subject the Fund to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for such Borrowings. Such guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede the Sub-Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risks that the interest income earned on the investment of the proceeds will be less than the interest expense and Fund expenses associated with the repurchase agreement, that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase such securities and that the securities may not be returned to the Fund. There is no assurance that reverse repurchase agreements can be successfully employed. In connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund will also be subject to counterparty risk with respect to the purchaser of the securities. If the broker/dealer to whom the Fund sells securities becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted.
Because the fees received by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are based on the Managed Assets of the Fund (including the proceeds of any Financial Leverage), the Adviser and Sub-Adviser have a financial incentive for the Fund to utilize Financial Leverage, which may create a conflict of interest between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser and the Common Shareholders. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period during which it is employed.
If the cost of leverage is no longer favorable, or if the Fund is otherwise required to reduce its leverage, the Fund may not be able to maintain distributions on common shares at historical levels and common shareholders will bear any costs associated with selling portfolio securities.
Competition Risk
Since the time of the Fund’s initial public offering a number of alternative vehicles for investment in a portfolio of MLPs and their affiliates, including other publicly traded investment companies and private funds, have emerged. In addition, recent tax law changes have increased the ability of regulated investment companies or other institutions to invest in MLPs. These competitive conditions may adversely impact the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective, which in turn could adversely impact its ability to make dividend payments.
Affiliated Transaction Restrictions Risk
From time to time, the Fund may “control” or may be an “affiliate”, each as defined in the 1940 Act, of one or more portfolio companies. In general, under the 1940 Act, the Fund would “control” a portfolio company if it owned 25% or more of its outstanding voting securities and would be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if it owned 5% or more of its outstanding voting securities. The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to transactions
between investment companies and their affiliates (including the Adviser and Sub-Adviser), principal underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters. Under these restrictions, the Fund and any portfolio company that the Fund controls are generally prohibited from knowingly participating in a joint transaction, including co-investments in a portfolio company, with an affiliated person, including any trustees or officers of the Fund, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser or any entity controlled or advised by any of them. These restrictions also generally prohibit the Fund’s affiliates, principal underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters from knowingly purchasing from or selling to the Fund or any portfolio company controlled by the Fund certain securities or other property and from lending to and borrowing from the Fund or any portfolio company controlled by the Fund monies or other properties. The Fund and its affiliates may be precluded from co-investing in private placements of securities, including in any portfolio companies controlled by the Fund. The Fund, its affiliates and portfolio companies controlled by the Fund may from time to time engage in certain joint transactions, purchases, sales and loans in reliance upon and in compliance with the conditions of certain positions promulgated by the SEC. There can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to satisfy these conditions with respect to any particular transaction. As a result of these prohibitions, restrictions may be imposed on the size of positions or the type of investments that the Fund could make.
Risk Associated with Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser
The Adviser and Sub-Adviser provide a wide array of portfolio management and other asset management services to a mix of clients and may engage in ordinary course activities in which their respective interests or those of their clients may compete or conflict with those of the Fund. For example, the Sub-Adviser may provide investment management services to other funds and accounts that follow investment objectives similar to that of the Fund. In certain circumstances, and subject to its fiduciary obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Sub-Adviser may have to allocate a limited investment opportunity among its clients, which include closed-end funds, open-end funds, other commingled funds and other accounts. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser have adopted policies and procedures designed to address such situations and other potential conflicts of interests.
Delay in Investing the Proceeds of this Offering Risk
Although the Fund currently intends to invest the proceeds from any sale of the Common Shares offered hereby as soon as practicable following the completion of such offering, such investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time. The trading market and volumes for MLP entities and energy company shares may at times be less liquid than the market for other securities. Prior to the time the proceeds of this offering are invested, such proceeds may be invested in cash, cash equivalents or other securities, pending investment in MLP entities or energy company securities. Income received by the Fund from these securities would subject the Fund to corporate tax before any payment of distributions to Common Shareholders. As a result, the return and yield on the Common Shares following any offering pursuant to this Prospectus may be lower than when the Fund is fully invested in accordance with its objective and policies. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Non-Diversified Status Risk
The Fund is a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act and will not elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code. As a result, there are no regulatory requirements under the 1940 Act or the Code that limit the proportion of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in securities of a single issue. Accordingly, the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in a more limited number of issuers than a diversified fund. There are a limited number of publicly traded MLPs. The fund will select its investments in MLPs from this small pool of issuers together with securities issued by any newly public MLPs, and will invest in securities of other MLP entities and securities of issuers other than MLP entities, consistent with its investment objective and policies. An investment in the Fund may present greater risk to an investor than an investment in a diversified portfolio because changes in the financial condition or market assessment of a single issuer may cause greater fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s Common Shares.
Management Risk
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed portfolio. In acting as the Fund’s sub-adviser, responsible for management of the Fund’s portfolio securities, the Sub-Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk
Continuing U.S. military operations and instability in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world have contributed to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets and may cause further economic uncertainties or deterioration in the United States and worldwide. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser do not know how long the financial markets will continue to be affected by these events and cannot predict the effects of these or similar events in the future on the U.S. and global economies and securities markets.
Global political and economic instability could affect the operations of MLP entities and other companies in the energy and natural resources sectors in unpredictable ways, including through disruptions of natural resources supplies and markets and the resulting volatility in commodity prices. Recent political and military instability in a variety of countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa has heightened these risks.
Risk Associated with Recent Market and Economic Developments
Global financial markets have experienced periods of unprecedented turmoil. The debt and equity capital markets in the United States were negatively impacted by significant write-offs in the financial services sector relating to subprime mortgages and the re-pricing of credit risk in the broader market, among other things. These events contributed to severe market volatility and caused severe liquidity strains in the credit markets.
Recently markets have witnessed more stabilized economic activity as expectations for an economic recovery increased. However, a return to unfavorable economic conditions or sustained economic slowdown may place downward pressure on oil and natural gas prices and may adversely affect the ability of MLPs to sustain their historical distribution levels, which in turn, may adversely affect the Fund. Volatile financial markets can expose the Fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Fund.
Additionally, the Federal Reserve has begun to reduce, with a view toward eventually eliminating, its bond-buying program known as “quantitative easing.” While such tapering is one indicator of the Federal Reserve’s views as to the strength of the U.S. economy, the anticipation of such tapering in the past has led to market volatility, and such anticipation, or actual additional tapering, in the future may lead to additional market volatility and rising interest rates.
Legal and Regulatory Risk
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into law in July 2010, has resulted in significant revisions to the U.S. financial regulatory framework. The Dodd-Frank Act covers a broad range of topics, including, among many others, a reorganization of federal financial regulators; a process designed to ensure financial system stability and the resolution of potentially insolvent financial firms; new rules for derivatives trading; the creation of a consumer financial protection watchdog; the registration and regulation of managers of private funds; the regulation of credit rating agencies; and new federal requirements for residential mortgage loans. The regulation of various types of derivative instruments pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act may adversely affect MLPs and other issuers in which the Fund invests that utilize derivatives strategies for hedging or other purposes. The ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, and resulting regulation, is not yet certain and issuers in which the Fund invests may also be affected by the new legislation and regulation in ways that are currently unforeseeable.
On December 11, 2015, the SEC published a proposed rule that, if adopted, would change the regulation of the use of derivative instruments and financial commitment transactions by registered investment companies. The SEC sought public comments on numerous aspects of the proposed rule, and as a result the nature of any final regulations is uncertain at this time. Such regulations could limit the implementation of the Fund’s use of derivatives and impose additional compliance costs on the Fund, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund.
Certain lawmakers support an increase in federal revenue as a component of a plan to address the growing federal budget deficit. Also, comprehensive federal tax reform is the subject of political attention. There can be no assurance that any change in federal tax law will not adversely affect MLPs and other issuers in which the Fund invests or the Fund itself.
At any time after the date of this Prospectus, legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund. Legislation or regulation may change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser cannot predict the effects of any new governmental regulation that may be implemented, and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The Fund’s Governing Documents include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to an open-end fund. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Fund’s Governing Documents.”
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The Board of Trustees is broadly responsible for the management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser. The names and business addresses of the Trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information.
The Adviser
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, a subsidiary of Guggenheim Funds Services, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim Partners”), acts as the Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is a registered investment adviser and acts as investment adviser to a number of closed-end and open-end investment companies. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company, with its principal offices located at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Guggenheim Partners is a diversified financial services firm with wealth management, capital markets, investment management and proprietary investing businesses, whose clients are a mix of individuals, family offices, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and other institutions that have entrusted Guggenheim Partners with the supervision of more than $240 billion of assets as of December 31, 2015. Guggenheim Partners is headquartered in Chicago and New York with a global network of offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays to the Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 1.00% of the Fund’s average Managed Assets (from which the Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average Managed Assets).
The Adviser furnishes offices, necessary facilities and equipment, provides administrative services to the Fund, oversees the activities of the Fund’s Sub-Adviser, provides personnel, including certain officers required for its administrative management and pays the compensation of all officers and Trustees of the Fund who are its affiliates.
In addition to the fees of the Adviser, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Trustees (other than those affiliated with the Adviser), custodial expenses, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, expenses of repurchasing shares, listing expenses, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, stockholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Advisory Agreement by the Board of Trustees is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended May 31, 2015.
The Sub-Adviser
Advisory Research, Inc. acts as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). The Sub-Adviser is a Delaware corporation, located at 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Suite 5500, Chicago, Illinois 60601, and is a registered investment advisor to investment portfolios with more than $9.6 billion in assets as of November 30, 2015.
The Advisory Research MLP & Energy Infrastructure team (hereinafter referred to as the “MLP Team”) is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities. As of November 30, 2015, the MLP Team managed approximately $4.4 billion in MLP and energy infrastructure assets for open and closed end mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations and private wealth individuals. The Sub-Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Piper Jaffray Companies. The MLP Team believes that investment decisions should always be guided by a disciplined, risk-aware strategy that seeks to add value in all market environments. Their unique investment philosophy is multifaceted, utilizing macroeconomic analysis, disciplined security selection, cost-controlled trading procedures, continuous risk analysis and an unwavering focus on achieving shareholder objectives.
Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays to the Sub-Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average Managed Assets.
The Sub-Adviser, under the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio; provides investment research and makes and executes recommendations for the purchase and sale of securities; and provides certain facilities and personnel, including certain officers required for its administrative management and pays the compensation of all officers and Trustees of the Fund who are its affiliates.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement by the Board of Trustees is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ending May 31, 2015.
Fee Waiver
Each of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser has agreed to waive the advisory fees and sub-advisory fees, respectively, payable with respect to the assets attributable to Common Shares issued pursuant to the Fund’s shelf registration statement (including Common Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus), for the first three months after such Common Shares were issued and to waive half of such advisory fees and sub-advisory fees payable with respect to assets attributable to such Common Shares for the subsequent three months. All outstanding Common Shares will share pro rata in the reduced advisory fees with respect to the assets attributable to Common Shares issued pursuant to the Fund’s shelf registration statement.
Portfolio Management
James J. Cunnane, Jr. and Quinn T. Kiley are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the registrant’s portfolio.
Mr. Cunnane has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Cunnane is a Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer of the MLP Team. He oversees the firm’s MLP and energy infrastructure product lines and chairs the Risk Management Committee. He has been a Master Limited Partnership portfolio manager since joining the MLP Team in 1996. Mr. Cunnane has over 23 years of portfolio management and securities research experience. Prior to joining the Sub-Adviser, Mr. Cunnane worked as a research analyst with A.G. Edwards & Sons. Mr. Cunnane also worked as an analyst for Maguire Investment Advisors, where he gained extensive experience in the development of master limited partnership and small- and mid-cap stock portfolios. Mr. Cunnane, holds a B.S. in finance from Indiana University, is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, and serves on the finance council and the investment committee of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and on the Board of St. Patrick’s Center.
Mr. Kiley, with over 15 years investment experience, has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since 2008. Mr. Kiley is a Managing Director and the Senior Portfolio Manager of the MLP Team and his responsibilities include portfolio management of various energy infrastructure assets and oversight of the energy infrastructure research process. Prior to joining the MLP Team in 2005, Mr. Kiley was Vice President of Corporate & Investment Banking at Banc of America Securities in New York. He was responsible for executing strategic advisory and financing transactions for clients in the Energy & Power sectors. Mr. Kiley holds a B.S. with Honors in Geology from Washington & Lee University, a M.S. in Geology from the University of Montana, a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, and a M.B.A. from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Mr. Kiley has been admitted to the New York State Bar.
The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities of the Fund.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Common Shares is calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (including from current and deferred incomes taxes and from Borrowings) and the liquidation preference of any outstanding Preferred Shares from total assets (the market value of the securities the Fund holds plus cash and other assets, including any deferred income tax asset, less any applicable valuation allowance). The per share net asset value is calculated by dividing its net asset value by the number of Common Shares outstanding and rounding the result to the nearest full cent. The Fund calculates its net asset value as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on each day on which there is a regular trading session on the NYSE. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agent after the Fund’s net asset value has been calculated on a particular day will not be used to retroactively adjust the price of a security or the Fund’s previously determined net asset value.
The Fund values readily marketable securities at the last reported sale price on the principal exchange or in the principal OTC market in which such securities are traded, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the day the securities are being valued or, if there are no sales, at the mean between the last available bid and asked prices on that day. Securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ are normally valued by the Fund at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”) provided by the NASDAQ each business day. The NOCP is the most recently reported price as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, unless that price is outside the range of the “inside” bid and asked prices (i.e., the bid and asked prices that dealers quote to each other when trading for their own accounts); in that case, the NASDAQ will adjust the price to equal the inside bid or asked price, whichever is closer. Because of delays in reporting trades, the NOCP may not be based on the price of the last trade to occur before the market closes. Debt securities are valued at the last available bid price for such securities or, if such prices are not available, at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality, and type. The Fund values exchange-traded options and other derivative contracts at the mean of the best bid and ask prices at the close on those exchanges on which they are traded. The Fund values all other types of securities and assets, including restricted securities and securities for which market quotations are not readily available, by a method that the Trustees of the Fund believe accurately reflects fair value.
When the Fund writes a call or put option, it records the premium received as an asset and equivalent liability and, thereafter, adjusts the liability to the market value of the option determined in accordance with the preceding paragraph. Any option transaction that the Fund enters into may, depending on the applicable market environment, have no value or a positive value.
