The information in this Preliminary Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Preliminary Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED [●], 2025
PRELIMINARY BASE PROSPECTUS
15,000,000 Shares
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Rights to Purchase Shares of Beneficial Interest
Warrants
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (the “Fund,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek to provide shareholders with a high level of current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation.
We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, our common shares of beneficial interest, without par value (“common shares”), or subscription rights to purchase our common shares. Common shares may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our common shares.
Our common shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, including existing shareholders in a rights offering, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our common shares, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of rights will set forth the number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right (or number of rights) and the other terms of such rights offering. We may not sell any of our common shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our common shares.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “BRW.” The last reported sale price of our common shares, as reported by the NYSE on [●], 2025 was $[●] per common share. The net asset value of our common shares at the close of business on April 30, 2025 was $8.09 per common share. Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange.
Investing in the Fund’s common shares involves certain risks that are described in the “Risks” section beginning on page [●] of this Prospectus.
Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. The Fund’s common shares have traded at a discount to net asset value, including during recent periods. If the Fund’s common shares trade at a discount to their net asset value, the risk of loss may increase for purchasers in a public offering.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using the “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer, from time to time, separately or together in one or more offerings, the securities described in this Prospectus. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this Prospectus. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this Prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. This Prospectus, together with any Prospectus Supplement, sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing. You should read this Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement, which contain important information, before deciding whether to invest in the common shares. You should retain the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), dated [●], 2025, containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the SEC and, as amended from time to time, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may call (800) 882-0052, visit the Fund’s website (https://www.sabacef.com/saba-income-opportunities-fund) or write to the Fund to obtain, free of charge, copies of the SAI and the Fund’s semi-annual and annual reports, as well as to obtain other information about the Fund or to make shareholder inquiries. The SAI, as well as the Fund’s semi-annual and annual reports, are also available for free on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may also e-mail requests for these documents to [email protected]. Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus.
You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own professional advisors as to the legal, tax, financial or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Fund.
The Fund’s common shares do not represent a deposit or an obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.
Prospectus dated [●], 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | 1 |
| SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES | 6 |
| FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | 8 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | 10 |
| THE FUND | 10 |
| DESCRIPTION OF SHARES | 10 |
| THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS | 12 |
| LEVERAGE | 26 |
| RISKS | 29 |
| MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND | 63 |
| NET ASSET VALUE | 65 |
| DISTRIBUTIONS | 67 |
| REINVESTMENT PROGRAM | 68 |
| RIGHTS OFFERINGS | 69 |
| TAX MATTERS | 70 |
| TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS | 77 |
| CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE | 78 |
| REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES | 79 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 79 |
| INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 80 |
| PRIVACY NOTICE OF THE FUND | 81 |
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Prospectus and any related Prospectus Supplement in making your investment decisions. The Fund has not authorized any person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The Fund is not making an offer to sell the common shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement is accurate only as of the dates on their covers. The Fund’s business, financial condition and prospects may have changed since the date of its description in this Prospectus or the date of its description in any Prospectus Supplement.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary of certain information relating to Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund. This summary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common shares. You should consider the more detailed information contained in the Prospectus and in any related Prospectus Supplement and in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) before purchasing common shares.
| The Fund |
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Throughout this Prospectus, we refer to Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund simply as the “Fund” or as “we,” “us” or “our.” See “The Fund.”
The Fund’s common shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “BRW.” As of April 30, 2025, the net assets of the Fund were $344,137,189.40, the total assets of the Fund were $1,185,531,680.52, and the Fund had 42,529,493.52 common shares outstanding. The last reported sale price of the Fund’s common shares, as reported by the NYSE on [●], 2025 was $[●] per common share. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s common shares at the close of business on April 30, 2025 was $8.09 per common share. See “Description of Shares.” Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange. |
| The Offering | We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to 15,000,000 of our common shares on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. We may also offer subscription rights to purchase our common shares. The common shares may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more Prospectus Supplements. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our common shares. Our common shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The offering price per common share will not be less than the NAV per common share at the time we make the offering, exclusive of any underwriting commissions or discounts, provided that rights offerings that meet certain conditions may be offered at a price below the then current NAV. See “Rights Offerings.” The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of our common shares, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. See “Plan of Distribution.” The Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of rights will set forth the number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right (or number of rights) and the other terms of such rights offering. We may not sell any of our common shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our common shares. |
1
| Use of Proceeds | The net proceeds from the issuance of common shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with our investment objectives and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to be substantially completed in approximately two months from the date on which the proceeds from an offering are received by the Fund; however, the identification of appropriate investment opportunities pursuant to the Fund’s investment style or changes in market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period extending to as long as four months. See “Use of Proceeds.” |
| Investment Objectives and Policies | The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide shareholders with a high level of current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation. The investment objective is a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In pursuing its objectives, the Fund may invest in debt and equity securities of public and private companies, which include, among other things, investments in closed-end funds, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), reinsurance and public and private debt instruments. |
| Leverage |
The Fund uses leverage to seek to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund’s use of leverage may increase or decrease from time to time in its discretion and the Fund may, in the future, determine not to use leverage. The Fund currently leverages its assets through direct borrowing under its Facility with TD Bank and the use of derivative instruments (such as options and swaps), which are inherently leveraged and trading in products with embedded leverage, such as short sales and forwards. The Fund may borrow money from banks or other financial institutions or issue debt securities or preferred shares, if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). See “Leverage.”
The use of leverage is subject to numerous risks. When leverage is employed, the Fund’s NAV, the market price of the common shares and the yield to holders of common shares will be more volatile than if leverage were not used. For example, a rise in short-term interest rates generally will cause the Fund’s NAV to decline more than if the Fund had not used leverage. A reduction in the Fund’s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of the Fund’s common shares. When the Fund uses leverage, the management fee payable to the Adviser (as defined below) will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage. |
2
| The Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Fund’s common shares. Any leveraging strategy the Fund employs may not be successful. | |
| Investment Adviser | Saba Capital Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser receives an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.05% of the average daily value of the Fund’s Managed Assets. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser.” |
| Distributions |
The Fund has, with the approval of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), adopted a managed distribution plan (the “Managed Distribution Plan”) pursuant to which the Fund will make monthly distributions to shareholders at a fixed amount of $0.085 per share. The fixed distribution amount excludes any special dividends, which are not paid pursuant to the Managed Distribution Plan. Under the Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund will generally distribute amounts to its shareholders as necessary to satisfy the Managed Distribution Plan and the requirements prescribed by excise tax rules and Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Managed Distribution Plan is intended to provide shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month and is intended to narrow the discount between the market price and the NAV of the Fund’s common shares, but there is no assurance that the Managed Distribution Plan will be successful in doing so. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the Managed Distribution Plan.
Under the Managed Distribution Plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute capital gains and/or return of capital in order to maintain its managed distribution rate. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that was invested in the Fund is paid back to shareholders. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income”.
Various factors will affect the level of the Fund’s income, including the asset mix and the Fund’s use of options and hedging. To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than the fixed distribution amount. The undistributed income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than fixed distribution amount. Undistributed income will add to the Fund’s NAV (and indirectly benefits the Adviser by increasing its fee) and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed income will reduce the Fund’s NAV. The Fund generally intends to distribute any long-term capital gains not distributed under the Managed Distribution Plan annually, but is not obligated to do so. |
3
|
Under normal market conditions, the Adviser seeks to manage the Fund in a manner such that the Fund’s distributions are reflective of the Fund’s current and projected earnings levels. The distribution level of the Fund is subject to change based upon a number of factors, including the current and projected level of the Fund’s earnings, and may fluctuate over time.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders. An amendment or termination of the Managed Distribution Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Managed Distribution Plan will be subject to periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual minimum fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made. See “Distributions.”
Shareholders may elect to have all dividends and distributions reinvested in common shares of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s shareholder reinvestment program (the “Reinvestment Program”). See “Reinvestment Program.” | |
| Listing | The Fund’s common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BRW.” See “Description of Shares—Common Shares.” |
| Accountant, Administrator, and Transfer Agent | ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“SS&C ALPS”) serves as the Fund’s accountant, administrator, and transfer agent. |
| Custodian | The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the Fund’s custodian. |
| Market Price of Shares | Common shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at prices lower than their NAV. The Fund cannot assure you that its common shares will trade at a price higher than or equal to NAV. See “Use of Proceeds.” The Fund’s common shares trade in the open market at market prices that are a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection for portfolio securities, portfolio credit quality, liquidity, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of the common shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. See “Leverage,” “Risks,” “Description of Shares” and “Repurchase of Common Shares.” The common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors and you should not purchase common shares of the Fund if you intend to sell them shortly after purchase. |
| Special Risk Considerations | An investment in common shares of the Fund involves risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risks” beginning on page [●] of this Prospectus, along with additional risks relating to investments in the Fund. |
4
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
| Shareholder Transaction Expenses | |
| Sales load paid by you ( |
[ |
| Offering expenses borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price)(1) | |
| Reinvestment Program fees | |
| Reinvestment Program sale transaction fee |
| Estimated Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares) | |
| Management Fees(3)(4) | |
| Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(5) | |
| Other Expenses | |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses | |
| Total Annual Expenses | |
| Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(4) | - |
| Total Annual Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(4) |
| (1) |
| (2) |
| (3) |
| (4) |
5
| (5) |
The following example illustrates the expenses, assuming a sales load of 3.00% that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming (i) total net annual expenses of 6.55% of net assets attributable to common shares, and (ii) a 5% annual return:
| One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years | |
| Total expenses incurred | $ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The example assumes that the estimated “Other Expenses” set forth in the Estimated Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
6
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods presented. Certain information reflects financial results for a single common share of the Fund.
The report of [_____] is included in the Fund’s October 31, 2024 annual report, is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and SAI and can be obtained by shareholders. The Fund’s financial statements included in the Fund’s October 31, 2024 annual report are incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and the SAI.
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| For
the Period Ended April 30, 2025(a)(b) |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Period Ended October 31, 2021(c)(d) |
For the Year
Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||
| PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value - beginning of year/period | $ | 8.07 | $ | 8.32 | $ | 8.64 | $ | 9.86 | $ | 9.94 | $ | 10.60 | ||||||||||||
| INCOME/(LOSS) FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income(e) | 0.22 | 0.47 | 0.18 | 0.05 | 0.10 | 0.32 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and change in unrealized gain/(loss) on investments and unfunded loan commitments(e) | 0.32 | 0.41 | 0.54 | (0.21 | ) | 0.16 | (0.64 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Income/(Loss) from Investment Operations | 0.54 | 0.88 | 0.72 | (0.16 | ) | 0.26 | (0.32 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From net investment income(e) | (0.17 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.31 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.34 | ) | ||||||||||||
| From tax return of capital(e) | (0.34 | ) | - | (0.84 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.02 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total Distributions to Common Shareholders | (0.51 | ) | (1.13 | ) | (1.04 | ) | (1.06 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.36 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Accretion to net asset value resulting from share repurchases and tender offer(e)(f) | - | - | - | - | - | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Capital Share Transactions | - | - | - | - | - | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value per common share - end of year/period | $ | 8.10 | $ | 8.07 | $ | 8.32 | $ | 8.64 | $ | 9.86 | $ | 9.94 | ||||||||||||
| Market price per common share - end of year/period | $ | 7.68 | $ | 7.50 | $ | 7.39 | $ | 7.84 | $ | 9.34 | $ | 9.26 | ||||||||||||
| Total Investment Return - Net Asset Value(g) | 7.10 | % | 12.77 | % | 9.63 | % | (0.95 | %) | 2.84 | % | (2.14 | %) | ||||||||||||
| Total Investment Return - Market Price(g) | 9.26 | % | 18.00 | % | 7.31 | % | (5.12 | %) | 4.57 | % | (1.59 | %) | ||||||||||||
| Ratios to average net assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses including waivers to average net assets(i)(k) | 5.59 | %(h) | 5.72 | % | 4.61 | % | 2.36 | % | 1.43 | %(h) | 2.26 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses excluding waivers to average net assets(i)(k) | 5.97 | %(h) | 6.01 | % | 4.73 | % | 2.75 | % | 1.60 | %(h) | 2.68 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income including waivers to average net assets | 5.23 | %(h) | 5.83 | % | 2.09 | % | 0.49 | % | 1.62 | %(h) | 3.37 | % | ||||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL DATA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate | 53.94 | % | 129.43 | % | 76.16 | % | 99.00 | % | 94.00 | % | 56.00 | % | ||||||||||||
| Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s) | $ | 344,306 | $ | 343,151 | $ | 353,867 | $ | 367,459 | $ | 419,710 | $ | 605,535 | ||||||||||||
| Total shares outstanding (000s)(d) | 42,529 | 42,529 | 42,529 | 42,529 | 42,529 | 60,920 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage, end of period per $1,000(j) | 7,651 | 3,990 | 6,689 | 3,904 | 9,394 | 27,794 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate principal amount of borrowings, end of year/period (000s) | $ | 45,000 | $ | 86,000 | $ | 52,900 | $ | 175,500 | $ | 50,000 | $ | 22,600 | ||||||||||||
| Average borrowings outstanding during the end of year/period (000s) | $ | 66,898 | $ | 71,653 | $ | 88,961 | $ | 124,674 | $ | 20,559 | $ | 211,066 | ||||||||||||
7
| For
the Period Ended April 30, 2025(a)(b) |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Year
Ended |
For the Period Ended October 31, 2021(c)(d) |
For the Year
Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL RATIOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratios to average net assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses excluding dividend expense on securities sold short, interest expense and other fees related to revolving credit facility to average net assets(k) | 1.56 | %(h) | 1.54 | % | 1.58 | % | 1.67 | % | 1.38 | %(h) | 2.13 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratios to average net assets plus borrowings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses including waivers to average net assets(i)(k) | 4.70 | %(h) | 4.73 | % | 3.71 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.37 | %(h) | 1.72 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses excluding waivers to average net assets(k) | 5.02 | %(h) | 4.97 | % | 3.81 | % | 2.09 | % | 1.54 | %(h) | 2.04 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses excluding dividend expense on securities sold short, interest expense and other fees related to revolving credit facility to average net assets(k) | 1.31 | %(h) | 1.27 | % | 1.27 | % | 1.27 | % | 1.32 | %(h) | 1.30 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income including waivers to average net assets | 4.39 | %(h) | 4.82 | % | 1.69 | % | 0.38 | % | 1.56 | %(h) | 2.56 | % | ||||||||||||
| (a) | Unaudited. |
| (b) | Consolidated financials. |
| (c) | With the approval of the Board effective October 31, 2021, the Fund's fiscal year end was changed from February 28 to October 31. |
| (d) | Reflects a 1 for 2 reverse stock split effective May 20, 2022, see Note 8 in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| (e) | Calculated using average common shares outstanding. |
| (f) | Please see Note 8 in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. |
| (g) | Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns does not reflect sales load or brokerage commissions, if any, and are not annualized. |
| (h) | Annualized. |
| (i) | The Investment Adviser (See Note 1 and Note 5) has entered into a written expense limitation agreement with the Fund under which it will limit the expenses of the Fund (excluding interest, taxes, investor relations services, other investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses, other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business, and expenses of any counsel or other persons or services retained by such Fund’s trustees who are not interested persons) subject to possible recoupment by the Investment Adviser within three years of being incurred. |
| (j) | Asset coverage ratio is presented to represent the coverage available to each $1,000 of borrowings. The asset coverage ratio per $1,000 of debt is presented to represent the coverage available to each $1,000 of borrowings. Calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities (excluding the principal amount of the Leverage Facility) from the Fund’s total assets and dividing by the principal amount of the Leverage Facility and then multiplying by $1,000. |
| (k) | Expense ratios do not include any acquired fund fees. |
8
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the issuance of common shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as stated below. We currently anticipate that we will be able to invest all of the net proceeds in accordance with our investment objectives and policies within approximately two months from the date on which the proceeds from an offering are received by the Fund. Such investments may be delayed if suitable investments are unavailable at the time or for other reasons, such as market volatility and lack of liquidity in the markets of suitable investments. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term, tax-exempt or taxable investment grade securities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments.
THE FUND
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act. The Fund was formed as a Massachusetts business trust on December 2, 1987, pursuant to its Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as subsequently amended (the “Declaration of Trust”) and is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund commenced operations on May 12, 1987. The Fund first changed its name from Pilgrim Prime Rate Trust to Pilgrim America Prime Rate Trust, effective April 12, 1996, and then changed its name back to Pilgrim Prime Rate Trust, effective November 16, 1998. Effective March 1, 2002, the Fund changed its name to ING Prime Rate Trust. Effective May 1, 2014, the Fund changed its name to Voya Prime Rate Trust. Effective June 4, 2021, and as a result of Saba Capital Management, L.P. assuming the role as investment adviser to the Fund, the Fund changed its name to Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund. The Fund’s common shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BRW.” The Fund’s principal office is located at 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174, and its telephone number is 212-542-4644.
The Board is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s activities, including reviewing contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund, and review the Fund’s performance. Under the rules of the NYSE applicable to listed companies, the Fund is required to hold an annual meeting of shareholder in each year. If the Fund is converted to an open-end investment company or if for any reason common shares are no longer listed on the NYSE (or any other national securities exchange the rules of which require annual meetings of shareholders), the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.
The Fund is responsible for paying all the expenses of its operation, including, without limitation, the management fee payable and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders, including preferred shares could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability based solely on his or her being or having been a shareholder of the Fund and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification, out of Fund property, for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Fund is a business trust formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and governed by the Declaration of Trust. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial interest, without par value. and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this offering, will be fully paid and the purchasers of the common shares will have no obligation to make further payments for the purchase of the common shares or contributions to the Fund solely by reason of their ownership of the common shares, except that the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) shall have the power to cause shareholders to pay certain expenses of the Fund by setting off charges due from shareholders from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed the shareholders and/or by reducing the number of common shares owned by each respective shareholder. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held. When preferred shares are outstanding, the holders of common shares will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as defined in the Investment Company Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions and unless certain other requirements imposed by any rating agencies rating the preferred shares have been met. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares” in the SAI. The Fund will send annual and semi-annual reports, including financial statements, to all holders of its shares.
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Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional common shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading through a broker on the NYSE or otherwise. Because the market value of the common shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection on its portfolio securities, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, the Fund’s NAV, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that its common shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than NAV in the future. The common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors and you should not purchase the common shares if you intend to sell them soon after purchase. See “Repurchase of Common Shares” below and “Repurchase of Common Shares” in the SAI.
The Fund’s outstanding common shares are, and when issued, the common shares offered by this Prospectus will be, publicly held and listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BRW.” The Fund determines its NAV on a daily basis as of the close of the regular trading session. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the highest and lowest daily closing prices on the NYSE per common share, and the NAV per common share and the premium to or discount from NAV, on the date of each of the high and low market prices. The table also sets forth the number of common shares traded on the NYSE during the respective quarters.
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As of April 30, 2025, the NAV per common share of the Fund was $ and the market price per common share was $, representing a premium/discount to NAV of . Common shares of the Fund have historically traded at both a premium and discount to NAV.
As of April 30, 2025, the Fund has $42,529,493.52 common shares outstanding.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Board may authorize and issue preferred shares, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the holders of the common shares. Holders of common shares have no preemptive right to purchase any preferred shares that might be issued. The Fund does not currently intend to issue preferred shares.
Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (i.e., the liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total assets). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its common shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total assets is at least 200% of such liquidation value. If the Fund issues preferred shares, it may be subject to restrictions imposed by the guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Fund. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede the Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Please see “Description of Shares” in the SAI for more information.
Authorized Shares
The following table provides the Fund’s authorized shares and common shares outstanding as of April 30, 2025.
| Title of Class | Amount Authorized |
Amount Held by Fund or for its Account |
Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amount held by Fund |
| Unlimited |
THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS
Investment Objectives and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to provide shareholders with a high level of current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation. The investment objective is a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In pursuing its objectives, the Fund may invest in debt and equity securities of public and private companies, which include, among other things, investment in closed-end funds, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), reinsurance and public and private debt instruments.
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The Fund’s investments may be in issuers located both in the U.S. and outside the U.S. The Fund may invest, without limit, in issuers located in emerging market countries. The Fund may invest, without limit, in debt/fixed income instruments and convertible securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but determined to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield” investments or “junk” bonds). The Fund may invest in debt instruments of any maturity and does not seek to maintain a particular dollar-weighted average maturity. A bond is issued with a specific maturity date, which is the date when the issuer must pay back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk the Fund and the Fund’s investors face as interest rates rise, but the Fund could receive a higher yield in return for that longer maturity and higher interest rate risk.
The Fund may also utilize derivatives, including, but not limited to, total return swaps, credit default swaps, and options and futures, in seeking to enhance returns and/or to reduce portfolio risk. In pursuit of the Fund’s objectives, the Fund may invest on an opportunistic basis in private funds that pursue a variety of investment strategies.
The Fund may invest in a wide array of securities and instruments in pursuit of its objective. Specifically, the Fund may invest in the following instruments and use the following investment techniques, subject to any limitations set forth herein. There is no guarantee the Fund will buy all of the types of securities or use all of the investment techniques that are described herein and in the SAI.
Closed-End Funds
The Fund invests its assets in U.S. and non-U.S. “closed-end” investment companies (or “closed-end funds”) and, at times, to a significant degree. U.S. closed-end funds are registered investment companies that, unlike open-end funds, do not typically issue redeemable shares. Instead, a fixed number of shares trade on a secondary market, such as a securities exchange. The Fund may invest in closed-ends funds that are domiciled outside of the U.S. or whose securities are traded on a non-U.S. exchange. Such securities are typically listed for trading on the NYSE or NASDAQ and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets or on foreign exchanges.
