As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2016
File No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-14
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
¨ Pre-Effective Amendment No.
¨ Post-Effective Amendment No.
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices: Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)
(800) 257-8787
(Area Code and Telephone Number)
Kevin J. McCarthy
Vice President and Secretary
Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Deborah Bielicke Eades Vedder Price P.C. 222 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60601 | Eric F. Fess Chapman and Cutler LLP 111 West Monroe Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Title of Securities Being Registered | Amount Being Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1) | Amount of Registration Fee | ||||
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, | 1,000 Shares | $16.42(2) | $16,420.00 | $1.66 | ||||
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(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. |
(2) | Net asset value per common share on May 23, 2016. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OF
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NAC)
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 (NVX)
AND
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 (NZH)
(EACH, A “FUND” AND COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”)
[•], 2016
Although we recommend that you read the complete Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, for your convenience, we have provided a brief overview of the issues to be voted on.
Q. | Why am I receiving the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus? |
A. | You are receiving the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus as a holder of common shares of a Fund in connection with the annual shareholder meetings of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”) and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3” and together with Dividend Advantage 2, the “Target Funds” or each individually, a “Target Fund”). |
At the annual meetings, common shareholders of the Funds will vote on the following proposals, as applicable: |
• | (All Funds) the election of members of each Fund’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Board” or the “Board”) (the list of specific nominees is contained in the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus); |
• | (Target Funds only) the reorganization of each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 into the Acquiring Fund (each, a “Reorganization” and together, the “Reorganizations”); and |
• | (Acquiring Fund only) the issuance of additional common shares by the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganizations. |
Your Fund’s Board, including the independent Board members, unanimously recommends that you vote FOR each proposal applicable to your Fund. |
Proposals Regarding the Reorganizations
Q. | Why has each Fund’s Board recommended the Reorganization proposal(s)? |
A. | The boards of directors/trustees of Nuveen’s municipal closed-end funds, including the Board of each Fund, have approved a series of combinations of single-state municipal closed-end funds, including the Reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund. Each Fund’s Board considered the Reorganization(s) as part of a broad initiative to rationalize the product |
offerings of Nuveen funds and eliminate overlapping products. The Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies, risks and portfolio compositions and are managed by the same portfolio manager. For the reasons set forth below, each Fund’s Board has determined that its respective Reorganization(s) would be in the best interests of its Fund and has approved its Fund’s Reorganization(s). |
Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund’s name will be changed to “Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund.” |
Q. | What are the anticipated benefits of the proposed Reorganizations to common shareholders? |
A. | Based on information provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors”), the Funds’ investment adviser, each Fund’s Board believes that the proposed Reorganizations may benefit common shareholders in a number of ways, including, among other things: |
• | Lower fund operating expenses excluding the costs of leverage for all Funds, as the combined fund’s size results in the same or a lower effective management fee rate based on managed assets and as certain fixed costs are spread over a larger asset base; |
• | The potential for higher common share net earnings over time from increased operating economies of scale, which may support higher distribution rates in the future and increase investor interest in the combined fund, and, in turn, may lower the trading discount to net asset value of common shares; |
• | Increased portfolio and leverage management flexibility due to the significantly larger asset base of the combined fund; and |
• | Improved secondary market trading for common shares as a result of the combined fund’s greater share volume, which may lead to narrower bid-ask spreads and smaller trade-to-trade price movements. |
Q. | What proposals will shareholders of the Funds be asked to vote on in connection with the proposed Reorganizations? |
A. | Shareholders of each Target Fund will be asked to vote on an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, with common shareholders and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class and preferred shareholders also voting separately. Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will be asked to vote on the issuance of additional common shares in connection with the Reorganizations, with common shareholders and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class and common shareholders also voting separately. In addition, preferred shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will be asked to vote on the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. The Funds are separately soliciting the votes of the holders of their preferred shares through a separate proxy statement. |
Q. | How will the Reorganizations impact fees and expenses? |
A. | The pro forma expense ratio of the combined fund including the costs of leverage, expressed as a percentage of net assets applicable to common shares as of February 29, 2016, is estimated to be lower than the total expense ratio of each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 and the same as the total expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund. |
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In addition, the pro forma operating expenses per common share (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) of the combined fund are expected to be lower than the operating expenses per common share of each stand-alone Fund because of operating efficiencies and the larger asset base of the combined fund. |
See the Comparative Fee Table on page 36 of the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for more detailed information regarding fees and expenses. |
Q. | As a result of the Reorganizations, will common shareholders of the Target Funds receive new shares in exchange for their current shares? |
A. | Yes. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, Target Fund shareholders will become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. Holders of common shares of each Target Fund will receive newly issued common shares of the Acquiring Fund, with cash being distributed in lieu of fractional common shares. The aggregate net asset value, as of the close of trading on the business day immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, of the Acquiring Fund common shares received by Target Fund shareholders (including, for this purpose, fractional Acquiring Fund common shares to which shareholders would be entitled) will be equal to the aggregate net asset value of the common shares of such Target Fund held by its shareholders as of such time. Fractional shares will be aggregated and sold on the open market, and shareholders will receive cash in lieu of such fractional shares. |
Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will remain shareholders of the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganizations. Following the Reorganizations, common shareholders of the Funds will hold a smaller percentage of the outstanding common shares of the combined fund as compared to their percentage holdings of their respective Fund prior to the Reorganizations, and thus, a reduced percentage of ownership in the larger combined entity than they held in the Acquiring Fund or Target Fund individually. |
Q. | How will preferred shareholders be affected by the Reorganizations? |
A. | The Acquiring Fund has six series of Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) outstanding as of the date of the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and these shares will remain outstanding following the Reorganizations. Each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 has one series of VRDP Shares outstanding as of the date of the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, holders of VRDP Shares of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 will receive, on a one-for-one basis, newly issued VRDP Shares of the Acquiring Fund having terms substantially similar, as of the closing of the Reorganizations, to those of the VRDP Shares of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3, as applicable, exchanged therefor. The outstanding preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund and the preferred shares to be issued by the Acquiring Fund in the Reorganizations will have equal priority with each other and with any other preferred shares that the Acquiring Fund may issue in the future as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. |
The Acquiring Fund has multiple series of preferred shares outstanding, and, following the Reorganizations, holders of preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund will hold a smaller |
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percentage of the outstanding preferred shares of the combined fund as compared to their percentage holdings of their respective Fund prior to the Reorganizations. |
Q. | Will the Reorganizations impact Fund distributions to common shareholders? |
A. | In considering the Reorganizations, each Fund’s Board took into account information from the Funds’ investment adviser indicating that the Reorganizations are not expected to adversely impact distributions to common shareholders and are expected to result in the same or higher distribution rates for common shareholders of each Fund (as common shareholders of the combined fund following the Reorganizations) with the higher distribution rates, if any, resulting from lower fees and operating expenses per common share (excluding the costs of leverage). |
Q. | Do the Funds have similar investment objectives, policies and risks? |
A. | Yes. The Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies and risks. The investment objectives of each Fund are to provide current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes and to enhance portfolio value relative to the California municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt California municipal securities that the Fund’s investment adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued. Each Fund also emphasizes investments in investment-grade municipal securities. Each Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company and currently engages in leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and the use of inverse floating rate securities. |
It is a fundamental policy of each Fund that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, including assets attributable to any principal amount of any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes) or any preferred shares outstanding (“Managed Assets”), in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. |
As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, each Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations that rate such security or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s investment adviser and/or sub-adviser. Also, as a non-fundamental policy, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s investment adviser and/or sub-adviser. Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, no more than 10% of each Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s investment adviser and/or sub-adviser. |
Q. | Do the Reorganizations constitute a taxable event for the Target Funds’ shareholders? |
A. | No. Each Reorganization is intended to qualify as a tax-free “reorganization” for federal income tax purposes. It is expected that Target Fund shareholders will recognize no gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a direct result of the Reorganizations, except to the extent |
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that a Target Fund shareholder receives cash in lieu of a fractional Acquiring Fund common share. Prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, each Target Fund expects to declare a distribution of all of its net investment income and net capital gains, if any. All or a portion of such distribution may be taxable to a Target Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. In addition, to the extent that portfolio securities of a Target Fund are sold prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, such Target Fund may recognize gains or losses, which may increase or decrease the net capital gains or net investment income to be distributed by such Target Fund. However, because each Target Fund’s current portfolio composition is substantially similar to that of the Acquiring Fund, it is not currently expected that any significant portfolio sales will occur solely in connection with the Reorganizations (such sales are expected to be less than 5% of the assets of each Target Fund). |
Q. | What will happen if the required shareholder approvals are not obtained? |
A. | The closing of each Reorganization is contingent upon the closing of all of the Reorganizations. The closing of each Reorganization is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, which include customary closing conditions. In order for the Reorganizations to occur, all requisite shareholder approvals must be obtained at the Annual Meetings, and certain other consents, confirmations and/or waivers must also be obtained from various third parties, including the liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares. Because the closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon each of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund obtaining such shareholder approvals and satisfying (or obtaining the waiver of) other closing conditions, it is possible that the Reorganizations will not occur, even if shareholders of your Fund entitled to vote on your Fund’s Reorganization proposal(s) approve such proposal(s) and your Fund satisfies all of its closing conditions, if one or more of the other Funds does not obtain its requisite shareholder approvals or satisfy (or obtain the waiver of) its closing conditions. If the Reorganizations are not consummated, each Fund’s Board may take such actions as it deems in the best interests of its Fund. |
Q. | Will shareholders of the Funds have to pay any fees or expenses in connection with the Reorganizations? |
A. | Yes. Common shareholders will indirectly bear the costs of the Reorganizations, whether or not the Reorganizations are consummated. Preferred shareholders will not bear any costs of the Reorganizations. The total costs of the Reorganizations are estimated to be $1,085,000, and each Fund’s allocable share of such costs will be reflected in its net asset value at or before the close of trading on the business day immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The estimated allocation of the costs among the Funds is as follows: $450,000 (0.03%) for the Acquiring Fund, $260,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 2 and $375,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 3 (all percentages are based on average net assets applicable to common shares for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016). The allocation of the costs of the Reorganizations will be based on the relative expected benefits of the Reorganizations comprised of forecasted operating cost savings (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) and improved secondary market trading, if any, to each Fund during the first year following the Reorganizations. The Reorganizations are expected to result in operating cost savings (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) for common shareholders of each Fund (as shareholders of the combined fund following the Reorganizations) and the potential |
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for increased distributions over time for the common shareholders of each Fund in their capacity as common shareholders of the combined fund following the Reorganizations. Distribution increases, if any, would be realized following the recoupment of the expenses of the Reorganizations. |
A shareholder’s broker, dealer or other financial intermediary (each, a “Financial Intermediary”) may impose its own shareholder account fees for processing corporate actions, which could apply as a result of the Reorganizations. These shareholder account fees, if applicable, are not paid or otherwise remitted to the Funds or the Funds’ investment adviser. The imposition of such fees is based solely on the terms of a shareholder’s account agreement with his, her or its Financial Intermediary and/or is in the discretion of the Financial Intermediary. Questions concerning any such shareholder account fees or other similar fees should be directed to a shareholder’s Financial Intermediary. |
Q. | What is the timetable for the Reorganizations? |
A. | If the shareholder approval and other conditions to closing are satisfied (or waived), the Reorganizations are expected to take effect on or about October 12, 2016, or as soon as practicable thereafter. |
Q. | How does each Fund’s Board recommend that shareholders vote on the Reorganizations? |
A. | After careful consideration, each Fund’s Board has determined that the Reorganizations are in the best interests of its Fund and recommends that you vote FOR your Fund’s proposal. |
General
Q. | Who do I call if I have questions? |
A. | If you need any assistance, or have any questions regarding the proposal or how to vote your shares, please call Computershare Fund Services, the proxy solicitor hired by your Fund, at [•] weekdays during its business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Saturdays 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please have your proxy materials available when you call. |
Q. | How do I vote my shares? |
A. | You may vote by mail, by telephone or over the Internet: |
• | To vote by mail, please mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. |
• | To vote by telephone, please call the toll-free number located on your proxy card and follow the recorded instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. |
• | To vote over the Internet, go to the Internet address provided on your proxy card and follow the instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. |
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Q. | Will anyone contact me? |
A. | You may receive a call from Computershare Fund Services, the proxy solicitor hired by your Fund, to verify that you received your proxy materials, to answer any questions you may have about the proposals and to encourage you to vote your proxy. |
We recognize the inconvenience of the proxy solicitation process and would not impose on you if we did not believe that the matters being proposed were important. Once your vote has been registered with the proxy solicitor, your name will be removed from the solicitor’s follow-up contact list. |
Your vote is very important. We encourage you as a shareholder to participate in your Fund’s governance by returning your vote as soon as possible. If enough shareholders fail to cast their votes, your Fund may not be able to hold its meeting or the vote on each issue, and will be required to incur additional solicitation costs in order to obtain sufficient shareholder participation. |
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[•], 2016
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NAC)
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 (NVX)
AND
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 (NZH)
(EACH, A “FUND” AND COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”)
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON [•], 2016
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Dividend Advantage” or the “Acquiring Fund”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”) and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3” and together with Dividend Advantage 2, the “Target Funds” or each individually, a “Target Fund”) will be held at the offices of Nuveen Investments, Inc., 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, on [•], [•], 2016, at [•] Central time, for the following purposes:
1. | Election of Board Members. |
For each Fund:
(a) | Three (3) Class I board members are to be elected by holders of common shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single class. Board members Stockdale, Stone and Wolff are nominees for election by all shareholders. |
(b) | Two (2) board members are to be elected by holders of preferred shares only, voting separately. Board members Hunter and Schneider are nominees for election by preferred shareholders. |
2. | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. The shareholders of each Fund voting as set forth below for an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which each Target Fund would: (i) transfer substantially all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for newly issued common shares and preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of the Target Fund; (ii) distribute such newly issued shares of the Acquiring Fund to the common shareholders and preferred shareholders of the Target Fund (with cash being distributed in lieu of fractional common shares); and (iii) liquidate, dissolve and terminate in accordance with applicable law. |
(a) | For Dividend Advantage: |
The preferred shareholders voting separately to approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization.
(b) | For each Target Fund: |
(i) | The common and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class to approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. |
(ii) | The preferred shareholders voting separately to approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. |
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3. | Approval of Issuance of Additional Common Shares by the Acquiring Fund. |
For Dividend Advantage:
(a) | The common and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class to approve the issuance of additional common shares in connection with each reorganization pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. |
(b) | The common shareholders voting separately to approve the issuance of additional common shares in connection with each reorganization pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. |
4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. |
Only shareholders of record of each Fund as of the close of business on [•], 2016 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any and all adjournments or postponements thereof.
