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PROSPECTUS
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10,000,000 Common
Shares
Tortoise Pipeline &
Energy Fund, Inc.
$25.00 per Share
Investment Objective. Tortoise Pipeline &
Energy Fund, Inc. (the Fund, we,
us or our) is a newly organized,
non-diversified closed-end management investment company. Our
investment objective is to provide our stockholders a high level
of total return, with an emphasis on current distributions. We
cannot assure you that we will achieve our investment objective.
Investment Strategy. We seek to provide stockholders
an efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio consisting
primarily of equity securities of pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies. We intend to focus primarily on
pipeline companies that engage in the business of transporting
natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil
and refined petroleum products, and to a lesser extent, on other
energy infrastructure companies. Under normal circumstances, we
will invest at least 80% of our Total Assets (as defined on
page 1) in equity securities of pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies. Energy infrastructure companies
own and operate a network of asset systems that transport,
store, distribute, gather, process, explore, develop, manage or
produce crude oil, refined petroleum products (including
biodiesel and ethanol), natural gas or NGLs or that provide
electric power generation (including renewable energy),
transmission
and/or
distribution. We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily
through direct investments in securities of listed companies. We
may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in securities of master
limited partnerships (MLPs). We will not invest in
privately held companies. We will also seek to provide current
income from gains earned through an option strategy which will
consist of writing (selling) covered call options on equity
securities in our portfolio.
Tax Matters. We intend to elect to be treated, and
to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company
(RIC). Assuming that we qualify as a RIC, we
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
income and gains that we distribute each taxable year to
stockholders. See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations.
No Prior History. Prior to this offering, there
has been no public or private market for our common shares.
Our common shares are expected to be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange under the trading or ticker symbol
TTP.
Investing in our securities involves certain risks. You could
lose some or all of your investment. See Risk
Factors beginning on page 24 of this prospectus. You
should consider carefully these risks together with all of the
other information contained in this prospectus before making a
decision to purchase our securities.
Shares of closed-end management investment companies
frequently trade at prices lower than their net asset value or
initial offering price. This discount risk may be greater for
initial investors expecting to sell shares shortly after the
completion of this offering.
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Per Share
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Total(1)
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Public offering price
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$
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25.000
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$
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250,000,000
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Sales
load(2)
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$
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1.125
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$
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11,250,000
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Proceeds, before expenses, to
us(3)
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$
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23.875
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$
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238,750,000
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(notes on following page)
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the common shares to
purchasers on or about October 31, 2011.
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Morgan
Stanley |
Citigroup |
UBS Investment Bank |
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Ameriprise
Financial Services, Inc. |
Barclays Capital |
Oppenheimer & Co. |
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RBC
Capital Markets |
Stifel Nicolaus
Weisel |
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Baird |
BB&T Capital Markets |
Chardan
Capital Markets, LLC |
Comerica
Securities |
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Janney
Montgomery Scott |
Knight |
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. |
Maxim
Group LLC |
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Morgan
Keegan |
Wedbush
Securities Inc. |
Wunderlich Securities |
The date of this prospectus is October 26, 2011.
(notes from previous page)
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(1)
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The underwriters named in this prospectus have the option to
purchase up to 1,411,577 additional common shares at the public
offering price, less the sales load, within 45 days from
the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments. If the
over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total public
offering price, sales load and proceeds, before expenses, to us
will be $285,289,425, $12,838,024, and $272,451,401,
respectively. See Underwriters.
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(2)
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Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., our Adviser, has agreed to
pay from its own assets structuring and syndication fees to
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and a structuring fee to each of
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, in the
aggregate amount of $3,994,366. These fees are not reflected
under sales load in the table above. The Adviser (and not the
Fund) has agreed to pay certain qualifying underwriters a sales
incentive fee or additional compensation in connection with the
offering. See Underwriters Additional
Compensation to be Paid by Our Adviser.
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(3)
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In addition to the sales load, we will pay, and our stockholders
will bear, offering costs of up to $0.05 per share, estimated to
total approximately $500,000 ($570,579, if the underwriters
exercise the over-allotment option in full), which will reduce
the Proceeds, before expenses, to us. Tortoise
Capital Advisors, L.L.C. has agreed to pay all organizational
expenses and the amount by which the aggregate of all of our
offering costs (excluding the sales load, but including a
portion of the amount payable to an affiliate of the Adviser for
the marketing of our common stock) exceeds $0.05 per share.
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(continued from cover page)
Leverage. The borrowing of money and issuance
of preferred stock and debt securities represent the leveraging
of our common stock. We reserve the right at any time to use
financial leverage to the extent permitted by the Investment
Company Act of 1940. See Risk Factors Leverage
Risk.
Investment Adviser. We will be managed by
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the Adviser), a
registered investment adviser specializing in managing
portfolios of investments in listed energy infrastructure
companies. As of September 30, 2011, our Adviser managed
investments of approximately $6.4 billion in the energy
infrastructure sector, including the assets of publicly traded
closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other accounts. Our
Adviser has a 26 person investment team dedicated to the
energy sector.
This prospectus sets forth the information that you should know
about the Fund before investing. You should read this prospectus
before deciding whether to invest in our securities. You should
retain this prospectus for future reference. A statement of
additional information, dated October 26, 2011, as
supplemented from time to time, containing additional
information, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) and is incorporated by reference in
its entirety into this prospectus. You may request a free copy
of the statement of additional information, the table of
contents of which is on page 58 of this prospectus, request
a free copy of our annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports,
request other information or make stockholder inquiries, by
calling toll-free at 1-866-362-9331 or by writing to us at 11550
Ash Street, Suite 300, Leawood, Kansas 66211. Our annual,
semi-annual and quarterly reports and the statement of
additional information also will be available on our
Advisers website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com. Information
included on such website does not form part of this prospectus.
You can review and copy documents we have filed at the
SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call
1-202-551-5850 for information. The SEC charges a fee for
copies. You can get the same information, including other
material incorporated by reference into this prospectus, free
from the SECs website
(http://www.sec.gov).
You may also
e-mail
requests for these documents to publicinfo@sec.gov or make a
request in writing to the SECs Public Reference Section,
100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.
Our securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and
are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured
depository institution and are not federally insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board
or any other government agency.
CAUTIONARY
NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the statement of additional information
contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the words may,
will, intend, expect,
estimate, continue, plan,
anticipate, could, should
and similar terms and the negative of such terms. By their
nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from
those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several
factors that could materially affect our actual results are the
performance of the portfolio of securities we hold, the time
necessary to fully invest the proceeds of this offering, our
covered call strategy, the conditions in the U.S. and
international financial, natural gas, petroleum and other
markets, the price at which our shares will trade in the public
markets and other factors.
Although we believe that the expectations expressed in our
forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could
differ materially from those projected or assumed in our
forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and
results of operations, as well as any forward-looking
statements, are subject to change and are subject to inherent
risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed in the
Risk Factors section of this prospectus. All
forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus are made as of the date of this
prospectus. Except for our ongoing obligations under the federal
securities laws, we do not intend, and we undertake no
obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The
forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are
excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
1933 Act).
Currently known risk factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from our expectations include, but are not
limited to, the factors described in the Risk
Factors section of this prospectus. We urge you to review
carefully that section for a more detailed discussion of the
risks of an investment in our securities.
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Summary
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1
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Summary of Fund Expenses
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11
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The Fund
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13
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Use of Proceeds
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13
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Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
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14
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Leverage
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21
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Risk Factors
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24
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Management of the Fund
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33
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Determination of Net Asset Value
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36
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Distributions
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37
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Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
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38
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Description of Securities
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40
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Certain Provisions in our Charter and Bylaws
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42
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Closed End Company Structure
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44
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Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
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45
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Underwriters
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53
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Administrator, Custodian & Fund Accountant
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57
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Legal Matters
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57
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Available Information
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57
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Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information
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58
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus in making your
investment decisions. Neither we nor the underwriters have
authorized any other person to provide you with different or
inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different
or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This
prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted. The information appearing in
this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its cover.
Our business, financial condition and prospects may have changed
since such date. We will advise investors of any material
changes to the extent required by applicable law.
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PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
The following summary contains basic information about us and
our securities. It is not complete and may not contain all of
the information you may want to consider. You should review the
more detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus
and in the statement of additional information, especially the
information set forth under the heading Risk Factors
beginning on page 24 of this prospectus.
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The Fund |
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We are a newly organized closed-end management investment
company. Our investment objective is to provide our stockholders
a high level of total return with an emphasis on current
distributions. We seek to provide our stockholders with an
efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio consisting primarily
of equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies. We cannot assure you that we will achieve our
investment objective. |
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Our Adviser |
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We will be managed by Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the
Adviser), a registered investment adviser
specializing in managing portfolios of investments in listed
energy infrastructure companies. As of September 30, 2011,
our Adviser managed investments of approximately
$6.4 billion in the energy sector, including the assets of
publicly traded closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other
accounts. Our Adviser has a
26-person
investment team dedicated to the energy sector. |
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Investment Strategy |
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We seek to provide stockholders an efficient vehicle to invest
in a portfolio consisting primarily of equity securities of
pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies. We intend to
focus primarily on pipeline companies that engage in the
business of transporting natural gas, natural gas liquids
(NGLs), crude oil and refined products, and, to a
lesser extent, on other energy infrastructure companies. These
pipeline companies own and operate long haul, gathering and
local gas distribution pipelines. |
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Energy infrastructure companies own and operate a network of
asset systems that transport, store, distribute, gather,
process, explore, develop, manage or produce crude oil, refined
petroleum products (including biodiesel and ethanol), natural
gas or NGLs, or that provide electric power generation
(including renewable energy), transmission and/or distribution. |
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Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our
Total Assets in equity securities of pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies. We define Total Assets as
the value of securities, cash or other assets held, including
securities or assets obtained through leverage, and interest
accrued but not yet received. We will invest in equity
securities that are publicly traded on an exchange or in the
over-the-counter
market, primarily consisting of common stock, but also
including, among others, MLP and limited liability company
common units. |
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We consider a company to be a pipeline company if at least 50%
of its assets, cash flow or revenue is associated with the
operation or ownership of energy pipelines and complementary
assets or it operates in the energy pipeline industry as defined
by the standard industrial classification (SIC)
system. We consider a company to be |
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an energy infrastructure company if at least 50% of its assets,
revenues or cash flows are derived from energy infrastructure
operations or ownership. |
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We may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in securities of
MLPs. We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily
through direct investments in securities of listed companies. |
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We will also seek to provide current income from gains earned
through an option strategy. We currently intend to write (sell)
call options on selected equity securities in our portfolio
(covered calls). The notional amount of such calls
is expected to initially be approximately 20% of the total value
of our portfolio, although this percentage may vary over time
depending on the cash flow requirements of the portfolio and on
our Advisers assessment of market conditions. As the
writer of such call options, in effect, during the term of the
option, in exchange for the premium we receive, we sell the
potential appreciation above the exercise price in the value of
the security or securities covered by the options. Therefore, we
may forego part of the potential appreciation for part of our
equity portfolio in exchange for the call premium received. We
currently intend to focus our covered call strategy on other
energy infrastructure companies that our Adviser believes are
integral links in the energy infrastructure value chain for
pipeline companies. |
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Listing and Symbol |
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Our common shares are expected to be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the trading or
ticker symbol TTP. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common
shares to invest in accordance with our investment objective and
policies and for working capital purposes. We expect to fully
invest the net proceeds of this offering within three to six
months after the closing. Pending such investment, we expect
that the net proceeds of this offering will be invested in money
market mutual funds, cash, cash equivalents, securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its instrumentalities or
agencies, short-term money market instruments, short-term debt
securities, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances
and other bank obligations, commercial paper or other liquid
debt securities. |
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Market Opportunity |
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We believe that pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies that we will target will provide attractive investment
opportunities for the following reasons: |
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Large and Diverse Investable Universe. We will
primarily target the large and diverse North American pipeline
market with an aggregate capitalization over $400 billion.
As a RIC, we may efficiently target pipeline companies
regardless of their underlying structure, as we generally will
not be subject to tax at the fund level. As such, we have the
ability and flexibility to target and access traditional
pipeline corporations alongside MLPs, which we believe have
solid business fundamentals as well as attractive and expanded
growth opportunities. |
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Substantial North American
Opportunity. Pipeline infrastructure asset
footprints generally expand with growth in energy demand and
changes in geographic areas where energy is produced. North
America has an abundant and accessible natural gas supply
located in domestic shale deposits. As a result of technology
improvements, the United States has enough natural gas to last
for approximately 80 to 100 years, according to various
industry sources. Demand has continued to increase for natural
gas as a clean, reliable, domestically produced energy source.
Oil supply on the North America continent has expanded as a
result of oil shale deposits and the Canadian oil sands.
Canadas crude oil reserves are now the second largest in
the world, with the United States importing more oil from Canada
than any other country. |
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Significant Capital Requirements. Significant
new pipeline infrastructure build-out and the capital to support
it is needed to efficiently connect growing areas of energy
demand with new areas of supply. Pipeline and related
infrastructure projects are expected to support growing
population centers and facilitate the transportation of natural
gas and crude oil across North America. For the three years from
2011 through 2014, we expect over $65 billion to be needed
to support North American pipeline infrastructure
build-out approximately $40 billion of this is
anticipated to be needed by pipeline corporations. |
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Historically Defensive Sector. Pipeline and
other energy infrastructure companies have historically
demonstrated solid business fundamentals, which we believe
results from their long-lived real assets, relatively inelastic
demand, monopolistic nature with high barriers to entry and
partial inflation protection through regulated rates. As a
result, pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies have
historically produced predictable cash flows and generated
increasing demand for an essential service across business
cycles. Projected population growth of nearly 80 million
people is expected to increase energy consumption by 17% from
2010 to 2035. New pipeline infrastructure will be needed to
support these demographic changes and growth. |
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Targeted Investment Characteristics |
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The majority of our investments will generally have the
following targeted characteristics: |
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Essential infrastructure focus on long-lived,
tangible pipeline and other energy infrastructure assets that
are essential to economic productivity.
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Defensible operating assets due to
regulation, natural monopolies, availability of land or high
costs of new development.
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Total return potential, including potential
for a current cash yield and dividend or distribution growth. We
do not intend to invest in
start-up
companies or companies with speculative business plans.
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Predictable revenues driven by relatively
inelastic demand.
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Stable operating structures with relatively
low maintenance expenditures, economies of scale, and an
appropriate ratio of
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debt to equity and payout/coverage ratio relative to dividends
or distributions.
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Operations-focused management teams with
successful track records and knowledge, experience, and focus in
their segments of energy infrastructure.
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Experience of the Adviser |
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Our Adviser has significant experience investing in pipeline and
other energy infrastructure companies including: |
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A Leading Energy Infrastructure
Adviser. Our Adviser formed the first MLP focused
closed-end fund and is one of the largest investment managers
dedicated to managing closed-end investment companies focused on
U.S. energy infrastructure MLPs. As of September 30, 2011,
our Adviser had approximately $6.4 billion of assets under
management in the energy sector, including the assets of
publicly traded closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other
accounts. The five members of our Advisers investment
committee have, on average, over 25 years of experience.
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Experience Across the Energy Infrastructure Value
Chain. Our Adviser has managed energy
infrastructure investments through various economic cycles
through a disciplined investment approach. Through its in-house
research coverage of companies throughout the entire energy
infrastructure value chain, our Advisers investment
process uses a
bottom-up,
fundamentals-based approach. Through proprietary models,
including risk, valuation and financial models, our
Advisers philosophy places extensive focus on quality. Our
Adviser believes its investment process is a competitive
advantage, allowing it to evaluate risk and reward intelligently
across the energy infrastructure universe.
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Deep Relationships and Access to Deal
Flow. We believe our Advisers history in
the energy infrastructure sector, its long-term investment
strategy and its deep relationships with issuers, underwriters
and sponsors offers competitive advantages in evaluating and
managing investment opportunities. Our Adviser led the first MLP
direct placement and has participated in over 110 direct
investments in which it has invested over $2.5 billion
since 2002 through its listed funds and other specialty vehicles
and accounts
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Capital Markets Innovation. Our
Adviser is a leader in providing investment, financing and
structuring opportunities through its listed funds. Our Adviser
formed the first listed, closed-end fund focused primarily on
investing in energy infrastructure MLPs and led the development
of institutional MLP direct placements to fund capital projects,
acquisitions and sponsor liquidity. In addition, our Adviser
established one of the first registered closed-end fund
universal shelf registration statements and completed the first
registered direct offering from a universal shelf registration
statement for a closed-end fund.
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Fees |
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Pursuant to our investment advisory agreement, we will pay our
Adviser a fee for its investment management services equal to an |
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annual rate of 1.10% of our average monthly Managed
Assets (defined as our Total Assets minus the sum of
accrued liabilities (other than debt entered into for purposes
of leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred stock)). The Adviser has agreed to a fee
waiver of 0.25%, 0.20%, and 0.15% of our average monthly Managed
Assets for the first, second and third years following this
offering, respectively. The fee will be calculated and accrued
daily and paid quarterly in arrears. See Management of the
Fund Compensation and Expenses. |
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Federal Income Tax Status |
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We intend to elect to be treated, and to qualify each year, as a
RIC under the Code. Assuming that we qualify as a RIC, we
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
income and gains that we distribute each taxable year to
stockholders if we meet certain minimum distribution
requirements. To qualify as a RIC, we will be required to meet
asset diversification tests and to meet and maintain our RIC
status annual qualifying income and distribution tests. See
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
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Investment Policies |
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We have adopted the following non-fundamental investment
policies: |
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Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least
80% of our Total Assets in equity securities of pipeline and
other energy infrastructure companies;
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
securities of
non-U.S.
issuers (including Canadian issuers);
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily
through direct investments in securities of listed companies.
For purposes of this limitation, restricted
securities include (i) registered securities of
public companies subject to a
lock-up
period, (ii) unregistered securities of public companies
with registration rights, and (iii) unregistered securities
of public companies that become freely tradable with the passage
of time;
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We will not invest in privately held companies;
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We may invest up to 20% of our Total Assets in debt
securities, including those rated below investment grade,
commonly referred to as junk bonds;
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We will not invest more than 10% of our Total Assets
in any single issuer; and
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We will not engage in short sales.
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As a RIC, we may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in
securities of MLPs. |
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The Board of Directors may change our non-fundamental investment
policies without stockholder approval and will provide notice to
stockholders of material changes (including notice through
stockholder reports), although a change in the policy of
investing at least 80% of our Total Assets in equity securities
of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies requires
at least 60 days prior written notice to
stockholders. Unless otherwise stated, these |
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investment restrictions apply at the time of purchase.
Furthermore, we will not be required to reduce a position due
solely to market value fluctuations. |
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In addition, to comply with federal tax requirements for
qualification as a RIC, our investments will be limited so that
at the close of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at
least 50% of the value of our Total Assets is represented by
cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, the securities
of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities
limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one
issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of our
Total Assets and not more than 10% outstanding voting
securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of
the value of our Total Assets is invested in the securities of
any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the
securities of other RICs), the securities (other than the
securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that we
control and that are determined to be engaged in the same
business or similar or related trades or businesses, or the
securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships
(which includes MLPs). These tax-related limitations may be
changed by the Board of Directors to the extent appropriate in
light of changes to applicable tax requirements. |
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During the period in which we are investing the net proceeds of
this offering, we may deviate from our investment policies by
investing the net proceeds in money market mutual funds, cash,
cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, high quality,
short-term money market instruments, short-term debt securities,
certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and other
bank obligations, commercial paper or other liquid debt
securities. Under adverse market or economic conditions, we may
invest 100% of our Total Assets in these securities. To the
extent we invest in these securities on a temporary basis or for
defensive purposes, we may not achieve our investment objective. |
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Distributions |
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We intend to make quarterly cash distributions to our common
stockholders. We expect to declare the initial distribution
approximately 45 to 60 days from the completion of this
offering, and to pay such distribution on or around
March 1, 2012, depending upon market conditions. |
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We expect that the source of the cash payments we receive from
our investments will constitute investment company taxable
income, as well as long-term capital gains or return of capital
from such investments. Investment company taxable income
includes, among other items, dividends, operational income from
MLPs, interest and net short-term capital gains, less expenses.
Long-term capital gains reflect the realized market price
received in the sale of an investment security in excess of its
cost basis, less net capital losses, including any capital loss
carryforwards. Since, as a RIC, we may invest up to 25% of our
Total Assets in MLPs, a portion of distributions received from
our investments may be sourced as return of capital. This may be
due to a variety of factors, including that the MLP may have
significant non-cash deductions, such as accelerated
depreciation. However, since |
6
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we may only invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in MLPs, our
Adviser does not anticipate a significant portion of the
Funds distributions to stockholders will be characterized
as return of capital; rather, it expects the significant sources
of such distributions to be investment company taxable income
and net capital gain. |
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For tax purposes, distributions of investment company taxable
income are generally taxable to stockholders as ordinary income.
However, it is expected that part (but not all) of the
distributions to our common stockholders may be eligible for the
qualified dividend income treatment for individual stockholders
and the dividends-received deduction for corporate stockholders,
assuming the stockholder meets certain holding period
requirements with respect to its Fund shares. Any distributions
to you in excess of the Funds investment company taxable
income and net capital gains will be treated by you, first, as a
tax-deferred return of capital, which is applied against and
will reduce the adjusted tax basis of your shares and, after
such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will generally
constitute capital gains. Any long-term capital gain
distributions are taxable to stockholders as long-term capital
gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held.
Net capital gains distributions are not eligible for the
qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends-received
deduction. See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations for a discussion regarding federal income
tax requirements as a RIC, as well as the potential tax
characterization of our distributions to stockholders. |
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Various factors will affect the levels of cash we receive from
our investments, as well as the amounts of income represented by
such cash, such as our asset mix and covered call strategy. We
may not be able to make distributions in certain circumstances.
To permit us to maintain a more stable distribution, our Board
of Directors may from time to time cause us to distribute less
than the entire amount of income earned in a particular period.
The undistributed income would be available to supplement future
distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by us for any
particular period may be more or less than the amount of income
actually earned by us during that period. Undistributed income
will add to our net asset value, and, correspondingly,
distributions from undistributed income will deduct from our net
asset value. See Distributions and Risk
Factors Performance and Distribution Risk. |
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
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We intend to have a dividend reinvestment plan for our
stockholders that will be effective upon completion of this
offering. Our plan will be an opt out dividend
reinvestment plan. Registered holders of our common stock will
automatically be enrolled and entitled to participate in the
plan. As a result, if we declare a distribution after the plan
is effective, a registered holders cash distribution will
be automatically reinvested in additional common shares, unless
the registered holder specifically opts out of the
dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash distributions.
Stockholders who receive distributions in the form of common
shares will generally be subject to the same federal, state and
local tax consequences as |
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stockholders who elect to receive their distributions in cash.
See Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
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Leverage |
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The borrowing of money and the issuance of preferred stock and
debt securities represent the leveraging of our common stock.
The issuance of additional common stock may enable us to
increase the aggregate amount of our leverage. We reserve the
right at any time to use financial leverage to the extent
permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940
Act) (50% of Total Assets for preferred stock and
331/3%
of Total Assets for senior debt securities) or we may elect to
reduce the use of leverage or use no leverage at all. Our Board
of Directors has approved a leverage target of up to 25% of our
Total Assets at the time of incurrence and has also approved a
policy permitting temporary increases in the amount of leverage
we may use from 25% of our Total Assets to up to 30% of our
Total Assets at the time of incurrence, provided that
(i) such leverage is consistent with the limits set forth
in the 1940 Act, and (ii) we expect to reduce such
increased leverage over time in an orderly fashion. The timing
and terms of any leverage transactions will be determined by our
Board of Directors. In addition, the percentage of our assets
attributable to leverage may vary significantly during periods
of extreme market volatility and will increase during periods of
declining market prices of our portfolio holdings. |
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The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased income
and capital appreciation for common stockholders, but at the
same time creates special risks that may adversely affect common
stockholders. Because our Advisers fee is based upon a
percentage of our Managed Assets, our Advisers fee is
higher when we are leveraged. Therefore, our Adviser has a
financial incentive to use leverage, which will create a
conflict of interest between our Adviser and our common
stockholders, who will bear the costs of our leverage. There can
be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful
during any period in which it is used. The use of leverage
involves risks, which can be significant. See
Leverage and Risk Factors Leverage
Risk. |
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Hedging & Risk Management |
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In addition to writing covered call options as part of our
investment strategy, the risks of which are described herein, we
may utilize derivative instruments for hedging and risk
management purposes. |
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We may utilize hedging techniques such as interest rate
transactions to mitigate potential interest rate risk on a
portion of our leverage. Such interest rate transactions would
be used to protect us against higher costs on our leverage
resulting from increases in short-term interest rates. We
anticipate that the majority of such interest rate hedges would
be interest rate swap contracts, interest rate caps and floors
purchased from financial institutions. |
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To a lesser extent, we may, but do not currently intend to, use
other hedging and risk management strategies to seek to manage
other market risks. Such hedging strategies may be utilized to
seek to protect against possible adverse changes in the market
value of securities held in our portfolio, exposure to
non-U.S.
currencies, or to otherwise protect the |
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value of our portfolio. As such, we may invest in derivative
instruments, including futures, forward contracts, options,
options on such contracts and interest rate and total return
swaps. See Leverage Hedging and Risk
Management and Risk Factors Hedging and
Derivatives Risk. |
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Conflicts of Interest |
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Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that our Adviser
and its affiliates carry on substantial investment activities
for other clients, in which we have no interest. Our Adviser or
its affiliates may have financial incentives to favor certain of
these accounts over us. Any of their proprietary accounts or
other customer accounts may compete with us for specific trades.
Our Adviser or its affiliates may give advice and recommend
securities to, or buy or sell securities for, other accounts and
customers, which advice or securities recommended may differ
from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought or
sold for us, even though their investment objectives may be the
same as, or similar to, ours. |
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Situations may occur when we could be disadvantaged because of
the investment activities conducted by our Adviser and its
affiliates for their other accounts. Certain of our
Advisers managed funds and accounts may invest in the
equity securities of a particular company, while other funds and
accounts managed by our Adviser may invest in the debt
securities of the same company. Such situations may be based on,
among other things, the following: (1) legal or internal
restrictions on the combined size of positions that may be taken
for us or the other accounts, thereby limiting the size of our
position; (2) the difficulty of liquidating an investment
for us or the other accounts where the market cannot absorb the
sale of the combined position; or (3) limits on
co-investing in direct placement securities under the 1940 Act.
Our investment opportunities may be limited by affiliations of
our Adviser or its affiliates with pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies. See Investment Objective and
Principal Investment Strategies Conflicts of
Interest. |
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Advisers Information |
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The offices of our Adviser are located at 11550 Ash Street,
Suite 300, Leawood, Kansas 66211. The telephone number for
our Adviser is
(913) 981-1020
and our Advisers website is www.tortoiseadvisors.com.
Information posted to our Advisers website should not be
considered part of this prospectus. |
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Who May Want to Invest |
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Investors should consider their investment goals, time horizons
and risk tolerance before investing in our common shares. We may
be an appropriate investment for investors who are seeking: |
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an efficient investment vehicle for accessing a
portfolio of companies owning and operating essential pipeline
and other energy infrastructure assets;
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the opportunity for distribution growth, driven by
substantial pipeline infrastructure build-out potential;
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simplified tax reporting with one 1099 and no
unrelated business taxable income;
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an investment for retirement and other tax-exempt
accounts;
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potential diversification of their overall
investment portfolio; and
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professional securities selection and active
management by an experienced adviser who has managed pipeline
and other energy infrastructure assets across various economic
cycles.
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An investment in our common shares involves a high degree of
risk. Investors could lose some or all of their investment. See
Risk Factors. |
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Risks |
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Investing in our common shares involves risk, including the risk
that you may receive little or no return on your investment, or
even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Our
strategy of concentrating in pipeline and other energy
infrastructure investments means that our performance will be
closely tied to the performance of the energy infrastructure
sector, and we will be subject to the risks inherent in the
business of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies.
These risks, along with other risks applicable to an investment
in our common shares, are more fully set forth under the heading
Risk Factors. Before investing in our common shares,
you should consider carefully all of these risks. |
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In addition, we are designed primarily as a long-term investment
vehicle, and our common shares are not an appropriate investment
for a short-term trading strategy. An investment in our
securities should not constitute a complete investment program
for any investor and involves a high degree of risk. Due to the
uncertainty in all investments, there can be no assurance that
we will achieve our investment objective. |
10
SUMMARY
OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table and example contain information about the
costs and expenses that common stockholders will bear directly
or indirectly. In accordance with SEC requirements, the table
below shows our expenses, including leverage costs, as a
percentage of our net assets and not as a percentage of gross
assets or Managed Assets. We caution you that the percentages
in the table below indicating annual expenses are estimates and
may vary.
Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering
price):
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Sales Load
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4.50
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%(1)
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Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund
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0.20
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%(2)
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees
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None
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(3)
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Total Stockholder Transaction Expenses Paid
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4.70
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%
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Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable
to common
shares)(4):
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Management
Fee(5)
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1.47
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%
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Leverage
Costs(6)
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1.07
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%
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Other
Expenses(7)
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0.36
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%
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Total Annual
Expenses(8)
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2.90
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%
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Less Fee and Expense
Reimbursement(9)
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(0.33
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)%
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Net Annual
Expenses(8)
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2.57
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%
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Example
The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount
of total cumulative expenses that would be incurred over various
periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in our common
shares. These amounts are based upon assumed offering expenses
of 0.20% and our payment of annual operating expenses at the
levels set forth in the table above.
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1 Year
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3 Years
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5 Years
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10 Years
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You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
assuming a 5% annual return
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$
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72
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$
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125
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$
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186
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$
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349
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The example and the expenses in the tables above are intended
to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses an
investor in our common shares may bear directly or indirectly
and should not be considered a representation of our future
expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those
shown. Moreover, while the example assumes, as required by
the applicable rules of the SEC, a 5% annual return, our
performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less
than 5%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of
all distributions at net asset value, participants in our
dividend reinvestment plan may receive common shares valued at
the market price in effect at that time. This price may be at,
above or below net asset value. See Automatic Dividend
Reinvestment Plan for additional information regarding our
dividend reinvestment plan.
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(1)
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For a description of the sales load
and other compensation paid by us to the underwriters, see
Underwriters.
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(2)
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Stockholders will pay offering
costs of up to $0.05 per share, estimated to total approximately
$500,000. The Adviser has agreed to pay all organizational
expenses and the amount by which the aggregate of all of our
offering costs (excluding the sales load, but including a
portion of the amount payable to an affiliate of the Adviser for
the marketing of our common stock) exceeds $0.05 per share.
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(3)
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The expenses associated with the
administration of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in
Other Expenses. The participants in our dividend
reinvestment plan will pay a transaction fee if they direct the
plan agent to sell common shares held in their investment
account and a per share fee with respect to open market
purchases, if any, made by the plan agent under the plan. For
more details about the plan, see Automatic Dividend
Reinvestment Plan.
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(footnotes continued on
following page)
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(4)
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Assumes leverage of approximately
$79 million determined using the assumptions set forth in
footnote (6) below. We have not included a line item for
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses as such
expenses are not anticipated to exceed one basis point.
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(5)
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Although our management fee is
1.10% (annualized) of our average monthly Managed Assets, the
table above reflects expenses as a percentage of net assets.
Managed Assets means our Total Assets minus the sum of accrued
liabilities other than (1) debt entered into for the
purpose of leverage and (2) the aggregate liquidation
preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Net assets is
defined as Managed Assets minus debt entered into for the
purposes of leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of
any outstanding preferred shares. See Management of the
Fund Compensation and Expenses.
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(6)
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We may borrow money or issue debt
securities and/or preferred stock to provide us with additional
funds to invest. The borrowing of money and the issuance of
preferred stock and debt securities represent the leveraging of
our common stock. The table above assumes that we borrow
approximately $79 million, which reflects leverage in an
amount representing approximately 25% of our Total Assets
assuming an annual interest rate of 3.20% on the amount borrowed
and assuming we issue 10 million common shares.
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(7)
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Other Expenses includes
our estimated overhead expenses, including payments to our
transfer agent, administrator, custodian, fund accountant, and
legal and accounting expenses for our first year of operation
assuming we issue 10 million common shares. The holders of
our common shares indirectly bear the cost associated with such
other expenses as well as all other costs not specifically
assumed by our Adviser and incurred in connection with our
operations.
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(8)
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The table presented above estimates
what our annual expenses would be, stated as a percentage of our
net assets attributable to our common shares. This results in a
higher percentage than the percentage attributable to our
estimated annual expenses stated as a percentage of our Managed
Assets. See Leverage Annual Expenses on
page 22.
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(9)
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The Adviser has agreed to a fee
waiver of 0.25%, 0.20% and 0.15% of average monthly Managed
Assets for the first, second and third years following this
offering, respectively.