The Fund’s securities traded primarily in foreign markets may be traded in such markets on days that the NYSE is closed. As a result, the net asset value of the Fund may be significantly affected on days when Common Shareholders have no ability to trade the Common Shares on the NYSE.
The Fund values certain of its securities on the basis of bid quotations from independent pricing services or principal market makers, or, if quotations are not available, by a method that the Board of Trustees believes accurately reflects fair value. The Fund periodically verifies valuations provided by the pricing services. Short-term securities with remaining maturities of less than 60 days may be valued at cost which, when combined with interest earned, approximates market value.
The Fund values securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including restricted securities, in accordance with valuation guidelines that the Trustees of the Fund believe accurately reflect fair value. In addition, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser believes that the price of a security obtained under the Fund’s valuation procedures (as described above) does not represent the amount that the Fund reasonably expects to receive on a current sale of the security, the Fund will value the security based upon such valuation guidelines.
Any derivative transaction that the Fund enters into may, depending on the applicable market environment, have a positive or negative value for purposes of calculating net asset value. In addition, accrued payments to the Fund under such transactions will be assets of the Fund and accrued payments by the Fund will be liabilities of the Fund.
As a limited partner in the MLPs, the Fund includes its allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income in computing its own taxable income. Because the Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund will incur tax expenses. In calculating the Fund’s net asset value, the Fund will account for it deferred tax liability and/or asset.
The Fund will accrue a deferred income tax liability, at an assumed federal, state and local income tax rate, for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of MLPs considered to be return of capital. Any deferred tax liability will reduce the Fund’s net asset value.
The Fund will accrue a deferred tax asset which reflects an estimate of the Fund’s future tax benefit associated with realized and unrealized net operating losses and capital losses. Any deferred tax asset will increase the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund has a deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required, which would offset the value of some or all of the deferred tax asset. The need to establish a valuation allowance for a deferred tax asset is assessed periodically by the Fund based on the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification 740 (ASC 740, formerly SFAS No. 109) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that operating loss carryforwards may expire unused.
The Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset is estimated using estimates of effective tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years such taxes are realized. For purposes of estimating the Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset for financial statement reporting and determining its net asset value, the Fund will be required to rely, to some extent, on information provided by the MLPs in which it invests. Such information may not be received in a timely manner, with the result that the Fund’s estimates regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual tax liability and, as a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s net asset value. From time to time, the Fund may modify its estimates or assumptions regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset as new information becomes available. Modifications of such estimates or assumptions or changes in applicable tax law could result in increases or decreases in the Fund’s net asset value per share, which could be material.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund intends to pay substantially all of its net investment income to Common Shareholders through quarterly distributions. Net investment income of the Fund will consist of cash and paid-in-kind distributions from MLP entities, dividends from common stocks, interest from debt securities, gains from options transactions and income from other investments of the Fund; less operating expenses, taxes on the Fund’s taxable income, and the costs of any Financial Leverage utilized by the Fund. Expenses of the Fund will be accrued each day. The Fund anticipates that a significant portion of the distributions received by the Fund from the MLPs in which it invests will consist of return of capital. While the Fund will generally seek to maximize the portion of the Fund’s distributions to Common Shareholders that will consist of return of capital, no assurance can be given in this regard. The Fund cannot assure you, therefore, as to what percentage of the dividends paid on the Common Shares will consist of return of capital. All realized capital gains, if any, net of applicable taxes, will be retained by the Fund.
Distributions by the Fund, whether paid in cash or in additional Common Shares, will be taken into account in measuring the performance of the Fund with respect to its investment objective.
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act, in the event the Fund makes distributions from sources other than income, a notice will accompany each quarterly distribution with respect to the estimated source of the distribution made. Such notices will describe the portion, if any, of the quarterly dividend which, in the Fund’s good faith judgment, constitutes long-term capital gain, short-term capital gain, investment income or a return of capital. The actual character of such dividend distributions for U.S. federal income tax purposes, however, will only be determined
finally by the Fund at the close of its fiscal year, based on the Fund’s full year performance and its actual net income and net capital gains for the year, which may result in a recharacterization of amounts distributed during such fiscal year from the characterization in the quarterly estimates.
To permit the Fund to maintain more stable quarterly distributions, the Fund may initially distribute less than the entire amount of the net investment income earned in a particular period. The undistributed net investment income may be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular quarterly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund during the period and the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio to make a distribution at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Over time, all the net investment income of the Fund will be distributed. Undistributed net investment income is included in the Common Shares’ net asset value, and, correspondingly, distributions from net investment income will reduce the Common Shares’ net asset value.
AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), a Common Shareholder whose Common Shares are registered in his or her own name will have all distributions reinvested automatically by Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, which is agent under the Plan (the “Plan Agent”), unless the Common Shareholder elects to receive cash. A participant in the Plan who wishes to opt out of the Plan and elect to receive distributions in cash should contact the Plan Agent in writing at the address specified below or calling (866) 488-3559.
Distributions with respect to Common Shares registered in the name of a broker-dealer or other nominee (that is, in “street name”) will be reinvested by the broker or nominee in additional Common Shares under the Plan, unless the service is not provided by the broker or nominee or the Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash. Common Shareholders who own Common Shares registered in street name should consult their broker-dealers for details regarding reinvestment. All distributions to Common Shareholders who do not participate in the Plan will be paid by check mailed directly to the record holder by Computershare Shareowner Services LLC as dividend disbursing agent.
Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Common Shares is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time Common Shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of Common Shares equivalent to the cash distribution, participants in the Plan are issued new Common Shares from the Fund, valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then-current market price of the Common Shares. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not an NYSE trading day, the next preceding trading day. If the net asset value of the Common Shares at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the Common Shares, the Plan Agent will buy the Common Shares for such Plan in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that the Plan Agent will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue Common Shares at the greater of net asset value or 95% of market value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the Common Shares exceeds net asset value. If the Fund should declare a distribution payable only in cash, the Plan Agent will buy the Common Shares for such Plan in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. There is no charge from the Fund for reinvestment of dividends or distributions in Common Shares pursuant to the Plan; however, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open-market purchases.
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmations of all transactions in the account, including information needed by shareholders for personal and tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form in the name of the participant.
In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees, which hold Common Shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the shareholder as representing the total amount registered in the shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are desirable. Accordingly, the Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate its Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of such Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by the Plan Agent on at least 90 days
written notice to the participants in such Plan. The automatic reinvestment of dividends will not relieve participants of any U.S. federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, P.O. Box 358015, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15252, Attention: Shareholder Services Department.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The following is a brief description of the terms of the Common Shares, the Borrowings and the Preferred Shares which may be issued by the Fund. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (together, its “Governing Documents”).
Common Shares
The Fund is an unincorporated statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated as of October 4, 2004. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. Each Common Share has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this offering, will be fully paid and non-assessable, except that the Board of Trustees shall have the power to cause shareholders to pay expenses of the Fund by setting off charges due from shareholders from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed the shareholders and/or by reducing the number of Common Shares owned by each respective shareholder. If the Fund issues and has Preferred Shares outstanding, the Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless all accrued dividends on Preferred Shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to Preferred Shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions and unless certain other requirements imposed by any rating agencies rating the Preferred Shares have been met. See “—Preferred Shares” below. In addition, if the Fund has Borrowings outstanding, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on the Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by Borrowings is at least 300% of such principal amount after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution. See “—Borrowings” below. All Common Shares are equal as to dividends, assets and voting privileges and have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. The Fund sends annual and semi-annual reports, including financial statements, to all holders of its shares.
Listing and Symbol. The Fund’s currently outstanding Common Shares are, and the Common Shares offered by this Prospectus, will be, subject to notice of issuance, listed on the NYSE under the symbol “FMO.”
Voting Rights. Until any Preferred Shares are issued, holders of the Common Shares will vote as a single class to elect the Fund’s Board of Trustees and on additional matters with respect to which the 1940 Act mandates a vote by the Fund’s shareholders. If Preferred Shares are issued, holders of Preferred Shares will have a right to elect two of the Fund’s Trustees, and will have certain other voting rights. See “Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Fund’s Governing Documents.”
Issuance of Additional Common Shares. The provisions of the 1940 Act generally require that the public offering price (less underwriting commissions and discounts) of common shares sold by a closed-end investment company must equal or exceed the NAV of such company’s common shares (calculated within 48 hours of the pricing of such offering), unless such sale is made with the consent of a majority of its common shareholders. The Fund may, from time to time, seek the consent of holders of Common Shares to permit the issuance and sale by the Fund of Common Shares at a price below the Fund’s then-current NAV, subject to certain conditions. If such consent is obtained, the Fund may, contemporaneous with and in no event more than one year following the receipt of such consent, sell Common Shares at price below NAV in accordance with any conditions adopted in connection with the giving of such consent. Additional information regarding any consent of Common Shareholders obtained by the Fund and the applicable conditions imposed on the issuance and sale by the Fund of Common Shares at a price below NAV will be disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement relating to any such offering of Common Shares at a price below NAV. Until such consent of holders of Common Shares, if any, is obtained, the Fund may not sell Common Shares at a price below NAV.
Because the Fund’s advisory fee and sub-advisory fee are based upon average Managed Assets, the Adviser’s and the Sub-Adviser’s interests in recommending the issuance and sale of Common Shares at a price below NAV may conflict with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Borrowings
The Fund is permitted, without prior approval of the Common Shareholders, to borrow money. The Fund may issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such Borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting the Fund’s assets as security. In connection with such Borrowings, the Fund may be required to maintain minimum average balances with the lender or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Any such requirements will increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
Credit Facility
The Fund has entered into a committed facility agreement with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. dated as of September 26, 2008, as amended through the date hereof, pursuant to which the Fund may borrow up to $325 million. Interest payable by the Fund on borrowings under the committed facility agreement is based on 3-month LIBOR plus 0.95%. The committed facility agreement requires that the Fund deposit portfolio securities in a collateral account pursuant to a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement among the Fund, its custodian and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. Securities deposited in the collateral account may not be rehypothecated by BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. In the event of a default by the Fund under the committed facility, the lender has the right to sell the assets maintained in the collateral account to satisfy the Fund’s obligation to the lender. The amounts drawn under such facility may vary over time and such amounts will be reported in the Fund’s audited and unaudited financial statements contained in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. On November 30, 2015, outstanding Borrowings under the committed facility agreement were approximately $263 million, which represented approximately 33.2% of the Fund’s Managed Assets as of such date. As of November 30, 2015, the interest rate payable by the Fund on Borrowings under the committed facility agreement was 1.37%.
Limitations. Borrowings by the Fund are subject to certain limitations under the 1940 Act, including the amount of asset coverage required. In addition, agreements related to the Borrowings may also impose certain requirements, which may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. See “Use of Financial Leverage” and “Risks—Financial Leverage Risk.”
Distribution Preference. The rights of lenders to the Fund to receive interest on, and repayment of, principal of any such Borrowings will be senior to those of the Common Shareholders, and the terms of any such Borrowings may contain provisions which limit certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances.
Voting Rights. The 1940 Act does (in certain circumstances) grant to the lenders to the Fund certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on, or repayment of, principal. Any Borrowings will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future borrowings of the Fund.
Preferred Shares
The Fund’s Governing Document provide that the Fund’s Board of Trustees may authorize and issue Preferred Shares with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the holders of the Common Shares. Common Shareholders have no preemptive right to purchase any Preferred Shares that might be issued.
The Fund has no present intention to issue Preferred Shares; however, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to issue Preferred Shares to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, which currently limits the aggregate liquidation preference of all outstanding preferred shares to 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund. Any offering of Preferred Shares is conditioned upon favorable market conditions, a credit rating of AAA/Aaa from the NRSRO rating such Preferred Shares, and the Board’s continuing belief that leveraging the Fund’s capital structure through the issuance of Preferred Shares is likely to achieve the benefits to the Common Shareholders described in this Prospectus. Although the terms of any Preferred Shares, including dividend rate, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board of Trustees, subject to applicable law and the Governing Documents, it is likely that any Preferred Shares issued by the Fund will be structured to carry a relatively short-term dividend rate reflecting interest rates on short-term bonds, by providing for the periodic redetermination of the dividend rate at relatively short intervals through an auction, remarketing or other procedure.
Distribution Preference. The Preferred Shares, if issued, would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distributions of assets.
Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders.
Voting Rights. Preferred Shares are required to be voting shares and to have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information or the Governing Documents and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Preferred Shares will vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.
If Preferred Shares are issued, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s Trustees. The remaining Trustees will be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accrued dividends are unpaid on the Preferred Shares, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s Board of Trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of Preferred Shares will be required, in addition to the combined class vote of the holders of Preferred Shares and Common Shares. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Fund’s Governing Documents.”
Redemption, Repurchase and Sale of Preferred Shares. The terms of the Preferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends. The terms may also state that the Fund may tender for or repurchase Preferred Shares. Any redemption or repurchase of Preferred Shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares. See “Use of Financial Leverage.”
The discussion above describes the Board of Trustees’ present intention with respect to a possible offering of Preferred Shares or Borrowings. If the Board of Trustees determines to authorize any of the foregoing, the terms may be the same as, or different from, the terms described above, subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Governing Documents.
Capitalization
The following table provides information about the outstanding securities of the Fund as of November 30, 2015:
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Amount
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Amount Held by the
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Title of Class
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Authorized
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Fund or for its Account
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Amount Outstanding
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Common shares of
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|
|
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beneficial interest, par
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|
|
|
value $0.01 per share
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Unlimited
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0
|
33,572,117
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ANTI-TAKEOVER AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE
FUND’S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
The Fund presently has provisions in its Governing Documents which could have the effect of limiting, in each case, (i) the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, (ii) the Fund’s freedom to engage in certain transactions or (iii) the ability of the Fund’s Trustees or shareholders to amend the Governing Documents or effectuate changes in the Fund’s management. These provisions of the Governing Documents of the Fund may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, with the terms of one class expiring at each annual meeting of shareholders. At each annual meeting, one class of Trustees is elected to a three-year term. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. A trustee may be removed from office by the action of a majority of the remaining Trustees followed by a vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares then entitled to vote for the election of the respective Trustee.
In addition, the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of a majority of the Fund’s Board of Trustees followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of the Fund, voting separately as a class or series, to approve, adopt or authorize certain transactions with 5% or greater holders of a class or series of shares and their associates, unless the transaction has been approved by at least 80% of the Trustees, in which case “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund shall be required. For purposes of these provisions, a 5% or greater holder of a class or series of shares (a “Principal Shareholder”) refers to any person who, whether directly or indirectly and whether alone or together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund.
