Stockholder Activism Risk
Stockholder activism can take many forms, including making public demands that the Fund consider certain alternatives, engaging in public campaigns to
attempt to influence the Fund’s governance and/or management, commencing proxy contests in an effort to elect the activists’ representatives or others to the Fund’s Board of Directors or to seek other actions such as a tender offer or Fund
liquidation, and commencing litigation. Stockholder activism arises in a variety of situations and has been increasing in the closed-end fund space, including litigation challenging closed-end fund defenses. While the Fund is currently not
subject to any stockholder activism, due to the potential volatility of the Fund’s Common Stock market price and for a variety of other reasons, the Fund may in the future become the target of stockholder activism. Stockholder activism could
result in substantial costs and divert the Adviser’s and the Board’s attention and resources from its business. Also, the Fund may be required to incur significant legal and other expenses related to any activist stockholder matters. Further,
the Fund’s stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any stockholder activism. Stockholder activists seek short-term actions that can increase Fund
costs per share and be detrimental to other stockholders.
U.S. Government Securities Risk
Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not
guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. Treasury. Some are backed by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. These securities carry at least some risk of non-payment or default by
the issuer. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. government securities may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will
not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. There is no assurance that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
In recent periods, the values of U.S. government securities have been affected substantially by increased demand for them around the world. Increases
or decreases in the demand for U.S. government securities may occur at any time and may result in increased volatility in the values of those securities. In recent years, credit rating agencies have shown some concern about whether the U.S.
government has the political will necessary to service all of its outstanding and expected future debt, and some have adjusted their ratings or outlook for U.S. government debt accordingly. These developments, and the factors underlying them,
could cause an increase in interest rates and borrowing costs, which may negatively impact both the perception of credit risk associated with the debt securities issued by the U.S. and the government’s ability to access the debt markets on
favorable terms. In addition, these developments could create broader financial turmoil and uncertainty, which could increase volatility in both stock and bond markets. These events could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of
securities held by the Fund.
Valuation Risk
The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant,
particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment the Fund may be required to
value such investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent closing price and from the
prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The value of foreign securities, certain futures and fixed income securities, and currencies may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but
before the Fund determines its net asset value. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing
services. Different pricing services use different valuation methodologies, potentially
resulting in different values for the same investments. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing
services, or if a pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, the value of the Fund’s investments could be impacted. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological
issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk
The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the
market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments will not generally rise in value if market interest rates decline. Thus, investing in variable and floating rate instruments generally allows less opportunity for
capital appreciation and depreciation than investing in instruments with a fixed interest rate. Certain types of floating rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater
liquidity risk than other debt securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market, which may make them more difficult to value or sell.
Certain variable and floating rate instruments have an interest rate floor feature, which prevents the interest rate payable by the instrument from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest rate (the “reference rate”), such as SOFR. Such a floor is designed to protect the Fund from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the instrument, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant period of time. Rates on certain variable rate instruments typically only reset periodically.
Warrants and Rights Risk
Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not
represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments and are subject to the risks associated with the security underlying the warrant. In
addition, the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and it may never be advantageous to exercise a warrant or right. If a warrant or right to subscribe to additional shares is not
exercised or, when permissible, sold prior to the warrant’s or right’s expiration date or redemption by the issuer, the Fund would lose all or substantially all of the value of the warrant or right. The market for warrants and rights may be
very limited and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for warrants and rights.
Zero Coupon Securities, Step Coupon Securities, Pay-in-Kind Securities and Discount Obligations
Zero coupon securities and step coupon securities are debt obligations that are issued and traded at a discount from their face amount or par
value (known as “original issue discount” or “OID”) and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or that specify a future date when the securities begin to pay current interest. The Fund may also acquire
certain debt securities at a discount. These discount obligations involve special risk considerations. OID varies depending on prevailing interest rates, the time remaining until cash payments begin, the liquidity of the security, and the
perceived credit quality of the issuer. Zero coupon securities and step coupon securities are redeemed at face value when they mature. Accrued OID must be included in the Fund’s gross income for federal tax purposes ratably each taxable year
prior to the receipt of any actual payments. Pay-in-kind securities pay “interest” through the issuance of additional securities. The market prices of zero coupon securities, step coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities and discount
obligations generally are more volatile than the prices of securities that pay cash interest periodically. Those securities and obligations are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than other types of debt
securities having a similar maturity and credit quality.
Board of Directors
The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser, is the responsibility of the Board under the laws of the State of Maryland and the
1940 Act.
The Adviser
NBIA provides day-to-day investment management services to the Fund and serves as the Fund’s investment manager. NBIA is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
10104-0002. See “Management of the Fund.” As of December 31, 2024, Neuberger Berman and its affiliates had $508 billion in assets under management and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.
Management Agreement
The Fund retains NBIA as its investment manager under a management agreement. For such investment management services, the Fund pays NBIA an investment management fee computed at
an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. Managed Assets equal the total assets of the Fund, less liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. For purposes of calculating
Managed Assets, the liquidation preference of any MRPS outstanding and principal amount of borrowings outstanding are not considered liabilities.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the management agreement by the Board is available in the Fund’s annual report to stockholders for the period ending October
31, 2024.
In addition to the fees of NBIA, the Fund will pay all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Directors (other than those affiliated with NBIA),
custodial expenses, transfer agency and distribution disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, leveraging expenses, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing Prospectuses,
stockholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.
During periods when the Fund is using leverage, the fee paid to NBIA (for various services) will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid are
calculated on the basis of the Fund’s Managed Assets, which includes the assets purchased through leverage. NBIA will benefit from any offering because its fees are based on the Managed Assets of the Fund. It is not possible to state precisely
the amount of additional compensation NBIA will receive as a result of any offering because it is not known how many shares of Common Stock will be subscribed for and because the proceeds of such offering will be invested in additional
portfolio securities, which will fluctuate in value.
Portfolio Managers
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBIA. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and is Co-Head of High Yield
and a member of the Credit Committee for Non-Investment Grade Credit. Before being named co-Portfolio Manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr. Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior research analyst for the
Adviser.
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBIA. He has served as a Portfolio Manager for the Fund since 2018. Mr. Lind is
Co-Head of High Yield and a member of the Credit Committee for Non-Investment Grade Credit. He joined the Firm in 2018.
Please see the SAI for additional information about each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio
Manager’s ownership of stock of the Fund.
The Administrator
The Fund retains NBIA as its administrator under an Administration Agreement. The Fund pays NBIA an administration fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of its average daily Managed
Assets under this agreement. Additionally, NBIA retains State Street as its sub-administrator under a Sub-Administration Agreement. NBIA pays State Street a fee for all services received under the Sub-Administration Agreement.