The Fund invests in closed-end funds that pursue a variety of strategies, including closed-end funds that invest in dividend and other income-producing securities (e.g., equity securities) and closed-end funds that invest in debt and loans, including high yield or non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). The closed-ends funds have the flexibility to invest in a broad range of securities. The closed-end funds may invest in securities with a range of maturities from short- to long-term. Substantially all of the closed-end funds’ assets may be invested in lower-rated securities, which may include securities having the lowest rating for non-subordinated debt instruments (i.e., rated C by Moody’s Investors Service or CCC+ or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Fitch Ratings) and unrated securities of equivalent investment quality. The Fund’s closed-end fund investments may also invest in equity securities, municipal securities (including through depositary receipts or other securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers), mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), loan participations, inflation-protected securities, structured securities, variable, floating, and inverse floating rate instruments and preferred stock, and may use other investment techniques, including investments in derivative instruments. The closed-end funds may also make short sales of securities or maintain a short position.
The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering or other offering, when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The offering price typically can include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market. In seeking to maximize value, the Fund may also invest in closed-ends funds that are, or the Adviser believes may become, the subject of an activist campaign by a shareholder, such as a proxy contest, whose aim is to eliminate or reduce the discount to the closed-end fund’s NAV. Such activism may be initiated by the Adviser (on behalf of its other clients) or by third parties.
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Special Purpose Acquisition Companies
A SPAC is typically a publicly traded company that raises investment capital via an IPO for the purpose of acquiring one or more existing companies (or interests therein) via merger, combination, acquisition or other similar transactions (each a “SPAC Transaction”). The shares of a SPAC are issued in “units” that typically include one share of common stock and one warrant (or partial warrant) conveying the right to purchase additional shares. Within 52 days after the closing of the IPO, the shares of common stock and the warrants comprising the units will begin to trade separately and become freely tradeable. After going public, and until a SPAC Transaction is completed, a SPAC generally invests the proceeds of its IPO (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in U.S. Government securities, money market securities and/or cash. If a SPAC does not complete a SPAC Transaction within a specified period of time after going public, the SPAC is typically dissolved, at which point the invested funds are returned to the SPAC’s shareholders (less certain permitted expenses) and any warrants issued by the SPAC expire worthless. In some cases, the Fund will forfeit its right to exercise its warrants to receive additional shares even if a SPAC Transaction occurs if the Fund holding the warrant elects to redeem its shares of common stock and not participate in the SPAC Transaction.
Debt and other Fixed Income Investments
Corporate Bonds. Corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by corporations. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Collateral used for secured debt includes real property, machinery, equipment, accounts receivable, stocks, bonds or notes. If a bond is unsecured, it is known as a debenture. Bondholders, as creditors, have a prior legal claim over common and preferred stockholders as to both income and assets of the corporation for the principal and interest due them and may have a prior claim over other creditors if liens or mortgages are involved. Interest on corporate bonds may be fixed or floating, or the bonds may be zero coupons. Interest on corporate bonds is typically paid semi-annually and is fully taxable to the bondholder. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and may also be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. Corporate bonds usually yield more than government or agency bonds due to the presence of credit risk.
Private Credit. The Fund may also invest in debt securities issued by private companies. Generally, very little public information exists about these private companies, and the Fund will rely on the ability of the Adviser to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies. Private companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt securities that the Fund holds. The Fund may invest in senior secured first lien term loans and senior secured second lien term loans issued by private companies. Additionally, the Fund may invest in debt securities issued by private companies that may be secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing senior secured debt of such companies. The Fund may also investment in private investment funds that invest in private debt and credit assets. In general, these interests are subject to underlying lock-ups, are not freely transferrable and/or have substantial transfer restrictions and no active trading market but may have certain rights as to redemption.
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Senior Loans. The Fund may invest in senior secured floating rate and fixed rate loans or debt. Senior loans primarily include senior floating rate loans, first and second lien loans, and secondarily senior floating rate debt obligations (including those issued by an asset-backed pool), and interests therein. Senior loan interests may take the form of direct interests acquired during a primary distribution and also may take the form of assignments of, novations of, or participations in, a bank loan acquired in secondary markets. A senior loan typically is originated, negotiated, and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company, or other financial institution (collectively, the “Agent”) for a group of loan investors. The Agent typically administers and enforces the senior loan on behalf of the other loan investors in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the loan investors. Purchasers of senior loans and other forms of indebtedness depend primarily on the creditworthiness of the corporate or other borrower for payment of principal and interest.
Senior loans typically have a stated term of between five and nine years and have rates of interest that typically are redetermined daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually. Longer interest rate reset periods generally increase fluctuations in the Fund’s NAV as a result of changes in market interest rates. The Fund is not subject to any restrictions with respect to the maturity of senior loans held in its portfolio. As a result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should increase, and as short-term interest rates decrease, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should decrease. Because of prepayments, the Adviser expects the average life of the senior loans in which the Fund invests to be shorter than the stated maturity.
The Fund may purchase senior loans on a direct assignment basis. If the Fund purchases a senior loan on direct assignment, it typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement of the assigning lender and becomes a lender under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender. The Fund may also purchase, without limitation, participations in senior loans. The participation by the Fund in a lender’s portion of a senior loan typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with such lender, not with the borrower. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by such lender of payments from the borrower. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participations in a loan to a borrower and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Fund may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender.
Convertible Securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible income securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities. The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities. Convertible securities may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.
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A “synthetic” or “manufactured” convertible security may be created by the Fund or by a third party by combining separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security: an income producing component and a convertible component. The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by investing in securities or instruments such as warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security having a single market value, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Because the “market value” of a synthetic convertible security is the sum of the values of its income-producing component and its convertible component, the value of a synthetic convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security. The Fund also may purchase synthetic convertible securities created by other parties, including convertible structured notes. Convertible structured notes are income-producing debentures linked to equity. Convertible structured notes have the attributes of a convertible security; however, the issuer of the convertible note (typically an investment bank), rather than the issuer of the underlying common stock into which the note is convertible, assumes credit risk associated with the underlying investment and the Fund in turn assumes credit risk associated with the issuer of the convertible note.
Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) are a form of structured debt obligation. ABS are bonds backed by pools of loans or other receivables. The collateral for these securities may include home equity loans, automobile and credit card receivables, boat loans, computer leases, airplane leases, mobile home loans, recreational vehicle loans and hospital account receivables. The Fund may invest in these and other types of ABS that may be developed in the future. These securities may provide the Fund with a less effective security interest in the related collateral than do mortgage related securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on the underlying collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on these securities.
Collateralized Loan Obligations. A Collateralized Loan Obligation (“CLO”) is a structured debt security, issued by a financing company (generally called a special purpose vehicle or “SPV”), that was created to reapportion the risk and return characteristics of a pool of bank loans. Investors in CLOs bear the credit risk of the underlying collateral. The bank loans are used as collateral supporting the various debt tranches issued by the SPV. Multiple tranches of securities are issued by the CLO, offering investors various maturity and credit risk characteristics. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine, or subordinated/equity, according to their degree of risk. The key feature of the CLO structure is the prioritization of the cash flows from a pool of debt securities among the several classes of the CLO. If there are defaults or the CLO’s collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those to subordinated/equity tranches. The Fund may invest in the equity or residual portion of the capital structure of CLOs. The SPV is a company founded solely for the purpose of securitizing payment claims. On this basis, marketable securities are issued which, due to the diversification of the underlying risk, generally represent a lower level of risk than the original assets. The redemption of the securities issued by the SPV takes place at maturity out of the cash flow generated by the collected claims. The vast majority of CLOs are actively managed by an independent investment manager.
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High-Yield Securities. High-yield, or low and below investment grade securities (below investment grade securities are also known as “junk bonds”) are debt securities with the lowest investment grade rating (e.g., BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s), that are below investment grade (e.g., lower than BBB by S&P and Fitch or Baa by Moody’s) or that are unrated but determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be of comparable quality. These types of securities may be issued to fund corporate transactions or restructurings, such as leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, debt reclassifications or similar events. High-yield securities may be more speculative in nature than securities with higher ratings and tend to be more sensitive to credit risk, particularly during a downturn in the economy. These types of securities may be issued by unseasoned companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by companies or municipalities that have questionable credit strength. High-yield securities and comparable unrated securities: (i) likely will have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of one or more Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; (ii) are speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation; and (iii) may have a less liquid secondary market, potentially making it difficult to value or sell such securities. Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the securities. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. High-yield securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero- coupon, pay-in-kind and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered.
The rates of return on these types of securities generally are higher than the rates of return available on more highly rated securities, but generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of principal and income, including the possibility of default by or insolvency of the issuers of such securities. Accordingly, the Fund may be more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analysis with respect to these types of securities than is the case for more highly rated securities.
The market values of certain high-yield securities and comparable unrated securities tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than are the market values of more highly rated securities. In addition, issuers of high-yield and comparable unrated securities often are highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired.
The risk of loss due to default is greater for high-yield and comparable unrated securities than it is for higher rated securities because high-yield securities and comparable unrated securities generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to more senior indebtedness. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its holdings of such securities. The existence of limited markets for lower-rated debt securities may diminish the Fund’s ability to: (i) obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing such securities and calculating portfolio net asset value; and (ii) sell the securities at fair market value either to meet redemption requests or to respond to changes in the economy or in financial markets.
Many lower-rated securities are not registered for offer and sale to the public under the Securities Act. Investments in these restricted securities may be determined by the Adviser to be liquid (able to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven days or less without the sales or dispositions significantly changing the market value of the investment).
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Mortgage Related Derivative Instruments. The Fund may invest in MBS credit default swaps. MBS credit default swaps include swaps the reference obligation for which is an MBS or related index, such as the CMBX Index (a tradeable index referencing a basket of CMBS), the TRX Index (a tradeable index referencing total return swaps based on CMBS) or the ABX Index (a tradeable index referencing a basket of sub-prime MBS). The Fund may engage in other derivative transactions related to MBS, including purchasing and selling exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options, futures and forwards on mortgages and MBS. The Fund may invest in newly developed mortgage related derivatives that may hereafter become available.
Other Mortgage Related Securities. Other mortgage related securities include securities other than those described above that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. Other mortgage related securities may be equity or debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing.
U.S. Government Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance. Such obligations include U.S. Treasury bills (maturity of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturity of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years), including the principal components or the interest components issued by the U.S. Government under the separate trading of registered interest and principal securities program (i.e., “STRIPS”), all of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Preferred Securities. The Fund may invest in preferred securities. There are two basic types of preferred securities. The first type, sometimes referred to as traditional preferred securities, consists of preferred stock issued by an entity taxable as a corporation. The second type, sometimes referred to as trust preferred securities, are usually issued by a trust or limited partnership and represent preferred interests in deeply subordinated debt instruments issued by the corporation for whose benefit the trust or partnership was established.
Traditional Preferred Securities. Traditional preferred securities generally pay fixed or adjustable rate dividends to investors and generally have a “preference” over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company’s assets. This means that a company must pay dividends on preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. In order to be payable, distributions on such preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accumulate even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. In such a case all accumulated dividends must be paid before any dividend on the common stock can be paid. However, some traditional preferred stocks are non-cumulative, in which case dividends do not accumulate and need not ever be paid. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an obligation to make up any arrearages to its shareholders. Should an issuer of a non-cumulative preferred stock held by the Fund determine not to pay dividends on such stock, the amount of dividends the Fund pays may be adversely affected. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the traditional preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.
Preferred stockholders usually have no right to vote for corporate directors or on other matters. Shares of traditional preferred securities have a liquidation value that generally equals the original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market value of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting companies in the utilities and financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred securities, and by actual and anticipated changes in tax laws, such as changes in corporate income tax rates or the “Dividends Received Deduction.” Because the claim on an issuer’s earnings represented by traditional preferred securities may become onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on such securities, the issuer may redeem the securities. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, the Fund’s holdings, if any, of higher rate-paying fixed rate preferred securities may be reduced and the Fund may be unable to acquire securities of comparable credit quality paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.
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Trust Preferred Securities. Trust preferred securities are a comparatively new asset class. Trust preferred securities are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing notes with preferred security characteristics, or by an affiliated business trust of a corporation, generally in the form of beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities. The trust preferred securities market consists of both fixed and adjustable coupon rate securities that are either perpetual in nature or have stated maturity dates.
Trust preferred securities are typically junior and fully subordinated liabilities of an issuer or the beneficiary of a guarantee that is junior and fully subordinated to the other liabilities of the guarantor. In addition, trust preferred securities typically permit an issuer to defer the payment of income for eighteen months or more without triggering an event of default. Generally, the deferral period is five years or more. Because of their subordinated position in the capital structure of an issuer, the ability to defer payments for extended periods of time without default consequences to the issuer, and certain other features (such as restrictions on common dividend payments by the issuer or ultimate guarantor when full cumulative payments on the trust preferred securities have not been made), these trust preferred securities are often treated as close substitutes for traditional preferred securities, both by issuers and investors. Trust preferred securities have many of the key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer’s capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows.
Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest in municipal securities, which include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, refunding of outstanding obligations and obtaining funds for general operating expenses and loans to other public institutions and facilities. In addition, certain types of private activity bonds (“PABs”) (or industrial development bonds, under pre-1986 law) are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately owned or operated facilities, including among other things, airports, public ports, mass commuting facilities, multi-family housing projects, as well as facilities for water supply, gas, electricity, sewage or solid waste disposal and other specialized facilities. Other types of PABs, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities. The interest on municipal securities may bear a fixed rate or be payable at a variable or floating rate.
Distressed and Defaulted Securities. The Fund may invest in the securities of financially distressed and bankrupt issuers, including debt obligations that are in covenant or payment default. Such investments generally trade significantly below par and are considered speculative. The repayment of defaulted obligations is subject to significant uncertainties. Defaulted obligations might be repaid only after lengthy workout or bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments. Typically such workout or bankruptcy proceedings result in only partial recovery of cash payments or an exchange of the defaulted obligation for other debt or equity securities of the issuer or its affiliates, which may in turn be illiquid or speculative.
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Credit Default Swaps. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements for hedging purposes or to seek to increase income or gain. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default contract may be obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event on the reference obligation occurs. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional amount) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or if the swap is cash settled the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount (the difference between the market value of the reference obligation and its par value). The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund will generally receive no payments from its counterparty under the swap if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional amount of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity, the value of which may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no credit event. If a credit event occurs, generally the seller must pay the buyer the full notional amount of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity, the value of which may have significantly decreased. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap in excess of any premium and margin required to establish and maintain the position.
Structured Instruments. The Fund may use structured instruments for investment purposes, for risk management purposes, such as to reduce the duration and interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, and for leveraging purposes. While structured instruments may offer the potential for a favorable rate of return from time to time, they also entail certain risks. Structured instruments may be less liquid than other fixed-income securities and the price of structured instruments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on the terms of the embedded index, a structured instrument may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured instruments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. Structured instruments may also be illiquid. Like other sophisticated strategies, the Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended.
Sovereign Governmental and Supranational Debt. The Fund may invest in all types of debt securities of governmental issuers in all countries, including foreign countries. These sovereign debt securities may include: debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, governmental agencies or instrumentalities and political subdivisions located in foreign countries; debt securities issued by government owned, controlled or sponsored entities located in foreign countries; interests in entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of instruments issued by any of the above issuers; Brady Bonds, which are debt securities issued under the framework of the Brady Plan as a means for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external indebtedness; participations in loans between emerging market governments and financial institutions; or debt securities issued by supranational entities such as the World Bank. A supranational entity is a bank, commission or company established or financially supported by the national governments of one or more countries to promote reconstruction or development. Sovereign government and supranational debt involve all the risks described herein regarding foreign and emerging markets investments as well as the risk of debt moratorium, repudiation or renegotiation.
Inflation-Indexed Bonds. Inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) are fixed income securities the principal value of which is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds (“TIPs”). For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is typically reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation.
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Event-Linked Instruments/Catastrophe Bonds. The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds” or “event-linked swaps” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains or losses that typically are contingent on, or formulaically related to, defined trigger events. Examples of trigger events include hurricanes, earthquakes, weather-related phenomena or statistics relating to such events. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” If a trigger event occurs, the principal amount of the bond is reduced (potentially to zero), and the Fund may lose all or a portion of its entire principal invested in the bond or the entire notional amount on a swap.
Reinsurance Notes. The Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, in reinsurance contracts through shares or notes issued in connection with quota shares and/or may gain exposure to reinsurance contracts through excess of loss notes and/or industry loss warranties (collectively, “Reinsurance Notes”). As Reinsurance Notes represent an interest, either proportional or non-proportional, in one or more underlying reinsurance contracts, the Fund has limited transparency into the individual underlying contract(s) and, therefore, must rely upon the risk assessment and sound underwriting practices of the sponsor. Accordingly, it may be more difficult to fully evaluate the underlying risk profile of Reinsurance Notes, which may place the Fund’s assets at greater risk of loss than if the Adviser had more complete information. The lack of transparency may also make the valuation of such investments more difficult and potentially result in mispricing that could result in losses to the Fund. In Reinsurance Notes, the Fund cannot lose more than the amount invested.
Equity Securities
In addition to investments in closed-end funds and SPACs, the Fund may invest in other equity securities, including common stocks, warrants, REITs, depositary receipts, and listed and unlisted private equity funds or other private funds.
Common Stock. Common stock represents a unit of equity ownership of a corporation. Owners typically are entitled to vote on the selection of directors and other important corporate governance matters, to receive dividend payments, if any, on their holdings. However, ownership of common stock does not entitle owners to participate in the day-to-day operations of the corporation. Common stock of domestic and foreign public corporations can be listed, and their shares traded, on domestic stock exchanges, such the NYSE or the NASDAQ Stock Market. Domestic and foreign corporations also may have their shares traded on foreign exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange or the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Common stock may be privately placed or publicly offered. The price of common stock is generally determined by corporate earnings, type of products or services offered, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and market conditions generally. In the event that a corporation declares bankruptcy or is liquidated, the claims of secured and unsecured creditors and owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
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Warrants. Warrants are privileges issued by corporations enabling the owners to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short life span to expiration. The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ expiration. Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.
REITs. The Fund may invest in equity interests and debt securities issued by REITs. REITs possess certain risks which differ from an investment in common stocks. REITs are financial vehicles that pool investor’s capital to purchase or finance real estate. REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types (i.e., hotels, shopping malls, residential complexes and office buildings). The market value of REIT shares and the ability of REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including rising interest rates, changes in the national, state and local economic climate and real estate conditions, perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties, the ability of the owners to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance, the cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, increased competition from new properties, the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws, changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies, adverse changes in zoning laws and other factors beyond the control of the REIT issuers. In addition, distributions received by the Fund from REITs may consist of dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. As REITs generally pay a higher rate of dividends (on a pre-tax basis) than operating companies, to the extent application of the Fund’s investment strategy results in the Fund investing in REIT shares, the percentage of the Fund’s dividend income received from REIT shares will likely exceed the percentage of the Fund’s portfolio which is comprised of REIT shares. There are three general categories of REITs: equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest primarily in direct fee ownership or leasehold ownership of real property; they derive most of their income from rents. Mortgage REITs invest mostly in mortgages on real estate, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans, and the main source of their income is mortgage interest payments. Hybrid REITs hold both ownership and mortgage interests in real estate.
Depositary Receipts. The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and other similar global instruments. ADRs typically are issued by a U.S. bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. corporation. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts, are receipts issued in Europe, typically by non-U.S. banks and trust companies, that evidence ownership of either non-U.S. or domestic underlying securities. GDRs are depositary receipts structured like global debt issues to facilitate trading on an international basis.
Private Equity Funds. The Fund may invest directly in private equity funds and listed private equity funds, which may include, among others, business development companies, investment holding companies, publicly traded limited partnership interests (common units), publicly traded venture capital funds, publicly traded venture capital trusts, publicly traded private equity funds, publicly traded private equity investment trusts, publicly traded closed-end funds, publicly traded financial institutions that lend to or invest in privately held companies and any other publicly traded vehicle whose purpose is to invest in privately held companies.
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The Fund may invest in private equity funds and listed private equity funds that emphasize making equity and equity-like (preferred stock, convertible stock and warrants) investments in later stage to mature businesses, or may invest in other private equity funds making debt investments or investments in companies at other stages of development. The Fund may also make these private equity investments directly. In addition, the Fund may invest in the common stock of closed-end management investment companies, including business development companies that invest in securities of listed private equity companies.
An investment in a private fund may be made in the primary offering of such fund’s securities or acquired in the secondary market. Such investments may constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.
The Adviser evaluates private funds based on the depth of resources of management, consistency of investment process, prior investment performance, expenses, and purity of exposure to an asset class using information contained in such private funds’ marketing materials, including private placement memoranda, and gained from the Adviser’s relationships with the management of such private funds. The Adviser aims to invest in private funds managed by investment advisers who the Adviser believes have the ability to invest successfully in their respective strategy, geography, and/or sector.
Foreign Investments and Emerging Markets
Non-U.S. Securities. The Fund may invest without limit in securities of non-U.S. issuers (“Non-U.S. Securities”). These securities may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated and include: (i) debt obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign national, provincial, state, municipal or other governments with taxing authority or by their agencies or instrumentalities, including securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings, commonly referred to as “Brady Bonds;” (ii) debt obligations of supranational entities; (iii) debt obligations and other debt securities of foreign corporate issuers; (iv) fixed income securities issued by corporations that generate significant profits from non-U.S. countries; and (v) structured securities, including but not limited to, warrants, options and other derivatives, whose price is directly linked to Non-U.S. Securities or indices of Non-U.S. Securities. Some Non-U.S. Securities may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Similarly, there is less volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets than in the United States and, at times, greater price volatility than in the United States. Because evidence of ownership of such securities usually is held outside the United States, the Fund will be subject to additional risks if it invests in Non-U.S. Securities, which include adverse political and economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and interest or dividends on the foreign securities to investors located outside the country of the issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise. Non-U.S. Securities may trade on days when the common shares are not priced or traded.