The 5% holder transactions subject to these special approval requirements are:
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the merger or consolidation of the Fund or any subsidiary of the Fund with or into any Principal Shareholder;
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•
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the issuance of any securities of the Fund to any Principal Shareholder for cash (other than pursuant of any automatic dividend reinvestment plan);
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•
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the sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Fund to any PrincipalShareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period; or
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•
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the sale, lease or exchange to the Fund or any subsidiary of the Fund, in exchange for securities of the Fund, of any assets of any Principal Shareholder, except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000, aggregating for purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month period.
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To convert the Fund to an open-end investment company, the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of a majority of the Board of the Trustees followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of shares of the Fund, voting separately as a class or series, unless such amendment has been approved by at least 80% of the Trustees, in which case “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund shall be required. The foregoing vote would satisfy a separate requirement in the 1940 Act that any conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company be approved by the shareholders. If approved in the foregoing manner, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company could not occur until 90 days after the shareholders’ meeting at which such conversion was approved and would also require at least 30 days’ prior notice to all shareholders.
To liquidate the Fund, the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of the Fund, voting separately as a class or series, unless such liquidation has been approved by at least 80% of Trustees, in which case “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund shall be required.
For the purposes of calculating “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” under the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each class and series of the Fund shall vote together as a single class, except to the extent required by the 1940 Act or the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust with respect to any class or series of shares. If a separate vote is required, the applicable proportion of shares of the class or series, voting as a separate class or series, also will be required.
The Board of Trustees has determined that provisions with respect to the Board of Trustees and the shareholder voting requirements described above, which voting requirements are greater than the minimum requirements under Delaware law or the 1940 Act, are in the best interest of shareholders generally. Reference should be made to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the full text of these provisions.
CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE
Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a securities exchange and do not redeem their shares at the option of the shareholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund, you must trade them on the open market like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities redeemable at net asset value at the option of the shareholder and typically engage in a
continuous offering of their shares. Mutual funds are subject to continuous asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management, whereas closed-end funds generally can stay more fully invested in securities consistent with the closed-end fund’s investment objective and policies. In addition, in comparison to open-end funds, closed-end funds have greater flexibility in their ability to make certain types of investments and use certain investment strategies to a greater extent than open-end funds, including financial leverage and investments in illiquid securities.
However, shares of closed-end investment companies listed for trading on a securities exchange frequently trade at a discount from net asset value, but in some cases trade at a premium. The market price may be affected by trading volume of the shares, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the closed-end fund. The foregoing factors may result in the market price of the Common Shares being greater than, less than or equal to net asset value. The Board of Trustees will review periodically the trading range and activity of the Fund’s shares with respect to its net asset value and the Board may take certain actions to seek to reduce or eliminate any such discount. Such actions may include open market repurchases or tender offers for the Common Shares at net asset value. There can be no assurance that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions would result in the Common Shares trading at a price equal to or close to net asset value per Common Share.
To convert the Fund to an open-end investment company, the Declaration of Trust requires the favorable vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees followed by the favorable vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of each affected class or series of shares of the Fund, voting separately as a class or series, unless such amendment has been approved by at least 80% of the Trustees, in which case “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund shall be required. The foregoing vote would satisfy a separate requirement in the 1940 Act that any conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company be approved by the shareholders. If approved in the foregoing manner, conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company could not occur until 90 days after the shareholders’ meeting at which such conversion was approved and would also require at least 30 days’ prior notice to all shareholders.
In the event of conversion, the Common Shares would cease to be listed on the NYSE or other national securities exchange or market system. The Board of Trustees believes, however, that the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is unlikely that the Board of Trustees would vote to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company. Shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. The Fund would expect to pay all such redemption requests in cash, but intends to reserve the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such securities to cash. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, it is likely that new Common Shares would be sold at net asset value plus a sales load.
The Board of Trustees has reviewed the structure of the Fund in light of its investment objective and policies and has determined that the closed-end structure is in the best interests of the shareholders. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is highly unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to U.S. Shareholders (as defined below) that acquire Common Shares pursuant to this offering and that hold such Common Shares as capital assets (generally, for investment). The discussion is based upon the Code, Treasury Regulations, judicial authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). This summary does not address all of the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to the Fund or to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special tax rules. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth
below. This summary of U.S. federal income tax consequences is for general information only. Prospective investors must consult their own tax advisors as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Common Shares, as well as the effects of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.
For purposes of this summary, the term “U.S. Shareholder” means a beneficial owner of Common Shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is one of the following:
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•
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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•
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a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created in or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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•
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
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•
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a trust (i) if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
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A “Non-U.S. Shareholder” is a beneficial owner of Common Shares that is neither a U.S. Shareholder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a partnership (including any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships that hold Common Shares should consult their tax advisors.
The Fund
The Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at the graduated rates applicable to corporations (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). In addition, as a regular corporation, the Fund is subject to state and local income tax by reason of its investments in equity securities of MLPs. Therefore, the Fund may have state and local income tax liabilities (or benefits) in multiple states. The Fund may be subject to a 20% alternative minimum tax on its alternative minimum taxable income to the extent that the alternative minimum tax exceeds the Fund’s regular income tax liability. The extent to which the Fund is required to pay U.S. corporate income tax or alternative minimum tax could materially reduce the Fund’s cash available to make distributions on the Common Shares.
The Fund invests and intends to invest a significant portion of its assets in MLPs, which are generally treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent that the Fund invests in the equity securities of an MLP, the Fund will be a partner in such MLP. Accordingly, the Fund will be required to include in its taxable income the Fund’s allocable share of the income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses recognized by each such MLP, regardless of whether the MLP distributes cash to the Fund. Based upon a review of the historic results of the type of MLPs in which the Fund has invested and in which the Fund intends to invest, the Fund expects that the cash distributions it will receive with respect to its investments in equity securities of MLPs will exceed the taxable income allocated to the Fund from such MLPs. No assurance, however, can be given in this regard. If this expectation is not realized, the Fund will have a larger corporate income tax expense sooner than expected, which will result in less cash available to distribute to shareholders in such taxable years.
The Fund will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an equity security of an MLP equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Fund on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in such equity security. Any such gain will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax at the regular graduated corporate rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%), regardless of how long the Fund has held such equity security. The amount realized by the Fund generally will be the amount paid by the purchaser of the equity security plus the Fund’s allocable share, if any, of the MLP’s debt that will be allocated to the purchaser as a result of the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition. The Fund’s tax basis in its equity securities in an MLP is generally equal to the amount the Fund paid for the equity securities, (i) increased by the Fund’s allocable share of the MLP’s net taxable income and certain MLP debt, if any, and (ii) decreased by the Fund’s allocable share of the MLP’s net losses and any distributions received by the Fund from the MLP. Although any distribution by an
MLP to the Fund in excess of the Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income may create a temporary economic benefit to the Fund, such distribution will increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) that will be recognized on the sale of an equity security in the MLP by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund has a net capital loss in any tax year, the net capital loss can be carried back three years and forward five years to reduce the Fund’s current taxes payable, subject to certain limitations. In the event a capital loss carryover cannot be utilized in the carryover periods, the Fund’s federal income tax liability may be higher than expected which will result in less cash available to distribute to shareholders.
The Fund’s allocable share of certain percentage depletion deductions and intangible drilling costs of the MLPs in which the Fund invests may be treated as items of tax preference for purposes of calculating the Fund’s alternative minimum taxable income. Such items will increase the Fund’s alternative minimum taxable income and increase the likelihood that the Fund may be subject to the alternative minimum tax.
The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies) and certain other investments, to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions of the Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions” and “straddles”) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses recognized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary versus capital or short-term versus long-term), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These provisions also (i) will require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (ii) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving the corresponding amount cash.
Given that at least 65% of the Fund’s Managed Assets are invested in equity securities of MLPs that are treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined in Section 851(h) of the Code), the Fund is not and will not be eligible to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Code because a regulated investment company cannot invest more than 25% of its assets in qualified publicly traded partnerships.
U.S. Shareholders
Distributions. Distributions by the Fund of cash or property in respect of the Common Shares will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) and will be includible in gross income by a U.S. Shareholder upon receipt. Any such dividend will be eligible for the dividends received deduction if received by an otherwise qualifying corporate U.S. Shareholder that meets the holding period and other requirements for the dividends received deduction. Dividends paid by the Fund to certain non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are eligible for U.S. federal income taxation at the rates generally applicable to long-term capital gains for individuals, provided that the U.S. Shareholder receiving the dividend satisfies applicable holding period and other requirements.
If the amount of a Fund distribution exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares (reducing that basis accordingly), and thereafter as capital gain. Any such capital gain will be long-term capital gain if such U.S. Shareholder has held the applicable Common Shares for more than one year. A distribution will be wholly or partially taxable to a shareholder if the Fund has current earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) in the taxable year of the distribution, even if the Fund has an overall deficit in the Fund’s accumulated earnings and profits and/or net operating loss or capital loss carryforwards that reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes in that taxable year.
The Fund’s earnings and profits are generally calculated by making certain adjustments to the Fund’s taxable income. Based upon the Fund’s review of the historic results of the type of MLPs in which the Fund intends to invest, the Fund expects that the cash distributions it will receive with respect to its investments in equity securities of MLPs will exceed the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Accordingly, the Fund expects that only a portion of its distributions to its shareholders with respect to the Common Shares will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No assurance, however, can be given in this regard.
Because the Fund will invest a substantial portion of its Managed Assets in energy-related MLPs, special rules will apply to the calculation of the Fund’s earnings and profits. For example, the Fund’s earnings and profits may be subject to certain adjustments applicable to energy-related MLPs, such as adjustments for percentage depletion or intangible drilling costs, and will be calculated using the straight-line depreciation method rather than the accelerated depreciation
method. This difference in treatment may, for example, result in the Fund’s earnings and profits being higher than the Fund’s taxable income in a particular year if the MLPs in which the Fund invests calculate their income using accelerated depreciation. In addition, loss carryovers from prior years may reduce taxable income but will not reduce current earnings and profits. Because of these differences, the Fund may make distributions in a particular year out of earnings and profits (treated as dividends) in excess of the amount of the Fund’s taxable income for such year.
U.S. Shareholders that participate in the Fund’s Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having (i) received a cash distribution equal to the reinvested amount and (ii) reinvested such amount in Common Shares.
Sales of Common Shares. Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares. Any such capital gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder has held the Common Shares for more than one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are currently subject to reduced U.S. federal income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.
A U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in its Common Shares may be less than the price paid for the Common Shares as a result of distributions by the Fund in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits (i.e., returns of capital).
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Requirements. In general, distributions on the Common Shares, and payments of the proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Common Shares paid to a U.S. Shareholder are subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. Shareholder (i) is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) provides an accurate taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a U.S. Shareholder will be refunded or credited against the U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Each shareholder will receive, if appropriate, various written notices after the close of the Fund’s taxable year describing the amount and the U.S. federal income tax status of distributions that were paid (or that are treated as having been paid) by the Fund to the shareholder, and the amount of any U.S. federal taxes withheld, during the preceding taxable year.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
The following discussion is a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to Non-U.S. Shareholders. Special rules may apply to certain Non-U.S. Shareholders, such as “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and certain expatriates, among others, that are subject to special treatment under the Code. Such Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
Distributions. The gross amount of distributions by the Fund in respect of Common Shares will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by a Non-U.S. Shareholder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and disclosure requirements (generally on a Form W-8ECI) are satisfied. Instead, such dividends are subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Shareholder were a United States person as defined under the Code. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
A Non-U.S. Shareholder who wishes to claim the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty for dividends will be required (a) to complete Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or
(b) if Common Shares are held through certain foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations.
A Non-U.S. Shareholder eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
If the amount of a distribution to a Non-U.S. Shareholder exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares, and then as capital gain. Capital gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder as a consequence of a distribution by the Fund in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally not be subject to United States federal income tax, except as described below under the caption “—Sales of Common Shares.”
Sales of Common Shares. A Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the disposition of Common Shares unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the Non-U.S. Shareholder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment of the Non-U.S. Shareholder);
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the Non-U.S. Shareholder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or
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the Fund is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” at any time within the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date the Common Shares are sold or the period that such Non-U.S. holder held our Common Shares and (as long as our Common Shares are regularly traded on an established securities market at any time during the calendar year in which the sale, exchange or other disposition occurs) such Non-U.S. holder owns or owned (actually or constructively) more than five percent of our Common Shares at any time during the shorter of the two periods mentioned above.
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Gain described in the first or third bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis generally in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Shareholder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code (and, with respect to the first bullet, may be subject to an additional 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes). In the case of a Non-U.S. Shareholder described in the second bullet point above, except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty, any gain, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses, will be subject to a flat 30% tax even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States under the Code.
Generally, the Fund will be a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of its United States real property interests, as defined in the Code and applicable regulations (and which may include our interests in an MLP, depending on the circumstances), equals or exceeds 50% of the aggregate fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We have not made a determination as to whether we are currently or have been a United States real property holding corporation. Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning our status as a United States real property corporation and the tax considerations relevant to the disposition of shares in a United States real property corporation.
Additional Withholding Requirements. Under recently enacted legislation, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any dividends, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds of a sale of Common Shares to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States accountholders and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial United States owner and such entity meets certain other specified requirements. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future U.S. Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding these additional withholding requirements.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund may sell up to $268,593,405 in aggregate initial offering price of Common Shares from time to time under this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement (1) directly to one or more purchases; (2) through agents; (3) through underwriters; (4) through dealers; or (5) pursuant to the Plan. Each Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Common Shares will state the terms of the offering, including:
• the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers
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• any sales loads or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
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• any discounts, commissions, or fees allowed or paid to dealers or agents;
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• the public offering or purchase price of the offered Common Shares and the net proceeds the Fund will receive from the sale; and
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• any securities exchange on which the offered Common Shares may be listed.
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Direct Sales
The Fund may sell Common Shares directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resales of the securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The Fund may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered securities directly. The Fund will describe the terms of any of those sales in a Prospectus Supplement.
By Agents
The Fund may offer Common Shares through agents that the Fund may designate. The Fund will name any agent involved in the offer and sale and describe any commissions payable by the Fund in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the agents will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.