Affiliates of NBIA may act as principal brokers for the Fund, subject to periodic evaluation by the Ethics and Compliance Committee of the Board of the quality and
cost of execution.
In effecting securities transactions, the Fund seeks to obtain the best price and execution of orders. While affiliates of NBIA are permitted to act as brokers for
the Fund in the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities (other than certain securities traded on the OTC market) where such brokers are capable of providing best execution, the Fund generally will use unaffiliated brokers.
NET ASSET VALUE OF COMMON STOCK
The Common Stock is listed on the NYSE American. The NAV of the Common Stock of the Fund is computed based upon the value of the Fund’s total assets. NAV is generally determined
daily by the Custodian as of the close of the regular trading session on each day that the NYSE American is open for business. The NAV of the Common Stock is determined by calculating the total value of the Fund’s assets (the value of the
securities, plus cash or other assets, including interest accrued but not yet received), deducting its total liabilities (including accrued expenses or distributions), and dividing the result by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
of the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to calculate the NAV more frequently if deemed desirable.
The Fund generally values its investments based upon their last reported sale prices, market quotations, or estimates of value provided by an independent pricing service as of the
time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated.
The Fund uses one or more independent pricing services approved by NBIA to value its equity portfolio securities (including exchange-traded derivative instruments and securities
issued by ETFs). An independent pricing service values equity portfolio securities (including exchange-traded derivative instruments and securities issued by ETFs) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT LLC or other national securities exchanges, and
other securities or instruments for which market quotations are readily available, at the last reported sale price on the day the securities are being valued. Securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market are normally valued by the
independent pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”) provided by NASDAQ each business day. The NOCP is the most recently reported price as of 4:00:02 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, 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. If there is no sale of a security or other instrument on a particular day, the independent pricing services may value the
security or other instrument based on market quotations.
The Fund uses one or more independent pricing services approved by NBIA to value its debt portfolio securities and other instruments, including certain derivative instruments that
do not trade on an exchange. Valuations of debt securities and other instruments provided by an independent pricing service are based on readily available bid quotations or, if quotations are not readily available, by methods that include
considerations such as: yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. Valuations of derivatives that do not trade on an exchange provided
by an independent pricing service are based on market data about the underlying investments. 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, unless other factors indicate that this method does not provide an accurate estimate of the short-term security’s value.
NBIA has developed a process to periodically review information provided by independent pricing services for all types of securities.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated NAV per share. The prospectuses for these funds explain the
circumstances under which the funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
If a valuation for a security is not available from an independent pricing service or if NBIA believes in good faith that the valuation received does not reflect the amount the
Fund might reasonably expect to receive on a current sale of that security, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available, the Fund may use a fair value estimate made according to
methods NBIA has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the security. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board designated NBIA as the Fund’s valuation designee. As the Fund’s
valuation designee, NBIA is responsible for determining fair value in good faith for any and all Fund investments. The Fund may also use these methods to value certain types of illiquid securities and instruments for which broker quotes are
rarely, if ever, available, such as options that are out of the money, or for which no trading activity exists. Fair value pricing generally will be used if the market in which a portfolio security trades closes early or if trading in a
particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation. Numerous factors may be considered when determining the fair value of a security or other instrument, including available analyst, media or
other reports, trading in futures or ADRs, and whether the issuer of the security or other instrument being fair valued has other securities or other instruments outstanding.
The value of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities is generally determined using the same valuation methods used for other Fund investments, as discussed above. Foreign
security prices expressed in local currency values are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.
If, after the close of the principal market on which a security is traded and before the time the Fund’s securities are priced that day, an event occurs that NBIA deems likely to
cause a material change in the value of that security, NBIA may ascertain a fair value for such security. Such events may include circumstances in which the value of the U.S. markets changes by a percentage deemed significant with respect to
the security in question.
Foreign securities are traded in foreign markets that may be open on days when the NYSE is closed.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to act in good faith in determining the fair value of portfolio securities. The SEC has recognized that a security’s valuation may differ
depending on the method used for determining value. The fair value ascertained for a security is an estimate and there is no assurance, given the limited information available at the time of fair valuation, that a security’s fair value will be
the same as or close to the subsequent opening market price for that security.
NBIA has approved the use of ICE Data Service (“ICE”) to assist in determining the fair value of foreign equity securities when changes in the value of a certain index suggest that
the closing prices on the foreign exchanges may no longer represent the amount that the Fund could expect to receive for those securities or on days when foreign markets are closed and U.S. markets are open. In each of these events, ICE will
provide adjusted prices for certain foreign equity securities using a statistical analysis of historical correlations of multiple factors. NBIA has also approved the use of ICE to evaluate the prices of foreign income securities as of the time
as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. ICE utilizes benchmark spread and yield curves and evaluates available market activity from the local close to the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated to assist in determining
prices for certain foreign income securities. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign income securities, in the absence of precise information about the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which the Fund’s
share price is calculated, NBIA has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer to the prices the Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities
established at the close of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade.
When a Common Stockholder sells Common Stock, he or she will typically receive the market price for such Common Stock, which may be less than the NAV of such Common Stock. See
“Closed-End Fund Structure.”
The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income on a monthly basis. At least annually, the Fund intends to distribute all of its realized net long-
and short-term capital gains, if any. Both monthly and annual distributions to Common Stockholders will be made only after paying any accrued distributions on, or, if applicable, redeeming or liquidating, preferred stock, if any, and making
interest and required principal payments on notes or any other borrowings, if any. See “Tax Matters.” There is no guarantee that the Fund’s investment strategy will be successful and/or that the Fund will generate a consistent or specific
amount of investment income. The Fund may distribute short-term capital gain and/or return of capital to Common Stockholders in an effort to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital distribution may involve a return of a Common
Stockholder’s original investment.
Level-Rate Distribution Policy
The Fund intends to continue to make regular monthly cash distributions to Common Stockholders at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock based on its
projected performance, which rate may be adjusted from time to time (“Level-Rate Distribution Policy”). The Fund’s ability to maintain its Level-Rate Distribution Policy will depend on a number of factors, including the stability of income
received from its investments and Fund expenses.
To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly distributions, the Fund may include a return of capital as part of the distributions or may distribute
less than the entire amount of its net investment income earned in a particular period. The undistributed net investment income may be available to supplement future distributions. The distribution the Fund pays for any particular monthly
period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income it actually earns 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. Undistributed net investment income is included in the Common Stock’s net asset value, and, correspondingly, distributions from net investment income will reduce the Common Stock’s net asset value. Pursuant to
the requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, a notice would be provided for each monthly distribution that does not consist entirely of net investment income that would provide estimated sources of the distribution made.