Emerging Markets Investments. The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries, including securities denominated in currencies of emerging market countries. Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world (including countries that may be considered “frontier” markets) except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. There is no minimum rating criteria for the Fund’s investments in such securities. These issuers may be subject to risks that do not apply to issuers in larger, more developed countries. These risks are more pronounced to the extent the Fund invests significantly in one country. Less information about emerging market issuers or markets may be available due to less rigorous disclosure and accounting standards or regulatory practices. Emerging markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets. In a changing market, the Adviser may not be able to sell the Fund’s portfolio securities in amounts and at prices they consider reasonable. The U.S. dollar may appreciate against non-U.S. currencies or an emerging market government may impose restrictions on currency conversion or trading. The economies of emerging market countries may grow at a slower rate than expected or may experience a downturn or recession. Economic, political and social developments may adversely affect emerging market countries and their securities markets.
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Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund’s common shares are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund to common shareholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a portion of the Fund’s assets may be denominated in non-U.S. currencies and the income received by the Fund from such securities will be paid in non-U.S. currencies. The Fund also may invest in or gain exposure to non-U.S. currencies for investment or hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, non-U.S. currencies will be subject to currency risk, which is the risk that fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may (but is not required to) hedge some or all of its exposure to non-U.S. currencies through the use of derivative strategies, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in such transactions at any given time or from time to time when they would be beneficial. Although the Fund has the flexibility to engage in such transactions, the Adviser may determine not to do so or to do so only in unusual circumstances or market conditions. These transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for the Fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies. The Fund may also use derivatives contracts for purposes of increasing exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another.
Other Investment Companies
In addition to investments in closed-end funds, the Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds, business development companies and money market funds, including other investment companies managed by the Adviser or its affiliates), subject to applicable regulatory limits, that invest primarily securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and will remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and other fees and expenses with respect to assets so invested. Holders of common shares will therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies (except that it will not be subject to duplicate advisory fees with respect to other investment companies managed by the Adviser or its affiliates). The Adviser will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available equity and/or fixed-income securities investments. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks to which the Fund may be subject to the extent it employs a leverage strategy. Additionally, the Fund may invest in other investment companies that have exposure to cryptocurrency.
Private Funds
The Fund may invest in private funds that pursue private credit, real estate, reinsurance, fixed income or equity strategies without preference to any sector in which such private funds may invest. Additionally, the Fund may invest in private funds that have exposure to cryptocurrency. An investment in a private fund may be made in the primary offering of such fund’s securities or acquired in the secondary market. Such investments may constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.
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The Adviser evaluates private funds based on the depth of resources of management, consistency of investment process, prior investment performance, expenses, and purity of exposure to an asset class using information contained in such private funds’ marketing materials, including private placement memoranda, and gained from the Adviser’s relationships with the management of such private funds. The Adviser aims to invest in private funds managed by investment advisers who the Adviser believes have the ability to invest successfully in their respective strategy, geography, and/or sector.
Other Investments/Techniques
Short-Term Debt Securities; Temporary Defensive Positions; Invest-Up Period. During temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the market adversely affect the price at which fixed income securities are available, or in connection with the termination of the Fund) and in order to keep cash on hand fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of this offering of common shares (or preferred shares, should the Fund determine to issue preferred shares in the future) are being invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its assets in liquid, short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities and securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the type in which the Fund may invest directly. The Adviser’s determination that they are temporarily unable to follow the Fund’s investment strategy or that it is impractical to do so will generally occur only in situations in which a market disruption event has occurred and where trading in the securities selected through application of the Fund’s investment strategy is extremely limited or absent or in connection with the termination of the Fund.
Short Sales. The Fund may make short sales of securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. The Fund may make short sales to hedge positions, for duration and risk management, in order to maintain portfolio flexibility or to enhance income or gain. When the Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is often obligated to pay over any payments received on such borrowed securities. The Fund’s obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid securities. Depending on arrangements made with the broker-dealer from which it borrowed the security regarding payment over of any payments received by the Fund on such security, the Fund may not receive any payments (including interest) on its collateral deposited with such broker-dealer. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. Although the Fund’s gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.
Derivatives. The derivative instruments (both exchange-traded and over-the-counter instruments) in which the Fund may invest include forwards (such as forward foreign currency contracts, and forward interest rate agreements), futures (such as currency, equity, fixed income/debt (including interest rate), and index futures), options (including options on swaps (commonly known as swaptions), options on futures, options on indices, writing (selling) calls against positions in the portfolio (covered calls) or writing (selling) puts), structured investments (such as equity-linked notes), and swaps (such as total return, credit default, credit default index, fixed income/debt (including interest rate swaps), and swaps on index futures). The Fund typically will not gain investment exposure to the commodities markets directly, but may do so indirectly through investment in one or more subsidiaries. The Fund may invest in derivatives for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including, for example, seeking to enhance returns or as a substitute for a position in an underlying asset, instrument, or other reference, to increase market exposure and investment flexibility, or to obtain or reduce particular exposures.
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When-Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitment Securities. The Fund may purchase securities on a “when-issued” basis and may purchase or sell securities on a “forward commitment” basis (including on a “TBA” (to be announced) basis) or on a “delayed delivery” basis. When such transactions are negotiated, the price, which is generally expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment is made, but delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date. When-issued securities and forward commitments may be sold prior to the settlement date. If the Fund disposes of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or disposes of its right to deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it might incur a gain or loss. Pursuant to recommendations of the Treasury Market Practices Group, which is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board of New York, the Fund or its counterparty generally is required to post collateral when entering into certain forward-settling transactions, including without limitation TBA transactions.
The market value of the securities underlying a commitment to purchase securities, and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value, is taken into account when determining the NAV of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date.
Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act permits the Fund to enter into when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including TBA commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard settlement cycle securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date (the “Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision”). If a when-issued, forward-settling or non-standard settlement cycle security does not satisfy the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision, then it is treated as a derivatives transaction under Rule 18f-4.
Restricted and Illiquid Investments. The Fund may invest without limitation in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available or which are otherwise illiquid, including private placement securities. Liquidity of an investment relates to the ability to dispose easily of the investment and the price to be obtained upon disposition of the investment, which may be less than would be obtained for a comparable more liquid investment. “Illiquid investments” are investments which cannot be sold within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value used by the Fund in determining its NAV. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments. Illiquid investments are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on disposition or lack an established secondary trading market.
LEVERAGE
The Fund uses leverage through directly borrowing from banks. The Fund has entered into a $125 million Facility with TD Bank effective on July 20, 2021, which matures on January 20, 2026. As of April 30, 2025, the Fund had $45 million outstanding drawn under the Facility. The use of leverage may also take the form of, without limitation, any of the various financial instruments described herein, including derivative instruments which are inherently leveraged and trading in products with embedded leverage such as options, short sales, swaps and forwards. The instruments and borrowings utilized by the Fund to leverage investments may be collateralized by the Fund’s portfolio, respectively.
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The use of leverage will magnify the volatility of changes in the value of the investments of the Fund. Accordingly, any event which adversely affects the value of an investment would be magnified to the extent the investment is leveraged. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund in a market that moves adversely to its investments could result in substantial losses to the Fund, which would be greater than if the Fund was not leveraged.
While leverage increases the buying power of the Fund and presents opportunities for increasing total returns, it has the effect of potentially increasing losses as well. For example, funds borrowed for leveraging will be subject to interest, transaction and other costs, and other types of leverage also involve transaction and other costs. Any such costs may or may not be recovered by the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Leverage would increase the investment return of the Fund if an investment purchased with or utilizing leverage earns a greater return than the cost to the Fund of such leverage. The use of leverage will decrease the investment return if the Fund fails to recover the cost of such leverage.
Certain types of leverage the Fund may use may result in the Fund being subject to covenants relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by one or more lenders or by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for any short-term debt securities or preferred shares issued by the Fund. The terms of any borrowings or rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the Investment Company Act. The Adviser does not believe that these covenants or guidelines will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives and policies if the Fund were to utilize leverage.
Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities, the Fund would have an asset coverage ratio (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of less than 300% with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets) or less than 200% with respect to senior securities representing preferred shares (i.e., for every dollar of preferred shares outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least two dollars of assets). The Investment Company Act also provides that the Fund may not declare distributions or purchase its shares (including through tender offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage ratio of less than 300% or 200%, as applicable. Under the Investment Company Act, certain short-term borrowings (such as for cash management purposes) are not subject to these limitations if (i) repaid within 60 days, (ii) not extended or renewed and (iii) not in excess of 5% of the total assets of the Fund.
Credit Facility
The Fund has entered into a $125 million Facility with TD Bank effective on July 20, 2021, which matures on January 20, 2026. As of April 30, 2025, the Fund had $45 million outstanding drawn under the Facility. The Facility provides a source of leverage and is collateralized by assets of the Fund. The Fund is required to prepay outstanding amounts under this Facility or may incur a penalty rate of interest upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Fund is typically required to indemnify the lenders under the Facility against liabilities they may incur in connection therewith.
In addition, the Facility contains covenants that, among other things, limit the Fund's ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change certain of its investment policies, and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations. The Facility also requires asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the Investment Company Act. The Fund is required to pledge its assets and to maintain a portion of its assets in cash or high-grade securities as a reserve against interest or principal payments and expenses. The Facility has customary covenant, negative covenant, and default provisions.
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The terms and conditions of the Facility may be subject to change upon renewal or refinancing, and there is no assurance that it will be replaced or refinanced on terms and conditions representative of the foregoing, or that additional material terms will not apply. The Facility may in the future be replaced or refinanced by one or more credit facilities having substantially different terms or by the issuance of preferred shares.
Preferred Shares
The Fund is permitted to leverage its portfolio by issuing preferred shares. Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares if, immediately after such issuance, the liquidation value of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares exceeds 50% of its assets (including the proceeds from the issuance) less liabilities other than borrowings (i.e., the value of the Fund’s assets must be at least 200% of the liquidation value of its outstanding preferred shares). In addition, the Fund would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its common shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s assets less liabilities other than borrowings is at least 200% of such liquidation value.
The Fund expects that preferred shares, if issued, will pay adjustable rate dividends based on shorter-term interest rates, which would be redetermined periodically by a fixed spread or remarketing process, subject to a maximum rate which would increase over time in the event of an extended period of unsuccessful remarketing. The adjustment period for preferred share dividends could be as short as one day or as long as a year or more. Preferred shares, if issued, could include a liquidity feature that allows holders of preferred shares to have their shares purchased by a liquidity provider in the event that sell orders have not been matched with purchase orders and successfully settled in a remarketing. The Fund expects that it would pay a fee to the provider of this liquidity feature, which would be borne by common shareholders of the Fund. The terms of such liquidity feature could require the Fund to redeem preferred shares still owned by the liquidity provider following a certain period of continuous, unsuccessful remarketing, which may adversely impact the Fund.
If preferred shares are issued, the Fund may, to the extent possible, purchase or redeem preferred shares from time to time to the extent necessary in order to maintain asset coverage of any preferred shares of at least 200%. In addition, as a condition to obtaining ratings on the preferred shares, the terms of any preferred shares issued are expected to include asset coverage maintenance provisions which will require the redemption of the preferred shares in the event of non-compliance by the Fund and may also prohibit dividends and other distributions on the common shares in such circumstances. In order to meet redemption requirements, the Fund may have to liquidate portfolio securities. Such liquidations and redemptions would cause the Fund to incur related transaction costs and could result in capital losses to the Fund. Prohibitions on dividends and other distributions on the common shares could impair the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code.
If the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund expects that it will be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Fund. These guidelines are expected to impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede the Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.
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Derivatives
The Fund may enter into derivative transactions that have leverage embedded in them. Derivative transactions that the Fund may enter into and the risks associated with them are described elsewhere in this Prospectus. The Fund cannot assure you that investments in derivative transactions that have leverage embedded in them will result in a higher return on its common shares.
Under Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act, among other things, the Fund must either use derivatives in a limited manner or comply with an outer limit on fund leverage risk based on value-at-risk.
Disposition of Investments
From a fundamental perspective, an investment may be sold if the investment does not meet original performance expectations or if the investment thesis no longer applies because of changes in the underlying fundamentals of the investment, business or industry. Investments also may be sold if a price or value target is achieved or if credit deterioration occurs. In addition, from a relative value perspective, the Adviser may decide to sell an investment if it believes there are better risk/reward opportunities available or there is a risk of default or loss of principal.
Temporary Borrowings
The Fund may also borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Fund securities.
RISKS
An investment in the Fund involves risks, including closed-end structure risk, market risk, issuer risk, interest rate risk, and credit risk, among others. Descriptions of these and other risks of investing in the Fund are provided below (in alphabetical order). There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives and you may lose money. The value of the Fund’s holdings may decline, and the Fund’s NAV and share price may go down. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The significance of any specific risk to an investment in the Fund will vary over time depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. You should read all of the risk information below carefully, because any one or more of these risk may result in losses to the Fund.
Active Management Risk
The Fund is actively managed and its performance therefore will reflect, in part, the ability of the portfolio managers to make investment decisions that seek to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. Due to its active management, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and/or strategies.
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Activist Strategies Risk
The Fund may purchase securities of a company that is the subject of a proxy contest or which activist investors, which could include the Fund and other accounts/funds affiliated with the Adviser, are attempting to influence, in the expectation that new management or a change in business strategies will cause the price of the company’s securities to increase. If the proxy contest, or the new management, is not successful, the market price of the company’s securities will typically fall.
In addition, where an acquisition or restructuring transaction or proxy fight is opposed by the subject company’s management, the transaction often becomes the subject of litigation. Such litigation involves substantial uncertainties and may impose substantial cost and expense on the Fund.
Bank Loans Risk
The Fund's investment program may include investments in of bank loans and participations. These obligations are subject to unique risks, including: (i) the possible invalidation of an investment transaction as a fraudulent conveyance under relevant creditors' rights laws; (ii) so-called lender-liability claims by the issuer of the obligations; (iii) environmental liabilities that may arise with respect to collateral securing the obligations; and (iv) limitations on the ability of the Fund to directly enforce its rights with respect to participations. In analyzing each bank loan or participation, the Adviser attempts to compare the relative significance of the risks against the expected benefits of the investment. Successful claims by third parties arising from these and other risks will be borne by the Fund. As secondary market trading volumes increase, new loans are frequently adopting standardized documentation to facilitate loan trading, which may improve market liquidity. There can be no assurance, however, that future levels of supply and demand in loan trading will provide an adequate degree of liquidity or that the current level of liquidity will continue. Because of the provision to holders of such loans of confidential information relating to the borrower, the unique and customized nature of the loan agreement, and the private syndication of the loan, loans are not as easily purchased or sold as a publicly traded security, and historically the trading volume in the loan market has been small relative to the high-yield debt market.
Catastrophe Bonds Risk
Event-linked or catastrophe bonds carry material uncertainties and risk exposures to adverse conditions. If a trigger event, as defined within the terms of the bond, involves losses or other metrics exceeding a specific magnitude in the geographic region and time period specified therein, the Fund may lose a portion or all of its investment in such security, including accrued interest and/or principal invested in such security. Because catastrophe bonds cover “catastrophic” events that, if they occur, will result in significant losses, catastrophe bonds carry a high degree of risk of loss and are considered “high yield” or “junk bonds.” The rating, if any, primarily reflects the rating agency’s calculated probability that a predefined trigger event will occur. Thus, lower-rated bonds have a greater likelihood of a triggering event occurring and loss to the Fund.
Catastrophe bonds are also subject to extension risk. The sponsor of such an investment might have the right to extend the maturity of the bond or note to verify that the trigger event did occur or to process and audit insurance claims. The typical duration of mandatory and optional extensions of maturity for reinsurance-related securities currently is between three months to two years. In certain circumstances, the extension may exceed two years. An extension to verify the potential occurrence of a trigger event will reduce the value of the bond or note due to the uncertainty of the occurrence of the trigger event and will hinder the Fund’s ability to sell the bond or note. Even if it is determined that the trigger event did not occur, such an extension will delay the Fund’s receipt of the bond’s or note’s principal and prevent the reinvestment of such proceeds in other, potentially higher yielding securities.
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Closed-End Fund Structure Risk
Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional common shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading through a broker on the NYSE or otherwise. Because the market value of the common shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection on its portfolio securities, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, the Fund’s NAV, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that its common shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than NAV in the future. The common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors and you should not purchase the common shares if you intend to sell them soon after purchase.
Co-investment Restrictions
The Fund is prohibited under the Investment Company Act from participating in certain transactions with its affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities will be its affiliate for purposes of the Investment Company Act and the Fund will generally be prohibited from buying or selling any securities from or to such affiliate. The Investment Company Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund’s affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of the Fund’s voting securities, the Fund will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit the Fund’s ability to transact business with the Fund’s officers or Trustees or its affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, the Fund may be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to any portfolio company of an investment fund managed by the Adviser or its affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC, which may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund.
The Adviser has applied for an exemptive order from the SEC (the “Order”) that would grant the funds managed by the Adviser or certain affiliates, the ability to fully negotiate terms of co-investment transactions with other funds managed by the Adviser or certain affiliates, subject to the conditions included therein. There is no assurance that the Adviser will receive the Order on a timely basis or at all. Until the Adviser receives the Order, the Fund will not be permitted to participate in certain investments with the Adviser’s other funds or its affiliates. Even if the Order is granted, in certain situations, such as when there is an opportunity to invest in different securities of the same issuer, the personnel of the Adviser or its affiliates will need to decide which client will proceed with the investment. Such personnel will make these determinations based on policies and procedures, which are designed to reasonably ensure that investment opportunities are allocated fairly and equitably among affiliated funds over time and in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations. When the Fund participates in a co-investment transaction, the personnel of the Adviser allocates a portion of the investment to the Fund based on the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, investment policies, investment positions, capital available for investment, and other pertinent factors. Any co-investment is made on equal footing with the funds managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, including identical terms, conditions, price, class of securities purchased, timing, and registration rights. To the extent the Fund is able to make co-investments with the Adviser’s affiliates, these co-investment transactions may give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest among the Fund and the other participating accounts. Moreover, except in certain circumstances, when relying on the Order, the Fund is unable to invest in any issuer in which one or more funds managed by the Adviser or its affiliates has previously invested.
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The Fund may also invest alongside the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ other clients, including other entities they manage, which are referred to as affiliates’ other clients, in certain circumstances where doing so is consistent with applicable law and SEC staff interpretations and guidance as well as the Adviser’s allocation policies. However, the Fund can offer no assurance that investment opportunities will be allocated to it fairly or equitably in the short-term or over time.
In situations where co-investment with affiliates’ other clients is not permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and related rules, existing or future staff guidance, or the terms and conditions of any exemptive relief granted to the Fund by the SEC, the Adviser will need to decide which client or clients will proceed with the investment. Generally, the Fund will not have an entitlement to make a co-investment in these circumstances and, to the extent that another client elects to proceed with the investment, the Fund will not be permitted to participate. Moreover, except in certain circumstances, the Fund is unable to invest in any issuer in which an affiliates’ other client holds a controlling interest. These restrictions may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Fund.
Convertible Securities Risk
Convertible securities are subject to the usual risks associated with debt instruments, such as interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates) and credit risk (the risk that the issuer of a debt instrument will default or otherwise become unable, or be perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor a financial obligation, such as making payments to the Fund when due). Convertible securities also react to changes in the value of the common stock into which they convert, and are thus subject to market risk (the risk that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise). Because the value of a convertible security can be influenced by both interest rates and the common stock's market movements, a convertible security generally is not as sensitive to interest rates as a similar debt instrument, and generally will not vary in value in response to other factors to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would typically be paid before the company's common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. The Fund may be forced to convert a convertible security before it otherwise would choose to do so, which may decrease the Fund's return.
Corporate Bonds Risk
The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates. The market value of intermediate and longer-term corporate bonds is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than is the market value of shorter-term corporate bonds. The market value of a corporate bond also may be affected by factors directly related to the issuer, such as investors’ perceptions of the creditworthiness of the issuer, the issuer’s financial performance, perceptions of the issuer in the market place, performance of management of the issuer, the issuer’s capital structure and use of financial leverage and demand for the issuer’s goods and services. There is a risk that the issuers of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. Corporate bonds of below investment grade quality are often high risk and have speculative characteristics and may be particularly susceptible to adverse issuer-specific developments.
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Counterparty Risk
The risk exists that a counterparty to a transaction in a financial instrument held by the Fund or by a special purpose or structured vehicle in which the Fund invests may become insolvent or otherwise fail to perform its obligations, including making payments to the Fund, due to financial difficulties. The Fund may obtain no or limited recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganizational proceedings, and any recovery may be significantly delayed. Transactions that the Fund enters into may involve counterparties in the financials sector and, as a result, events affecting the financials sector may cause the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate.
Credit Default Swaps Risk
The Fund may invest in credit default swaps. A credit default swap is a contract between two parties which transfers the risk of loss if a company fails to pay principal or interest on time or files for bankruptcy. In essence, an institution which owns corporate debt instruments can purchase a limited form of default protection by entering into a credit default swap with another bank, broker-dealer or financial intermediary. Upon an event of default, the swap may be terminated in one of two ways: (i) by the purchaser of credit protection delivering the referenced instrument to the swap counterparty and receiving a payment of par value, or (ii) by the parties pairing off payments, with the purchaser of the protection receiving a payment equal to the par value of the reference security less the price at which the reference security trades subsequent to default. The first way is the more common form of credit default swap termination.