By Underwriters
The Fund may offer and sell Common Shares from time to time to one or more underwriters who would purchase the Common Shares as principal for resale to the public, either on a firm commitment or best efforts basis. If the Fund sells Common Shares to underwriters, the Fund will execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale and will name them in the Prospectus Supplement. In connection with these sales, the underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from the Fund in the form of underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters also may receive commissions from purchasers of Common Shares for whom they may act as agent. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus Supplement, the underwriters will not be obligated to purchase the Common Shares unless the conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement are satisfied, and if the underwriters purchase any of the Common Shares, they will be required to purchase all of the offered Common Shares. The underwriters may sell the offered Common Shares to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters as well as from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, the Fund may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, to cover any overallotments.
By Dealers
The Fund may offer and sell Common Shares from time to time to one or more dealers who would purchase the securities as principal. The dealers then may resell the offered Common Shares to the public at fixed or varying prices to be determined by those dealers at the time of resale. The Fund will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the Prospectus Supplement.
General Information
Agents, underwriters, or dealers participating in an offering of Common Shares may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commission received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered Common Shares for whom they act as agent, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act.
The Fund may offer to sell securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may vary, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
To facilitate an offering of Common Shares in an underwritten transaction and in accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares or any other security. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.
• An overallotment in connection with an offering creates a short position in the common stock for the
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underwriter’s own account.
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• An underwriter may place a stabilizing bid to purchase the Common Shares for the purpose of pegging,
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fixing, or maintaining the price of the Common Shares.
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• Underwriters may engage in syndicate covering transactions to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price
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of the Common Shares by bidding for, and purchasing, the Common Shares or any other securities in the
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open market in order to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.
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• The managing underwriter may impose a penalty bid on a syndicate member to reclaim a selling concession
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in connection with an offering when the Common Shares originally sold by the syndicate member is
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purchased in syndicate covering transactions or otherwise.
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Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Shares above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
Any underwriters to whom the offered Common Shares are sold for offering and sale may make a market in the offered Common Shares, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice. There can be no assurance that there will be a liquid trading market for the offered Common Shares.
Under agreements entered into with the Fund, underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act, or to contribution for payments the underwriters or agents may be required to make.
The underwriters, agents, and their affiliates may engage in financial or other business transactions with the Fund in the ordinary course of business.
Pursuant to a requirement of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not be greater than eight percent (8%) of the gross proceeds received by the Fund for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The aggregate offering price specified on the cover of this Prospectus relates to the offering of the Common Shares not yet issued as of the date of this Prospectus.
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.
A Prospectus and accompanying Prospectus Supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of Common Shares for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of Common Shares for Internet distributions will be made on
the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Common Shares may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell Common Shares to online brokerage account holders.
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Fund may issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to the Plan.
CUSTODIAN, ADMINISTRATOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement. Under the custody agreement, the Custodian holds the Fund’s assets in compliance with the 1940 Act. For its services, the Custodian will receive a monthly fee based upon, among other things, the average value of the total assets of the Fund, plus certain charges for securities transactions. The Bank of New York Mellon is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10216.
Computershare Shareowner Services LLC serves as the Fund’s dividend disbursing agent, Plan Agent under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan, transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares of the Fund. Computershare Shareowner Services LLC is located at 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310.
Rydex Fund Services, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as administrator to the Fund. Pursuant to an administration agreement, dated May 13, 2013 (the “Administration Agreement”), Rydex Fund Services, LLC is responsible for: (1) coordinating with the custodian and transfer agent and monitoring the services they provide to the Fund, (2) coordinating with and monitoring any other third parties furnishing services to the Fund, (3) supervising the maintenance by third parties of such books and records of the Fund as may be required by applicable federal or state law, (4) preparing or supervising the preparation by third parties of all federal, state and local tax returns and reports of the Fund required by applicable law, (5) preparing and, after approval by the Fund, filing and arranging for the distribution of proxy materials and periodic reports to shareholders of the Fund as required by applicable law, (6) preparing and, after approval by the Fund, arranging for the filing of such registration statements and other documents with the SEC and other federal and state regulatory authorities as may be required by applicable law, (7) reviewing and submitting to the officers of the Fund for their approval invoices or other requests for payment of the Fund’s expenses and instructing the custodian to issue checks in payment thereof and (8) taking such other action with respect to the Fund as may be necessary in the opinion of the administrator to perform its duties under the administration agreement. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Fund pays Rydex Fund Services, LLC a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annualized rate of 0.0275% for the first $200 million of Managed Assets, 0.0200% for the next $300 million of Managed Assets, 0.0150% for the next $500 million of Managed Assets and 0.0100% for Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion.
Rydex Fund Services, LLC serves as the Fund’s accounting agent pursuant to a Fund Accounting Agreement, dated December 1, 2013 (the “Fund Accounting Agreement”). Rydex Fund Services, LLC is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s securities and cash. Pursuant to the Fund Accounting Agreement, The Fund pays Rydex Fund Services, LLC an accounting fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annualized rate of 0.0300% for the first $200 million of Managed Assets, 0.0150% for the next $300 million of Managed Assets, 0.0100% for the next $500 million of Managed Assets and 0.0075% for Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. Rydex Fund Services, LLC is located at 805 King Farm Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, as special counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the Common Shares. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of Common Shares are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the Prospectus Supplement related to that offering.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP, 8484 Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund and is expected to render an opinion annually on the financial statements of the Fund.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Prospectus constitutes part of a Registration Statement filed by the Fund with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Fund and the Common Shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).
PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE FUND
The Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Fund collects, how the Fund protects that information and why, in certain cases, the Fund may share information with select other parties.
Generally, the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not disclose any non-public personal information about its shareholders or former shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).
The Fund restricts access to non-public personal information about its shareholders to employees of the Fund’s Adviser, Sub-Adviser and their delegates and affiliates with a legitimate business need for the information. The Fund maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the non-public personal information of its shareholders.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Statement of Additional Information dated as of March 29, 2016, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. A Statement of Additional Information may be obtained without charge by writing to the Fund at its address at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling the Fund toll-free at (888) 991-0091. The Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information is as follows:
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Page
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The Fund
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B–2
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Investment Objective and Policies
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B–2
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Investment Restrictions
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B–13
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Management of the Fund
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B–14
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Portfolio Transactions
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B–27
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Net Asset Value
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B–28
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Taxation
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B–29
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General Information
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B–34
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Financial Statements
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B–35
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Appendix A—Description of Securities Ratings
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B–A–1
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Appendix B—Proxy Voting Procedures
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B–B–1
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$268,593,405
Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund
Common Shares
_____________
PROSPECTUS
_____________
March 29, 2016
The use of interest rate, total return, currency, credit default and other swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund would be unfavorably affected.
Additional Risks Relating to Derivative Instruments
Legislation and Regulation Risk. Neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser is registered as a Commodity Pool Operator. The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments described in the Prospectus and this SAI are not limited by or subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act or otherwise regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which was signed into law in July 2010, has resulted in significant revisions to the U.S. financial regulatory framework. The Dodd-Frank Act covers a broad range of topics, including, among many others, a reorganization of federal financial regulators; a process designed to ensure financial system stability and the resolution of potentially insolvent financial firms; new rules for derivatives trading; the creation of a consumer financial protection watchdog; the registration and regulation of managers of private funds; the regulation of credit rating agencies; and new federal requirements for residential mortgage loans. The regulation of various types of derivative instruments pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act may adversely affect MLPs and other issuers in which the Fund invests that utilize derivatives strategies for hedging or other purposes. The ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, and resulting regulation, is not yet certain and issuers in which the Fund invests may also be affected by the new legislation and regulation in ways that are currently unforeseeable.
On December 11, 2015, the SEC published a proposed rule that, if adopted, would change the regulation of the use of derivative instruments and financial commitment transactions by registered investment companies. The SEC sought public comments on numerous aspects of the proposed rule, and as a result the nature of any final regulations is uncertain at this time. Such regulations could limit the implementation of the Fund’s use of derivatives and impose additional compliance costs on the Fund, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund.
Amended Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Rule 4.5 permits investment advisers to registered investment companies to claim an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) with respect to a fund, provided certain requirements are met. In order for the Adviser to continue to claim this exclusion with respect to the Fund, the Fund must limit its transactions in futures, options on futures and swaps (excluding transactions entered into for “bona fide hedging purposes,” as defined under CFTC regulations) such that either: (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish its futures, options on futures and swaps do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions; or (ii) the aggregate net notional value of its futures, options on futures and swaps does not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions. Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to regulation under the CEA or otherwise regulated by the CFTC. If the Adviser were unable to claim the exclusion with respect to the Fund, the Adviser would become subject to registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator, which would subject the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Fund to additional registration and regulatory requirements and increased operating expenses.
B–11
Special Risk Considerations Relating to Futures and Options Thereon. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in futures contracts and options thereon will be subject to the development and maintenance of liquid markets. Although the Fund generally will purchase or sell only those futures contracts and options thereon for which there appears to be a liquid market, there is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract or option thereon at any particular time. In the event no liquid market exists for a particular futures contract or option thereon in which the Fund maintains a position, it will not be possible to effect a closing transaction in that contract or to do so at a satisfactory price and the Fund would either have to make or take delivery under the futures contract or, in the case of a written option, wait to sell the underlying securities until the option expires or is exercised or, in the case of a purchased option, exercise the option. In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon that the Fund has written and that the Fund is unable to close, the Fund would be required to maintain margin deposits on the futures contract or option thereon and to make variation margin payments until the contract is closed.
Successful use of futures contracts and options thereon by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Sub-Adviser to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates. If the Sub-Adviser’s expectations are not met, the Fund will be in a worse position than if a hedging strategy had not been pursued. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates that would adversely affect the price of securities in its portfolio and the price of such securities increases instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its securities because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities to meet the requirements. These sales may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices which reflect the rising market. The Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.
Additional Risks of Foreign Options, Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts and Forward Contracts. Options, futures contracts and options thereon and forward contracts on securities may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in the foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States and (v) lesser trading volume.
Segregation and Cover Requirements. Futures contracts, swaps, caps, floors and collars, options on securities, indices and futures contracts sold by the Fund are generally subject to earmarking and coverage requirements of either the CFTC or the SEC, with the result that, if the Fund does not hold the security or futures contract underlying the instrument, the Fund will be required to designate on its books and records on an ongoing basis, cash or liquid securities in an amount at least equal to the Fund’s obligations with respect to such instruments. Such amounts fluctuate as the obligations increase or decrease. The earmarking requirement can result in the Fund maintaining securities positions it would otherwise liquidate, segregating assets at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so or otherwise restrict portfolio management.
Loans of Portfolio Securities
Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and the Fund’s investment restrictions, the Fund is permitted to lend its portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are at least equal to the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the same time earns interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations. The Fund’s loans of portfolio securities will be collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed 33% of the value of the Fund’s total managed assets.
B–12
A loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day notice, or by the Fund on five business days notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within five days after receipt of notice, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Fund’s management to be creditworthy and when the income that can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. The board of trustees of the Fund (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Board”) will oversee the creditworthiness of the contracting parties on an ongoing basis. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Fund. The risks associated with loans of portfolio securities are substantially similar to those associated with repurchase agreements. Thus, if the counterparty to the loan petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss. When voting or consent rights that accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund’s investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.
The Fund has no present intention to lend its portfolio securities.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund operates under the following restrictions that constitute fundamental policies that, except as otherwise noted, cannot be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund voting together as a single class, which is defined by the 1940 Act as the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. Except as otherwise noted, all percentage limitations set forth below apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations does not require any action. With respect to the limitations on the issuance of senior securities, the percentage limitations apply at the time of issuance and on an ongoing basis. These restrictions provide that the Fund shall not:
1. Issue senior securities nor borrow money, except the Fund may issue senior securities or borrow money to the extent permitted by applicable law.
2. Act as an underwriter of securities issued by others, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under applicable securities laws.
3. Purchase or sell real estate except that the Fund may: (a) acquire or lease office space for its own use, (b) invest in securities of issuers that invest in real estate or interests therein or that are engaged in or operate in the real estate industry, (c) invest in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, (d) purchase and sell mortgage-related securities, (e) hold and sell real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities and (f) as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
4. Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments; provided that this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts and related options thereon, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and any other financial instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities or as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
5. Make loans of money or property to any person, except (a) to the extent that securities or interests in which the Fund may invest are considered to be loans, (b) through the loan of portfolio securities in an amount up to 33% of the Fund’s total managed assets, (c) by engaging in repurchase agreements or (d) as may otherwise be permitted by applicable law.
B–13
6. Concentrate our investments in a particular “industry,” as that term is used in the 1940 Act and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; provided, however, that this concentration limitation does not apply to (a) our investments in MLP entities, which will be concentrated in the industry or group of industries that comprise the energy sector, (b) our investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or tax-exempt securities of state and municipal governments or their political subdivisions, (c) when the Fund has taken a temporary defensive position, or (d) as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Board of Trustees
Overall responsibility for management and supervision of the Fund rests with its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees approves all significant agreements between the Fund and the companies that furnish the Fund with services, including agreements with the Adviser and with the Sub-Adviser.
The Trustees are divided into three classes. Trustees serve until their successors have been duly elected.
Following is a list of the names, business addresses, dates of birth, present positions with the Fund, length of time served with the Fund, principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships held by each Trustee.
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Number of
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Term of
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Portfolios
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Office(2) and
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Principal
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in Fund
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Other Directorships
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Name,
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Position Held
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Length of
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Occupation
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Complex(3)
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Held by Trustee
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Business Address(1)
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with the
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Time
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During Past Five
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Overseen
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During the Past
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and Year of Birth
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Fund
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Served
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Years
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by Trustee
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Five Years
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INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:
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Randall C. Barnes
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Trustee
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Trustee
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Private Investor
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105
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Current: Purpose
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Year of birth: 1951
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since 2004
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(2001-present). Formerly,
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Investments, Inc.
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Senior Vice President and
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(2014-present).
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Treasurer, PepsiCo, Inc.
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(1993-1997), President,
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Pizza Hut International
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(1991-1993) and Senior
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Vice President, Strategic
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Planning and New Business
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Development, PepsiCo,
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Inc. (1987-1990).
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Donald A. Chubb, Jr.
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Trustee
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Trustee
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Business broker and manager
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101
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Current: Midland Care,
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Year of Birth: 1946
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since 2014
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of commercial real estate,
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Inc. (2011-present).
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Griffith & Blair, Inc.
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(1997-present).