While the Fund intends to pay a level distribution, investors should understand that there is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a
distribution, or that the distribution will be of any particular size.
Managed Distribution Policy
The Fund has received exemptive relief from the SEC under the 1940 Act permitting it to pay long-term capital gains more frequently than is currently allowed
under the 1940 Act, which facilitates the implementation of a Managed Distribution Policy. The Fund may, subject to the determination of its Board of Directors, implement a Managed Distribution Policy pursuant to this order but does not
expect to do so at this time. If implemented, the Managed Distribution Policy would supersede the Level-Rate Distribution Policy.
Under a Managed Distribution Policy, the Fund would intend to make monthly distributions to Common Stockholders, at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock or
a fixed percentage of its net asset value, that may include periodic distributions of realized net long- and short-term capital gains or, in certain circumstances, return of capital. Under a Managed Distribution Policy, if, for any monthly
distribution, the sum of net investment income and any net realized capital gains for the month was less than the amount of the distribution, the difference would be distributed from the Fund’s capital. If, for any fiscal year, the Fund’s
total distributions exceeded such income and gains (an “Excess”), the Excess generally would first be treated as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, and then would be treated by
each Common Stockholder as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of its tax basis in the Common Stock, with any amounts exceeding such basis being treated as gain from the sale of those shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the
requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, a notice would be provided for each monthly distribution that does not consist entirely of net investment income that would provide estimated sources of the distribution made.
Any distribution of an Excess would decrease the Fund’s total assets and, as a result, would have the likely effect of increasing its expense ratio. There is
a risk that the Fund would not eventually realize capital gain in an amount
corresponding to an Excess. In addition, in an effort to make such distributions, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time
when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to change the Fund’s distribution policy from time to time.
CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE
The Fund is a closed-end management investment company. 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 stockholder. By comparison, mutual funds issue securities redeemable at NAV at the option of the stockholder
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 the employment of financial leverage and in the ability to make
certain types of investments, including investments in illiquid securities.
However, shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. In recognition of the possibility that the Common
Stock might trade at a discount to NAV and that any such discount may not be in the interest of Common Stockholders, the Board, in consultation with the Advisers, from time to time may review possible actions to reduce any such discount. The
Board might consider various options to reduce the discount, such as repurchase of its Common Stock on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a
tender offer for such shares or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board will decide to undertake any of these actions or that, if undertaken, such actions
would result in the Common Stock trading at a price equal to or close to NAV.
DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Plan Agent”) will act as Plan Agent for stockholders who have not elected in writing to receive dividends and distributions in cash (each a
“Participant”), will open an account for each Participant under the Distribution Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”) in the same name as their then-current shares of Common Stock (“Shares”) are registered, and will put the Plan into effect for each
Participant as of the first record date for a dividend or capital gains distribution.
Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or distribution with respect to the Shares, each Participant will receive such dividends and distributions in additional Shares, including
fractional Shares acquired by the Plan Agent and credited to each Participant’s account. If on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, the net asset value is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated
brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent shall automatically receive such Shares, including fractions, for each Participant’s account. Except in the circumstances described in the next paragraph, the number of additional Shares to be credited to
each Participant’s account shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution payable on their Shares by the greater of the net asset value per Share determined as of the date of purchase or 95% of the
then-current market price per Share on the payment date.
Should the net asset value per Share exceed the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, the Plan Agent
or a broker-dealer selected by the Plan Agent shall endeavor, for a purchase period lasting until the last business day before the next date on which the Shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis, but in no event, except as provided below, more
than 30 days after the payment date, to apply the amount of such dividend or distribution on each Participant’s Shares (less their pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in
connection with the reinvestment of such dividend or distribution) to purchase Shares on the open market for each Participant’s account. No such purchases may be made more than 30 days after the payment date for such dividend or distribution
except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary to comply with applicable provisions of federal securities laws. If, at the close of business on any day during the purchase period the net asset value per Share equals
or is less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will not make any further open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of such dividend or distribution. If the Plan Agent is unable to
invest the full dividend or distribution amount through open-market purchases during the purchase period, the Plan Agent shall request that,
with respect to the uninvested portion of such dividend or distribution amount, the Fund issue new Shares at the close of business on the earlier of the last day of the purchase
period or the first day during the purchase period on which the net asset value per Share equals or is less than the market price per Share, plus estimated brokerage commissions, such Shares to be issued in accordance with the terms specified
in the third paragraph hereof. These newly issued Shares will be valued at the then-current market price per Share at the time such Shares are to be issued.
For purposes of making the reinvestment purchase comparison under the Plan, (a) the market price of the Shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the New York
Stock Exchange (or if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, such other exchange on which the Shares are principally traded) on that date, or, if there is no sale on such exchange (or if not so listed, in the over-the-counter
market) on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such Shares on such Exchange on such date and (b) the net asset value per Share on a particular date shall be the net asset value per Share most recently
calculated by or on behalf of the Fund. All dividends, distributions and other payments (whether made in cash or Shares) shall be made net of any applicable withholding tax.
Open-market purchases provided for above may be made on any securities exchange where the Fund’s Shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions and
may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Plan Agent shall determine. Each Participant’s uninvested funds held by the Plan Agent will not bear interest, and it is understood that, in any event, the Plan Agent shall have no
liability in connection with any inability to purchase Shares within 30 days after the initial date of such purchase as herein provided, or with the timing of any purchases effected. The Plan Agent shall have no responsibility as to the value
of the Shares acquired for each Participant’s account. For the purpose of cash investments, the Plan Agent may commingle each Participant’s funds with those of other stockholders of the Fund for whom the Plan Agent similarly acts as agent, and
the average price (including brokerage commissions) of all Shares purchased by the Plan Agent as Plan Agent shall be the price per Share allocable to each Participant in connection therewith.
The Plan Agent may hold each Participant’s Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Shares of other stockholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to
the Plan in noncertificated form in the Plan Agent’s name or that of the Plan Agent’s nominee. The Plan Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any Shares so held for each Participant only in
accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by the Participant to the Fund.
The Plan Agent will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made for their account as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. Although each
Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a Share, no certificates for a fractional Share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional Shares will be
credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Shares at the time of
termination, less the pro rata expense of any sale required to make such an adjustment.
Any Share dividends or split Shares distributed by the Fund on Shares held by the Plan Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes
available to its stockholders rights to purchase additional Shares or other securities, the Shares held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other Shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued
to each Participant.
The Plan Agent’s service fee for handling capital gains and other distributions or income dividends will be paid by the Fund. Participants will be charged their pro rata share of
brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases.