In the manner described above, credit default swaps can be used to hedge a portion of the default risk on a single corporate bond or a portfolio of bonds. Credit default swaps can be used to implement the Adviser’s view that a particular credit, or group of credits, will experience credit improvement. In the case of expected credit improvement, the Fund may sell credit default protection in which it receives a premium to take on the risk. In such an instance, the obligation of the Fund to make payments upon the occurrence of a credit event creates leveraged exposure to the credit risk of the referenced entity. The Fund may also “purchase” credit default protection even in the case in which it does not own the referenced instrument if, in the judgment of the Adviser, there is a high likelihood of credit deterioration.
Credit default swap agreements involve greater risks than if the Fund had taken a position in the reference obligation directly (either by purchasing or selling) since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risks. A buyer generally will also lose its upfront payment or any periodic payments it makes to the seller counterparty and receive no payments from its counterparty should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional amount it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. A seller of a credit default swap or similar instrument is exposed to many of the same risks of leverage since, if a credit event occurs, the seller generally will be required to pay the buyer the full notional amount of the contract net of any amounts owed by the buyer related to its delivery of deliverable obligations.
In addition, the credit derivatives market is subject to a changing regulatory environment. It is possible that regulatory or other developments in the credit derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use credit derivatives.
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Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that the value of debt instruments may decline if the issuer thereof defaults or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling, or is perceived to be unable or unwilling, to honor its financial obligations, such as making payments to the Fund when due. Various factors could affect the actual or perceived willingness or ability of the issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions. Credit rating agencies assign credit ratings to certain debt instruments to indicate their credit risk. A rating downgrade by such agencies can negatively impact the value of such instruments. Lower quality or unrated instruments held by the Fund may present increased credit risk as compared to higher-rated instruments. Non-investment grade debt instruments may be subject to greater price fluctuations and are more likely to experience a default than investment grade debt instruments and therefore may expose the Fund to increased credit risk. If the Fund purchases unrated instruments, or if the ratings of instruments held by the Fund are lowered after purchase, the Fund will depend on analysis of credit risk more heavily than usual.
Risks Relating to Investments in Exchange Traded Funds/Trusts that invest in cryptocurrencies or similar digital assets that utilize blockchain technology.
Consistent with the Fund’s closed-end fund investment approach, where the Fund seeks to capitalize on the difference between a closed-end fund’s aggregate asset value and its net asset value, the Fund has and may in the future invest in exchange traded investment funds/trusts that invest in cryptocurrencies or similar assets that utilize blockchain technology (such as, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust) and the Fund may hedge such investments through the use of other securities (including other exchange trade funds that own virtual currencies) and derivatives of virtual currencies, in each case, to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, any future law, regulation, guidance, or exemptive relief provided by the SEC or its staff or other regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction. The Fund expects that any such investments are likely to constitute only a small proportion of its portfolio.
Currency Risk
The Fund's investments that are denominated in a foreign currency are subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation and political developments. The Adviser may try to hedge these risks by investing directly in foreign currencies, buying and selling forward foreign currency exchange contracts and buying and selling options on foreign currencies, but there can be no assurance such strategies will be effective.
Cybersecurity Risk
As part of its business, the Adviser processes, stores and transmits large amounts of electronic information, including information relating to the transactions of the Fund. Similarly, service providers of the Adviser, the Fund, especially the administrator, may process, store and transmit such information. The Adviser has procedures and systems in place that it believes are reasonably designed to protect such information and prevent data loss and security breaches. However, such measures cannot provide absolute security. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. Hardware or software acquired from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise information security. Network connected services provided by third parties to the Adviser may be susceptible to compromise, leading to a breach of the Adviser’s network. The Adviser’s systems or facilities may be susceptible to employee error or malfeasance, government surveillance, or other security threats. On-line services that may be provided by the Adviser to the investors in the Fund may also be susceptible to compromise. Breach of the Adviser’s information systems may cause information relating to the transactions of the Fund to be lost or improperly accessed, used or disclosed.
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The service providers of the Adviser and the Fund are subject to the same electronic information security threats as the Adviser. If a service provider fails to adopt or adhere to adequate data security policies, or in the event of a breach of its networks, information relating to the transactions of the Fund and personally identifiable information of investors in the Fund may be lost or improperly accessed, used or disclosed.
The loss or improper access, use or disclosure of the Adviser’s or the Fund's proprietary information may cause the Adviser or the Fund to suffer, among other things, financial loss, the disruption of its business, liability to third parties, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. Any of the foregoing events could have a material adverse effect on the Fund.
Decision-Making Authority Risk
Investors have no authority to make decisions or to exercise business discretion on behalf of the Fund, except as set forth in the Fund’s governing documents. The authority for all such decisions is generally delegated to the Board, which in turn, has delegated the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investment activities to the Adviser, subject to oversight by the Board.
Deflation Risk
Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and their revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
Defensive Investing Risk
For defensive purposes, the Fund may allocate assets into cash or short-term fixed-income securities without limitation. In doing so, the Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but may otherwise fail to achieve its investment objectives. Further, the value of short-term fixed-income securities may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in credit ratings of the investments. If the Fund holds cash uninvested it will be subject to the credit risk of the depository institution holding the cash.
Depositary Receipts Risk
Depositary receipts are receipts issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by foreign companies. Some foreign securities are traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and/or Global Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts involve risks similar to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities, including those associated with an issuer’s (and any of its related companies’) country of organization and places of business operations, which may be related to the particular political, regulatory, economic, social and other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations and actions, war, other conflicts, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics) occurring in the country and fluctuations in such country’s currency, as well as market risk tied to the underlying foreign company. In addition, holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, may not have the same rights afforded to stockholders of a typical domestic company in the event of a corporate action, such as an acquisition, merger or rights offering, and may experience difficulty in receiving company stockholder communications. There is no guarantee that a financial institution will continue to sponsor a depositary receipt, or that a depositary receipt will continue to trade on an exchange, either of which could adversely affect the liquidity, availability and pricing of the depositary receipt. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of depositary receipts and, therefore, may affect the value of your investment in the Fund. A potential conflict of interest exists to the extent that the Fund invests in ADRs for which the Fund’s custodian serves as depository bank.
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Derivates Risk
Derivatives may involve significant risks. Derivatives are financial instruments, traded on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets, with a value in relation to, or derived from, the value of an underlying asset(s) (such as a security, commodity or currency) or other reference, such as an index, rate or other economic indicator (each an underlying reference). Derivatives may include those that are privately placed or otherwise exempt from SEC registration, including certain Rule 144A eligible securities. Derivatives could result in Fund losses if the underlying reference does not perform as anticipated. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques, risks, and tax planning different from those associated with more traditional investment instruments. The Fund’s derivatives strategy may not be successful and use of certain derivatives could result in substantial, potentially unlimited, losses to the Fund regardless of the Fund’s actual investment. A relatively small movement in the price, rate or other economic indicator associated with the underlying reference may result in substantial loss for the Fund. Derivatives may be more volatile than other types of investments. Derivatives can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, including the risk of an adverse credit event associated with the underlying reference (credit risk), the risk of an adverse movement in the value, price or rate of the underlying reference (market risk), the risk of an adverse movement in the value of underlying currencies (foreign currency risk) and the risk of an adverse movement in underlying interest rates (interest rate risk).
Derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks, including the risk of loss due to a derivative position that is imperfectly correlated with the underlying reference it is intended to hedge or replicate (correlation risk), the risk that a counterparty will fail to perform as agreed (counterparty risk), the risk that a hedging strategy may fail to mitigate losses, and may offset gains (hedging risk), the risk that the return on an investment may not keep pace with inflation (inflation risk), the risk that losses may be greater than the amount invested (leverage risk), the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell an investment at an advantageous time or price (liquidity risk), the risk that the investment may be difficult to value (pricing risk), and the risk that the price or value of the investment fluctuates significantly over short periods of time (volatility risk). The value of derivatives may be influenced by a variety of factors, including national and international political and economic developments. Potential changes to the regulation of the derivatives markets may make derivatives more costly, may limit the market for derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives.
Derivates Risk – Futures Contracts Risk
A futures contract is an exchange-traded derivative transaction between two parties in which a buyer (holding the “long” position) agrees to pay a fixed price (or rate) at a specified future date for delivery of an underlying reference from a seller (holding the “short” position). The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. Certain futures contract markets are highly volatile, and futures contracts may be illiquid. Futures exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices by imposing a maximum permissible daily price movement. The Fund may be disadvantaged if it is prohibited from executing a trade outside the daily permissible price movement. At or prior to maturity of a futures contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may incur a loss to the extent there has been adverse movement in futures contract prices. The liquidity of the futures markets depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced. Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on the exchange on which they were entered into or through a linked exchange, and no secondary market exists for such contracts. Futures positions are marked to market each day and variation margin payment must be paid to or by the Fund. Because of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, it is possible that the Fund may employ a high degree of leverage in the portfolio. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund, exceeding the amount of the margin paid. For certain types of futures contracts, losses are potentially unlimited. Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Futures contracts executed (if any) on foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges. Futures contracts can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, while also exposing the Fund to correlation risk, counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk, pricing risk and volatility risk.
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Derivatives Risk – Options Risk
Options
are derivatives that give the purchaser the option to buy (call) or sell (put)
an underlying reference from or to a counterparty at a specified price (the
strike price) on or before an expiration date. When writing options, the Fund is
exposed to the risk that it may be required to buy or sell the
underlying
reference at a disadvantageous price on or before the expiration
date. Options may involve economic leverage, which could result in greater
volatility in price movement. The Fund’s losses could be significant, and are
potentially unlimited for certain types of options. Options may be traded on a
securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. At or prior to maturity
of an options contract, the Fund may enter into an offsetting contract and may
incur a loss to the extent there has been adverse movement in options prices.
Options can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their
attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk, foreign currency risk and
interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to correlation risk,
counterparty risk, hedging risk, inflation risk, leverage risk, liquidity risk,
pricing risk and volatility risk.
Derivatives Risk – Regulation
There are many rules related to derivatives that may negatively impact the Fund, such as requirements related to recordkeeping, reporting, portfolio reconciliation, central clearing, minimum margin for uncleared over-the- counter instruments and mandatory trading on electronic facilities, and other transaction-level obligations. Parties that act as dealers in swaps, are also subject to extensive business conduct standards, additional “know your counterparty” obligations, documentation standards and capital requirements. All of these requirements add costs to the legal, operational and compliance obligations of the Adviser and the Fund, and increase the amount of time that the Adviser spends on non-investment-related activities. Requirements such as these also raise the costs of entering into derivative transactions, and these increased costs will likely be passed on to the Fund.
These rules are operationally and technologically burdensome for the Adviser and the Fund. These compliance obligations require employee training and use of technology, and there are operational risks borne by the Fund in implementing procedures to comply with many of these additional obligations.
These regulations may also result in the Fund forgoing the use of certain trading counterparties (such as broker-dealers and futures commission merchants (“FCMs”)), as the use of other parties may be more efficient for the Fund from a regulatory perspective. However, this could limit the Fund's trading activities, create losses, preclude the Fund from engaging in certain transactions or prevent the Fund from trading at optimal rates and terms.
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Many of these requirements were implemented under legislation intended to reform the U.S. financial regulatory system, the EU Regulation on OTC Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (known as the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, or “EMIR”) and similar regulations globally. In the United States, regulatory responsibility for derivatives is divided between the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), a distinction that does not exist in any other jurisdiction. The SEC has regulatory authority over “security-based swaps” and the CFTC has regulatory authority over “swaps”. EMIR is being implemented in phases through the adoption of delegated acts by the European Commission. As a result of the SEC and CFTC bifurcation and the different pace at which the SEC, the CFTC, the European Commission and other international regulators have promulgated necessary regulations, different transactions are subject to different levels of regulation. Though many rules and regulations have been finalized, there are others, particularly SEC regulations with respect to security-based swaps that are still in the proposal stage or are expected to be introduced in the future.
Derivatives Risk – Swaps Risk.
In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the return earned on a specified underlying reference for a fixed return or the return from another underlying reference during a specified period of time. Swaps may be difficult to value and may be illiquid. Swaps could result in Fund losses if the underlying asset or reference does not perform as anticipated. Swaps create significant investment leverage such that a relatively small price movement in a swap may result in immediate and substantial losses to the Fund. The Fund may only close out a swap with its particular counterparty and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. Certain swaps, such as short swap transactions and total return swaps, have the potential for unlimited losses, regardless of the size of the initial position. Swaps can increase the Fund’s risk exposure to underlying references and their attendant risks, such as credit risk, market risk and interest rate risk, while potentially exposing the Fund to leverage risk, counterparty risk (i.e., the risk of counterparty default on its obligations under the swap agreement), illiquidity risk, valuation risk and volatility risk.
Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk
Investments in the securities of financially distressed issuers are speculative and involve substantial risks. These securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default at the time of investment. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio company, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Among the risks inherent in investments in a troubled entity is that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true financial condition of such issuer. The Adviser’s judgment about the credit quality of the issuer and the relative value and liquidity of its securities may prove to be wrong. Distressed securities and any securities received in an exchange for such securities may be subject to restrictions on resale.
Equity Securities Risk
The Fund expects to buy and sell private and public equity securities. The value of equity securities of public and private, listed and unlisted companies and equity derivatives generally varies with the performance of the issuer and movements in the equity markets. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses if it invests in equity instruments of issuers whose performance diverges from the Adviser’s expectations or if equity markets generally move in a single direction and the Fund has not hedged against such a general move. The Fund also may be exposed to risks that issuers will not fulfill contractual obligations such as, in the case of convertible securities or private placements, delivering marketable common stock upon conversions of convertible securities and registering restricted securities for public resale.
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Emerging Market Securities Risk
Securities issued by foreign governments or companies in emerging market countries, such as China, Russia and certain countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America or Africa, are more likely to have greater exposure to the risks of investing in foreign securities that are described in Foreign Securities Risk. In addition, emerging market countries are more likely to experience instability resulting, for example, from rapid changes or developments in social, political, economic or other conditions. Their economies are usually less mature and their securities markets are typically less developed with more limited trading activity (i.e., lower trading volumes and less liquidity) than more developed countries. Emerging market securities tend to be more volatile than securities in more developed markets. Many emerging market countries are heavily dependent on international trade and have fewer trading partners, which makes them more sensitive to world commodity prices and economic downturns in other countries. Some emerging market countries have a higher risk of currency devaluations, and some of these countries may experience periods of high inflation or rapid changes in inflation rates and may have hostile relations with other countries.
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Risk
Investments in ETFs have unique characteristics, including, but not limited to, the expense structure and additional expenses associated with investing in ETFs. An ETF’s share price may not track its specified market index (if any) and may trade below its NAV. Certain ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and do not take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets. Other ETFs in which the Fund may invest are actively managed ETFs (i.e., they do not track a particular benchmark), which indirectly subjects the Fund to active management risk. An active secondary market in an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions or other reasons. There can be no assurance an ETF’s shares will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, the Fund’s shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and, indirectly, the ETF’s expenses, incurred through the Fund’s ownership of the ETF. Because the expenses and costs of an underlying ETF are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the ETF could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such ETF. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for the ETF. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of the ETF.
The Funds generally expect to purchase shares of ETFs through broker-dealers in transactions on a securities exchange, and in such cases the Funds will pay customary brokerage commissions for each purchase and sale. Shares of an ETF may also be acquired by depositing a specified portfolio of the ETF’s underlying securities, as well as a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends of the securities (net of expenses) up to the time of deposit, with the ETF’s custodian, in exchange for which the ETF will issue a quantity of new shares sometimes referred to as a “creation unit.” Similarly, shares of an ETF purchased on an exchange may be accumulated until they represent a creation unit, and the creation unit may be redeemed in-kind for a portfolio of the underlying securities (based on the ETF’s NAV) together with a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends as of the date of redemption. The Funds may redeem creation units for the underlying securities (and any applicable cash), and may assemble a portfolio of the underlying securities (and any required cash) to purchase creation units. The Funds’ ability to redeem creation units may be limited by the 1940 Act, which provides that ETFs, the shares of which are purchased in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, will not be obligated to redeem such shares in an amount exceeding one percent of their total outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days.
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Failures of Futures Commission Merchants and Clearing Organizations Risk
The Fund is required to deposit funds to margin open positions in cleared derivative instruments (both futures and swaps) with a clearing broker registered as a “futures commission merchant” (“FCM”). The CEA requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the FCM’s proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each FCM to hold in a separate secure account all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by an FCM from its customers are held by an FCM on a commingled basis in an omnibus account and amounts in excess of assets posted to the clearing organization may be invested by an FCM in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulation. There is a risk that assets deposited by the Fund with any FCM as margin for futures contracts may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s FCM. In addition, the assets of the Fund posted as margin against both swaps and futures contracts may not be fully protected in the event of the FCM’s bankruptcy.
Foreign Securities Risk
Investments in or exposure to foreign securities involve certain risks not associated with investments in or exposure to securities of U.S. companies. For example, foreign markets can be extremely volatile. Foreign securities may also be less liquid, making them more difficult to trade, than securities of U.S. companies so that the Fund may, at times, be unable to sell foreign securities at desirable times or prices. Brokerage commissions, custodial costs and other fees are also generally higher for foreign securities. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities, including those issued by foreign governments. In addition, foreign governments may impose withholding or other taxes on the Fund’s income, capital gains or proceeds from the disposition of foreign securities, which could reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. In some cases, such withholding or other taxes could potentially be confiscatory. Other risks include: possible delays in the settlement of transactions or in the payment of income; generally less publicly available information about foreign companies; the impact of economic, political, social, diplomatic or other conditions or events (including, for example, military confrontations, war, terrorism and disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics), possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of a company or its assets or the assets of a particular investor or category of investors; accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards that may be less comprehensive and stringent than those applicable to domestic companies; the imposition of economic and other sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country; and the generally less stringent standard of care to which local agents may be held in the local markets. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about the securities and business operations of certain foreign issuers. Governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the level of risks.
The risks posed by sanctions against a particular foreign country, its nationals or industries or businesses within the country may be heightened to the extent the Fund invests significantly in the affected country or region or in issuers from the affected country that depend on global markets. Additionally, investments in certain countries may subject the Fund to a number of tax rules, the application of which may be uncertain. Countries may amend or revise their existing tax laws, regulations and/or procedures in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in or uncertainties regarding the laws, regulations or procedures of a country could reduce the after-tax profits of the Fund, directly or indirectly, including by reducing the after-tax profits of companies located in such countries in which the Fund invests, or result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. The performance of the Fund may also be negatively affected by fluctuations in a foreign currency's strength or weakness relative to the U.S. dollar, particularly to the extent the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in foreign securities or other assets denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short or long periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, imposition of currency exchange controls and economic or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. The Fund may also incur currency conversion costs when converting foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa.
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Frequent Trading Risk
The portfolio managers may actively and frequently trade investments in the Fund's portfolio to carry out its investment strategies. Frequent trading of investments increases the possibility that the Fund, as relevant, will realize taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxable to shareholders at higher rates than long-term capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes), which could reduce the Fund's after-tax return. Frequent trading can also mean higher brokerage and other transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's return. The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
Government Interventions Risk
Extreme volatility and illiquidity in markets has in the past led to, and may in the future lead to, extensive governmental interventions in equity, debt, credit and currency markets. Generally, such interventions are intended to reduce volatility and precipitous drops in value. In certain cases, governments have intervened on an "emergency" basis, suddenly and substantially eliminating market participants' ability to continue to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of their outstanding positions. In addition, these interventions have typically been unclear in scope and application, resulting in uncertainty. It is impossible to predict when these restrictions will be imposed, what the interim or permanent restrictions will be and/or the effect of such restrictions on the Fund's strategies.
Hedging Transactions
The Fund may utilize financial instruments, both for investment purposes and for risk management purposes in order to (i) protect against possible changes in the market value of the Fund's investment portfolio resulting from fluctuations in the securities markets and changes in interest rates; (ii) protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of the Fund's investment portfolio; (iii) facilitate the sale of any such investments; (iv) enhance or preserve returns, spreads or gains on any investment in the Fund's portfolio; (v) hedge the interest rate or currency exchange rate on any of the Fund's liabilities or assets; (vi) protect against any increase in the price of any securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date or (vii) for any other reason that the Adviser deems appropriate.
The success of the Fund's hedging strategy will depend, in part, upon the Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the portfolio investments being hedged. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the success of the Fund's hedging strategy will also be subject to the Adviser's ability to continually recalculate, readjust and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. While the Fund may enter into hedging transactions to seek to reduce risk, such transactions may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in such hedging transactions. For a variety of reasons, the Adviser may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between the hedging instruments utilized and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such an imperfect correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. The Adviser may not hedge against a particular risk because it does not regard the probability of the risk occurring to be sufficiently high as to justify the cost of the hedge, or because it does not foresee the occurrence of the risk. The successful utilization of hedging and risk management transactions requires skills complementary to those needed in the selection of the Fund's portfolio holdings.
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High-Yield Investments Risk
Securities and other debt instruments held by the Fund that are rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated debt instruments of comparable quality tend to be more sensitive to credit risk than higher-rated debt instruments and may experience greater price fluctuations in response to perceived changes in the ability of the issuing entity or obligor to pay interest and principal when due than to changes in interest rates. These investments are generally more likely to experience a default than higher-rated debt instruments. High-yield debt instruments are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. These debt instruments typically pay a premium – a higher interest rate or yield – because of the increased risk of loss, including default. High-yield debt instruments may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, may carry high transaction costs, and also are generally less liquid than higher-rated debt instruments. The ratings provided by third party rating agencies are based on analyses by these ratings agencies of the credit quality of the debt instruments and may not take into account every risk related to whether interest or principal will be timely repaid. In adverse economic and other circumstances, issuers of lower-rated debt instruments are more likely to have difficulty making principal and interest payments than issuers of higher-rated debt instruments.