All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. In order to avoid delay and additional expense for the Funds and to assure that your shares are represented, please vote as promptly as possible, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. You may vote by mail, by telephone or over the Internet. To vote by mail, please mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. To vote by telephone, please call the toll-free number located on your proxy card and follow the recorded instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. To vote over the Internet, go to the Internet address provided on your proxy card and follow the instructions, using your proxy card as a guide.
If you intend to attend the Annual Meeting in person and you are a record holder of a Fund’s shares, in order to gain admission you must show photographic identification, such as your driver’s license. If you intend to attend the Annual Meeting in person and you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other custodian, in order to gain admission you must show photographic identification, such as your driver’s license, and satisfactory proof of ownership of shares of a Fund, such as your voting instruction form (or a copy thereof) or broker’s statement indicating ownership as of a recent date. If you hold your shares in a brokerage account or through a bank or other nominee, you will not be able to vote in person at the Annual Meeting unless you have previously requested and obtained a “legal proxy” from your broker, bank or other nominee and present it at the Annual Meeting.
Kevin J. McCarthy
Vice President and Secretary
The Nuveen Funds
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The information contained in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION,
DATED [•], 2016
NUVEEN FUNDS
333 WEST WACKER DRIVE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
(800) 257-8787
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NAC)
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 (NVX)
AND
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 (NZH)
(EACH, A “FUND” AND COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”)
[•], 2016
This Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is being furnished to common shareholders of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Dividend Advantage” or the “Acquiring Fund”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”) and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3” and together with Dividend Advantage 2, the “Target Funds” or each individually, a “Target Fund”), each a diversified, closed-end management investment company, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by each Fund’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Board” or the “Board” and each trustee, a “Board Member”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of each Fund to be held at the offices of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen” or “Nuveen Investments”), 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, on [•], [•], 2016, at [•] Central time, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof (each, an “Annual Meeting” and collectively, the “Annual Meetings”), to consider the proposals listed below, as applicable, and discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The Funds are organized as Massachusetts business trusts. The enclosed proxy card and this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus are first being sent to shareholders of the Funds on or about [•], 2016. Shareholders of record of each Fund as of the close of business on [•], 2016 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any and all adjournments or postponements thereof.
This Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus explains concisely what you should know before voting on the proposals described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or investing in the Acquiring Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
The securities offered by this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), nor has the SEC passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
On the matters coming before each Annual Meeting as to which a choice has been specified by shareholders on the accompanying proxy card, the shares will be voted accordingly where such proxy card is properly executed, timely received and not properly revoked (pursuant to the instructions below). If a proxy is returned and no choice is specified, the shares will be voted FOR the proposal(s). Shareholders of a Fund who execute proxies or provide voting instructions by telephone or by Internet may revoke them at any time before a vote is taken on a proposal by filing with that Fund a
written notice of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. A prior proxy can also be revoked by voting again through the toll-free number or the Internet address listed in the proxy card. However, merely attending the Annual Meeting will not revoke any previously submitted proxy.
The Board of each Fund has determined that the use of this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for the Annual Meetings is in the best interests of each Fund in light of the similar matters being considered and voted on by shareholders.
In addition to its common shares, each Fund has one or more series of preferred shares outstanding—Dividend Advantage has six series of Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) outstanding, and each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 has one series of VRDP Shares outstanding.
At the Annual Meetings, common and preferred shareholders of the Funds will be asked to approve Proposals Nos. 1, 2 and 3, each as described below, which must be approved as follows:
Proposal No. 1. | (All Funds) To elect Board Members: | |
• three (3) Class I Board Members are to be elected by a plurality of the Fund’s common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class; and | ||
• two (2) Board Members are to be elected by a plurality of the Fund’s preferred shareholders voting separately (but not by the Fund’s common shareholders). | ||
Proposal No. 2. | (All Funds) To approve the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization: | |
• With respect to Dividend Advantage, Proposal No. 2 must be approved by the Fund’s preferred shareholders voting separately (but not by the Fund’s common shareholders). | ||
• With respect to each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3, Proposal No. 2 must be approved by the Fund’s common and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class and by the Fund’s preferred shareholders voting separately. | ||
Proposal No. 3. | (Dividend Advantage only) To approve the issuance of additional common shares in connection with each reorganization pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization: | |
• Proposal No. 3 must be approved by Dividend Advantage’s common and preferred shareholders voting together as a single class and by Dividend Advantage’s common shareholders voting separately. |
Only the common shareholders of the Funds are being solicited to vote on the proposals described above pursuant to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The preferred shareholders of the Funds are being solicited to vote on the proposals described above by means of a separate proxy statement.
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A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at each Annual Meeting. A majority (more than 50%) of the shares entitled to vote at each Annual Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum of shareholders at that Annual Meeting. Votes cast in person or by proxy at each Annual Meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of election appointed for that Annual Meeting. The inspectors of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. The inspectors of election will treat abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which (1) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (2) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter), if any, as present for purposes of determining a quorum.
Broker-dealer firms holding shares of a Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares before the Annual Meeting. The Funds understand that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), such broker-dealer firms may, for certain “routine” matters, grant discretionary authority to the proxies designated by each Board to vote without instructions from their customers and clients if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting instructions. Proposal No. 1 is a “routine” matter, and beneficial owners who do not provide proxy instructions or who do not return a proxy card may have their shares voted by broker-dealer firms in favor of Proposal No. 1.
VRDP Shares held in “street name” as to which voting instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons otherwise entitled to vote as of one business day before the Annual Meeting, or, if adjourned or postponed, one business day before the day to which the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed, and that would otherwise be treated as broker non-votes may, pursuant to NYSE Rule 452, be voted by the broker on the proposal in the same proportion as the votes cast by all holders of VRDP Shares who have voted on the proposal. Rule 452 permits proportionate voting of a Fund’s VRDP Shares with respect to a particular item if, among other things, (1) a minimum of 30% of that Fund’s outstanding VRDP Shares has been voted by the holders of such shares with respect to such item, (2) less than 10% of that Fund’s outstanding VRDP Shares has been voted by the holders of such shares against such item and (3) for any proposal as to which holders of common shares and preferred shares vote as a single class, holders of common shares approve the proposal. For the purpose of meeting the 30% test, abstentions will be treated as shares “voted,” and for the purpose of meeting the 10% test, abstentions will not be treated as shares “voted” against the item.
Broker-dealers who are not members of the NYSE may be subject to other rules, which may or may not permit them to vote your shares without instruction. We urge you to provide instructions to your broker or nominee so that your votes may be counted.
Those persons who were shareholders of record of a Fund as of the close of business on [•], 2016 will be entitled to one vote for each share held and, with respect to holders of common shares, a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional common share held.
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As of [•], 2016 for each Fund, the shares of the Funds issued and outstanding are as follows:
Fund | Common Shares(1) | VRDP Shares(1) | ||||||
Acquiring Fund (NAC) | [ | •] | 6,996 | |||||
Dividend Advantage 2 (NVX) | [ | •] | 980 | |||||
Dividend Advantage 3 (NZH) | [ | •] | 1,600 |
(1) | The common shares of the Acquiring Fund are listed on the NYSE, and the common shares of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 are listed on the NYSE MKT. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, it is expected that the common shares of the Acquiring Fund will continue to be listed on the NYSE. The VRDP Shares of the Funds are not listed on any exchange. |
The proposed reorganizations are part of a broad initiative to rationalize the product offerings of Nuveen funds and eliminate overlapping products by combining three funds that have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies, risks and portfolio compositions and are managed by the same portfolio manager. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund’s name will be changed to “Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund.” The terms of the reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund are set forth in an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. With respect to each Reorganization, the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization provides for: (1) the Acquiring Fund’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the Target Fund in exchange for newly issued common shares of the Acquiring Fund, par value $0.01 per share, and newly issued VRDP Shares of the Acquiring Fund, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of each Target Fund; and (2) the distribution of the newly issued Acquiring Fund common shares and Acquiring Fund preferred shares received by the Target Fund to its common and preferred shareholders, respectively, as part of the liquidation, dissolution and termination of the Target Fund in accordance with applicable law (each, a “Reorganization” and together, the “Reorganizations”). The aggregate net asset value of the Acquiring Fund common shares as of the Valuation Time (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization) received by each Target Fund in connection with a Reorganization will equal the aggregate net asset value of the Target Fund common shares held by shareholders of such Target Fund as of such time. Prior to the Valuation Time, the net asset value of each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund will be reduced by the costs of the Reorganizations borne by such Fund. No fractional Acquiring Fund common shares will be distributed to a Target Fund’s common shareholders in connection with a Reorganization and, in lieu of such fractional shares, each Target Fund’s common shareholders entitled to receive a fractional share will receive cash in an amount equal to a pro rata share of the proceeds from the sale of such fractional shares in the open market, which may be higher or lower than net asset value. Preferred shareholders of each Target Fund will receive the same number of Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares having terms substantially similar to those of the outstanding preferred shares of the Target Fund held by such preferred shareholders immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The aggregate liquidation preference of the Acquiring Fund preferred shares received in connection with each Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the corresponding Target Fund preferred shares held immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization. The Agreement and Plan of Reorganization may be amended by the Funds, as specifically authorized by each Fund’s Board, provided that following receipt of shareholder approval of the Agreement at the Annual Meeting, no such amendment may change the provisions for determining the number of Acquiring Fund shares to be issued to Target Fund shareholders to the detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
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The preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations will have equal priority with each other and with the Acquiring Fund’s other outstanding preferred shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. In addition, the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, including the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations, will be senior in priority to the Acquiring Fund’s common shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund will continue to operate after the Reorganizations as a registered closed-end management investment company, with the investment objectives and policies described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
With respect to the Reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, the Reorganization is required to be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of the Target Fund’s outstanding common and preferred shares, voting together as a single class, and by the affirmative vote of a majority (more than 50%) of the Target Fund’s outstanding preferred shares, voting separately. The affirmative vote of a majority (more than 50%) of the common and preferred shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, voting together as a single class, and the affirmative vote of a majority (more than 50%) of the common shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, voting separately, are required to approve the issuance of additional common shares of the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganizations. In addition, the Reorganizations are required to be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority (more than 50%) of the Acquiring Fund’s outstanding preferred shares, voting separately.
The closing of each Reorganization is contingent upon the closing of all of the Reorganizations. The closing of each Reorganization is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, which include customary closing conditions. In order for the Reorganizations to occur, all requisite shareholder approvals must be obtained at the Annual Meetings, and certain other consents, confirmations and/or waivers must also be obtained from various third parties, including the liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares. Because the closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon each of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund obtaining such shareholder approvals and satisfying (or obtaining the waiver of) other closing conditions, it is possible that the Reorganizations will not occur, even if shareholders of your Fund entitled to vote on your Fund’s Reorganization proposal(s) approve such proposal(s) and your Fund satisfies all of its closing conditions, if one or more of the other Funds does not obtain its requisite shareholder approvals or satisfy (or obtain the waiver of) its closing conditions. If the Reorganizations are not consummated, each Fund’s Board may take such actions as it deems in the best interests of its Fund.
The following documents have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated into this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus by reference:
(1) | the Statement of Additional Information relating to the proposed Reorganizations, dated [•], 2016 (the “Reorganization SAI”); |
(2) | the audited financial statements and related independent registered public accounting firm’s report for the Acquiring Fund and the financial highlights for the Acquiring Fund contained in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year February 29, 2016 (File No. 811-09161); and |
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(3) | the audited financial statements and related independent registered public accounting firm’s report for each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 and the financial highlights for such Target Fund contained in such Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016 (File Nos. 811-10197 and 811-10347, respectively). |
No other parts of the Funds’ Annual or Semi-Annual Reports are incorporated by reference herein.
Copies of the foregoing may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or writing the Funds at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. If you wish to request a copy of the Reorganization SAI, please ask for the “California Municipal Reorganization SAI.” In addition, each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its most recent Annual Report or Semi-Annual Report to a shareholder upon request. Any such request should be directed to the Funds by calling (800) 257-8787 or by writing the Funds at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
The Funds are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and in accordance therewith file reports and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements, registration statements and other information filed by the Funds, including the Registration Statement on Form N-14 relating to the common shares of the Acquiring Fund of which this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is a part, may be inspected without charge and copied (for a duplication fee at prescribed rates) at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or at the SEC’s New York Regional Office (Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, Suite 400, New York, New York 10281) or Chicago Regional Office (175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois 60604). You may call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 for information about the operation of the public reference room. You may obtain copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also access reports and other information about the Funds on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
The common shares of the Acquiring Fund are listed on the NYSE, and the common shares of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 are listed on the NYSE MKT. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, it is expected that the common shares of the Acquiring Fund will continue to be listed on the NYSE. The VRDP Shares of the Funds are not listed on any exchange. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Funds can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE and NYSE MKT, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.
This Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus serves as a prospectus of the Acquiring Fund in connection with the issuance of the Acquiring Fund common shares in each Reorganization. In this connection, no person has been authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and, if so given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized. This Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
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JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
[•], 2016
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NAC) NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 (NVX) AND NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 (NZH)
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PROPOSAL NO. 1—THE ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS
(COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OF EACH FUND)
Pursuant to the organizational documents of each Fund, the Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III), to be elected by the holders of the outstanding common shares and any outstanding preferred shares, voting together as a single class, to serve until the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders subsequent to their election or thereafter, in each case until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Under normal circumstances, holders of preferred shares, voting separately, are entitled to elect two (2) Board Members. The Board Members elected by holders of preferred shares will be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
a. | Three (3) Board Members are to be elected by holders of common shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single class. Board Members Stockdale, Stone, and Wolff have been designated as Class I Board Members and are nominees for election at the Annual Meeting to serve for a term expiring at the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Board Members Adams, Evans, Kundert, Nelson, Schreier and Toth are current and continuing Board Members. Board Members Adams, Kundert, Nelson and Toth have been designated as Class II Board Members to serve for a term expiring at the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Board Members Evans and Schreier have been designated as Class III Board Members to serve for a term expiring at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. |
b. | Two (2) Board Members are to be elected by holders of preferred shares only, voting separately. Board Members Hunter and Schneider are nominees for election by holders of preferred shares to serve for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. |
It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the shares represented thereby for the election of the nominees listed in the table below unless the proxy is marked otherwise. Each of the nominees has agreed to serve as a Board Member of each Fund if elected. However, should any nominee become unable or unwilling to accept nomination for election, the proxies will be voted for substitute nominees, if any, designated by that Fund’s Board.
For the Acquiring Fund, Class I Board Members Stockdale and Stone, nominees for election by holders of common and preferred shares, were last elected at the annual meeting of shareholders held on February 24, 2015. For Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3, Class I Board Members Stockdale and Stone, nominees for election by holders of common and preferred shares, were last elected at the annual meeting of shareholders held on November 26, 2013. Effective February 15, 2016, Board Member Wolff, also a nominee for election by holders of common and preferred shares, was appointed as a Board Member and designated as a Class I Board Member with respect to the Acquiring Fund. Class II Board Members Adams, Kundert, Nelson and Toth were last elected at each Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders held on August 5, 2014. Class III Board Members Evans and Schreier were last elected at each Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders held on November 17, 2015. Board Members Hunter and Schneider were last elected by holders of preferred shares at each Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders held on November 17, 2015.