Each Participant may terminate their account under the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing. Such termination will be effective immediately if the Participant’s notice is received by the Plan Agent not
less than ten days prior to any dividend or distribution record date, otherwise such termination will be effective the first trading day after the payment date for such dividend or distribution with respect to any subsequent dividend or
distribution. The Plan may be terminated by the Plan Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund.
These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Plan Agent or the Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law
or the rules or policies of the SEC or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be
accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Agent receives written notice of the termination of their account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Agent in its place
and stead of a successor Plan Agent under these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the acts to be performed by the Plan Agent under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any Plan
Agent for the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Fund will be authorized to pay to such successor Plan Agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on Shares held in their name or under the
Plan for retention or application by such successor Plan Agent as provided in these terms and conditions.
The Plan Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this
Agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Plan Agent’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its
employees.
These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions — i.e., reinvestment in additional Shares does not relieve stockholders of,
or defer the need to pay, any income tax that may be payable (or that is required to be withheld) on Fund dividends and distributions. Participants should contact their tax professionals for information on how the Plan impacts their personal
tax situation. For additional information about the Plan, please contact the Plan Agent by telephone at 1-866-227-2136 or by mail at P.O. Box 500, Newark, NJ 07101 or online at https://equiniti.com/us/ast-access/individuals.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE
The Fund is a closed-end, diversified management investment company registered under the laws of the State of Maryland pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation signed by Arthur C.
Delibert dated March 18, 2010. The Fund is authorized to issue 1,000,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $0.0001 per share. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of stockholders so long as the Common Stock is listed on a national
securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. An investor who acquires Common Stock in an Offer issued after the Record Date for a meeting of stockholders will not be entitled to vote such Common Stock, or
otherwise participate with respect to such Common Stock, at such meeting.
General
Set forth below is information with respect to the Fund’s outstanding capital stock as of February 28, 2025:
| Title of Class | | Amount Authorized | | Amount Held by the Fund or for its Account | | Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Common Stock Held by the Fund or for its Own Account | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock | | 992,396,700 | | 0 | | 30,079,399 | |
| Preferred Stock (Perpetual Preferred Shares Series A) | | 1,500 | | 0 | | 0 | |
| Preferred Stock (MRPS Series B) | | 1,400 | | 0 | | 0 | |
| Preferred Stock (MRPS Series C) | | 7,600,000 | | 0 | | 0 | |
| Preferred Stock (MRPS Series D) | | 400 | | 0 | | 400 | |
Common Stock
Each share of Common Stock represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets of the Fund with each other share of Common Stock in the Fund. Common Stockholders will be
entitled to the payment of distributions when, as and if
declared by the Board. Under the stable distribution policy, in certain circumstances, the Fund may be required to sell a portion of its investment portfolio to fund distributions. Therefore, these payments may represent a reduction of the stockholder’s principal investment. The 1940 Act or the terms of any borrowings or preferred stock may limit the payment of distributions to the Common Stockholders. Each whole Share of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote as to matters on which it is entitled to vote pursuant to the terms of the Articles of Incorporation on file with the SEC. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all claims and obligations of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, and (upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection), the directors may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the holders of the Common Stock.
In general, except as provided in the following paragraph, when there are any borrowings, including preferred stock and/or loans outstanding, the Fund may not be permitted to
declare any cash distribution on its Common Stock, unless at the time of such declaration, (i) all accrued distributions on preferred stock or accrued interest on borrowings have been paid and (ii) the
value of the Fund’s total assets (determined after deducting the amount of such distribution), less all liabilities and indebtedness of the Fund not represented by senior securities, is at least 300% of the aggregate amount of such securities
representing indebtedness and at least 200% of the aggregate amount of securities representing indebtedness plus the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding preferred stock (expected to equal the aggregate original purchase price of the
outstanding preferred stock plus the applicable redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid distributions thereon, whether or not earned or declared and on a cumulative basis). In addition to the requirements of the 1940
Act, the Fund may be required to comply with other asset coverage requirements as a condition of the Fund obtaining a rating of the preferred stock from a NRSRO. These requirements may include an asset coverage test more stringent than under
the 1940 Act. This limitation on the Fund’s ability to make distributions on its Common Stock could in certain circumstances impair the ability of the Fund to maintain its qualification for taxation as a regulated investment company for federal
income tax purposes. The Fund intends, however, to the extent possible to purchase or redeem preferred stock or reduce borrowings from time to time to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements and may pay special distributions
to the holders of the preferred stock in certain circumstances in connection with any such impairment of the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company. See “Distributions.” Depending on the timing of any such redemption or repayment, the
Fund may be required to pay a premium in addition to the liquidation preference of the preferred stock to the holders thereof.
Any offerings of the Fund’s Common Stock, if made, will require approval of the Board or an authorized Committee thereof. Any additional offering will not be sold at a price per Share of Common Stock below the then current NAV (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions) except in connection with an offering to existing Common Stockholders or with the consent of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Stockholders. The Shares of Common Stock have no preemptive rights.
The Fund currently issues its Common Stock without certificates.
The Fund is authorized to issue 1,000,000,000 Shares of Common Stock. All Shares of Common Stock have equal voting, dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. The Shares of
Common Stock outstanding are, and the Shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, when issued and paid for pursuant to the terms of any offering, will be, fully paid and non-assessable. Shares of Common Stock are not
redeemable and have no preemptive rights, conversion rights, cumulative voting rights or appraisal rights.
The Fund’s Common Stock is publicly held and is listed and traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “NHS”. The following table sets forth for the fiscal quarters indicated the
highest and lowest daily prices during the applicable quarter at the close of market on the NYSE American per Share of Common Stock along with (i) the highest and lowest closing NAV and (ii) the highest and lowest premium or discount from NAV
represented by such prices at the close of the market on the NYSE American.