Illiquid Investments Risk
The Fund may invest in securities, bank debt, private funds and companies, other assets and/or third-party managers and other claims, which are subject to legal or other restrictions on transfer or for which no liquid market exists. The market prices, if any, for such investments tend to be volatile and may not be readily ascertainable, and the Fund may not be able to execute a buy or sell order on exchanges at the desired price or to liquidate an open position due to market conditions, including the operation of daily price fluctuation limits. The sale of restricted and illiquid securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. The Fund may not be able to readily dispose of such illiquid investments and, in some cases, may be contractually prohibited from disposing of such investments for a specified period of time. If trading on an exchange is suspended or restricted, the Fund may not be able to execute trades or close out positions on terms that the Adviser believes are desirable. Realization of value from such investments may be difficult in the short-term, or may have to be made at a substantial discount compared to other freely tradable investments. An investment in the Fund is suitable only for certain sophisticated investors who do not require immediate liquidity for their investments.
Inflation Risk
Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future, as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions on those shares can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, interest rates on any borrowings by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to the holders of common shares.
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Inflation-Indexed Bonds Risk
The Fund may invest in inflation-indexed bonds, which are fixed-income securities or other instruments whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) accruals as part of a semi-annual coupon.
Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semiannual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).
If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and, consequently, the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. The Fund may also invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. In addition, if the Fund purchases inflation-indexed bonds offered by foreign issuers, the rate of inflation measured by the foreign inflation index may not be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.
The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates, in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. There can be no assurance, however, that the value of inflation-indexed bonds will be directly correlated to changes in interest rates.
While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.
In general, the measure used to determine the periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.
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Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.
Information Technology Systems Risk
The Fund is dependent on the Adviser for certain management services as well as back-office functions. The Adviser depends on information technology systems in order to assess investment opportunities, strategies and markets and to monitor and control risks for the Fund. It is possible that a failure of some kind which causes disruptions to these information technology systems could materially limit the Adviser’s ability to adequately assess and adjust investments, formulate strategies and provide adequate risk control. Any such information technology-related difficulty could harm the performance of the Fund. Further, failure of the back-office functions of the Adviser to process trades in a timely fashion could prejudice the investment performance of the Fund.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt instruments tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt instruments tend to rise. Changes in the value of a debt instrument usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but will generally affect the value of your investment in the Fund. Changes in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investments in debt instruments. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt instrument, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk (the risk that the Fund will have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). Very low or negative interest rates may prevent the Fund from generating positive returns and may increase the risk that, if followed by rising interest rates, the Fund’s performance will be negatively impacted. The Fund is subject to the risk that the income generated by its investments may not keep pace with inflation. Actions by governments and central banking authorities can result in increases in interest rates. Such actions may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the Fund, resulting in a negative impact on the Fund's performance and NAV. Any interest rate increases could cause the value of the Fund’s investments in debt instruments to decrease. Rising interest rates may prompt redemptions from the Fund, which may force the Fund to sell investments at a time when it is not advantageous to do so, which could result in losses.
Issuer Risk
An issuer in which the Fund invests or to which it has exposure may perform poorly or below expectations, and the value of its securities may therefore decline, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Underperformance of an issuer may be caused by poor management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters, military confrontations, war, terrorism, disease/virus outbreaks, epidemics or other events, conditions and factors which may impair the value of an investment in the Fund and could result in increased premiums or discounts to the Fund’s net asset value.
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Investment Company Act Regulations Risk
The Fund is a registered closed-end management investment company and as such is subject to regulations under the Investment Company Act. Generally speaking, any contract or provision thereof that is made, or where performance involves a violation of the Investment Company Act or any rule or regulation thereunder is unenforceable by either party unless a court finds otherwise.
Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks
Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur that may have material adverse effects on the Fund.
To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to RICs, the Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and distribute for each taxable year at least 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (generally, ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss). If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income for that year (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
The current presidential administration has called for significant changes to U.S. fiscal, tax, trade, healthcare, immigration, foreign, and government regulatory policy. In this regard, there is significant uncertainty with respect to legislation, regulation and government policy at the federal level, as well as the state and local levels. Recent events have created a climate of heightened uncertainty and introduced new and difficult-to-quantify macroeconomic and political risks with potentially far-reaching implications. There has been a corresponding meaningful increase in the uncertainty surrounding interest rates, inflation, foreign exchange rates, trade volumes and fiscal and monetary policy. To the extent the U.S. Congress or the current presidential administration implements changes to U.S. policy, those changes may impact, among other things, the U.S. and global economy, international trade and relations, unemployment, immigration, corporate taxes, healthcare, the U.S. regulatory environment, inflation and other areas. Although the Fund cannot predict the impact, if any, of these changes to the Fund’s business, they could adversely affect the Fund’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. Until the Fund knows what policy changes are made and how those changes impact the Fund’s business and the business of the Fund’s competitors over the long term, the Fund will not know if, overall, the Fund will benefit from them or be negatively affected by them.
The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations of these laws could adversely affect the tax consequences of your investment.
Leverage Risk
The Fund uses leverage through direct borrowings (e.g., through its Facility) and through any of the financial instruments described herein, including derivative instruments (such as options and swaps), which are inherently leveraged and trading in products with embedded leverage such as short sales and forwards. The instruments and borrowings utilized by the Fund to leverage investments are typically collateralized by the Fund’s portfolio.
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The use of leverage will magnify the volatility of changes in the value of the investments of the Fund. Accordingly, any event which adversely affects the value of an investment would be magnified to the extent the investment is leveraged. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund in a market that moves adversely to its investments could result in substantial losses to the Fund, which would be greater than if the Fund was not leveraged.
While leverage increases the buying power of the Fund and presents opportunities for increasing total returns, it has the effect of potentially increasing losses as well. For example, funds borrowed for leveraging will be subject to interest, transaction and other costs, and other types of leverage also involve transaction and other costs. Any such costs may or may not be recovered by the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Leverage will increase the investment return of the Fund if an investment purchased with or utilizing leverage earns a greater return than the cost to the Fund of such leverage. The use of leverage will decrease the investment return if the Fund fails to recover the cost of such leverage.
Management Risk
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Adviser and the individual portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The Fund may be subject to a relatively high level of management risk because the Fund may invest in derivative instruments, which may be highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with equities and bonds.
Market Risk.
The Fund may incur losses due to declines in the value of one or more securities in which it invests. These declines may be due to factors affecting a particular issuer, or the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s) more generally. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to price or value hard-to-value assets in thinly traded and closed markets and could cause significant redemptions and operational challenges. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as terrorism, war, other conflicts, natural disasters, disease/virus outbreaks and epidemics or other public health issues, recessions, depressions or other events – or the potential for such events – could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions.
Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk
The occurrence of events similar to those in recent years, such as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Syria and the Middle East, international war or conflict (including the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars), new and ongoing epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases and other global health events, natural/environmental disasters, terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world, social and political discord, debt crises (such as the Greek crisis), sovereign debt downgrades, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, increasingly strained relations between the United States and a number of foreign countries, including historical adversaries, such as North Korea, Iran, China and Russia, and the international community generally, new and continued political unrest in various countries, such as Venezuela and Spain, the exit or potential exit of one or more countries from the EU or the EMU, and continued changes in the balance of political power among and within the branches of the U.S. government, among others, may result in market volatility, may have long term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets, and may cause further economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide.
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China and the United States have each imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may cause a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.
Cybersecurity incidents affecting particular companies or industries may adversely affect the economies of particular countries, regions or parts of the world in which the Fund invests.
The occurrence of any of these above events could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund does not know how long the securities markets may be affected by similar events and cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets. There can be no assurance that similar events and other market disruptions will not have other material and adverse implications.
Money Market Fund Investment Risk
The Fund may invest in money market funds. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds float their NAV while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a stable NAV (typically $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable NAV per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. Certain money market funds must impose a mandatory liquidity fee on redemptions if daily net redemptions exceed 5% of their net assets and certain money market funds may impose a discretionary liquidity fee of up to 2% on redemptions if that fee is determined to be in the best interests of the money market fund. The amount of any mandatory liquidity fee will represent a good faith estimate of the costs of liquidating a pro rata portion of each of the money market fund’s portfolio holdings to meet the redemptions, or 1% of the value of the shares redeemed if such an amount cannot be estimated. Such fees, if imposed, will reduce the amount the Fund receives on redemptions. In addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund directly bears, the Fund indirectly bears the fees and expenses of any money market funds in which it invests, including affiliated money market funds. By investing in a money market fund, the Fund will be exposed to the investment risks of the money market fund in direct proportion to such investment. The money market fund may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund, through its investment in the money market fund, may not achieve its investment objective. To the extent the Fund invests in instruments such as derivatives, the Fund may hold investments, which may be significant, in money market fund shares to cover its obligations resulting from the Fund’s investments in such instruments. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.
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Mortgage- and other Asset-Backed Instruments Risk
The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed instruments including collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations, if any, held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates; factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or the originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market's assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Mortgage-backed instruments represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of mortgages from which payments of interest and principal (net of fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the instruments) are distributed to the holders of the mortgage-backed instruments. Other types of asset-backed securities typically represent interests in, or are backed by, pools of receivables such as credit, automobile, student and home equity loans. Mortgage- and other asset-backed instruments can have a fixed or an adjustable rate. Mortgage-and other asset-backed instruments are subject to liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price) and prepayment risk (the risk that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields). In addition, the impact of prepayments on the value of mortgage- and other asset-backed instruments may be difficult to predict and may result in greater volatility. A decline or flattening of housing values may cause delinquencies in mortgages (especially sub-prime or non-prime mortgages) underlying mortgage-backed instruments and thereby adversely affect the ability of the mortgage-backed instruments issuer to make principal and/or interest payments to mortgage-backed instrument holders, including the Fund. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-and other asset-backed instruments, making them more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed instruments (but not the market value of the instruments themselves) may be guaranteed (i) by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association) or (ii) by its agencies, authorities, enterprises or instrumentalities (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation(FHLMC)), which are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (although FNMA and FHLMC may be able to access capital from the U.S. Treasury to meet their obligations under such securities). Mortgage-backed instruments issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various credit enhancements, such as pool insurance, guarantees issued by governmental entities, letters of credit from a bank or senior/subordinated structures, and may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. Government, whether or not such obligations are guaranteed by the private issuer.
Municipal Securities Risk
Municipal securities are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including general financing for state and local governments, or financing for a specific project or public facility, and include obligations of the governments of the U.S. territories, commonwealths and possessions such as Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the extent such obligations are exempt from state and U.S. federal income taxes. The value of municipal securities can be significantly affected by actual or expected political and legislative changes at the federal or state level. Municipal securities may be fully or partially backed by the taxing authority of the local government, by the credit of a private issuer, by the current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or by domestic or foreign entities providing credit support, such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance, and are generally classified into general obligation bonds and special revenue obligations. General obligation bonds are backed by an issuer's taxing authority and may be vulnerable to limits on a government's power or ability to raise revenue or increase taxes. They may also depend for payment on legislative appropriation and/or funding or other support from other governmental bodies. Revenue obligations are payable from revenues generated by a particular project or other revenue source, and are typically subject to greater risk of default than general obligation bonds because investors can look only to the revenue generated by the project or other revenue source backing the project, rather than to the general taxing authority of the state or local government issuer of the obligations. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance projects in sectors such as education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. The amount of publicly available information for municipal issuers is generally less than for corporate issuers.
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Issuers in a state, territory, commonwealth or possession in which the Fund invests may experience significant financial difficulties for various reasons, including as the result of events that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled such as economic downturns or similar periods of economic stress, social conflict or unrest, labor disruption and natural disasters. Such financial difficulties may lead to credit rating downgrades or defaults of such issuers which, in turn, could affect the market values and marketability of many or all municipal obligations of issuers in such state, territory, commonwealth or possession. The value of the Fund’s shares will be negatively impacted to the extent it invests in such securities.
Non-Investment Grade and Unrated Instruments.
A portion of the Fund's assets may be invested in instruments that are unrated or have a credit quality rating below investment grade by internationally recognized credit rating organizations, such as Moody's Investors Service Inc. and S&P Global Ratings. The market prices of those securities may fluctuate more than higher-rated securities, and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. Those securities generally are considered to have extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment grade standing and to have a current identifiable vulnerability to default. The issuers or guarantors of those securities are considered to be less likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions. Alternatively, such issuers may be in default or not current in the payment of interest or principal. Adverse changes in economic conditions or developments regarding the individual issuer are more likely to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuers of noninvestment grade debt securities to make principal and interest payments than issuers of higher grade debt securities. An economic downturn affecting an issuer of non-investment grade debt securities may result in an increased incidence of default. In addition, the market for lower grade debt securities may be less liquid and less active than for higher grade debt securities.
Non-U.S. Government and Supranational Debt Securities Risk
The Fund’s investments in the debt securities of foreign governments can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. Governmental entities may be dependent on expected disbursements from other foreign governments, multilateral agencies, and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies, and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such governmental entity’s obligations. Failure to adhere to any such requirements may result in the cancellation of such other parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts, and, consequently, governmental entities may default on their debt. In addition, a holder of foreign government obligations (including the Fund) may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities, and such holder’s interests could be adversely affected in the course of those restructuring arrangements. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of certain issuers of sovereign debt. In the event of a default by a governmental entity, there may be few or no effective legal remedies for collecting on such debt. The sovereign debt of many non-U.S. governments, including their subdivisions and instrumentalities, is rated below investment grade. The risks associated with non-U.S. Government and supranational debt securities may be greater for debt securities issued or guaranteed by emerging and/or frontier countries.
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Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, which may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in such sovereign debt and increase the Fund’s costs and expenses. Certain issuers may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital, or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors, and a government could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. The Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments. Investing in local markets may require the Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals, and/or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs.
Operational Risk
The Fund is exposed to operational risks arising from a number of factors, including, but not limited to, human errors, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third parties, failed or inadequate internal or external processes, and technology or systems failures. The use of certain investment strategies that involve manual or additional processing, such as over-the-counter derivatives, increases these risks. While service providers are required to have appropriate operational risk management policies and procedures, their methods of operational risk management may differ from those of the Fund in the setting of priorities, the personnel and resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. The Fund and the Adviser seek to reduce these operational risks through controls, procedures and oversight. However, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence or effects of such failures. The Fund, including its performance and continued operation, and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
Pledge of, Foreclosure on and Liquidation of Fund Assets
Any assets of the Fund may be pledged to finance other investments of the Fund. Shareholders may be at risk of loss due to borrowings used to finance other investments.
Portfolio Turnover Risk
The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a given year. Portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. High portfolio turnover may result in an increased realization of net short term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to common shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. Additionally, in a declining market, portfolio turnover may create realized capital losses.
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Potential Conflicts of Interest of the Adviser and Others
The investment activities of the Adviser and its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers or employees, in managing their own accounts and other accounts, may present conflicts of interest that could disadvantage the Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser and its affiliates may engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and other funds that have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or that engage in and compete for transactions in the same or similar types of securities, currencies and other assets as are held by the Fund. Subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act, the Adviser and its affiliates intend to engage in such activities and may receive compensation from third parties for their services. Neither the Adviser nor any affiliate is under any obligation to share any investment opportunity, idea or strategy with the Fund. As a result, an affiliate may compete with the Fund for appropriate investment opportunities. The results of the Fund’s investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of an affiliate and of other accounts managed by an affiliate. It is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which one or more affiliates and other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to address potential conflicts of interest.
Preferred Security Risk. Preferred security is a type of security that may pay dividends at a different rate than common stock of the same issuer, if at all, and that has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of assets. Preferred security does not ordinarily carry voting rights. The price of a preferred security is generally determined by earnings, type of products or services, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions of the markets on which the security trades. The most significant risks associated with investments in preferred security include issuer risk, market risk and interest rate risk (the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates).
Private Credit Asset Risk
The Fund intends to obtain exposure to select less liquid or illiquid private credit investments. Typically, private credit investments are not traded in public markets and are illiquid, such that the Fund may not be able to resell some of its holdings for extended periods, which may be several years, or at the price at which the Fund is valuing its investments. The Fund may, from time to time or over time, focus its private credit investments in a particular industry or sector or select industries or sectors. Investment performance of such industries or sectors may thus at times have an out-sized impact on the performance of the Fund. Additionally, private credit investments can range in credit quality depending on security-specific factors, including total leverage, amount of leverage senior to the security in question, variability in the issuer’s cash flows, the size of the issuer, the quality of assets securing debt and the degree to which such assets cover the subject company’s debt obligations. The issuers of private credit investment will often be leveraged, as a result of recapitalization transactions, and may not be rated by national credit rating agencies. The Fund may also obtain exposure to private credit assets indirectly by investing in underlying funds or other vehicles. Less information may be available with respect to private company investments and such investments offer limited liquidity. Private companies are generally not subject to SEC reporting requirements, are not required to maintain their accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and are not required to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, there is risk that the Fund may invest on the basis of incomplete or inaccurate information, which may adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance.
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Private Companies Risk
The Fund may make direct private equity, venture or other private investments in securities or other instruments issued by private companies or other private issuers. Operating results for private companies/issuers in a specified period will be difficult to predict. Such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses.
Private companies are generally not subject to SEC reporting requirements, are not required to maintain their accounting records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are not required to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting. As a result, the Adviser may not have timely or accurate information about the business, financial condition and results of operations of the private companies in which the Fund invests. There is risk that the Fund may invest on the basis of incomplete or inaccurate information, which may adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. Private companies in which the Fund may invest may have limited financial resources, shorter operating histories, more asset concentration risk, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render such private companies more vulnerable to competitors' actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns. These companies generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. These companies may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.
Typically, investments in private companies are in restricted securities that are not traded in public markets and subject to substantial holding periods, so that the Fund may not be able to resell some of its holdings for extended periods, which may be several years. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to realize the value of private company investments in a timely manner.
Private companies are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on the company. The Fund may hold a substantial number of non-controlling positions in the private companies in which it invests. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that a company may make business decisions with which the Fund disagrees, and that the management and/or stockholders of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to the Fund’s interests. Due to the lack of liquidity of such private investments, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its investments in the event it disagrees with the actions of a private portfolio company and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of the investment. In addition, these investments are subject to valuation risk as they will be fair valued which is subject to inherent uncertainty and thus, there is significant uncertainty that the Fund can realize such investments at value. At times the Fund may be the majority investor in a portfolio company. In that event, the Fund may take actions in a manner that could disadvantage the minority investors in such portfolio company. There is an increased risk that a minority investor could bring a claim in respect of such actions, which may adversely impact the Fund’s investment, whether or not such claims are successfully defended.
Investments in late-stage private companies involve greater risks than investments in shares of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. These investments may present significant opportunities for capital appreciation but involve a high degree of risk that may result in significant decreases in the value of these investments. The Fund may not be able to sell such investments when the Adviser deems it appropriate to do so because they are not publicly traded. As such, these investments are generally considered to be illiquid until a company’s public offering (which may never occur) and are often subject to additional contractual restrictions on resale following any public offering that may prevent the Fund from selling its shares of these companies for a period of time. Market conditions, developments within a company, investor perception or regulatory decisions may adversely affect a late-stage private company and delay or prevent such a company from ultimately offering its securities to the public. If a company does issue shares in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of the Fund’s investment to decrease significantly. Even after an IPO, shares may still be restricted, and may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. For example, Rule 144A under the Securities Act provides an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund. However, an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the Rule 144A-eligible securities that the Fund holds could affect adversely the marketability of certain Rule 144A securities, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices. If adverse market conditions develop during this period, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than the price that prevailed when the Fund decided to sell. The Fund may be unable to sell restricted and other illiquid investments at opportune times or prices.
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Private Fund Risk
Investing in private funds involves special risks, including that private funds generally will not be registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act. Therefore, the Fund will not have the benefit of the protections afforded by the 1940 Act to investors in registered investment companies, such as the limitations applicable to the use of leverage and the requirements concerning custody of assets, composition of boards of trustees and approvals of investment advisory arrangements. Private funds may, in some cases, concentrate their investments in a single industry or group of related industries. This increases the sensitivity of their investments returns to economic factors affecting that industry or group of industries. The Adviser may have little to no means of independently verifying information provided by a private fund and may use proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed to the Adviser, which may involve risks under some market conditions that are not anticipated by the Adviser. Investment in private funds also is subject to illiquidity risks and valuation risks, which are described above. There is also a risk that the private fund provides inaccurate valuations, and we may not be able to verify valuation information given to us by the private fund. Private funds also typically charge asset-based management fees and typically are also entitled to receive performance-based fees or allocations. As an investor in these funds, we would be subject to these fees and allocations, which would reduce the investment returns of the Fund. These fees and allocations are in addition to the investment management fee the Fund pays to the Adviser. Further, the performance-based fees or allocations to portfolio managers may create an incentive for portfolio managers to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those that might have been made in the absence of performance-based fees and allocations.
Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) Risk.
The Fund may invest in PIPEs. PIPEs are equity securities purchased in a private placement that are issued by issuers who have outstanding, publicly traded equity securities of the same class. Shares in PIPEs are not registered with the SEC and may not be sold unless registered with the SEC or pursuant to an exemption from registration. This restricted period can last many months. Until the public registration process is completed, the resale of the PIPE shares is restricted and the Fund may sell the shares after six months, with certain restrictions, if the Fund is not an affiliate of the issuer (under relevant securities law, a holder of restricted shares may sell the shares after 6 months if the holder is not affiliated to the issuer).
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Generally, such restrictions cause the PIPEs to be illiquid during this time. If the issuer does not agree to register the PIPE shares, the shares will remain restricted, not be freely tradable and may only be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration. Even if the PIPE shares are registered for resale, there is no assurance that the registration will be in effect at the time the Fund elects to sell the shares.