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Jerry B. Farley
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Trustee
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Trustee
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President, Washburn
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101
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Current: Westar
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Year of Birth: 1946
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since 2014
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University (1999-present).
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Energy, Inc. (2004-
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present); CoreFirst Bank &
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Trust (2000-present).
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Roman Friedrich III
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Trustee
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Trustee
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Founder and Managing Partner |
101
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Current: Zincore Metals,
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Year of Birth: 1946
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since 2011
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of Roman Friedrich &
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Inc. (2009-present).
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Company (1998-present).
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|
|
Formerly, Senior Managing
|
|
Former: Axiom Gold and
|
|
|
|
Director of MLV &
|
|
Silver Corp. (2011-2012).
|
|
|
|
Co., LLC (2010-2011).
|
|
|
B–14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
Term of
|
|
Portfolios
|
|
|
|
Office(2) and
|
Principal
|
in Fund
|
Other Directorships
|
Name,
|
Position Held
|
Length of
|
Occupation
|
Complex(3)
|
Held by Trustee
|
Business Address(1)
|
with the
|
Time
|
During Past Five
|
Overseen
|
During the Past
|
and Year of Birth
|
Fund
|
Served
|
Years
|
by Trustee
|
Five Years
|
Robert B. Karn III
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Consultant (1998-present).
|
101
|
Current: Peabody
|
Year of birth: 1942
|
|
since 2004
|
Formerly, Arthur Anderson
|
|
Energy Company (2003-
|
|
|
|
(1965-1997) and Managing
|
|
present); GP Natural
|
|
|
|
Partner, Financial and Economic
|
Resource Partners LLC
|
|
|
|
Consulting, St. Louis office
|
|
(2002-present).
|
|
|
|
(1987-1997).
|
|
|
|
Ronald A. Nyberg
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Partner of Nyberg &
|
107
|
Current: Edward-Elmhurst
|
Year of birth: 1953
|
|
since 2004
|
Cassioppi, LLC (2000-
|
|
System (2012-present).
|
|
|
|
present). Formerly, Executive
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President, General
|
|
|
|
|
|
Counsel and Corporate
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secretary of Van Kampen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments (1982-1999).
|
|
|
|
Maynard F. Oliverius
|
Trustee
|
Trustee
|
Retired. Formerly, President
|
101
|
Current: Fort Hays State
|
Year of Birth: 1943
|
|
since 2014
|
and Chief Executive Officer,
|
|
University Foundation
|
|
|
|
Stormont-Vail HealthCare
|
|
(1999-present); Stormont-
|
|
|
|
(1996-2012).
|
|
Vail Foundation (2013-
|
|
|
|
|
|
present); University of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minnesota MHA Alumni
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philanthropy Committee
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2009-present).
|
|
Ronald E.
|
Trustee;
|
Trustee
|
Portfolio Consultant (2010-
|
104
|
Former: Bennett Group of
|
Toupin, Jr.
|
Chairperson
|
since 2004
|
present). Formerly, Vice
|
|
Funds (2011-2013).
|
Year of birth: 1958
|
|
|
President, Manager and
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager of Nuveen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset Management (1998-1999),
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President of Nuveen
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Advisory Corp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1992-1999), Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Manager of Nuveen Unit
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Trusts (1991-1999)
|
|
|
|
|
and Assistant Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Portfolio Manager of Nuveen
|
|
|
|
|
Unit Investment Trusts
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1988-1999), each of John Nuveen
|
|
|
|
|
& Co., Inc. (1982-1999).
|
|
|
B–15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
Term of
|
|
Portfolios
|
|
|
|
Office(2) and
|
Principal
|
in Fund
|
Other Directorships
|
Name,
|
Position Held
|
Length of
|
Occupation
|
Complex(3)
|
Held by Trustee
|
Business Address(1)
|
with the
|
Time
|
During Past Five
|
Overseen
|
During the Past
|
and Year of Birth
|
Fund
|
Served
|
Years
|
by Trustee
|
Five Years
|
INTERESTED TRUSTEE:
|
|
|
|
|
Donald C.
|
Trustee;
|
Trustee
|
President and CEO of
|
236
|
Current: Clear Spring
|
Cacciapaglia*
|
Chief
|
since 2012
|
certain other funds in the Fund
|
Life Insurance Company
|
Year of Birth: 1951
|
Executive
|
|
Complex (2012-present);
|
|
(2015-present);
|
|
Officer
|
Chief
|
Vice Chairman of Guggenheim
|
Guggenheim Partners
|
|
|
Executive
|
Investments (2010-present).
|
|
Japan Ltd. (2014-present);
|
|
|
Officer
|
Formerly, Chairman and CEO
|
Delaware Life (2013-
|
|
|
since 2012
|
of Channel Capital Group Inc.
|
present); Guggenheim
|
|
|
|
and Channel Capital Group
|
|
Life and Annuity Company
|
|
|
|
LLC. (2002-2010).
|
|
(2011-present); Paragon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life Insurance Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
of Indiana (2011-present).
|
|
|
*
|
Mr. Cacciapaglia is an interested person of the Fund because of his position as an officer of the Adviser and certain its affiliates.
|
|
|
(1)
|
The business address of each Trustee of the Fund is 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Each Trustee serves a three year term concurrent with the class of Trustees for which he serves. Generally, the Trustees of only one class are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders, so that the regular term of only one class of Trustees will expire annually and any particular Trustee stands for election only once in each three year period.
|
|
—Messrs. Barnes, Cacciapaglia and Chubb serve as Class I Trustees.
|
|
—Dr. Farley and Messrs. Friedrich and Nyberg serve as Class II Trustees.
|
|
—Messrs. Karn, Oliverius and Toupin serve as Class III Trustees.
|
|
|
(3)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the “Fund Complex” consists of 14 closed-end funds, including the Fund, 65 exchange-traded funds and 161 open-end funds advised or serviced by the Adviser or its affiliates. The Fund Complex is overseen by multiple boards of trustees.
|
Trustee Qualifications
The Trustees were selected to serve and continue on the Board based upon their skills, experience, judgment, analytical ability, diligence, ability to work effectively with other Trustees, availability and commitment to attend meetings and perform the responsibilities of a Trustee and, for each Independent Trustee, a demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning view of management.
The following is a summary of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each Trustee that support the conclusion, as of the date of this SAI, that each Trustee should serve as a Trustee in light of the Fund’s business and structure. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees do not constitute the holding out of any Trustee as being an expert under Section 7 of the 1933 Act.
Randall C. Barnes . Mr. Barnes has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2004. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund, employment experience as President of Pizza Hut International and as Treasurer of PepsiCo, Inc. and his personal investment experience. Mr. Barnes is experienced in financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
Donald C. Cacciapaglia. Mr. Cacciapaglia has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2012. Mr. Cacciapaglia has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry and has experience in financial, regulatory, distribution and investment matters.
Donald A. Chubb, Jr. Mr. Chubb has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 1994. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund, his experience in the commercial brokerage and commercial real estate market, and his prior experience, including as a director of Fidelity State Bank and Trust Company (Topeka, KS), Mr. Chubb is experienced in financial, regulatory and investment matters.
B–16
Dr. Jerry B. Farley. Dr. Farley has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2005. Dr. Farley currently serves as President of Washburn University and previously served in various executive positions for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. He has also been a Certified Public Accountant since 1972 and, although he has not practiced public accounting, his business responsibilities at education institutions have included all aspects of financial management and reporting. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and his experience in the administration of the academic, business and fiscal operations of educational institutions, including currently serving as President of Washburn University, and service on other boards, Dr. Farley is experienced in accounting, financial, regulatory and investment matters.
Roman Friedrich III. Mr. Friedrich has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and as chairperson of the Contracts Review Committee, his service on other public company boards, his experience as Founder and Managing Partner of Roman Friedrich & Company, a financial advisory firm, and his prior experience as a senior executive of various financial securities firms, Mr. Friedrich is experienced in financial, investment and regulatory matters.
Robert B. Karn III. Mr. Karn has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2004. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and as chairman of the Audit Committee, his service on other public and private company boards, his experience as an accountant and consultant, and his prior experience, including Managing Partner of the Financial and Economic Consulting Practice of the St. Louis office of Arthur Andersen, LLP, Mr. Karn is experienced in accounting, financial, investment and regulatory matters. The Board has determined that Mr. Karn is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC.
Ronald A. Nyberg. Mr. Nyberg has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and as chairman of the Nominating & Governance Committee, his professional training and experience as an attorney and partner of a law firm, Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC, and his prior employment experience, including Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Van Kampen Investments, an asset management firm, Mr. Nyberg is experienced in financial, regulatory and governance matters.
Maynard F. Oliverius. Mr. Oliverius has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 1998. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and his prior experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Stormont-Vail HealthCare and service on the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association, Mr. Oliverius is experienced in financial and regulatory matters.
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. Mr. Toupin has served as a trustee of certain funds in the Fund Complex since 2003. Through his service as a Trustee of the Fund and as chairman of the Board, and his professional training and prior employment experience, including Vice President and Portfolio Manager for Nuveen Asset Management, an asset management firm, Mr. Toupin is experienced in financial, regulatory and investment matters.
Each Trustee also now has considerable familiarity with the Adviser and other service providers, and their operations, as well as the special regulatory requirements governing registered investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company trustees as a result of his substantial prior service as a Trustee of the Fund and/or other Funds in the Fund Complex, or, with respect to Mr. Cacciapaglia, his extensive experience in the financial industry, including his experience with the parent of the Adviser. The Board annually conducts as “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board is reviewed.
B–17
Executive Officers
The following information relates to the executive officers of the Fund who are not Trustees. The Fund’s officers receive no compensation from the Fund but may also be officers or employees of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or affiliates of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser and may receive compensation in such capacities.
|
|
|
|
Name,
|
|
Term of Office(2)
|
|
Business Address(1)
|
|
and Length of
|
Principal Occupations
|
and Year of Birth
|
Position
|
Time Served
|
During the Past Five Years
|
|
Amy J. Lee
|
Chief Legal Officer
|
Since 2012
|
Chief Legal Officer, certain other funds in the Fund
|
Year of Birth: 1969
|
|
|
Complex (2013-present); Senior Managing Director,
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Investments (2012-present). Formerly,
|
|
|
|
Vice President, Associate General Counsel & Assistant
|
|
|
|
Secretary, Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
|
|
|
|
and Security Benefit Corporation (2004-2012).
|
|
John Sullivan
|
Chief Financial Officer,
|
Since 2011
|
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer
|
Year of birth: 1955
|
Chief Accounting
|
|
and Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund Complex
|
|
Officer and Treasurer
|
|
(2010-present); Senior Managing Director,
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Investments (2010-present). Formerly,
|
|
|
|
Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer,
|
|
|
|
each of the funds in the Van Kampen Investments fund
|
|
|
|
complex (2004-2010). Managing Director and Head of
|
|
|
|
Fund Accounting and Administration, Morgan Stanley
|
|
|
|
Investment Management (2002-2004). Chief Financial
|
|
|
|
Officer and Treasurer, Van Kampen Funds
|
|
|
|
(1996-2004).
|
|
Joanna Catalucci
|
Chief Compliance
|
Since 2011
|
Chief Compliance Officer, certain funds in the Fund
|
Year of birth: 1966
|
Officer
|
|
Complex (2012-present); Senior Managing Director,
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Investments (2012-present). Formerly,
|
|
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer & Secretary, certain other
|
|
|
|
funds in the Fund Complex (2008-2012); Senior Vice
|
|
|
|
President & Chief Compliance Officer, Security
|
|
|
|
Investors, LLC and certain affiliates (2010-2012); Chief
|
|
|
|
Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, Rydex
|
|
|
|
Advisors, LLC and certain affiliates (2010-2011).
|
|
William H. Belden, III
|
Vice President
|
Since 2014
|
Managing Director, Guggenheim Funds Investment
|
Year of Birth: 1965
|
|
|
Advisors, LLC (2005-present). Formerly, Vice
|
|
|
|
President of Management, Northern Trust Global
|
|
|
|
Investments (1999-2005).
|
|
Bryan Stone
|
Vice President
|
Since 2014
|
Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund
|
Year of Birth: 1979
|
|
|
Complex (April 2014-present); Director, Guggenheim
|
|
|
|
Investments (2013-present). Formerly, Senior Vice
|
|
|
|
President, Neuberger Berman Group LLC (2009-
|
|
|
|
2013); Vice President, Morgan Stanley (2002-2009).
|
|
Mark E. Mathiasen
|
Secretary
|
Since 2007
|
Managing Director of Guggenheim Investments
|
Year of birth: 1978
|
|
|
(2007- present); Secretary of certain funds in the
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex.
|
|
Michael P. Megaris
|
Assistant Secretary
|
Since 2014
|
Assistant Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund
|
Year of Birth: 1984
|
|
|
Complex (April 2014-present); Senior Associate,
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Investments (2012-present). J.D.,
|
|
|
|
University of Kansas School of Law (2009-2012).
|
B–18
|
|
|
|
Name,
|
|
Term of Office(2)
|
|
Business Address(1)
|
|
and Length of
|
Principal Occupations
|
and Year of Birth
|
Position
|
Time Served
|
During the Past Five Years
|
|
Joseph M. Arruda
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
Since 2014
|
Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund
|
Year of Birth: 1966
|
|
|
Complex (2006-present); Vice President, Security
|
|
|
|
Investors, LLC (2010-present); CFO and Manager,
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC (2009-
|
|
|
|
present). Formerly, Vice President, Security Global
|
|
|
|
Investors, LLC (2010-2011); Vice President, Rydex
|
|
|
|
Advisors, LLC (2010); Vice President, Rydex
|
|
|
|
Advisors II, LLC (2010).
|
|
Mark J. Furjanic
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
Since 2008
|
Vice President, Fund Administration–Tax
|
Year of birth: 1959
|
|
|
of Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC and
|
|
|
|
Guggenheim Funds Distributors, Inc. (2005-present);
|
|
|
|
Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund
|
|
|
|
Complex. Formerly, Senior Manager for Ernst &
|
|
|
|
Young LLP (1999-2005).
|
|
James Howley
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
Since 2004
|
Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present)
|
Year of birth: 1972
|
|
|
Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in the Fund
|
|
|
|
Complex (2004-present). Formerly, Manager, Mutual
|
|
|
|
Fund Administration of Van Kampen Investments, Inc.
|
|
|
|
(2000-2004).
|
|
Kimberly Scott
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
Since 2012
|
Vice President, Guggenheim Investments
|
Year of birth: 1974
|
|
|
(2012-present); Assistant Treasurer of certain funds in
|
|
|
|
the Fund Complex. Formerly, Financial Reporting
|
|
|
|
Manager for Invesco, Ltd. (2010-2011); Vice President
|
|
|
|
and Assistant Treasurer (2009-2010), Manager (2005-
|
|
|
|
2009), Mutual Fund Administration for Van Kampen
|
|
|
|
Investments, Inc. (f/k/a Morgan Stanley Investment
|
|
|
|
Management).
|
|
|
(1)
|
The business address of each officer of the Fund is 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Each officer serves at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified or until his or her resignation or removal. The date noted reflects the first date the officer held any office with the Fund.
|
|
|
B–19
Board Leadership Structure
The primary responsibility of the Board is to represent the interests of the Fund and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. The Fund’s day-to-day operations are managed by the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and other service providers who have been approved by the Board. The Board is currently composed of nine Trustees, eight of whom (including the chairperson) are Independent Trustees. Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all the Trustees, including a majority vote of the Independent Trustees if required by applicable law.