|
|
|
NYSE American Market Price(1)
|
|
Corresponding NAV per share on Date of NYSE American Market Price(1)
|
|
Corresponding Market Premium/(Discount) to NAV per share on Date of NYSE American Market Price(1)
|
|
|
Quarter Ended(2)
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
|
January 31, 2025
|
|
$8.67
|
|
$7.90
|
|
$8.04
|
|
$7.82
|
|
7.84%
|
|
1.01%
|
|
|
October 31, 2024
|
|
$8.11
|
|
$7.47
|
|
$7.96
|
|
$7.72
|
|
1.88%
|
|
-3.24%
|
|
|
July 31, 2024
|
|
$8.11
|
|
$7.82
|
|
$7.93
|
|
$7.85
|
|
2.27%
|
|
-0.38%
|
|
|
April 30, 2024
|
|
$8.38
|
|
$7.84
|
|
$8.09
|
|
$7.78
|
|
3.58%
|
|
0.77%
|
|
|
January 31, 2024
|
|
$8.09
|
|
$7.15
|
|
$8.08
|
|
$7.54
|
|
0.12%
|
|
-5.17%
|
|
|
October 31, 2023
|
|
$7.94
|
|
$6.96
|
|
$8.04
|
|
$7.49
|
|
-1.24%
|
|
-7.08%
|
|
|
July 31, 2023
|
|
$9.07
|
|
$7.49
|
|
$8.49
|
|
$8.07
|
|
6.83%
|
|
-7.19%
|
|
|
April 30, 2023
|
|
$9.32
|
|
$7.82
|
|
$9.19
|
|
$8.30
|
|
1.41%
|
|
-5.78%
|
|
|
January 31, 2023
|
|
$9.13
|
|
$8.13
|
|
$8.92
|
|
$8.45
|
|
2.35%
|
|
-3.79%
|
|
____________________
|
(1)
|
|
Source: Bloomberg
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
Data presented are with respect to a short period of time and are not indicative of future performance.
|
On February 28, 2025, the Fund’s NAV was $7.74 and the last reported sale price of a Share of Common Stock on the NYSE American was $7.84, representing a premium to NAV of 1.29%.
The Fund’s shares of Common Stock have historically traded at both a premium and discount to NAV.
Preferred Stock and Loans Outstanding
As of October 31, 2024, the Fund had outstanding loans under the Facility with an aggregate principal value of $43,500,000 and MRPS with an aggregate liquidation preference of
$40,000,000. The Facility has a 360-day rolling maturity date and the MRPS have a maturity date of September 29, 2026. The interest on the Facility loans is accrued daily and paid monthly. The MRPS have a liquidation preference of $100,000 per
share plus any accumulated unpaid distributions, whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but excluding interest thereon.
The Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 1,000,000,000 shares of capital stock, including preferred stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share, in one or more
series, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Stockholders. To the extent the Directors authorize the issuance of any preferred stock, the Directors are also permitted to amend or
supplement the Articles of Incorporation, as they deem appropriate. Any such amendment or supplement may set forth the rights, preferences, powers and privileges of such preferred stock.
Prior to issuance of additional preferred stock, the Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by the Fund’s Charter to set the terms, preferences,
conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for such shares. Thus, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of
preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for Common Stockholders or otherwise be in their best interest.
Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund must, immediately after the issuance of any preferred stock, have an “asset coverage” of at least 200%. Asset coverage means the
ratio which the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liability and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the
Fund, if any, plus the aggregate liquidation preference of the preferred stock. If the Fund seeks a rating of the preferred stock, asset coverage requirements, in addition to those set forth in the 1940 Act, may be imposed. The liquidation
value of the preferred stock is expected to equal their aggregate original purchase price plus the applicable redemption premium, if any, together with any accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (on a cumulative basis), whether or not earned
or declared. The terms of the preferred stock, including their distribution rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, will be determined by the Board (subject to applicable law and the Fund’s charter) if and when it
authorizes the preferred stock. The Fund may issue preferred stock that provide for the periodic redetermination of the distribution rate at relatively short intervals through an auction or remarketing procedure, although the terms of the
preferred stock may also enable the Fund to lengthen such intervals. At times, the distribution rate on the Fund’s preferred stock may exceed the Fund’s return after expenses on the investment of proceeds from the preferred stock, resulting in
a lower rate of return to Common Stockholders than if the preferred stock were not outstanding.
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund, the terms of any preferred stock may entitle the holders of preferred stock to
receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus the applicable redemption premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid distributions, whether or not earned or declared and on a
cumulative basis) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Stockholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the preferred stockholders would not be entitled to any further
participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund.
If issued, the Fund expects that holders of preferred stock, voting as a class, shall be entitled to elect at least two of the
Fund’s directors. Under the 1940 Act, if at any time distributions on the preferred stock are unpaid in an amount equal to two (2) full years’ distributions thereon, the holders of all outstanding preferred stock, voting as a class, will be
allowed to elect at least a majority of the Fund’s Directors with the number of Directors increased appropriately to the extent necessary to effectuate such rights until all distributions in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart
for payment. The 1940 Act also requires that, in addition to any approval by stockholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred stock, voting separately as a class, would be
required to (1) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred stock and (2) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including among other things, changes in the Fund’s sub-classification as a closed-end investment company or changes in its fundamental investment restrictions. In addition, if required by a NRSRO rating the preferred stock or if the Board
determines it to be in the best interests of the Common Stockholders, issuance of the preferred stock may result in more restrictive provisions than required by the 1940 Act being imposed. In this regard, holders of the preferred stock may be
entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s Board in other circumstances, for example, if one payment on the preferred stock is in arrears.
The Fund expects that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred stock, voting as a separate class, will be required to amend, alter or repeal
any of the preferences, rights or powers of holders of preferred stock so as to affect materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers, or to increase or decrease the authorized number of preferred stock. The class vote of holders
of preferred stock described above will in each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in question.
The Fund currently has ratings from an NRSRO on its MRPS and currently intends that, as long as the MRPS are outstanding, the composition of its portfolio will reflect guidelines
established by such NRSRO. In order to maintain these ratings, the Fund is required to comply with asset coverage requirements that are currently more restrictive than those under the 1940 Act, restrictions on certain portfolio investments and
investment practices, requirements that the Fund maintain a portion of its assets in short-term, high-quality investments at certain times and certain mandatory redemption or prepayment requirements relating to the MRPS.
The Fund also may enter into other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, swaps, futures and forward contracts, options and other derivative
transactions. As of the date of this prospectus, to the extent that the Fund covers its obligations under such other transactions, as described in this prospectus, such transactions should not be treated as borrowings for purposes of the 1940
Act. However, these transactions, even if covered, may represent a form of economic leverage and will create risks. Further, the Fund may incur losses on such transactions (including the entire amount of the Fund’s investment in such
transaction) even if they are covered.
Subscription Rights
The Fund may issue subscription rights to holders of our Common Stock to purchase additional Common Stock. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with a subscription rights offering to holders of our Common Stock, the Fund will provide a Prospectus Supplement to Common Stockholders as of the record date set for determining the Common Stockholders eligible to receive subscription rights in such subscription rights offering.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement would describe the following terms of subscription rights in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, along with general risks
associated with subscription rights such as risks relating to dilution, market price volatility and undersubscription:
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●
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the period of time the offering would remain open (which will be open a minimum number of days such that all record holders would be eligible to participate in the offering
and will not be open longer than 120 days);
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●
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the title of such subscription rights;
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●
|
the exercise price for such subscription rights (or method of calculation thereof);
|
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●
|
the number of such subscription rights issued in respect of each share of Common Stock;
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●
|
the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable;
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●
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if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights;
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●
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the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights will commence, and the date on which such right will expire (subject to any extension);
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●
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the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such over-subscription
privilege;
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●
|
any termination right we may have in connection with such subscription rights offering; and
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●
|
any other terms of such subscription rights, including exercise, settlement and other procedures and limitations relating to the transfer and exercise of such subscription
rights.
|
Each subscription right would entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such number of shares of Common Stock at such exercise price as in each case is set
forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such
subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights would become void.