Quota Share Notes, Excess of Loss Notes and ILW Notes Risk
As Reinsurance Notes represent an interest, either proportional or non-proportional, in one or more underlying reinsurance contracts, the Fund has limited transparency into the individual underlying contract(s) and, therefore, must rely upon the risk assessment and sound underwriting practices of the sponsor. Accordingly, it may be more difficult to fully evaluate the underlying risk profile of Reinsurance Notes, which may place the Fund’s assets at greater risk of loss than if the Adviser had more complete information. The lack of transparency may also make the valuation of such investments more difficult and potentially result in mispricing that could result in losses to the Fund.
Reference Rate Replacement Risk
The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value.
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings would continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts. After September 30, 2024, the remaining synthetic LIBOR settings ceased to be published, and all LIBOR settings have permanently ceased. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement (“repo”) market and has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in certain financial contracts.
Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.
Regulation and Government Intervention Risk
Federal, state, and other governments, their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the issuers in which the Fund invests in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives.
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In light of popular, political and judicial focus on finance related consumer protection, financial institution practices are also subject to greater scrutiny and criticism generally. In the case of transactions between financial institutions and the general public, there may be a greater tendency toward strict interpretation of terms and legal rights in favor of the consuming public, particularly where there is a real or perceived disparity in risk allocation and/or where consumers are perceived as not having had an opportunity to exercise informed consent to the transaction. In the event of conflicting interests between retail investors holding common shares of a closed-end investment company such as the Fund and a large financial institution, a court may similarly seek to strictly interpret terms and legal rights in favor of retail investors.
The Fund may be affected by governmental action in ways that are not foreseeable, and there is a possibility that such actions could have a significant adverse effect on the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objectives.
Reinsurance Industry Risk
The performance of reinsurance-related securities and the reinsurance industry itself are tied to the occurrence of various triggering events, including weather, natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), non-natural large catastrophes and other specified events causing physical and/or economic loss. If the likelihood and severity of natural and other large disasters increase, the risk of significant losses to reinsurers may also increase. Typically, one significant triggering event (even in a major metropolitan area) will not result in financial failure to a reinsurer. However, a series of major triggering events could cause the failure of a reinsurer. Similarly, to the extent the Fund invests in reinsurance-related securities for which a triggering event occurs, losses associated with such event could result in losses to the Fund’s investment, and a series of major triggering events affecting a large portion of the reinsurance- related securities held by the Fund could result in substantial losses to the Fund’s investment. In addition, unexpected events such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks could lead to government intervention. Political, judicial and legal developments affecting the reinsurance industry could also create new and expanded theories of liability or regulatory or other requirements; such changes could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investment.
The determination of the level of losses under a reinsurance-related security may be a protracted process and the realizable value of these reinsurance-related securities, particularly those with respect to which a loss event has occurred, will be delayed until the related collateral, if any, is released to the Fund and any remaining associated liabilities are finally determined.
Reliance on the Adviser Risk
The Fund is dependent upon services and resources provided by the Adviser. The Adviser is not required to devote their full time to the business of the Fund and there is no guarantee or requirement that any investment professional or other employee of the Adviser will allocate a substantial portion of his or her time to the Fund. The loss of one or more individuals involved with the Adviser could have a material adverse effect on the performance or the continued operation of the Fund. For additional information on the Adviser, see “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser.”
Reliance on Service Providers Risk
The Fund must rely upon the performance of service providers to perform certain functions, which may include functions that are integral to the Fund’s operations and financial performance. Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Fund in accordance with the terms of its appointment, to exercise due care and skill or to perform its obligations to the Fund at all as a result of insolvency, bankruptcy or other causes could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance and returns to shareholders. The termination of the Fund’s relationship with any service provider, or any delay in appointing a replacement for such service provider, could materially disrupt the business of the Fund and could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance and returns to shareholders.
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Risk Associated with Recent Market Events
A significant increase in interest rates may cause a further decline in the market for equity securities and could lead to a recession. Further, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may contribute to price volatility. The impact of inflation and the recent actions of the Federal Reserve have led to market volatility and may negatively affect the value of debt instruments held by the Fund and result in a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. See “—Inflation Risk.”
Governments and regulators may take actions that affect the regulation of the Fund or the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Future legislation or regulation or other governmental actions could limit or preclude the Fund’s abilities to achieve its investment objectives or otherwise adversely impact an investment in the Fund. Political and diplomatic events within the United States, including a contentious domestic political environment, changes in political party control of one or more branches of the U.S. Government, the U.S. Government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, the threat of a U.S. Government shutdown, and disagreements over, or threats not to increase, the U.S. Government’s borrowing limit (or “debt ceiling”), as well as political and diplomatic events abroad, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. A downgrade of the ratings of U.S. Government debt obligations, or concerns about the U.S. Government’s credit quality in general, could have a substantial negative effect on the U.S. and global economies. For example, concerns about the U.S. Government’s credit quality may cause increased volatility in the stock and bond markets, higher interest rates, reduced prices and liquidity of U.S. Treasury securities, and/or increased costs of various kinds of debt. Moreover, although the U.S. Government has honored its credit obligations, there remains a possibility that the United States could default on its obligations. The consequences of such an unprecedented event are impossible to predict, but it is likely that a default by the United States would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly impair the value of the Fund’s investments.
Some countries, including the United States, have adopted and/or are considering the adoption of more protectionist trade policies and/or a move away from tight financial industry regulations, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates, that were previously adopted in response to serious economic disruptions. The exact shape of these policies is still being considered, but the equity and debt markets may react strongly to expectations of change, which could increase volatility, especially if the market’s expectations are not borne out and an unexpected or sudden reversal of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments or prevent the Fund from executing on advantageous investment opportunities in a timely manner. A rise in protectionist trade policies, and the possibility of changes to some international trade agreements, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, geopolitical and other risks, including environmental and public health, may add to instability in world economies and markets generally. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected. As a result, whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic, political and/or financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by such events.
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Rule 144A and Other Exempted Securities Risk
The Fund may invest in privately placed and other securities or instruments exempt from SEC registration (collectively “private placements”), subject to certain regulatory restrictions. In the U.S. market, private placements are typically sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or qualified purchasers, as applicable. An insufficient number of buyers interested in purchasing private placements at a particular time could adversely affect the marketability of such investments and the Fund might be unable to dispose of them promptly or at reasonable prices, subjecting the Fund to liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price). The Fund’s holdings of private placements may increase the level of Fund illiquidity if eligible buyers are unable or unwilling to purchase them at a particular time. The Fund may also have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Additionally, the purchase price and subsequent valuation of private placements typically reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a more liquid market exists. Issuers of Rule 144A eligible securities are required to furnish information to potential investors upon request. However, the required disclosure is much less extensive than that required of public companies and is not publicly available since the offering information is not filed with the SEC. Further, issuers of Rule 144A eligible securities can require recipients of the offering information (such as the Fund) to agree contractually to keep the information confidential, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s ability to dispose of the security.
Secondary Investments
The Fund may acquire shares or interests in private companies from other shareholders (“Secondary Shares”). When the Fund purchases Secondary Shares, it may have little or no direct access to financial or other information from the issuers of those securities. As a result, the Fund is dependent upon the relationships and contacts of the Adviser and its investment professionals to obtain the information to perform research and due diligence and to monitor the investments in Secondary Shares after they are made. There can be no assurance that the Adviser will be able to acquire adequate information on which to make its investment decision with respect to any Secondary Share purchases, or that the information it is able to obtain is accurate or complete. Any failure to obtain full and complete information regarding the issuers of such shares could cause the Fund to lose part or all of its investment in Secondary Shares.
In addition, while the Adviser may believe the ability to acquire Secondary Shares or sell the Fund’s own private securities as Secondary Shares may provide valuable opportunities for liquidity, there can be no assurance that there will be a market or liquidity for buying or selling Secondary Shares. The prices of Secondary Shares may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may result in an inability for the Fund to acquire Secondary Shares at an attractive price or realize the full value on the sale of private securities held by the Fund as Secondary Shares. In addition, wide swings in market prices, which are typical of irregularly traded securities, could cause significant and unexpected declines in the value of the Fund. Further, prices in private secondary marketplaces, where limited information is available, may not accurately reflect the true value of the securities sold in that market, and may overstate an issuer’s actual value, which may cause the Fund to realize future losses on its investment in a private issuer.
Investments in private companies, including through private secondary marketplaces, also entail additional legal and regulatory risks that expose participants to the risk of liability due to the imbalance of information among participants and participant qualification and other transactional requirements applicable to private securities transactions, the non-compliance with which could result in rescission rights and monetary and other sanctions. The application of these laws within the context of private secondary marketplaces and related market practices are still evolving, and, despite efforts to comply with applicable laws, the Fund could be exposed to liability. The regulation of private secondary marketplaces is also evolving. Additional state or federal regulation of these markets could result in limits on the operation of or activity on those markets. Conversely, deregulation of these markets could make it easier for investors to invest directly in private companies and affect the competitiveness for such investments. Private companies may also increasingly seek to limit secondary trading in their stock, such as through contractual transfer restrictions, and provisions in company charter documents, investor rights of first refusal and co-sale and/or employment and trading policies further restricting trading. To the extent that these or other developments result in reduced trading activity and/or availability of private company shares, the Fund’s ability to find investment opportunities and to liquidate investments could be adversely affected.
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Sector Risk
At times, the Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business within one or more economic sectors. Companies in the same sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that sector than funds that invest more broadly. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.
Senior Loan Risk
Senior loans and interests in other bank loans may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. Senior loans and other bank loans may not be considered “securities,” and investors in these loans may not be entitled to rely on anti-fraud and other protections under the federal securities laws. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the Adviser believes to be a fair price. In addition, valuation of illiquid indebtedness involves a greater degree of judgment in determining the Fund’s NAV than if that value were based on available market quotations, and could result insignificant variations in the Fund’s daily NAV. At the same time, some loan interests are traded among certain financial institutions and accordingly may be deemed liquid. Further, the settlement period (the period between the execution of the trade and the delivery of cash to the purchaser) for some senior loans and other bank loans transactions may be significantly longer than the settlement period for other investments, and in some case may take longer than seven days.
Short Selling Risk
The extent to which the Fund engages in short sales will depend upon the Adviser's investment strategy and opportunities. A short sale creates the risk of a theoretically unlimited loss, in that the price of the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost to the Fund of buying those securities to cover the short position. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to maintain the ability to borrow securities sold short. In such cases, the Fund can be “bought in” (i.e., forced to repurchase securities in the open market to return to the lender). There also can be no assurance that the securities necessary to cover a short position will be available for purchase at or near prices quoted in the market, and such risk may be exacerbated to the extent that such securities are thinly traded or illiquid. Purchasing securities to close out a short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. It may also be impossible for the Fund to borrow securities at the most desirable time to make a short sale, particularly in illiquid securities markets.
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If the prices of securities sold short increase, the Fund will likely be required to provide additional funds or collateral to maintain the short positions. This could require the Fund to liquidate other investments to provide additional margin, and those liquidations might not be at favorable prices. A short sale involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited loss, in that the price of the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost to the Fund of buying those securities to cover the short position or resulting in the inability of the Fund to cover the short position.
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Risk
Capital raised through the initial public offering of securities of a SPAC is typically placed into a trust account until acquired business combination is completed or a predetermined period of time (typically 24 months) elapses. Investors in a SPAC would receive a return on their investment in the event that a target company is acquired and the combined publicly-traded company's shares trade above the SPAC's initial public offering (“IPO”) price, or alternatively, the market price at which an investor acquired a SPAC's shares subsequent to its IPO. In the event that a SPAC is unable to locate and acquire a target business by the timeframe established at the time of its IPO, the SPAC would be forced to liquidate its assets, which may result in losses due to the expenses and liabilities of the SPAC, to the extent third-parties are permitted to bring claims against IPO proceeds held in the SPAC's trust account. Investors in a SPAC are subject to the risk that, among other things, (i) such SPAC may not be able to complete a qualifying business combination by the deadline established at the time of its IPO, (ii) assets in the trust account may become subject to third-party claims against such SPAC, which may reduce the per share liquidation value received by the investors in the SPAC in the event it fails to complete a business combination within the required time period, (iii) such SPAC may be exempt from the rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in “blank check” companies, such as Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act, so that investors in such SPAC may not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules, (iv) such SPAC will likely only complete one business combination, which will cause its returns and future prospects to be solely dependent on the performance of a single acquired business, (v) the value of any target business, including its stock price as a public company, may decrease following its acquisition by such SPAC, (vi) the value of the funds invested and held in the trust account may decline, (vii) the inability to redeem due to the failure to hold the securities in the SPAC on the applicable record date to do so, and (viii) if the SPAC is unable to consummate a business combination, public stockholders will be forced to wait until the deadline before liquidating distributions are made. The Fund may invest in a SPAC that, at the time of investment, has not selected or approached any prospective target businesses with respect to a business combination. In such circumstances, there may be limited basis for the Fund to evaluate the possible merits or risks of such SPAC's investment in any particular target business. In addition, to the extent that a SPAC completes a business combination, it may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of the acquired company or companies. For these and additional reasons, investments in SPACs are speculative and involve a high degree of risk.
From time to time, the Adviser may receive material non-public information with respect to a particular SPAC or other issuer of publicly traded securities. In particular, to the extent the Fund is party to a forward purchase agreement, a SPAC will typically be required to advise the Fund with respect to developments in its search for possible target businesses. In such circumstances, the Fund may be prohibited, by law, policy or contract, for a period of time from (i) unwinding a position in such issuer, (ii) establishing an initial position or taking any greater position in such issuer, and (iii) pursuing other investment opportunities related to such issuer.
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Sovereign Debt Risk
The Fund expects to buy and sell sovereign debt. Several factors may affect (i) the ability of a government, its agencies, instrumentalities or its central bank to make payments on the debt it has issued (“Sovereign Debt”), including securities that the Adviser believes are likely to be included in restructurings of the external debt obligations of the issuer in question, (ii) the market value of such debt and (iii) the inclusion of Sovereign Debt in future restructurings, including such issuer’s (x) balance of trade and access to international financing, (y) cost of servicing such obligations, which may be affected by changes in international interest rates, and (z) level of international currency reserves, which may affect the amount of non U.S. exchange available for external debt payments. Significant ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse conditions may undermine the issuer’s ability to make timely payment of interest and principal, and issuers may default on their Sovereign Debt.
Structured Instruments Risk
The Fund may invest in structured instruments, including, structured notes, credit-linked notes and other types of structured instruments. Holders of structured instruments bear risks of the underlying investments, index or reference obligation and are subject to counterparty risk. The Fund may have the right to receive payments only from the structured instrument, and generally does not have direct rights against the issuer or the entity that sold the assets to be securitized. While certain structured instruments enable the investor to acquire interests in a pool of securities without the brokerage and other expenses associated with directly holding the same securities, investors in structured instruments generally pay their share of the structured instrument’s administrative and other expenses. Although it is difficult to predict whether the prices of indices and securities underlying structured instruments will rise or fall, these prices (and, therefore, the prices of structured instruments) are generally influenced by the same types of political and economic events that affect issuers of securities and capital markets generally. If the issuer of a structured instrument uses shorter term financing to purchase longer term securities, the issuer may be forced to sell its securities at below market prices if it experiences difficulty in obtaining such financing, which may adversely affect the value of the structured instruments owned by the Fund. Structured instruments generally entail risks associated with derivative instruments.
Systemic Risk
Systemic risk is the risk of broad financial system stress or collapse triggered by the default of one or more financial institutions, which results in a series of defaults by other interdependent financial institutions. Financial intermediaries, such as clearinghouses, banks, securities firms and exchanges with which the Fund interacts, as well as the Fund, are all subject to systemic risk. A systemic failure could have material adverse consequences on the Fund and on the markets for the securities in which the Fund seeks to invest.
Valuation Risk
The Fund is subject to valuation risk, which is the risk that one or more of the securities in which the Fund invests are valued at prices that the Fund is unable to obtain upon sale due to factors such as incomplete data, market instability or human error. The Adviser may use an independent pricing service or prices provided by dealers to value securities at their market value. Because the secondary markets for certain investments may be limited, such instruments may be difficult to value. See “Net Asset Value.” When market quotations are not available, the Adviser may price such investments pursuant to a number of methodologies, such as computer-based analytical modeling or individual security evaluations. These methodologies generate approximations of market values, and there may be significant professional disagreement about the best methodology for a particular type of financial instrument or different methodologies that might be used under different circumstances. In the absence of an actual market transaction, reliance on such methodologies is essential, but may introduce significant variances in the ultimate valuation of the Fund’s investments. Technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers may also impact the Fund’s ability to value its investments and the calculation of the Fund’s NAV.
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When market quotations are not readily available or are believed by the Adviser to be unreliable, the Adviser will fair value the Fund’s investments in accordance with its policies and procedures. Fair value represents a good faith approximation of the value of an asset or liability. The fair value of an asset or liability held by the Fund is the amount the Fund might reasonably expect to receive from the current sale of that asset or the cost to extinguish that liability in an arm’s length transaction. Fair value pricing may require determinations that are inherently subjective and inexact about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value priced assets will not result in future adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect a price that the Fund is able to obtain upon sale, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset. For example, the Fund’s NAV could be adversely affected if the Fund’s determinations regarding the fair value of the Fund’s investments were materially higher than the values that the Fund ultimately realizes upon the disposal of such investments. Where market quotations are not readily available, valuation may require more research than for more liquid investments. In addition, elements of judgment may play a greater role in valuation in such cases than for investments with a more active secondary market because there is less reliable objective data available.
Because of overall size, duration and maturities of positions held by the Fund, the value at which its investments can be liquidated may differ, sometimes significantly, from the interim valuations obtained by the Fund. In addition, the timing of liquidations may also affect the values obtained on liquidation. Securities held by the Fund may routinely trade with bid-offer spreads that may be significant. There can be no guarantee that the Fund’s investments could ultimately be realized at the Fund’s valuation of such investments. In addition, the Fund’s compliance with the asset diversification tests applicable to regulated investment companies depends on the fair market values of the Fund’s assets, and, accordingly, a challenge to the valuations ascribed by the Fund could affect its ability to comply with those tests or require it to pay penalty taxes in order to cure a violation thereof.
The Fund’s NAV per common share is a critical component in several operational matters including computation of advisory and services fees.
Consequently, variance in the valuation of the Fund’s investments will impact, positively or negatively, the fees and expenses shareholders will pay.
Venture Capital Investments
The Fund may make “venture capital” investments in private companies which are subject to significant additional risks, including that the venture capital investments typically have limited operating history, are attempting to develop or commercialize unproven technologies or to implement novel business plans or are not otherwise developed sufficiently to be self-sustaining financially or to become public. The public market for startup and emerging growth companies is volatile. Such volatility may adversely affect the development of portfolio companies, the ability of the Fund to dispose of investments, and the value of investment securities on the date of sale or distribution by the Fund. In particular, the receptiveness of the public market to initial public offerings by the Fund’s portfolio companies may vary dramatically from period to period. An otherwise successful portfolio company may yield poor investment returns if it is unable to consummate an initial public offering at the proper time. Even if a portfolio company effects a successful public offering, the portfolio company’s securities may be subject to contractual “lock-up,” securities law or other restrictions, which may, for a material period of time, prevent the Fund from disposing of such securities. Although these investments may offer the opportunity for significant gains, such investments involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses, which risks generally are greater than the risks of investing in public or private companies that may be at a later stage of development. There can be no guarantee that any portfolio company investment will result in a liquidity event via public offering, merger, acquisition or otherwise. Generally, the investments made by the Fund will be illiquid and difficult to value, and there will be little or no collateral to protect an investment once made.
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Volatile Markets Risk
The prices of financial instruments in which the Fund may invest can be volatile. Price movements of forward and other derivative contracts in which the Fund's assets may be invested are influenced by, among other things, interest rates, changing supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies of governments, and national and international political and economic events and policies. The Fund is subject to the risk of failure of any of the exchanges on which its positions trade or of their clearinghouses. There can be no assurance that the Fund will not suffer material adverse effects from broad and rapid changes in market conditions. Recent market conditions have shown that markets can quickly change at times or in ways that are difficult for the Adviser to predict, so even a well analyzed investment approach may not protect the Fund from significant losses under certain market conditions.
Warrants and Rights Risk
Warrants are securities giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy the stock of an issuer at a given price (generally higher than the value of the stock at the time of issuance) during a specified period or perpetually. Warrants may be acquired separately or in connection with the acquisition of securities. Warrants do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants are subject to the risks associated with the security underlying the warrant, including market risk. Warrants may expire unexercised and subject the Fund to liquidity risk (the risk that it may not be possible for the Fund to liquidate the instrument at an advantageous time or price), which may result in Fund losses. Rights are available to existing shareholders of an issuer to enable them to maintain proportionate ownership in the issuer by being able to buy newly issued shares. Rights allow shareholders to buy the shares below the current market price. Rights are typically short-term instruments that are valued separately and trade in the secondary market during a subscription (or offering) period. Holders can exercise the rights and purchase the stock, sell the rights or let them expire. Their value, and their risk of investment loss, is a function of that of the underlying security.
When-Issued, Forward Commitment and Delayed Delivery Transactions Risk
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis (including on a forward commitment or “TBA” (to be announced) basis) and may purchase or sell securities for delayed delivery. When-issued and delayed delivery transactions occur when securities are purchased or sold by the Fund with payment and delivery taking place in the future to secure an advantageous yield or price. Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may expose the Fund to counterparty risk of default as well as the risk that securities may experience fluctuations in value prior to their actual delivery. The Fund will not accrue income with respect to a when-issued or delayed delivery security prior to its stated delivery date. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the price or yield available in the market when the delivery takes place may not be as favorable as that obtained in the transaction itself.