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As of the date of this prospectus, we have not commenced
investment operations. If we issue fewer common shares, all
other things being equal, certain of these percentages would
increase. For additional information with respect to our
expenses, see Management of the Fund and
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
12
THE
FUND
We are a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company registered under the 1940 Act. We were
organized as a Maryland corporation on July 19, 2011
pursuant to articles of incorporation. Our fiscal year ends on
November 30. We expect our common stock to be listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the trading or ticker symbol
TTP.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common
shares to invest in accordance with our investment objective and
policies and for working capital purposes. We expect to fully
invest the net proceeds of this offering within three to six
months after the closing. Pending such investment, we expect
that the net proceeds of this offering will be invested in money
market mutual funds, cash, cash equivalents, securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its
instrumentalities or agencies, short-term money market
instruments, short-term debt securities, certificates of
deposit, bankers acceptances and other bank obligations,
commercial paper or other liquid debt securities. See Risk
Factors Delay in Use of Proceeds Risk. The
three to six month timeframe associated with the anticipated use
of proceeds could lower returns and reduce the amount of cash
available to make distributions.
13
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Investment
Objective and Strategy
Our investment objective is to provide our stockholders a high
level of total return, with an emphasis on current
distributions. We seek to provide our stockholders with an
efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio consisting primarily
of equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies. We intend to focus primarily on pipeline companies
that engage in the business of transporting natural gas, NGLs,
crude oil and refined products through pipelines, and, to a
lesser extent, on other energy infrastructure companies. These
pipeline companies own and operate long haul, gathering and
local gas distribution pipelines.
Pipeline &
Other Energy Infrastructure Companies
Energy infrastructure companies own and operate a network of
asset systems that transport, store, distribute, gather,
process, explore, develop, manage or produce crude oil, refined
petroleum products (including biodiesel and ethanol), natural
gas or NGLs, or that provide electric power generation
(including renewable energy), transmission
and/or
distribution.
Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our
Total Assets in equity securities of pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies. We consider a company to be a pipeline
company if 50% of its assets, cash flow or revenue is associated
with the operation or ownership of energy pipelines and
complementary assets or it operates in the energy pipeline
industry as defined by the standard industrial classification
(SIC) system. We consider a company to be an energy
infrastructure company if at least 50% of its assets, revenues
or cash flows are derived from energy infrastructure operations
or ownership.
We may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in securities of
MLPs. We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily
through direct investments in securities of listed companies.
Investment
Process and Risk Management
Our Adviser seeks to invest in securities that offer a
combination of quality, growth and yield intended to result in
superior total returns over the long run. Our Advisers
investment process utilizes fundamental analysis and a
comparison of quantitative, qualitative, and relative value
factors.
Our Advisers investment decisions are driven by
proprietary financial, risk, and valuation models developed and
maintained by our Adviser which assist in the evaluation of
investment decisions and risk. Financial models, based on
business drivers with historical and multi-year operational and
financial projections, quantify growth, facilitate sensitivity
and credit analysis, and aid in peer comparisons. The risk
models assess a companys asset quality, management, and
stability of cash flows. Valuation models are multiple stage
dividend growth models based on a discounted cash flow
framework. Our Adviser also uses traditional valuation metrics
such as cash flow multiples and current yield in its investment
process.
Our Advisers investment committee is responsible for
approving investment decisions and monitoring our investments.
In conducting due diligence, our Adviser relies on first-hand
sources of information, such as company filings, meetings and
conference calls with management, site visits, government
information, etc. Although our Adviser intends to use research
provided by broker-dealers and investment firms, primary
emphasis will be placed on proprietary analysis and valuation
models conducted and maintained by our Advisers in-house
investment analysts. To determine whether a company meets its
investment criteria, our Adviser will generally look for the
targeted investment characteristics as described herein. All
decisions to invest in a company must be approved by the
unanimous decision of our investment committee.
The due diligence process followed by our Adviser is
comprehensive and includes:
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review of historical and prospective financial information;
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diligence of quarterly updates and conference calls;
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analysis of financial models and projections;
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meetings with management and key employees;
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on-site
visits; and
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screening of relevant partnership and other key documents.
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Market
Opportunity
We believe that pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies we will target will provide attractive investment
opportunities for the following reasons:
Large and Diverse Investable Universe. We will
primarily target the large and diverse North American pipeline
market with an aggregate capitalization over $400 billion.
As a RIC, we may efficiently target pipeline companies
regardless of their underlying structure, as we generally will
not be subject to tax at the fund level. As such, we have the
ability and flexibility to target and access traditional
pipeline corporations alongside MLPs, which we believe have
solid business fundamentals as well as attractive and expanded
growth opportunities.
Substantial North American
Opportunity. Pipeline infrastructure asset
footprints generally expand with growth in energy demand and
changes in geographic areas where energy is produced. North
America has an abundant and accessible natural gas supply
located in domestic shale deposits. As a result of technology
improvements, the United States has enough natural gas to last
for approximately 80 to 100 years, according to various
industry sources. Demand has continued to increase for natural
gas as a clean, reliable, domestically produced energy source.
Oil supply on the North American continent has expanded as a
result of oil shale deposits and the Canadian oil sands.
Canadas crude oil reserves are now the second largest in
the world, with the United States importing more oil from Canada
than any other country.
Significant Capital Requirements. Significant
new pipeline infrastructure build-out and the capital to support
it is needed to efficiently connect growing areas of energy
demand with new areas of supply. Pipeline and related
infrastructure projects are expected to support growing
population centers and facilitate the transportation of natural
gas and crude oil across North America. For the three years from
2011 through 2014, we expect over $65 billion to be needed
to support North American pipeline infrastructure
build-out approximately $40 billion of this is
anticipated to be needed by pipeline corporations.
Historically Defensive Sector. Pipeline and
other energy infrastructure companies have historically
demonstrated solid business fundamentals, which we believe
results from their long-lived real assets, relatively inelastic
demand, monopolistic nature with high barriers to entry and
partial inflation protection through regulated rates. As a
result, pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies have
historically produced predictable cash flows and generated
increasing demand for an essential service across business
cycles. Projected population growth of nearly 80 million
people is expected to increase energy consumption by 17% from
2010 to 2035. New pipeline infrastructure will be needed to
support these demographic changes and growth.
Targeted
Investment Characteristics
The majority of our investments will generally have the
following targeted characteristics:
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Essential infrastructure focus on long-lived, tangible
pipeline and other energy infrastructure assets that are
essential to economic productivity.
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Defensible operating assets due to regulation, natural
monopolies, availability of land or high costs of new
development.
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Total return potential, including potential for a current
cash yield and dividend or distribution growth. We do not intend
to invest in
start-up
companies or companies with speculative business plans.
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Predictable revenues driven by relatively inelastic
demand.
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Stable operating structures with relatively low
maintenance expenditures, economies of scale, and an appropriate
ratio of debt to equity and payout/coverage ratio relative to
dividends or distributions.
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Operations-focused management teams with successful track
records and knowledge, experience, and focus in their segments
of energy infrastructure.
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Investment
Policies
We have adopted the following non-fundamental investment
policies:
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Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our
Total Assets in equity securities of pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies;
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in securities of
non-U.S. issuers
(including Canadian issuers), which may include securities
issued by companies organized
and/or
having securities traded on an exchange outside the U.S. or
may be securities of U.S. companies that are denominated in
the currency of a different country;
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in unregistered or
otherwise restricted securities, primarily through direct
investments in securities of listed companies. For purposes of
this limitation, restricted securities include
(i) registered securities of public companies subject to a
lock-up
period, (ii) unregistered securities of public companies
with registration rights, and (iii) unregistered securities
of public companies that become freely tradable with the passage
of time;
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We will not invest in privately held companies;
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We may invest up to 20% of our Total Assets in debt securities,
including those rated below investment grade, commonly referred
to as junk bonds;
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We will not invest more than 10% of our Total Assets in any
single issuer; and
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We will not engage in short sales.
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As a RIC, we may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in
securities of MLPs.
The Board of Directors may change our non-fundamental investment
policies without stockholder approval and will provide notice to
stockholders of material changes (including notice through
stockholder reports), although a change in the policy of
investing at least 80% of our Total Assets in equity securities
of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies requires
at least 60 days prior written notice to
stockholders. Unless otherwise stated, these investment
restrictions apply at the time of purchase. Furthermore, we will
not be required to reduce a position due solely to market value
fluctuations.
During the period in which we are investing the net proceeds of
this offering, we may deviate from our investment policies by
investing the net proceeds in money market mutual funds, cash,
cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, high
quality, short-term money market instruments, short-term debt
securities, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances
and other bank obligations, commercial paper or other liquid
debt securities. Under adverse market or economic conditions, we
may invest 100% of our Total Assets in these securities. To the
extent we invest in these securities on a temporary basis or for
defensive purposes, we may not achieve our investment objective.
Investment
Securities
The types of securities in which we may invest include, but are
not limited to, the following:
Equity Securities. Equity investments
generally represent an equity ownership interest, or the right
to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types
of equity securities provide different voting and dividend
rights and priority in the event of an issuers bankruptcy.
An adverse event, such as unfavorable earnings report, may
depress the value of a particular equity investment that we
hold. In addition, prices of
16
equity investments are sensitive to general movements in the
stock market, and a drop in the stock market may depress the
price of equity investments we own. Equity investment prices
fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in
investors perceptions of the financial condition of an
issuer or rising interest rates, which increases borrowing costs
and the costs of capital. We currently expect that such equity
investments will include the following:
Common Stock. Common stock represents an
ownership interest in the profits and losses of a corporation,
after payment of amounts owed to bondholders, other debt
holders, and holders of preferred stock. Holders of common stock
generally have voting rights, but we do not generally expect to
have voting control in any of the companies in which we invest.
Common Units of MLPs. As a RIC, we may invest
no more than 25% of our Total Assets in securities of MLPs. An
MLP is a publicly traded company organized as a limited
partnership or LLC and treated as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes. MLP common units represent an equity
ownership interest in a partnership and provide limited voting
rights. MLP common unit holders have a limited role in the
partnerships operations and management. Some energy
infrastructure companies in which we may invest have been
organized as LLCs, which are treated in the same manner as MLPs
for federal income tax purposes. Common units of an LLC
represent an equity ownership in an LLC. Interests in common
units of an MLP or LLC entitle the holder to a share of the
companys success through distributions
and/or
capital appreciation. Unlike MLPs, LLC common unit holders
typically have voting rights.
Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates. In
addition to securities of MLPs, we may also invest in equity
securities issued by MLP affiliates, such as MLP I-Shares and
common shares of corporations that own MLP general partner
interests. I-Shares represent an indirect ownership interest in
MLP common units issued by an MLP affiliate, which is typically
a publicly traded LLC. The I-Share issuers assets consist
exclusively of
I-units.
I-Shares differ from MLP common units primarily in that instead
of receiving cash distributions, holders of I-Shares receive
distributions in the form of additional I-Shares. Issuers of MLP
I-Shares are corporations and not partnerships for tax purposes;
however, the MLP does not allocate income or loss to the I-Share
issuer. Because the issuers of MLP I-Shares are not partnerships
for tax purposes, MLP I-Shares are not subject to the 25%
limitation regarding investments in MLPs and other entities
treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. MLP
affiliates also include the publicly traded equity securities of
LLCs that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests
of MLPs. General partner interests often confer direct board
participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over
the MLP.
Other Equity Securities. We may also invest in
all types of publicly traded equity securities, including but
not limited to, preferred equity, convertible securities,
depository receipts, limited partner interests, rights and
warrants of underlying equity securities, exchange traded funds,
limited liability companies and REITs.
Non-U.S. Securities. We
may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in securities issued by
non-U.S. issuers
(including Canadian issuers). These securities may be issued by
companies organized
and/or
having securities traded on an exchange outside the U.S. or
may be securities of U.S. companies that are denominated in
the currency of a different country.
Restricted Securities. We may invest up to 30%
of our Total Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted
securities, primarily through direct investments in securities
of listed companies. For purposes of this limitation,
restricted securities include (i) registered
securities of public companies subject to a
lock-up
period, (ii) unregistered securities of public companies
with registration rights, and (iii) unregistered securities
of public companies that become freely tradable with the passage
of time. For purposes of the foregoing, a registered security
subject to such a
lock-up
period will no longer be considered a restricted
security upon expiration of the
lock-up
period, an unregistered security of a public company with
registration rights will no longer be considered a
restricted security when such securities become
registered, and an unregistered security of a public company
that becomes freely
17
tradable with the passage of time will no longer be considered a
restricted security upon the elapse of the requisite
time period.
An issuer may be willing to offer the purchaser more attractive
features with respect to securities issued in direct investments
because it has avoided the expense and delay involved in a
public offering of securities. Adverse conditions in the public
securities markets also may preclude a public offering of
securities.
Restricted securities obtained by means of direct investments
are less liquid than securities traded in the open market
because of statutory and contractual restrictions on resale.
Such securities are, therefore, unlike securities that are
traded in the open market, which can be expected to be sold
immediately if the market is adequate. This lack of liquidity
creates special risks for us. However, we could sell such
securities in private transactions with a limited number of
purchasers or in public offerings under the 1933 Act.
Debt Securities. We may invest up to 20% of
our Total Assets in debt securities, including securities rated
below investment grade, commonly referred to as junk
bonds. Our debt securities may have fixed or variable
principal payments and various types of interest rate and reset
terms, including fixed rate, floating rate, adjustable rate,
zero coupon, contingent, deferred and payment in kind features,
and may include securities that are or are not exchange traded.
To the extent that we invest in below investment grade debt
securities, such securities will be rated, at the time of
investment, at least B- by S&P or B3 by Moodys or a
comparable rating by at least one other rating agency or, if
unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
If a security satisfies our minimum rating criteria at the time
of purchase and is subsequently downgraded below such rating, we
will not be required to dispose of such security. If a downgrade
occurs, the Adviser will consider what action, including the
sale of such security, is in the best interest of us and our
stockholders.
Temporary Investments and Defensive
Investments. Pending investment of the proceeds
of this offering (which we expect may take up to approximately
three to six months following the closing of this offering), we
may invest offering proceeds in money market mutual funds, cash,
cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government or its instrumentalities or agencies,
short-term money market instruments, short-term debt securities,
certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and other
bank obligations, commercial paper or other liquid debt
securities. We may also invest in these instruments on a
temporary basis to meet working capital needs, including, but
not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain
investment techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of
distributions, and to facilitate the payment of expenses and
settlement of trades.
Under adverse market or economic conditions, we may invest 100%
of our Total Assets in these securities. The yield on these
securities may be lower than the returns on pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies or yields on lower rated fixed
income securities. To the extent we invest in these securities
for defensive purposes, we may not achieve our investment
objective.
Covered
Call Options Strategy
We will also seek to provide current income from gains earned
through an option strategy. We currently intend to write (sell)
call options on selected equity securities in our portfolio and
to only write call options on securities we hold in our
portfolio (covered calls). The notional amount of
such calls is expected to initially be approximately 20% of the
total value of our portfolio, although this percentage may vary
depending on the cash flow requirements of the portfolio and on
our Advisers assessment of market conditions. Under
current market conditions, we presently intend to write covered
calls that are generally one to three month terms and generally
range from 5% to 15% out of the money, although this may vary
from time to time. We currently intend to focus our covered call
strategy on other energy infrastructure companies that our
Adviser believes are integral links in the energy infrastructure
value chain for pipeline companies, although we may write
options on other securities in our portfolio or indices in
certain market environments.
A call option on a security is a contract that gives the holder
of such call option the right to buy the security underlying the
call option from the writer of such call option at a specified
price (exercise price) at any time during
18
the term of the option. At the time the call option is sold, the
writer of a call option receives a premium from the buyer of
such call option.
If we write a call option on a security or basket of securities,
we have the obligation upon exercise of such call option to
deliver the underlying security or securities upon payment of
the exercise price. As the writer of such call options, in
effect, during the term of the option, in exchange for the
premium received by us, we sell the potential appreciation above
the exercise price in the value of securities covered by the
options. Therefore, we forgo part of the potential appreciation
for part of our equity portfolio in exchange for the call
premium received, but retain the risk of potential decline in
those securities below the price which is equal to the excess of
the exercise price of the call option over the premium per share
received on the call option.
If we write a call option, we may terminate our obligation by
effecting a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished
by purchasing a call option with the same terms as the option
previously written. However, once we have been assigned an
exercise notice, we will be unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase
transaction can be effected when we so desire.
Other principal factors affecting the market value of an option
include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market
price and price volatility of the underlying security and the
time remaining until the expiration date of the option. Gains
and losses on investments in options depend, in part, on the
ability of our Adviser to predict correctly the effect of these
factors.
When we write a call option, an amount equal to the premium
received by us will be recorded as a liability and will be
subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option
written. Premiums received from writing options that expire
unexercised are treated by us as realized gains from investments
on the expiration date. If we repurchase a written call option
prior to its exercise, the difference between the premium
received and the amount paid to repurchase the option is treated
as a realized gain or realized loss. If a call option is
exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of
the underlying security in determining whether we have realized
a gain or loss.
Although our Adviser will attempt to take appropriate measures
to minimize the risks relating to writing covered call options,
there can be no assurance that we will succeed in any
option-writing program we undertake.
Portfolio
Turnover
Our annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to
year. We may, but under normal market conditions, do not intend
to, engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio
securities. Although we cannot accurately predict our portfolio
turnover rate, we expect to maintain relatively low (e.g., less
than 30% under normal market conditions) turnover of our core
equity portfolio under normal market conditions, not including
purchases and sales of equity securities and call options in
connection with our covered call option program. As such, on an
overall basis, our annual turnover rate may exceed 100%. A high
turnover rate involves greater trading costs to us and may
result in greater realization of taxable capital gains.
Conflicts
of Interest
Conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that our Adviser
and its affiliates carry on substantial investment activities
for other clients in which we have no interest, some of which
may have investment strategies similar to ours. Our Adviser or
its affiliates may have financial incentives to favor certain of
such accounts over us. For example, our Adviser and its
affiliates may have an incentive to allocate potentially more
favorable investment opportunities to other funds and clients
that pay our Adviser and its affiliates an incentive or
performance fee. Performance and incentive fees also create the
incentive to allocate potentially riskier, but potentially
better performing, investments to such funds and other clients
in an effort to increase the incentive fee. Our Adviser also may
have an incentive to make investments in one fund, having the
effect of increasing the value of a security in the same issuer
held by another fund, which, in turn, may result in an incentive
fee being paid to our Adviser by that other fund. Any of the
Advisers or its affiliates proprietary accounts and
other customer accounts may compete with us for specific trades.
Our Adviser or its affiliates may give advice and recommend
securities to, or buy or sell securities for us, which advice or
securities may differ from advice given to, or securities
recommended or bought or sold for, other accounts and customers,
although their investment objectives may be the same as, or
similar to our
19
objectives. Our Adviser has written allocation policies and
procedures designed to address potential conflicts of interest.
For instance, when two or more clients advised by our Adviser
seek to purchase or sell the same publicly traded securities,
the securities actually purchased or sold will be allocated
among the clients on a good faith equitable basis by our Adviser
in its discretion and in accordance with the clients
various investment objectives and our Advisers procedures.
In some cases, this system may adversely affect the price or
size of the position we may obtain. In other cases, the ability
to participate in volume transactions may produce better
execution for us. When possible, our Adviser combines all of the
trade orders into one or more block orders, and each account
participates at the average unit or share price obtained in a
block order. When block orders are only partially filled, our
Adviser considers a number of factors in determining how
allocations are made, with the overall goal to allocate in a
manner so that accounts are not preferred or disadvantaged over
time. Our Adviser also has allocation policies for transactions
involving private placement securities, which are designed to
result in a fair and equitable participation in offerings or
sales for each participating client.
Our Adviser also serves as investment adviser for other publicly
traded closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other accounts.
See Management of the Fund.
Our Adviser will evaluate a variety of factors in determining
whether a particular investment opportunity or strategy is
appropriate and feasible for the relevant account at a
particular time, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) the nature of the investment opportunity taken in the
context of the other investments at the time; (2) the
liquidity of the investment relative to the needs of the
particular entity or account; (3) the availability of the
opportunity (i.e., size of obtainable position); (4) the
transaction costs involved; and (5) the investment or
regulatory limitations applicable to the particular entity or
account. Because these considerations may differ when applied to
us and relevant accounts under management in the context of any
particular investment opportunity, our investment activities, on
the one hand, and other managed accounts, on the other hand, may
differ considerably from time to time. In addition, our fees and
expenses will differ from those of the other managed accounts.
Accordingly, stockholders should be aware that our future
performance and the future performance of the other accounts of
our Adviser may vary.
Situations may occur when we could be disadvantaged because of
the investment activities conducted by our Adviser and its
affiliates for their other funds or accounts. Certain of our
Advisers managed funds and accounts may invest in the
equity securities of a particular company, while other funds and
accounts managed by our Adviser may invest in the debt
securities of the same company. Such situations may be based on,
among other things, the following: (1) legal or internal
restrictions on the combined size of positions that may be taken
for us or the other accounts, thereby limiting the size of our
position; or (2) the difficulty of liquidating an
investment for us or the other accounts where the market cannot
absorb the sale of the combined position, or (3) limits on
co-investing in negotiated transactions under the 1940 Act, as
discussed further below.
Under the 1940 Act, we may be precluded from co-investing in
negotiated private placements of securities with our affiliates,
including other funds managed by our Adviser. Except as
permitted by law, our Adviser will not co-invest its other
clients assets in negotiated private transactions in which
we invest.
Our Adviser will observe a policy for allocating negotiated
private placement opportunities among its clients that takes
into account the amount of each clients available cash and
its investment objectives. To the extent we are precluded from
co-investing, our Adviser will allocate private investment
opportunities among its clients, including but not limited to us
and our affiliated companies, based on allocation policies that
take into account several suitability factors, including the
size of the investment opportunity, the amount each client has
available for investment and the clients investment
objectives. These allocation policies may result in the
allocation of investment opportunities to an affiliated company
rather than to us.
To the extent that our Adviser sources and structures private
investments, certain employees of our Adviser may become aware
of actions planned, such as acquisitions that may not be
announced to the public. It is possible that we could be
precluded from investing in or selling securities of companies
about which our Adviser has material, non-public information;
however, it is our Advisers intention to ensure that any
material, non-public information available to certain employees
of our Adviser are not shared with those employees responsible
for the purchase and sale of publicly traded securities or to
confirm prior to receipt of any material non-public information
that the information will shortly be made public.
20
Our Adviser and its principals, officers, employees, and
affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for
their own accounts and may have actual or potential conflicts of
interest with respect to investments made on our behalf. As a
result of differing trading and investment strategies or
constraints, positions may be taken by principals, officers,
employees, and affiliates of our Adviser that are the same as,
different from, or made at a different time than positions taken
for us. Furthermore, our Adviser may at some time in the future
manage other investment funds with the same investment objective
as ours.
LEVERAGE
Use of
Leverage
The borrowing of money and the issuance of preferred stock and
debt securities represents the leveraging of our common stock.
The issuance of additional common stock may enable us to
increase the aggregate amount of our leverage or to maintain any
existing leverage. We reserve the right at any time to use
financial leverage to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act (50%
of Total Assets for preferred stock and
331/3%
of Total Assets for senior debt securities) or we may elect to
reduce the use of leverage or use no leverage at all. Our Board
of Directors has approved a leverage target of up to 25% of our
Total Assets at the time of incurrence and has also approved a
policy permitting temporary increases in the amount of leverage
we may use from 25% of our Total Assets to up to 30% of our
Total Assets at the time of incurrence, provided (i) that
such leverage is consistent with the limits set forth in the
1940 Act, and (ii) that we expect to reduce such increased
leverage over time in an orderly fashion. We generally will not
use leverage unless we believe that leverage will serve the best
interests of our stockholders. The principal factor used in
making this determination is whether the potential return is
likely to exceed the cost of leverage. We will not issue
additional leverage where the estimated costs of issuing such
leverage and the on-going cost of servicing the payment
obligations on such leverage exceed the estimated return on the
proceeds of such leverage. We note, however, that in making the
determination of whether to issue leverage, we must rely on
estimates of leverage costs and expected returns. Actual costs
of leverage vary over time depending on interest rates and other
factors. In addition, the percentage of our assets attributable
to leverage may vary significantly during periods of extreme
market volatility and will increase during periods of declining
market prices of our portfolio holdings. Actual returns vary
depending on many factors. The Board of Directors also will
consider other factors, including whether the current investment
opportunities will help us achieve our investment objective and
strategies.
Under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to issue preferred
stock unless immediately after such issuance, the value of our
Total Assets (including the proceeds of such issuance) less all
liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior
securities is at least equal to 200% of the total of the
aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness
plus the aggregate liquidation value of any outstanding
preferred stock. Stated another way, we may not issue preferred
stock that, together with outstanding preferred stock and debt
securities, has a total aggregate liquidation value and
outstanding principal amount of more than 50% of the value of
our Total Assets, including the proceeds of such issuance, less
liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior
securities. In addition, we are not permitted to declare any
distribution on our common stock, or purchase any of our shares
of common stock (through tender offers or otherwise) unless we
would satisfy this 200% asset coverage requirement test after
deducting the amount of such distribution or share price, as the
case may be. We may, as a result of market conditions or
otherwise, be required to purchase or redeem preferred stock, or
sell a portion of our investments when it may be disadvantageous
to do so, in order to maintain the required asset coverage.
Common stockholders would bear the costs of issuing additional
preferred stock, which may include offering expenses and the
ongoing payment of distributions. Under the 1940 Act, we may
only issue one class of preferred stock.
Under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to issue debt
securities or incur other indebtedness constituting senior
securities unless immediately thereafter, the value of our Total
Assets (including the proceeds of the indebtedness) less all
liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior
securities is at least equal to 300% of the amount of the
outstanding indebtedness. Stated another way, we may not issue
debt securities or incur other indebtedness with an aggregate
principal amount of more than
331/3%
of the value of our Total Assets, including the amount borrowed,
less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior
securities. We also must maintain this 300% asset
coverage for as long as the indebtedness is outstanding.
The 1940 Act provides that we may not declare any distribution
with respect to any class of shares of our stock, or purchase
any of our shares of stock
21
(through tender offers or otherwise), unless we would satisfy
this 300% asset coverage requirement test after deducting the
amount of the distribution or share purchase price, as the case
may be, except that distributions may be declared upon any
preferred stock if such senior security representing
indebtedness has an asset coverage of at least 200% at the time
of declaration of such distribution and after deducting the
amount of such distribution. If the asset coverage for
indebtedness declines to less than 300% as a result of market
fluctuations or otherwise, we may be required to redeem debt
securities, or sell a portion of our investments when it may be
disadvantageous to do so. Under the 1940 Act, we may only issue
one class of senior securities representing indebtedness.
Annual
Expenses
The table presented below estimates our annual expenses stated
as a percentage of our Managed Assets, which includes assets
attributable to leverage.
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
|
1.10
|
%
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
0.27
|
%
|
Fee and Expense Reimbursement
|
|
|
(0.25
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
1.12
|
%
|
Leverage Costs
|
|
|
0.80
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Annual Expenses
|
|
|
1.92
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hedging
and Risk Management
In addition to writing covered call options as part of our
investment strategy, the risks of which are described herein, we
may utilize certain other derivative instruments for hedging or
risk management purposes.
In an attempt to reduce the interest rate risk arising from our
leveraged capital structure, we may, but are not obligated to,
use interest rate transactions intended to reduce our interest
rate risk with respect to our interest and distribution payment
obligations under our outstanding leverage. Such interest rate
transactions would be used to protect us against higher costs on
our leverage resulting from increases in short-term interest
rates. We anticipate that the majority of such interest rate
hedges would be interest rate swap contracts and interest rate
caps and floors purchased from financial institutions. There is
no assurance that the interest rate hedging transactions into
which we may enter will be effective in reducing our exposure to
interest rate risk. Hedging transactions are subject to
correlation risk, which is the risk that payment on our hedging
transactions may not correlate exactly with our payment
obligations on senior securities. The use of interest rate
transactions is a highly specialized activity that involves
investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an interest
rate swap, we would agree to pay to the other party to the
interest rate swap (known as the counterparty) a
fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to
pay to us a variable rate payment intended to approximate our
variable rate payment obligations on outstanding leverage. The
payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the
swap. In an interest rate cap, we would pay a premium to the
counterparty up to the interest rate cap and, to the extent that
a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed
rate of interest, would receive from the counterparty payments
equal to the difference based on the notional amount of such
cap. In an interest rate floor, we would be entitled to receive,
to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined
interest rate, payments of interest on a notional principal
amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. Depending
on the state of interest rates in general, our use of interest
rate transactions could affect our ability to make required
interest or distribution payments on our outstanding leverage.
To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of
the interest rate transactions could decline. If the
counterparty to an interest rate transaction defaults, we would
not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the
interest rate transaction to offset our cost of financial
leverage.
To a lesser extent, we may, but do not currently intend to, use
other hedging and risk management strategies to seek to manage
other market risks. Such hedging strategies may be utilized to
seek to protect against possible adverse changes in the market
value of securities held in our portfolio or to otherwise
protect the value of our portfolio. We may, but do not currently
intend to, enter into currency exchange transactions to hedge
our exposure to
22
foreign currency exchange rate risk to the extent we invest in
non-U.S. dollar
denominated securities of
non-U.S. issuers.
Our currency transactions will generally be limited to portfolio
hedging involving portfolio positions. Portfolio hedging is the
use of a forward contract with respect to a portfolio security
position denominated or quoted in a particular currency. A
forward contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified
currency at a specified future date (or within a specified time
period) and price set at the time of the contract. Forward
contracts are usually entered into with banks, foreign exchange
dealers or broker-dealers, are not exchange-traded, and are
usually for less than one year. The Fund may also purchase and
sell other derivative investments such as exchange-listed and
over-the-counter
options on securities or indices, futures contracts and options
thereon. The Fund also may purchase derivative investments that
combine features of these instruments.
For a further discussion of such derivative instruments, see
Risk Factors Hedging and Derivatives
Risk in this prospectus and Investment Objective and
Principal Investment Strategies Our
Investments Hedging and Risk Management in the
statement of additional information.
Effects
of Leverage
The following table is designed to illustrate the effect of
leverage on the return to a common stockholder, assuming
hypothetical annual returns (net of expenses) of our portfolio
of (10)% to 10%. As the table shows, the leverage generally
increases the return to common stockholders when portfolio
return is positive or greater than the cost of leverage and
decreases the return when the portfolio return is negative or
less than the cost of leverage. The figures appearing in the
table are hypothetical, and actual returns may be greater or
less than those appearing in the table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assumed Portfolio Return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Net of Expenses)
|
|
(10)%
|
|
(5)%
|
|
0%
|
|
5%
|
|
10%
|
|
Corresponding Common Share Return
|
|
|
(15.15
|
)%
|
|
|
(8.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.44
|
)%
|
|
|
3.91
|
%
|
|
|
10.26
|
%
|
If we use leverage, the amount of the fees paid to our Adviser
for investment advisory and management services will be higher
than if we do not use leverage because the fees paid are
calculated based on our Managed Assets, which include assets
purchased with leverage. Therefore, our Adviser has a financial
incentive to use leverage, which creates a conflict of interest
between our Adviser and our common stockholders. Because
payments on any leverage would be paid by us at a specified
rate, only our common stockholders would bear management fees
and other expenses we incur.
We cannot fully achieve the benefits of leverage until we have
invested the proceeds resulting from the use of leverage in
accordance with our investment objective and policies. For
further information about leverage, see Risk
Factors Leverage Risk.
23
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in our common shares involves risk, including the
risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment
or even that you may lose part or all of your investment.
Therefore, before investing in our common shares you should
consider carefully the following risks.
General. We are a newly organized closed-end
management investment company and have no operating history or
history of public trading of our common shares. We are designed
primarily as a long-term investment vehicle and not as a trading
tool. An investment in our securities should not constitute a
complete investment program for any investor and involves a high
degree of risk. Due to the uncertainty in all investments, there
can be no assurance that we will achieve our investment
objective. The value of an investment in our common shares could
decline substantially and cause you to lose some or all of your
investment.
Concentration Risk. Our strategy of
concentrating in pipeline and other energy infrastructure
investments means that our performance will be closely tied to
the performance of the energy infrastructure sector, which
includes midstream, upstream and downstream energy industries.
For further information about investments we may make in
pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies, see
Investment Objective and Principal Investment
Strategies Pipeline & Other Energy
Infrastructure Companies. Our concentration in these
investments may present more risk than if we were broadly
diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy.
A downturn in these investments would have a greater impact on
us than on a fund that does not concentrate in such investments.
At times, the performance of these investments may lag the
performance of other industries or the market as a whole. Risks
inherent in the business of pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies include:
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Supply and Demand Risk. A decrease in the
production of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, coal, refined
petroleum products or other energy commodities, or a decrease in
the volume of such commodities available for transporting,
storing, gathering, processing, distributing, exploring,
developing, managing or producing may adversely impact the
financial performance and profitability of pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies. Production declines and volume
decreases could be caused by various factors, including
depletion of resources, declines in estimates of proved
reserves, labor difficulties, political events, OPEC actions,
changes in commodity prices, declines in production from
existing facilities, environmental proceedings, increased
regulations, equipment failures and unexpected maintenance
problems, failure to obtain necessary permits, unscheduled
outages, unanticipated expenses, inability to successfully carry
out new construction or acquisitions, import supply disruption,
increased competition from alternative energy sources or related
commodity prices and other events. Alternatively, a sustained
decline in or varying demand for such commodities could also
adversely affect the financial performance of pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies. Factors that could lead to a
decline in demand include economic recession or other adverse
economic conditions, higher fuel taxes or governmental
regulations, increases in fuel economy, consumer shifts to the
use of alternative fuel sources, changes in commodity prices or
weather.