Subscription rights would be exercisable as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Upon expiration of any rights offering and
the receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in a prospectus supplement the Fund would issue, as
soon as practicable, the shares of Common Stock purchased as a result of such exercise. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Fund may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than Common
Stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement.
REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
Because shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset values, the Board of Directors has determined that from time to time
it may be in the interest of Common Stockholders for the Fund to take action. The Board, in consultation with NBIA, periodically reviews the possibility of various actions, which may include tender offers for Common Stock and/or open market
repurchases and considers in connection with such review such factors as the market price of the Common Stock, the net asset value of Common Stock, the liquidity of the assets of the Fund, effect on the Fund’s expenses, whether such
transactions would impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company or result in a failure to comply with applicable asset coverage requirements, general economic conditions and such other events or conditions, which may have a
material effect on the Fund’s ability to consummate such transactions. There are no assurances that the Board will decide to undertake any actions or, if
undertaken, that such actions will result in the Fund’s shares of Common Stock trading at a price which is equal to or approximates their net asset value.
The Fund may be converted to an open-end management investment company at any time if approved by (i) both (a) a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the
directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and (b) the holders of seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of the Fund’s Common Stock or (ii) if approved by the affirmative vote
of 75% of the directors, including a majority of the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, in addition to any requirements under federal or Maryland law. The composition of the Fund’s
portfolio and/or its investment policies could prohibit the Fund from complying with regulations of the SEC applicable to open-end management investment companies unless significant changes in portfolio holdings, which might be difficult and
could involve losses, and investment policies are made. Conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company also would require the redemption of any outstanding preferred stock and could require the repayment of borrowings,
which would reduce the leveraged capital structure of the Fund with respect to the Common Stock. In the event of conversion, the Common Stock would cease to be listed on the NYSE American or other national securities exchange or market system.
The Board believes the closed-end structure is desirable, given the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Investors should assume, therefore, that it is unlikely that the Board would vote to convert the Fund to an open-end management
investment company. Common stockholders of an open-end management investment company can require the company to redeem their stock at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their NAV, less such
redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of a redemption. If converted to an open-end fund, the Fund expects to pay all redemption requests in cash, but reserves 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 Stock would be sold at NAV
plus a sales load.
The following discussion briefly summarizes certain rules applicable to federal income taxation of the Fund and its Common Stockholders. This discussion does not purport to be
complete or to deal with all aspects of that taxation that may be relevant to the Common Stockholders in light of their particular circumstances. It is based on current provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations and judicial decisions
and administrative pronouncements published at the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, some of which may be retroactive. Common Stockholders on the Record Date and potential future Rights holders are urged to consult with their own
tax advisers for more detailed information and for information regarding other federal tax considerations and any state, local, or foreign taxes concerning their continued investment in the Fund and of their receipt and exercise of any Rights.
The Fund has elected to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Code. Accordingly, the Fund intends to satisfy certain
requirements relating to sources of its income and diversification of its total assets and to distribute substantially all of its net income and net short-term capital gain (after reduction by net long-term capital loss and any available
capital loss carryforwards) in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code, so as to maintain its RIC status and to avoid paying U.S. federal income or excise tax thereon. To the extent it qualifies for treatment as a RIC and
satisfies the above-mentioned distribution requirements, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income paid to its Common Stockholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, except with respect to capital gain distributions described below, distributions paid out the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and
profits generally will be taxable as ordinary dividend income. The Fund generally does not expect to pay dividends that would qualify as qualified dividend income taxable at lower rates for individuals or dividends that would be eligible for
the dividends received deduction if received by Common Stockholders that are corporations. For this purpose, “qualified dividend income” means dividends received from U.S. corporations and “qualified foreign corporations,” provided that certain
holding period and other requirements in respect of the stock of such corporations are met.
At least annually, the Fund intends to distribute any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) or, alternatively, to
retain all or a portion of the year’s net capital gain and pay U.S.
federal income tax on the retained gain. As provided under U.S. federal tax law, Common Stockholders of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include their
attributable share of the retained gain in their income for the year as long-term capital gain (regardless of holding period in Common Stock), and will be entitled to a tax credit or refund for the tax paid on their behalf by the Fund. Common
Stockholders of record for the retained capital gain also will be entitled to increase their tax basis in their Common Stock by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit. Distributions of the Fund’s net capital gain
(“capital gain distributions”), if any, are taxable to Common Stockholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of their holding period in Common Stock. Distributions of the Fund’s net realized short-term capital gain will be taxable as
ordinary income.
If, for any calendar year, the Fund’s total distributions exceed the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a return of capital to each
Common Stockholder (up to the amount of the Common Stockholder’s basis in his or her Common Stock) and thereafter as gain from the sale of Common Stock (assuming Common Stock is held as a capital asset). The amount treated as a return of
capital reduces the Common Stockholder’s adjusted basis in his or her Common Stock, thereby increasing his or her potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the subsequent sale or other disposition of his or her Common Stock. See
below for a summary of the current maximum tax rates applicable to long-term capital gain (including capital gain distributions).
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss incurred in any taxable year, for an unlimited period to offset net capital
gains, if any, during its taxable years following the year of the loss. Capital losses carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. To the extent subsequent net capital gains are offset by such
losses, they would not result in federal income tax liability to the Fund and would not be distributed as such to Common Stockholders.
To qualify as a RIC for income tax purposes, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its annual gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gain
from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gain from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in stock,
securities and currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A “qualified publicly traded partnership” is a publicly traded partnership that meets certain requirements with respect to the nature
of its income. To qualify as a RIC, the Fund must also satisfy certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its assets. The Fund must have, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total
assets represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities that, in respect of any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the value of the assets of the
Fund nor more than 10% of the voting securities of that issuer. In addition, at those times not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets can be invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other
regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or of two or more issuers, which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or of one or more qualified publicly traded
partnerships. If the Fund fails to meet the annual gross income test described above, the Fund will nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the test if (i) (a) such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (b)
the Fund reports the failure, and (ii) the Fund pays an excise tax equal to the excess non-qualifying income. If the Fund fails to meet the asset diversification test described above with respect to any quarter, the Fund will nevertheless be
considered to have satisfied the requirements for such quarter if the Fund cures such failure within 6 months and either (i) such failure is de minimis or (ii) (a) such failure is due to reasonable
cause and not due to willful neglect and (b) the Fund reports the failure and pays an excise tax.