Other than Messrs. Adams and Schreier (for all Funds), each of the Board Members and Board Member nominees is not an “interested person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Funds or of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to each Fund, and has never been an employee or director of Nuveen Investments, the Adviser’s parent company, or any affiliate. Accordingly, such Board Members are deemed “Independent Board Members.”
For each Fund, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to elect each Board Member of that Fund. For purposes of determining the approval of the proposal to elect nominees for each Fund, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of Board Members.
The Board of each Fund unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of each Board Member identified in the table below as having an annual term or designated as a Class I Board Member, as applicable.
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Board Nominees/Board Members
Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
Board Members who are not interested persons of the Funds | ||||||||||||
William J. Schneider(2) c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1944 | Chairman of the Board, Board Member | Term: Annual
Length of Service: | Chairman of Miller-Valentine Partners Ltd., a real estate investment company; Board Member of Med-America Health System and of WDPR Public Radio Station; formerly, Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, 2004) of Miller-Valentine Group; formerly, Director, Dayton Development Coalition; formerly, Board Member, Business Advisory Council, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank and University of Dayton Business School Advisory Council. | 189 | None | |||||||
Jack B. Evans c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1948 | Board Member | Term: Class III Board Member until 2018 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | President, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation (since 1996); Director, The Gazette Company; Life Trustee of Coe College and Iowa College Foundation; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm; formerly, Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System. | 189 | Director and Chairman, United Fire Group, a publicly held company; formerly, Director, Alliant Energy. |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
William C. Hunter c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1948 | Board Member | Term: Annual
Length of | Dean Emeritus (since 2012), formerly, Dean (2006-2012), Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa; Director (since 2005) and past President (2010-2014), Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; Director of Wellmark, Inc. (since 2009); formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003). | 189 | Director (since 2004) of Xerox Corporation. | |||||||
David J. Kundert c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1942 | Board Member | Term: Class II Board Member until 2017 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Formerly, Director, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (2006-2013); retired (since 2004) as Chairman, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, President and CEO, Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and President, One Group Mutual Funds; prior thereto, Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group; Regent Emeritus, Member of Investment Committee, Luther College; Member of the Wisconsin Bar Association; Member of Board of Directors and Chair of Investment Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation; Member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible; Member of the Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Repertory Theater. | 189 | None |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
John K. Nelson c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1962 | Board Member | Term: Class II Board Member until 2017 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients; Director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (since 2009) and The President’s Council, Fordham University (since 2010); formerly, senior external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (2012-2014); formerly, Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America, and Global Head of its Financial Markets Division (2007-2008); prior senior positions held at ABN AMRO include Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of Global Markets—the Americas (2006-2007), CEO of Wholesale Banking—North America and Global Head of Foreign Exchange and Futures Markets (2001-2006), and Regional Commercial Treasurer and Senior Vice President Trading—North America (1996-2001); formerly, Trustee at St. Edmund Preparatory School in New York City; formerly, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2014). | 189 | None | |||||||
Judith M. Stockdale c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1947 | Board Member | Term: Class I Board Member until 2016 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Board Member of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (since 2013); Board Member of the Land Trust Alliance (since 2013); formerly, Executive Director (1994-2012), Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994). | 189 | None |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
Carole E. Stone c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1947 | Board Member | Term: Class I Board Member until 2016 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (since 2006); Director, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (since 2009); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010). | 189 | Director, CBOE Holdings, | |||||||
Terence J. Toth(3) c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1959 | Board Member | Term: Class II Board Member until 2017 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Managing Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008); Director, Fulcrum IT Service LLC (since 2010), Quality Control Corporation (since 2012) and LogicMark LLC (since 2012); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); Member, Chicago Fellowship Board (since 2005), Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and Chair of its investment committee; formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004). | 189 | None |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
Margaret L. Wolff c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1955 | Board Member | Term: Class I Board Member until 2016 Annual Meeting
Length of | Formerly, Of Counsel (2005-2014), Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005); Member (since 2004) and Chair (since 2015) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College. | 189 | Member of the Board of Directors (since 2013) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). | |||||||
Board Members who are “interested persons” of the Funds
| ||||||||||||
William Adams IV(4) c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1955 | Board Member | Term: Class II Board Member until 2017 Annual Meeting
Length of | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (since March 2016), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President, Global Structured Products of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (2010-2016); Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2016), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2011); President (since 2011), formerly, Managing Director (2010-2011), of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Board Member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and of Gilda’s Club Chicago. | 189 | None |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member | Other Directorships Held by Board Member During the Past Five Years | |||||||
Thomas S. Schreier, Jr.(4)(5) c/o Nuveen Investments, Inc. 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1962 | Board Member | Term: Class III Board Member until 2018 Annual Meeting
Length of Service: | Vice Chairman, Wealth Management of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2011); Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chairman of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); formerly, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen Securities, LLC (2011-2016); Director and Vice Chairman of Allina Health and a member of its Finance, Audit and Investment Committees; Director of the Minneapolis Institute of Art; Member of the Board of Governors and Chairman’s Council of the Investment Company Institute; formerly, Chief Executive Officer (2000-2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2007-2010) of FAF Advisors, Inc.; formerly, President of First American Funds (2001-2010). | 189 | None |
(1) | Length of Time Served indicates the year in which the individual became a Board Member of a fund in the Nuveen Fund complex. |
(2) | Mr. Schneider is one of several owners and managing members in two limited liability companies and a general partner and one member of the governing body of a general partnership, each engaged in real estate ownership activities. In connection with their ordinary course of investment activities, court appointed receivers have been named for certain individual properties owned by such entities. The individual properties for which a receiver has been appointed represent an immaterial portion of the portfolio assets owned by these entities. |
(3) | Mr. Toth serves as a director on the Board of Directors of the Mather Foundation (the “Foundation”) and is a member of its investment committee. The Foundation is the parent of the Mather LifeWays organization, a non-profit charitable organization. Prior to Mr. Toth joining the Board of the Foundation, the Foundation selected Gresham Investment Management (“Gresham”), an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors, to manage a portion of the Foundation’s investment portfolio, and pursuant to this selection, the Foundation has invested that portion of its investment portfolio in a private commodity pool managed by Gresham. |
(4) | Each of Messrs. Adams and Schreier is an “interested person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of his respective position(s) with Nuveen Investments, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries. |
(5) | Mr. Schreier has announced his intention to retire from the Board as of May 31, 2016. He will continue to serve on the Board until his retirement on May 31, 2016. |
In order to create an appropriate identity of interests between Board Members and shareholders, the boards of directors/trustees of the Nuveen funds have adopted a governance principle pursuant to which each Board Member is expected to invest, either directly or on a deferred basis, at least the equivalent of one year of compensation in the funds in the Nuveen complex.
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The following table sets forth for each Board Member the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned in each Fund and in all Nuveen funds overseen by the Board Member as of December 31, 2015:
Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Name of Board Member | Dividend Advantage | Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | Family of Investment Companies(1) | ||||
William Adams IV | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Jack B. Evans | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
William C. Hunter | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
David J. Kundert | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
John K. Nelson | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
William J. Schneider | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Thomas S. Schreier, Jr. | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Judith M. Stockdale | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Carole E. Stone | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Terence J. Toth | None | None | None | over $100,000 | ||||
Margaret L. Wolff(2) | None | None | None | None |
(1) | The amounts reflect the aggregate dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Board Member in the Funds and in all Nuveen funds overseen by the Board Member. |
(2) | Ms. Wolff was appointed to the Board effective February 15, 2016. |
No Independent Board Member or his or her immediate family member owns beneficially or of record any security of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, the Funds’ sub-adviser (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”), Nuveen Investments or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or Nuveen Investments.
As of December 31, 2015, Board Members and executive officers as a group beneficially owned approximately 1,700,000 shares of all funds managed by the Adviser (including shares held by the Board Members through the deferred compensation plan for Independent Board Members and by executive officers in Nuveen’s 401(k)/profit sharing plan), and each Board Member’s individual beneficial shareholdings of each Fund constituted less than 1% of the outstanding shares of such Fund. As of December 31, 2015, the Board Members and officers of each Fund as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the total outstanding common shares and less than 1% of the total outstanding preferred shares of each Fund. Information regarding beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of shares of any Fund is provided under “General Information—Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds.”
Effective January 1, 2016, Independent Board Members receive a $170,000 annual retainer plus: (1) a fee of $5,500 per day for attendance in person or by telephone at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (2) a fee of $3,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at special, non-regularly scheduled meetings of the Board where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person
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attendance is not required; (3) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Audit Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (4) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Compliance Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (5) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Dividend Committee meetings; (6) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such committee meetings (excluding shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is not required, and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for IPOs, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held; and (7) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Closed-End Funds Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held. In addition to the payments described above, the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $80,000 and the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Closed-End Funds Committee receive $12,500 each as additional retainers. Independent Board Members also receive a fee of $3,000 per day for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen funds on days on which no Board meeting is held. When ad hoc committees are organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee will at the time of formation determine compensation to be paid to the members of such committees; however, in general, such fees will be $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required. The annual retainer, fees and expenses are allocated among the Nuveen funds on the basis of relative net assets, although management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund.
The Funds do not have retirement or pension plans. Certain Nuveen funds (the “Participating Funds”) participate in a deferred compensation plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) that permits an Independent Board Member to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as an Independent Board Member. The deferred compensation of a participating Independent Board Member is credited to a book reserve account of the Participating Fund when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to such Independent Board Member. The value of the Independent Board Member’s deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen funds. At the time for commencing distributions from an Independent Board Member’s deferral account, the Independent Board Member may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a period of five years. The Participating Fund will not be liable for any other fund’s obligations to make distributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan.
The Funds have no employees. The officers of the Funds and each Board Member of the Funds who is not an Independent Board Member serve without any compensation from the Funds.
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The table below shows, for each Independent Board Member, the aggregate compensation paid by each Fund to the Board Member for its last fiscal year:
Aggregate Compensation from the Funds(1)
Fund | Jack B. Evans | William C. Hunter | David J. Kundert | John K. Nelson | William J. Schneider | Judith M. Stockdale | Carole E. Stone | Virginia L. Stringer(2) | Terence J. Toth | Margaret L. Wolff(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage | $ | 6,537 | $ | 6,355 | $ | 5,612 | $ | 6,395 | $ | 6,398 | $ | 5,729 | $ | 6,247 | $ | 5,958 | $ | 6,376 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 901 | 875 | 773 | 881 | 881 | 789 | 860 | 821 | 878 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 1,400 | 1,361 | 1,202 | 1,369 | 1,371 | 1,227 | 1,338 | 1,276 | 1,365 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Compensation from Nuveen Funds Paid to Board Members | $ | 324,993 | $ | 302,125 | $ | 277,113 | $ | 303,750 | $ | 310,125 | $ | 284,860 | $ | 306,442 | $ | 278,625 | $ | 320,574 | $ | — |
(1) | Includes deferred fees. Pursuant to a deferred compensation agreement with certain of the Funds, deferred amounts are treated as though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more Participating Funds. Total deferred fees for the Funds (including the return from the assumed investment in the Participating Funds) payable are: |
Fund | Jack B. Evans | William C. Hunter | David J. Kundert | John K. Nelson | William J. Schneider | Judith M. Stockdale | Carole E. Stone | Virginia L. Stringer(2) | Terence J. Toth | Margaret L. Wolff(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage | $ | 596 | $ | — | $ | 5,612 | $ | — | $ | 6,398 | $ | 1,329 | $ | 2,987 | $ | — | $ | 2,382 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 82 | — | 773 | — | 881 | 183 | 412 | — | 328 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 128 | — | 1,202 | — | 1,371 | 285 | 640 | — | 510 | — |
(2) | Ms. Stringer retired from the Board as of December 31, 2015. |
(3) | Ms. Wolff was appointed to the Board effective February 15, 2016. |
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Board of each Fund oversees the operations and management of the Fund, including the duties performed for the Funds by the Adviser. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of board members who serve on the board of every fund in the complex. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Board Members seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board, the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, independence and experience to oversee the Nuveen funds’ business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the Board Members consider, not only the candidate’s particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and experience enhance the Board’s diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent Board Members. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy on diversity or any particular definition of diversity.
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The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme that raises common issues that must be addressed by the Board Members across the fund complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures, which increases the Board’s knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Board’s influence and oversight over the Adviser and other service providers.
In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chairman that is an Independent Board Member. The Board recognizes that a chairman can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for Fund management and reinforcing the Board’s focus on the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chairman may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with Fund management. Accordingly, the Board Members have elected William J. Schneider as the Independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include: (1) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (2) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the Board Members are carried into effect; and (3) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the Board Members and the shareholders.
Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters (such as advisory contracts, underwriting contracts and Fund performance), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a committee structure is an effective means to permit Board Members to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters relating to valuation and compliance to certain committees (as summarized below) as well as certain aspects of investment risk. In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of Board Members among the different committees allows the Board Members to gain additional and different perspectives of a Fund’s operations. The Board has established six standing committees: the Executive Committee; the Dividend Committee; the Audit Committee; the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee; the Nominating and Governance Committee; and the Closed-End Funds Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below.
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board as necessary, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. As of February 15, 2016, the members of the Executive Committee are William J. Schneider, Chair, William Adams IV and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016 the Executive Committee did not meet.
Dividend Committee. The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on each Fund’s shares including, but not limited to, regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. As of February 15, 2016, the members of the Dividend Committee are William C. Hunter, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Dividend Committee met 4 times.
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Closed-End Funds Committee. The Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen Funds that are registered as closed-end management investment companies (“Closed-End Funds”). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Closed-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Closed-End Fund. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on the Funds’ website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx. As of February 15, 2016, the members of the Closed-End Funds Committee are Carole E. Stone, Chair, William Adams IV, Jack B. Evans, John K. Nelson, William J. Schneider and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Closed-End Funds Committee met 4 times.
Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee, in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, that is composed of Independent Board Members who are also “independent” as that term is defined in the listing standards pertaining to closed-end funds of the NYSE or NYSE MKT, as applicable. The Audit Committee assists the Board in: the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Funds; the Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Funds’ financial statements; the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Funds and the internal valuation group of Nuveen. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Funds’ portfolios. Subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Funds’ pricing procedures and actions taken by Nuveen’s internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the Funds’ securities brought to its attention, and considers the risks to the Funds in assessing the possible resolutions of these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Funds in conjunction with performing its functions.