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The Board is responsible for the overall management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by the Adviser. There are five Trustees. A majority of the Trustees are Independent Trustees of the Fund. The name and business address of the Trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the SAI.
Investment Adviser
The Adviser is a registered investment adviser and is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio and provides the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operation of the Fund. Subject to the oversight of the Board, the Adviser manages the day-to-day operations of the Fund, determining what securities and other investments the Fund should buy or sell and executing portfolio transactions. The Adviser may use the research and other capabilities of affiliates and third parties in managing the Fund’s investments. At present, the Adviser has not engaged any investment sub-adviser for the Fund. The Adviser is located at 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174.
As of April 1, 2025, the Adviser’s assets under management were approximately $5.88 billion. The Adviser focuses on credit relative value, tail hedge, and closed-end funds. The Adviser’s investors are predominantly institutions and include corporate pensions, public pensions, foundations, fund of funds, endowments, and family offices.
Portfolio Managers
The members of the portfolio management team who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio are as follows:
Boaz Weinstein is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser. Previously, Mr. Weinstein worked at Deutsche Bank for 11 years, the last eight as Managing Director. In 2008, Mr. Weinstein became the Co-Head of Global Credit Trading of Deutsche Bank. Mr. Weinstein was also a member of the Global Markets Executive Committee. Mr. Weinstein began his investment career in 1995 at Merrill Lynch and worked at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette prior to joining Deutsche Bank.
Paul Kazarian joined the Adviser in March 2013 and is responsible for exchange traded products, including ETF arbitrage and closed-end funds. Prior to March 2013, Mr. Kazarian was a Director at RBC Capital Markets in the Global Arbitrage and Trading Group from 2007-2013. While there, Mr. Kazarian was responsible for the development and management of the Fixed Income ETF Group and also responsible for overseeing other ETF and index strategies. Prior to RBC, Mr. Kazarian worked as a technology analyst at Merrill Lynch from 2006-2007. Mr. Kazarian holds a BA in Political Science from Bates College.
Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Kazarian are supported by a team of other investment professionals that focus on various parts of the Fund’s broad investment strategy.
The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio management team and the ownership of the Fund’s securities by each portfolio manager.
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Investment Management Agreement
Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Adviser and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser a monthly management fee at an annual rate equal to 1.05% of the average daily value of the Fund’s Managed Assets. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper and notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Investment Management Agreement by the Board is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended April 30, 2024.
Except as otherwise described in this Prospectus, the Fund pays, in addition to the fees paid to the Adviser, all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Trustees (other than those affiliated with the Adviser), custodian, leveraging expenses, transfer and dividend disbursing agent expenses, legal fees, rating agency fees, listing fees and expenses, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies and taxes, if any.
The Fund and the Adviser have entered into the Expense Limitation Agreement, pursuant to which the Adviser has agreed to limit expenses, excluding interest, taxes, investor relations services, other investment-related costs, leverage expenses, extraordinary expenses, other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, and expenses of any counsel or other persons or services retained by the Fund’s Independent Trustees, to 1.05% of Managed Assets plus 0.30% of average daily net assets. For the year ended October 31, 2024, $982,139 fees were waived and reimbursed. The Adviser may, at a later date, recoup from the Fund fees waived and/or other expenses reimbursed by the Adviser during the previous 36 months, but only if, after such recoupment, the Fund’s expense ratio does not exceed the percentage described above. For the year ended October 31, 2024, none of the fees waived were recouped. The current Expense Limitation Agreement expires on July 1, 2025 and automatically renews for one-year terms. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated or modified at any time, upon approval of the Board.
Administration, Accounting, and Transfer Agent Services
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“SS&C ALPS”) provides certain administration, accounting, and transfer agent services to the Fund pursuant to an Administration and Fund Accounting Services Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”). Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, SS&C ALPS provides the Fund with, among other things, customary fund accounting services, including computing the Fund’s NAV and maintaining books, records and other documents relating to the Fund’s financial and portfolio transactions, customary fund administration services, including assisting the Fund with regulatory filings, tax compliance and other oversight activities, and customary transfer agent services. For these and other services it provides to the Fund, SS&C ALPS is paid a fee equal to an annual rate of [●]% of the Fund’s net assets. The principal business address of SS&C ALPS is 1290 Broadway Suite 1000 Denver, CO 80203.
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is the Bank of New York Mellon, whose principal business address is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10286. The custodian is responsible for, among other things, receipt of and disbursement of funds from the Fund’s accounts, establishment of segregated accounts as necessary, and transfer, exchange and delivery of Fund portfolio securities.
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[●], whose principal business address is [●], is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund and is expected to render an opinion annually on the financial statements of the Fund.
NET ASSET VALUE
The NAV of the Fund’s common shares will be computed based upon the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and other assets. NAV per common share will be determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE on each business day on which the NYSE is open for trading. The Fund calculates NAV per common share by dividing the value of the Fund’s assets plus all cash and other assets (including accrued expenses but excluding capital and surplus) attributable to the common shares by the number of common shares outstanding.
Valuation of securities held by the Fund is as follows:
Equity Investments. Equity securities traded on a recognized securities exchange (e.g., NYSE), on separate trading boards of a securities exchange or through a market system that provides contemporaneous transaction pricing information (each, an “Exchange”) are valued using information obtained via independent pricing services generally at the Exchange closing price or if an Exchange closing price is not available, the last traded price on that Exchange prior to the time as of which the assets or liabilities are valued. However, under certain circumstances, other means of determining current market value may be used. If an equity security is traded on more than one Exchange, the current market value of the security where it is primarily traded generally will be used. In the event that there are no sales involving an equity security held by the Fund on a day on which the Fund values such security, the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price, if available, will be used as the value of such security. If the Fund holds both long and short positions in the same security, the last bid price will be applied to securities held long and the last ask price will be applied to securities sold short. If no bid or ask price is available on a day on which the Fund values such security, the prior day’s price will be used, unless the Adviser determines that such prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the security, in which case such asset would be treated as a Fair Value Asset (as defined below).
Fixed-Income Investments. Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at fair market value. Securities (including common stock, closed end funds, investment trusts, preferred stock, unit trusts and SPACs) listed or traded on an exchange are valued at their last sales price or official closing price as of the close of the regular trading session on the exchange where the particular security at the last sale price as of the market close for such security provided by the Consolidated Tape Association (“CTA”). Investments in money market funds are valued at NAV, which approximates fair market value. The private fund investments are valued at the NAV reported by the private funds’ general partner or investment adviser. This is commonly referred to as using NAV as the practical expedient which allows for estimation of the fair value of an investment in an investment entity based on NAV or its equivalent if the NAV of the investment entity is calculated in a manner consistent with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuations of the investments in the private funds, their estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the private funds existed, and the differences could be material. Corporate bonds, convertible corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, sovereign debt obligations and senior loans are valued at mid-level prices provided by independent pricing services. Exchange traded derivatives such as warrants, rights, options and futures contracts are valued at last sales price on the valuation date or, if such price is not available, the mean between the last bid and ask prices (the “mid-price”) from the exchange on which they are principally traded. Non-exchange traded derivatives whose underlying reference assets are exchanged traded products (such as total return swaps) are fair valued using the last sales price or mid-price of the underlying reference asset. Other non-exchange traded derivatives (such as credit default swaps) are valued by independent pricing services, which use various techniques including industry standard pricing models, to determine the fair value of those instruments. Investments for which market quotations are not readily available (including common stock, preferred stock, participation agreements, SPACs, warrants and simple agreement for future equity contracts) are valued by third-party valuation specialists or at cost, which approximates fair market value.
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Options, Futures, Swaps and Other Derivatives. Exchange-traded equity options for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean of the last bid and ask prices as quoted on the exchange or the board of trade on which such options are traded. In the event that there is no mean price available for an exchange traded equity option held by the Fund on a day on which the Fund values such option, the last bid (long positions) or ask (short positions) price, if available, will be used as the value of such option. If no bid or ask price is available on a day on which the Fund values such option, the prior day’s price will be used, unless the Adviser determines that such prior day’s price no longer reflects the fair value of the option, in which case such option will be treated as a fair value asset. OTC derivatives may be valued using a mathematical model which may incorporate a number of market data factors. Financial futures contracts and options thereon, which are traded on exchanges, are valued at their last sale price or settle price as of the close of such exchanges. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the Valuation Policy (as defined below).
Underlying Funds. Shares of underlying open-end funds (including money market funds) are valued at the NAV reported by the funds. Shares of underlying exchange-traded closed-end funds and ETFs will be valued at their most recent closing price.
General Valuation Information. In determining the market value of portfolio investments, the Fund may employ independent third party pricing services, which may use, without limitation, a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indexes, matrices, yield curves and other specified inputs and assumptions. This may result in the assets being valued at a price different from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used. The price the Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for assets that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the Fund, and the Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third party service providers.
All cash, receivables and current payables are carried on the Fund’s books at their fair value.
Prices obtained from independent third party pricing services, broker-dealers or market makers to value the Fund’s securities and other assets and liabilities are based on information available at the time the Fund values its assets and liabilities. In the event that a pricing service quotation is revised or updated subsequent to the day on which the Fund valued such security, the revised pricing service quotation generally will be applied prospectively. Such determination will be made considering pertinent facts and circumstances surrounding the revision.
In the event that application of the methods of valuation discussed above result in a price for a security which is deemed not to be representative of the fair market value of such security, the security will be valued by, under the direction of or in accordance with a method approved by the Adviser, the Fund’s valuation designee, as reflecting fair value. All other assets and liabilities (including securities for which market quotations are not readily available) held by the Fund (including restricted securities) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to the Valuation Policy. Any assets and liabilities which are denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates.
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Certain of the securities acquired by the Fund may be traded on foreign exchanges or OTC markets on days on which the Fund’s NAV is not calculated. In such cases, the NAV of the Fund’s common shares may be significantly affected on days when investors can neither purchase nor sell shares of the Fund.
Fair Value. Investments held by the Fund are recorded at fair value in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”). As defined in ASC 820, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with Rule 2a-5 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, the Board has appointed the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee. In that role, it has established a Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) that oversees the valuation of the Fund’s investments pursuant to procedures adopted by the Adviser (the “Valuation Policy”). Under Rule 2a-5, the Board has assigned to the Adviser general responsibility for determining, in accordance with the Valuation Policy, the value of its investments. The Committee is led by the Adviser’s Chief Financial Officer and other senior executives of the Adviser. Additionally, the Adviser’s portfolio managers, whose roles are limited to providing insight into recent trade activity and overall market performance, are also members of the Committee. The majority of Committee members are independent of the Fund’s portfolio investment decisions. The Committee meets on a monthly basis and is responsible for compliance and consistent application of the Valuation Policy.
The fair value of one or more assets or liabilities may not, in retrospect, be the price at which those assets or liabilities could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair values were used in determining the Fund’s NAV. As a result, the Fund’s sale or repurchase of its shares at NAV, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.
The Fund’s annual audited financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), follow the requirements for valuation set forth in ASC 820, which defines and establishes a framework for measuring fair value under US GAAP and expands financial statement disclosure requirements relating to fair value measurements.
Generally, ASC 820 and other accounting rules applicable to funds and various assets in which they invest are evolving. Such changes may adversely affect the Fund. For example, the evolution of rules governing the determination of the fair market value of assets or liabilities, to the extent such rules become more stringent, would tend to increase the cost and/or reduce the availability of third-party determinations of fair market value. This may in turn increase the costs associated with selling assets or affect their liquidity due to the Fund’s inability to obtain a third-party determination of fair market value.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund has, with the approval of the Board, adopted a managed distribution plan (the “Managed Distribution Plan”), pursuant to which the Fund will make monthly distributions to shareholders at a fixed amount of $0.085 per share. This fixed distribution amount excludes any special dividends, which are not paid pursuant to the Managed Distribution Plan.
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The Fund will generally distribute amounts necessary to satisfy the Managed Distribution Plan and the requirements prescribed by excise tax rules and Subchapter M of the Code. The Managed Distribution Plan is intended to provide shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month and is intended to narrow the discount between the market price and the NAV of the Fund’s common shares, but there is no assurance that the Managed Distribution Plan will be successful in doing so. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distribution or from the terms of the Managed Distribution Plan.
Under the Managed Distribution Plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute capital gains and/or return of capital in order to maintain its managed distribution rate. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that was invested in the Fund is paid back to shareholders. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income”.
The Managed Distribution Plan provides that the Board may amend the terms of the Managed Distribution Plan or terminate the Managed Distribution Plan at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders; however, at this time, there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the Fund to terminate the Managed Distribution Plan. An amendment or termination of the Managed Distribution Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Managed Distribution Plan will be subject to the periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual minimum fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made.
Various factors will affect the level of the Fund’s income, including the asset mix and the Fund’s use of hedging. To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than the fixed distribution amount. The undistributed income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the fixed distribution amount. Undistributed income will add to the Fund’s NAV and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed income will deduct from the Fund’s NAV.
Under normal market conditions, the Adviser seeks to manage the Fund in a manner such that the Fund’s distributions are reflective of the Fund’s current and projected earnings levels. The distribution level of the Fund is subject to change based upon a number of factors, including the current and projected level of the Fund’s earnings, and may fluctuate over time.
REINVESTMENT PROGRAM
The Fund maintains a Shareholder Reinvestment Program (the “Reinvestment Program”) that allows participating shareholders to reinvest dividends in additional common shares of the Fund. Pursuant to the Reinvestment Program, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (the “Program Administrator”) purchases, from time to time, common shares on the open market to satisfy dividend reinvestments. Such common shares are purchased on the open market only when the closing sale or bid price plus commission is less than the NAV per share of the Fund’s common shares on the valuation date. If the market price plus commissions is equal to or exceeds NAV, new common shares are issued by the Fund at the greater of (i) NAV or (ii) the market price of the common shares during the pricing period, minus a discount of 5%. Common shares issued by the Fund under the Reinvestment Program will be issued without a fee or a commission.
Shareholders may elect to participate in the Reinvestment Program by submitting a completed participation form to the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator will credit to each participant’s account funds it receives from dividends paid on common shares of the Fund registered in the participant’s name. Shareholders may elect to close their account at any time by giving the transfer agent written notice. When a participant closes their account, the participant, upon request, will receive a certificate for full common shares in the account. Fractional common shares will be held and aggregated with other fractional common shares being liquidated by the transfer agent as agent of the Reinvestment Program and paid for by check when actually sold. Participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions with respect to the Program Administrator’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends.
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The automatic reinvestment of dividends does not affect the tax characterization of the dividends (i.e., capital gain distributions and income distributions are realized and subject to tax even though cash is not received). A shareholder whose dividends are reinvested in common shares under the Reinvestment Program will be treated as having received a dividend equal to either (i) if common shares are issued under the Reinvestment Program directly by the Fund, generally the fair market value of the common shares issued to the shareholder or (ii) if the reinvestment is made through open market purchases, the amount of cash allocated to the shareholder for the purchase of common shares on its behalf in the open market. Additional information about the Reinvestment Program may be obtained by contacting the Program Administrator at 844-460-9411 or [email protected].
RIGHTS OFFERINGS
The Fund may in the future, and at its discretion, choose to make offerings of rights to its shareholders to purchase common shares. 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 rights. In connection with a rights offering to shareholders, we would distribute certificates or other documentation (i.e., rights cards distributed in lieu of certificates) evidencing the rights and a Prospectus Supplement to our shareholders as of the record date that we set for determining the shareholders eligible to receive rights in such rights offering. Any such future rights offering will be made in accordance with the Investment Company Act.
The staff of the SEC has interpreted the Investment Company Act as not requiring shareholder approval of a transferable rights offering to purchase common shares at a price below the then current NAV so long as certain conditions are met, including: (i) a good faith determination by a fund’s board that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; (ii) the offering fully protects shareholders’ preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional rights); (iii) management uses its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such rights; and (iv) the ratio of a transferable rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held. The applicable Prospectus Supplement would describe the following terms of the rights in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the period of time the offering would remain open; |
| ● | the underwriter or distributor, if any, of the rights and any associated underwriting fees or discounts applicable to purchases of the rights; |
| ● | the title of such rights; |
| ● | the exercise price for such rights (or method of calculation thereof); |
| ● | the number of such rights issued in respect of each share; |
| ● | the number of rights required to purchase a single share; |
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| ● | the extent to which such rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such rights will commence, and the date on which such right will expire (subject to any extension); |
| ● | the extent to which such rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such oversubscription privilege; and |
| ● | termination rights we may have in connection with such rights offering. |
A certain number of rights would entitle the holder of the right(s) to purchase for cash such number of common shares 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 rights offered thereby. Rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such rights set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights would become void. Upon expiration of the rights offering and the receipt of payment and the rights certificate or other appropriate documentation properly executed and completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent, or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the common shares purchased as a result of such exercise will be issued as soon as practicable. To the extent permissible under applicable law, we may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
TAX MATTERS
The following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Fund’s common shares. A more detailed discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its common shareholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Except as otherwise noted, this discussion assumes you are a taxable U.S. holder (as defined below) and that you hold your common shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, assets held for investment). This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service, possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Fund and its common shareholders. The Fund has not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding any matters discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to those set forth below. This summary does not discuss any aspects of non-U.S., state or local tax. The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax considerations applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as without limitation, a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, regulated investment company, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt organization, dealer in securities or currencies, person holding shares of the Fund as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or straddle transaction, trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities, U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investor with “applicable financial statements” within the meaning of Section 451(b) of the Code, or non-U.S. investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax.
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A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents); |
| ● | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| ● | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| ● | a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, whose status as a U.S. person is not overridden by an applicable tax treaty. |
Taxation of the Fund
The Fund has elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy certain requirements relating to the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and distribution of its income to its shareholders. First, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its annual gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in the Code) (the “90% gross income test”). Second, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the market value of the total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, any two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or any one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships.”
As long as the Fund qualifies as a RIC, the Fund will generally not be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on income and gains that it distributes each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that in such taxable year it distributes at least 90% of the sum of (i) its net tax-exempt interest income, if any, and (ii) its “investment company taxable income” (which includes, among other items, dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain” (as defined below) and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid. The Fund may retain for investment its net capital gain (which consists of the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). However, if the Fund retains any net capital gain or any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained.
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The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the Fund’s fiscal year). In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. For purposes of the excise tax, the Fund will be deemed to have distributed any income on which it paid U.S. federal income tax. While the Fund intends to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% nondeductible excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the imposition of the excise tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.
If in any taxable year the Fund should fail to qualify under Subchapter M of the Code for tax treatment as a RIC, the Fund would incur a regular corporate U.S. federal income tax upon all of its taxable income for that year, and all distributions to its shareholders (including distributions of net capital gain) would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits. Provided that certain holding period and other requirements were met, such dividends would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, to qualify again to be taxed as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Fund would be required to distribute to shareholders its earnings and profits attributable to non-RIC years. In addition, if the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, then, in order to qualify as a RIC in a subsequent year, the Fund would be required to elect to recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively, be subject to taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of five years.
The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Fund qualifies for taxation as a RIC.
The Fund’s Investments. Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules) that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains or qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not be “qualified” income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. These U.S. federal income tax provisions could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to common shareholders. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these provisions and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC. Additionally, the Fund may be required to limit its activities in derivative instruments in order to enable it to maintain its RIC status.
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The Fund may invest a portion of its net assets in below investment grade securities. Investments in these types of securities may present special tax issues for the Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether modifications or exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues could affect the Fund’s ability to distribute sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC or to avoid the imposition of U.S. federal income or excise tax.
Certain debt securities acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that were originally issued at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount is treated as interest income and is included in taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Fund in order to qualify as a RIC and avoid U.S. federal income tax or the 4% excise tax on undistributed income) over the term of the security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures.
If the Fund purchases a debt security on a secondary market at a price lower than its adjusted issue price, the excess of the adjusted issue price over the purchase price is “market discount.” Unless the Fund makes an election to accrue market discount on a current basis, generally, any gain realized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on the debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. If the Fund ultimately collects less on the debt instrument than its purchase price plus the market discount previously included in income, the Fund may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions.
The Fund may invest in preferred securities or other securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by the Fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, potentially requiring the Fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code.
Gain or loss on the sale of securities by the Fund will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the securities have been held by the Fund for more than one year. Gain or loss on the sale of securities held for one year or less will be short-term capital gain or loss.
Because the Fund may invest in foreign securities, its income from such securities may be subject to non-U.S. taxes.
Foreign currency gain or loss on foreign currency exchange contracts, non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities contracts, and non-U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts, options and forward contracts that are not section 1256 contracts (as defined below) generally will be treated as ordinary income and loss.
Income from options on individual securities written by the Fund will generally not be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes until an option is exercised, lapses or is subject to a “closing transaction” (as defined by applicable regulations) pursuant to which the Fund’s obligations with respect to the option are otherwise terminated. If the option lapses without exercise, the premiums received by the Fund from the writing of such options will generally be characterized as short-term capital gain. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the premiums received and the amount paid by the Fund to close out its position will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. If an option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security, and the character of any gain on such sale of the underlying security as short-term or long-term capital gain will depend on the holding period of the Fund in the underlying security. Because the Fund will not have control over the exercise of the options it writes, such exercises or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the Fund to realize gains or losses at inopportune times.
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Index options that qualify as “section 1256 contracts” will generally be “marked-to-market” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Fund will generally recognize gain or loss on the last day of each taxable year equal to the difference between the value of the option on that date and the adjusted basis of the option. The adjusted basis of the option will consequently be increased by such gain or decreased by such loss. Any gain or loss with respect to options on indices and sectors that qualify as “section 1256 contracts” will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40% of such gain or loss and long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60% of such gain or loss. Because the mark-to-market rules may cause the Fund to recognize gain in advance of the receipt of cash, the Fund may be required to dispose of investments in order to meet its distribution requirements. “Mark-to-market” losses may be suspended or otherwise limited if such losses are part of a straddle or similar transaction.