As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the
deductions for dividend paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes in each taxable year to its Common Stockholders, provided that it distributes at least
the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such taxable year. The Fund intends to distribute to its Common Stockholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment
company taxable income, net tax-exempt income and net capital gain. In order to avoid incurring a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax obligation, the Code requires that the Fund distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of
each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain net income (which is the excess of its realized net long-term capital gain over its realized net short-term
capital loss), generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards and (iii) 100% of any
ordinary income and capital gain net income from the prior year (as previously computed) that were not paid out during such year and on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income
tax.
If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits,
including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the Common Stockholder as ordinary income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of individual and
other non-corporate Common Stockholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction (“DRD”) in the case of corporate Common Stockholders. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize
unrealized gain, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions.
Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) convert dividends that would
otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into ordinary income, (ii) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate DRD as ineligible for such treatment, (iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of
certain loss or deductions, (iv) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (vi) cause the Fund to
recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (vii) adversely affect when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (viii) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions,
and (ix) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the income requirement that applies to RICs. While it may not always be successful in doing so, the Fund will seek to avoid or
minimize the adverse tax consequences of its investment practices.
The Fund may recognize gain (but not loss) from a constructive sale of certain “appreciated financial positions” if the Fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal
contract, or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to this constructive sale treatment include interests (including options and forward
contracts and short sales) in stock and certain other instruments. Constructive sale treatment does not apply if the transaction is closed out not later than thirty days after the end of the taxable year in which the transaction was initiated,
and the underlying appreciated securities position is held unhedged for at least the next sixty days after the hedging transaction is closed.
Gain or loss from a short sale of property generally is considered as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in
the Fund’s hands. Except with respect to certain situations where the property used to close a short sale has a long-term holding period on the date the short sale is entered into, gain on short sales generally are short-term capital gain. A
loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term capital loss if, on the date of the short sale, “substantially identical property” has been held by the Fund for more than one year. In addition, entering into a short sale may result in
suspension of the holding period of “substantially identical property” held by the Fund.
Gain or loss on a short sale generally will not be realized until such time as the short sale is closed. However, as described above in the discussion of constructive sales, if the
Fund holds a short sale position with respect to securities that have appreciated in value, and it then acquires property that is the same as or substantially identical to the property sold short, the Fund generally will recognize gain on the
date it acquires such property as if the short sale were closed on such date with such property. Similarly, if the Fund holds an appreciated financial position with respect to securities and then enters into a short sale with respect to the
same or substantially identical property, the Fund generally will recognize gain as if the appreciated financial position were sold at its fair market value on the date it enters into the short sale. The subsequent holding period for any
appreciated financial position that is subject to these constructive sale rules will be determined as if such position were acquired on the date of the constructive sale.
The Fund will inform Common Stockholders of the source and tax status of all distributions promptly after the close of each calendar year.
Selling Common Stockholders generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the Common Stockholder’s adjusted
tax basis in the Common Stock sold. If Common Stock is held as a capital asset, the gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. The maximum tax rate applicable to net capital gain recognized by individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers is
(i) the same as the maximum ordinary income tax rate for gain recognized on the sale of capital assets held for one year or less (currently 37%), or (ii) for gain
recognized on the sale of capital assets held for more than one year (as well as any capital gain distributions), 20%, 15%, or 0% for individuals depending on the amount of their
taxable income for the year. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will also apply in the case of some individuals.
Any loss on a disposition of Shares of Common Stock held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received
with respect to those Shares of Common Stock. For purposes of determining whether Shares of Common Stock have been held for six months or less, the holding period is suspended for any periods during which the Common Stockholder’s risk of loss
is diminished as a result of holding one or more other positions in substantially similar or related property, or through certain options or short sales. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of Common Stock will be disallowed to the extent
those Shares of Common Stock are replaced by other Common Stock within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of Common Stock (whether through the reinvestment of distributions or
otherwise). In that event, the basis of the replacement Common Stock will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
An investor should be aware that, if Common Stock is purchased shortly before the record date for any taxable distribution (including a capital gain distribution), the purchase
price likely will reflect the value of the distribution and the investor then would receive a taxable distribution that is likely to reduce the trading value of such Common Stock, in effect resulting in a taxable return of some of the purchase
price.
Taxable distributions to certain individuals and certain other non-corporate Common Stockholders, including those who have not provided their correct taxpayer identification number
and other required certifications, may be subject to “backup” U.S. federal income tax withholding at the fourth lowest rate of tax applicable to a single individual (24%). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be
refunded or credited against such Common Stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
An investor also should be aware that the benefits of the reduced tax rate applicable to long-term capital gain and qualified dividend income may be impacted by the application of
the alternative minimum tax to individual Common Stockholders.
The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends, interest, or capital gain, which will decrease the Fund’s yield. Foreign
withholding taxes may be reduced under income tax treaties between the U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions.
Depending on the number of non-U.S. Common Stockholders in the Fund, however, such reduced foreign withholding tax rates may not be available for investments in certain
jurisdictions.
The foregoing briefly summarizes some of the important U.S. federal income tax consequences to Common Stockholders of investing in Common Stock, reflects the U.S. federal tax law
as of the date of this Prospectus, and does not address special tax rules applicable to certain types of investors, such as corporate and non-U.S. investors. A more complete discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Fund and the Common
Stockholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes that an investor is a U.S. person and holds Common Stock as a capital asset. This discussion is based
upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the IRS retroactively or
prospectively. Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding other U.S. federal, state or local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances, as well as any proposed tax law changes.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, to cause it to engage
in certain transactions or to modify its structure. The Articles require a vote by either (1) both of (a) a majority of the Fund’s Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the
1940 Act (“Independent Directors”) and (b) the holders of at least 75% of
the Fund’s capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote or (2) the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Fund’s Directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors,
in addition to any requirements under federal or Maryland law, except as described below, to authorize the following types of actions:
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1. |
Merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange of the Fund with or into any other corporation or entity, including a trust;
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2. |
Issuance of any securities of the Fund to any Principal Stockholder for cash, except as part of an offering in which the Principal Stockholder has no special right to participate as compared to
(1) other holders of the same class of stock, or (2) investors at large;
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3. |
Sale, lease, or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Fund to any Principal Stockholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $1,000,000,
aggregating for the 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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4. |
Sale, lease, or exchange to the Fund, in exchange for securities of the Fund, of any assets of any Principal Stockholder (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than
$1,000,000, aggregating for the 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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5. |
The conversion of the Fund from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company;
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6. |
A change in the nature of the business of the Fund so that it would no longer be an investment company registered under the 1940 Act; or
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7. |
The dissolution or liquidation of the Fund.