To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee receives annual and semi-annual reports and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Funds and the internal audit group at Nuveen. The Audit Committee also may review, in a general manner, the processes the Board or other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Funds’ financial statements. The Audit Committee operates under a written Audit Committee Charter (the “Charter”) adopted and approved by the Board, which Charter conforms to the listing standards of the NYSE or NYSE MKT, as applicable. Members of the Audit Committee are independent (as set forth in the Charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board Members, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. A copy of the Charter is attached as Appendix B to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. As of February 15, 2016, the members of the Audit Committee are Jack B. Evans, Chair, David J. Kundert, John K. Nelson, Carole E. Stone and Terence J. Toth, each of whom is an Independent Board Member of the Funds. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Audit Committee met 4 times.
Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee. The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee (the “Compliance Committee”) is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Funds
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that are not otherwise under or within the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Funds’ compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee: reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Funds arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.
In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of risks related to investments and operations. Such risks include, among other things, exposures to: particular issuers, market sectors or types of securities; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; and techniques that may be used to address those risks, such as hedging and swaps. In assessing issues brought to the Compliance Committee’s attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Funds in adopting a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Funds and their shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis, and at least once a year in person. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Funds’ and other service providers’ compliance programs as well as any recommendations for modifications thereto. The Compliance Committee also receives reports from the investment services group of Nuveen regarding various investment risks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board also participates in discussions with management regarding certain matters relating to investment risk, such as the use of leverage and hedging. The investment services group therefore also reports to the full Board at its quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Compliance Committee oversees matters relating to investment risks. Matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed directly by the full Board. The Compliance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on the Funds’ website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx. As of February 15, 2016, the members of the Compliance Committee are John K. Nelson, Chair, William C. Hunter, Judith M. Stockdale and Margaret L. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Compliance Committee met 6 times.
Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members and the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. Although the unitary and committee structure has been developed over the years and the Nominating and Governance Committee believes the structure has provided efficient and effective governance, the committee recognizes that, as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and
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Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions and recommend any modifications thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Board’s governance over the Funds’ business.
In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things: makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of Board Members; monitors performance of legal counsel and other service providers; establishes and monitors a process by which security holders are able to communicate in writing with Board Members; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to Board Member compensation, including the compensation of the Independent Chairman of the Board. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources, including shareholders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new Board Members and each nominee is evaluated using the same standards. However, the Nominating and Governance Committee reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final selection of any new Board Members. In considering a candidate’s qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence site visits to internal and external sub-advisers and service providers) and, if qualifying as an Independent Board Member candidate, independence from the Adviser, sub-advisers, underwriters or other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent Board Member at the time of consideration of the nominees. However, all candidates must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with management and yet maintain a collegial and collaborative manner toward other Board Members. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on the Funds’ website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx, and is composed entirely of Independent Board Members, who are also “independent” as defined by NYSE or NYSE MKT listing standards, as applicable. Accordingly, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are William J. Schneider, Chair, Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, David J. Kundert, John K. Nelson, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone, Terence J. Toth and Margaret L. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the Nominating and Governance Committee met 6 times.
During the last fiscal year, each Board Member attended 75% or more of each Fund’s Board meetings and the committee meetings (if a member thereof) held during the period for which such Board Member was a Board Member. The policy of the Board relating to attendance by Board Members at annual meetings of the Funds and the number of Board Members who attended the last annual meeting of shareholders of each Fund is posted on the Funds’ website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx.
Board Diversification and Board Member Qualifications. In determining that a particular Board Member was qualified to serve on the Board, the Board considers each Board Member’s background,
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skills, experience and other attributes in light of the composition of the Board with no particular factor controlling. The Board believes that Board Members need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, and the Board believes each Board Member satisfies this standard. An effective Board Member may achieve this ability through his or her educational background; business, professional training or practice; public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member or executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Accordingly, set forth below is a summary of the experiences, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each Board Member should serve in that capacity. References to the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills of Board Members are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Board Member as having any special expertise or experience and will not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
William Adams IV
Mr. Adams, an interested Board Member of the Funds, is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (since March 2016), and was formerly Senior Executive Vice President, Global Structured Products of Nuveen Investments since November 2010. Mr. Adams has also served as Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC since January 2011. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President, U.S. Structured Products from December 1999 until November 2010 and served as Managing Director of Structured Investments from September 1997 to December 1999 and Vice President and Manager, Corporate Marketing from August 1994 to September 1997. He is currently Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2016), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC. Mr. Adams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. He is an Associate Fellow of Yale’s Timothy Dwight College and is currently on the Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and of Gilda’s Club Chicago. Mr. Adams joined the Board in 2013.
Jack B. Evans
President of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation, since 1996, Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of the SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly, he was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, a Director of Alliant Energy and a Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System. Mr. Evans is Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group, sits on the Board of The Gazette Company and is a Life Trustee of Coe College. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Mr. Evans joined the Board in 1999.
William C. Hunter
Mr. Hunter became Dean Emeritus of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa on June 30, 2012. He was appointed Dean of the College on July 1, 2006. He was previously Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business from 2003 to 2006. From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of
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Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While there he served as the Bank’s Chief Economist and was an Associate Economist on the Federal Reserve System’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In addition to serving as a Vice President in charge of financial markets and basic research at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, he held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. A past Director of the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University, SS&C Technologies, Inc. (2005) and past President of the Financial Management Association International, he has consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. From 1990 to 1995, he was a U.S. Treasury Advisor to Central and Eastern Europe. He has been a Director of the Xerox Corporation since 2004 and Wellmark, Inc. since 2009. He is a Director and past President of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society. Mr. Hunter joined the Board in 2003.
David J. Kundert
Mr. Kundert retired in 2004 as Chairman of JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, and as President and CEO of Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and as President of One Group Mutual Funds. Prior to the merger between Bank One Corporation and JPMorgan Chase and Co., he was Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and, since 1995, the Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group. From 1988 to 1992, he was President and CEO of Bank One Wisconsin Trust Company. Mr. Kundert recently retired as a Director of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (2006–2013). He started his career as an attorney for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Kundert has served on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and he is currently a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. He is on the Board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and chairs its Investment Committee. He is a Regent Emeritus and a Member of the Investment Committee of Luther College. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible and a Member of the Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College and his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University. Mr. Kundert joined the Board in 2005.
John K. Nelson
Mr. Nelson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. He was formerly a senior external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Mr. Nelson has served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Nelson was Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America, and Global Head of its Financial Markets Division. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, and during his tenure with ABN AMRO, served as the bank’s representative on various committees of the Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and the Bank of England. At Fordham University, he currently serves as a director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies, and The President’s Council. He is also a member of The Economic Club of Chicago and was formerly a member of The Hyde Park Angels and a Trustee at St. Edmund Preparatory School in New York City. He is former chair of the Board of Trustees of Marian University. Mr. Nelson graduated and received his MBA from Fordham University. Mr. Nelson joined the Board in 2013.
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William J. Schneider
Mr. Schneider, the Board’s Independent Chairman, is currently Chairman, formerly Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, December 2004) of Miller-Valentine Partners, a real estate investment company. He is an owner in several other Miller-Valentine entities. He is currently a member of the Board of WDPR Public Radio Station and of Med-America Health System. He was formerly a Director and Past Chair of the Dayton Development Coalition. He was formerly a member of the Community Advisory Board of the National City Bank in Dayton as well as a former member of the Business Advisory Council of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Schneider was also a member of the Business Advisory Council for the University of Dayton College of Business. He also served as Chair of the Miami Valley Hospital and as Chair of the Finance Committee of its parent holding company. Mr. Schneider was an independent trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of municipal open-end funds. Mr. Schneider has a Bachelor of Science in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Dayton. Mr. Schneider joined the Board in 1996.
Thomas S. Schreier, Jr.
Mr. Schreier, an interested Board Member of the Funds, has been Vice Chairman, Wealth Management of Nuveen Investments since January 2011. Mr. Schreier has also served as Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC since January 2011. Until Nuveen Investments’ acquisition of FAF Advisors on January 1, 2011, Mr. Schreier was Chief Executive Officer of FAF Advisors from November 2000, Chief Investment Officer of FAF Advisors from September 2007 and President of First American Funds from February 2001 to December 2010. From 1998 to November 2000, Mr. Schreier served as Senior Managing Director and Head of Equity Research for U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Harvard University. He is a Director and Vice Chairman of Allina Health and a member of its Finance, Audit and Investment Committees. He is also a Director of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Mr. Schreier is a member of the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and is on its Chairman’s Council. He has also served as director, chairman of the finance committee, and member of the audit committee for Pinnacle Airlines Corp. Mr. Schreier is former chairman of the Saint Thomas Academy Board of Trustees, a founding investor of Granite Global Ventures, and a member of the Applied Investment Management Advisory Board for the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Schreier joined the Board in 2013.
Judith M. Stockdale
Ms. Stockdale retired at the end of 2012 as Executive Director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, a private foundation working in land conservation and artistic vitality in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. She is currently a board member of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (since 2013) and rejoined the board of the Land Trust Alliance in June 2013. Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, Executive Director of Openlands, and Senior Staff Associate at the Chicago Community Trust. She has served on the Advisory Council of the National Zoological Park, the Governor’s Science Advisory Council (Illinois) and the Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program. She has served on the Boards of Brushwood Center and the Donors Forum. Ms. Stockdale, a native of the United Kingdom, has a Bachelor of Science degree in geography from the University of Durham (UK) and a Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University. Ms. Stockdale joined the Board in 1997.
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Carole E. Stone
Ms. Stone retired from the New York State Division of the Budget in 2004, having served as its Director for nearly five years and as Deputy Director from 1995 through 1999. Ms. Stone is currently on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, CBOE Holdings, Inc. and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated. She has also served as the Chair of the New York Racing Association Oversight Board, as Chair of the Public Authorities Control Board, as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform and as a member of the boards of directors of several New York State public authorities. Ms. Stone has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Skidmore College. Ms. Stone joined the Board in 2006.
Terence J. Toth
Mr. Toth is a Managing Partner of Promus Capital (since 2008). From 2008 to 2013, he served as a Director of Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He currently serves on the Boards of Chicago Fellowship, Fulcrum IT Service LLC (since 2010), Quality Control Corporation (since 2012) and LogicMark LLC (since 2012), and is Chairman of the Board of Catalyst Schools of Chicago. He is on the Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and is Chair of its investment committee. Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University. Mr. Toth joined the Board in 2008.
Margaret L. Wolff
Ms. Wolff retired from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2014 after more than 30 years of providing client service in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. During her legal career, Ms. Wolff devoted significant time to advising boards and senior management on U.S. and international corporate, securities, regulatory and strategic matters, including governance, shareholder, fiduciary, operational and management issues. Since 2013, she has been a Board member of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each of which is a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). Ms. Wolff has been a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2005 and, since 2004, she has served as a trustee of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults) where she currently is the Chair. From 2005 to 2015, she was a trustee of Mt. Holyoke College and served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor of Arts from Mt. Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Independent Chairman. William J. Schneider currently serves as the Independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include: (1) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (2) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the Board Members are carried into effect; and (3) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the Board Members and the shareholders.
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Board Member Terms. Pursuant to the organizational documents of each Fund, the Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, to be elected by the holders of the outstanding common shares and any outstanding preferred shares, voting together as a single class, to serve until the third succeeding annual meeting subsequent to their election or thereafter, in each case until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. These provisions could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. Under normal circumstances, holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, are entitled to elect two (2) Board Members. The Board Members elected by holders of preferred shares will be elected to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Holders of preferred shares will be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s Board Members under certain circumstances. See “Certain Provisions in the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.”
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The Officers
The following table sets forth information with respect to each officer of the Funds. Officers receive no compensation from the Funds. The officers are elected by the Board on an annual basis to serve until successors are elected and qualified.
Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Served by Officer(2) | ||||||
Gifford R. Zimmerman 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1956 | Chief Administrative Officer | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 1988 | Managing Director (since 2002) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary (since 1997) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Symphony Asset Management LLC (since 2003) and Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC (since 2002); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002), Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006) and of Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2013), formerly, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (2006–2013) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst. | 190 | ||||||
Cedric H. Antosiewicz 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1962 | Vice President | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 2007 | Managing Director (since 2004) of Nuveen Securities LLC; Managing Director (since 2014) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC. | 83 | ||||||
Margo L. Cook 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1964 | Vice President | Term: Annual
Length of Service: | Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (since March 2016), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (Executive Vice President since 2011); Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2015), formerly, Executive Vice President (2013–2015), of Nuveen Securities, LLC; formerly, Managing Director—Investment Services of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC (2011–2016); Chartered Financial Analyst. | 190 |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Served by Officer(2) | ||||||
Lorna C. Ferguson 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1945 | Vice President | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 1998 | Managing Director of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. | 190 | ||||||
Stephen D. Foy 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1954 | Vice President and Controller | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 1993 | Managing Director (since 2014), formerly, Senior Vice President (2013–2014) and Vice President (2005–2013) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chief Financial Officer of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC (since 2010); Managing Director (since 2016) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Certified Public Accountant. | 190 | ||||||
Sherri A. Hlavace k333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1962 | Vice President and Treasurer | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 2015 | Executive Vice President (since 2015, formerly, Managing Director) and Controller of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director and Controller of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Executive Vice President (since 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Controller of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Executive Vice President, Principal Financial Officer (since 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC and Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Executive Vice President, (formerly, Managing Director), Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Vice President, Controller and Treasurer of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC; Vice President and Controller of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC; Certified Public Accountant. | 190 | ||||||
Walter M. Kelly 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1970 | Chief Compliance Officer and | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 2003 | Senior Vice President (since 2008) of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. | 190 |
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Name, Address | Position(s) Held with Fund | Term of Office and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Served by Officer(2) | ||||||
David J. Lamb 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1963 | Vice President | Term: Annual
Length of Service: since 2015 | Senior Vice President of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. (since 2006), Vice President prior to 2006. | 83 | ||||||
Tina M. Lazar 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1961 | Vice President | Term: Annual
Length of Service: Since 2002 | Senior Vice President of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. and Nuveen Securities, LLC. | 190 | ||||||
Kevin J. McCarthy 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1966 | Vice President and Secretary | Term: Annual
Length of Service: | Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel (since March 2016), formerly, Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since March 2016), formerly, Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Executive Vice President and Secretary (since March 2016), formerly, Managing Director (2008-2016) and, Assistant Secretary (2007-2016) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Executive Vice President and Secretary (since March 2016), formerly, Managing Director, Assistant Secretary (2011-2016) and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Executive Vice President and Secretary of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC; Vice President (since 2007) and Secretary (since 2016) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010) and Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC (since 2016); Vice President (since 2010) and Secretary (since March 2016), formerly, Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC. | 190 | ||||||
Kathleen L. Prudhomme 901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 1953 | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term: Annual
Length of Service: | Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; formerly, Deputy General Counsel, FAF Advisors, Inc. (2004–2010). | 190 | ||||||
Joel T. Slager 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606 1978 | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term: Annual
Length of Service: | Fund Tax Director for Nuveen Funds (since 2013); previously, Vice President of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., Assistant Treasurer of the Morgan Stanley Funds (from 2010 to 2013). | 190 |
(1) | Length of Time Served indicates the year the individual became an officer of a fund in the Nuveen fund complex. |
(2) | Information as of May 15, 2016. |
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PROPOSAL NO. 2—REORGANIZATION OF EACH TARGET FUND INTO
THE ACQUIRING FUND
(COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OF EACH TARGET FUND)
A. | SYNOPSIS |
The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus with respect to the proposed Reorganizations. More complete information is contained elsewhere in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and in the Reorganization SAI and the appendices hereto and thereto. Shareholders should read the entire Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully.