The Board has appointed an Independent Trustee, Mr. Toupin, as chairperson, who presides at Board meetings and who is responsible for, among other things, participating in the planning of Board meetings, setting the tone of Board meetings and seeking to encourage open dialogue and independent inquiry among the Trustees and management. In addition, the chairperson acts as a liaison with officers, counsel and other Trustees between meetings of the Board. The chairperson may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has established two standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain responsibilities to those committees, each of which is composed solely of Independent Trustees. The Board and its committees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with service providers, review the Fund’s financial statements, oversee compliance with regulatory requirements, and review performance. The Board may also establish information working groups from time to time to review and address the policies and practices of the Fund or the Board with respect to certain specified matters. The Independent Trustees are represented by independent legal counsel at Board and committee meetings. The Board has determined that this leadership structure, including an Independent Trustee as chairperson, a Board made up of Independent Trustees and committee membership limited to Independent Trustees, is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund.
Board Committees
The Trustees have determined that the efficient conduct of the Board of Trustees’ affairs makes it desirable to delegate responsibility for certain specific matters to committees of the Board of Trustees. The committees meet as often as necessary, either in conjunction with regular meetings of the Board of Trustees or otherwise.
Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee, composed of Messrs. Barnes, Chubb, Friedrich, Karn, Nyberg, Oliverius, and Toupin and Dr. Farley. Mr. Karn serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee. In addition to being “Independent Trustees” (defined for purposes herein as Trustees who: (1) are not “interested persons” of the Fund as defined by the 1940 Act and (2) are “independent” of the Fund as defined by the NYSE listing standards), each of these Trustees also meets the additional independence requirements for audit committee members as defined by the NYSE. The Audit Committee is charged with selecting the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and reviewing accounting matters with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee presents the following report:
The Audit Committee has performed the following functions: (i) the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Fund with management of the Fund, (ii) the Audit Committee discussed with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114, (iii) the Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526 and has discussed with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm’s independence and (iv) the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Trustees of the Fund that the financial statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report for the past fiscal period.
Nominating and Governance Committee. The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee, composed of Messrs. Barnes, Chubb, Friedrich, Karn, Nyberg, Oliverius, and Toupin and Dr. Farley, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Nyberg serves as chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
As part of its duties, the Nominating and Governance Committee makes recommendations to the full Board with respect to candidates for the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider Trustee
B–20
candidates recommended by Shareholders. In considering candidates submitted by Shareholders, the Nominating and Governance Committee will take into consideration the needs of the Board and the qualifications of the candidate. To have a candidate considered by the Nominating and Governance Committee, a Shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the information required by the Procedures for Shareholders to Submit Nominee Candidates, which are set forth as Appendix A to the Fund’s Nominating and Governance Committee Charter. The Shareholder recommendation must be sent to the Fund’s Secretary, c/o Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Contracts Review Committee. The Board has a Contracts Review Committee, composed of Messrs. Barnes, Chubb, Friedrich, Karn, Nyberg, Oliverius and Toupin and Dr. Farley, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Friedrich serves as chairperson of the Contracts Review Committee. As part of its duties, the Contracts Review Committee oversees the contract review process, including review of the Fund’s advisory agreements and other contracts with affiliated service providers.
Board and Committee Meetings . During the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, the Board held 6 meetings, the Fund’s Audit Committee held 5 meetings, the Fund’s Nominating and Governance Committee held 4 meetings and the Fund’s Contracts Review Committee held 1 meeting.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Consistent with its responsibility for oversight of the Fund, the Board, among other things, oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment program and business affairs directly and through the committee structure it has established. The Board has established the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Contracts Review Committee to assist in its oversight functions, including its oversight of the risks the Fund faces. Each committee reports its activities to the Board on a regular basis. Risks to the Fund include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, compliance risk and operational risk, as well as the overall business risk relating to the Fund. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies, procedures and controls designed to address these different types of risks. Under the Board’s supervision, the officers of the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and other service providers to the Fund also have implemented a variety of processes, procedures and controls to address various risks. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the Fund’s advisory, sub-advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of the service providers’ operations and the functions for which they are responsible.
The Board requires officers of the Fund to report to the full Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board and its committees, as applicable, including matters relating to risk management. The Audit Committee also receives reports from the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, including separate meetings with the Independent Trustees in executive session, to discuss compliance matters and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the Chief Compliance Officer regarding the effectiveness of the Fund’s compliance program. The Board, with the assistance of Fund management, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Board receives reports from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser on the investments and securities trading of the Fund. With respect to valuation, the Board oversees a pricing committee composed of Fund officers and Adviser personnel and has approved Fair Valuation procedures applicable to valuing the Fund’s securities, which the Board and the Audit Committee periodically review. The Board also requires the Adviser to report to the Board on other matters relating to risk management on a regular and as-needed basis.
Trustee Compensation
The Fund pays an annual retainer and fee per meeting attended to each Trustee who is not affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or their respective affiliates and pays an additional annual fee to the chairman of the Board of Trustees and of any committee of the Board of Trustees. The following table provides information regarding the compensation of the Trustees for the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2015. The Fund does not accrue or pay retirement or pension benefits to Trustees as of the date of this SAI.
B–21
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
Pension or Retirement
|
|
Total Compensation
|
|
Estimated
|
Benefits Accrued
|
Estimated Annual
|
from the Fund and
|
|
Compensation
|
as Part of
|
Benefits Upon
|
Fund Complex(3)
|
Name(1)
|
from the Fund
|
Fund Expenses(2)
|
Retirement(2)
|
Paid to Trustee
|
|
Independent Trustees:
|
|
|
|
|
Randall C. Barnes
|
$22,504
|
None
|
None
|
$325,000
|
Donald A. Chubb, Jr.
|
$22,661
|
None
|
None
|
$234,500
|
Dr. Jerry B. Farley
|
$22,661
|
None
|
None
|
$234,500
|
Roman Friedrich III
|
$23,085
|
None
|
None
|
$239,000
|
Robert B. Karn III
|
$23,085
|
None
|
None
|
$239,000
|
Ronald A. Nyberg
|
$23,085
|
None
|
None
|
$400,500
|
Maynard F. Oliverius
|
$22,661
|
None
|
None
|
$234,500
|
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.
|
$26,372
|
None
|
None
|
$355,000
|
|
|
(1)
|
Trustees not entitled to compensation are not included in the table.
|
|
|
(2)
|
The Fund does not accrue or pay retirement or pension benefits to Trustees as of the date of this SAI.
|
|
|
(3)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the “Fund Complex” consists of 14 closed-end funds, including the Fund, 65 exchange-traded
|
|
funds and 161 open-end funds advised or serviced by the Adviser or its affiliates. The Fund Complex is overseen by
|
|
multiple boards of trustees.
|
Share Ownership
As of December 31, 2015, the most recently completed calendar year prior to the date of this SAI, each Trustee beneficially owned equity securities of the Fund and all registered investment companies in the Fund Complex overseen by the Trustee in the dollar range amounts specified below.
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
|
|
|
Securities in All Registered Investment
|
|
Dollar Range of
|
Companies Overseen by Trustee in
|
Name
|
Equity Securities in the Fund
|
Fund Complex(1)
|
|
Independent Trustees:
|
|
|
Randall C. Barnes
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Donald A. Chubb, Jr.
|
$1-$10,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Dr. Jerry B. Farley
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Roman Friedrich III
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Robert B. Karn III
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Ronald A. Nyberg
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Maynard F. Oliverius
|
$1-$10,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Interested Trustee:
|
|
|
Donald C. Cacciapaglia
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
(1)
|
As of the date of this SAI, the “Fund Complex” consists of 14 closed-end funds, including the Fund, 65 exchange-traded
|
|
funds and 161 open-end funds advised or serviced by the Adviser or its affiliates. The Fund Complex is overseen by
|
|
multiple boards of trustees.
|
B–22
Indemnification of Officers and Trustees; Limitations on Liability
The governing documents of the Fund provide that the Fund will indemnify its Trustees and officers and may indemnify its employees or agents against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, nothing in the governing documents of the Fund protects or indemnifies a trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Fund against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject in the event of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her position.
The Fund has entered into an Indemnification Agreement with each Independent Trustee, which provides that the Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless such Trustee against any and all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Trustee’s service to the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws and the laws of the State of Delaware, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless it has been finally adjudicated that (i) the Trustee is subject to such expenses by reason of the Trustee’s not having acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Fund or (ii) the Trustee is liable to the Fund or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office, as defined in Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Portfolio Management
James J. Cunnane Jr., Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Advisory Research MLP & Energy Infrastructure team (hereinafter referred to as the “MLP Team”), and Quinn T. Kiley, Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager of the MLP Team, serve as the portfolio managers for the Fund.
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers. The following table sets forth information about funds and accounts other than the Fund for which the portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management as of November 30, 2015.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed
|
Number of Other Accounts and Assets for
|
|
and Assets by Account Type
|
Which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based
|
|
Other
|
Other
|
|
Other
|
Other
|
|
|
Registered
|
Pooled
|
|
Registered
|
Pooled
|
|
Name of
|
Investment
|
Investment
|
Other
|
Investment
|
Investment
|
Other
|
Portfolio Manager
|
Companies
|
Vehicles
|
Accounts
|
Companies
|
Vehicles
|
Accounts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James J. Cunnane Jr.
|
5
|
2
|
533
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
$2.13 billion
|
$9 million
|
$1.33 billion
|
$0
|
$7 million
|
$0
|
|
Quinn T. Kiley
|
5
|
2
|
533
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
$2.13 billion
|
$9 million
|
$1.33 billion
|
$0
|
$7 million
|
$0
|
Potential Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or other account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple funds and/or other accounts may be presented with one or more of the following potential conflicts:
The management of multiple funds and/or other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each fund and/or other account. The Sub-Adviser seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of a portfolio manager by having the
B–23
portfolio managers’ focus on a particular investment discipline. Most other accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Fund.
If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, a fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible funds and other accounts. To deal with these situations, the MLP Team and the Fund have adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple accounts. With respect to securities transactions for the funds, the MLP Team determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts (such as other funds for which the MLP Team acts as sub-adviser, other pooled investment vehicles that are not registered mutual funds, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals), the MLP Team may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, trades for a fund in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, such other accounts. Having separate transactions with respect to a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the possible detriment of the Fund or other account(s) involved.
The MLP Team and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Portfolio Manager Compensation . As of November 30, 2015, the portfolio managers’ compensation consisted of the following elements:
|
|
|
|
• |
Base Salary. The primary portfolio managers are paid a base salary which is set at a level
|
|
|
determined to be appropriate based upon the portfolio managers’ experience and responsibilities.
|
|
|
|
|
• |
Annual Bonus. The portfolio managers’ annual bonus is determined by the CEO of the Sub-
|
|
|
Adviser pursuant to a specific company formula. The bonuses are not based on the performance of
|
|
|
the registrant or other managed accounts. The monies paid are directly derived from a “pool”
|
|
|
created from the MLP Team’s earnings. The bonus is payable in a combination of cash and
|
|
|
restricted Piper Jaffray Companies stock.
|
|
|
|
|
• |
The portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans and programs generally available to
|
|
|
all employees.
|
Securities Ownership of the Portfolio Manager . As of November 30, 2015 the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by the portfolio manager is shown below:
James J. Cunnane, Jr.: $100,001-$500,000
Quinn T. Kiley: $100,001-$500,000
The Advisory Agreement
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, a subsidiary of Guggenheim Funds Services, LLC. (“Guggenheim Funds”), acts as the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is a registered investment adviser and acts as investment adviser to a number of closed-end and open-end investment companies. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company with principal offices located at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
B–24
Guggenheim Funds is a subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim Partners”). Guggenheim Partners is a diversified financial services firm with wealth management, capital markets, investment management and proprietary investing businesses, whose clients are a mix of individuals, family offices, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and other institutions that have entrusted Guggenheim Partners with the supervision of more than $240 billion of assets as of December 31, 2015. Guggenheim Partners is headquartered in Chicago and New York with a global network of offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs and provides, or arranges for others to provide, at the Adviser’s expense, certain enumerated services, including maintaining the Fund’s books and records, preparing reports to the Fund’s shareholders and supervising the calculation of the net asset value of its shares. All expenses of computing the net asset value of the Fund, including any equipment or services obtained solely for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing its investment portfolio, will be an expense of the Fund unless the Adviser voluntarily assumes responsibility for such expense.
The Advisory Agreement had an initial term of one year and thereafter remains in effect from year to year if approved annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities and (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Advisory Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically on its assignment and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice at the option of either party thereto or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding shares.
The Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties thereunder, the Adviser is not liable for any error or judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund. The Fund has agreed that the name “Claymore” is licensed to the Adviser and that in the event the Adviser ceases to act as an investment adviser to the Fund, the Fund will change its name to one not including “Claymore.”
|
|
|
|
Advisory Fees.
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended November 30,
|
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
The Adviser received net advisory fees of:
|
$10,241,557
|
$11,405,683
|
$8,609,496
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Sub-Advisory Agreement
Advisory Research, Inc., acts as the Fund’s sub-adviser (the “Sub-Adviser”), pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement among the Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). The Sub-Adviser is a Delaware corporation with principal offices at 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Suite 5500, Chicago, Illinois 60601. The Sub-Adviser is a registered investment adviser.