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Operating Risk. Pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies are subject to many operating risks,
including: equipment failure causing outages; structural,
maintenance, impairment and safety problems; transmission or
transportation constraints, inoperability or inefficiencies;
dependence on a specified fuel source, including the
transportation of fuel; changes in electricity and fuel usage;
availability of competitively priced alternative energy sources;
changes in generation efficiency and market heat rates; lack of
sufficient capital to maintain facilities; significant capital
expenditures to keep older assets operating efficiently;
seasonality; changes in supply and demand for energy
commodities; catastrophic
and/or
weather-related events such as fires, explosions, floods,
earthquakes, hurricanes and similar occurrences; storage,
handling, disposal and decommissioning costs; and environmental
compliance. Breakdown or failure of a pipeline or other energy
infrastructure companys assets may prevent the company
from performing under applicable sales agreements, which in
certain situations, could result in termination of the agreement
or incurring a liability for liquidated damages. A
companys ability to successfully and timely complete
capital improvements to existing or other capital projects is
contingent upon many variables. Should any such efforts be
unsuccessful, a pipeline or other energy infrastructure company
could be subject to additional costs and / or the
write-off of its investment in the project or improvement. As a
result of the above risks and other potential hazards associated
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with pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies, certain
companies may become exposed to significant liabilities for
which they may not have adequate insurance coverage. Any of the
aforementioned risks or related regulatory and environmental
risks could have a material adverse effect on the business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies.
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Regulatory Risk. Pipeline and other energy
infrastructure issuers are subject to regulation by various
governmental authorities in various jurisdictions and may be
adversely affected by the imposition of special tariffs and
changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting
standards. Regulation exists in multiple aspects of their
operations, including how facilities are constructed, maintained
and operated, environmental and safety controls, and the prices
they may charge for the products and services they provide.
Various governmental authorities have the power to enforce
compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under
them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and
criminal penalties, including fines, injunctions or both.
Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be
enacted in the future which may increase compliance costs and
may adversely affect the financial performance of energy
infrastructure companies. Pipeline companies engaged in
interstate pipeline transportation of natural gas, refined
petroleum products and other products are subject to regulation
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
with respect to tariff rates these companies may charge for
pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination by
the FERC with respect to the tariff rates of a pipeline or other
energy infrastructure company could have a material adverse
effect on its business, financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows and its ability to make cash
distributions to its equity owners. Prices for certain electric
power companies are regulated in the U.S. with the
intention of protecting the public while ensuring that the rate
of return earned by such companies is sufficient to attract
growth capital and to provide appropriate services but do not
provide any assurance as to achievement of earnings levels. We
could become subject to the FERCs jurisdiction if we are
deemed to be a holding company of a public utility company or of
a holding company of a public utility company, and we may be
required to aggregate securities held by us or other funds and
accounts managed by the Adviser and its affiliates, or be
prohibited from buying certain securities or be forced to divest
certain securities.
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Environmental Risk. Pipeline and other energy
infrastructure company activities are subject to stringent
environmental laws and regulation by many federal, state and
local authorities, international treaties and foreign
governmental authorities. Failure to comply with such laws and
regulations or to obtain any necessary environmental permits
pursuant to such laws and regulations could result in fines or
other sanctions. Congress and other domestic and foreign
governmental authorities have either considered or implemented
various laws and regulations to restrict or tax certain
emissions, particularly those involving air and water emissions.
Existing environmental regulations could be revised or
reinterpreted, new laws and regulations could be adopted or
become applicable, and future changes in environmental laws and
regulations could occur, which could impose additional costs on
the operation of power plants. Pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies have made and will likely continue to
make significant capital and other expenditures to comply with
these and other environmental laws and regulations. Changes in,
or new, environmental restrictions may force energy
infrastructure companies to incur significant expenses or
expenses that may exceed their estimates. There can be no
assurance that such companies would be able to recover all or
any increased environmental costs from their customers or that
their business, financial condition or results of operations
would not be materially and adversely affected by such
expenditures or any changes in domestic or foreign environmental
laws and regulations, in which case the value of these
companies securities in our portfolio could be adversely
affected. In addition, a pipeline or other energy infrastructure
company may be responsible for any
on-site
liabilities associated with the environmental condition of
facilities that it has acquired, leased or developed, regardless
of when the liabilities arose and whether they are known or
unknown.
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Price Volatility Risk. The volatility of
energy commodity prices can affect certain pipeline or other
energy infrastructure companies due to the impact of prices on
the volume of commodities transported, stored, gathered,
processed, distributed, developed or produced. Most pipeline
companies are not subject to direct commodity price exposure
because they do not own the underlying energy commodity.
Nonetheless, the price of a pipeline company security can be
adversely affected by the perception that the performance of all
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such entities is directly tied to commodity prices. However, the
operations, cash flows and financial performance of other energy
infrastructure companies in which we will invest may be more
directly affected by energy commodity prices, especially those
energy companies owning the underlying energy commodity.
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Commodity prices fluctuate for several reasons, including
changes in global and domestic market and economic conditions,
the impact of weather on demand, levels of domestic production
and imported commodities, energy conservation, domestic and
foreign governmental regulation, political instability,
conservation efforts, and taxation and the availability of
local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems.
Volatility of commodity prices may also make it more difficult
for energy companies to raise capital to the extent the market
perceives that their performance may be directly or indirectly
tied to commodity prices. Historically, energy commodity prices
have been cyclical and exhibited significant volatility which
may adversely impact other energy infrastructure companies in
which we invest.
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Terrorism Risk. Pipeline and other energy
infrastructure companies, and the market for their securities,
are subject to disruption as a result of terrorist activities,
such as the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001; war, such as the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq and their aftermaths; and other geopolitical events,
including upheaval in the Middle East or other energy producing
regions. The U.S. government has issued warnings that
energy assets, specifically those related to pipeline and other
energy infrastructure, production facilities, and transmission
and distribution facilities, might be specific targets of
terrorist activity. Such events have led, and in the future may
lead, to short-term market volatility and may have long-term
effects on companies in the pipeline and other energy
infrastructure industry and markets. Such events may also
adversely affect our business and financial condition.
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Natural Disaster Risk. Natural risks, such as
earthquakes, flood, lightning, hurricanes and wind, are inherent
risks in infrastructure company operations. For example, extreme
weather patterns, such as Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita in 2005, or the threat thereof, could result in
substantial damage to the facilities of certain companies
located in the affected areas and significant volatility in the
supply of energy and could adversely impact the prices of the
securities in which we invest. This volatility may create
fluctuations in commodity prices and earnings of pipeline and
other energy infrastructure companies.
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Climate Change Regulation Risk. Climate
change regulation could result in increased operations and
capital costs for the companies in which we invest. Voluntary
initiatives and mandatory controls have been adopted or are
being discussed both in the United States and worldwide to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, which some
scientists and policymakers believe contribute to global climate
change. These measures and future measures could result in
increased costs to certain companies in which the Fund invests
to operate and maintain facilities and administer and manage a
greenhouse gas emissions program and may reduce demand for fuels
that generate greenhouse gases and that are managed or produced
by companies in which we invest.
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Industry Specific Risk. Pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies are subject to specific risks,
including:
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Pipeline companies are subject to varying demand for crude oil,
natural gas, NGLs or refined products in the markets served by
the pipeline; changes in the availability of products for
transporting, gathering, processing or sale due to natural
declines in reserves and production in the supply areas serviced
by the companys facilities; sharp decreases in crude oil
or natural gas prices that cause producers to curtail production
or reduce capital spending for exploration activities; and
environmental regulation. Specifically, demand for gasoline,
which accounts for a substantial portion of refined product
transportation, depends on price, prevailing economic conditions
in the markets served, and demographic and seasonal factors.
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Processing companies are subject to declines in production of
natural gas fields, which utilize the processing facilities as a
way to market the gas, prolonged depression in the price of
natural gas, which curtails production due to lack of drilling
activity and declines in the prices of NGL products and natural
gas prices, resulting in lower processing margins.
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Integrated and independent energy companies are impacted by
declines in the demand for and prices of natural gas, crude oil
and refined petroleum products. Reductions in prices for natural
gas and crude oil can cause a given reservoir to become
uneconomic for continued production earlier than it would if
prices were higher. The operating margins and cash flows of
integrated and independent energy companies may fluctuate widely
in response to a variety of factors, including global and
domestic economic conditions, weather conditions, natural
disasters, the supply and price of imported energy commodities,
change in the level and relationship in crude oil and refined
petroleum product pricing, political instability, conservation
efforts and governmental regulation. The accuracy of any reserve
estimate is a function of the quality of available data, the
accuracy of assumptions regarding future commodity prices and
costs, and engineering and geological interpretations and
judgments. Due to natural declines in reserves and production,
exploitation and production companies must economically find or
acquire and develop additional reserves in order to maintain and
grow their revenues and distributions. Integrated and
independent energy companies are also subject to risks related
to operations (such as fires and explosions) as well as the
potential environmental and regulatory risks of such events,
which may adversely impact their business and financial
condition.
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Propane companies are subject to earnings variability based upon
weather patterns in the locations where the company operates and
the wholesale cost of propane sold to end customers. Propane
company share prices are based on safety in distribution
coverage ratios, interest rate environment and, to a lesser
extent, dividend or distribution growth.
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Power infrastructure companies are subject to many risks,
including earnings variability based upon weather patterns in
the locations where the company operates, the change in the
demand for electricity, the cost to produce power, and the
regulatory environment. Furthermore, share prices are partly
based on the interest rate environment, the sustainability and
potential growth of the dividend, and the outcome of various
rate cases undertaken by the company or a regulatory body.
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MLP Risks. An investment in MLP securities
involves some risks that differ from the risks involved in an
investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP
units have limited control and voting rights on matters
affecting the partnership. Holders of units issued by an MLP are
exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the
obligations of that MLP in the event that a court determines
that the rights of the holders of MLP units to vote to remove or
replace the general partner of that MLP, to approve amendments
to that MLPs partnership agreement, or to take other
action under the partnership agreement of that MLP would
constitute control of the business of that MLP, or a
court or governmental agency determines that the MLP is
conducting business in a state without complying with the
partnership statute of that state.
Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will
be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully
distributed to them. In addition, the value of our investment in
an MLP will depend largely on the MLPs treatment as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If an MLP
does not meet current legal requirements to maintain partnership
status, or if it is unable to do so because of tax law changes,
it would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. In that case, the MLP would be obligated to
pay income tax at the entity level and distributions received by
us generally would be taxed as dividend income. As a result,
there could be a material reduction in our cash flow and there
could be a material decrease in the value of our common shares.
Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities can
be affected by macroeconomic and other factors affecting the
stock market in general, expectations about changes in interest
rates, investor sentiment toward such entities, changes in a
particular issuers financial condition, or unfavorable or
unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer. Prices of
equity securities of individual entities also can be affected by
fundamentals unique to the company or partnership, including
size, earnings power, coverage ratio and characteristics and
features of different classes of securities. Equity securities
are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to
volatile increases and decreases in value. The equity securities
held by the Fund may experience sudden, unpredictable drops in
value or long periods of decline in value. In addition, by
writing covered call options, capital appreciation potential
will be limited on a portion of our investment portfolio.
Non-U.S. Securities
Risk. Investments in securities of
non-U.S. issuers
(including Canadian issuers) involve risks not ordinarily
associated with investments in securities and instruments of
U.S. issuers. For example,
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non-U.S. companies
are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and
financial standards and requirements comparable to those
applicable to U.S. companies.
Non-U.S. securities
exchanges, brokers and companies may be subject to less
government supervision and regulation than exists in the
U.S. Dividend and interest income may be subject to
withholding and other
non-U.S. taxes,
which may adversely affect the net return on such investments.
Because we intend to limit our investments to no more than 30%
of our Total Assets in securities issued by
non-U.S. issuers
(including Canadian issuers), we not be able to pass through to
our stockholders any foreign income tax credits as a result of
any foreign income taxes we pay. There may be difficulty in
obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad. In addition, it
may be difficult to effect repatriation of capital invested in
certain countries. With respect to certain countries, there are
also risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or
social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect
the Funds assets held in
non-U.S. countries.
There may be less publicly available information about a
non-U.S. company
than there is regarding a U.S. company.
Non-U.S. securities
markets may have substantially less volume than
U.S. securities markets and some
non-U.S. company
securities are less liquid than securities of otherwise
comparable U.S. companies.
Non-U.S. markets
also have different clearance and settlement procedures that
could cause the Fund to encounter difficulties in purchasing and
selling securities on such markets and may result in the Fund
missing attractive investment opportunities or experiencing a
loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes securities issued
by
non-U.S. issuers
can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the
increased transaction costs in
non-U.S. markets
and the increased costs of maintaining the custody of such
non-U.S. securities.
When investing in securities issued by
non-U.S. issuers,
there is also the risk that the value of such an investment,
measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of
unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. We may, but do
not currently intend to, hedge our exposure to
non-U.S. currencies.
Capital Markets Risk. Global financial markets
and economic conditions have been, and may continue to be,
volatile due to a variety of factors, including significant
write-offs in the financial services sector. Despite more
stabilized economic activity, if the volatility continues, the
cost of raising capital in the debt and equity capital markets,
and the ability to raise capital, may be impacted. In
particular, concerns about the general stability of financial
markets and specifically the solvency of lending counterparties,
may impact the cost of raising capital from the credit markets
through increased interest rates, tighter lending standards,
difficulties in refinancing debt on existing terms or at all and
reduced, or in some cases ceasing to provide, funding to
borrowers. In addition, lending counterparties under existing
revolving credit facilities and other debt instruments may be
unwilling or unable to meet their funding obligations. As a
result of any of the foregoing, we or the companies in which we
invest may be unable to obtain new debt or equity financing on
acceptable terms. If funding is not available when needed, or is
available only on unfavorable terms, we or the companies in
which we invest may not be able to meet obligations as they come
due. Moreover, without adequate funding, pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies may be unable to execute their
growth strategies, complete future acquisitions, take advantage
of other business opportunities or respond to competitive
pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on
their revenues and results of operations.
Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of
equity units of pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies as a result of the increased availability of
alternative investments at competitive yields. Rising interest
rates may increase the cost of capital for companies operating
in this sector. A higher cost of capital or an inflationary
period may lead to inadequate funding, which could limit growth
from acquisition or expansion projects, the ability of such
entities to make or grow dividends or distributions or meet debt
obligations, the ability to respond to competitive pressures,
all of which could adversely affect the prices of their
securities.
The recent instability in the financial markets has led the
U.S. government and foreign governments to take a number of
unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial
institutions and segments of the financial markets that have
experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of
liquidity. U.S. federal and state governments and foreign
governments, their regulatory agencies or self regulatory
organizations may take additional actions that affect the
regulation of the securities in which we invest, or the issuers
of such securities, in ways that are unforeseeable and on an
emergency basis with little or no notice, with the
consequence that some market participants ability to
continue to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of
their outstanding positions has been suddenly
and/or
substantially eliminated or otherwise negatively
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impacted. Given the complexities of the global financial markets
and the limited timeframe within which governments have been
able to take action, these interventions have sometimes been
unclear in scope and application, resulting in confusion and
uncertainty, which in itself has been materially detrimental to
the efficient functioning of such markets as well as previously
successful investment strategies. Decisions made by government
policy makers could exacerbate the current economic difficulties
in the U.S. and other countries.
Liquidity Risk. We may invest in securities of
any market capitalization and may be exposed to liquidity risk
when trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal
restrictions impair our ability to sell particular securities or
close call option positions at an advantageous price or a timely
manner. We may invest in mid-cap and small-cap companies, which
may not have the management experience, financial resources,
product diversification and competitive strengths of large-cap
companies. Analysts and other investors may follow these
companies less actively and therefore information about these
companies may not be as readily available as that for large-cap
companies. Therefore, their securities may be more volatile and
less liquid than the securities of larger, more established
companies. In the event certain securities experience limited
trading volumes, the prices of such securities may display
abrupt or erratic movements at times. In addition, it may be
more difficult for us to buy and sell significant amounts of
such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing
market prices. As a result, these securities may be difficult to
sell at a favorable price at the times when we believe it is
desirable to do so. Investment of our capital in securities that
are less actively traded (or over time experience decreased
trading volume) may restrict our ability to take advantage of
other market opportunities or to sell those securities. This
also may affect adversely our ability to make required interest
payments on our debt securities and distributions on any of our
preferred stock, to redeem such securities, or to meet asset
coverage requirements.
Covered Call Risks. We cannot guarantee that
our covered call option strategy will be effective. There are
several risks associated with transactions in options on
securities, including:
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There are significant differences between the securities and
options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation
between these markets, causing a given covered call option
transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to
whether, when and how to use covered calls (or other options)
involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a
well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful because of market
behavior or unexpected events.
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The use of options may require us to sell portfolio securities
at inopportune times or for prices other than current market
values, may limit the amount of appreciation we can realize on
an investment, or may cause us to hold a security we might
otherwise sell. As the writer of a covered call option, we
forego, during the options life, the opportunity to profit
from increases in the market value of the security covering the
call option above the exercise price of the call option, but
retain the risk of loss should the price of the underlying
security decline. Although such loss would be offset in part by
the option premium received, in a situation in which the price
of a particular stock on which we have written a covered call
option declines rapidly and materially or in which prices in
general on all or a substantial portion of the stocks on which
we have written covered call options decline rapidly and
materially, we could sustain material depreciation or loss to
the extent we do not sell the underlying securities (which may
require it to terminate, offset or otherwise cover our option
position as well).
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There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when
we seek to close out an option position. If we were unable to
close out a covered call option that we had written on a
security, we would not be able to sell the underlying security
unless the option expired without exercise. Reasons for the
absence of a liquid secondary market for exchange-traded options
may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) there may be insufficient trading interest;
(ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening
transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading
halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with
respect to particular classes or series of options;
(iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt
normal operations on an exchange; (v) the trading
facilities may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;
or (vi) the relevant exchange could discontinue the trading
of options. In addition, our ability to terminate
over-the-counter
options may be more limited than with exchange-traded options
and may involve the risk that counterparties participating in
such transactions will not fulfill their obligations.
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The principal factors affecting the market value of an option
include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market
price of the underlying security in relation to the exercise
price of the option, the dividend or distribution yield of the
underlying security, the actual or perceived volatility of the
underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration
date. Any of the foregoing could impact or cause to vary over
time the amount of income we are able to generate through our
covered call option strategy.
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The number of covered call options we can write is limited by
the number of shares of the corresponding common stock we hold.
Furthermore, our covered call option transactions may be subject
to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of
trade or other trading facilities on which such options are
traded.
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If we fail to maintain any required asset coverage ratios in
connection with any use by us of leverage, we may be required to
redeem or prepay some or all of our leverage instruments. Such
redemption or prepayment would likely result in our seeking to
terminate early all or a portion of any option transaction.
Early termination of an option could result in a termination
payment by or to us.
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Performance and Distribution Risk. We may not
be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make
distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of
these distributions from time to time. We cannot assure you that
you will receive distributions at a particular level or at all.
Dividends and distributions on equity securities are not fixed
but are declared at the discretion of the issuers board of
directors. If stock market volatility declines, the level of
premiums from writing covered call options will likely decrease
as well. Payments to close-out written call options will reduce
amounts available for distribution from gains earned in respect
of call option expiration or close out. The equity securities in
which we invest may not appreciate or may decline in value. Net
realized and unrealized gains on the securities investments will
be determined primarily by the direction and movement of the
applicable securities markets and the Funds holdings. Any
gains that we do realize on the disposition of any securities
may not be sufficient to offset losses on other securities or
option transactions. A significant decline in the value of the
securities in which we invest may negatively impact our ability
to pay distributions or cause you to lose all or a part of your
investment.
In addition, the 1940 Act may limit our ability to make
distributions in certain circumstances. Restrictions and
provisions in any future credit facilities and our debt
securities may also limit our ability to make distributions. For
federal income tax purposes, we are required to distribute
substantially all of our net investment income each year both to
reduce our federal income tax liability and to avoid a potential
excise tax. If our ability to make distributions on our common
shares is limited, such limitations could, under certain
circumstances, impair our ability to maintain our qualification
for taxation as a RIC, which would have adverse consequences for
our stockholders. See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations.
Quarterly Results Risk. We could experience
fluctuations in our operating results due to a number of
factors, including the return on our investments, the level of
our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of
realized and unrealized gains or losses on our investments and
written call options, the level of call premium we receive by
writing covered calls, the degree to which we encounter
competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a
result of these factors, results for any period should not be
relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
Delay in Use of Proceeds Risk. Although we
expect to fully invest the net proceeds of this offering within
three to six months after the closing of this offering, such
investments may be delayed if suitable investments are
unavailable at the time, if market conditions and volumes of
securities are not favorable at the time or for other reasons.
As a result, the proceeds may be invested in money market mutual
funds, cash, cash equivalents, securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its instrumentalities or
agencies, high quality, short-term money market instruments,
short-term debt securities, certificates or deposit,
bankers acceptances and other bank obligations, commercial
paper or other liquid debt securities. The three to six month
timeframe associated with the anticipated use of proceeds could
lower returns and lower our yield in the first year after the
issuance of the common shares.
Restricted Securities Risk. We may invest up
to 30% of our Total Assets in unregistered or otherwise
restricted securities, primarily through direct investments in
securities of listed companies. Restricted securities
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(including Rule 144A securities) are less liquid than
securities traded in the open market because of statutory and
contractual restrictions on resale. Such securities are,
therefore, unlike securities that are traded in the open market,
which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is
adequate. This lack of liquidity may create special risks for
us. However, we could sell such securities in private
transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in public
offerings under the 1933 Act.
Restricted securities are subject to statutory and contractual
restrictions on their public resale, which may make it more
difficult to value them, may limit our ability to dispose of
them and may lower the amount we could realize upon their sale.
To enable us to sell our holdings of a restricted security not
registered under the 1933 Act, we may have to cause those
securities to be registered. The expenses of registering
restricted securities may be determined at the time we buy the
securities. When we must arrange registration because we wish to
sell the security, a considerable period may elapse between the
time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the
security is registered so that we could sell it. We would bear
the risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. We may, but under
normal market conditions do not intend to, engage in frequent
and active trading of portfolio securities to achieve our
investment objective. However, annual portfolio turnover as a
result of our purchases and sales of equity securities and call
options in connection with our covered call option strategy may
exceed 100%, which is higher than many other investment
companies and would involve greater trading costs to us and may
result in greater realization of taxable capital gains.
Leverage Risk. Our use of leverage through the
issuance of preferred stock or debt securities, and any
borrowings or other transactions involving indebtedness (other
than for temporary or emergency purposes) would be considered
senior securities for purposes of the 1940 Act and
create risks. Leverage is a speculative technique that may
adversely affect common stockholders. If the return on
securities acquired with borrowed funds or other leverage
proceeds does not exceed the cost of the leverage, the use of
leverage could cause us to lose money. Successful use of
leverage depends on our Advisers ability to predict or
hedge correctly interest rates and market movements, and there
is no assurance that the use of a leveraging strategy will be
successful during any period in which it is used. Because the
fee paid to our Adviser will be calculated on the basis of
Managed Assets, the fees will increase when leverage is
utilized, giving our Adviser an incentive to utilize leverage.
Our issuance of senior securities involves offering expenses and
other costs, including interest payments, which are borne
indirectly by our common stockholders. Fluctuations in interest
rates could increase interest or distribution payments on our
senior securities, and could reduce cash available for
distributions on common stock. Increased operating costs,
including the financing cost associated with any leverage, may
reduce our total return to common stockholders.
The 1940 Act
and/or the
rating agency guidelines applicable to senior securities impose
asset coverage requirements, distribution limitations, voting
right requirements (in the case of the senior equity
securities), and restrictions on our portfolio composition and
our use of certain investment techniques and strategies. The
terms of any senior securities or other borrowings may impose
additional requirements, restrictions and limitations that are
more stringent than those currently required by the 1940 Act,
and the guidelines of the rating agencies that rate outstanding
senior securities. These requirements may have an adverse effect
on us and may affect our ability to pay distributions on common
stock and preferred stock. To the extent necessary, we currently
intend to redeem any senior securities to maintain the required
asset coverage. Doing so may require that we liquidate portfolio
securities at a time when it would not otherwise be desirable to
do so.
Hedging and Derivatives Risk. In addition to
writing call options as part of the investment strategy, we may
invest in derivative instruments for hedging or risk management
purposes. Our use of derivatives could enhance or decrease the
cash available to us for payment of distributions or interest,
as the case may be. Derivatives can be illiquid, may
disproportionately increase losses and have a potentially large
negative impact on our performance. Derivative transactions,
including options on securities and securities indices and other
transactions in which we may engage (such as forward currency
transactions, futures contracts and options thereon, and total
return swaps), may subject us to increased risk of principal
loss due to unexpected movements in stock prices, changes in
stock volatility levels, interest rates and foreign currency
exchange rates and imperfect correlations between our securities
holdings and indices upon which derivative transactions are
based. We also will be subject to credit risk with respect to
the counterparties to any
over-the-counter
derivatives contracts we purchased. If a counterparty becomes
31
bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a
derivative contract, we may experience significant delays in
obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a
bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. We may obtain
only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such
circumstances. In addition, if the counterparty to a derivative
transaction defaults, we would not be able to use the
anticipated net receipts under the derivative to offset our cost
of financial leverage.
Interest rate transactions will expose us to certain risks that
differ from the risks associated with our portfolio holdings.
There are economic costs of hedging reflected in the price of
interest rate swaps, floors, caps and similar techniques, the
costs of which can be significant, particularly when long-term
interest rates are substantially above short-term rates. In
addition, our success in using hedging instruments is subject to
our Advisers ability to predict correctly changes in the
relationships of such hedging instruments to our leverage risk,
and there can be no assurance that our Advisers judgment
in this respect will be accurate. Consequently, the use of
hedging transactions might result in a poorer overall
performance, whether or not adjusted for risk, than if we had
not engaged in such transactions. There is no assurance that the
interest rate hedging transactions into which we enter will be
effective in reducing our exposure to interest rate risk.
Hedging transactions are subject to correlation risk, which is
the risk that payment on our hedging transactions may not
correlate exactly with our payment obligations on senior
securities. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates,
the value of certain derivatives could decline, and result in a
decline in our net assets
Tax Risk. We intend to elect to be treated,
and to qualify each year, as a regulated investment
company under the Code. To maintain our qualification for
federal income tax purposes as a RIC under the Code, we must
meet certain
source-of-income,
asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. If
for any taxable year we fail to qualify for the special federal
income tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies,
all of our taxable income will be subject to federal income tax
at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for
distributions to our stockholders) and our income available for
distribution will be reduced. For additional information on the
requirements imposed on RICs and the consequences of a failure
to qualify, see Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations below.
Anti-Takeover Provisions Risks. Maryland law
and our Charter and Bylaws include provisions that could delay,
defer or prevent other entities or persons from acquiring
control of us, causing us to engage in certain transactions or
modifying our structure. These provisions may be regarded as
anti-takeover provisions. Such provisions could
limit the ability of common stockholders to sell their shares at
a premium over the then-current market prices by discouraging a
third party from seeking to obtain control of us. See
Certain Provisions in Our Charter and Bylaws.
Management Risk. To the extent that our
Advisers assets under management continue to grow, our
Adviser may have to hire additional personnel and, to the extent
they are unable to hire or retain qualified individuals, our
operations may be adversely affected. There can be no guarantee
that the Advisers application of investment techniques,
call option strategy and risk analyses in making investment
decisions for us will produce the desired results.
Market Discount Risk. Shares of closed-end
investment companies frequently trade at a discount from NAV but
in some cases have traded above NAV. Continued development of
alternatives as a vehicle for investing in listed energy
infrastructure securities may contribute to reducing or
eliminating any premium or may result in our shares trading at a
discount. The risk of the shares of common stock trading at a
discount is a risk separate from the risk of a decline in our
NAV as a result of investment activities. Our NAV will be
reduced immediately following an offering of our common or
preferred stock due to the offering costs for such stock, which
are borne entirely by us. Although we also bear the offering
costs of debt securities, such costs are amortized over time and
therefore do not impact our NAV immediately following an
offering.
Whether stockholders will realize a gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes upon the sale of our common stock depends
upon whether the market value of the common shares at the time
of sale is above or below the stockholders basis in such
shares, taking into account transaction costs, and it is not
directly dependent upon our NAV. Because the market value of our
common stock will be determined by factors such as the relative
demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general
market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we
cannot predict whether our common stock will trade at, below or
above NAV, or at, below or above the public offering price for
our common stock.
32
MANAGEMENT
OF THE FUND
Directors
and Officers
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our
Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors provides
broad supervision over our affairs, including supervision of the
duties performed by our Adviser. Our officers are responsible
for our
day-to-day
operations. Each director and officer will hold office until his
successor is duly elected and qualifies, or until he resigns or
is removed in the manner provided by law. Unless otherwise
indicated, the address of each director and officer is 11550 Ash
Street, Suite 300, Leawood, Kansas 66211. Additional
information regarding our Board and its committees, and our
officers, is set forth under Management in our SAI.
Our Board of Directors consists of a majority of directors who
are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of our
Adviser or its affiliates.
Investment
Adviser
We have entered into an investment advisory agreement with
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., a registered investment
adviser, pursuant to which it will serve as our investment
adviser (the Advisory Agreement).
Our Adviser is located at 11550 Ash Street, Suite 300,
Leawood, Kansas 66211. Our Adviser specializes in managing
portfolios of investments in listed energy infrastructure
companies. Our Adviser was formed in 2002 to provide portfolio
management services to institutional and
high-net
worth investors seeking professional management of their MLP
investments. As of September 30, 2011, our Adviser had
approximately $6.4 billion of assets under management in
publicly traded closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other
accounts.
Our Adviser also serves as investment adviser to Tortoise Energy
Infrastructure Corporation (TYG), Tortoise Energy
Capital Corporation (TYY), Tortoise North American
Energy Corporation (TYN), Tortoise Power and Energy
Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (TPZ), and Tortoise MLP
Fund, Inc. (NTG), which are publicly traded
closed-end investment management companies that invest in MLPs
and other energy infrastructure companies. Our Adviser also
serves as investment adviser to Tortoise Capital Resources
Corporation (TTO), a publicly traded company that
focuses on real property investments in the energy
infrastructure sector, and an open-end investment management
company that invests in MLPs and pipeline companies.
Our Adviser is wholly-owned by Tortoise Holdings, LLC, a holding
company. Montage Investments, LLC (Montage
Investments), a registered investment adviser, owns a
majority interest in Tortoise Holdings, LLC, with the remaining
interests held by the Advisers five Managing Directors and
certain other senior employees of our Adviser. In September
2009, our Advisers five Managing Directors entered into
employment agreements with our Adviser.
Investment
Committee
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors, and
pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisers
investment committee is responsible for management of our
investments. The investment committee determines which portfolio
securities will be purchased or sold, arranges for the placing
of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities,
manages our covered call option strategy, selects brokers or
dealers to place those orders, maintains books and records with
respect to our securities transactions, manages the Funds
business and financial affairs and provides certain clerical,
bookkeeping and other administrative services and reports to the
Board of Directors on our investments and performance.
The investment committees members are H. Kevin Birzer,
Zachary Hamel, Kenneth Malvey, Terry Matlack and Dave Schulte,
all of whom share responsibility for management of our
investments. It is the policy of the investment committee that
any portfolio investment decision must be approved by their
unanimous vote. The members of the investment committee have the
following years of experience: Mr. Birzer
30 years; Mr. Hamel 22 years;
Mr. Malvey 23 years;
Mr. Matlack 29 years; and
Mr. Schulte 22 years.
H. Kevin Birzer, CFA. Mr. Birzer
is a co-founder and has been a Managing Director of our Adviser
since 2002. Mr. Birzer has also served as a Director of
ours since inception and of each of TYG, TYY, TYN, TPZ, TTO
33
and NTG since inception. Mr. Birzer, who was a member in
Fountain Capital Management, L.L.C. (Fountain
Capital), a registered investment adviser, from 1990 to
May 2009, has 30 years of investment experience.
Mr. Birzer began his career with Peat Marwick. His
subsequent experience includes three years working as a Vice
President for F. Martin Koenig & Co., focusing on
equity and option investments, and three years at Drexel Burnham
Lambert, where he was a Vice President in the Corporate Finance
Department. Mr. Birzer graduated with a Bachelor of
Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame
and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from New
York University. He earned his CFA designation in 1988.