Taxation of Common Shareholders
Fund distributions of its tax-exempt interest on municipal securities, if properly reported by the Fund to its shareholders (“exempt-interest dividends”), will generally be exempt from regular federal income tax. In order for the Fund to pay exempt-interest dividends, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must consist of tax-exempt obligations on a quarterly basis. If the Fund does not meet this requirement, it would not be able to pay tax-exempt dividends, and your distributions attributable to interest received by the Fund from any source (including distributions of tax-exempt interest income) would be taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits.
The Fund will either distribute or retain for reinvestment all or part of its net capital gain. If any such gain is retained, the Fund will be subject to a corporate income tax on such retained amount. In that event, the Fund expects to report the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its common shareholders, each of whom, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as long-term capital gain its share of such undistributed amounts, (ii) will be entitled to credit its proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund against its U.S. federal income tax liability and to claim refunds to the extent that the credit exceeds such liability and (iii) will increase its basis in its common shares by the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income less the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii).
Distributions paid to you by the Fund from its net capital gain, if any, that the Fund properly reports as capital gain dividends (“capital gain dividends”) are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your common shares. All other dividends paid to you by the Fund (including dividends from net short-term capital gains) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits, other than exempt-interest dividends (“ordinary income dividends”) are generally subject to tax as ordinary income. Provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met, ordinary income dividends (if properly reported by the Fund) may qualify (i) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations, and (ii) in the case of individual shareholders, as “qualified dividend income” eligible to be taxed at long-term capital gains rates to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income.
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Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations (e.g., generally, foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a qualifying comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or whose stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). There can be no assurance as to what portion, if any, of the Fund’s distributions will constitute qualified dividend income or be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
Any distributions you receive that are in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, and thereafter as capital gain from the sale of common shares. The amount of any Fund distribution that is treated as a return of capital will reduce your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, thereby increasing your potential gain or reducing your potential loss on any subsequent sale or other disposition of your common shares.
Common shareholders may be entitled to offset their capital gain dividends with capital losses. The Code contains a number of statutory provisions affecting when capital losses may be offset against capital gain, and limiting the use of losses from certain investments and activities. Accordingly, common shareholders that have capital losses are urged to consult their tax advisers.
Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to you even though they are reinvested in additional common shares of the Fund. Dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund are generally treated under the Code as received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is made. If, however, the Fund pays you a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December to common shareholders of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such dividend will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of the Fund’s taxable year may be “spilled back” and treated as paid by the Fund (except for purposes of the 4% nondeductible excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, you will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made.
Interest on certain “private activity bonds” is an item of tax preference subject to the alternative minimum tax on individuals. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in municipal bonds subject to this provision so that a portion of its exempt-interest dividends is an item of tax preference to the extent such dividends represent interest received from these private activity bonds. Accordingly, investment in the Fund could cause a holder of common shares to be subject to, or result in an increased liability under, the alternative minimum tax.
Exempt-interest dividends are included in determining what portion, if any, of a person’s Social Security and railroad retirement benefits will be includable in gross income subject to federal income tax.
The price of common shares purchased at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing common shares just prior to the record date of a distribution will receive a distribution which will be taxable to them even though it represents, economically, a return of invested capital.
The Fund will send you information after the end of each year setting forth the amount and tax status of any distributions paid to you by the Fund.
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The sale or other disposition of common shares will generally result in capital gain or loss to you and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held such common shares for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or other disposition of common shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by you with respect to such common shares. Any loss you recognize on a sale or other disposition of common shares will be disallowed if you acquire other common shares (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after your sale or exchange of the common shares. In such case, your tax basis in the common shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
If the Fund liquidates, shareholders generally will realize capital gain or loss upon such liquidation in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash or other property received by the shareholder (including any property deemed received by reason of its being placed in a liquidating trust) and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in its common shares. Any such gain or loss will be long-term if the shareholder is treated as having a holding period in the Fund shares of greater than one year, and otherwise will be short-term.
Current U.S. federal income tax law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain is currently taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income while long-term capital gain generally is taxed at a reduced maximum rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.
Certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes dividends received from the Fund and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of the Fund’s common shares.
A common shareholder that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a “foreign investor”) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or possibly a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty) on ordinary income dividends (except as discussed below). In general, U.S. federal withholding tax and U.S. federal income tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a foreign investor in respect of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends or net capital gain (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) or upon the sale or other disposition of common shares of the Fund. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign investor is engaged in a trade or business in the United States or, in the case of an individual, is present in the United States for 183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of investing in the Fund’s common shares.
Ordinary income dividends properly reported by a RIC are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of the RIC’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, its U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the RIC is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of the RIC’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the RIC’s net short-term capital gain over its long-term capital loss for such taxable year). Depending on its circumstances, the Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short-term capital gains, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a foreign investor needs to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute Form). In the case of common shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may have withheld tax even if the Fund reported the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Foreign investors should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund’s distributions would qualify for favorable treatment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gains.
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In addition, withholding at a rate of 30% will apply to dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Fund held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, and accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such shares or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. Accordingly, the entity through which common shares of the Fund are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends paid in respect of common shares of the Fund held by an investor that is a non-financial foreign entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which the Fund or applicable withholding agent will in turn provide to the Secretary of the Treasury. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. The Fund will not pay any additional amounts to common shareholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Foreign investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in the Fund’s common shares.
U.S. federal backup withholding tax may be required on dividends, distributions and sale proceeds payable to certain non-exempt common shareholders who fail to supply their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, generally, their social security number) or to make required certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that you timely furnish the required information to the Internal Revenue Service.
Ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends, and gain from the sale or other disposition of common shares of the Fund also may be subject to state, local, and/or foreign taxes. Common shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific questions about U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of certain provisions of the Code and the Treasury regulations currently in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its common shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. A more detailed discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its common shareholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Common shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income or other taxes.
Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information. You are urged to consult your tax adviser.
TAXATION OF HOLDERS OF RIGHTS
The value of a right will not be includible in the income of a common shareholder at the time the right is issued.
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The basis of a right issued to a common shareholder will be zero, and the basis of the share with respect to which the subscription right was issued (the old share) will remain unchanged, unless either (a) the fair market value of the right on the date of distribution is at least 15% of the fair market value of the old share, or (b) such shareholder affirmatively elects (in the manner set out in Treasury regulations under the Code) to allocate to the subscription right a portion of the basis of the old share. If either (a) or (b) applies, then except as described below such shareholder must allocate basis between the old share and the right in proportion to their fair market values on the date of distribution.
The basis of a right purchased in the market will generally be its purchase price.
The holding period of a right issued to a common shareholder will include the holding period of the old share. No gain or loss will be recognized by a common shareholder upon the exercise of a right.
No loss will be recognized by a common shareholder if a right distributed to such common shareholder expires unexercised because the basis of the old share may be allocated to a right only if the right is exercised. If a right that has been purchased in the market expires unexercised, there will be a recognized loss equal to the basis of the right.
Any gain or loss on the sale of a right will be a capital gain or loss if the right is held as a capital asset (which in the case of rights issued to common shareholders will depend on whether the old share of beneficial interest is held as a capital asset), and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the holding period is deemed to exceed one year.
CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company (commonly referred to as a closed-end fund). Closed-end funds differ from open-end funds (which are generally referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange and do not redeem their shares at the request of the shareholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund you must trade them on the stock exchange like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In a mutual fund, if the shareholder wishes to sell shares of the fund, the mutual fund will redeem or buy back the shares at NAV. Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to new investors and closed-end funds generally do not. The continuous inflows and outflows of assets in a mutual fund can make it difficult to manage the fund’s investments. By comparison, closed-end funds are generally able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their investment objective and also have greater flexibility to make certain types of investments and to use certain investment strategies, such as financial leverage and investments in illiquid securities.
Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. Because of this possibility and the recognition that any such discount may not be in the interest of shareholders, the Board might consider from time to time engaging in open-market repurchases, tender offers for shares or other programs intended to reduce the discount. We cannot guarantee or assure, however, that the Board will decide to engage in any of these actions. Nor is there any guarantee or assurance that such actions, if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close to the NAV. See “Repurchase of Common Shares” below and “Repurchase of Common Shares” in the SAI. The Board might also consider converting the Fund to an open-end mutual fund, which would also require a vote of the shareholders of the Fund.
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REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES
Shares of closed-end investment companies often trade at a discount to their NAVs and the Fund’s common shares may also trade at a discount to their NAV, although it is possible that they may trade at a premium above NAV. The market price of the Fund’s common shares will be determined by such factors as relative demand for and supply of such common shares in the market, the Fund’s NAV, general market and economic conditions, market sentiment and other factors beyond the control of the Fund. See “Net Asset Value” and “Description of Shares—Common Shares.” Although the Fund’s common shareholders will not have the right to redeem their common shares, the Fund may take action to repurchase common shares in the open market or make tender offers for its common shares. This may have the effect of reducing any market discount from NAV.
There is no assurance that, if action is undertaken to repurchase or tender for common shares, such action will result in the common shares’ trading at a price which approximates their NAV. Although share repurchases and tender offers could have a favorable effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares, you should be aware that the acquisition of common shares by the Fund will decrease the capital of the Fund and, therefore, may have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio and decreasing the asset coverage with respect to any borrowings or preferred shares outstanding. Any share repurchases or tender offers will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Investment Company Act and the principal stock exchange on which the common shares are traded. For additional information, see “Repurchase of Common Shares” in the SAI.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell common shares, including to existing shareholders in a rights offering, through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers (including existing shareholders in a rights offering), 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 our common shares, 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 our common shares issuable upon the exercise of each right and the other terms of such rights offering.
The distribution of our common shares 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 our common shares 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 the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
We may sell our common shares 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. We may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered securities directly.
In connection with the sale of our common shares, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell our common shares 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 our common shares may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions they receive from us and any profit realized by them on the resale of our common shares 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 from us will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements.
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If a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, we may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional common shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement, to cover any over-allotments.
Under agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our common shares may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will ourselves, or will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase our common shares from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contacts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us. The obligation of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the common shares shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
To the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers and receive fees in connection with the execution of our portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.
A Prospectus and accompanying Prospectus Supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of 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 common shares offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. We are allowed to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. We incorporate by reference into this Prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including any filings on or after the date of this Prospectus from the date of filing (excluding any information furnished, rather than filed), until we have sold all of the offered securities to which this Prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this Prospectus. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this Prospectus will be deemed to be automatically modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1) this Prospectus or (2) any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents incorporated by reference herein include:
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| ● | the Fund’s SAI, dated [●], 2025, filed with this Prospectus; and |
| ● | the Fund’s annual report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on January 6, 2025, and the Fund’s semi-annual report on Form N-CSR for the semi-annual period ended April 30, 2025, filed with the SEC in July 2025. |
The Fund will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should direct requests for documents by calling:
Investor Relations
+1 888.615.4310
The Fund makes available this Prospectus, SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, free of charge, at https://www.sabacef.com/saba-income-opportunities-fund. You may also obtain this Prospectus, the SAI, other documents incorporated by reference and other information the Fund files electronically, including reports and proxy statements, on the SEC website (http://www.sec.gov) or with the payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at [email protected]. Information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and should not be considered to be part of this Prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement.
PRIVACY NOTICE OF THE FUND
This Privacy Notice sets forth the policies of the Adviser and any investment funds and accounts managed by the Adviser regarding the collection, use, storage, sharing, disclosure (collectively, “processing”), and protection of personal data. This notice applies to current, prospective, and former investors in or holders of the Fund.
For purposes of this Privacy Notice, “you” or an “investor” means any investor who is an individual, or any individual connected with an investor that is a legal person. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the applicable offering memorandum or advisory agreement of the relevant Fund (each, “Fund Document”).
Who To Contact About This Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice is provided in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws in jurisdictions where we operate (collectively, the “Data Protection Laws”). Each of the Fund and the Adviser are considered data controllers of your personal information for the purposes of certain Data Protection Laws, meaning we determine the purposes and means of processing your information.
For any questions about this Privacy Notice or requests regarding the personal data we hold, please contact us at (212) 542-4635 or [email protected].
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Please note that certain service providers (the “Service Providers”) of the Adviser and/or Fund (e.g., administrators, prime brokers, custodians, transfer agents, and legal advisers) process personal data under their own professional and legal obligations (such as anti-money laundering legislation). In these instances, such Service Providers act as data controllers in their own right and not on our instructions. For specific information or requests regarding processing by such Service Providers, you may contact them directly at the address in the relevant Client Document or via their websites.
Types of Personal Data We May Collect and Use
We may collect and use various categories of your personal data, including, but not limited to:
| ● | Contact & Identification: Names, residential or business addresses, other contact details, signature, nationality, tax identification, passport, social security number, date/place of birth, jurisdiction of tax residence, photographs, copies of identification documents. |
| ● | Financial & Account Information: Bank account details, information about assets or net worth, credit history, investment activities, financial income (e.g., interest, dividends, income from insurance products), account balances, proceeds from property sale/redemption, or other financial information. |
| ● | Sensitive Data: In certain circumstances and where relevant (and as permitted by applicable Data Protection Laws), this may include information on political affiliations, ethnic origin, or criminal convictions, obtained from relevant materials, documents, or background searches, along with any other information required by applicable law or regulation. |
How We Collect Personal Daya
We collect personal data about you through:
| ● | Direct Provision: Information provided directly by you or another person on your behalf. |
| ● | Transactions: Information obtained in relation to any transactions between you and us. |
| ● | Third Parties/Other Sources: Our affiliates, Service Providers, publicly accessible databases or registers, tax authorities, governmental and non-governmental agencies, supervisory authorities, credit agencies, fraud prevention and detection agencies, or other publicly accessible sources (e.g., the internet). |
How We May Use Personal Information
We may process your personal data for various business tasks, including but not limited to:
| ● | Entering into advisory agreements or accepting subscription documentation. |
| ● | Administering our relationship with you, including processing subscriptions, redemptions, transfers, and discretionary transactions. |
| ● | Providing communications and reporting, and maintaining the registers of investors of the Fund. |
| ● | Marketing our products and services. |
| ● | Monitoring and analyzing our activities. |
| ● | Processing investments, withdrawals, and dividend payments. |
| ● | Maintaining global client and investor records, and providing centralized administrative, marketing, and client services. |
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| ● | Investigating and resolving complaints; managing litigation; and monitoring electronic communications for fraud or crime detection or for regulatory reasons. |
| ● | Complying with applicable legal or regulatory requirements (e.g., anti-money laundering, fraud prevention, tax reporting, sanctions compliance, and responding to requests from supervisory authorities or law enforcement agencies). |
We will use a permitted legal ground under applicable Data Protection Laws to process your personal information. Such grounds include where:
| ● | Processing is necessary to perform our obligations under the applicable Client Documents. |
| ● | We are required to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation applicable to us. |
| ● | We, or a third party on our behalf, have determined that it is necessary for our legitimate interests to collect and use your personal information, particularly where we believe you have a reasonable expectation for such collection or use. |
Consequences of Failing to Provide Personal Information
If personal data is required to satisfy a statutory obligation (including compliance with anti-money laundering or sanctions requirements) or a contractual requirement, failure to provide such information may result in your subscription being rejected or your shares/interests becoming subject to compulsory redemption or withdrawal. Where there is suspicion of unlawful activity, failure to provide personal data may lead to a report to the relevant law enforcement agency or supervisory authority.
How We May Share Personal Data
We may disclose your information to our affiliates, Service Providers, or other third parties to accept your subscription, administer and maintain your account(s), or otherwise perform our contractual obligations.
We may also share your personal information:
| ● | With courts, ombudsmen, or regulatory, tax, or law enforcement authorities to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements. |
| ● | To respond to court orders, regulatory requests for information, administrative proceedings, or investigations. |
| ● | When we believe in good faith that disclosure is legally required or we or a Fund have a legitimate interest in making a disclosure (e.g., to protect our or a Fund’s rights and property). |
| ● | If you direct us to do so. |
| ● | As necessary under anti-money laundering and similar laws to facilitate the establishment of trading relationships for the Fund with prime brokers, custodians, executing brokers, or other trading counterparties. |
We may also disclose information about you, or your transactions and experiences with us, to our affiliates or service providers for our everyday business purposes, such as administration, record-keeping, IT system security, activity monitoring and reporting, investor relations, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
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Retention Periods and Security Measures
We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purpose collected, subject to applicable Data Protection Laws. Personal data will generally be retained for the duration of your investment and for a minimum of five years after redemption, withdrawal, or Fund liquidation. We may retain data longer for marketing purposes or compliance with applicable law. We periodically review collected data to determine if retention remains purposeful.
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we implement organizational and technical security measures in accordance with applicable Data Protection Laws, including computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. We will notify you of any material personal data breaches affecting you as required by applicable Data Protection Laws.
Additional Information Under U.S. Federal Law (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act & Fair Credit Reporting Act)
For U.S. federal law purposes, this Privacy Notice applies to current and former investors who are individuals or Individual Retirement Accounts.
| ● | We may disclose information about our investors (current, prospective, or former) to affiliates (financial and non-financial companies related by common ownership or control) or non-affiliates (companies not related by common ownership or control) for our everyday business purposes (e.g., processing transactions, maintaining accounts, responding to court orders/legal investigations). |
| ● | Disclosure of investor information may also be necessary or appropriate under anti-money laundering and similar laws to accept subscriptions. |
| ● | We will release information if you direct us to do so. |
| ● | We may share your information with our affiliates for direct marketing (e.g., offers of products and services). You may prevent this type of sharing by contacting us at (212) 542-4635 or [email protected]. If you are a new investor, we can begin sharing with affiliates for direct marketing 30 days from the date this Privacy Notice was sent. If you are no longer an investor, we may continue to share your information with our affiliates for such purposes. |
| ● | You may contact us at any time to limit our sharing of your personal information at (212) 542-4635 or [email protected]. If you limit sharing for a jointly held account, your choices apply to everyone on that account. U.S. state laws may grant you additional rights to limit sharing. |
| ● | We do not share your information with non-affiliates for them to market their own services to you. We may disclose information you provide to us to companies performing marketing services on our behalf (e.g., placement agents). |
Additional Information for California Residents
If you are a California resident, California law may provide you with additional rights regarding our collection and use of your personal information. For more information, please refer to the California Consumer Privacy Notice (Addendum I) to this Privacy Notice.
Additional Information Under the Cayman Islands Data Protections Act (2021 Revision) (“DPA”)
For investors in Fund organized under Cayman Islands law, the applicable Fund may share your personal information with Service Providers (including the Adviser, administrator, custodians, prime brokers, or others) located outside the Cayman Islands. Information may also be shared with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority, who may exchange it with foreign tax authorities, regulatory bodies, or law enforcement agencies.
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By submitting your personal data, you consent to its transfer to the Adviser and other recipients described in this notice located outside the Cayman Islands. Any such transfer will comply with the DPA. You may withdraw your consent at any time; this withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
You may have certain rights under the DPA, including:
| ● | The right to be informed. |
| ● | The right of access. |
| ● | The right to rectification. |
| ● | The right to stop or restrict processing. |
| ● | The right to stop direct marketing. |
| ● | Rights in relation to automated decision making. |
| ● | The right to seek compensation. |
| ● | The right to complain to the supervisory authority. |
To exercise these rights, please contact (212) 542-4635 or [email protected]. Complaints regarding a Fund may be lodged with the Office of the Ombudsman in the Cayman Islands; however, we encourage you to contact us first to address any concerns.
Additional Information Under the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”)
You may have certain rights under EU General Data Protection Regulation and equivalent regulation in the United Kingdom (collectively, “GDPR”) regarding our processing of your personal data. These include rights to:
| ● | Access: Confirm if your personal data is processed and request access to it, enabling you to receive a copy and confirmation of processing methods/reasons. |
| ● | Rectification: Request correction of incomplete or inaccurate personal data. |
| ● | Erasure: Request erasure of your personal data in certain circumstances (the “right to be forgotten”). |
| ● | Objection: Object to processing of your personal data (on grounds related to your situation) where we rely on a legitimate interest. We may continue processing if we have compelling legitimate grounds. You also have the right to object to processing for direct marketing. |
| ● | Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances (e.g., if you want us to establish accuracy or reason for processing). |
| ● | Portability: In certain circumstances, request to receive personal data you provided in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. |
Please note that the right to be forgotten may not be available for the data we hold, given its collection purpose. If we relied on your consent for a particular purpose, you have the right to withdraw it.
To exercise these rights, please contact (212) 542-4635 or [email protected]. You also have the right to lodge a complaint about data processing with the competent data protection supervisory authority. For Saba Capital Management (UK) Limited (an affiliate), complaints may be made to the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK. We ask that you contact us first to address any concerns.
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Due to the international nature of our business, your personal data may be transferred to jurisdictions that do not offer equivalent protection to GDPR (“Third Countries”). In such cases, we will process data (or procure its processing) in Third Countries in accordance with GDPR requirements, potentially including contractual undertakings with service providers. Transfers to regulators or government agencies in Third Countries may also occur if necessary for administrative proceedings (e.g., requests for information, examinations, investigations) or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., compliance with foreign legal/regulatory obligations, establishing/defending legal claims).
Revisions To Our Privacy Policies
The Adviser evaluates its privacy policies and procedures for continuous improvement. The Adviser reserves the right to amend the terms contained herein in whole or in part for any reason. We therefore suggest that you review this Privacy Notice periodically, which is available at https://www.sabacapital.com/privacy-policy/.
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15,000,000 Shares
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Rights to Purchase Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
PROSPECTUS
[●], 2025
S-1