The MLP Team is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities. As of November 30, 2015, the MLP Team managed approximately $4.4 billion in MLP and energy infrastructure assets for open and closed end mutual funds, public and corporate pension plans, endowments and foundations and private wealth individuals. The MLP Team believes that investment decisions should always be guided by a disciplined, risk-aware strategy that seeks to add value in all market environments. Their unique investment philosophy is multifaceted, utilizing macroeconomic analysis, disciplined security selection, cost-controlled trading procedures, continuous risk analysis and an unwavering focus on achieving shareholder objectives.
Under the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser manages the portfolio of the Fund in accordance with its stated investment objective and policies, makes investment decisions for the Fund, places orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Fund and manages its other business and affairs, all subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Adviser.
B–25
The Sub-Advisory Agreement had an initial term of one year and thereafter remains in effect from year to year if approved annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities and (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement terminates automatically on its assignment and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days written notice at the option of either party thereto, by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding shares.
The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties thereunder, the Sub-Adviser is not liable for any error or judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund. The Fund has agreed that the name “Fiduciary” is the Sub-Adviser’s property, and that in the event the Sub-Adviser ceases to act as sub-advisor to the Fund, the Fund will change its name to one not including “Fiduciary.”
Sub-Advisory Fees.
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended November 30,
|
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
The Sub-Adviser received net sub-advisory
|
|
|
|
fees of:
|
$5,120,779
|
$5,702,842
|
$4,304,748
|
Other Agreements
Administration Agreement. Rydex Fund Services, LLC, an affiliate of Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, serves as administrator to the Fund. Pursuant to an administration agreement, dated May 13, 2013 (the “Administration Agreement”), Rydex Fund Services, LLC is responsible for: (1) coordinating with the custodian and transfer agent and monitoring the services they provide to the Fund, (2) coordinating with and monitoring any other third parties furnishing services to the Fund, (3) supervising the maintenance by third parties of such books and records of the Funds as may be required by applicable federal or state law, (4) preparing or supervising the preparation by third parties of all federal, state and local tax returns and reports of the Fund required by applicable law, (5) preparing and, after approval by the Fund, filing and arranging for the distribution of proxy materials and periodic reports to shareholders of the Fund as required by applicable law, (6) preparing and, after approval by the Fund, arranging for the filing of such registration statements and other documents with the SEC and other federal and state regulatory authorities as may be required by applicable law, (7) reviewing and submitting to the officers of the Fund for their approval invoices or other requests for payment of the Fund’s expenses and instructing the custodian to issue checks in payment thereof and (8) taking such other action with respect to the Fund as may be necessary in the opinion of the administrator to perform its duties under the administration agreement. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Fund pays Rydex Fund Services, LLC a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annualized rate of 0.0275% for the first $200 million of Managed Assets, 0.0200% for the next $300 million of Managed Assets, 0.0150% for the next $500 million of Managed Assets and 0.0100% for Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion. Previously, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC served as administrator to the Fund pursuant to an administration agreement with the same fee rates as the Administration Agreement. The administration fees paid to Rydex Fund Services, LLC and to Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC pursuant to the prior administration agreement are set forth below.
|
|
|
|
Administration Fees.
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended November 30,
|
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
Rydex Fund Services, LLC
|
|
|
|
received administration fees of:
|
$191,308
|
$205,233
|
$92,150
|
|
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC
|
|
|
|
received administration fees of:
|
$0
|
$0
|
$82,978
|
B–26
Fund Accounting Agreement. Through the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, the Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”) served as fund accounting agent to the Fund. On May 14, 2013, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved Rydex Fund Services, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser, to replace BNY as the accounting agent effective December 1, 2013. Pursuant to a Fund Accounting Agreement, dated December 1, 2013 (the “Fund Accounting Agreement”), Rydex Fund Services, LLC is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s securities and cash. Pursuant to the Fund Accounting Agreement, The Fund pays Rydex Fund Services, LLC an accounting fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annualized rate of 0.0300% for the first $200 million of Managed Assets, 0.0150% for the next $300 million of Managed Assets, 0.0100% for the next $500 million of Managed Assets and 0.0075% for Managed Assets in excess of $1 billion.
|
|
|
|
Fund Accounting Fees.
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended November 30,
|
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
Rydex Fund Services, LLC
|
|
|
|
received administration fees of:
|
$156,711
|
$169,301
|
$0
|
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and the allocation of brokerage on behalf of the Fund. Transactions in equity securities are in most cases effected on U.S. stock exchanges and involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. In general, there may be no stated commission in the case of securities traded in over-the-counter markets, but the prices of those securities may include undisclosed commissions or mark-ups. Principal transactions are not entered into with affiliates of the Fund. The Fund has no obligations to deal with any broker or group of brokers in executing transactions in portfolio securities. In executing transactions, the Sub-Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price, size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. While the Sub-Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, the Fund does not necessarily pay the lowest commission available.
Subject to obtaining the best price and execution, brokers who provide supplemental research, market and statistical information to the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates may receive orders for transactions by the Fund. The term “research, market and statistical information” includes advice as to the value of securities, and advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and furnishing analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts. Information so received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, and the expenses of the Sub-Adviser will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such information may be useful to Sub-Adviser and its affiliates in providing services to clients other than the Fund, and not all such information is used by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates by brokers and dealers through whom other clients of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates effect securities transactions may be useful to the Sub-Adviser in providing services to the Fund.
Although investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of the other accounts managed by the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates, investments of the kind made by the Fund may also be made by those other accounts. When the same securities are purchased for or sold by the Fund and any of such other accounts, it is the policy of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates to allocate such purchases and sales in the manner deemed fair and equitable to all of the accounts, including the Fund.
B–27
Commissions Paid. Unless otherwise disclosed below, the Fund paid no commissions to affiliated brokers during the last three fiscal years. The Fund paid approximately the following commissions to brokers during the fiscal years shown:
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended November 30:
|
All Brokers
|
Affiliated Brokers
|
|
|
|
2015
|
$283,665
|
$0
|
|
|
|
2014
|
$99,000
|
$0
|
|
|
|
2013
|
$545,000
|
$0
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year 2015 Percentages:
|
|
|
Commissions with affiliate to total transactions
|
|
0%
|
|
|
|
Value of brokerage transactions with affiliate to total transactions
|
|
0%
|
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2015, the Fund paid $0 in brokerage commissions on transactions totaling $0 to brokers selected primarily on the basis of research services provided to the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser.
NET ASSET VALUE
The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s net asset value set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Net Asset Value.”
Deferred Tax Expense/Benefit
As a limited partner in the MLPs, the Fund includes its allocable share of the MLP’s taxable income in computing its own taxable income. Because the Fund is treated as a “C” corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund will incur tax expenses. In calculating the Fund’s net asset value, the Fund will account for its deferred tax liability and/or asset.
The Fund will accrue a deferred income tax liability, at an assumed federal, state and local income tax rate, for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Fund on equity securities of MLPs considered to be return of capital. Any deferred tax liability will reduce the Fund’s net asset value.
The Fund will accrue a deferred tax asset which reflects an estimate of the Fund’s future tax benefit associated with realized and unrealized net operating losses and capital losses. Any deferred tax asset will increase the Fund’s net asset value. To the extent the Fund has a deferred tax asset, consideration is given as to whether or not a valuation allowance is required, which would offset the value of some or all of the deferred tax asset. The need to establish a valuation allowance for a deferred tax asset is assessed periodically by the Fund based on the criterion established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Codification 740 (ASC 740, formerly SAFS No. 109) that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax asset. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability (which are highly dependent on future MLP cash distributions), the duration of statutory carryforward periods and the associated risk that operating loss carryforwards may expire unused. However, this assessment generally may not consider the potential for market value increases with respect to the Fund’s investments in equity securities of MLPs or any other securities or assets.
At November 30, 2015, the Fund had a net deferred tax liability of $101,849,856, and a net operating loss carryforward of $0. Realization of the deferred tax assets and net operating loss carryforwards are dependent, in part, on generating sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of the loss carryforwards.
B–28
When assessing the recoverability of any deferred tax asset, significant weight is given to the Fund’s forecast of future taxable income, which is based principally on the expected continuation of MLP cash distributions at or near current levels. Consideration is also given to the effects of the potential of additional future realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments and the period over which deferred tax assets can be realized, as the expiration dates for the federal tax net operating loss carryforwards range from fifteen to eighteen years and capital loss carryforwards expire in five years. Recovery of a deferred tax asset is dependent on future generation of taxable income. The Fund will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in the future. The Fund will review its financial forecasts in relation to actual results and expected trends on an ongoing basis. If a valuation allowance is required in the future, it could have an impact on the Fund’s net assets and results of operations in the period it is recorded.
The Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset is estimated using estimates of effective tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years such taxes are realized. For purposes of estimating the Fund’s deferred tax liability and/or asset for financial statement reporting and determining its net asset value, the Fund will be required to rely, to some extent, on information provided by the MLPs in which it invests. Such information may not be received in a timely manner, with the result that the Fund’s estimates regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset could vary dramatically from the Fund’s actual tax liability and, as a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability may have a material impact on the Fund’s net asset value. From time to time, the Fund may modify its estimates or assumptions regarding its deferred tax liability and/or asset as new information becomes available. Modifications of such estimates or assumptions or changes in applicable tax law could result in increases or decreases in the Fund’s net asset value per share, which could be material.
TAXATION
This section and the discussion in the Prospectus (see “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) provide a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to U.S. Shareholders (as defined in the Prospectus) that acquire Common Shares pursuant to this offering and that hold such Common Shares as capital assets (generally, for investment). The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations, judicial authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). This summary does not address all of the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to the Fund or to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special tax rules. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth below. Prospective investors must consult their own tax advisors as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Common Shares, as well as the effects of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.
The Fund
The Fund is treated as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Fund generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income at the graduated rates applicable to corporations (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). In addition, as a regular corporation, the Fund is subject to state and local income taxation, including by reason of its investments in equity securities of MLPs. Therefore, the Fund may have state and local income tax liabilities (or benefits) in multiple states. The Fund may be subject to a 20% alternative minimum tax on its alternative minimum taxable income to the extent that the alternative minimum tax exceeds the Fund’s regular income tax liability. The extent to which the Fund is required to pay U.S. corporate income tax or alternative minimum tax could materially reduce the Fund’s cash available to make distributions on the Common Shares. The Fund does not expect that it will be eligible to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company because the Fund intends to invest more than 25% of its assets in the equity securities of MLPs.
B–29
Certain Fund Investments
MLP Equity Securities . MLPs are similar to corporations in many respects, but differ in others, especially in the way they are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A corporation is required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its income, and, to the extent the corporation distributes its income to its shareholders in the form of dividends from earnings and profits, its shareholders are required to pay U.S. federal income tax on such dividends. For this reason, it is said that corporate income is taxed at two levels. Unlike a corporation, an MLP is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership, which means no U.S. federal income tax is generally paid at the partnership entity level. A partnership’s net income and net gains are considered earned by all of its partners and are generally allocated among all the partners in proportion to their interests in the partnership. Each partner pays tax on its share of the partnership’s net income and net gains regardless of whether the partnership distributes cash to the partners. All the other items (such as losses, deductions and expenses) that go into determining taxable income and tax owed are passed through to the partners as well. Partnership income is thus said to be taxed only at one level—at the partner level.
The Code generally requires all publicly-traded partnerships to be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If, however, a publicly-traded partnership satisfies certain requirements, the publicly-traded partnership will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such publicly-traded partnerships are referred to herein as MLPs. Under these requirements, an MLP is required to receive 90 percent of its gross income for each taxable year from qualifying sources, such as interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for the production of income described in the foregoing, and, in certain circumstances, income and gain from commodities or futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities. Mineral or natural resources activities include exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and transportation (including pipelines), of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal energy, fertilizers, timber or industrial source carbon dioxide. Many MLPs today are in energy, timber or real estate related (including mortgage securities) businesses.
Although distributions from MLPs resemble corporate dividends, they are treated differently for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A distribution from an MLP is not itself taxable (since income of the MLP is taxable to its investors even if not distributed) to the extent of the investor’s basis in its MLP interest and is treated as capital gain to the extent the distribution exceeds the investor’s basis (see description below as to how an MLP investor’s basis is calculated) in the MLP.
To the extent that the Fund invests in the equity securities of an MLP, the Fund will be a partner in such MLP. Accordingly, the Fund will be required to include in its taxable income the Fund’s allocable share of the income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses recognized by each such MLP, regardless of whether the MLP distributes cash to the Fund. Based upon a review of the historic results of the type of MLPs in which the Fund has invested and in which the Fund intends to invest, the Fund expects that the cash distributions it will receive with respect to its investments in equity securities of MLPs will exceed the taxable income allocated to the Fund from such MLPs. No assurance, however, can be given in this regard. If this expectation is not realized, the Fund will have a larger corporate income tax expense than expected, which will result in less cash available to distribute to shareholders.
The Fund will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an equity security of an MLP equal to the difference between the amount realized by the Fund on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in such equity security. Any such gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular graduated corporate rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%), regardless of how long the Fund has held such equity security. The amount realized by the Fund generally will be the amount paid by the purchaser of the equity security plus the Fund’s allocable share, if any, of the MLP’s debt that will be allocated to the purchaser as a result of the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition. The Fund’s tax basis in its equity securities in an MLP is generally equal to the amount the Fund paid for the equity securities, (i) increased by the Fund’s allocable share of the MLP’s net taxable income and certain MLP debt, if any, and (ii) decreased by the Fund’s allocable share of the MLP’s net losses and any distributions received by the Fund from the MLP. Although any distribution by an MLP to the Fund in excess of the Fund’s allocable share of such MLP’s net taxable income may create a temporary economic benefit to the Fund, such distribution will increase the amount of gain (or decrease the amount of loss) that will be recognized on the sale of an equity security in the MLP by the Fund.
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The Fund’s allocable share of certain percentage depletion deductions and intangible drilling costs of the MLP’s in which the Fund invests may be treated as items of tax preference for purposes of calculating the Fund’s alternative minimum taxable income. Such items will increase the Fund’s alternative minimum taxable income and increase the likelihood that the Fund may be subject to the alternative minimum tax.