Zachary Hamel, CFA. Mr. Hamel is a
co-founder and has been a Managing Director of our Adviser since
2002 and also is a Partner with Fountain Capital. Mr. Hamel
has served as our President since our inception, as President of
NTG since 2010 and of each of TYG, TYY and TPZ since May 2011,
as Senior Vice President of TTO since inception, of TYY and TPZ
from inception to May 2011, of TYG from April 2007 to May 2011
and of TYN since April 2007. Mr. Hamel also served as
Secretary of each of TYG, TYY, TYN and TTO from their inception
to April 2007. Mr. Hamel joined Fountain Capital in 1997,
where he covered the energy, chemicals and utilities sectors.
Prior to joining Fountain Capital, Mr. Hamel worked for the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for
eight years as a Bank Examiner and a Regional Capital Markets
Specialist. Mr. Hamel graduated from Kansas State
University with a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration. He also attained a Master of Business
Administration from the University of Kansas School of Business.
Kenneth Malvey, CFA. Mr. Malvey is
a co-founder and has been a Managing Director of the Adviser
since 2002 and is also a Partner with Fountain Capital. He has
served as our Senior Vice President and Treasurer since our
inception. Mr. Malvey has served as the Treasurer of TYG,
TYY, TYN and TTO since 2005 and of TPZ and NTG since inception,
as the Senior Vice President of each of TYY, TTO, TPZ and NTG
since inception and of TYG and TYN since 2007, and as Assistant
Treasurer of each of TYG, TYY and TYN from its inception to
November 2005. Prior to joining Fountain Capital in 2002,
Mr. Malvey was one of three members of the Global Office of
Investments for GE Capitals Employers Reinsurance
Corporation. Most recently, he was the Global Investment Risk
Manager for a portfolio of approximately $24 billion of
fixed-income, public equity and alternative investment assets.
Before joining GE Capital in 1996, he was a Bank Examiner and
Regional Capital Markets Specialist with the FDIC for nine
years. Mr. Malvey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Finance from Winona State University, Winona, Minn.
Terry Matlack, CFA. Mr. Matlack is
a co-founder and has been a Managing Director of our Adviser
since 2002 and has also served as our Chief Executive Officer
since our inception; as Chief Executive Officer of NTG since
2010, and of each of TYG, TYY, TYN and TPZ since May 2011; as
Chief Financial Officer of TTO since inception and of each of
TYG, TYY, TYN and TPZ from its inception to May 2011; as
Director from inception until September 15, 2009 of each of
TYG, TYY, TYN, TPZ, and TTO. From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Matlack
was a full-time Managing Director of Kansas City Equity Partners
LC (KCEP). Prior to joining KCEP, from 1998 to 2001,
Mr. Matlack was President of GreenStreet Capital and its
affiliates in the telecommunications service industry.
Mr. Matlack served as Assistant Treasurer of TYG, TYY, and
TYN from November 2005 to April 2008 and of TTO from inception
to April 2008. Prior to 1995, he was Executive Vice President
and a member of the board of directors of W.K. Communications,
Inc., a cable television acquisition company, and Chief
Operating Officer of W.K. Cellular, a cellular rural service
area operator. He also has served as a specialist in corporate
finance with George K. Baum & Company, and as
Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance at B.C.
Christopher Securities Company. Mr. Matlack graduated with
a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas
State University and holds a Masters of Business Administration
and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas.
David Schulte, CFA. Mr. Schulte is
a co-founder and has been a Managing Director of our Adviser
since 2002. Mr. Schulte has been Senior Vice President of
each of TYG, TYY, TYN and TPZ since May 2011 and of NTG since
2010; and served as Chief Executive Officer and President of
each of TYG, TYY and TPZ from its inception to May 2011; as
Chief Executive Officer of TYN from 2005 to May 2011 and
President of TYN from 2005 to September 2008; as Chief Executive
Officer of TTO since 2005 and as President of TTO from 2005 to
April 2007. From 1993 to 2002, Mr. Schulte was a full-time
Managing Director of KCEP. While a Managing Director of KCEP, he
led private financing for two growth MLPs in the energy
infrastructure sector. Since February 2004, Mr. Schulte has
been an employee of the Adviser. Prior to joining KCEP in 1993,
Mr. Schulte had over five years of experience completing
acquisition and public equity financings as an investment banker
at the predecessor of Oppenheimer &
34
Co, Inc. From 1986 to 1989, he was a securities law attorney.
Mr. Schulte holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration from Drake University and a Juris Doctorate
degree from the University of Iowa. He passed the CPA
examination in 1983 and earned his CFA designation in 1992.
The Statement of Additional Information provides additional
information about the compensation structure of, the other
accounts managed by, and the ownership of our securities by the
investment committee members listed above.
The Adviser has hired 440 Investment Group, LLC (440
Investment Group) to provide research assistance and
option market analysis for its covered call option strategy. 440
Investment Group, an affiliate of the Adviser owned by Montage
Investments, LLC, is a registered investment adviser that
specializes in alternative investments, including option
strategies. Its founders have over a decade of alternative
investment experience, including managing commodity, agriculture
and index option investment strategies.
Compensation
and Expenses
Under the Advisory Agreement, we pay the Adviser quarterly, as
compensation for the services rendered by it, a fee equal on an
annual basis to 1.10% of our average monthly Managed Assets.
Managed Assets means our Total Assets minus accrued liabilities
other than debt representing financial leverage and the
aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred
stock. The Adviser has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.25%, 0.20%,
and 0.15% of average monthly Managed Assets for the first,
second and third years following this offering, respectively.
Because the fee paid to the Adviser is determined on the basis
of our Managed Assets, the Advisers interest in
determining whether we should incur additional leverage will
conflict with our interests.
Our average monthly Managed Assets are determined for the
purpose of calculating the management fee by taking the average
of the monthly determinations of Managed Assets during a given
calendar quarter. The fees are payable for each calendar quarter
within five days after the end of that quarter.
We bear all expenses not specifically assumed by our Adviser
incurred in our operations and will bear the expenses of all
future offerings. Expenses we bear include, but are not limited
to, the following: (1) expenses of maintaining and
continuing our existence and related overhead, including, to the
extent services are provided by personnel of the Adviser or its
affiliates, office space and facilities, training and benefits;
(2) commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected
with the acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and
other investments, including placement and similar fees in
connection with direct placements in which we participate;
(3) auditing, accounting, tax and legal service expenses;
(4) taxes and interest; (5) governmental fees;
(6) expenses of listing our shares with a stock exchange,
and expenses of the issue, sale, repurchase and redemption (if
any) of our shares, including expenses of conducting tender
offers for the purpose of repurchasing our shares;
(7) expenses of registering and qualifying us and our
securities under federal and state securities laws and of
preparing and filing registration statements and amendments for
such purposes; (8) expenses of communicating with
stockholders, including website expenses and the expenses of
preparing, printing and mailing press releases, reports and
other notices to stockholders and of meetings of stockholders
and proxy solicitations therefor; (9) expenses of reports
to governmental officers and commissions; (10) insurance
expenses; (11) association membership dues; (12) fees,
expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for
all services to us (including without limitation safekeeping of
funds, securities and other investments, keeping of books,
accounts and records, and determination of NAV); (13) fees,
expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend paying
agents, stockholder servicing agents, registrars and
administrator for all services to us; (14) compensation and
expenses of our directors who are not members of the
Advisers organization; (15) pricing, valuation, and
other consulting or analytical services employed by us;
(16) all expenses incurred in connection with leveraging of
our assets through a line of credit, or issuing and maintaining
notes or preferred stock; (17) all expenses incurred in
connection with the offerings of our common and preferred stock
and debt securities; and (18) such non-recurring items as
may arise, including
35
expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and
claims and our obligation to indemnify our directors, officers
and stockholders with respect thereto.
Duration
and Termination
The Advisory Agreement was approved by our Board of Directors on
September 12, 2011. The basis for the Board of
Directors initial approval of the Investment Advisory
Agreement will be provided in our initial annual report to
stockholders. The Advisory Agreement will become effective as of
the close of this offering. Unless terminated earlier as
described below, it will continue in effect for a period of two
years from the effective date and will remain in effect from
year to year thereafter if approved annually by our Board of
Directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of our outstanding voting securities, and, in either
case, upon approval by a majority of our directors who are not
interested persons or parties to the Advisory Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement provides that it may be terminated by us
at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by our Board of
Directors or by the vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days written notice to
the Adviser. The Advisory Agreement provides that it may be
terminated by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, upon 60 days written notice to the Fund. The
Advisory Agreement also provides that it will automatically
terminate in the event of an assignment (as defined
in the 1940 Act).
DETERMINATION
OF NET ASSET VALUE
We compute the NAV of our common stock as of the close of
trading of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) no
less frequently than the last business day of each calendar
month and at such other times as the Board of Directors may
determine. When considering an offering of common stock, we
calculate our NAV on a more frequent basis, generally daily, to
the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of the 1940
Act. We currently intend to make our NAV available for
publication weekly on our Advisers website. Our NAV equals
the value of our Total Assets less: (i) all of our
liabilities (including accrued expenses); (ii) accumulated
and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred stock;
(iii) the aggregate liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred stock; (iv) accrued and unpaid
interest payments on any outstanding indebtedness; (v) the
aggregate principal amount of any outstanding indebtedness; and
(vi) any distributions payable on our common stock.
We will determine the value of our assets and liabilities in
accordance with valuation procedures adopted by our Board of
Directors. Securities for which market quotations are readily
available shall be valued at market value. If a
market value cannot be obtained or if our Adviser determines
that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent
value as of the measurement date (due to a significant
development subsequent to the time its price is determined or
otherwise), value for the security shall be determined pursuant
to the methodologies established by our Board of Directors.
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The value for equity securities and equity-related securities is
determined by using readily available market quotations from the
principal market. For equity and equity-related securities that
are freely tradable and listed on a securities exchange or over
the counter market, value is determined using the last sale
price on that exchange or
over-the-counter
market on the measurement date. If the security is listed on
more than one exchange, we will use the price of the exchange
that we consider to be the principal exchange on which the
security is traded. Securities listed on the NASDAQ will be
valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not
necessarily represent the last sale price. If a security is
traded on the measurement date, then the last reported sale
price on the exchange or
over-the-counter
(OTC) market on which the security is principally
traded, up to the time of valuation, is used. If there were no
reported sales on the securitys principal exchange or OTC
market on the measurement date, then the average between the
last bid price and last asked price, as reported by the pricing
service, shall be used. We will obtain direct written
broker-dealer quotations if a security is not traded on an
exchange or quotations are not available from an approved
pricing service. Exchange-traded options will be valued at the
last sales price at the close of trading or, if there was no
sale on any exchange on such day, at the last highest bid price
or last lowest ask price on any exchange.
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An equity security of a publicly traded company acquired in a
private placement transaction without registration is subject to
restrictions on resale that can affect the securitys
liquidity and value. Such
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securities that are convertible into publicly traded common
shares or securities that may be sold pursuant to Rule 144
will generally be valued based on the value of the freely
tradable common share counterpart less an applicable discount.
Generally, the discount will initially be equal to the discount
at which we purchased the securities. To the extent that such
securities are convertible or otherwise become freely tradable
within a time frame that may be reasonably determined, an
amortization schedule may be determined for the discount.
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Fixed income securities (other than the short-term securities as
described below) are valued by (i) using readily available
market quotations based upon the last updated sale price or a
market value from an approved pricing service generated by a
pricing matrix based upon yield data for securities with similar
characteristics or (ii) by obtaining a direct written
broker-dealer quotation from a dealer who has made a market in
the security.
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A fixed income security acquired in a private placement
transaction without registration is subject to restrictions on
resale that can affect the securitys liquidity and value.
Among the various factors that can affect the value of a
privately placed security are (i) whether the issuing
company has freely trading fixed income securities of the same
maturity and interest rate (either through an initial public
offering or otherwise); (ii) whether the company has an
effective registration statement in place for the securities;
and (iii) whether a market is made in the securities. The
securities normally will be valued at amortized cost unless the
portfolio companys condition or other factors lead to a
determination of value at a different amount.
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Short-term securities, including bonds, notes, debentures and
other fixed income securities, and money market instruments such
as certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers
acceptances and obligations of domestic and foreign banks, with
remaining maturities of 60 days or less, for which reliable
market quotations are readily available are valued on an
amortized cost basis.
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Other assets will be valued at market value pursuant to written
valuation procedures adopted by our Board of Directors, or if a
market value cannot be obtained or if our Adviser determines
that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent
value as of the measurement date (due to a significant
development subsequent to the time its price is determined or
otherwise), value shall be determined pursuant to the
methodologies established by our Board of Directors.
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Valuations of public company securities determined pursuant to
fair value methodologies will be presented to our Board of
Directors or a designated committee thereof for approval at the
next regularly scheduled board meeting. See Investment
Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
Conflicts of Interest.
DISTRIBUTIONS
We intend to make quarterly cash distributions to our common
stockholders. We expect to declare the initial distribution
approximately 45 to 60 days from the completion of this
offering, and to pay such distribution on or around
March 1, 2012, depending upon market conditions.
We expect that the source of the cash payments we receive from
our investments will constitute investment company taxable
income, as well as long-term capital gains or return of capital
from such investments. Investment company taxable income
includes, among other items, dividends, operational income from
MLPs, interest and net short-term capital gains, less expenses.
Long-term capital gains reflect the realized market price
received in the sale of an investment security in excess of its
cost basis, less net capital losses, including any capital loss
carryforwards. Since, as a RIC, we may invest up to 25% of our
Total Assets in MLPs, a portion of distributions received from
our investments may be sourced as return of capital. This may be
due to a variety of factors, including that the MLP may have
significant non-cash deductions, such as accelerated
depreciation.
The 1940 Act generally limits our long-term capital gain
distributions to one per year, except for certain permitted
distributions related to our qualification as a RIC. This
limitation does not apply to that portion of our distributions
that is not characterized as long-term capital gain. We may rely
on a prior exemption obtained by our Adviser from
Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and
Rule 19b-1
thereunder permitting us to make periodic distributions of
long-term capital gains, provided that our distribution policy
with respect to our common stock calls for periodic
37
(e.g., quarterly) distributions in an amount equal to a
fixed percentage of our average net asset value over a specified
period of time or market price per common share at or about the
time of distribution or pay-out of a level dollar amount.
Various factors will affect the levels of cash that we receive
from our investments, as well as the amounts of income
represented by such cash, such as our asset mix and covered call
strategy. We may not be able to make distributions in certain
circumstances. To permit us to maintain a more stable
distribution, our Board of Directors may from time to time cause
us to distribute less than the entire amount of income earned in
a particular period. The undistributed income would be available
to supplement future distributions. As a result, the
distributions paid by us for any particular period may be more
or less than the amount of income actually earned by us during
that period. Undistributed income will add to our net asset
value, and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed
income will deduct from our net asset value. See Risk
Factors Performance and Distribution Risk.
We intend to elect to be treated as, and to qualify each year
for the special tax treatment afforded, a RIC under Subchapter M
of the Code. Our policy is to distribute to stockholders
substantially all of our net investment company taxable income
and any net realized long-term capital gains for each fiscal
year in a manner that complies with the distribution
requirements of the Code, so that we will not be subject to any
federal income or excise taxes based on net income. See
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
for discussion regarding federal income tax requirements as a
RIC.
For tax purposes, distributions of investment company taxable
income are generally taxable to stockholders as ordinary income.
However, it is expected that part (but not all) of the
distributions to our common stockholders of the Fund may be
eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment for
individual stockholders and the dividends-received deduction for
corporate stockholders, assuming the stockholder meets certain
holding period requirements with respect to its Fund shares. Any
distributions to you in excess of the Funds investment
company taxable income and net capital gains will be treated by
you, first, as a tax-deferred return of capital, which is
applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of your
shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero,
will generally constitute capital gains. Any long-term capital
gain distributions are taxable to stockholders as long-term
capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been
held. Net capital gains distributions are not eligible for the
qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends-received
deduction. See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations for discussion regarding the potential tax
characterization of our distributions to stockholders.
AUTOMATIC
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
General
Our Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan)
will allow participating common stockholders to reinvest
distributions in additional shares of our common stock. Shares
of common stock will be issued by us under the Plan when our
common stock is trading at a premium to NAV. If our common stock
is trading at a discount to NAV, shares issued under the Plan
will be purchased on the open market. Shares of common stock
issued directly from us under the Plan will be acquired at the
greater of (1) NAV at the close of business on the payment
date of the distribution, or (2) 95% of the market price
per common share on the payment date. Common stock issued under
the Plan when shares are trading at a discount to NAV will be
purchased in the market at market price or a negotiated price
determined by the Plan Agent, Computershare Trust Company,
N.A. (the Plan Agent).
Automatic
Dividend Reinvestment
If a stockholders shares are registered directly with us
or with a brokerage firm that participates in our Plan through
the facilities of The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation (DTC) and such stockholders
account is coded dividend reinvestment by such brokerage firm,
all distributions are automatically reinvested for stockholders
by the Plan Agent, in additional shares of our common stock
(unless a stockholder is ineligible or elects otherwise). If a
stockholders shares are registered with a brokerage firm
that participates in the Plan through the facilities of DTC, but
such stockholders account is not coded dividend
reinvestment by such brokerage firm or if a stockholders
shares are registered with a brokerage firm that does not
participate in the Plan through the facilities of DTC, a
stockholder will need to ask its investment executive what
arrangements can be made to
38
set up their account to participate in the Plan. In either case,
until such arrangements are made, a stockholder will receive
distributions in cash.
Stockholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will
receive all distributions payable in cash paid by check mailed
directly to the stockholder of record (or, if the shares are
held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by
the Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent. Participation in the
Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at
any time without penalty by giving written, telephone or
internet instructions to the Plan Agent; such termination will
be effective with respect to a particular distribution if notice
is received prior to the record date for such distribution.
Whenever we declare a distribution payable either in shares or
in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash, and
participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in shares
of common stock. The shares are acquired by the Plan Agent for
the participants account, depending upon the circumstances
described below, either (i) through receipt of additional
shares of common stock from us (Additional Common
Stock) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common
stock on the open market (open-market purchases) on
the NYSE or elsewhere. If, on the payment date, the NAV per
share of our common stock is equal to or less than the market
price per share of our common stock plus estimated brokerage
commissions (such condition being referred to herein as
market premium), the Plan Agent will receive
Additional Common Stock from us for each participants
account. The number of shares of Additional Common Stock to be
credited to the participants account will be determined by
dividing the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution by
the greater of (i) the NAV per share of common stock on the
payment date, or (ii) 95% of the market price per share of
common stock on the payment date.
If, on the payment date, the NAV per share of common stock
exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions
(such condition being referred to herein as market
discount), the Plan Agent will invest the distribution
amount in shares acquired in open-market purchases as soon as
practicable but not later than 30 days following the
payment date. We expect to declare and pay quarterly
distributions. The weighted average price (including brokerage
commissions) of all common stock purchased by the Plan Agent as
Plan Agent will be the price per share of common stock allocable
to each participant.
The Plan Agent maintains all stockholders accounts in the
Plan and furnishes written confirmation of each acquisition made
for the participants account as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than 60 days after the date thereof.
Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by
the Plan Agent in non-certificated form in the Plan Agents
name or that of its nominee, and each stockholders proxy
will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the
Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation
materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held
pursuant to the Plan first in accordance with the instructions
of the participants, and then with respect to any proxies not
returned by such participant, in the same proportion as the Plan
Agent votes the proxies returned by the participants.
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued
directly by us as a result of distributions payable either in
shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a per
share fee (currently $0.05) with respect to the Plan
Agents open-market purchases in connection with the
reinvestment of distributions. If a participant elects to have
the Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her shares of common
stock and remit the proceeds, such participant will be charged
his or her pro rata share of brokerage commissions on the shares
sold plus a $15.00 transaction fee.
The automatic reinvestment of distributions will not relieve
participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may
be payable (or required to be withheld) on such distributions.
See Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations.
Stockholders participating in the Plan may receive benefits not
available to stockholders not participating in the Plan. If the
market price plus commissions of our shares of common stock is
higher than the NAV, participants in the Plan will receive
shares of our common stock at less than they could otherwise
purchase such shares and will have shares with a cash value
greater than the value of any cash distribution they would have
received on their shares. If the market price plus commissions
is below the NAV, participants will receive distributions of
shares of common stock with a NAV greater than the value of any
cash distribution they would have received on their shares.
However, there may be insufficient shares available in the
market to make distributions in shares at prices below the
39
NAV. In addition, because we do not redeem our shares, the price
on resale may be more or less than the NAV. See Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for a
discussion of tax consequences of the Plan.
Experience under the Plan may indicate that changes are
desirable. Accordingly, we reserve the right to amend or
terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Directors
such a change is warranted. The Plan may be terminated by the
Plan Agent or by us upon notice in writing mailed to each
participant at least 60 days prior to the effective date of
the termination. Upon any termination, the Plan Agent will cause
a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares
held by each participant under the Plan and cash adjustment for
any fraction of a share of common stock at the then-current
market value of the common stock to be delivered to him or her.
If preferred, a participant may request the sale of all of the
shares of common stock held by the Plan Agent in his or her Plan
account in order to terminate participation in the Plan. If such
participant elects in advance of such termination to have the
Plan Agent sell part or all of his or her shares, the Plan Agent
is authorized to deduct from the proceeds a $15.00 fee plus a
$0.05 fee per share for the transaction. If a participant has
terminated his or her participation in the Plan but continues to
have shares of common stock registered in his or her name, he or
she may re-enroll in the Plan at any time by notifying the Plan
Agent in writing at the address below. The terms and conditions
of the Plan may be amended by the Plan Agent or by us at any
time. Any such amendments to the Plan may be made by mailing to
each participant appropriate written notice at least
30 days prior to the effective date of the amendment,
except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable
law or the rules or policies of the SEC or any other regulatory
authority, such prior notice does not apply. The amendment shall
be deemed to be accepted by each participant unless, prior to
the effective date thereof, the Plan Agent receives notice of
the termination of the participants account under the
Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan
Agent of a successor Plan Agent, subject to the prior written
approval of the successor Plan Agent by us. All correspondence
concerning the Plan should be directed to Computershare
Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940.
Cash
Purchase Option
In the future, we may amend the Plan to implement a cash
purchase option, whereby participants in the Plan may elect to
purchase additional shares of common stock through optional cash
investments in limited amounts on a monthly or other periodic
basis. If and when we implement the cash purchase option under
the Plan, common stockholders will receive notice 60 days
prior to its implementation and further details, including
information on the offering price and other terms, the frequency
of offerings and how to participate in the cash purchase option.
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
The information contained under this heading is only a summary
and is subject to the provisions contained in our Charter and
Bylaws and the laws of the State of Maryland.
Common
Stock
General. Our Charter authorizes us to issue up
to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par
value per share. The Board of Directors may, without any action
by the stockholders, amend our Charter from time to time to
increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or
the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we
have authority to issue under our Charter and the 1940 Act. In
addition, our Charter authorizes our Board of Directors, without
any action by our stockholders, to classify and reclassify any
unissued common stock and preferred stock into other classes or
series of stock from time to time by setting or changing the
terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers,
restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications
and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series.
Although we have no present intention of doing so, we could
issue a class or series of stock that could delay, defer or
prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might
otherwise be in the stockholders best interests. Under
Maryland law, stockholders generally are not liable for our
debts or obligations.
All common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus will be,
upon issuance, duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable.
All outstanding common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus
will be of the same class and will have identical rights, as
described below. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled
to receive distributions when authorized by the Board of
Directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for
the payment of
40
distributions. Holders of common stock have no preference,
conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal
rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our
securities. All shares of common stock have equal distribution,
liquidation and other rights.
Limitations on Distributions. If any shares of
preferred stock are outstanding, holders of shares of common
stock will not be entitled to receive any distributions from us
unless we have paid all accumulated distributions on preferred
stock, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act)
with respect to preferred stock would be at least 200% after
giving effect to such distributions. See Leverage.
If any senior securities representing indebtedness are
outstanding, holders of shares of common stock will not be
entitled to receive any distributions from us unless we have
paid all accrued interest on such senior indebtedness and unless
asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any
outstanding senior indebtedness would be at least 300% after
giving effect to such distributions. See Leverage.
Liquidation Rights. Common stockholders are
entitled to share ratably in the assets legally available for
distribution to stockholders in the event of liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate
provision for all known debts and liabilities, including any
outstanding debt securities or other borrowings and any interest
accrued thereon. These rights are subject to the preferential
rights of any other class or series of our stock, including any
preferred stock. The rights of common stockholders upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up would be subordinated to
the rights of holders of any preferred stock or senior
securities representing indebtedness.
Voting Rights. Each outstanding share of
common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of
directors. The presence of the holders of shares of stock
entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast
(without regard to class) shall constitute a quorum at a meeting
of stockholders. Our Charter provides that, except as otherwise
provided in the Bylaws, directors shall be elected by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. The Bylaws
provide that directors are elected by a plurality of all the
votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which
a quorum is present. There is no cumulative voting in the
election of directors. Consequently, at each annual meeting of
stockholders, the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of stock entitled to vote will be able to elect all of
the successors of the class of directors whose terms expire at
that meeting. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, holders of preferred
stock will have the right to elect two directors at all times.
Pursuant to our Charter and Bylaws, the Board of Directors may
amend the Bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.
Under the rules of the NYSE applicable to listed companies, we
normally will be required to hold an annual meeting of
stockholders in each fiscal year. If we are converted to an
open-end company or if for any other reason the shares are no
longer listed on the NYSE (or any other national securities
exchange the rules of which require annual meetings of
stockholders), we may amend our Bylaws so that we are not
otherwise required to hold annual meetings of stockholders.
Market. Our common stock is expected to trade
on the NYSE under the ticker symbol TTP.
Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Automatic Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Agent. Computershare
Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 43078, Providence,
Rhode Island 02940, will serve as the transfer agent and agent
for the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan for our common
stock and the dividend paying agent for our common stock.
Preferred
Stock
General. Our Charter authorizes the issuance
of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$0.001 par value per share, with preferences, conversion or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of
redemption as determined by the Board of Directors.
Our Board of Directors may, without any action by our
stockholders, amend our Charter from time to time to increase or
decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number
of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority
to issue under our Charter and under the 1940 Act. In addition,
our Charter authorizes the Board of Directors, without any
action by the stockholders, to classify and reclassify any
unissued preferred stock
41
into other classes or series of stock from time to time by
setting or changing the terms, preferences, conversion or other
rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of
redemption for each class or series.
Distributions. Holders of any preferred stock
will be entitled to receive cash distributions, when, as and if
authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by us, out of
funds legally available therefor. The prospectus for any
preferred stock will describe the distribution payment
provisions for those shares. Distributions so declared and
payable shall be paid to the extent permitted under Maryland law
and to the extent available and in preference to and priority
over any distribution declared and payable on the common stock.
Because we may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in MLPs,
which are expected to generate cash in excess of the taxable
income allocated to holders, it is possible that distributions
payable on preferred stock could exceed our current and
accumulated earnings and profits, which would be treated for
federal income tax purposes as a tax-deferred return of capital
to the extent of the basis of the shares on which the
distribution is paid and thereafter as gain from the sale or
exchange of the preferred stock.
Limitations on Distributions. If we have
senior securities representing indebtedness outstanding, holders
of preferred stock will not be entitled to receive any
distributions from us unless asset coverage (as defined in the
1940 Act) with respect to outstanding debt securities and
preferred stock would be at least 200% after giving effect to
such distributions. See Leverage.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any
voluntary or our involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding
up, the holders of preferred stock would be entitled to receive
a preferential liquidating distribution, which is expected to
equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and
unpaid distributions, whether or not declared, before any
distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock. After
payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to
which they are entitled, the holders of preferred stock will not
be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of
our assets. Preferred stock ranks junior to our debt securities
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Voting Rights. Except as otherwise indicated
in our Charter or Bylaws, or as otherwise required by applicable
law, holders of any preferred stock will have one vote per share
and vote together with holders of common stock as a single class.
The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred stock,
voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect at
least two directors at all times. The remaining directors will
be elected by holders of common stock and preferred stock,
voting together as a single class. In addition, subject to the
prior rights, if any, of the holders of any other class of
senior securities outstanding, the holders of any shares of
preferred stock have the right to elect a majority of the
directors at any time two years accumulated distributions
on any preferred stock are unpaid. The 1940 Act also requires
that, in addition to any approval by stockholders that might
otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority
of shares of any outstanding preferred stock, voting separately
as a class, would be required to (i) adopt any plan of
reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred stock,
and (ii) take any action requiring a vote of security
holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including,
among other things, changes in our subclassification as a
closed-end investment company or changes in our fundamental
investment restrictions. See Certain Provisions in Our
Charter and Bylaws. As a result of these voting rights,
our ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the
extent that any shares of our preferred stock are outstanding.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of any
outstanding preferred stock, voting as a separate class, will be
required to amend, alter or repeal any of the preferences,
rights or powers of holders of preferred stock so as to affect
materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers. The
class vote of holders of preferred stock described above will in
each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize
the action in question.
CERTAIN
PROVISIONS IN OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS
The following description of certain provisions of our Charter
and Bylaws is only a summary. For a complete description, please
refer to our Charter and Bylaws, which have been filed as
exhibits to our registration statement on
Form N-2,
of which this prospectus forms a part.
42
Our Charter and Bylaws include provisions that could delay,
defer or prevent other entities or persons from acquiring
control of us, causing us to engage in certain transactions or
modifying our structure. Furthermore, these provisions can have
the effect of depriving stockholders of the opportunity to sell
their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by
discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of us.
These provisions, all of which are summarized below, may be
regarded as anti-takeover provisions.
Classification
of the Board of Directors; Election of Directors
Our Charter provides that the number of directors may be
established only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the
Bylaws, but may not be less than one. The Bylaws provide that
the number of directors may not be greater than nine. Subject to
any applicable limitations of the 1940 Act, any vacancy may be
filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called
for that purpose, only by a majority of the remaining directors,
even if those remaining directors do not constitute a quorum.
Pursuant to our Charter, the Board of Directors is divided into
three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III.
Upon the expiration of their current terms, which expire in
2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, directors of each class will
be elected to serve for three-year terms and until their
successors are duly elected and qualify. Each year only one
class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. The
classification of the Board of Directors should help to assure
the continuity and stability of our strategies and policies as
determined by the Board of Directors.
The classified Board provision could have the effect of making
the replacement of incumbent directors more time-consuming and
difficult. At least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead
of one, will generally be required to effect a change in a
majority of the Board of Directors. Thus, the classified Board
provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors
will retain their positions. The staggered terms of directors
may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Board of
Directors, even though a change in control might be in the best
interests of the stockholders.
Removal
of Directors
Our Charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of
one or more classes of preferred stock, a director may be
removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at
least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the
election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the
provision in the Bylaws authorizing only the Board of Directors
to fill vacant directorships, precludes stockholders from
removing incumbent directors, except for cause and by a
substantial affirmative vote, and filling the vacancies created
by the removal with nominees of stockholders.
Approval
of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and
Bylaws
Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot
dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially
all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in
similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business,
unless declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved
by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at
least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for
stockholder approval of these matters by a lesser percentage,
but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be
cast on the matter. Subject to certain exceptions described
below, our Charter provides for approval of Charter amendments
by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the
votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides
that (1) our liquidation or dissolution, or any merger,
consolidation, share exchange or sale or exchange of all or
substantially all of our assets that requires the approval of
our stockholders under the Maryland General Corporation Law,
(2) certain transactions between us and any person or group
of persons acting together and any person controlling,
controlled by or under common control with any such person or
member of such group, that may exercise or direct the exercise
of 10% or more of our voting power in the election of directors,
(3) any amendment to our charter that would convert us from
a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment
company or otherwise make our common stock a redeemable security
and (4) any amendment to certain provisions of our charter,
including the provisions relating to the number, qualifications,
classification, election and removal of directors, requires the
approval of the stockholders entitled to cast at least 80% of
the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. If such a proposal
is approved by at least two-thirds of our Continuing Directors
(defined below), in addition to approval by the full Board, such
43
proposal may be approved by the stockholders entitled to cast a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter or, in
the case of transactions with a group described above, by the
vote, if any, of the stockholders required by applicable law.
The Continuing Directors are defined in our Charter
as (i) our current directors, (ii) those directors
whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose
election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a
majority of Continuing Directors then on the Board and
(iii) any successor directors whose nomination for election
by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill
vacancies is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors
then in office. This provision could make it more difficult for
certain extraordinary transactions to be approved if they are
opposed by the Continuing Directors, and discourage proxy
contests for control of the Board by persons wishing to cause
such transactions to take place.
Our Charter and Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors has
the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any
provision of our Bylaws.
Advance
Notice of Director Nominations and New Business
The Bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of
stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board
of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by
stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to notice of the
meeting, (2) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote
at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice
procedures of the Bylaws. With respect to special meetings of
stockholders, only the business specified in the Companys
notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at
a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our
notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled
to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance
notice provisions of the Bylaws.
Stockholder-Requested
Special Meetings
Our Bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be
called by the Board of Directors and certain of our officers. In
addition, our Bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction
of certain procedural and informational requirements by the
stockholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of
stockholders will be called by the secretary of the Company upon
the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less
than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such
meeting.