Background and Reasons for the Reorganizations
The boards of directors/trustees of Nuveen’s municipal closed-end funds, including the Board of each Fund, have approved a series of combinations of single-state municipal closed-end funds, including the Reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund. Each Fund’s Board has determined that its respective Reorganization(s) would be in the best interests of its Fund. Each Fund’s Board considered the Reorganization(s) as part of a broad initiative to rationalize the product offerings of Nuveen funds and eliminate overlapping products. The Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies, risks and portfolio compositions and are managed by the same portfolio manager.
Based on information provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (previously defined as “Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Adviser”), the investment adviser to each Fund, each Fund’s Board believes that the Reorganizations may benefit common shareholders in a number of ways, including, among other things:
• | Lower fund operating expenses excluding the costs of leverage for all Funds, as the combined fund’s size results in the same or a lower effective management fee rate based on managed assets and as certain fixed costs are spread over a larger asset base; |
• | The potential for higher common share net earnings over time from increased operating economies of scale, which may support higher distribution rates in the future and increase investor interest in the combined fund, and, in turn, may lower the trading discount to net asset value of common shares; |
• | Increased portfolio and leverage management flexibility due to the significantly larger asset base of the combined fund; and |
• | Improved secondary market trading for common shares as a result of the combined fund’s greater share volume, which may lead to narrower bid-ask spreads and smaller trade-to-trade price movements. |
The closing of each Reorganization is contingent upon the closing of all of the Reorganizations. The closing of each Reorganization is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, which include customary closing conditions. In order for the Reorganizations to occur, all requisite shareholder approvals must be obtained at the Annual Meetings, and certain other consents,
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confirmations and/or waivers must also be obtained from various third parties, including liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares. Because the closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon each of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund obtaining such shareholder approvals and satisfying (or obtaining the waiver of) other closing conditions, it is possible that the Reorganizations will not occur, even if shareholders of your Fund entitled to vote on your Fund’s Reorganization proposal(s) approve such proposal(s) and your Fund satisfies all of its closing conditions, if one or more of the other Funds does not obtain its requisite shareholder approvals or satisfy (or obtain the waiver of) its closing conditions. If the requisite shareholder approvals are not obtained, each Fund’s Board may take such actions as it deems in the best interests of its Fund. For a fuller discussion of the Boards’ considerations regarding the approval of the Reorganizations, see “C. Information About the Reorganizations—Reasons for the Reorganizations.”
Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganizations
As a condition to closing, each Fund will receive, with respect to its proposed Reorganization(s), an opinion of Vedder Price P.C., subject to certain representations, assumptions and conditions, substantially to the effect that the proposed Reorganization(s) will qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Accordingly, it is expected that no Fund will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a direct result of the Reorganizations. It is also expected that shareholders of a Target Fund who receive Acquiring Fund shares pursuant to a Reorganization will recognize no gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such exchange, except to the extent a common shareholder of a Target Fund receives cash in lieu of a fractional Acquiring Fund common share. Prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, each Target Fund expects to declare a distribution of all of its net investment income and net capital gains, if any. All or a portion of such a distribution may be taxable to a Target Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. To the extent that portfolio securities of a Target Fund are sold prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, such Fund may realize gains or losses, which may increase or decrease the net capital gains or net investment income to be distributed by such Fund. However, since each Target Fund’s current portfolio composition is substantially similar to that of the Acquiring Fund, it is not currently expected that any significant portfolio sales will occur solely in connection with the Reorganizations (such sales are expected to be less than 5% of the assets of each Target Fund).
The foregoing discussion and the tax opinion discussed above to be received by the Funds regarding certain aspects of the Reorganizations, including that the Reorganizations will qualify as tax-free reorganizations under the Code, will rely on the position that the Acquiring Fund preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund. See “C. Information About the Reorganizations—Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganizations.”
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Comparison of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund
General. The Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund are diversified, closed-end management investment companies. Set forth below is certain comparative information about the organization, capitalization and operation of each Fund.
Organization | ||||||||||
Fund | Organization Date | State of Organization | Entity Type | |||||||
Acquiring Fund | December 1, 1998 | Massachusetts | business trust | |||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | June 1, 1999 | Massachusetts | business trust | |||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | April 6, 2001 | Massachusetts | business trust |
Capitalization—Common Shares | ||||||||||||
Fund | Authorized Shares | Shares Outstanding(1) | Par Value Per Share | Preemptive, Conversion or Exchange Rights | Rights to Cumulative Voting | Exchange on which Common Shares are Listed | ||||||
Acquiring Fund | Unlimited | [•] | $0.01 | None | None | NYSE | ||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | Unlimited | [•] | $0.01 | None | None | NYSE MKT | ||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | Unlimited | [•] | $0.01 | None | None | NYSE MKT |
(1) | As of [•], 2016. |
The Acquiring Fund currently has outstanding an aggregate of 6,996 VRDP Shares in six series, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (the “Outstanding VRDP Shares”). The Outstanding VRDP Shares will remain outstanding following the completion of the Reorganizations. Dividend Advantage 2 currently has outstanding 980 VRDP Shares, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, and Dividend Advantage 3 currently has outstanding 1,600 VRDP Shares, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share. Each Fund’s VRDP Shares are entitled to one vote per share. The preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations will have equal priority with each other and with the Acquiring Fund’s other outstanding preferred shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. In addition, the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, including preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations, will be senior in priority to the Acquiring Fund’s common shares as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. The preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations will have rights and preferences, including liquidation preferences, that are substantially similar to those of the outstanding Target Fund preferred shares for which they are exchanged.
Investment Objectives and Policies. The Funds have the same investment objectives. The investment objectives of each Fund are to provide current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes and to enhance portfolio value relative to the California municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt California municipal securities that the Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.
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The Funds have substantially similar investment policies. It is a fundamental policy of each Fund that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, including assets attributable to any principal amount of any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes) or any preferred shares outstanding (“Managed Assets”), in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, each Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (each, an “NRSRO” or collectively, the “NRSROs”) that rate such security or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, the sub-adviser to each Fund (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”). Also, as a non-fundamental policy, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser. Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, no more than 10% of each Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser.
Securities of below-investment-grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Municipal securities rated below-investment-grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal securities rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality securities because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated municipal securities is even narrower. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and a Fund may have greater difficulty selling its holdings of these types of portfolio securities. A Fund will be more dependent on the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s research and analysis when investing in these securities.
Municipal securities rated Baa or BBB are considered “investment grade” securities. Issuers of municipal securities rated Baa or BBB are regarded as having average creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal issuers; however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to meet its financial commitments.
The foregoing credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and a Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer or that valuation changes of various bonds cause the Fund’s portfolio to fail to satisfy those policies. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider such factors as the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. The credit ratings assigned by credit rating agencies from time to time represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. A general description of the ratings of municipal securities by
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Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) is set forth in Appendix A to the Reorganization SAI.
Each Fund will primarily invest in municipal securities with long-term maturities in order to maintain an average effective maturity of at least 15 years, but the average effective maturity of obligations held by a Fund may be shortened as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, depending on market conditions. As a result, a Fund’s portfolio at any given time may include both long-term and intermediate-term municipal securities. Moreover, during temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt bond market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal securities are available), and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable and up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As of February 29, 2016, the effective maturities of the portfolios of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 were 19.88, 21.72 and 21.96 years, respectively.
No Fund has established any limit on the percentage of its portfolio that may be invested in municipal bonds subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of federal tax law, and each Fund expects that a substantial portion of the income it produces will be includable in alternative minimum taxable income.
Each Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements, or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies which provide such credit enhancements may affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature may reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce a Fund’s income. The insurance feature guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the obligation when due and does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligations, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer, and the effectiveness and value of the insurance itself is dependent on the continued creditworthiness of the insurer. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.
Each Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. A Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities represent a leveraged investment in the underlying municipal bond deposited. Inverse floating rate securities offer the opportunity for higher income than the underlying
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bond, but will subject a Fund to the risk of lower or even no income if short-term interest rates rise sufficiently. By investing in an inverse floating rate security rather than directly in the underlying bond, a Fund will experience a greater increase in its common share net asset value if the underlying municipal bond increases in value, but will also experience a correspondingly larger decline in its common share net asset value if the underlying bond declines in value.
Each Fund may borrow money for the repurchase of its shares or for temporary or emergency purposes, such as for the payment of dividends or the settlement of portfolio transactions.
Each Fund is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of its assets, a Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), except that this limitation does not apply to cash, securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies.
As noted above, during temporary defensive periods and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, each Fund may deviate from its investment objectives and invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. It is the intent of each Fund to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal and California income taxes, and if the proportion of taxable investments exceeded 50% of a Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable year. For more information, see “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters” in the Reorganization SAI.
Credit Quality. A comparison of the credit quality (as a percentage of total investment exposure, which includes the leveraged effect of the Funds’ investments in inverse floating rate securities of tender option bond trusts) of the portfolios of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund, as of February 29, 2016, is set forth in the table below.
Credit Rating(1) | Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | Combined Fund Pro Forma(2) | ||||||||||||
AAA/U.S. Guaranteed | 13.1 | % | 11.9 | % | 6.3 | % | 11.9 | % | ||||||||
AA | 48.4 | % | 40.4 | % | 49.9 | % | 47.9 | % | ||||||||
A | 16.9 | % | 25.5 | % | 19.5 | % | 18.1 | % | ||||||||
BBB | 9.3 | % | 9.6 | % | 10.6 | % | 9.5 | % | ||||||||
BB or lower | 9.3 | % | 10.2 | % | 10.5 | % | 9.6 | % | ||||||||
N/R (not rated) | 3.0 | % | 2.4 | % | 3.2 | % | 3.0 | % |
(1) | Ratings shown are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment-grade ratings; BB or lower are below-investment-grade ratings. Certain bonds backed by U.S. government or agency securities are regarded as having an implied rating equal to the rating of such securities. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies. |
(2) | Reflects the effect of the Reorganizations. |
Leverage. Each Fund may utilize the following forms of leverage: (1) the issuance of preferred shares, (2) bank borrowings and (3) portfolio investments that have the economic effect of leverage, including but not limited to investments in futures, options and inverse floating rate securities
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(sometimes referred to as “inverse floaters”). Each Fund currently employs leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and the use of inverse floaters. Certain important ratios related to each Fund’s use of leverage for the last three fiscal years are set forth below:
Acquiring Fund | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Asset Coverage Ratio(1) | 346.53 | % | 344.94 | % | 353.64 | % | ||||||
Regulatory Leverage Ratio(2) | 28.86 | % | 28.99 | % | 28.28 | % | ||||||
Effective Leverage Ratio(3) | 34.61 | % | 35.66 | % | 38.21 | % | ||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Asset Coverage Ratio(1) | 341.94 | % | 338.20 | % | 323.59 | % | ||||||
Regulatory Leverage Ratio(2) | 29.25 | % | 29.57 | % | 30.90 | % | ||||||
Effective Leverage Ratio(3) | 31.30 | % | 31.64 | % | 33.02 | % |
Dividend Advantage 3 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Asset Coverage Ratio(1) | 325.18 | % | 321.85 | % | 303.72 | % | ||||||
Regulatory Leverage Ratio(2) | 30.75 | % | 31.07 | % | 32.93 | % | ||||||
Effective Leverage Ratio(3) | 37.33 | % | 37.68 | % | 39.70 | % |
(1) | A Fund’s asset coverage ratio is defined under the 1940 Act as the ratio that the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by preferred shares or senior securities representing indebtedness, bears to the aggregate amount of preferred shares and senior securities representing indebtedness issued by the Fund. |
(2) | Regulatory leverage consists of preferred shares or debt issued by the Fund. Both of these are part of a Fund’s capital structure. Regulatory leverage is sometimes referred to as “1940 Act Leverage” and is subject to asset coverage limits set forth in the 1940 Act. |
(3) | Effective leverage is a Fund’s effective economic leverage, and includes both regulatory leverage and the leverage effects of certain derivative investments in the Fund’s portfolio. Currently, the leverage effects of Tender Option Bond (TOB) inverse floater holdings, in addition to any regulatory leverage, are included in effective leverage ratios. |
Board Members and Officers. The Funds have the same Board Members and officers. The management of each Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by the Fund’s investment adviser under an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and such Fund (each, an “Investment Management Agreement”), is the responsibility of its Board. Each Fund currently has eleven (11) Board Members, two (2) of whom are “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, and nine (9) of whom are not interested persons. The names and business addresses of the Board Members and officers of the Funds and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Proposal No. 1—The Election of Board Members.”
Pursuant to each Funds’ by-laws, the Fund’s Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) with staggered multi-year terms, such that only the members of one of the three classes stand for election each year; provided, however, that holders of preferred shares are entitled as a class to elect two trustees of each Fund at all times. The staggered board structure could delay for up to two years the election of a majority of the Board of each Fund. To the extent the preferred shares are held by a small number of institutional holders, a few holders could exert influence on the selection of the Board as a result of the requirement that holders of preferred shares be entitled to elect two trustees of each Fund at all times. This board structure will remain in place following the closing of the Reorganizations.
Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (previously defined as “Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to each Fund and is responsible for overseeing each Fund’s overall investment strategy, including the use of leverage, and its implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors also is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of any sub-adviser to the Funds,
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managing each Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to the Funds. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (previously defined as “Nuveen” or “Nuveen Investments”). Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $225 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2015. Nuveen is a separate subsidiary of TIAA, a financial services organization based in New York, New York. TIAA acquired Nuveen on October 1, 2014.
Nuveen Fund Advisors has selected its wholly owned subsidiary, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (previously defined as “Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”), located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, to serve as a sub-adviser to each of the Funds pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, oversees day-to-day operations and manages the investment of the Funds’ assets on a discretionary basis, subject to the supervision of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management is compensated for the services it provides to the Funds with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from each Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
Unless earlier terminated as described below, each Fund’s Investment Management Agreement with Nuveen Fund Advisors will remain in effect until August 1, 2016. Each Investment Management Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuation is approved at least annually by: (1) the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (2) a majority of the Board Members who are not interested persons of any party to the Investment Management Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Each Investment Management Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either the Fund or Nuveen Fund Advisors upon 60 days’ written notice and is automatically terminated in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to each Investment Management Agreement, each Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the overall advisory and administrative services and general office facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors. Each Fund’s management fee consists of two components—a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, and a specific fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within such Fund. This pricing structure enables the Funds’ shareholders to benefit from growth in assets within each individual Fund as well as from growth of complex-wide assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the effective management fee rates of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3, expressed as a percentage of average total daily net assets (including assets attributable to leverage), were 0.57%, 0.60% and 0.60%, respectively.