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The term “Principal Stockholder” shall mean any corporation, person, entity, or group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), which is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Fund and shall include any affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause (2) below, of a Principal
Stockholder. For the purposes of this Article, in addition to the shares of capital stock which a corporation, person, entity, or group beneficially owns directly, any corporation, person, entity, or group shall be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of any shares of capital stock of the Fund (1) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise or (2) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly
(including shares deemed owned through application of clause (1) above), by any other corporation, person, entity, or group with which it or its “affiliate” or “associate,” as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, has any agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of capital stock of the Fund, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as so defined. For purposes of determining a
Principal Stockholder, calculation of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund shall not include shares deemed owned through application of clause (1) above.
The percentage vote required under these provisions is higher than that required under Maryland law or by the 1940 Act. The Board believes that the provisions of the Articles
relating to such a higher vote threshold are in the best interest of the Fund and its Common Stockholders. Even if agreed to by the Fund, however, certain of the transactions described above may be prohibited by the 1940 Act unless exemptive or
other relief is sought from the SEC. In addition, preferred stockholders vote together with Common Stockholders on all matters on which Common Stockholders vote. The 1940 Act requires approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
preferred stock, tallied separately, for any conversion from a closed-end to an open-end management investment company. As the 1940 Act also prohibits doing indirectly what cannot be done directly, a vote of the preferred stockholders may be
required to effect some of the other transactions described above if the effective result would be conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end structure.
The Board is classified into three classes, each with a term of three years with only one class of Directors standing for election in any year. Such classification may prevent
replacement of a majority of the Directors for up to a two-year
period. Directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by vote of the holders of at least 75% of the stock entitled to be voted for such Director in an election of
directors.
The Fund has opted in to the Maryland Business Combination Act. In general, the Maryland Business Combination Act prohibits an interested stockholder (a stockholder that holds 10%
or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation) of a Maryland corporation, or affiliates of such interested stockholder, from engaging in a business combination (generally defined to include a merger, consolidation,
share exchange, sale of a substantial amount of assets, a transfer of the corporation’s securities and similar transactions to or with the interested stockholder or an entity affiliated with the interested stockholder) with the corporation for
a period of five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder.
While some of the provisions described above are permitted by Maryland law, certain of the provisions described above are neither permitted nor prohibited by Maryland law. A final
judgment by a court about these provisions has not been made as of the date of this Prospectus and it is not clear what judgment a court would reach regarding these provisions.
The Fund has opted in to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “MCSAA”), which provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share
acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Stock owned by the acquirer, by officers of the acquirer or by an employee of the acquirer who is also a
director of the acquirer are excluded from stock entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting stock of stock which, if aggregated with all other stock of stock owned by the acquirer, or in respect of which the acquirer is able to
exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-tenth or more
but less than one-third; (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include stock the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously
obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held
within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the stock. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no
request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the MCSAA, then the corporation may redeem
for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is
determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the stock are considered and
not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of
the stock as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.
There is currently ongoing litigation in a different jurisdiction against other funds that have opted into the MCSAA. A recent decision by a New York federal district court, which
was affirmed on appeal, ruled against the funds remaining in the litigation based on the court’s interpretation of Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act. That decision is currently being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the decisions in
that litigation are not binding on the Fund, it is possible that a court could ultimately determine to apply the reasoning of any ruling in that litigation to the Fund’s decision to opt in to the MCSAA.
Reference should be made to the Articles and Bylaws on file with the SEC for the full text of certain of these provisions. See the SAI under “Certain Provisions in the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws” for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to certain other transactions.
CUSTODIAN, DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as Custodian for the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities, and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act and also
provides certain Fund accounting services. The principal business address of State Street is One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-0216. Equiniti Trust Company, LLC serves as Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and
Registrar. The principal business address of Equiniti Trust Company is 48 Wall Street, Floor 23, New York, NY 10005.
The Fund may sell Common Stock, including to existing Common Stockholders in a rights offering, through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, through agents,
to or through underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will identify any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the Fund’s Securities, any sales loads,
discounts, commissions, fees or other compensation paid to any underwriter, dealer or agent, the offering price, net proceeds and use of proceeds and the terms of any sale. In the case of a rights offering, the applicable Prospectus Supplement
will set forth the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of each right and the other terms of such rights offering.
The distribution of Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prevailing market prices at the
time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Sales of shares of Common Stock may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act,
including sales made directly on an exchange or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
The Fund may sell its Securities directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities 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.
In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell Securities to
or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents
that participate in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received and any profit realized by them on the resale of Securities may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such compensation received will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The maximum amount of compensation
to be received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed eight percent for the sale of any securities being offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Fund will not pay
any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements. In connection with any rights offering to existing Common Stockholders, we may enter into a standby
underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter(s) will purchase shares of Common Stock remaining unsubscribed after the rights offering.
If a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, we may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting
discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, to cover any over-allotments.
Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Fund against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with the Fund, or perform services for the Fund, in the ordinary course of business.
To the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, any underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers and
receive fees in connection with the execution of the
Fund’s portfolio transactions after such 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. Such underwriters may agree to allocate a
number of Securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of Securities for Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Securities may be sold by the underwriters to
securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our Securities offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers.
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Stock will be passed on for the Fund by K&L Gates LLP.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024 are incorporated by reference in the SAI have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Ernst
& Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The principal place of business of Ernst & Young is located at 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA
02116. Ernst & Young provides audit services, tax return preparation, and consultation with respect to the preparation of filings with the SEC.
The Prospectus and the SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement that the Fund has filed with the SEC (File No. 811-22396) and available at
www.sec.gov. The SAI can be obtained without charge by calling (877) 461-1899.
Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents referred to are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. To the extent they would be material to an investor’s decision to invest in the Offer, the terms of any such contract or other document are described in the Prospectus or will be
described in a Prospectus Supplement thereto.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Page
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
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1
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INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
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4
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PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE
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48
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
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48
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
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63
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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
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68
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DISTRIBUTIONS
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71
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
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72
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
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74
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REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
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75
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TAX MATTERS
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77
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REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
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84
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CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT
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84
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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84
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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
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84
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COUNSEL
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85
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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85
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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85
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APPENDIX A RATINGS
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A-1
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