Action by
Stockholders
Under Maryland law, stockholder action can be taken only at an
annual or special meeting of stockholders or, unless the charter
provides for stockholder action by less than unanimous written
consent (which is not the case for our Charter), by unanimous
written consent in lieu of a meeting.
CLOSED
END COMPANY STRUCTURE
We are a non-diversified closed-end investment company and as
such our stockholders will not have the right to cause us to
redeem their shares. Instead, our common stock trades in the
open market at a price that will be a function of several
factors, including distribution levels (which are in turn
affected by expenses), NAV, distribution stability, portfolio
credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in
the market, general market and economic conditions and other
factors.
Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently
trade at a discount to their NAV. This characteristic of shares
of closed-end management investment companies is a risk separate
and distinct from the risk that our NAV may decrease as a result
of investment activities. To the extent our common shares do
trade at a discount, the Board of Directors may from time to
time engage in open-market repurchases or tender offers for
shares after balancing the benefit to stockholders of the
increase in the NAV per share resulting from such purchases
against the decrease in our assets, the potential increase in
the ratio of our expenses to our assets and the decrease in
asset coverage with respect to any outstanding preferred stock.
Any such purchase or tender offers may result in the temporary
narrowing of any discount but will not necessarily have any
long-term effect on the level of any discount.
44
There is no guarantee or assurance that the Board of Directors
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 NAV
per share. Any share repurchase or tender offers will be made in
accordance with requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the Exchange Act), the 1940 Act and the
principal stock exchange on which the common shares are traded.
Conversion to an open-end mutual fund is extremely unlikely in
light of our investment objective and policies and would require
approval of our Board of Directors and stockholder approval to
amend our Charter. If we converted to an open-end mutual fund,
we would be required to redeem all senior notes and preferred
shares then outstanding (requiring us, in turn, to liquidate a
significant portion of our investment portfolio), and our common
stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE or any other
exchange. In contrast to a closed-end investment company,
shareholders of an open-end investment company require a fund to
redeem its shares of common stock at any time (except in certain
circumstances as authorized by the 1940 Act or the rules
thereunder) at their NAV, without the discount commonly
associated with closed-end investment companies. Open-end
investment companies engage in a continuous offering of their
shares and may maintain large cash positions or be required to
liquidate favorable investments to meet redemptions. Open-end
investment companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows
and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. In
addition, certain of our investment policies and restrictions
may be incompatible with the requirements applicable to an
open-end investment company. Accordingly, conversion to an
open-end investment company may require material changes to our
investment policies.
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain
U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund
and its stockholders. The discussion reflects applicable
U.S. federal income tax laws of the U.S. as of the
date of this prospectus, which tax laws may be changed or
subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal
Revenue Service (the IRS), possibly with retroactive
effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of
all U.S. federal income, estate or gift, or state, local or
foreign tax concerns affecting the Fund and its stockholders
(including stockholders owning large positions in the Fund). The
discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice.
Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to
determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns
applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a
financial institution, real estate investment trust,
insurance company, RIC, individual retirement account, other
tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or
non-U.S. investor.
Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible
application of the alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise
noted, this discussion assumes the Funds stock is held by
U.S. persons and that such shares are held as capital
assets.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for
U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including
certain former citizens and former long-term residents);
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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;
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source; or
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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. stockholders 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.
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A
Non-U.S. holder
is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an
individual, corporation, trust, or estate and is not a
U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity treated
as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes)
holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the
partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner
and the activities of the partnership.
45
Taxation
as a RIC
The Fund intends to elect to be treated as, and to qualify each
year for the special tax treatment afforded, a RIC under
Subchapter M of the Code. As long as the Fund meets certain
requirements that govern the Funds source of income,
diversification of assets and distribution of earnings to
stockholders, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on income distributed (or treated as distributed, as
described below) to its stockholders. With respect to the source
of income requirement, the Fund must derive in each taxable year
at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest)
from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to
certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other
disposition of stock, 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 shares, securities or currencies and
(ii) net income derived from interests in qualified
publicly traded partnerships. A qualified publicly traded
partnership is generally defined as a publicly traded
partnership under Section 7704 of the Code, but does not
include a publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its
income is described in (i) above. For purposes of the
income test, the Fund will be treated as receiving directly its
share of the income of any partnership that is not a qualified
publicly traded partnership.
With respect to the diversification of assets requirement, the
Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each
quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value
of the Funds Total Assets is represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. Government securities, the securities of other
RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited
for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer,
to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Funds
Total Assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of such issuer and (ii) not more than 25% of the
value of the Funds Total Assets is invested in the
securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government
securities or the securities of other RICs), the securities
(other than the securities of other RICs) of any two or more
issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be
engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or
the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded
partnerships.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its
stockholders at least 90% of the sum of (i) its
investment company taxable income, as that term is
defined in the Code (which includes, among other items,
dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of any net
short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as
reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the
deduction for dividends paid and (ii) the excess of its
gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain deductions
attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed, the
Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any
income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains,
distributed to stockholders. However, if the Fund retains any
investment company taxable income or net capital
gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over
net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to
U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income
tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount
retained. The Fund intends to distribute at least annually
substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net
tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain. Under the Code, the
Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal
excise tax on the undistributed portion of its ordinary income
and capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution
requirements with respect to each calendar year. In order to
avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum
distribution is generally equal to the sum of (1) 98% of
the Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year
basis), (2) 98.2% of the Funds capital gain net
income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on
October 31), and (3) certain amounts from previous years to
the extent such amounts have not been treated as distributed or
been subject to tax under Subchapter M of the Code. The Fund
generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an
amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and
therefore, under normal market conditions, does not currently
expect to be subject to this excise tax.
The Fund intends to invest a portion of its assets in MLPs. Net
income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded
partnership, which generally includes MLPs, is included in the
sources of income from which a RIC must derive 90% of its gross
income. However, not more than 25% of the value of a RICs
Total Assets can be invested in the securities of qualified
publicly traded partnerships. The Fund intends to invest only in
MLPs that will constitute qualified publicly traded partnerships
for purposes of the RIC rules, and not more than 25% of the
value of the Funds Total Assets will be invested in the
securities of publicly traded partnerships.
46
Federal
Income Taxation of MLPs
MLPs are similar to corporations in many respects, but differ in
others, especially in the way they are taxed for federal income
tax purposes. A corporation is a distinct legal entity, separate
from its stockholders and employees and is treated as a separate
entity for federal income tax purposes as well. Like individual
taxpayers, a corporation must pay a federal income tax on its
income. To the extent the corporation distributes its income to
its stockholders in the form of dividends, the stockholders must
pay federal income tax on the dividends they receive. For this
reason, it is said that corporate income is double-taxed, or
taxed at two levels.
An MLP that satisfies the Qualifying Income rules described
below, and does not elect otherwise, is treated for federal
income tax purposes as a pass-through entity. No federal income
tax is paid at the partnership level. A partnerships
income is considered earned by all the partners; it is allocated
among all the partners in proportion to their interests in the
partnership (generally as provided in the partnership
agreement), and each partner pays tax on his, her or its share
of the partnerships income. All the other items that go
into determining taxable income and tax owed are passed through
to the partners as well capital gains and losses,
deductions, credits, etc. Partnership income is thus said to be
single-taxed or taxed only at one level that of the
partner.
The Code generally requires publicly traded
partnerships to be treated as corporations for federal
income tax purposes. However, if the publicly traded partnership
satisfies certain requirements and does not elect otherwise, the
publicly traded partnership will be taxed as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes, referred to herein as an MLP. Under
these requirements, an MLP must derive each taxable year at
least 90% of its gross income from Qualifying Income.
Qualifying Income for MLPs includes interest, dividends, real
estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real
property, certain income and gain from commodities or commodity
futures, and income and gain from certain mineral or natural
resources activities. Mineral or natural resources activities
that generate Qualifying Income include income and gains from
the exploration, development, mining or production, processing,
refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas,
oil or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or
natural resource (including fertilizer, geothermal energy, and
timber). Most MLPs today are in energy, timber, or real estate
related businesses.
Because the MLP itself does not pay federal income tax, its
income or loss is allocated to its investors, irrespective of
whether the investors receive any cash payment from the MLP.
MLPs generally make quarterly cash distributions. Although they
resemble corporate dividends, MLP distributions are treated
differently. The MLP distribution is treated as a return of
capital to the extent of the investors basis in his MLP
interest and, to the extent the distribution exceeds the
investors basis in the MLP interest, capital gain. The
investors original basis is the price paid for the units.
The basis is adjusted downward with each distribution and
allocation of deductions (such as depreciation) and losses, and
upwards with each allocation of income.
When the units are sold, the difference between the sales price
and the investors adjusted basis is the gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes. The partner generally will not be
taxed on distributions until (1) he sells his MLP units and
pays tax on his gain, which gain is increased resulting from the
basis decrease resulting from prior distributions; or
(2) his basis reaches zero.
Failure
to Qualify as a RIC
If the Fund is unable to satisfy the 90% distribution
requirement or otherwise fails to qualify as a RIC in any year,
it will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation
and distributions to the Funds stockholders will not be
deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such
event, the Funds distributions, to the extent derived from
the Funds current or accumulated earnings and profits,
would constitute dividends, which would generally be eligible
for the dividends received deduction available to corporate
stockholders, and non-corporate stockholders would generally be
able to treat such distributions as qualified dividend
income eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal
income taxation in taxable years beginning on or before
December 31, 2012, provided in each case that certain
holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
Distributions in excess of the Funds current and
accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a
return of capital to the extent of the stockholders tax
basis in their Fund shares, and any remaining distributions
would be treated as a capital gain. Earnings and profits are
generally treated, for federal income tax purposes, as first
being used to pay distributions on preferred
47
stock, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay
distributions on the common stock. To qualify as a RIC in a
subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy
the
source-of-income,
the asset diversification, and the annual distribution
requirements for that year and dispose of any earnings and
profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for
tax treatment as a RIC. Subject to a limited exception
applicable to RICs that qualified as such under the Code for at
least one year prior to disqualification and that requalify as a
RIC no later than the second year following the nonqualifying
year, the Fund would be subject to tax on any unrealized
built-in gains in the assets held by it during the period in
which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC that
are recognized within the subsequent 10 years, unless the
Fund made a special election to pay corporate-level tax on such
built-in gain at the time of its requalification as a RIC.
Taxation
for U.S. Stockholders
Assuming the Fund qualifies as a RIC, distributions paid to you
by the Fund from its investment company taxable income will
generally be taxable to you as ordinary income to the extent of
the Funds earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or
reinvested in additional shares. A portion of such distributions
(if designated by the Fund) may qualify (i) in the case of
corporate stockholders, for the dividends received deduction
under Section 243 of the Code to the extent that the
Funds income consists of dividend income from
U.S. corporations, excluding distributions from certain
entities, including REITs, or (ii) in the case of
individual stockholders for taxable years beginning on or prior
to December 31, 2012, as qualified dividend income eligible
to be taxed at reduced rates under Section 1(h)(11) of the
Code (which generally provides for a maximum rate of 15%) to the
extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and
provided in each case that certain holding period and other
requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is, in general,
dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and qualified
foreign corporations (e.g., generally, if the issuer is
incorporated in a possession of the United States or in a
country with a qualified comprehensive income tax treaty with
the United States, or if the stock with respect to which such
dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established
securities market in the United States). To be treated as
qualified dividend income, the stockholder must hold the shares
paying otherwise qualifying dividend income more than
60 days during the
121-day
period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. A
stockholders holding period may be reduced for purposes of
this rule if the stockholder engages in certain risk reduction
transactions with respect to the stock. A qualified foreign
corporation generally excludes any foreign corporation that, for
the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was
paid or the preceding taxable year, is a passive foreign
investment company. Distributions made to you from an excess of
net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital losses
(capital gain dividends), including capital gain
dividends credited to you but retained by the Fund, will be
taxable to you as long-term capital gain if they have been
properly designated by the Fund, regardless of the length of
time you have owned our shares. The maximum tax rate on capital
gain dividends received by individuals is generally 15% for such
gain realized before January 1, 2013.
Distributions in excess of the Funds earnings and profits
will be treated by you, first, as a tax-free return of capital,
which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis
of your shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to
zero, will generally constitute capital gain to you. Under
current law, the maximum 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains
and qualified dividend income will cease to apply for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2012; beginning in 2013,
the maximum rate on long-term capital gains is scheduled to
increase to 20%, and all ordinary dividends (including amounts
treated as qualified dividends under the law currently in
effect) will be taxed as ordinary income. Generally, not later
than 60 days after the close of its taxable year, the Fund
will provide you with a written notice designating the amount of
any qualified dividend income or capital gain dividends and
other distributions.
As a RIC, the Fund will be subject to the AMT, but any items
that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be
apportioned between the Fund and the stockholders and this may
affect the stockholders AMT liabilities. The Fund intends
in general to apportion these items in the same proportion that
dividends paid to each shareholder bear to the Funds
taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid
deduction).
Sales and other dispositions of the Funds shares generally
are taxable events. You should consult your own tax adviser with
reference to your individual circumstances to determine whether
any particular transaction in the Funds shares is properly
treated as a sale or exchange for federal income tax purposes
and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such
transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the
Fund will generally result in capital gain or loss to you equal
to the difference between the amount realized and your adjusted
tax basis in
48
the shares sold or exchanged, and will be long-term capital gain
or loss if your holding period for the shares is more than one
year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of
shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term
capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends you
received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital
gain dividend) with respect to such shares. A loss you realize
on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be
disallowed if you acquire other substantially identical shares
within a
61-day
period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days
after the date that you dispose of the shares. In such case, the
basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term
capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary
income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term
capital gain will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to
ordinary income, currently a maximum rate of 35%, while
long-term capital gain realized before January 1, 2013
generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Capital losses
are subject to certain limitations.
For purpose of determining (i) whether the annual
distribution requirement is satisfied for any year and
(ii) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that
year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat
a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year as
if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the
Fund makes such an election, the U.S. shareholder will
still be treated as receiving the distribution in the taxable
year in which the distribution is made. However, if the Fund
pays you a distribution in January that was declared in the
previous October, November or December to stockholders of record
on a specified date in one of such months, then such
distribution will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by
the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which
the distribution was declared. A stockholder may elect not to
have all distributions automatically reinvested in Fund shares
pursuant to the Plan. If a stockholder elects not to participate
in the Plan, such stockholder will receive distributions in
cash. For taxpayers subject to U.S. federal income tax, all
distributions will generally be taxable, as discussed above,
regardless of whether a stockholder takes them in cash or they
are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the
Fund.
If a stockholders distributions are automatically
reinvested pursuant to the Plan, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, the stockholder will generally be treated as
having received a taxable distribution in the amount of the cash
dividend that the stockholder would have received if the
stockholder had elected to receive cash. Under certain
circumstances, however, if a stockholders distributions
are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan and the Plan
Agent invests the distribution in newly issued shares of the
Fund, the stockholder may be treated as receiving a taxable
distribution equal to the fair market value of the stock the
stockholder receives.
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all realized
capital gains, if any, at least annually. If, however, the Fund
were to retain any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the
retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to
stockholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on
long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in
income as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of
such undistributed amount and (ii) will be entitled to
credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid
by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their
U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim
refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If
such an event occurs, the tax basis of shares owned by a
stockholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, generally be increased by the difference between the
amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the
stockholders gross income and the tax deemed paid by the
stockholders.
Call
Options
The Funds covered call options generally will be treated
as options governed by Code Section 1234. Pursuant to Code
Section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the
premium received is short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the
Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between
the amount paid to close out its position and the premium
received for writing the option is short-term capital gain or
loss. If a call option written by the Fund is cash settled, any
resulting gain or loss will generally be short-term capital gain
or loss.
The Code contains special rules that apply to
straddles, defined generally as the holding of
offsetting positions with respect to personal
property. For example, the straddle rules normally apply
when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with
respect to such stock or substantially identical stock or
securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting
if there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from
holding one position by reason of holding one or more other
positions. If two or more positions constitute a straddle,
recognition of a realized loss from
49
one position must generally be deferred to the extent of
unrecognized gain in an offsetting position. In addition,
long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term
capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital
loss. Interest and other carrying charges allocable to personal
property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible
but must instead be capitalized. Similarly, wash
sale rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss by the
Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a
case in which identical or substantially identical stock or
securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has
been acquired within a prescribed period.
To the extent that any of the Funds positions constitute
tax straddles which do not qualify as a qualified covered
call under Section 1092(c)(4), the impact upon the
Funds income taxes will include: dividends received on the
long common stock leg of the straddle may not be eligible for
distributions that qualify as qualified dividend
income or for the corporate dividends received deduction,
the Fund will generally realize short-term gain or loss on the
long common stock leg of the straddle (to the extent losses are
not otherwise deferred) and, realized losses on either the long
common stock or the written (short) option legs of the straddle
may be deferred for tax purposes to the extent that both legs of
the straddle are not closed within the same tax year.
In general, a qualified covered call option is an
option that is written (sold) with respect to stock that is held
or acquired by a taxpayer in connection with granting the option
which meets certain requirements, including: the option is
exchange-traded or, if
over-the-counter,
meets certain IRS requirements, is granted more than
30 days prior to expiration, is not
deep-in-the-money
(within the meaning of Section 1092), is not granted by an
options dealer (within the meaning of Section 1256(g)(8))
in connection with the option dealers activity of dealing
in options, and gain or loss with respect to such option is not
ordinary income or loss. Provided the Funds covered calls
meet the definition of qualified covered calls and are not part
of a larger straddle, the general tax straddle holding period
termination rules will not apply. As a result, dividend income
received with respect to the long common stock leg of the
straddle may be eligible for qualified dividend income and
corporate dividends received deduction treatment (assuming all
other relevant requirements are met). In addition, the general
tax straddle rules requiring loss deferral and the
capitalization of certain interest expense and carrying charges
will not apply. Qualified covered call option positions are,
however, subject to special rules in the case of options which
are
in-the-money
(but still not
deep-in-the-money)
or for positions which are closed near year end (and not within
the same year end).
The Fund may enter into transactions that would be treated as
Section 1256 Contracts under the Code. In
general, the Fund would be required to treat any
Section 1256 Contracts as if they were sold for their fair
market value at the end of the Funds taxable year, and
would be required to recognize gain or loss on such deemed sale
for federal income tax purposes even though the Fund did not
actually sell the contract and receive cash. Forty percent of
such gain or loss would be treated as short-term capital gain or
loss and sixty percent of such gain or loss would be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss.
The Code allows a taxpayer to elect to offset gains and losses
from positions that are part of a mixed straddle. A
mixed straddle is any straddle in which one or more
but not all positions are section 1256 contracts. The Fund
may be eligible to elect to establish one or more mixed straddle
accounts for certain of its mixed straddle trading positions.
The mixed straddle account rules require a daily marking
to market of all open positions in the account and a daily
netting of gains and losses from all positions in the account.
At the end of a taxable year, the annual net gains or losses
from the mixed straddle account are recognized for tax purposes.
The net capital gain or loss is treated as 60 percent
long-term and 40 percent short-term capital gain or loss if
attributable to the section 1256 contract positions, or all
short-term capital gain or loss if attributable to the
non-section 1256 contract positions.
The Funds transactions in options will be subject to
special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may
affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund
(i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or
capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition
of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules
could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of
distributions to stockholders. These provisions also
(a) will require the Fund to mark-to- market certain types
of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they
were closed out), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize
income without receiving cash with which to make distributions
in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement for
qualifying to be taxed as a RIC and the distribution requirement
for avoiding excise taxes. The Fund will monitor its
transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will
make the appropriate entries in its books and records in order
to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent
disqualification of the Fund from being taxed as a RIC.
50
Withholding
and Other
Further, certain of the Funds investment practices are
subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions
that may, among other things, (i) convert distributions
that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income into
short-term capital gain or ordinary income taxed at the higher
rate applicable to ordinary income, (ii) treat
distributions that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate
dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment,
(iii) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of
certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert long-term
capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income,
(v) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital
loss (the deductibility of which is more limited),
(vi) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a
corresponding receipt of cash, (vii) adversely affect the
time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is
deemed to occur, (viii) adversely alter the
characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and
(ix) produce income that will not qualify as good income
for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement
described above. While it may not always be successful in doing
so, the Fund will seek to avoid or minimize any adverse tax
consequences of its investment practices.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed
by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and
capital gains with respect to its investments in those
countries, which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or
return from those investments. Tax treaties between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such
taxes in some cases. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the
requirements for passing through to its stockholders their pro
rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with
the result that stockholders will not be entitled to a tax
deduction or credit for such taxes on their own US federal
income tax returns, although the Funds payment of such
taxes will remain eligible for a foreign tax credit or a
deduction in computing the Funds taxable income.
The Fund is required in certain circumstances to backup withhold
at a current rate of 28% (which is scheduled to increase to 31%
after 2012) on taxable distributions and certain other
payments paid to certain holders of the Funds shares who
do not furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer
identification number (in the case of individuals, their social
security number) and certain certifications, or who are
otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is
not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made
to you may be refunded or credited against your
U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that
the required information is furnished to the IRS.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations for
Non-U.S.
Stockholders
The following discussion is a general summary of the material
U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a
Non-U.S. holder
of our stock (a
Non-U.S. Stockholder).
This summary does not purport to be a complete description of
the income tax considerations for a
Non-U.S. Stockholder.
For example, the following does not describe income tax
consequences that are assumed to be generally known by investors
or certain considerations that may be relevant to certain types
of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal
income tax laws. This summary does not discuss any aspects of
U.S. estate or gift tax or state or local tax. In addition,
this summary does not address (i) any
Non-U.S. Stockholder
that holds, at any time, more than 5 percent of the
Funds stock, directly or under ownership attribution rules
applicable for purposes of Section 897 of the Code, or
(ii) any
Non-U.S. Stockholder
whose ownership of shares of the Fund is effectively connected
with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
As indicated above, the Fund intends to elect to be treated, and
to qualify each year, as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. This summary is based on the assumption that the Fund
will qualify as a RIC in each of its taxable years.
Distributions of the Funds investment company taxable
income to
Non-U.S. Stockholders
will, except as discussed below, be subject to withholding of
U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate
provided by an applicable income tax treaty) to the extent of
the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits. In
order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
will be required to provide an Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN
certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty.
Distributions made out of qualified interest income
or net short-term capital gain in any taxable year of the Fund
beginning before January 1, 2012 will generally not be
subject to this withholding tax. If, however, a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
who is an individual has been
51
present in the United States for 183 days or more during
the taxable year and meets certain other conditions, any such
distribution of net short-term capital gain will be subject to
U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower rate
provided by an applicable income tax treaty).
Actual or deemed distributions of the Funds net capital
gains to a
Non-U.S. Stockholder,
and gains realized by a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
upon the sale of the Funds stock, will not be subject to
withholding of U.S. federal income tax and generally will
not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the
Non-U.S. Stockholder
is an individual, has been present in the United States for
183 days or more during the taxable year, and certain other
conditions are satisfied.
If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of
deemed rather than actual distributions (which the Fund may do
in the future), a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
may be entitled to a federal income tax credit or tax refund
equal to the stockholders allocable share of the tax the
Fund paid on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed.
In order to obtain the refund, the
Non-U.S. Stockholder
must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file
a federal income tax return even if the
Non-U.S. Stockholder
would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer
identification number or file a federal income tax return.
A
Non-U.S. Stockholder
who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise
subject to withholding of federal income tax, may be subject to
information reporting and backup withholding of federal income
tax on dividends unless the
Non-U.S. Stockholder
provides us or the dividend paying agent with an IRS
Form W-8BEN
(or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets
documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a
Non-U.S. Stockholder
will be allowed as a credit against such
Non-U.S. Stockholders
United States federal income tax liability and may entitle such
holder to a refund, provided that the required information is
furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Non-U.S. persons
should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the
U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state,
local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the
shares.
Medicare
Tax
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012,
recently enacted legislation will generally impose a
3.8 percent tax on the net investment income of certain
individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over
$200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers) and on the
undistributed net investment income of certain estates and
trusts. For these purposes, net investment income
will generally include interest, dividends, annuities,
royalties, rent, net gain attributable to the disposition of
property not held in a trade or business (including net gain
from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares
of our stock) and certain other income, but will be reduced by
any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain.
Thus, certain of our taxable distributions to stockholders may
be subject to the additional tax.
Recently
Enacted Legislation
Beginning with payments of dividends or interest made on or
after January 1, 2014, and payments of gross proceeds made
after January 1, 2015, recently enacted legislation will
generally impose a 30% withholding tax on distributions paid
with respect to our stock and the gross proceeds from a
disposition of our stock paid to (i) a foreign financial
institution (as defined in Section 1471(d)(4) of the Code)
unless the foreign financial institution enters into an
agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to collect and
disclose information regarding its U.S. account holders
(including certain account holders that are foreign entities
that have U.S. owners) and satisfies certain other
requirements, and (ii) certain other
non-U.S. entities
unless the entity provides the payor with certain information
regarding direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity, or
certifies that it has no such U.S. owners, and complies
with certain other requirements. You are encouraged to consult
with your own tax adviser regarding the possible implications of
this recently enacted legislation on your investment in our
stock.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the
provisions of the Code and the treasury regulations in effect as
they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its
stockholders. These provisions are subject to change by
legislative and administrative action, and any such change may
be retroactive. Stockholders are urged to consult their tax
advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal,
foreign, state, local income or other taxes.
52
UNDERWRITERS
Under the terms and subject to the conditions of an underwriting
agreement dated as of the date of this prospectus, the
underwriters named below (the Underwriters), for
whom Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets
Inc. and UBS Securities LLC are acting as representatives (the
Representatives), have severally agreed to purchase,
and we have agreed to sell to them, severally, the number of
shares indicated below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Underwriter
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
|
|
|
1,450,000
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
|
|
|
1,450,000
|
|
UBS Securities LLC
|
|
|
2,295,000
|
|
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
|
|
|
330,000
|
|
Barclays Capital Inc.
|
|
|
730,000
|
|
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
|
|
|
555,000
|
|
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
|
|
|
835,000
|
|
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
|
|
|
63,000
|
|
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott &
Stringfellow, LLC
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
Chardan Capital Markets, LLC
|
|
|
190,000
|
|
Comerica Securities, Inc.
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
|
|
|
140,000
|
|
Knight Capital Americas, L.P.
|
|
|
11,000
|
|
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
|
|
|
162,000
|
|
Maxim Group LLC
|
|
|
26,000
|
|
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
|
|
|
210,000
|
|
Wedbush Securities Inc.
|
|
|
62,000
|
|
Wunderlich Securities, Inc.
|
|
|
32,000
|
|
Capitol Securities Management Incorporated
|
|
|
23,000
|
|
Crowell, Weedon & Co.
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Dominick & Dominick LLC
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
E*Trade Securities LLC
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
Geoffrey Richards Securities Corp.
|
|
|
110,000
|
|
Henley & Company LLC
|
|
|
56,500
|
|
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
J. P. Turner & Company, L.L.C.
|
|
|
33,000
|
|
Paulson Investment Company, Inc.
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
Pershing LLC
|
|
|
34,000
|
|
Revere Securities Corp.
|
|
|
21,000
|
|
Source Capital Group, Inc.
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
Southwest Securities, Inc.
|
|
|
55,000
|
|
Wayne Hummer Investments L.L.C.
|
|
|
16,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
10,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53
The Underwriters are offering the shares of common stock subject
to their acceptance of the shares from us and subject to prior
sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations
of the Underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the shares
of common stock offered by this prospectus are subject to the
approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to
certain other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to take
and pay for all of the shares of common stock offered by this
prospectus if any such shares are taken. However, the
Underwriters are not required to take or pay for the shares
covered by the Underwriters over-allotment option
described below.
The Underwriters initially propose to offer part of the shares
of common stock directly to the public at the offering price
listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part of the
shares to certain dealers at a price that represents a
concession not in excess of $0.75 per share of common stock
under the initial offering price. After the initial offering of
the shares of common stock, the offering price and other selling
terms may from time to time be varied by the Representatives.
The underwriting discounts and commissions (sales load) of
$1.125 per common share are equal to 4.5% of the initial
offering price. Investors must pay for any common shares
purchased on or before October 31, 2011.
We have granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable for
45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to
an aggregate of 1,411,577 shares of common stock at the
public offering price listed on the cover page of this
prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The
Underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of
covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the
offering of the shares of common stock offered by this
prospectus. To the extent the option is exercised, each
Underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of the
additional shares of common stock as the number listed next to
the Underwriters name in the preceding table bears to the
total number of shares of common stock listed next to the names
of all Underwriters in the preceding table. If the
Underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full,
the total price to the public would be $285,289,425 the total
Underwriters discount and commissions (sales load) would
be $12,838,024, and the total proceeds to us would be
$272,451,401.
The following table summarizes the estimated expenses and
compensation that we will pay:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Common Share
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Without
|
|
With
|
|
Without
|
|
With
|
|
|
Over-Allotment
|
|
Over-Allotment
|
|
Over-Allotment
|
|
Over-Allotment
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
25.000
|
|
|
$
|
25.000
|
|
|
$
|
250,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
285,289,425
|
|
Sales load
|
|
$
|
1.125
|
|
|
$
|
1.125
|
|
|
$
|
11,250,000
|
|
|
$
|
12,838,024
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund
|
|
$
|
23.875
|
|
|
$
|
23.875
|
|
|
$
|
238,750,000
|
|
|
$
|
272,451,401
|
|
The fees described below under Additional
Compensation to be Paid by Our Adviser are not
reimbursable to the Adviser by us, and are therefore not
reflected in expenses payable by us in the table above.
Offering expenses paid by us (excluding the sales load, but
including a portion of the amount payable to an affiliate of the
Adviser for the marketing of our common stock) will not exceed
$0.05 per share of common stock sold by us in this offering. If
the offering expenses referred to in the preceding sentence
exceed this amount, the Adviser will pay the excess and will
also pay all organizational expenses. The aggregate offering
expenses (excluding sales load) are estimated to be $1,320,000
in total, $500,000 of which will be borne by us (or $570,579 if
the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full).
See Summary of Company Expenses.
The Underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales
to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total
number of common shares offered by them.
In order to meet requirements for listing the common shares on
the New York Stock Exchange, the Underwriters have undertaken to
sell lots of 100 or more shares to a minimum of 400 beneficial
owners in the United States. The minimum investment requirement
is 100 common shares ($2,500).
Our common stock is expected to be approved for listing on the
New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TTP.
54
We and all directors and officers and the holders of all of our
outstanding stock have agreed that, without the prior written
consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, we
and they will not, during the period ending 180 days after
the date of this prospectus:
|
|
|
|
|
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell,
grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock;
|
|
|
|
file any registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to the offering of any shares of common
stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for common stock; or
|
|
|
|
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the common stock;
|
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by
delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the
last 17 days of the
180-day
restricted period, we issue an earnings release or announce
material news or a material event relating to the Company; or
(ii) prior to the expiration of the
180-day
restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings
results during the
16-day
period beginning on the last day of the
180-day
restricted period, the restrictions described above shall
continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day
period beginning on the date of the earnings release or the
announcement of the material news or material event. These
lock-up
agreements will not apply to the shares of common stock to be
sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement or any shares of
common stock issued pursuant to our Automatic Dividend
Reinvestment Plan or any preferred share issuance, if any.
In order to facilitate the offering of the common stock, the
Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the common stock. Specifically,
the Underwriters may sell more shares than they are obligated to
purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short
position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no
greater than the number of shares available for purchase by the
Underwriters under the over-allotment option (exercisable for
45 days from the date of this prospectus). The Underwriters
can close out a covered short sale by exercising the
over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market.
In determining the source of shares to close out a covered short
sale, the Underwriters will consider, among other things, the
open market price of shares compared to the price available
under the over-allotment option. The Underwriters may also sell
shares of common stock in excess of the over-allotment option,
creating a naked short position. The Underwriters must close out
any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in
the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be
created if the Underwriters are concerned that there may be
downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open
market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who
purchase in this offering. As an additional means of
facilitating this offering, the Underwriters may bid for, and
purchase, shares of common stock in the open market to stabilize
the price of the common stock. Finally, the underwriting
syndicate may also reclaim selling concessions allowed to an
Underwriter or a dealer for distributing the shares of common
stock in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases previously
distributed common shares in transactions to cover syndicate
short positions or to stabilize the price of the common shares.
Any of these activities may raise or maintain the market price
of the common stock above independent market levels or prevent
or retard a decline in the market price of the common stock. The
Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and
may end any of these activities at any time.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public or private
market for the common shares or any other of our securities.
Consequently, the offering price for the common shares was
determined by negotiation among us, our Adviser and the
Representatives. There can be no assurance, however, that the
price at which the shares of common stock trade after this
offering will not be lower than the price at which they are sold
by the Underwriters or that an active trading market in the
common shares will develop and continue after this offering.
We anticipate that the Representatives and certain other
Underwriters may from time to time act as brokers and dealers in
connection with the execution of its portfolio transactions
after they have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to
certain restrictions, may act as such brokers while they are
Underwriters.