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The annual fund-level fee rate for each Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedules:
Current Fund-Level Fee Schedule for each Fund
Average Total Daily Net Assets* | Fund-Level Fee Rate | |||
For the first $125 million | 0.4500 | % | ||
For the next $125 million | 0.4375 | % | ||
For the next $250 million | 0.4250 | % | ||
For the next $500 million | 0.4125 | % | ||
For the next $1 billion | 0.4000 | % | ||
For net assets over $2 billion | 0.3750 | % |
* | For this purpose, average total daily net assets include net assets attributable to preferred shares and residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts. |
The management fee compensates the Adviser for overall investment advisory and administrative services and general office facilities. Each Fund pays all of its other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Board Members (other than those affiliated with the Adviser), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of issuing any preferred shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, listing fees and taxes, if any. For the services provided pursuant to each Fund’s Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Fund Advisors pays Nuveen Asset Management a fee, payable monthly, equal to 38.4615% of the management fee (net of applicable waivers and reimbursements) paid by the Fund to Nuveen Fund Advisors.
The effective fund-level management fee rate as a percentage of average daily Managed Assets for the combined fund is expected to be the same as or lower than the current effective fund-level fee rate for each Fund due to the combination of the assets of the Funds and the combined fund’s ability to benefit from available breakpoints in the applicable fee schedule that reduces the fee rate as the Acquiring Fund’s Managed Assets increase in size.
Each Fund also pays a complex-level fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors, which is payable monthly and is in addition to the fund-level fee. The complex-level fee is based on the aggregate daily amount of eligible assets for all Nuveen sponsored funds in the United States, as stated in the table below. As of February 29, 2016, the complex-level fee rate for each Fund was 0.1640%.
The annual complex-level fee for each Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:
Complex-Level Fee Rates
Complex-Level Managed Asset Breakpoint Level* | Effective Rate at Breakpoint Level | |||
$55 billion | 0.2000 | % | ||
$56 billion | 0.1996 | % | ||
$57 billion | 0.1989 | % |
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Complex-Level Managed Asset Breakpoint Level* | Effective Rate at Breakpoint Level | |||
$60 billion | 0.1961 | % | ||
$63 billion | 0.1931 | % | ||
$66 billion | 0.1900 | % | ||
$71 billion | 0.1851 | % | ||
$76 billion | 0.1806 | % | ||
$80 billion | 0.1773 | % | ||
$91 billion | 0.1691 | % | ||
$125 billion | 0.1599 | % | ||
$200 billion | 0.1505 | % | ||
$250 billion | 0.1469 | % | ||
$300 billion | 0.1445 | % |
* | For the fund-level and complex-level fees, managed assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Adviser that are attributable to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining managed assets in certain circumstances. The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed assets of all Nuveen funds that constitute “eligible assets.” Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with the Adviser’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. |
A discussion of the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of each Fund’s current Investment Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement are included in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the reporting period ended August 31, 2015.
Portfolio Management. Subject to the supervision of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for execution of specific investment strategies and day-to-day investment operations. Nuveen Asset Management manages the portfolios of the Funds using a team of analysts and a portfolio manager that focuses on a specific group of funds. Scott R. Romans, Ph.D., is the portfolio manager of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. Additional information regarding the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of securities is contained in the Reorganization SAI. Mr. Romans assumed portfolio management responsibility for each Fund in September 2003. Mr. Romans will continue to manage the Acquiring Fund upon completion of the Reorganizations.
Scott R. Romans, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Nuveen Asset Management, joined Nuveen Investments in 2000 as a senior analyst in the education sector. In 2003, he was assigned management responsibility for several closed- and open-ended municipal bond funds, most of which are state funds covering California and other western states. Currently, he manages investments for 16 Nuveen-sponsored investment companies. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
Because the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies and portfolio compositions, the principal risks of an
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investment in each Fund are similar. Each Fund is subject to various risks associated with investing primarily in a portfolio of municipal securities and employing leverage, which include:
• | Investment, Market and Price Risk. An investment in a Fund’s common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in common shares represents an indirect investment in the municipal securities owned by the Funds, which generally trade in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets. Shares of closed-end investment companies, like the Funds, frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. Your common shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. |
• | Municipal Securities Risk. Special factors may adversely affect the value of municipal securities and have a significant effect on the yield or value of a Fund’s investments in municipal securities. These factors include economic conditions, political or legislative changes, regulatory developments or enforcement actions, uncertainties related to the tax status of municipal securities, or the rights of investors. |
• | Tax Risk. The tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by new Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) interpretations of the Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations. |
• | Leverage Risk. Each Fund’s use of leverage creates the possibility of higher volatility for the Fund’s per share net asset value, market price, distributions and returns. There is no assurance that a Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. |
• | Inverse Floater Risk. The Funds may invest in inverse floaters. Due to their leveraged nature, these investments can greatly increase a Fund’s exposure to interest rate risk and credit risk. In addition, investments in inverse floaters involve the risk that the Fund could lose more than its original principal amount. |
• | Issuer Credit Risk. This is the risk that a security in a Fund’s portfolio will fail to make dividend or interest payments when due. Investments in lower rated securities are subject to higher risks than investments in higher rated securities. |
• | Interest Rate Risk. Fixed-income securities such as bonds, preferred, convertible and other debt securities will decline in value if market interest rates rise. |
• | State Concentration Risk. Each Fund’s policy of investing in municipal securities of issuers located in California makes the Fund more susceptible to local adverse economic, political or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers. |
• | Reinvestment Risk. If market interest rates decline, income earned from a Fund’s portfolio may be reinvested at rates below that of the original bond that generated the income. |
• | Call Risk or Prepayment Risk. Issuers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing a Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. |
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• | Derivatives Risk. The Funds may use derivative instruments which involve a high degree of financial risk, including the risk that the loss on a derivative may be greater than the principal amount invested. |
• | Municipal Bond Market Liquidity Risk. Inventories of municipal bonds held by brokers and dealers have decreased in recent years, lessening their ability to make a market in these securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease a Fund’s ability to buy or sell bonds, and increase bond price volatility and trading costs, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent changes to federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of municipal bonds, which may further decrease a Fund’s ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result, a Fund may be forced to accept a lower price to sell a security, to sell other securities to raise cash, or to give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If a Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices and hurt performance. |
• | High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” are speculative and high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, involve greater risks of default, downgrade, or price declines, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment-grade securities. Issuers of high yield securities are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than issuers with higher credit ratings. |
The principal risks of investing in the Acquiring Fund are described in more detail below.
Comparative Expense Information
The purpose of the Comparative Fee Table is to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses of investing in common shares of the Funds. The information in the table reflects the fees and expenses for each Fund’s fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, and the pro forma expenses for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016, for the combined fund following the Reorganizations. The figures in the Example are not necessarily indicative of past or future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. The Funds’ actual rates of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual return shown in the Example.
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Comparative Fee Table(1)
Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | Acquiring Fund | Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma(2)(3) | |||||||||||||
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets applicable to common shares) | ||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.89 | % | 0.92 | % | 0.87 | % | 0.87 | % | ||||||||
Fees on Preferred Shares and Interest and Related Expenses from Inverse Floaters(4) | 0.50 | % | 0.52 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.49 | % | ||||||||
Other Expenses(5) | 0.07 | % | 0.06 | % | 0.07 | % | 0.06 | % | ||||||||
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Total Annual Expenses | 1.46 | % | 1.50 | % | 1.42 | % | 1.42 | % | ||||||||
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(1) | Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets applicable to common shares) are based on the expenses of the Acquiring Fund and Target Funds for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016. |
(2) | Pro Forma figures reflect the anticipated reduction of certain duplicative expenses eliminated as a result of the Reorganization. Pro Forma expenses do not include the expenses to be borne by the common shareholders of the Funds in connection with the Reorganizations, which are estimated to be $450,000 (0.03%) for the Acquiring Fund, $260,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 2 and $375,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 3. All percentages are based on average net assets applicable to common shares for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016. |
(3) | Following the closing of the Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund will change its name to “Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund.” |
(4) | Fees on Preferred Shares assume annual dividends paid and amortization of offering costs for VRDP Shares and annual liquidity and remarketing fees for VRDP Shares, where applicable. Interest and Related Expenses from Inverse Floaters include interest expense attributable to inverse floating rate securities created by selling a fixed-rate bond to a broker dealer for deposit into the special purpose trust and receiving in turn the residual interest in the trust (“self-deposited inverse floating rate securities”). To the extent each Fund creates self-deposited inverse floating rate securities, the Fund recognizes interest expense because accounting rules require the Fund to treat interest paid by such trusts as having been paid (indirectly) by the Fund. Because the Fund also recognizes a corresponding amount of additional interest earned (also indirectly), the Fund’s net asset value per share, net investment income and total return are not affected by this accounting treatment. The actual fees on preferred shares and interest and related expenses from inverse floaters incurred in the future may be higher or lower. The Funds’ use of leverage will increase the amount of management fees paid to the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. |
(5) | Other Expenses are estimated based on actual expenses from the prior fiscal year. |
Example: The following examples illustrate the expenses that a common shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods provided in the table. The examples assume that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested and that Total Annual Expenses remain the same. The examples also assume a 5% annual return. The examples should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or lesser than those shown.
1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||||||||||
Acquiring Fund | $ | 14 | $ | 45 | $ | 78 | $ | 170 | ||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | $ | 15 | $ | 46 | $ | 80 | $ | 175 | ||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | $ | 15 | $ | 47 | $ | 82 | $ | 179 | ||||||||
Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma | $ | 14 | $ | 45 | $ | 78 | $ | 170 |
Comparative Performance Information
Comparative total return performance for the Funds for periods ended February 29, 2016:
Average Annual Total Return on Net Asset Value | Average Annual Total Return on Market Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | One Year | Five Years | Ten Years | |||||||||||||||||||
Acquiring Fund | 6.73 | % | 11.43 | % | 6.65 | % | 9.79 | % | 12.28 | % | 6.67 | % | ||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 7.03 | % | 9.87 | % | 6.40 | % | 13.22 | % | 10.68 | % | 6.85 | % | ||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 7.26 | % | 10.67 | % | 6.01 | % | 13.31 | % | 11.37 | % | 6.41 | % |
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Average Annual Total Return on Net Asset Value is the combination of changes in common share net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net asset value. The actual reinvestment price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Average Annual Total Return on Market Value is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances it may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Past performance information is not necessarily indicative of future results.
B. | RISK FACTORS |
An investment in the Acquiring Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. The Acquiring Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Acquiring Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Investors should consider their long-term investment goals and financial needs when making an investment decision with respect to shares of the Acquiring Fund. An investment in the Acquiring Fund is intended to be a long-term investment, and you should not view the Fund as a trading vehicle. Your shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions, if applicable.
Because the Funds have substantially similar investment strategies, the Funds’ principal risks are similar. The principal risks of investing in the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds are described below. The risks and special considerations listed below should be considered by shareholders of each Fund in their evaluation of the Reorganizations.
General Risks of Investing in the Funds
Investment and Market Risk. An investment each Fund’s shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in the shares of a Fund represents an indirect investment in the municipal securities owned by the Fund, which generally trade in the OTC markets. Your shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if applicable. In addition, the ability of municipalities to collect revenue and service their obligations could be materially and adversely affected by an economic downturn or prolonged recession.
Market Discount from Net Asset Value. The market price of shares of closed-end investment companies may fluctuate and during certain periods trade at prices lower than net asset value. A Fund cannot predict whether its common shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that a Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower in relation to a Fund’s net asset value than at the time of purchase, assuming a stable net asset value. The common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view a Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.
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Credit and Below-Investment-Grade Risk. Credit risk is the risk that one or more municipal securities in a Fund’s portfolio will decline in price, or the issuer thereof will fail to pay interest or principal when due, because the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial status. In general, lower-rated municipal securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative impact on a Fund’s net asset value or dividends. Credit risk is increased when a portfolio security is downgraded or the perceived creditworthiness of the issuer deteriorates. If a downgrade occurs, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interests of a Fund and its shareholders. Municipal securities of below-investment-grade quality, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due, and they are more susceptible to default or decline in market value due to adverse economic and business developments than investment-grade municipal securities. Also, to the extent that the rating assigned to a municipal security in a Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by any NRSRO, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected. The market values for municipal securities of below-investment-grade quality tend to be volatile, and these securities are less liquid than investment-grade municipal securities. For these reasons, an investment in a Fund, compared with a portfolio consisting predominantly or solely of investment-grade securities, may experience the following:
• | increased price sensitivity resulting from a deteriorating economic environment and/or changing interest rates; |
• | greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality; |
• | adverse issuer-specific events that are more likely to render the issuer unable to make interest and/or principal payments; and |
• | the possibility that a negative perception of the below-investment-grade market develops, resulting in the price and liquidity of below-investment-grade securities becoming depressed, and this negative perception could last for a significant period of time. |
Adverse changes in economic conditions are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of a below-investment-grade issuer to make principal payments and interest payments compared to an investment-grade issuer. The principal amount of below-investment-grade securities outstanding has proliferated in the past decade as an increasing number of issuers have used below-investment-grade securities for financing. An economic downturn may severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. In the event of an economic downturn, with decreased tax and other revenue streams of municipal issuers, or in the event interest rates rise sharply, increasing the interest cost on variable rate instruments and negatively impacting economic activity, the number of defaults by below-investment-grade municipal issuers would likely increase. Similarly, prolonged downturns in profitability in specific industries could adversely affect private activity bonds. The market values of lower-quality debt securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher-quality securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of lower-quality securities may have an adverse impact on a Fund’s net asset value and the market value of its common shares. In addition, a Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. In certain circumstances, a Fund may be required to foreclose on an issuer’s assets and take
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possession of its property or operations. In such circumstances, a Fund would incur additional costs in disposing of such assets and potential liabilities from operating any business acquired.
The secondary market for below-investment-grade securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor that may have an adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. There are fewer dealers in the market for below-investment-grade municipal securities than the market for investment-grade municipal securities. The prices quoted by different dealers for below-investment-grade municipal securities may vary significantly, and the spread between the bid and ask price is generally much larger for below-investment-grade municipal securities than for higher-quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below-investment-grade securities could contract, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating a Fund’s net asset value.