Notwithstanding that partnerships such as MLPs are generally not subject to income tax at the entity level, recently enacted legislation (which by its terms is scheduled to become effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017) generally requires that taxes, penalties, and interest associated with an audit of a partnership be assessed and collected at the partnership level. Accordingly, even if an MLP in which we invest were to remain classified as a partnership, it could be required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties as a result of an audit adjustment, and we, as a direct or indirect partner of such MLP, could be required to bear the economic burden of those taxes, interest and penalties, which would reduce the value of the Common Shares.
Other Investments. Certain of the Fund’s investment practices may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iii) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (iv) adversely affect when taxable income must be recognized or the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, or (v) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions.
The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options and futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies), to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions of the Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions” and “straddles”) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses recognized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary versus capital or short-term versus long-term), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These provisions also (i) will require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year) and (ii) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving the corresponding amount cash.
If the Fund invests in debt obligations having original issue discount, the Fund may recognize taxable income from such investments in excess of any cash received therefrom.
Foreign Investments. Dividends or other income (including, in some cases, capital gains) received by the Fund from investments in foreign securities may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. Foreign taxes paid by the Fund will reduce the return from the Fund’s investments. Shareholders will not be entitled to claim credits or deductions on their own tax returns for foreign taxes paid by the Fund.
U.S. Shareholders
Distributions. Distributions by the Fund of cash or property in respect of the Common Shares will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) and will be includible in gross income by a U.S. Shareholder upon receipt. Any such dividend will be eligible for the dividends received deduction if received by an otherwise qualifying corporate U.S. Shareholder that meets the holding period and other requirements for the dividends received deduction. Dividends paid by the Fund to certain non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are eligible for U.S. federal income taxation at the rates generally applicable to long-term capital gains for individuals, provided that the U.S. Shareholder receiving the dividend satisfies applicable holding period and other requirements.
If the amount of a Fund distribution exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares (reducing that basis accordingly), and thereafter as capital gain. Any such capital gain will be long-term capital gain if such U.S. Shareholder has held the applicable Common Shares for more than one year. A distribution will be wholly or partially taxable to a shareholder if the Fund has current earnings and profits (as
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determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) in the taxable year of the distribution, even if the Fund has an overall deficit in the Fund’s accumulated earnings and profits and/or net operating loss or capital loss carryforwards that reduce or eliminate corporate income taxes in that taxable year.
U.S. Shareholders that participate in the Fund’s Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having (i) received a cash distribution equal to the reinvested amount and (ii) reinvested such amount in Common Shares.
Sales of Common Shares. Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder has held the Common Shares for more than one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are currently subject to reduced U.S. federal income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.
A U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in its Common Shares may be less than the price paid for the Common Shares as a result of distributions by the Fund in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits (i.e., returns of capital).
UBTI. Under current law, the Fund serves to “block” unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from being realized by its tax-exempt U.S. Shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt U.S. Shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if the Common Shares constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt U.S. Shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Requirements. In general, distributions on the Common Shares, and payments of the proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the Common Shares paid to a U.S. Shareholder are subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. Shareholder (i) is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) provides an accurate taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a U.S. Shareholder will be refunded or credited against the U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Each shareholder will receive, if appropriate, various written notices after the close of the Fund’s taxable year describing the amount and the U.S. federal income tax status of distributions that were paid (or that are treated as having been paid) by the Fund to the shareholder, and the amount of any U.S. federal taxes withheld, during the preceding taxable year.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
The following discussion is a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to Non-U.S. Shareholders. Special rules may apply to certain Non-U.S. Shareholders, such as “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and certain expatriates, among others, that are subject to special treatment under the Code. Such Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.
Distributions. The gross amount of distributions by the Fund in respect of Common Shares will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by a Non-U.S. Shareholder within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and disclosure requirements (generally on a Form W-8ECI) are satisfied. Instead, such dividends are subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Shareholder were a United States person as defined under the Code. Any such effectively connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
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A Non-U.S. Shareholder who wishes to claim the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty for dividends will be required (a) to complete Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) and certify under penalty of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or (b) if Common Shares are held through certain foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations.
A Non-U.S. Shareholder eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
If the amount of a distribution to a Non-U.S. Shareholder exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares, and then as capital gain. Capital gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder as a consequence of a distribution by the Fund in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally not be subject to United States federal income tax, except as described below under the caption “—Sales of Common Shares.”
Sales of Common Shares. A Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the disposition of Common Shares unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the Non-U.S. Shareholder in the
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United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States
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permanent establishment of the Non-U.S. Shareholder);
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the Non-U.S. Shareholder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more
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in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or
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the Fund is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” at any time within the
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shorter of the five-year period ending on the date the Common Shares are sold or the period that
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such Non-U.S. holder held our Common Shares and (as long as our Common Shares are regularly
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traded on an established securities market at any time during the calendar year in which the sale,
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exchange or other disposition occurs) such Non-U.S. holder owns or owned (actually or
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constructively) more than five percent of our Common Shares at any time during the shorter of the
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two periods mentioned above.
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Gain described in the first or third bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis generally in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Shareholder were a U.S. person as defined under the Code (and, with respect to the first bullet, may be subject to an additional 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes). In the case of a Non-U.S. Shareholder described in the second bullet point above, except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty, any gain, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses, will be subject to a flat 30% tax even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States under the Code.
Generally, the Fund will be a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of its United States real property interests, as defined in the Code and applicable regulations (and which may include our interests in an MLP, depending on the circumstances), equals or exceeds 50% of the aggregate fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We have not made a determination as to whether we are currently or have been a United States real property holding corporation. Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning our status as a United States real property corporation and the tax considerations relevant to the disposition of shares in a United States real property corporation.
Additional Withholding Requirements. Under recently enacted legislation, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any dividends, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds of a sale of Common Shares to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States accountholders and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial United States owner and such entity meets certain other specified requirements. An intergovernmental
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agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future U.S. Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding these additional withholding requirements.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Principal Shareholders
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, to the knowledge of the Fund, no person beneficially owned more than 5% of the voting securities of any class of equity securities of the Fund, except as provided below:
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Amount and
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Name and Address of
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Nature of
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Percent
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Title of Class
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Beneficial Owner
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Beneficial Ownership
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of Class
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Common Shares
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First Trust Portfolios L.P.
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2,165,951
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6.45%
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First Trust Advisors L.P.
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The Charger Corporation(1)
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120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
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Wheaton, Illinois 60187
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Bank of America Corporation(2)
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1,980,116
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5.9%
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100 North Tryon Street
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Charlotte, NC 28255
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(1)
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Based on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 1, 2016
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(2)
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Based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016
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Counsel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, is special counsel to the Fund in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP, 8484 Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund and is expected to render an opinion annually on the financial statements of the Fund. The Fund’s audited financial statements appearing in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended November 30, 2015, including accompanying notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
The Fund has delegated the voting of proxies relating to its portfolio securities to the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is included as Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 851-0264. The information is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Codes of Ethics
The Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser each have adopted a code of ethics. The respective codes of ethics set forth restrictions on the trading activities of trustees/directors, officers and employees of the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and their affiliates, as applicable. The codes of ethics of the Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at (202) 942-8090.
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The codes of ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of the codes of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Fund’s audited financial statements appearing in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended November 30, 2015, including accompanying notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, as contained in the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the SEC on February 5, 2016, are incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information. Shareholder reports are available upon request and without charge by calling (888) 991-0091 or by writing the Fund at 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. All other portions of the Fund’s annual report to shareholders are not incorporated herein by reference and are not part of the Fund’s registration statement, this Statement of Additional Information, the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
Standard & Poor’s
A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Standard & Poor’s) follows:
Issue Credit Ratings Definitions
A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s analysis of the following considerations:
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Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment
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on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation.
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Nature of and provisions of the obligation, and the promise we impute.
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Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy,
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reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting
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creditors’ rights.
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Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
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AAA
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An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to
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meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
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AA
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An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s
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capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
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A
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An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances
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and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to
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meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
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B–A–1
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BBB
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An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions
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or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its
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financial commitment on the obligation.
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Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative |
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characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations |
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will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties |
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or major exposures to adverse conditions.
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BB
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An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces
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major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could
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lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
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B
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An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor
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currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial,
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or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial
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commitment on the obligation.
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CCC
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An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable
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business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
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obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to
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have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
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CC
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An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a
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default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of
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the anticipated time to default.
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C
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An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have
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lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.
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D
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An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital
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instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due,
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unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence
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of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating
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also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default
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on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating
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is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
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Plus (+) or minus (-)
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The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show
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relative standing within the major rating categories.
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NR
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This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a
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rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
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Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
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A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s
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capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain
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obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its
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financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
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B–A–2
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A-2
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A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
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circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s
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capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
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A-3
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A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic
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conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet
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its financial commitment on the obligation.
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B
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A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics.
The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
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C
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A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
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D
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A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital
instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due,
unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.
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However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The
‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and
where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An
obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
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SPUR (Standard & Poor’s Underlying Rating)
A SPUR rating is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer/obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. Standard & Poor’s maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.
Dual Ratings
Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, 'AAA/A-1+' or 'A-1+/A-1'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').
Moody’s Investors Service Inc.
A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Global Rating Scales
Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.
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Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspire to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
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Aaa
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Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
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Aa
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Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
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A
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Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
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Baa
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Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may
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possess certain speculative characteristics.
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Ba
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Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
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B
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Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
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Caa
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Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
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Ca
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Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of
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recovery of principal and interest.
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C
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Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of
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principal or interest.
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Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.
Medium-Term Note Ratings
Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (MTN) programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).
MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating and is defined elsewhere in this document.
The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s
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default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.
Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit www.moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale
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P-1
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Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt
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obligations.
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P-2
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Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
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P-3
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Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
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NP
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Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
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APPENDIX B
ADVISORY RESEARCH, INC. PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
FOR THE MLP & ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY
Regulatory Requirement
An adviser exercising proxy voting for clients must:
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a)
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Written Policies and Procedures. Adopt written policies and procedures that (1) are reasonably
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designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients, and (2) address
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how the adviser resolves any material conflicts of interest that may arise when voting client
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proxies;
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b)
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Information Disclosures. Disclose to clients how they can obtain information about how the
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adviser voted their securities, and how clients can obtain a copy of the adviser’s proxy voting
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policies and procedures; and
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c)
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Policies and Procedures Description. Describe in its Form ADV Part II or in a separate
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disclosure document the adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures.
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[Rule 206(4)-6]
Policy
ARI seeks to vote or otherwise process, such as by a decision to abstain from voting or to take no action on, proxies over which it has voting authority in the best interests of ARI’s clients.
Procedures for MLP & Energy Infrastructure Strategies:
Voting decisions. ARI shall evaluate each proxy of a Master Limited Partnership (“MLP”) on a case by case basis due to their unique nature. Any proxies received for equity or debt securities other than MLP’s will be voted with management because ARI believes that recommendations by management teams or their board of directors generally are in shareholders’ best interests, and therefore in the best economic interest of ARI’s clients. There are times when ARI believes management’s position on a particular proxy issue is not in the best interests of our clients but it does not warrant a sale of the clients’ shares. In these circumstances, ARI will vote contrary to management’s recommendations.
Decision to abstain. ARI may process certain proxies without voting them, such as by making a decision to abstain from voting or take no action on such proxies (or on certain proposals within such proxies). Examples include, without limitation, proxies issued by companies that ARI has decided to sell, proxies issued for securities that ARI did not select for a client portfolio (such as, without limitation, securities that were selected by the client or by a previous adviser, unsupervised securities held in a client’s account, money market securities, or other securities selected by clients or their representatives other than ARI), or proxies issued by foreign companies that impose burdensome or unreasonable voting, power of attorney, or holding requirements.
ARI also may abstain from voting, or take no action on, proxies in other circumstances, such as when voting may not be in the best interests of clients, as an alternative to voting with (or against) management, or when voting may be unduly burdensome or expensive.
Conflicts of Interest. In certain circumstances, such as when the proponent of a proxy proposal is also a client of ARI, an appearance might arise of a potential conflict between ARI’s interests and the interests of affected clients in how the proxies of that issuer are voted. When ARI itself knowingly does business with a particular proxy issuer and a material conflict of interest between ARI’s interests and clients’ interests may appear to exist, ARI generally would, to
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avoid any appearance concerns, follow an alternative procedure rather than vote proxies as recommended by management. Such an alternative procedure generally would involve causing the proxies to be voted in accordance with the recommendations of an independent service provider that ARI may use to assist in voting proxies.
ARI generally will not notify clients if it uses this procedure to resolve an apparent material conflict of interest. ARI will document the identification of any material conflict of interest and its procedure for resolving the particular conflict.
In unusual cases, ARI may use other alternative procedures to address circumstances when a material conflict of interest may appear to exist, such as, without limitation:
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(i)
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Notifying affected clients of the conflict of interest (if practical), and seeking a waiver of the conflict to
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permit ARI to vote the proxies under its usual policy;
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(ii)
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Abstaining from voting the proxies; or
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(iii)
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Forwarding the proxies to clients so that clients may vote the proxies themselves. ARI generally will notify
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clients if it uses one of these alternative procedures to resolve a material conflict of interest.
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Voting by Client Instead of ARI
An ARI client may vote its own proxies instead of directing ARI to do so. ARI recommends this approach if a client believes that proxies should be voted based on political or social interests. ARI generally will not accept proxy voting authority from a client (and will encourage the client to vote its own proxies) if the client seeks to impose client-specific voting guidelines that may be inconsistent with ARI’s procedures or with the client’s best economic interest in ARI’s view.
ARI generally will abstain from voting on (or otherwise participating in) the commencement of legal proceedings such as shareholder class actions or bankruptcy proceedings.
Recordkeeping. ARI or a service provider maintains, in accordance with Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act:
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(i)
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Copies of all proxy voting policies and procedures;
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(ii)
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Copies of proxy statements received (unless maintained elsewhere as described below);
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(iii)
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Records of proxy votes cast on behalf of clients;
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(iv)
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Documents prepared by ARI that are material to a decision on how to vote or memorializing the basis for
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a decision;
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(v)
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Written client requests for proxy voting information and
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(vi)
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Written responses by ARI to written or oral client requests.
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ARI will obtain an undertaking from any service provider that the service provider will provide copies of proxy voting records and other documents promptly upon request if ARI relies on the service provider to maintain related records.
ARI or its service provider may rely on the SEC’s EDGAR system to keep records of certain proxy statements if the proxy statements are maintained by issuers on that system (as is generally true in the case of larger U.S.-based issuers).
Adopted effective August 1, 2003 and as amended July 31, 2014.
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