55
In connection with this offering, certain of the Underwriters or
selected dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically. We,
the Adviser and the Underwriters have agreed to indemnify each
other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act.
Prior to the public offering of common shares, our Adviser
purchased common shares from us in an amount satisfying the net
worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act. As of
the date of this prospectus, our Adviser owned 100% of the
outstanding common shares. Our Adviser may be deemed to control
us until such time as it owns less than 25% of the outstanding
shares of common stock, which is expected to occur as of the
completion of the offering of shares of common stock.
The principal business address of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. The principal
business address of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is 388
Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. The principal
business address of UBS Securities LLC is 299 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10171.
The Underwriters and their respective affiliates are full
service financial institutions engaged in various activities,
which may include securities trading, commercial and investment
banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal
investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain
of the Underwriters or their respective affiliates from time to
time have provided in the past, and may provide in the future,
investment banking, securities trading, hedging, brokerage
activities, commercial lending and financial advisory services
to us, certain of our executive officers and our affiliates and
the Adviser and its affiliates in the ordinary course of
business, for which they have received, and may receive,
customary fees and expenses.
No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the
United States) that would permit a public offering of the common
shares, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this
prospectus or any other material relating to us or the shares of
common stock in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose
is required. Accordingly, the shares of common stock may not be
offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this
prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in
connection with the shares of common stock may be distributed or
published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in
compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of any such
country or jurisdiction.
Certain marketing or sales related support will be provided by
Montage Investments and certain of its affiliates. Montage
Investments is the indirect majority owner of Tortoise Capital
Advisors, the Adviser to the Fund. Our Adviser has entered into
an agreement with Montage Securities, LLC, a registered
broker/dealer and an affiliate of our Adviser and Montage
Investments, which contemplates the delivery of marketing
support to our Adviser during the course of this offering.
Subject to the $0.05 per share limitation on offering costs
borne by the Fund, the Fund may pay a portion of the
compensation due pursuant to this agreement and the remainder
will be paid exclusively by our Adviser.
Additional
Compensation to be Paid by Our Adviser
Our Adviser (and not us) has agreed to pay, from its own assets,
structuring and syndication fees to Morgan Stanley &
Co. LLC in the amount of $2,600,327 and a structuring fee to
each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. in the amount of $544,137
and UBS Securities LLC in the amount of $849,902. In contrast to
the underwriting discounts and commissions (earned under the
underwriting agreement by the underwriting syndicate as a
group), the structuring fees will be paid by our Adviser for
advice to our Adviser relating to the structure, design and
organization of the Fund. The syndication fee will be paid by
our Adviser for syndication assistance relating to the Fund and
the distribution of our common shares. These services are
unrelated to our Advisers function of advising us as to
its investments in securities or use of investment strategies
and investment techniques. Our Adviser (and not us) has agreed
to pay a sales incentive fee or additional compensation to
certain qualifying underwriters in connection with the offering
to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated in the amount
of $82,500, RBC Capital Markets, LLC in the amount of $115,625,
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in the amount of $76,875 and
Barclays Capital Inc. in the amount of $100,875. The total
amounts of these payments paid to any such qualifying
underwriter will not exceed 1.25% of the total price of the
common shares sold in this offering.
As part of the payment of our offering expenses, we have agreed
to pay expenses related to the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the review by
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(FINRA) of the terms of the sale of the common
shares and the transportation and other expenses incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with presentations to prospective
purchasers of the common shares. Such expenses will not exceed
$25,000 in the aggregate.
56
Total underwriting compensation determined in accordance with
FINRA rules is summarized as follows. The sales load that we
will pay of $1.125 per share is equal to 4.5% of gross proceeds.
We have agreed to reimburse the Underwriters the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection
with the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the shares
of common stock and the transportation and other expenses
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with presentations to
prospective purchasers of the shares of common stock, in an
amount not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate, which amount will
not exceed 0.01% of gross proceeds. Our Adviser (and not us)
will pay a syndication fee and structuring fees as described
above. Total compensation to the Underwriters will not exceed
8.0% of gross proceeds.
ADMINISTRATOR,
CUSTODIAN & FUND ACCOUNTANT
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, will serve as our
administrator and provide certain back-office support such as
oversight and supervision of the payment of expenses and
preparation of financial statements and related schedules. We
will pay the administrator a monthly fee computed at an annual
rate of 0.04% of the first $1 billion of our assets, 0.01%
on the next $500 million of our assets and 0.005% on the
balance of our assets.
U.S. Bank National Association, 1555 N. River
Center Dr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, will serve as our
custodian.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan
Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, will serve as our fund
accountant.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered
hereby will be passed upon for us by Husch Blackwell LLP
(HB), Kansas City, Missouri. HB may rely as to
certain matters of Maryland law on the opinion of Venable LLP,
Baltimore, Maryland. Certain legal matters in connection with
the offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Andrews
Kurth LLP, New York, New York .
AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
We will be subject to the informational requirements of the
Exchange Act and the 1940 Act and will be required to file
reports, including annual and semi-annual reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC. We intend to
voluntarily file quarterly stockholder reports. These documents
will be available on the SECs EDGAR system and can be
inspected and copied for a fee at the SECs public
reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Additional information about the
operation of the public reference room facilities may be
obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 551-5850.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information in our
registration statement, including amendments, exhibits, and
schedules. Statements in this prospectus about the contents of
any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and
in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract
or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects
by this reference.
Additional information about us can be found in our Registration
Statement (including amendments, exhibits and schedules) on
Form N-2
filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site
(http://www.sec.gov)
that contains our Registration Statement, other documents
incorporated by reference, and other information we have filed
electronically with the SEC.
57
TABLE OF
CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Investment Limitations
|
|
|
S-2
|
|
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
|
|
|
S-4
|
|
Management of the Fund
|
|
|
S-11
|
|
Portfolio Transactions
|
|
|
S-22
|
|
Net Asset Value
|
|
|
S-23
|
|
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
|
|
|
S-24
|
|
Proxy Voting Policies
|
|
|
S-32
|
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
|
S-33
|
|
Administrator, Custodian and Fund Accountant
|
|
|
S-33
|
|
Additional Information
|
|
|
S-33
|
|
Index to Financial Statements
|
|
|
F-1
|
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58
10,000,000 Common
Shares
Tortoise Pipeline &
Energy Fund, Inc.
$25.00 per Share
PROSPECTUS
October 26, 2011
Morgan Stanley
Citigroup
UBS Investment Bank
Ameriprise Financial Services,
Inc.
Barclays Capital
Oppenheimer &
Co.
RBC Capital Markets
Stifel Nicolaus
Weisel
Baird
BB&T Capital
Markets
Chardan Capital Markets,
LLC
Comerica Securities
Janney Montgomery
Scott
Knight
Ladenburg Thalmann &
Co. Inc.
Maxim Group LLC
Morgan Keegan
Wedbush Securities
Inc.
Wunderlich Securities
Until November 20, 2011 (25 days after the date of
this prospectus) all dealers that buy, sell or trade the common
shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be
required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to each
dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as
an underwriter and with respect to its unsold allotments or
subscriptions.
TORTOISE PIPELINE & ENERGY FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Fund, we, us, or
our), is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company.
This statement of additional information relates to an offering of our common shares and does
not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with our prospectus relating thereto
dated October 26, 2011. This statement of additional information does not include all
information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing any of our common shares.
You should obtain and read our prospectus prior to purchasing any of our common shares. A copy of
our prospectus may be obtained without charge from us by calling 1-866-362-9331. You also may
obtain a copy of our prospectus on the SECs web site (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used
but not defined in this statement of additional information have the meanings ascribed to them in
the prospectus.
This
statement of additional information is dated October 26, 2011.
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Investment Limitations |
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Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies |
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Management of the Fund |
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Portfolio Transactions |
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Net Asset Value |
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Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations |
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Proxy Voting Policies |
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Administrator, Custodian and Fund Accountant |
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Additional Information |
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Index to Financial Statements |
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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
This section supplements the disclosure in the prospectus and provides additional information
on our investment limitations. Investment limitations identified as fundamental may only be changed
with the approval of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities (which for this
purpose and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) means the lesser
of (1) 67% of the voting shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding
voting shares are represented or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares).
Investment limitations stated as a maximum percentage of our assets are only applied
immediately after, and because of, an investment or a transaction by us to which the limitation is
applicable (other than the limitations on borrowing). Accordingly, any later increase or decrease
resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in
determining whether the investment complies with our investment limitations. All limitations are
based on a percentage of our Total Assets. We define Total Assets as the value of securities,
cash or other assets held, including securities or assets obtained through leverage, and interest
accrued but not yet received.
Fundamental Investment Limitations
The following are our fundamental investment limitations set forth in their entirety. We may
not:
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issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and
interpretive positions of the SEC thereunder; |
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(2) |
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borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and
interpretive positions of the SEC thereunder; |
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make loans, except by the purchase of debt obligations, by entering into
repurchase agreements or through the lending of portfolio securities and as otherwise
permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretive positions of the SEC
thereunder; |
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(4) |
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concentrate (invest 25% or more of our Total Assets) our investments in any
particular industry, except that we will concentrate our assets in the midstream,
upstream and downstream energy industries constituting the energy infrastructure
sector; |
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underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that we may be
considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the 1933 Act), in the disposition of restricted securities held in our portfolio; |
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(6) |
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purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of
securities or other instruments, except that we may invest in securities or other
instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies that invest in real estate
or interests therein (including REITs); and |
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purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of the
ownership of securities or other instruments, except that we may purchase or sell
options and futures contracts or invest in securities or other instruments backed by
physical commodities. |
All other investment policies are considered non-fundamental and may be changed by our Board
of Directors (the Board of Directors or the Board) without prior approval of our outstanding
voting securities.
Non-fundamental Investment Policies
We have adopted the following non-fundamental policies:
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(1) |
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Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our Total Assets in
equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies; |
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers
(including Canadian issuers), which may include securities issued by companies
organized and/or having securities traded on an exchange outside the U.S. or may be
securities of U.S. companies that are denominated in the currency of a different
country; |
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We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in unregistered or otherwise
restricted securities, primarily through direct investments in securities of listed
companies. For purposes of this limitation, restricted securities include (i)
registered securities of public companies subject to a lock-up period, (ii)
unregistered securities of public companies with registration rights, and (iii)
unregistered securities of public companies that become freely tradable with the
passage of time; |
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We will not invest in privately-held companies; |
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We may invest up to 20% of our Total Assets in debt securities, including those
rated below investment grade, commonly referred to as junk bonds; |
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We will not invest more than 10% of our Total Assets in any single issuer; and |
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We will not engage in short sales. |
In addition, to comply with federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated
investment company (RIC), our investments will be limited so that at the close of each quarter of
each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of our Total Assets is represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. Government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such
other securities limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an
amount not greater than 5% of the value of our Total Assets and not more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of our Total
Assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or
the securities of other RICs), the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of any two
or more issuers that we control and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or
similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded
partnerships (which includes MLPs). These tax-related limitations may be changed by the Board of
Directors to the extent appropriate in light of changes to applicable tax requirements.
Currently under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately
after such borrowing we have asset coverage of at least 300% of the aggregate outstanding principal
balance of indebtedness (i.e., such indebtedness may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of our Total
Assets, including the amount borrowed, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by
senior securities). In addition, currently under the 1940 Act, we may not declare any distribution
on any class of shares of our stock, or purchase any such stock, unless our aggregate indebtedness
has, at the time of the declaration of any such distribution or at the time of any such purchase,
an asset coverage of at least 300% after deducting the amount of such distribution, or purchase
price, as the case may be, except that distributions may be declared upon any preferred stock if
such senior security representing indebtedness has an asset coverage of at least 200% at the time
of declaration of such distribution and after deducting the amount of such distribution.
Currently under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to issue preferred stock unless immediately
after such issuance we have asset coverage of at least 200% of the total of the aggregate amount of
senior securities representing indebtedness plus the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding
preferred stock (i.e., the aggregate principal amount of such indebtedness and liquidation value
may not exceed 50% of the value of our Total Assets, including the proceeds of such issuance, less
liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities). In addition, currently under
the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to declare any distribution on our common stock or purchase any
such common stock unless, at the time of such declaration or purchase, we would satisfy this 200%
asset coverage requirement test after deducting the amount of such distribution or share price.
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Under the 1940 Act, a senior security does not include any promissory note or evidence of
indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of
the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be
for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed. Both
transactions involving indebtedness and any preferred stock issued by us would be considered senior
securities under the 1940 Act, and as such, are subject to the asset coverage requirements
discussed above.
Currently under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to lend money or property to any person,
directly or indirectly, if such person controls or is under common control with us, except for a
loan from us to a company which owns all of our outstanding securities. Currently, under
interpretative positions of the staff of the SEC, we may not have on loan at any given time
securities representing more than one-third of our Total Assets.
We interpret our policies with respect to borrowing and lending to permit such activities as
may be lawful, to the full extent permitted by the 1940 Act or by exemption from the provisions
therefrom pursuant to an exemptive order of the SEC.
We interpret our policy with respect to concentration to include pipeline companies and other
energy infrastructure companies, as defined in the prospectus and below. See Investment Objective
and Principal Investment Strategies.
Under the 1940 Act, we may, but do not intend to, invest up to 10% of our Total Assets in the
aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of our Total Assets in any one
investment company, provided that the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting
stock of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a stockholder in
any investment company, we will bear our ratable share of that investment companys expenses and
would remain subject to payment of our advisory fees and other expenses with respect to assets so
invested. Holders of common stock would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent
we invest in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies
also may be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described herein and
in the prospectus. The net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile
and the yield to stockholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged
shares. A material decline in net asset value may impair our ability to maintain asset coverage on
any preferred stock and debt securities, including any interest and principal for debt securities.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The prospectus presents our investment objective and principal investment strategies and
risks. This section supplements the disclosure in our prospectus and provides additional
information on our investment policies, strategies and risks. Restrictions or policies stated as a
maximum percentage of our assets are only applied immediately after a portfolio investment to which
the policy or restriction is applicable (other than the limitations on borrowing). Accordingly, any
later increase or decrease resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances
will not be considered in determining whether the investment complies with our restrictions and
policies.
Our investment objective is to provide our stockholders a high level of total return with an
emphasis on making current distributions. For purposes of our investment objective, total return
includes capital appreciation of, and all distributions received from, securities in which we
invest regardless of the tax character of the distribution. There is no assurance that we will
achieve our objective. Our investment objective and the investment policies discussed below are
non-fundamental. The Board of Directors may change the investment objective, or any policy or
limitation that is not fundamental, without a stockholder vote. Stockholders will receive at least
60 days prior written notice of any change to the non-fundamental investment policy of investing at
least 80% of our Total Assets in equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure
companies.
Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our Total Assets in equity
securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies. We intend to focus primarily on
pipeline companies that engage in the business of transporting natural gas, natural gas liquids
(NGLs), crude oil and refined products through pipelines,
and to a lesser extent, on other energy infrastructure companies. For purposes of these
policies, we consider a
S-4
company to be a pipeline company if at least 50% of its assets, cash flow
or revenue is associated with the operation or ownership of energy pipelines and complementary
assets or it operates in the energy pipeline industry as defined by the standard industrial
classification (SIC) system. We consider a company to be an energy infrastructure company if at
least 50% of its assets, revenues or cash flows are derived from energy infrastructure operations
or ownership. We also may invest in other securities, consistent with our investment objective and
fundamental and non-fundamental policies.
We may invest up to 25% of our Total Assets in securities of MLPs. We may invest up to 30% of
our Total Assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily through direct
investments in securities of listed companies.
The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of issuers and
instruments in which we may invest, strategies our Adviser may employ in pursuit of our investment
objective and a discussion of related risks. Our Adviser does not intend to buy these instruments
or use these techniques unless it believes that doing so will help us achieve our objective.
Our Investments
The types of securities in which we may invest include, but are not limited to, the following:
Equity Securities. Equity investments generally represent an equity ownership interest, or the
right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Different types of equity securities provide
different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of an issuers bankruptcy. An
adverse event, such as unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular equity
investment we hold. Prices of equity investments are sensitive to general movements in the stock
market, and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of equity investments that we own.
Equity investment prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors perceptions
of the financial condition of an issuer or rising interest rates, which increases borrowing costs
and the costs of capital. We currently expect that such equity investments will include the
following:
Common Stock. Common stock represents an ownership interest in the profits and losses of a
corporation, after payment of amounts owed to bondholders, other debt holders, and holders of
preferred stock. Holders of common stock generally have voting rights, but we do not generally
expect to have voting control in any of the companies in which we invest. In addition to the
general risks set forth in the prospectus, investments in common stock are subject to the risk that
in the event a company in which we invest is liquidated, the holders of preferred stock and
creditors of that company will be paid in full before any payments are made to us as holders of
common stock. It is possible that all assets of that company will be exhausted before any payments
are made to the holders of common stock.
Common units of MLPs. As a RIC, we may invest no more than 25% of our Total Assets in
securities of MLPs. An MLP is a publicly traded company organized as a limited partnership or LLC
and treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. MLP common units represent an equity
ownership interest in a partnership and provide limited voting rights. MLP common unit holders have
a limited role in the partnerships operations and management. Some energy infrastructure companies
in which we may invest have been organized as LLCs, which are treated in the same manner as MLPs
for federal income tax purposes. Common units of an LLC represent an equity ownership in an LLC.
Unlike stockholders of a corporation, common unitholders do not elect directors annually and
generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of
substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the
partnership agreement. MLPs are required by their partnership agreements to distribute a large
percentage of their current operating earnings. Common unitholders generally have first right to a
minimum quarterly distribution (MQD) prior to distributions to the subordinated unitholders or
the general partner (including incentive distributions). Common unitholders typically have
arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, MLP common unitholders have
first rights to the partnerships remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders, and
preferred unitholders have been paid in full. MLP common units trade on a national securities
exchange or over-the-counter.
Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates. In addition to securities of MLPs, we may also invest in
equity securities issued by MLP affiliates, such as MLP I-Shares and common shares of corporations
that own MLP
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general partner interests. I-Shares represent an indirect ownership interest in MLP
common units issued by an MLP affiliate, which is typically a publicly traded LLC. The I-Share
issuers assets consist exclusively of I-units. I-Shares differ from MLP common units primarily in
that instead of receiving cash distributions, holders of I-Shares receive distributions in the form
of additional I-Shares. Issuers of MLP I-Shares are corporations and not partnerships for tax
purposes; however, the MLP does not allocate income or loss to the I-Share issuer. Because the
issuers of MLP I-Shares are not partnerships for tax purposes, MLP I-Shares are not subject to the
25% limitation regarding investments in MLPs and other entities treated as qualified publicly
traded partnerships. MLP affiliates also include the publicly traded equity securities of LLCs
that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests of MLPs. General partner interests
often confer direct board participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over the MLP.
Other Equity Securities. We may also invest in all types of publicly traded equity
securities, including but not limited to, preferred equity, convertible securities, depository
receipts, limited partner interests, rights and warrants of underlying equity securities, exchange
traded funds, limited liability companies and REITs.
Non-U.S. Securities. We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in securities issued by
non-U.S. issuers (including Canadian issuers). These securities may be issued by companies
organized and/or having securities traded on an exchange outside the U.S. or may be securities of
U.S. companies that are denominated in the currency of a different country. An issuer of a security
generally will be considered to be located in a particular country if it meets either of the
following criteria: (i) the issuer is organized under the laws of, or maintains its principal place
of business in, the country; or (ii) during the issuers most recent fiscal year, it derived at
least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods or services produced or sold, investments made or
services performed in the country.
Investments in securities issued by non-U.S. issuers involve certain considerations and risks
not ordinarily associated with investments in securities and instruments of U.S. issuers. Some of
these risks include: (1) there may be less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or
markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (2)
non-U.S. securities markets are smaller, may be less liquid and more volatile than the U.S.
securities markets; (3) fluctuations in currency exchange rates and the existence or possible
imposition of exchange controls may adversely affect the value of our investments; (4) the
economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn
or recession even during periods in which the U.S. economy performs well; (5) the impact of
economic, political, regulatory, social or diplomatic events; (6) certain non-U.S. countries may
impose restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and interest
to investors located in the United States due to restrictions on exchanges of currency or
otherwise; (7) non-U.S. withholding and other taxes may decrease our investment return; (8) the
difficulty or impossibility of obtaining the necessary data to determine whether distributions paid
by non-U.S. issuers qualify as tax-advantaged dividends, ordinary income or return of capital; and
(9) other investment controls imposed by the governments of non-U.S. countries, especially
countries with emerging markets, which controls may limit or preclude investments in non-U.S.
countries. These investment controls may include (a) requiring governmental approval prior to
investment by foreign persons; (b) limiting the amount of investment by foreign persons in a
particular country; (c) limiting investments by foreign persons to only a specific class of
securities of a company that may have less advantageous terms than the classes available for
purchase by domiciliaries of the countries; or (d) imposing additional taxes on foreign investors.
We may also purchase American Depository Receipts (ADRs) or U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of non-U.S. issuers. While ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency
as the securities into which they may be converted, many of the risks associated with non-U.S.
securities may also apply to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary
receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to
distribute stockholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them
any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
Unregistered or Restricted Securities. We may invest up to 30% of our Total Assets in
unregistered or otherwise restricted securities primarily through direct investments in securities
of listed companies. For purposes of this limitation, restricted securities include (i)
registered securities of public companies subject to a lock-up period, (ii) unregistered securities
of public companies with registration rights, and (iii) unregistered securities of
public companies that become freely tradable with the passage of time. For purposes of the
foregoing, a registered security subject to such a lock-up period will no longer be considered a
restricted security upon expiration of the
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lock-up period, an unregistered security of a public
company with registration rights will no longer be considered a restricted security when such
securities become registered, and an unregistered security of a public company that becomes freely
tradable with the passage of time will no longer be considered a restricted security upon the
elapse of the requisite time period.
An issuer may be willing to offer the purchaser more attractive features with respect to
securities issued in direct investments because it has avoided the expense and delay involved in a
public offering of securities. Adverse conditions in the public securities markets also may
preclude a public offering of securities. Restricted securities obtained by means of direct
investments are less liquid than securities traded in the open market; therefore, we may not be
able to readily sell such securities. Investments currently considered by our Adviser to be
illiquid because of such restrictions include subordinated convertible units and certain direct
placements of common units. Such securities are unlike securities that are traded in the open
market, which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. The sale price of
securities that are not readily marketable may be lower or higher than the companys most recent
determination of their fair value. In addition, the value of these securities typically requires
more reliance on the judgment of our Adviser than that required for securities for which there is
an active trading market. Due to the difficulty in valuing these securities and the absence of an
active trading market for these securities, we may not be able to realize these securities true
value, or may have to delay their sale in order to do so.
Restricted securities generally can be sold in private transactions, pursuant to an exemption
from registration under the 1933 Act, or in a registered public offering. If the issuer of the
restricted securities has an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering the
restricted securities, our Adviser has the ability to deem restricted securities as liquid. To
enable us to sell our holdings of a restricted security not registered under the 1933 Act, we may
have to cause those securities to be registered. When we must arrange registration because we wish
to sell the security, a considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to
sell the security and the time the security is registered so that we can sell it. We would bear the
risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.
In recent years, a large institutional market developed for certain securities that are not
registered under the 1933 Act, including private placements, repurchase agreements, commercial
paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes. These instruments are often restricted
securities because the securities are either themselves exempt from registration or were sold in
transactions not requiring registration, such as Rule 144A transactions. Institutional investors
generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but instead will often
depend on an efficient institutional market in which such unregistered securities can be resold or
on an issuers ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are
contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is not
dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act establishes a safe harbor from the registration requirements of
the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Institutional
markets for restricted securities that exist or may develop as a result of Rule 144A may provide
both readily ascertainable values for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an
investment. An insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule
144A-eligible securities held by us, however, could affect adversely the marketability of such
portfolio securities, and we might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at
reasonable prices.
We may also invest in securities that may not be restricted, but are thinly-traded. Although
securities of certain pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies trade on the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Alternext U.S. (formerly known as AMEX), the NASDAQ National Market
or other securities exchanges or markets, such securities may have a trading volume lower than
those of larger companies due to their relatively smaller capitalizations. Such securities may be
difficult to dispose of at a fair price during times when we believe it is desirable to do so.
Thinly-traded securities are also more difficult to value and our Advisers judgment as to value
will often be given greater weight than market quotations, if any exist. If market quotations are
not available, thinly-traded securities will be valued in accordance with procedures established by
the Board. Investment of capital in thinly-traded securities may restrict our ability to take
advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with thinly-traded securities may be
particularly acute in situations in which our operations require cash and could result in us
borrowing to meet our short term needs or incurring losses on the sale of thinly-traded securities.
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Debt Securities. We may invest up to 20% of our Total Assets in debt securities, including
securities rated below investment grade, commonly referred to as junk bonds. Our debt securities
may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and reset terms,
including fixed rate, floating rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent, deferred, and
payment in kind features, and may include securities that are or are not exchange traded. To the
extent that we invest in below investment grade debt securities, such securities will be rated, at
the time of investment, at least B- by S&P or B3 by Moodys or a comparable rating by at least one
other rating agency or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. If a
security satisfies our minimum rating criteria at the time of purchase and is subsequently
downgraded below such rating, we will not be required to dispose of such security. If a downgrade
occurs, the Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of such security, is in the best
interest of us and our stockholders.
Repurchase Agreements. We may enter into repurchase agreements backed by U.S. Government
securities. A repurchase agreement arises when we purchase a security and simultaneously agree to
resell it to the vendor at an agreed upon future date. The resale price is greater than the
purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon market rate of return that is effective for the period of
time we hold the security and that is not related to the coupon rate on the purchased security.
Such agreements generally have maturities of not more than seven days and could be used to permit
us to earn interest on assets awaiting long-term investment. We require continuous maintenance by
the custodian for our account in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book Entry System of collateral in an
amount equal to, or in excess of, the market value of the securities that are the subject of a
repurchase agreement. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered
illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase
agreement, we could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses,
including: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security during the period while we
seek to enforce our rights thereto; (b) possible subnormal levels of income and lack of access to
income during this period; and (c) expenses incurred in connection with enforcing our rights.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. We may enter into reverse repurchase agreements for temporary
purposes with banks and securities dealers if the creditworthiness of the bank or securities dealer
has been determined by our Adviser to be satisfactory. A reverse repurchase agreement is a
repurchase agreement in which we are the seller of, rather than the investor in, securities and
agree to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price. Use of a reverse repurchase agreement
may be preferable to a regular sale and later repurchase of securities because it avoids certain
market risks and transaction costs.
At the time when we enter into a reverse repurchase agreement, liquid assets (such as cash,
U.S. Government securities or other high-grade debt obligations) of ours having a value at least
as great as the purchase price of the securities to be purchased will be segregated on our books
and held by the custodian throughout the period of the obligation. The use of reverse repurchase
agreements by us creates leverage which increases our investment risk. If the income and gains on
securities purchased with the proceeds of these transactions exceed the cost, our earnings or net
asset value will increase faster than otherwise would be the case; conversely, if the income and
gains fail to exceed the cost, earnings or net asset value would decline faster than otherwise
would be the case. We intend to enter into reverse repurchase agreements only if the income from
the investment of the proceeds is expected to be greater than the expense of the transaction,
because the proceeds are invested for a period no longer than the term of the reverse repurchase
agreement.
Margin Borrowing. Although we do not currently intend to, we may in the future use margin
borrowing of up to 33 1/3% of our Total Assets for investment purposes when our Adviser believes it
will enhance returns. Margin borrowing creates certain additional risks. For example, should the
securities that are pledged to brokers to secure margin accounts decline in value, or should
brokers from which we have borrowed increase their maintenance margin requirements (i.e., reduce
the percentage of a position that can be financed), then we could be subject to a margin call,
pursuant to which we must either deposit additional funds with the broker or suffer mandatory
liquidation of the pledged securities to compensate for the decline in value. In the event of a
precipitous drop in the value of our assets, we might not be able to liquidate assets quickly
enough to pay off the margin debt and might suffer mandatory liquidation of positions in a
declining market at relatively low prices, thereby incurring substantial losses. For these reasons,
the use of borrowings for investment purposes is considered a speculative investment practice. Any
use of margin borrowing by us would be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, including the
prohibition on our issuing more than one class of senior securities, and the asset coverage
requirements discussed earlier in this statement of additional information.
S-8
Hedging and Risk Management. In addition to writing covered call options as part of our
investment strategy, the risks of which are described herein, we may utilize certain other
derivative instruments for hedging or risk management purposes.
In an attempt to reduce the interest rate risk arising from our leveraged capital structure,
we may, but are not obligated to, use interest rate transactions intended to reduce our interest
rate risk with respect to our interest and distribution payment obligations under our outstanding
leverage. Such interest rate transactions would be used to protect us against higher costs on our
leverage resulting from increases in short-term interest rates. We anticipate that the majority of
such interest rate hedges would be interest rate swap contracts and interest rate caps and floors
purchased from financial institutions. There is no assurance that the interest rate hedging
transactions into which we may enter will be effective in reducing our exposure to interest rate
risk. Hedging transactions are subject to correlation risk, which is the risk that payment on our
hedging transactions may not correlate exactly with our payment obligations on senior securities.
The use of interest rate transactions is a highly specialized activity that involves investment
techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions.
In an interest rate swap, we would agree to pay to the other party to the interest rate swap (known
as the counterparty) a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay to us
a variable rate payment intended to approximate our variable rate payment obligations on
outstanding leverage. The payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the swap. In
an interest rate cap, we would pay a premium to the counterparty up to the interest rate cap and,
to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate of interest,
would receive from the counterparty payments equal to the difference based on the notional amount
of such cap. In an interest rate floor, we would be entitled to receive, to the extent that a
specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, payments of interest on a notional
principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. Depending on the state of interest
rates in general, our use of interest rate transactions could affect our ability to make required
interest or distribution payments on our outstanding leverage. To the extent there is a decline in
interest rates, the value of the interest rate transactions could decline. If the counterparty to
an interest rate transaction defaults, we would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts
under the interest rate transaction to offset our cost of financial leverage.
To a lesser extent, we may, but do not currently intend to, use other hedging and risk
management strategies to seek to manage other market risks. Such hedging strategies may be utilized
to seek to protect against possible adverse changes in the market value of securities held in our
portfolio or to otherwise protect the value of our portfolio. We may, but do not currently intend
to, enter into currency exchange transactions to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange
rate risk to the extent we invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers.
Our currency transactions will generally be limited to portfolio hedging involving portfolio
positions. Portfolio hedging is the use of a forward contract with respect to a portfolio security
position denominated or quoted in a particular currency. A forward contract is an agreement to
purchase or sell a specified currency at a specified future date (or within a specified time
period) and price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are usually entered into with
banks, foreign exchange dealers or broker-dealers, are not exchange-traded, and are usually for
less than one year. The Fund may also purchase and sell other derivative investments such as
exchange-listed and over-the-counter options on securities or indices, futures contracts and
options thereon. The Fund also may purchase derivative investments that combine features of these
instruments.
Securities Lending. We may lend securities to parties such as broker-dealers or institutional
investors. Securities lending allows us to retain ownership of the securities loaned and, at the
same time, to earn additional income. Because there may be delays in the recovery of loaned
securities, or even a loss of rights in collateral supplied should the borrower fail financially,
loans will be made only to parties deemed by our Adviser to be of good credit and legal standing.
Furthermore, loans of securities will only be made if, in our Advisers judgment, the consideration
to be earned from such loans would justify the risk.
Our Adviser understands that it is the current view of the SEC staff that we may engage in
loan transactions only under the following conditions: (1) we must receive 100% collateral in the
form of cash or cash equivalents (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills or notes) from the borrower; (2) the
borrower must increase the collateral whenever the market value of the securities loaned
(determined on a daily basis) rises above the value of the collateral; (3) after giving notice, we
must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) we must receive reasonable interest on the loan
or a flat fee from the borrower, as well as amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest, or other
distributions on the securities loaned and to any increase in market value; (5) we may pay only
reasonable custodian fees in connection
S-9
with the loan; and (6) the Board must be able to vote proxies on the securities loaned, either
by terminating the loan or by entering into an alternative arrangement with the borrower.
Temporary Investments and Defensive Investments. Pending investment of the proceeds of this
offering (which we expect may take up to approximately three to six months following the closing of
this offering), we may invest offering proceeds in mutual funds, cash, cash equivalents, securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, short-term money
market instruments, short-term debt securities, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and
other bank obligations, commercial or other liquid securities all of which are expected to
provide a lower yield than the securities of pipeline companies and energy infrastructure
companies. We may also invest in these instruments on a temporary basis to meet working capital
needs, including, but not limited to, for collateral in connection with certain investment
techniques, to hold a reserve pending payment of distributions, and to facilitate the payment of
expenses and settlement of trades. We anticipate that under normal market conditions and
following the investment of the proceeds of this offering not more than 5% of our total assets will
be invested in these instruments.
Under adverse market or economic conditions, we may invest 100% of our Total Assets in these
securities. The yield on these securities may be lower than the returns on pipeline and other
energy infrastructure companies or yields on lower rated fixed income securities. To the extent we
invest in these securities for defensive purposes, we may not achieve our
investment objective.
Covered Call Options Strategy
We will also seek to provide current income from gains earned through an option strategy. We
currently intend to write (sell) call options on selected equity securities in our portfolio and to
only write call options on securities we hold in our portfolio (covered calls). The notional
amount of such calls is expected to initially be approximately 20% of the total value of our
portfolio, although this percentage may vary depending on the cash flow requirements of the
portfolio and on our Advisers assessment of market conditions. Under current market conditions, we presently intend to write covered calls that are generally one to three month terms and generally
range from five to fifteen percent out of the money, although this may vary from time to time. We currently intend to focus our
covered call strategy on other energy infrastructure companies that our Adviser believes are
integral links in the energy infrastructure value chain for pipeline companies, although we may
write options on other securities in our portfolio or indices in certain market environments.
A call option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of such call option the right
to buy the security underlying the call option from the writer of such call option at a specified
price (exercise price) at any time during the term of the option. At the time the call option is
sold, the writer of a call option receives a premium from the buyer of such call option.
If we write a call option on a security or basket of securities, we have the obligation upon
exercise of such call option to deliver the underlying security or securities upon payment of the
exercise price. As the writer of such call options, in effect, during the term of the option, in
exchange for the premium received by us, we sell the potential appreciation above the exercise
price in the value of securities covered by the options. Therefore, we forgo part of the potential
appreciation for part of our equity portfolio in exchange for the call premium received, but retain
the risk of potential decline in those securities below the price which is equal to the excess of
the exercise price of the call option over the premium per share received on the call option.
If we write a call option, we may terminate our obligation by effecting a closing purchase
transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing a call option with the same terms as the option
previously written. However, once we have been assigned an exercise notice, we will be unable to
effect a closing purchase transaction. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase
transaction can be effected when we so desire.
Other principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand,
interest rates, the current market price and price volatility of the underlying security and the
time remaining until the expiration date of the option. Gains and losses on investments in options
depend, in part, on the ability of our Adviser to predict correctly the effect of these factors.
S-10
When we write a call option, an amount equal to the premium received by us will be recorded as
a liability and will be subsequently adjusted to the current fair value of the option written.
Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by us as realized gains
from investments on the expiration date. If we repurchase a written call option prior to its
exercise, the difference between the premium received and the amount paid to repurchase the option
is treated as a realized gain or realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added
to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in determining whether we have realized a
gain or loss.
Although our Adviser will attempt to take appropriate measures to minimize the risks relating
to writing covered call options, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in any
option-writing program we undertake.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Directors and Officers
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors provides broad supervision over our affairs, including
supervision of the duties performed by our Adviser. Our officers are responsible for our day-to-day
operations. Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of four directors, three of whom are not
interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of our Adviser or its affiliates. The names, ages
and addresses of each of our directors and officers, together with their principal occupations and
other affiliations during the past five years, are set forth below. Each director and officer will
hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he resigns or is removed in
the manner provided by law. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each director and officer is
11550 Ash Street, Leawood, Kansas 66211.
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Independent Directors |
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Conrad S. Ciccotello
(Born 1960)
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Director since 2011
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Associate
Professor of Risk
Management and
Insurance, Robinson
College of Business,
Georgia State
University (faculty
member since 1999);
Director of Personal Financial
Planning Programs;
Investment Consultant to the University System of Georgia for its
defined contribution retirement plan; Formerly
Faculty Member,
Pennsylvania
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State
University
(1997-1999); Published
several academic and
professional journal
articles about investment company performance and structure, with a
focus on MLPs. |
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John R. Graham
(Born 1945)
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Director since 2011
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Executive-in-Residence
and Professor of
Finance (part-time),
College of Business
Administration, Kansas
State University (has
served as a professor
or adjunct professor
since 1970); Chairman
of the Board,
President and CEO,
Graham Capital
Management, Inc.,
primarily a real
estate development,
investment and venture
capital company; Owner
of Graham Ventures, a
business services and
venture capital firm;
Part-time Vice
President Investments,
FB Capital Management,
Inc. (a registered
investment adviser),
since 2007; formerly,
CEO, Kansas Farm
Bureau Financial
Services, including
seven affiliated
insurance or financial
service companies
(1979-2000).
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Charles E. Heath
(Born 1942)
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Director since 2011
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Retired in 1999,
Formerly Chief
Investment Officer, GE
Capitals Employers
Reinsurance
Corporation
(1989-1999). Chartered
Financial Analyst
(CFA) designation
since 1974.
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DIRECTOR (1) |
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Interested Directors
and Officers (2) |
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H. Kevin Birzer
(Born 1959)
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Director and
Chairman of the
Board since 2011
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Co-Founder and
Managing Director of
the Adviser since
2002; Member, Fountain
Capital Management,
LLC (Fountain
Capital), a
registered investment
adviser, (1990-May
2009); Director and
Chairman of the Board
of each of TYG, TYY,
TYN, TTO, TPZ and NTG
since its inception;
Vice President,
Corporate Finance
Department, Drexel
Burnham Lambert
(1986-1989); Vice
President, F. Martin
Koenig & Co., an
investment management
firm (1983-1986). CFA
designation since
1988.
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Terry C. Matlack
(Born 1956)
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Chief Executive
Officer since 2011
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Co-founder and
Managing Director of
the Adviser since
2002; Full-time
Managing Director,
Kansas City Equity
Partners, LC (KCEP)
(2001-2002); Formerly
President, GreenStreet
Capital, a private
investment firm
(1998-2001); Director
of each of TYG, TYY,
TYN, TTO and TPZ from
its inception to
September, 2009; Chief
Executive Officer of
NTG since its
inception and of each
of TYG, TYY, TYN and
TPZ
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DURING PAST |
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COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY |
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THE PAST |
NAME AND AGE |
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TIME SERVED |
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FIVE YEARS |
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DIRECTOR (1) |
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FIVE YEARS |
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since May 2011;
Chief Financial
Officer of each of
TYG, TYY, TYN and TPZ
from inception to May
2011 and of TTO since
inception; Assistant
Treasurer of TYY, TYG
and TYN from November
2005 to April 2008,
and of TTO from its
inception to April
2008. CFA designation
since 1985. |
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Zachary A. Hamel
(Born 1965)
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President since 2011
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Co-founder and
Managing Director of
the Adviser since
2002; Partner,
Fountain Capital
(1997-present).
President of NTG since
2010 and of each of
TYG, TYY and TPZ since
May 2011; Senior Vice
President of TTO since
2005, of TYN since
2007, of TYY from 2005
to May 2011, of TYG
from 2007 to May 2011,
and of TPZ from
inception to May 2011;
Secretary of each of
TYG, TYY, TYN and TTO
from their inception
to April 2007. CFA
designation since
1998.
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N/A |
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P. Bradley Adams
(Born 1960)
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Chief Financial
Officer since 2011
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Director of Financial
Operations of the
Adviser since 2005;
Chief Financial
Officer of NTG since
2010 and of each of
TYG, TYY, TYN and TPZ
since May 2011;
Assistant Treasurer of
TYG, TYY and TYN from
April 2008 to May
2011, of TPZ from
inception to May 2011,
and of TTO
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S-14
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OCCUPATION |
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PORTFOLIOS IN FUND |
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HELD DURING |
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LENGTH OF |
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DURING PAST |
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COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY |
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THE PAST |
NAME AND AGE |
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TIME SERVED |
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FIVE YEARS |
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DIRECTOR (1) |
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FIVE YEARS |
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since April
2008. |
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Kenneth P. Malvey
(Born 1965)
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Senior Vice
President and
Treasurer since
2011
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Co-founder and
Managing Director of
the Adviser since
2002; Partner,
Fountain Capital
(2002-present);
formerly, Investment
Risk Manager and
member of the Global
Office of Investments,
GE Capitals Employers
Reinsurance
Corporation
(1996-2002); Treasurer
of each of TYG, TYY,
TYN, and TTO since
2005, and of TPZ and
NTG since their
inception; Senior Vice
President of each of
TYY and TTO since
2005, and of each of
TYG and TYN since 2007
and of TPZ and NTG
since their inception;
Assistant Treasurer of
each of TYY, TYG and
TYN from their
inception to November
2005; CFA designation
since 1996.
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N/A |
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None |
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David J. Schulte
(Born 1961)
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Senior Vice
President since
2011
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Co-founder and Managing Director of
the Adviser since
2002; Full-time
Managing Director,
KCEP (1993-2002);
Senior Vice President
of NTG since 2010 and
of TYG, TYY, TYN and
TPZ since May 2011;
President and Chief
Executive Officer of
each of TYG, TYY and
TPZ from inception to
May 2011; Chief
Executive Officer of
TYN from 2005 to May
2011 and President of
TYN from 2005 to
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N/A |
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None |
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OTHER PUBLIC |
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POSITION(S) HELD |
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COMPANY |
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WITH COMPANY, TERM |
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PRINCIPAL |
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NUMBER OF |
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DIRECTORSHIPS |
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OF OFFICE AND |
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OCCUPATION |
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PORTFOLIOS IN FUND |
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HELD DURING |
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DURING PAST |
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COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY |
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NAME AND AGE |
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DIRECTOR (1) |
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FIVE YEARS |
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September 2008; Chief
Executive Officer of
TTO since 2005 and
President of TTO from
2005 to April 2007;
CFA designation since
1992. |
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This number includes us, TYG, TYY, TYN, TPZ, TTO and NTG. Our Adviser also serves as the
investment adviser to TYG, TYY, TYN, TPZ, TTO and NTG. |
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(2) |
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As a result of their respective positions held with our Adviser or its affiliates, these
individuals are considered interested persons of ours within the meaning of the 1940 Act. |
Each director was selected to join our Board of Directors based upon their character and
integrity; their service as a director for other funds in the Tortoise fund complex; and their
willingness and ability to serve and commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a director.
In addition, as to each director other than Mr. Birzer, their status as not being an interested
person as defined in the 1940 Act; and, as to Mr. Birzer, his role with our Adviser was an
important factor in his selection as a director. No factor was by itself controlling.
In addition to the information provided in the table above, each director possesses the
following attributes that were considered when selecting such director to join our Board of
Directors: Mr. Ciccotello, experience as a college professor, a Ph.D. in finance and knowledge of
energy infrastructure MLPs; Mr. Graham, experience as a college professor, executive leadership and
business executive; Mr. Heath, executive leadership and business experience; and Mr. Birzer,
investment management experience as an executive, portfolio manager and leadership roles with our
Adviser.
Mr. Birzer serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Birzer is an interested person
of ours within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The appointment of Mr. Birzer as Chairman reflects the
Board of Directors belief that his experience, familiarity with our day-to-day operations and
access to individuals with responsibility for our management and operations provides the Board of
Directors with insight into our business and activities and, with his access to appropriate
administrative support, facilitates the efficient development of meeting agendas that address our
business, legal and other needs and the orderly conduct of meetings of the Board of Directors. Mr.
Heath serves as Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director will, among other things,
chair executive sessions of the three directors who are not interested persons of ours within the
meaning of the 1940 Act (Independent Directors), serve as a spokesperson for the Independent
Directors and serve as a liaison between the Independent Directors and our management. The
Independent Directors will regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by
independent legal counsel. The Board of Directors also has determined that its leadership
structure, as described above, is appropriate in light of our size and complexity, the number of
Independent Directors and the Board of Directors general oversight responsibility. The Board of
Directors also believes that its leadership structure not only facilitates the orderly and
efficient flow of information to the Independent Directors from management, but also enhances the
independent and orderly exercise of its responsibilities.
We have an audit committee consisting of three Independent Directors (the Audit Committee).
The Audit Committee members are Conrad S. Ciccotello (Chairman), John R. Graham and Charles E.
Heath. The Audit
Committees function is to oversee our accounting policies, financial reporting and internal
control system. The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of our
independent registered public accounting firm, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the
scope of the audit and internal controls, considers and
S-16
reports to the Board on matters relating to
our accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board
deems necessary or appropriate.
We have a nominating and governance committee that consists exclusively of three Independent
Directors (the Nominating Committee). The Nominating Committee members are Conrad S. Ciccotello,
John R. Graham (Chairman) and Charles E. Heath. The Nominating Committees function is to nominate
and evaluate Independent Director candidates, review the compensation arrangements for each of the
directors, review corporate governance issues and developments, and develop and recommend to the
Board corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent appropriate. The Nominating
Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders so long as such recommendations are
made in accordance with our Bylaws. Nominees recommended by stockholders in compliance with our
Bylaws will be evaluated on the same basis as other nominees considered by the Nominating
Committee.
We also have a compliance committee that consists exclusively of three Independent Directors
(the Compliance Committee). The Compliance Committees function is to review and assess
managements compliance with applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, monitor compliance
with our Code of Ethics, and handle other matters as the Board or committee chair deems
appropriate. The Compliance Committee members are Conrad S. Ciccotello, John R. Graham and Charles
E. Heath (Chairman).
The Board of Directors role in our risk oversight reflects its responsibility under
applicable state law to oversee generally, rather than to manage, our operations. In line with this
oversight responsibility, the Board of Directors will receive reports and makes inquiry at its
regular meetings and as needed regarding the nature and extent of significant risks (including
investment, compliance and valuation risks) that potentially could have a materially adverse impact
on our business operations, investment performance or reputation, but relies upon our management
to assist it in identifying and understanding the nature and extent of such risks and determining
whether, and to what extent, such risks may be eliminated or mitigated. In addition to reports and
other information received from our management regarding our investment program and activities, the
Board of Directors as part of its risk oversight efforts will meet at its regular meetings and as
needed with the our Advisers Chief Compliance Officer to discuss, among other things, risk issues
and issues regarding our policies, procedures and controls. The Board of Directors may be assisted
in performing aspects of its role in risk oversight by the Audit Committee and such other standing
or special committees as may be established from time to time. For example, the Audit Committee
regularly meets with our independent public accounting firm to review, among other things, reports
on our internal controls for financial reporting.
The Board of Directors believes that not all risks that may affect us can be identified, that
it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be
necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve our goals and
objectives, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may
be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the directors as to risk
management matters are typically summaries of relevant information and may be inaccurate or
incomplete. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the risk management oversight of the
Board of Directors is subject to substantial limitations.
Directors and officers who are interested persons of ours will receive no salary or fees from
us. For the 2011 fiscal year, each Independent Director will receive from us an annual retainer in
an amount to be determined following this offering and a fee of $2,000 (and reimbursement for
related expenses) for each meeting of the Board or Audit Committee attended in person (or $1,000
for each Board or Audit Committee meeting attended telephonically, or for each Audit Committee
meeting attended in person that is held on the same day as a Board meeting), and an additional
$1,000 for each other committee meeting attended in person or telephonically. No director or
officer is entitled to receive pension or retirement benefits from us.
S-17
The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by
each director of the Fund as of December 31, 2010.
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Aggregate Dollar Range |
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of |
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Equity Securities in all |
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Aggregate Dollar Range of |
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Registered Investment |
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Fund Securities |
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Companies Overseen by |
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Beneficially Owned By |
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Director in Family of |
Name of Director |
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Director** |
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Investment Companies* |
Independent Directors |
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Conrad S. Ciccotello |
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Over $100,000 |
John R. Graham |
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Over $100,000 |
Charles E. Heath |
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Over $100,000 |
Interested Directors |
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|
H. Kevin Birzer |
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|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Includes the Fund, TYG, TYY, TYN, TTO, TPZ and NTG. |
|
** |
|
As of December 31, 2010, the officers and directors of the Fund,
as a group, owned less than 1% of any class of the Funds
outstanding shares of stock. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the
liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages
except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money,
property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty which is established by a final
judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our Charter (the Charter) contains such a
provision which eliminates directors and officers liability to the maximum extent permitted by
Maryland law and the 1940 Act.
Our Charter authorizes, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and the 1940 Act, us
to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or
officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate
investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a
director, officer, partner or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which that person
may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her status as a present or
former director or officer of ours or as a present or former director, officer, partner or trustee
of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise, and to pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses in advance
of final disposition of a proceeding. Our Bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by
Maryland law to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a
director of ours and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate
investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a
director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the
proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability
to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her
status as a present or former director or officer of ours and to pay or reimburse his or her
reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. Our obligation to indemnify
any director, officer or other individual, however, is limited by the 1940 Act which prohibits us
from indemnifying any director, officer or other individual from any liability resulting from the
willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of duties or reckless disregard
of applicable obligations and duties of the directors, officers or other individuals. To the
maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and the 1940 Act, our Charter and Bylaws also permit us to
indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the
capacities described above and any employee or agent of ours or a predecessor of ours.
S-18
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our Charter
does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any
proceeding to which he is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his service in that
capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and
officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses
actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or
threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is
established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter
giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith, or (2) was the result of active
and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal
benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director
or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment
in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that
personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and
then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable
expenses to a director or officer upon the corporations receipt of (a) a written affirmation by
the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary
for indemnification by the corporation, and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to
repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the
standard of conduct was not met. Our obligation to indemnify any director, officer or other
individual, however, is limited by the 1940 Act, which prohibits us from indemnifying any director,
officer or other individual from any liability resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith,
gross negligence in the performance of duties or reckless disregard of applicable obligations and
duties of the directors, officers or other individuals.
Investment Adviser
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. serves as our investment adviser pursuant to an Investment
Advisory Agreement (the Advisory Agreement). Our Adviser specializes in managing portfolios of
investments in listed energy infrastructure companies. Our Adviser was formed in 2002 to provide
portfolio management services to institutional and high-net worth investors seeking professional
management of their MLP investments. Our Adviser is wholly-owned by Tortoise Holdings, LLC, a
holding company. Montage Investments, LLC (Montage Investments), a registered investment
adviser, owns a majority interest in Tortoise Holdings, LLC with the remaining interests held by
the five Managing Directors of our Adviser and certain other senior employees of our Adviser. In
September, 2009, our Advisers five Managing Directors entered into employment agreements with our
Adviser.
Our Adviser is located at 11550 Ash Street, Suite 300, Leawood, Kansas 66211. As of September 30,
2011, our Adviser had approximately $6.4 billion in assets under management in publicly traded
closed-end funds, an open-end fund and other managed accounts.
Investment Committee
Subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors, and pursuant to the Advisory Agreement,
our investment committee is responsible for management of our investments. Our investment
committee determines which portfolio securities will be purchased or sold, arranges for the placing
of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, manages our covered call option
strategy, selects brokers or dealers to place those orders, maintains books, provides certain
clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services and records with respect to our securities
transactions and reports to the Board of Directors on our investments and performance.
The investment committees members are H. Kevin Birzer, Zachary Hamel, Kenneth Malvey, Terry
Matlack and David Schulte, all of whom share responsibility for management of our investments. It
is the policy of the investment committee that any investment decision relating to our portfolio
must be approved by their unanimous vote. The members of the investment committee have the
following years of investment experience: Mr. Birzer 30 years; Mr. Hamel22 years; Mr.
Malvey23 years; Mr. Matlack29 years; and Mr. Schulte 22 years.
S-19
All members of our investment committee are employees of our Adviser.
The following table provides information about the number of and total assets in other
accounts managed on a day-to-day basis by each investment committee member as of August 31, 2011.
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Number |
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of |
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Total Assets of |
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Accounts |
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Accounts |
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Paying a |
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Paying a |
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Number of |
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Total Assets of |
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Performance |
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Performance |
Name of Manager |
|
Accounts |
|
Accounts |
|
Fee |
|
Fee |
H. Kevin Birzer |
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Registered investment companies |
|
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8 |
|
|
$ |
4,542,074,174 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
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Other pooled investment vehicles |
|
|
5 |
|
|
$ |
163,960,267 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
128,863,211 |
|
Other accounts |
|
|
490 |
|
|
$ |
1,839,589,426 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
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|
|
Zachary A. Hamel |
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|
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|
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Registered investment companies |
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8 |
|
|
$ |
4,542,074,174 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
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|
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Other pooled investment vehicles |
|
|
7 |
|
|
$ |
225,962,235 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
128,863,211 |
|
Other accounts |
|
|
501 |
|
|
$ |
2,927319,196 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth P. Malvey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered investment companies |
|
|
8 |
|
|
$ |
4,542,074,174 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other pooled investment vehicles |
|
|
7 |
|
|
$ |
225,962,235 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
128,863,211 |
|
Other accounts |
|
|
501 |
|
|
$ |
2,927,319,196 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Terry C. Matlack |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered investment companies |
|
|
8 |
|
|
$ |
4,542,074,174 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other pooled investment vehicles |
|
|
5 |
|
|
$ |
163,960,267 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
128,863,211 |
|
Other accounts |
|
|
490 |
|
|
$ |
1,839,589,426 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
David J. Schulte |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered investment companies |
|
|
8 |
|
|
$ |
4,542,074,174 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other pooled investment vehicles |
|
|
5 |
|
|
$ |
163,960,267 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
128,863,211 |
|
Other accounts |
|
|
490 |
|
|
$ |
1,839,589,426 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
None of Messrs. Birzer, Hamel, Malvey, Matlack or Schulte receive any direct compensation from
us or any other of the managed accounts reflected in the table above. Messrs. Birzer, Hamel,
Malvey, Matlack and Schulte are full-time employees of our Adviser and receive a fixed salary for
the services they provide. Each of Messrs. Birzer, Hamel, Malvey, Matlack and Schulte own an equity
interest in Tortoise Holdings, LLC, the sole member of our Adviser, and each thus benefits from
increases in the net income of our Adviser.
The Adviser has hired 440 Investment Group, LLC (440 Investment Group) to provide research
assistance and option market analysis for its covered call option strategy. 440 Investment Group,
an affiliate of the Adviser owned by Montage Investments, is a registered investment adviser that
specializes in alternative investments, including option strategies. Its founders have over a
decade of alternative investment experience, including managing commodity, agriculture and index
option investment strategies.
In addition to portfolio management services, our Adviser is obligated to supply our Board and
officers with certain statistical information and reports, to oversee the maintenance of various
books and records and to arrange for the preservation of records in accordance with applicable
federal law and regulations. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, we pay our Adviser a fee
equal to 1.10% annually of our average monthly Managed Assets for the services rendered by it.
Managed Assets means our Total Assets minus accrued liabilities other than debt representing
financial leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock. The
Adviser has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.25%, 0.20%, and 0.15% of average monthly Managed Assets for
the first, second and third years following this offering, respectively. Because the fee paid to
the Adviser is determined on the basis of our Managed Assets, the Advisers interest in determining
whether we should incur additional leverage will conflict with our interests.
S-20
Because the management fees paid to our Adviser are based upon a percentage of our Managed
Assets, fees paid to our Adviser are higher when we are leveraged; thus, our Adviser will have an
incentive to leverage us. Our Adviser intends to leverage us only when it believes it will serve
the best interests of our stockholders. Our average monthly Managed Assets are determined for the
purpose of calculating the management fee by taking the average of the monthly determinations of
Managed Assets during a given calendar quarter. The fees are payable for each calendar quarter
within five (5) days of the end of that quarter.
The Advisory Agreement provides that we will pay all expenses other than those expressly
stated to be payable by our Adviser, which expenses payable by us shall include, without implied
limitation: (1) expenses of maintaining and continuing our existence and related overhead,
including, to the extent services are provided by personnel of our Adviser or its affiliates,
office space and facilities and personnel compensation, training and benefits, (2) our registration
under the 1940 Act, (3) commissions, spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the
acquisition, holding and disposition of securities and other investments, including placement and
similar fees in connection with direct placements entered into on our behalf, (4) auditing,
accounting and legal expenses, (5) taxes and interest, (6) governmental fees, (7) expenses of
listing our shares with a stock exchange, and expenses of issue, sale, repurchase and redemption
(if any) of our shares, including expenses of conducting tender offers for the purpose of
repurchasing our shares, (8) expenses of registering and qualifying us and our shares under federal
and state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements and amendments for
such purposes, (9) expenses of communicating with stockholders, including website expenses and the
expenses of preparing, printing and mailing press releases, reports and other notices to
stockholders and of meetings of stockholders and proxy solicitations therefor, (10) expenses of
reports to governmental officers and commissions, (11) insurance expenses, (12) association
membership dues, (13) fees, expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all
services to us (including without limitation safekeeping of funds, securities and other
investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of NAVs), (14) fees,
expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend and interest paying agents, stockholder
servicing agents and registrars for all services to us, (15) compensation and expenses of our
directors who are not members of our Advisers organization, (16) pricing and valuation services
employed by us, (17) all expenses incurred in connection with leveraging of our assets through a
line of credit or other indebtedness or issuing and maintaining notes or preferred stock, (18) all
expenses incurred in connection with offerings of our common and preferred stock and debt
securities, and (19) such non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in
connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and our obligation to indemnify our directors,
officers and stockholders with respect thereto.
The Advisory Agreement provides that our Adviser will not be liable in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any of the securities comprising the portfolio if it has satisfied
the duties and the standard of care, diligence and skill set forth in the Advisory Agreement.
However, our Adviser will be liable to us for any loss, damage, claim, cost, charge, expense or
liability resulting from our Advisers willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or
disregard by our Adviser of our Advisers duties or standard of care, diligence and skill set forth
in the Advisory Agreement or a material breach or default of our Advisers obligations under the
Advisory Agreement.
The Advisory Agreement has a term ending on the second anniversary of this offering and may be
continued from year to year thereafter as provided in the 1940 Act. The Advisory Agreement will be
submitted to the Board of Directors for renewal each year following its initial term. The Advisory
Agreement will continue from year to year, provided such continuance is approved by a majority of
the Board or by vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities. In
addition, the Advisory Agreement must be approved annually by vote of a majority of the Independent
Directors. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by our Adviser or us, without penalty, on sixty
(60) days written notice to the other. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment.
Code of Ethics
We and our Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, which
is applicable to officers, directors and designated employees of us and our Adviser (collectively,
the Codes). Subject to certain limitations, the Codes permit those officers, directors and
designated employees of ours, and our Adviser (Covered Persons) to invest in securities,
including securities that may be purchased or held by us. The Codes contain provisions and
requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal
investment activities of Covered Persons and the interests of investment advisory clients such as
ours. Among other
S-21
things, the Codes prohibit certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time
periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires
submission of duplicate broker confirmations and statements and quarterly reporting of securities
transactions. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Codes may be granted in particular
circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
The Code of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in
Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by
calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Our code of ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on
the SECs Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by
electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SECs
Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
Our Code of Ethics is also available on our Advisers website at www.tortoiseadvisors.com.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Execution of Portfolio Transactions
Our Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for us, broker-dealer
selection, negotiation of brokerage commission rates, and management of our covered call strategy.
Our Advisers primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best
execution. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute each particular transaction, our Adviser will
initially consider their ability to execute transactions at the most favorable prices and lowest
overall execution costs, while also taking into consideration other relevant factors, such as the
reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer, the size of and difficulty in
executing the order, the quality of execution and custodial services, and the provision of valuable
research services that can be reasonably expected to enhance the investment return of clients
managed by our Adviser. Research services may include reports on energy infrastructure companies,
the market, the economy and other general widely distributed research, and may be used by our
Adviser in servicing all funds and accounts managed by the Adviser, including us. Receipt of
research is one of a number of factors considered in assigning an overall internal ranking to
brokers. The price to us in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another
broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the execution services
offered.
We may, from time to time, enter into arrangements with placement agents in connection with
direct placement transactions. In evaluating placement agent proposals, our Adviser will consider
each brokers access to issuers of pipeline and other energy infrastructure company securities and
experience in the energy infrastructure market, particularly the direct placement market. In
addition to these factors, our Adviser will consider whether the proposed services are customary,
whether the proposed fee schedules are within the range of customary rates, whether any proposal
would obligate us to enter into transactions involving a minimum fee, dollar amount or volume of
securities, or into any transaction whatsoever, and other terms such as indemnification provisions.
Subject to such policies as the Board may from time to time determine, our Adviser shall not
be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty solely by reason of its having
caused us to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to our Adviser an
amount of commission for effecting an investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission
another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if our Adviser
determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of
the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either
that particular transaction or our Advisers overall responsibilities with respect to us and to
other clients of our Adviser as to which our Adviser exercises investment discretion. Our Adviser
is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to such brokers and
dealers who also provide research or statistical material or other services to us, our Adviser or
to any sub-adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as our Adviser shall
determine and our Adviser will report on said allocations regularly to the Board of Directors
indicating the brokers to whom such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
S-22
Portfolio Turnover
Our annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. We may, but under
normal market conditions, do not intend to, engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio
securities. Although we cannot accurately predict our portfolio turnover rate, we expect to
maintain relatively low (e.g., less than 30% under normal market circumstances) turnover of our
core equity portfolio under normal market conditions, not including purchases and sales of equity
securities and call options in connection with our call option program. On an overall basis, our
annual turnover rate may exceed 100%. A high turnover rate involves greater trading costs to us and
may result in greater realization of taxable capital gains.
NET ASSET VALUE
We compute the NAV of our common stock as of the close of trading of the NYSE (normally 4:00
p.m. Eastern time) no less frequently than the last business day of each calendar month and at such
other times as the Board of Directors may determine. When considering an offering of common stock,
we calculate our NAV on a more frequent basis, generally daily, to the extent necessary to comply
with the provisions of the 1940 Act. We currently intend to make our NAV available for publication
weekly on our Advisers website. The NAV per common share equals our NAV divided by the number of
outstanding common shares. Our NAV equals the value of our Total Assets less: (i) all of our
liabilities (including accrued expenses); (ii) accumulated and unpaid dividends on any outstanding
preferred stock; (iii) the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock;
(iv) accrued and unpaid interest payments on any outstanding indebtedness; (v) the aggregate
principal amount of any outstanding indebtedness; and (vi) any distributions payable on our common
stock.
We will determine the value of our assets and liabilities in accordance with valuation
procedures adopted by our Board of Directors. Securities for which market quotations are readily
available shall be valued at market value. If a market value cannot be obtained or if our Adviser
determines that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent value as of the
measurement date (due to a significant development subsequent to the time its price is determined
or otherwise), value for the security shall be determined pursuant to the methodologies established
by our Board of Directors.
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The value for equity securities and equity-related securities is determined by using
readily available market quotations from the principal market. For equity and
equity-related securities that are freely tradable and listed on a securities exchange or
over the counter market, value is determined using the last sale price on that exchange or
over-the-counter market on the measurement date. If the security is listed on more than one
exchange, we will use the price of the exchange that we consider to be the principal
exchange on which the security is traded. Securities listed on the NASDAQ will be valued
at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale
price. If a security is traded on the measurement date, then the last reported sale price
on the exchange or over-the-counter (OTC) market on which the security is principally
traded, up to the time of valuation, is used. If there were no reported sales on the
securitys principal exchange or OTC market on the measurement date, then the average
between the last bid price and last asked price, as reported by the pricing service, shall
be used. We will obtain direct written broker-dealer quotations if a security is not traded
on an exchange or quotations are not available from an approved pricing service.
Exchange-traded options will be valued at the last sales price at the close of trading or, if there
was no sale on any exchange on such day, at the last highest bid price or last lowest
ask price on any exchange. |
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An equity security of a publicly traded company acquired in a private placement
transaction without registration is subject to restrictions on resale that can affect the
securitys liquidity and value. Such securities that are convertible into publicly traded
common shares or securities that may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, shall generally be
valued based on the value of the freely tradable common share counterpart less an
applicable discount. Generally, the discount will initially be equal to the discount at
which we purchased the securities. To the extent that such securities are convertible or
otherwise become freely tradable within a time frame that may be reasonably determined, an
amortization schedule may be determined for the discount. |
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Fixed income securities (other than the short-term securities as described below) are
valued by (i) using readily available market quotations based upon the last updated sale
price or a market value from an |
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approved pricing service generated by a pricing matrix based upon yield data for securities
with similar characteristics or (ii) by obtaining a direct written broker-dealer quotation
from a dealer who has made a market in the security. |
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A fixed income security acquired in a private placement transaction without
registration is subject to restrictions on resale that can affect the securitys liquidity
and value. Among the various factors that can affect the value of a privately placed
security are (i) whether the issuing company has freely trading fixed income securities of
the same maturity and interest rate (either through an initial public offering or
otherwise); (ii) whether the company has an effective registration statement in place for
the securities; and (iii) whether a market is made in the securities. The securities
normally will be valued at amortized cost unless the portfolio companys condition or other
factors lead to a determination of value at a different amount. |
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Short-term securities, including bonds, notes, debentures and other fixed income
securities, and money market instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper,
bankers acceptances and obligations of domestic and foreign banks, with remaining
maturities of 60 days or less, for which reliable market quotations are readily available
are valued on an amortized cost basis. |
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Other assets will be valued at market value pursuant to written valuation procedures
adopted by our Board of Directors, or if a market value cannot be obtained or if our
Adviser determines that the value of a security as so obtained does not represent value as
of the measurement date (due to a significant development subsequent to the time its price
is determined or otherwise), value shall be determined pursuant to the methodologies
established by our Board of Directors. |
Valuations of public company securities determined pursuant to fair value methodologies will
be presented to our Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof for approval at the next
regularly scheduled board meeting.
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations
affecting the Fund and its stockholders. The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax
laws of the U.S. as of the date of this prospectus, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new
interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), possibly with
retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal
income, estate or gift, or state, local or foreign tax concerns affecting the Fund and its
stockholders (including stockholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth
herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to
determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a
special tax status, such as a financial institution, real estate investment trust, insurance
company, RIC, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or
non-U.S. investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the
alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the Funds stock is held
by U.S. persons and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former
citizens and former long-term residents); |
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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; |
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source; or |
S-24
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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. stockholders
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. |
A Non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual,
corporation, trust, or estate and is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity
treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax
treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and
the activities of the partnership.
Taxation as a RIC
The Fund intends to elect to be treated as, and to qualify each year for the special tax
treatment afforded, a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code). As long as the Fund meets certain requirements that govern the Funds source of income,
diversification of assets and distribution of earnings to stockholders, the Fund will not be
subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed (or treated as distributed, as described
below) to its stockholders. With respect to the source of income requirement, the Fund must derive
in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) from (i)
dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or
other disposition of stock, 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 shares, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in
qualified publicly traded partnerships. A qualified publicly traded partnership is generally
defined as a publicly traded partnership under Section 7704 of the Code, but does not include a
publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its income is described in (i) above. For purposes of
the income test, the Fund will be treated as receiving directly its share of the income of any
partnership that is not a qualified publicly traded partnership.
With respect to the diversification of assets requirement, the Fund must diversify its
holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of
the Funds Total Assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, the
securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of
such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of
the Funds Total Assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer
and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Funds Total Assets is invested in the securities of
any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs), the
securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that the Fund
controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar or related trades or
businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its stockholders at least 90% of the sum of
(i) its investment company taxable income, as that term is defined in the Code (which includes,
among other items, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of any net short-term capital gains
over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the
deduction for dividends paid and (ii) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over
certain deductions attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed, the Fund will be
relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains,
distributed to stockholders. However, if the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or
net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital
loss), it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates
(currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on the amount retained. The Fund intends to distribute at
least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest,
and net capital gain. Under the Code, the Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4%
federal excise tax on the undistributed portion of its ordinary income and capital gains if it
fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to each calendar year. In order to
avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of
(1) 98% of the Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (2) 98.2% of the Funds
capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31), and (3)
certain amounts from previous years to the extent such amounts have not been treated as distributed
or been subject to tax under Subchapter M of the Code. The Fund generally intends to make
distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution
and therefore, under normal market conditions, does not currently expect to be subject to this
excise tax.
S-25
The Fund intends to invest a portion of its assets in MLPs. Net income derived from an
interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership, which generally includes MLPs, is included in
the sources of income from which a RIC must derive 90% of its gross income. However, not more than
25% of the value of a RICs Total Assets can be invested in the securities of qualified publicly
traded partnerships. The Fund intends to invest only in MLPs that will constitute qualified
publicly traded partnerships for purposes of the RIC rules, and not more than 25% of the value of
the Funds Total Assets will be invested in the securities of publicly traded partnerships.
Federal Income Taxation of MLPs
MLPs are similar to corporations in many respects, but differ in others, especially in the way
they are taxed for federal income tax purposes. A corporation is a distinct legal entity, separate
from its stockholders and employees and is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax
purposes as well. Like individual taxpayers, a corporation must pay a federal income tax on its
income. To the extent the corporation distributes its income to its stockholders in the form of
dividends, the stockholders must pay federal income tax on the dividends they receive. For this
reason, it is said that corporate income is double-taxed, or taxed at two levels.
An MLP that satisfies the Qualifying Income rules described below, and does not elect
otherwise, is treated for federal income tax purposes as a pass-through entity. No federal income
tax is paid at the partnership level. A partnerships income is considered earned by all the
partners; it is allocated among all the partners in proportion to their interests in the
partnership (generally as provided in the partnership agreement), and each partner pays tax on his,
her or its share of the partnerships income. All the other items that go into determining taxable
income and tax owed are passed through to the partners as well capital gains and losses,
deductions, credits, etc. Partnership income is thus said to be single-taxed or taxed only at one
level that of the partner.
The Code generally requires publicly traded partnerships to be treated as corporations for
federal income tax purposes. However, if the publicly traded partnership satisfies certain
requirements and does not elect otherwise, the publicly traded partnership will be taxed as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes, referred to herein as an MLP. Under these
requirements, an MLP must derive each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from Qualifying
Income.
Qualifying Income for MLPs includes interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale
or disposition of real property, certain income and gain from commodities or commodity futures, and
income and gain from certain mineral or natural resources activities. Mineral or natural resources
activities that generate Qualifying Income include income and gains from the exploration,
development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines
transporting gas, oil or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resource
(including fertilizer, geothermal energy, and timber). Most MLPs today are in energy, timber, or
real estate related businesses.
Because the MLP itself does not pay federal income tax, its income or loss is allocated to its
investors, irrespective of whether the investors receive any cash payment from the MLP. MLPs
generally make quarterly cash distributions. Although they resemble corporate dividends, MLP
distributions are treated differently. The MLP distribution is treated as a return of capital to
the extent of the investors basis in his MLP interest and, to the extent the distribution exceeds
the investors basis in the MLP interest, capital gain. The investors original basis is the price
paid for the units. The basis is adjusted downward with each distribution and allocation of
deductions (such as depreciation) and losses, and upwards with each allocation of income.
When the units are sold, the difference between the sales price and the investors adjusted
basis is the gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. The partner generally will not be taxed
on distributions until (1) he sells his MLP units and pays tax on his gain, which gain is increased
resulting from the basis decrease resulting from prior distributions; or (2) his basis reaches
zero.
Failure to Qualify as a RIC
If the Fund is unable to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement or otherwise fails to
qualify as a RIC in any year, it will be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and
distributions to the Funds stockholders
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will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, the Funds
distributions, to the extent derived from the Funds current or accumulated earnings and profits,
would constitute dividends, which would generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction
available to corporate stockholders, and non-corporate stockholders would generally be able to
treat such distributions as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal
income taxation in taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, provided in each case
that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of the
Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital
to the extent of the stockholders tax basis in their Fund shares, and any remaining distributions
would be treated as a capital gain. Earnings and profits are generally treated, for federal income
tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on preferred stock, and then to the extent
remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the common stock. To qualify as a RIC in a subsequent
taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the source-of-income, the asset
diversification, and the annual distribution requirements for that year and dispose of any earnings
and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. Subject
to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under the Code for at least one
year prior to disqualification and that requalify as a RIC no later than the second year following
the nonqualifying year, the Fund would be subject to tax on any unrealized built-in gains in the
assets held by it during the period in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC
that are recognized within the subsequent 10 years, unless the Fund made a special election to pay
corporate-level tax on such built-in gain at the time of its requalification as a RIC.
Taxation for U.S. Stockholders
Assuming the Fund qualifies as a RIC, distributions paid to you by the Fund from its
investment company taxable income will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income to the extent
of the Funds earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. A
portion of such distributions (if designated by the Fund) may qualify (i) in the case of corporate
stockholders, for the dividends received deduction under Section 243 of the Code to the extent that
the Funds income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations, excluding distributions from
certain entities, including REITs, or (ii) in the case of individual stockholders for taxable years
beginning on or prior to December 31, 2012, as qualified dividend income eligible to be taxed at
reduced rates under Section 1(h)(11) of the Code (which generally provides for a maximum rate of
15%) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and provided in each case that
certain holding period and other requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is, in general,
dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations (e.g.,
generally, if the issuer is incorporated in a possession of the United States or in a country with
a qualified comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States, or if the stock with respect to
which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United
States). To be treated as qualified dividend income, the stockholder must hold the shares paying
otherwise qualifying dividend income more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days
before the ex-dividend date. A stockholders holding period may be reduced for purposes of this
rule if the stockholder engages in certain risk reduction transactions with respect to the stock. A
qualified foreign corporation generally excludes any foreign corporation that, for the taxable year
of the corporation in which the dividend was paid or the preceding taxable year, is a passive
foreign investment company. Distributions made to you from an excess of net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital losses (capital gain dividends), including capital gain dividends
credited to you but retained by the Fund, will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain if they
have been properly designated by the Fund, regardless of the length of time you have owned our
shares. The maximum tax rate on capital gain dividends received by individuals is generally 15% for
such gain realized before January 1, 2013.
Distributions in excess of the Funds earnings and profits will be treated by you, first, as a
tax-free return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of your
shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital
gain to you. Under current law, the maximum 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified
dividend income will cease to apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012; beginning
in 2013, the maximum rate on long-term capital gains is scheduled to increase to 20%, and all
ordinary dividends (including amounts treated as qualified dividends under the law currently in
effect) will be taxed as ordinary income. Generally, not later than 60 days after the close of its
taxable year, the Fund will provide you with a written notice designating the amount of any
qualified dividend income or capital gain dividends and other distributions.
S-27
As a RIC, the Fund will be subject to the AMT, but any items that are treated differently for
AMT purposes must be apportioned between the Fund and the stockholders and this may affect the
stockholders AMT liabilities. The Fund intends in general to apportion these items in the same
proportion that dividends paid to each stockholder bear to the Funds taxable income (determined
without regard to the dividends paid deduction).
Sales and other dispositions of the Funds shares generally are taxable events. You should
consult your own tax adviser with reference to your individual circumstances to determine whether
any particular transaction in the Funds shares is properly treated as a sale or exchange for
federal income tax purposes and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such
transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will generally result in capital
gain or loss to you equal to the difference between the amount realized and your adjusted tax basis
in the shares sold or exchanged, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period
for the shares is more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of
shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any
capital gain dividends you received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain
dividend) with respect to such shares. A loss you realize on a sale or exchange of shares of the
Fund generally will be disallowed if you acquire other substantially identical shares within a
61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that you dispose of the
shares. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed
loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates
applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain
will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to ordinary income, currently a maximum rate of 35%,
while long-term capital gain realized before January 1, 2013 generally will be taxed at a maximum
rate of 15%. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.
For purpose of determining (i) whether the annual distribution requirement is satisfied for
any year and (ii) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year, the Fund may, under
certain circumstances, elect to treat a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year
as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the Fund makes such an election,
the U.S. stockholder will still be treated as receiving the distribution in the taxable year in
which the distribution is made. However, if the Fund pays you a distribution in January that was
declared in the previous October, November or December to stockholders of record on a specified
date in one of such months, then such distribution will be treated for tax purposes as being paid
by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
A stockholder may elect not to have all distributions automatically reinvested in Fund shares
pursuant to the Plan. If a stockholder elects not to participate in the Plan, such stockholder will
receive distributions in cash. For taxpayers subject to U.S. federal income tax, all distributions
will generally be taxable, as discussed above, regardless of whether a stockholder takes them in
cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund.
If a stockholders distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, the stockholder will generally be treated as having received a taxable
distribution in the amount of the cash dividend that the stockholder would have received if the
stockholder had elected to receive cash. Under certain circumstances, however, if a stockholders
distributions are automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan and the Plan Agent invests the
distribution in newly issued shares of the Fund, the stockholder may be treated as receiving a
taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of the stock the stockholder receives.
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all realized capital gains, if any, at least
annually. If, however, the Fund were to retain any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the
retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to stockholders who, if subject to U.S.
federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income as
long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of such undistributed amount and (ii) will be
entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Fund on the
undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim
refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If such an event occurs, the tax basis
of shares owned by a stockholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally
be increased by the difference between the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the
stockholders gross income and the tax deemed paid by the stockholders.
S-28
Call Options
The Funds covered call options generally will be treated as options governed by Code Section
1234. Pursuant to Code Section 1234, if a written option expires unexercised, the premium received
is short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the
difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium received for writing
the option is short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the Fund is cash
settled, any resulting gain or loss will generally be short-term capital gain or loss.
The Code contains special rules that apply to straddles, defined generally as the holding of
offsetting positions with respect to personal property. For example, the straddle rules normally
apply when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with respect to such stock or
substantially identical stock or securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting if
there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of
holding one or more other positions. If two or more positions constitute a straddle, recognition of
a realized loss from one position must generally be deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain in
an offsetting position. In addition, long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term
capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital loss. Interest and other carrying
charges allocable to personal property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible but
must instead be capitalized. Similarly, wash sale rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss
by the Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or
substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been
acquired within a prescribed period.
To the extent that any of the Funds positions constitute tax straddles which do not qualify
as a qualified covered call under Section 1092(c)(4), the impact upon the Funds income taxes
will include: dividends received on the long common stock leg of the straddle may not be eligible
for distributions that qualify as qualified dividend income or for the corporate dividends
received deduction, the Fund will generally realize short-term gain or loss on the long common
stock leg of the straddle (to the extent losses are not otherwise deferred) and, realized losses on
either the long common stock or the written (short) option legs of the straddle may be deferred for
tax purposes to the extent that both legs of the straddle are not closed within the same tax year.
In general, a qualified covered call option is an option that is written (sold) with respect
to stock that is held or acquired by a taxpayer in connection with granting the option which meets
certain requirements, including: the option is exchange-traded or, if over-the-counter, meets
certain IRS requirements, is granted more than 30 days prior to expiration, is not
deep-in-the-money (within the meaning of Section 1092), is not granted by an options dealer
(within the meaning of Section 1256(g)(8)) in connection with the option dealers activity of
dealing in options, and gain or loss with respect to such option is not ordinary income or loss.
Provided the Funds covered calls meet the definition of qualified covered calls and are not part
of a larger straddle, the general tax straddle holding period termination rules will not apply. As
a result, dividend income received with respect to the long common stock leg of the straddle may be
eligible for qualified dividend income and corporate dividends received deduction treatment
(assuming all other relevant requirements are met). In addition, the general tax straddle rules
requiring loss deferral and the capitalization of certain interest expense and carrying charges
will not apply. Qualified covered call option positions are, however, subject to special rules in
the case of options which are in-the-money (but still not deep-in-the-money) or for positions
which are closed near year end (and not within the same year end).
The Fund may enter into transactions that would be treated as Section 1256 Contracts under
the Code. In general, the Fund would be required to treat any Section 1256 Contracts as if they
were sold for their fair market value at the end of the Funds taxable year, and would be required
to recognize gain or loss on such deemed sale for federal income tax purposes even though the Fund
did not actually sell the contract and receive cash. Forty percent of such gain or loss would be
treated as short-term capital gain or loss and sixty percent of such gain or loss would be treated
as long-term capital gain or loss.
The Code allows a taxpayer to elect to offset gains and losses from positions that are part of
a mixed straddle. A mixed straddle is any straddle in which one or more but not all positions
are section 1256 contracts. The Fund may be eligible to elect to establish one or more mixed
straddle accounts for certain of its mixed straddle trading positions. The mixed straddle account
rules require a daily marking to market of all open positions in the account and a daily netting
of gains and losses from all positions in the account. At the end of a taxable year, the
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annual net gains or losses from the mixed straddle account are recognized for tax purposes.
The net capital gain or loss is treated as 60 percent long-term and 40 percent short-term capital
gain or loss if attributable to the section 1256 contract positions, or all short-term capital gain
or loss if attributable to the non-section 1256 contract positions.
The Funds transactions in options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that,
among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may
affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate
recognition of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect
the character, amount and timing of distributions to stockholders. These provisions also (a) will
require the Fund to mark-to- market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat
them as if they were closed out), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving
cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement
for qualifying to be taxed as a RIC and the distribution requirement for avoiding excise taxes. The
Fund will monitor its transactions, will make the appropriate tax elections and will make the
appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and
prevent disqualification of the Fund from being taxed as a RIC.
Withholding and Other
Further, certain of the Funds investment practices are subject to special and complex federal
income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) convert distributions that would otherwise
constitute qualified dividend income into short-term capital gain or ordinary income taxed at the
higher rate applicable to ordinary income, (ii) treat distributions that would otherwise be
eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction as ineligible for such treatment, (iii)
disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (iv) convert
long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (v) convert an ordinary
loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (vi) cause the
Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (vii) adversely affect
the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (viii) adversely
alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and (ix) produce income that
will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described
above. While it may not always be successful in doing so, the Fund will seek to avoid or minimize
any adverse tax consequences of its investment practices.
The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including
taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to its investments in those countries,
which would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax treaties between
certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. The Fund
does not expect to satisfy the requirements for passing through to its stockholders their pro rata
shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, with the result that stockholders will not be
entitled to a tax deduction or credit for such taxes on their own US federal income tax returns,
although the Funds payment of such taxes will remain eligible for a foreign tax credit or a
deduction in computing the Funds taxable income.
The Fund is required in certain circumstances to backup withhold at a current rate of 28%
(which is scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012) on taxable distributions and certain other
payments paid to certain holders of the Funds shares who do not furnish the Fund with their
correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, their social security number)
and certain certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding
is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to you may be refunded or
credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required
information is furnished to the IRS.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Stockholders
The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to a Non-U.S. holder of our stock (a Non-U.S. Stockholder).
This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the income tax considerations
for a Non-U.S. Stockholder. For example, the following does not describe income tax consequences
that are assumed to be generally known by investors or certain considerations that may be relevant
to certain types of holders subject to
S-30
special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws. This summary does not discuss any
aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or state or local tax. In addition, this summary does not
address (i) any Non-U.S. Stockholder that holds, at any time, more than 5 percent of the Funds
stock, directly or under ownership attribution rules applicable for purposes of Section 897 of the
Code, or (ii) any Non-U.S. Stockholder whose ownership of shares of the Fund is effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
As indicated above, the Fund intends to elect to be treated, and to qualify each year, as a
RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This summary is based on the assumption that the Fund
will qualify as a RIC in each of its taxable years. Distributions of the Funds investment company
taxable income to Non-U.S. Stockholders will, except as discussed below, be subject to withholding
of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable income tax
treaty) to the extent of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits. In order to
obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a Non-U.S. Stockholder will be required to provide an
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty.
Distributions made out of qualified interest income or net short-term capital gain in any taxable
year of the Fund beginning before January 1, 2012 will generally not be subject to this withholding
tax. If, however, a Non-U.S. stockholder who is an individual has been present in the United States
for 183 days or more during the taxable year and meets certain other conditions, any such
distribution of net short-term capital gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of
30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable income tax treaty).
Actual or deemed distributions of the Funds net capital gains to a Non-U.S. Stockholder, and
gains realized by a Non-U.S. Stockholder upon the sale of the Funds stock, will not be subject to
withholding of U.S. federal income tax and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax
unless the Non-U.S. Stockholder is an individual, has been present in the United States for 183
days or more during the taxable year, and certain other conditions are satisfied.
If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual
distributions (which the Fund may do in the future), a Non-U.S. Stockholder may be entitled to a
federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the stockholders allocable share of the tax the
Fund paid on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the
Non-U.S. Stockholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income
tax return even if the Non-U.S. Stockholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S.
taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return.
A Non-U.S. Stockholder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to
withholding of federal income tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding
of federal income tax on dividends unless the Non-U.S. Stockholder provides us or the dividend
paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets
documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Stockholder or otherwise
establishes an exemption from backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a
payment to a Non-U.S. Stockholder will be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. Stockholders
United States federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that
the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income
tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the
shares.
Medicare Tax
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, recently enacted legislation will
generally impose a 3.8 percent tax on the net investment income of certain individuals with a
modified adjusted gross income of over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers) and on the
undistributed net investment income of certain estates and trusts. For these purposes, net
investment income will generally include interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rent, net gain
attributable to the disposition of property not held in a trade or business (including net gain
from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of our stock) and certain other
income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain. Thus,
certain of our taxable distributions to stockholders may be subject to the additional tax.
S-31
Recently Enacted Legislation
Beginning with payments of dividends or interest made on or after January 1, 2014, and
payments of gross proceeds made after January 1, 2015, recently enacted legislation will generally
impose a 30% withholding tax on distributions paid with respect to our stock and the gross proceeds
from a disposition of our stock paid to (i) a foreign financial institution (as defined in Section
1471(d)(4) of the Code) unless the foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the
U.S. Treasury Department to collect and disclose information regarding its U.S. account holders
(including certain account holders that are foreign entities that have U.S. owners) and satisfies
certain other requirements, and (ii) certain other non-U.S. entities unless the entity provides the
payor with certain information regarding direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity, or
certifies that it has no such U.S. owners, and complies with certain other requirements. You are
encouraged to consult with your own tax adviser regarding the possible implications of this
recently enacted legislation on your investment in our stock.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Code and the
treasury regulations in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its
stockholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and
any such change may be retroactive. Stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding
specific questions as to U.S. federal, foreign, state, local income or other taxes.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
We and our Adviser have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures (Proxy Policy), which
they believe are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in our best interests and the
best interests of our stockholders. Subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors, the Board
has delegated responsibility for implementing the Proxy Policy to our Adviser. Because of the
unique nature of certain pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies in which we primarily
invest, our Adviser will evaluate each proxy on a case-by-case basis. Because proxies of MLPs are
expected to relate only to extraordinary measures, we do not believe that it is prudent to adopt
pre-established voting guidelines.
In the event requests for proxies are received with respect to the voting of equity securities
other than MLP equity units, on routine matters, such as election of directors or approval of
auditors, the proxies usually will be voted with management unless our Adviser determines that it
has a conflict or our Adviser determines that there are other reasons not to vote with management.
On non-routine matters, such as amendments to governing instruments, proposals relating to
compensation and stock option and equity compensation plans, corporate governance proposals and
stockholder proposals, our Adviser will vote, or abstain from voting if deemed appropriate, on a
case by case basis in a manner that it believes to be in the best economic interest of our
stockholders. In the event requests for proxies are received with respect to debt securities, our
Adviser will vote on a case by case basis in a manner that it believes to be in the best economic
interest of our stockholders.
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for monitoring our actions and ensuring that: (1)
proxies are received and forwarded to the appropriate decision makers; and (2) proxies are voted in
a timely manner upon receipt of voting instructions. We are not responsible for voting proxies that
we do not receive, but will make reasonable efforts to obtain missing proxies. The Chief Executive
Officer will implement procedures to identify and monitor potential conflicts of interest that
could affect the proxy voting process, including: (1) significant client relationships; (2) other
potential material business relationships; and (3) material personal and family relationships. All
decisions regarding proxy voting will be determined by the Investment Committee of our Adviser and
will be executed by the Chief Executive Officer. Every effort will be made to consult with the
portfolio manager and/or analyst covering the security. We may determine not to vote a particular
proxy, if the costs and burdens exceed the benefits of voting (e.g., when securities are subject to
loan or to share blocking restrictions).
If a request for proxy presents a conflict of interest between our stockholders, on the one
hand, and our Adviser, the principal underwriters, or any affiliated persons of ours, on the other
hand, our management may: (1) disclose the potential conflict to the Board of Directors and obtain
consent; or (2) establish an ethical wall or other informational barrier between the persons
involved in the conflict and the persons making the voting decisions.
S-32
Information regarding how we vote proxies will be available without charge by calling us at
(866) 362-9331. You may also access this information on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
Our Advisers website at http://www.tortoiseadvisors.com provides a link to all of our reports
filed with the SEC.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP, 1200 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri, serves as our independent registered
public accounting firm. Ernst & Young provides audit and audit-related services, and tax return
preparation and assistance to us.
ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, will
serve as our administrator and provide certain back-office support such as oversight and
supervision of the payment of expenses and preparation of financial statements and related
schedules. We will pay the administrator a monthly fee computed at an
annual rate of 0.04% of the
first $1 billion of our assets, 0.01% on the next
$500 million of our assets and 0.005% on the balance of
our assets.
U.S. Bank National Association, 1555 N. River Center Dr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, will
serve as our custodian.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, will
serve as our fund accountant.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the common
stock, preferred stock and debt securities offered hereby, has been filed by us with the SEC. The
prospectus and this statement of additional information do not contain all of the information set
forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. Please refer to
the Registration Statement for further information with respect to us and the offering of our
securities. Statements contained in the prospectus and this statement of additional information as
to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in
each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit
to a Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
Copies of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the SECs principal office
in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon the
payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC. Pursuant to a notice of eligibility claiming
exclusion from the definition of commodity pool operator, filed with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission and the National Futures Association, we are not deemed to be a commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the CEA), and accordingly, are not
subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA.
S-33
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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|
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F-2 |
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|
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Audited Financial Statements |
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F-3 |
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|
F-4 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Shareholder and Board of Directors
Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Tortoise Pipeline & Energy
Fund, Inc. (the Company) as of August 25, 2011. The statement of assets and liabilities is the
responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
statement of assets and liabilities based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the statement of assets and liabilities is free of material
misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting
as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for
the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on
a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement of assets and
liabilities, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
and evaluating the overall statement of assets and liabilities presentation. We believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the statement of assets and liabilities referred to above presents fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. at August 25,
2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
August 30, 2011
Except for Note 2F and Note 5, as to which the date is
September 21, 2011
F-2
TORTOISE PIPELINE & ENERGY FUND, INC.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
August 25, 2011
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|
|
|
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Assets: |
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
$ |
100,275 |
|
Deferred offering costs |
|
|
28,912 |
|
Receivable from Adviser for organization costs |
|
|
12,866 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
142,053 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Accrued offering costs |
|
$ |
28,912 |
|
Payable for organization costs |
|
|
12,866 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
41,778 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
100,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders Consist of: |
|
|
|
|
Capital stock, $0.001 par value; 4,200 shares issued and
outstanding (100,000,000 shares authorized) |
|
$ |
4 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
100,271 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to common stockholders |
|
$ |
100,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value per common share outstanding (net assets
applicable to common stock, divided by common shares
outstanding) |
|
$ |
23.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the statement of assets and liabilities.
F-3
TORTOISE PIPELINE & ENERGY FUND, INC.
Notes to Statement of Assets and Liabilities
August 25, 2011
1. Organization
Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. (the Company) was organized as a Maryland corporation on
July 19, 2011, and is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Company has had no operations
other than the sale of 4,200 shares to the Subscriber on August 25, 2011. The Company seeks to
provide its stockholders an efficient vehicle to invest in a portfolio consisting primarily of
equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies. The Company is planning a
public offering of its common stock as soon as practicable after the effective date of its
registration statement.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a listing of the significant accounting policies that the Company will implement
upon the commencement of its operations:
A. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
B. Investment Valuation The Company plans to primarily own securities that are listed on a
securities exchange or over-the-counter market. The Company will value those securities at their
last sale price on that exchange or over-the-counter market on the valuation date. If the security
is listed on more than one exchange, the Company will use the price of the exchange that it
considers to be the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Securities listed on the
NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the
last sale price. If there has been no sale on such exchange or over-the-counter market on such
day, the security will be valued at the mean between the last bid price and last ask price on such
day.
The Company may invest up to 30 percent of its total assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted
securities. Restricted securities are subject to statutory or contractual restrictions on their
public resale, which may make it more difficult to obtain a valuation and may limit the Companys
ability to dispose of them. Investments in restricted securities and other securities for which
market quotations are not readily available will be valued in good faith by using fair value
procedures approved by the Board of Directors. Such fair value procedures consider factors such as
discounts to publicly traded issues, time until conversion date, securities with similar yields,
quality, type of issue, coupon, duration and rating. If events occur that will affect the value of
the Companys portfolio securities before the net asset value has been calculated (a significant
event), the portfolio securities so affected will generally be priced using fair value procedures.
An equity security of a publicly traded company acquired in a direct placement transaction may be
subject to restrictions on resale that can affect the securitys liquidity and fair value. Such
securities that are convertible or otherwise will become freely tradable will be valued based on
the market value of the freely tradable security less an applicable discount. Generally, the
discount will initially be equal to the discount at which the Company purchased the securities. To
the extent that such securities are convertible or otherwise become freely tradable within a time
frame that may be reasonably determined, an amortization schedule may be used to determine the
discount.
F-4
Exchange-traded options will be valued at the mean of the best bid and best asked prices across all
option exchanges.
The Company will generally value short-term debt securities at prices based on market quotations
for such securities, except those securities purchased with 60 days or less to maturity will be
valued on the basis of amortized cost, which approximates market value.
C. Security Transactions and Investment Income Security transactions will be accounted for on
the date the securities are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses will be
reported on an identified cost basis. Interest income will be recognized on the accrual basis,
including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Dividend and distribution income
will be recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received from the Companys investments in
master limited partnerships (MLPs) generally will be comprised of ordinary income, capital gains
and return of capital from the MLPs. The Company will allocate distributions between investment
income and return of capital based on estimates made at the time such distributions are received.
Such estimates are based on information provided by each MLP and other industry sources. These
estimates may subsequently be revised based on actual allocations received from the MLPs after
their tax reporting periods are concluded, as the actual character of these distributions is not
known until after the fiscal year end of the Company.
D. Distributions to Stockholders The Company anticipates that it may take three to six months to
invest substantially all of the net proceeds from an initial public offering in securities meeting
its investment objectives. Once the Company is fully invested and to the extent it receives
income, the Company intends to make quarterly cash distributions to common stockholders. In
addition, on an annual basis, the Company may distribute additional capital gains in the last
fiscal quarter if necessary to meet minimum distribution requirements and thus avoid being subject
to excise taxes. The amount of any distributions will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Distributions to stockholders will be recorded on the ex-dividend date. The character of
distributions made during the year from net investment income, net realized gains, or other sources
may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes.
E. Federal Income Taxation The Company intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year
as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the Code). As a result, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on
income and gains that it distributes each taxable year to stockholders if it meets certain minimum
distribution requirements. To qualify as a RIC, the Company will be required to distribute
substantially all of its income, in addition to other asset diversification requirements. The
Company will be subject to a 4 percent non-deductible U.S. federal excise tax on certain
undistributed income unless the Company makes sufficient distributions to satisfy the excise tax
avoidance requirement.
F. Organization Expenses and Offering Costs Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. (the Adviser)
has agreed to pay the costs related to the Companys formation, which amounted to $12,866 as of
August 25, 2011. Deferred offering costs paid by the Company will be charged as a reduction of
paid-in capital at the completion of the Companys initial public offering. At August 25, 2011,
the amount of deferred offering costs owed by the Company was $28,912. The Adviser has also agreed
to pay certain offering costs to the extent they exceed an amount per share to be determined based
on the number of shares sold in the initial public offering. The Company will not pay offering
costs in excess of $0.05 per share sold in the initial public offering.
G. Derivative Financial Instruments The Company intends to seek to provide current income from
gains earned through an option strategy which will normally consist of writing (selling) call
options on selected equity securities in the portfolio (covered calls). The premium received on
a written call option will initially be recorded as a liability and subsequently adjusted to the
then current fair value of the option written. Premiums received from writing call options that
expire unexercised will be recorded as a realized gain on the expiration date. Premiums received
from writing call options that are exercised will be added to the proceeds from the sale of the
underlying security to calculate the realized gain (loss). If a written call option is repurchased
prior to its exercise, the realized gain (loss) will be the difference between the premium received
and the amount paid to repurchase the option.
F-5
H. Indemnifications Under the Companys organizational documents, its officers and directors are
indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the
Company. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Company may enter into contracts that
provide general indemnification to other parties. The Companys maximum exposure under these
arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred, and may not occur. However, the Company has
not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be
remote.
3. Concentration of Risk
The Companys investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on
current distributions paid to its shareholders. Under normal circumstances, and once fully
invested in accordance with its investment objective, the Company will have at least 80 percent of
its total assets (including any assets obtained through leverage) in equity securities of pipeline
and other energy infrastructure companies. Energy infrastructure companies own and operate a
network of asset systems that transport, store, distribute, gather and/or process, explore,
develop, manage or produce crude oil, refined petroleum products (including biodiesel and ethanol),
natural gas or natural gas liquids (NGLs) or that provide electric power generation (including
renewable energy), transmission and/or distribution. The Company may invest up to 30 percent of
its total assets in restricted securities, primarily through direct investments in securities of
listed companies. The Company may also invest up to 25 percent of its total assets in securities
of MLPs. The Company will not invest in privately-held companies.
4. Agreements and Affiliations
The Company intends to enter into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. No management
fees will be charged until the Company commences operations.
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the Companys transfer agent, dividend paying agent,
and agent for the automatic dividend reinvestment plan.
5. Subsequent Events
The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the statement of
assets and liabilities was issued and has determined that no additional items require recognition
or disclosure.
On September 12, 2011, the Company entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser.
Under the terms of the Agreement and beginning with the commencement of operations, the Company
will pay the Adviser a fee equal to an annual rate of 1.10 percent of the Companys average monthly
total assets (including any assets attributable to leverage) minus accrued liabilities (other than
debt entered into for purposes of leverage and the aggregate liquidation preference of outstanding
preferred stock, if any) (Managed Assets), in exchange for the investment advisory services
provided. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees in an amount equal to an annual rate
of 0.25 percent of the Companys average monthly Managed Assets for the first year following the
commencement of operations, 0.20 percent of the Companys average monthly Managed Assets for the
second year following the commencement of operations and 0.15 percent of average monthly Managed
Assets for the third year following the commencement of operations.
F-6
Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
October 26, 2011