Issuers of such below-investment-grade securities are typically highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of below-investment-grade securities may experience financial stress. During such periods, such issuers may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service its debt obligations also may be adversely affected by specific developments, the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss from default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of below-investment-grade securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Prices and yields of below-investment-grade securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of below-investment-grade securities may adversely affect a Fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in below-investment-grade zero coupon bonds rather than income-bearing below-investment-grade securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
Each Fund may invest in distressed securities, which are securities of obligors that are involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or are experiencing other financial difficulties at the time of acquisition by the Fund. The issuers of such securities may be in transition, out of favor, financially leveraged or troubled, or potentially troubled, and may be or have recently been involved in major strategic actions, restructurings, bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation. These characteristics of these obligors can cause their securities to be particularly risky, although they also may offer the potential for high returns. These obligors’ securities may be considered speculative, and the ability of the obligors to pay their debts on schedule could be affected by adverse interest rate movements, changes in the general economic climate, economic factors affecting a particular industry or specific developments within the companies. Distressed securities frequently do not produce income while they are outstanding and may require a Fund to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investment.
Investments in lower rated or unrated securities may present special tax issues for a Fund, including when the issuers of these securities default on their obligations pertaining thereto, and the federal income tax consequences to the Fund as a holder of such distressed securities may not be clear.
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Municipal Securities Market Risk. Investing in the municipal securities market involves certain risks. The municipal securities market is one in which dealer firms make markets in bonds on a principal basis using their proprietary capital, and during periods of market turmoil these firms’ capital may be severely constrained. As a result, under such conditions, some firms may be unwilling to commit their capital to purchase and to serve as a dealer for municipal securities. The amount of public information available about the municipal securities in a Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and a Fund’s investment performance may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser than if the Fund were to invest in stocks or taxable bonds. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below-investment-grade securities in which a Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices or at prices approximating those at which the Fund values them from time to time. Municipal securities may contain redemption provisions, which may allow the securities to be called or redeemed prior to their stated maturity, potentially resulting in the distribution of principal and a reduction in subsequent interest distributions.
The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or by referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest or impose other constraints on the enforcement of such obligations or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Further, some state and local governments have been and in the future may be subject to direct ballot referenda that could limit their financial flexibility, or their ability to levy taxes or raise tax revenues, which may adversely affect the marketability of notes and bonds issued by those state and local governments. Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, a Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, a Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses. Any income derived from a Fund’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt and may not be of the type that would allow the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.
Revenue bonds issued by state or local agencies to finance the development of low-income, multi-family housing involve special risks in addition to those associated with municipal securities generally, including that the underlying properties may not generate sufficient income to pay expenses and interest costs. These bonds are generally non-recourse against the property owner, may be junior to the rights of others with an interest in the properties, may pay interest the amount of which changes based in part on the financial performance of the property, may be prepayable without penalty and may be used to finance the construction of housing developments that, until completed and rented, do not generate income to pay interest. Additionally, unusually high rates of default on the underlying mortgage loans may reduce revenues available for the payment of principal or interest on such mortgage revenue bonds.
Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Obligations. Municipal leases and certificates of participation involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the
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leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event that the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover a Fund’s original investment. In the event of non-appropriation, the issuer would be in default and taking ownership of the assets may be a remedy available to a Fund, although the Fund does not anticipate that such a remedy would normally be pursued. To the extent that a Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. Certificates of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged pools of municipal leases or installment contracts, involve the same risks as the underlying municipal leases. In addition, a Fund may be dependent upon the municipal authority issuing the certificates of participation to exercise remedies with respect to the underlying securities. Certificates of participation also entail a risk of default or bankruptcy, both of the issuer of the municipal lease and also the municipal agency issuing the certificate of participation.
Tender Option Bond Regulatory Risk. The federal banking regulators, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) in recent years have adopted rules and regulations that have impacted or may impact tender option bond trusts (referred to herein as “TOB trusts”) and securities issued by such trusts, including most notably the so-called “Volcker Rule,” added to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 with the adoption of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Volcker Rule places certain restrictions on the ability of any “banking entity” to sponsor, acquire interests in and engage in certain activities with a TOB trust. As a result, certain activities to support the remarketing of floating rate certificates undertaken by banking entities, in their role as remarketing agents or liquidity providers to TOB trusts, before the compliance date for the Volcker Rule are no longer permitted under the standard TOB trust structure. To be compliant with the Volcker Rule, the standard TOB trust structure has been modified since the Rule’s adoption (1) to shift certain rights and responsibilities from the remarketing agent and liquidity provider to the owners of the inverse floating rate securities such as a Fund itself, and (2) to change the way in which liquidity is provided to support remarketing of the floating rate securities. Holders of inverse floating rate securities, including a Fund, may delegate many of these responsibilities to a third-party administrator, which would generate additional costs relative to the standard TOB trust structure. The total impact of these modifications remains to be fully seen, but the operational and structural changes associated with these modifications may make early unwinds of TOB trusts in adverse market scenarios more likely, may make the use of TOB trusts more expensive and, overall, may make it more difficult to use TOB trusts to effectively leverage municipal investments to the extent that a Fund may desire. In addition, these modifications have raised or may raise other regulatory issues that may require further refinement to the structure, may impede the future use of TOB trusts as a means of financing leverage, or may increase future costs of TOB-based leverage.
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Interest Rate Risk. Generally, when market interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that the municipal securities in a Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. As interest rates decline, issuers of municipal securities may prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing a Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities and potentially reducing the Fund’s income. As interest rates increase, slower-than-expected principal payments may extend the average life of securities, potentially locking-in a below-market interest rate and reducing a Fund’s value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term municipal securities generally fluctuate more than prices of shorter-term municipal securities as interest rates change. Because each Fund primarily invests in longer-term municipal securities, the common share net asset value and market price per share will fluctuate more in response to changes in market interest rates than if a Fund invested primarily in shorter-term municipal securities. Because the values of lower-rated and comparable unrated debt securities are affected both by credit risk and interest rate risk, the price movements of such lower grade securities typically have not been highly correlated to the fluctuations of the prices of investment-grade-quality securities in response to changes in market interest rates. A Fund’s use of leverage, as described herein, will tend to increase common share interest rate risk. There may be less governmental intervention in the securities markets in the near future. The negative impact on fixed-income securities if interest rates increase as a result could negatively impact the Acquiring Fund’s net asset value.
Market Conditions. The 2007–2009 financial crisis in the U.S. and global economies and the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis resulted in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and in the net asset values of many investment companies, including to some extent the Funds. A financial crisis of a similar nature in the future may result in fixed-income instruments again experiencing unusual liquidity issues, increased price volatility and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. The financial condition of federal, state and local governments may be sensitive to market events, which may, in turn, adversely affect the marketability of notes and bonds they issue. In the event of a general economic downturn, declines in real estate prices and general business activity may reduce tax revenues of many state and local governments and could affect the economic viability of projects that are the sole source of revenue to support various municipal securities. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. As a result, it may be unusually difficult to identify both risks and opportunities using past models of the interplay of market forces, or to predict the duration of unfavorable market conditions.
In response to the 2007–2009 financial crisis and its aftermath and the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support the financial markets. Where economic conditions in the United States and elsewhere have been recovering for several years, they are nevertheless perceived in many regards as still fragile. Withdrawal of government support, failure of efforts in response to a future crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding could adversely affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. The severity or duration of unfavorable economic conditions may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations. See “—Municipal Securities Market Risk.”
Concentration Risk. Each Fund’s policy of investing in municipal securities of issuers located in California makes each Fund more susceptible to the adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting such issuers. The information set forth below and the related information in
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Appendix D to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is derived from sources that are generally available to investors. The information is intended to give a recent historical description and is not intended to indicate future or continuing trends in the financial or other positions of California. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State of California, and that there is no obligation on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.
The California economy has largely recovered from the 2008 recession, and the State budget has been structurally balanced for the last five fiscal years.
Nonetheless, California has experienced budget problems in prior years, which problems were driven in part by large fluctuations in its tax revenue and fixed spending obligations. Such fluctuations may occur again in future years and State fiscal leaders may again be challenged to address any resulting budget gaps. Other continued risks to the State’s long-term stability include pension and post-retirement health care liabilities, debt and increasing annual obligations, potential cost increases associated with the federal deficit, uncertainty regarding the cost of providing health care under the recent federal health care legislation and expenditure mandates.
California’s fiscal situation affects the risk of investing in bonds issued by the State and its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and authorities, including the risk of default, and also affects the risk that the prices of California municipal securities, and each Fund’s net asset value, will experience greater volatility. As of May 1, 2016, California general obligation bonds were rated “Aa3” by Moody’s, and “AA-” by S&P and “A+” by Fitch. There can be no assurance that such ratings will be maintained in the future. The State’s credit rating, and any future revisions or withdrawal of a credit rating, could have a negative effect on the market price of the State’s general obligation bonds, as well as notes and bonds issued by California’s public authorities and local governments. Lower credit ratings make it more expensive for the State to raise revenue, and in some cases, could prevent the State from issuing general obligation bonds in the quantity otherwise desired. Further, downgrades can negatively impact the marketability and price of securities in the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio.
The foregoing information constitutes only a brief summary of some of the general factors that may impact certain issuers of municipal bonds and does not purport to be a complete or exhaustive description of all adverse conditions to which the issuers of municipal bonds held by the Funds are subject. Additionally, many factors, including national economic, social and environmental policies and conditions, which are not within the control of the issuers of the municipal bonds, could affect or could have an adverse impact on the financial condition of the issuers. The Funds are unable to predict whether or to what extent such factors or other factors may affect the issuers of the municipal securities, the market value or marketability of the municipal securities or the ability of the respective issuers of the municipal bonds acquired by the Funds to pay interest on or principal of the municipal securities. This information has not been independently verified.
See Appendix D to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for a further discussion of factors affecting municipal securities in California.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk. Typically, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in TOB trusts that hold municipal bonds. See “D. Additional Information About the Investment Policies—Portfolio Investments—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will decrease when interest rates increase and
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increase when interest rates decrease. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may subject a Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of principal in respect of the underlying municipal bonds.
In the case of certain TOB trusts, neither the holders of the associated floating rate securities nor the TOB trust itself have recourse to the holder of the inverse floating rate securities for losses on the underlying municipal bonds. In that case, the risk of loss to a Fund generally is limited to its investment in such securities. However, in certain circumstances and in the Sub-Adviser’s discretion, a Fund may enter into a recourse arrangement with the liquidity provider to a TOB trust in the form of a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement by which a Fund will agree to reimburse the liquidity provider for any amounts paid by it under the liquidity facility. A Fund may enter into such recourse agreements: (1) when the liquidity provider to the TOB trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (2) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the underlying municipal bond held in the trust has declined in value to the point where it may cease to exceed the face amount of outstanding short-term floaters. Such an agreement would require a Fund to reimburse the liquidity provider, among other amounts, upon termination of the TOB trust for the shortfall of the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust relative to the amount of principal and unpaid interest due to the holders of floating rate securities. In such instances, a Fund may be at risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the inverse floating rate securities.
Inverse floating rate securities may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying municipal bonds, which effectively leverages a Fund’s investment. As a result, the market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of otherwise comparable municipal bonds held on an unleveraged basis outside a TOB trust.
Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by TOB trusts in which the liquidity provider has recourse to the Fund (a “recourse TOB trust”) to the extent that the value of the bonds deposited in the TOB trust may fall in value below the principal amount of the short-term floating rate securities issued by that trust. The inverse floating rate securities issued by such recourse TOB trusts may be highly leveraged. The structure and degree to which a Fund’s inverse floating rate securities are highly leveraged will vary based upon a number of factors, including the size of the trust itself and the terms of the underlying municipal bonds. An inverse floating rate security generally is considered highly leveraged if the ratio of (1) the principal amount of the short-term floating rate securities issued by the TOB trust to (2) the principal amount of that TOB trust’s inverse floating rate securities equals or exceeds 3:1. In the event of a significant decline in the value of an underlying municipal bond held in a recourse TOB trust, a Fund may suffer losses in excess of the amount of its investment in the inverse floating securities (typically up to an amount equal to the outstanding face amount of such municipal bonds) as a result of liquidating the trust.
A Fund’s investment in inverse floating rate securities will create effective leverage, used in pursuit of increased common share net income and returns. But such effective leverage could reduce common share income (such as if the interest rate paid on the short-term floating rate securities were to exceed the interest rate being received on the municipal bonds underlying the TOB trust, net of trust expenses, for a meaningful period of time), and could also diminish common share long-term returns (such as if the value of the municipal bonds underlying the TOB trust were to decline in value by more than any positive differential between the income being earned on those underlying bonds, net of trust expenses, relative to the interest being paid to the holders of the short-term floating rate securities issued by that trust).
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The amount of fees paid to the Adviser (which in turn pays a portion of its fees to the Sub-Adviser) for investment advisory services will be higher when a Fund uses leverage because the advisory fees are calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets. This may create an incentive for the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to leverage the Fund.
Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity based, among other things, upon the liquidity of the underlying municipal bonds deposited in the TOB trust.
The leverage attributable to inverse floating rate securities may be “called away” on relatively short notice and therefore may be less permanent than more traditional forms of leverage. In certain circumstances, the likelihood of an increase in the volatility of net asset value and market price of the common shares may be greater for a fund (like the Funds) that relies primarily on inverse floating rate securities to achieve a desired effective leverage ratio. A Fund may be required to sell its inverse floating rate securities at less than favorable prices or to liquidate other Fund portfolio holdings in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following:
• | If the Fund has a need to reduce leverage by reducing or eliminating the amount of short-term floating rate securities issued by a TOB trust and the municipal bonds in the TOB trust are not actively trading due to adverse market conditions; or |
• | If the value of an underlying municipal bond declines significantly (to a level below the notional value of the floating rate securities issued by the TOB trust) and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Fund. |
There is no assurance that a Fund’s strategy of investing in inverse floating rate securities will be successful.
Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is the risk associated with the use of borrowings, the issuance of preferred shares or the use of inverse floating rate securities to leverage the common shares. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. Through the use of financial leverage, each Fund seeks to enhance potential common share earnings over time by borrowing, issuing preferred shares or holding inverse floating rate securities at short-term municipal rates and investing at long-term municipal rates which are typically, although not always, higher. Because the long-term municipal securities in which each Fund invests generally pay fixed rates of interest while the Fund’s costs of leverage generally fluctuate with short- to intermediate-term yields, the incremental earnings from leverage will vary over time. However, each Fund may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, to fix the effective rate paid on all or a portion of the Fund’s leverage in an effort to lower leverage costs over an extended period. The income benefit from leverage will be reduced (increased) to the extent that the difference narrows (widens) between the net earnings on a Fund’s portfolio securities and its cost of leverage. If short- or intermediate-term rates rise and a Fund’s leverage costs fluctuate, the Fund’s cost of leverage could exceed the fixed rate of return on long-term bonds held by the Fund that were acquired during periods of lower interest rates, reducing returns to common shareholders. This could occur even if short- or intermediate-term and long-term municipal rates rise. Because of the costs of leverage, a Fund may incur losses even if the Fund has positive returns if such returns are not sufficient to cover the costs of leverage. Each Fund’s cost of leverage includes the interest rate paid on its borrowings or dividends on preferred shares, the expenses relating to the issuance of preferred shares and ongoing maintenance of any borrowings and/or the interest attributable to tender option bonds, as well as any other ongoing fees and expenses associated with
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those borrowings or preferred shares. Each Fund also bears the one-time costs associated with establishing borrowing facilities, issuing preferred shares and refinancing such leverage. To the extent that a Fund issues preferred shares with relatively short terms to redemption in the future (e.g., Variable MuniTerm Preferred Shares), refinancing risk will increase. To the extent that a Fund issues preferred shares with a liquidity provider feature (e.g., VRDP Shares), the Fund is subject to refinancing risk if a liquidity provider acquires VRDP Shares pursuant to its purchase obligation and holds them for six months of unsuccessful remarketings, triggering a mandatory redemption. Refinancing risk is the risk that a Fund may be unable to replace existing leverage at all or on favorable terms. If a Fund is unable to replace its leverage upon a redemption of preferred shares, it may be forced to reduce leverage and sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not do so. More frequent refinancings may also increase the one-time costs of establishing leverage. Each Fund may seek to refinance its leverage over time, in the ordinary course, as current forms of leverage mature or it is otherwise desirable to refinance; however, the form that such leverage will take cannot be predicted at this time. If a Fund is unable to replace existing leverage on comparable terms, its costs of leverage will increase. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the use of leverage may result in a higher yield or return to common shareholders.
Each Fund’s use of financial leverage also creates incremental common share net asset value risk because the full impact of price changes in the Fund’s investment portfolio, including assets attributable to leverage, is borne by common shareholders. This can lead to a greater increase in net asset values in rising markets than if a Fund were not leveraged, but it also can result in a greater decrease in net asset values in declining markets. A Fund’s use of financial leverage similarly can magnify the impact of changing market conditions on common share market prices. Each Fund is required to maintain certain regulatory asset coverage requirements in connection with its outstanding preferred shares in order to be able to maintain the ability to declare and pay common share distributions. The Acquiring Fund is not and will not be required to maintain any particular long-term ratings for the Outstanding VRDP Shares or the VRDP Shares to be issued in the Reorganizations. However, a downgrade or termination of one or more ratings of a Fund’s preferred shares, whether a long-term rating or one or more short-term ratings, which primarily reflect the short-term credit rating or ratings of the associated liquidity provider, could result in higher dividend rates and result in the Fund redeeming the preferred shares at what might be an inopportune time in the market. These factors may result in reduced net earnings or returns to common shareholders. In order to maintain required asset coverage levels, a Fund may be required to alter the composition of its investment portfolio or take other actions, such as redeeming preferred shares with the proceeds from portfolio transactions, at what might be an inopportune time in the market. Such actions could reduce the net earnings or returns to common shareholders over time.
Each Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may themselves be leveraged and therefore present similar risks to those described above. See “—Other Investment Companies Risk.” In addition, any investment by a Fund in leveraged investment companies would magnify the Fund’s leverage risk.
As noted above, the amount of fees paid to the Adviser (which in turn pays a portion of its fees to the Sub-Adviser) for investment advisory services will be higher when a Fund uses financial leverage because the advisory fees are calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to leverage the Fund.
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Multiple Series Risk. The Acquiring Fund currently has six series of VRDP Shares outstanding and, following the Reorganizations, expects to have eight series of VRDP Shares outstanding. While the preferred shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganizations will have equal priority with each other and with the Fund’s other preferred shares outstanding from time to time as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, there are certain differences between the terms applicable to each series. VRDP Shares have a long-term mandatory redemption date with a liquidity feature. The Fund may in the future issue other types of preferred shares. To the extent that the terms of the various series or types of preferred shares differ, there is a risk that market or other events may impact one series of preferred shares differently from other series. If market or other events cause the Acquiring Fund to breach covenants applicable to one series or type of preferred shares but not others, the Fund may nevertheless be granted discretion to redeem shares of any series of preferred shares, including the affected series, in order to restore compliance, subject to the redemption terms of each series. Shareholders are urged to review the terms of each series of preferred shares described elsewhere in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. See “C. Information About the Reorganizations—Description of VRDP Shares to Be Issued by the Acquiring Fund” and “Additional Information About the Acquiring Fund—Description of Outstanding Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares.”
Insurance Risk. Each Fund may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. During and following the 2007–2009 financial crisis, certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that experienced defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. Such losses reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance should they be called upon to do so. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the common shares represented by such insured obligation.
Tax Risk. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, among other things, each Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and satisfy a diversification test on a quarterly basis. If a Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the diversification requirements, a Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to a Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gains) would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and all distributions from the Fund (including underlying distributions
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attributable to tax exempt interest income) would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of a Fund must consist of obligations exempt from regular income tax as of the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by a Fund exceeded 50% of the Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that would permit it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable year.
The value of a Fund’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal securities held by a Fund is normally not subject to regular federal income tax, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect a Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable yield and price levels. Additionally, no Fund is a suitable investment for individual retirement accounts, for other tax-exempt or tax-advantaged accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments.
Taxability Risk. Each Fund will invest in municipal securities in reliance at the time of purchase on an opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to be reliable) that the interest paid on those securities will be excludable from gross income for regular federal income tax purposes, and neither the Adviser nor the Sub-Adviser will independently verify that opinion. However, subsequent to a Fund’s acquisition of such a municipal security, the security may be determined to pay, or to have paid, taxable income. As a result, the treatment of dividends previously paid or to be paid by a Fund as “exempt-interest dividends” could be adversely affected, subjecting the Fund’s shareholders to increased federal income tax liabilities. In certain circumstances, a Fund will make payments to holders of preferred shares to offset the tax effects of a taxable distribution.
Under highly unusual circumstances, the IRS may determine that a municipal bond issued as tax-exempt should in fact be taxable. If a Fund held such a bond, it might have to distribute taxable ordinary income dividends or to reclassify as taxable amounts previously distributed as exempt-interest dividends. In addition, future legislation may change the tax treatment of municipal bond interest.
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of ordinary taxable income (including any net short-term capital gain) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (and will not be eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends will be taxed at long-term capital gain rates.
Borrowing Risk. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of a Fund’s common shares and may affect the Fund’s net income. When a Fund borrows money, it must pay interest and other fees, which will reduce the Fund’s returns if such costs exceed the returns on the portfolio securities purchased or retained with such borrowings. Any such borrowings are intended to be temporary. However, under certain market conditions, including periods of low demand or decreased liquidity in the municipal bond market, such borrowings might be outstanding for longer periods of time.
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Inflation Risk. Inflation is the reduction in the purchasing power of money resulting from the increase in the price of goods and services. Inflation risk is the risk that the inflation-adjusted (or “real”) value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future. As inflation increases, the real value of common shares and distributions can decline. In addition, during any period of rising inflation, interest rates on borrowings would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to common shareholders.
Deflation Risk. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation risk. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of a Fund’s portfolio.
Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps. A Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives, including: the imperfect correlation between the value of such instruments and the underlying assets of the Fund, which creates the possibility that the loss on such instruments may be greater than the gain in the value of the underlying assets in the Fund’s portfolio; the loss of principal; the possible default of the other party to the transaction; and illiquidity of the derivative investments. If a Fund enters into certain derivatives transactions, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Whether a Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, if the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser correctly forecast market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser incorrectly forecast these and other factors, the investment performance of a Fund will be unfavorably affected.
Each Fund may enter into debt-related derivative instruments including credit default swap contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser of not only the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. The derivatives markets are subject to a changing regulatory environment. It is possible that regulatory or other developments in the derivatives markets could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments.
Furthermore, derivative investments may be illiquid. Although both OTC and exchange-traded derivatives markets may experience a lack of liquidity, OTC non-standardized derivatives transactions are generally less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. The illiquidity of the derivatives markets may be due to various factors, including congestion, disorderly markets, limitations on deliverable supplies, the participation of speculators, government regulation and intervention, and technical and operational or system failures. In addition, the liquidity of a secondary market in an exchange-traded derivative contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by the exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in an exchange-traded contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open positions. Prices have in the past moved beyond the daily limit on a number of consecutive trading days. If it is not possible to close an open derivative position entered into by a Fund, the Fund would continue to be required to make cash payments of variation (or mark-to-market) margin in the event of adverse price movements. In such a situation, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The absence of liquidity may
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also make it more difficult for a Fund to ascertain a market value for such instruments. The inability to close futures or derivatives positions also could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability to effectively hedge its portfolio.
Derivatives Regulatory Risk. Future regulatory developments could impact a Fund’s ability to invest in certain derivatives. It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options and swap agreements, may limit or prevent a Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategies, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objectives. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. There is a likelihood of future regulatory developments altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in a Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of a Fund to use certain instruments as a part of its investment strategies. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivatives transactions (for example, the Volcker Rule) could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments.
The Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a regulatory framework for OTC derivatives, including financial instruments, such as swaps, in which each Fund may invest. The Dodd-Frank Act grants significant authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants and requires clearing and exchange trading of many current OTC derivatives transactions. The implementation of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act by the SEC and the CFTC could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. The Dodd-Frank Act and the rules promulgated thereunder could, among other things, adversely affect the value of the investments held by a Fund, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions.
Further, in February 2012, the CFTC issued a final rule rescinding and amending certain exemptions from registration requirements under the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 (the “CEA”) previously available to investment advisers registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act, including the exemption available under CFTC Rule 4.5. In the event that a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments regulated under the CEA, including futures, swaps and options, exceed a certain threshold, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may be required to register as a “commodity pool operator” and/or a “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC. In the event the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser is required to register with the CFTC, it will become subject to additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements with respect to the Fund, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.
Clearing Broker and Central Clearing Counterparty Risk. The CEA requires swaps and futures clearing brokers registered as “futures commission merchants” to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the brokers’ proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each futures commission merchant to hold in a separate secure account all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account and may be freely accessed by the clearing broker, which may also invest any such funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulation. There is a risk that assets deposited by a Fund with any swaps or futures clearing broker as margin for futures contracts or cleared swaps may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of
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the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, the assets of a Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the Fund’s clearing broker because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s combined domestic customer accounts.
Similarly, the CEA requires a clearing organization approved by the CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s clients in connection with domestic cleared futures and derivative contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, all customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any futures and derivative contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing member’s individual customers. With respect to futures and options contracts, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. As a result, in the event of a default of the clearing broker’s other clients or the clearing broker’s failure to extend its own funds in connection with any such default, a Fund would not be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited by the clearing broker on behalf of the Fund with the clearing organization.
Hedging Risk. A Fund’s use of derivatives or other transactions to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors. No assurance can be given that the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s judgment in this respect will be correct, and no assurance can be given that a Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it may be advisable to do so. Hedging activities may reduce a Fund’s opportunities for gain by offsetting the positive effects of favorable price movements and may result in net losses.
Other Investment Companies Risk. An investment in the securities of another investment company will expose a Fund to the risks of investing in the securities held in such other investment company’s portfolio. In addition, a Fund’s shareholders will bear their proportionate share of the fees and expenses of such other investment company in addition to the fees and expenses of the Fund. The securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged. As a result, a Fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. Utilization of leverage is a speculative investment technique and involves certain risks. An investment in securities of other investment companies that are leveraged may expose a Fund to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns on such securities will be diminished.
Counterparty Risk. Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Acquiring Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives, insured municipal securities or other transactions supported by another party’s credit will affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have incurred or may incur in the future significant financial hardships including bankruptcy and losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower-quality credit investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such transactions. By using such derivatives or other transactions, a Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience similar financial hardships. In the event of the insolvency of a counterparty, a Fund may sustain losses or be unable to liquidate a derivatives position.
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Illiquid Securities Risk. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable and may include restricted securities, which are securities that may not be resold unless they have been registered under the Securities Act or that can be sold in a private transaction pursuant to an available exemption from such registration. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by a Fund or at prices approximating the value at which the Fund is carrying the securities on its books from time to time.
Market Disruption Risk. Certain events have a disruptive effect on the securities markets, such as terrorist attacks, war and other geopolitical events. The Funds cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy. Below-investment-grade securities tend to be more volatile than higher rated securities, meaning that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of below-investment-grade securities than on higher rated securities.
Municipal Bond Market Liquidity Risk. Inventories of municipal bonds held by brokers and dealers have decreased in recent years, lessening their ability to make a market in these securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease a Fund’s ability to buy or sell bonds, and increase bond price volatility and trading costs, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent changes to federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of municipal bonds, which may further decrease a Fund’s ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result, a Fund may be forced to accept a lower price to sell a security, to sell other securities to raise cash, or to give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If a Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds, those sales could further reduce the bonds’ prices and hurt performance.
Income Risk. Each Fund’s income is based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short term and long term. If interest rates drop, a Fund’s income available over time to make dividend payments could drop as well if the Fund purchases securities with lower interest coupons.
Call Risk or Prepayment Risk. During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, issuers of callable bonds with higher interest coupons may exercise their option to “call” (or prepay) bonds before their maturity date, forcing a Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that the income from a Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are below the current earnings rate of the Fund’s portfolio. A decline in income could affect the ability of a Fund to pay dividends on its common shares, as well as the common shares’ market price or overall returns.
Economic Sector Risk. Each Fund may invest 25% or more of its total assets in municipal securities in the same economic sector. This may make a Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting an economic sector. As concentration increases, so does the potential for fluctuation in the value of a Fund’s assets. In addition, each Fund may invest a significant portion of its net assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility districts, as well as private activity bonds, including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline companies, whose credit
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quality and performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If a Fund invests a significant portion of its net assets in the sectors noted above, the Fund’s performance may be subject to additional risk and variability. To the extent that a Fund focuses its net assets in the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with such sector, including adverse government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services and intense competition. Securities issued with respect to special taxing districts will be subject to various risks, including real-estate development related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special taxes or tax allocations and other revenues established to secure the obligations of securities issued with respect to special taxing districts are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools and other private educational facilities are subject to various risks, including the reversal of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate necessary funds and competition from alternatives such as voucher programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation. The transportation sector, including airports, airlines, ports and other transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.
Cybersecurity Risk. Technology, such as the Internet, has become more prevalent in the course of business, and as such, the Acquiring Fund and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security risk resulting from cyber incidents. Cyber incidents refer to both intentional attacks and unintentional events including: processing errors, human errors, technical errors including computer glitches and system malfunctions, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, market-wide technical-related disruptions, unauthorized access to digital systems (through “hacking” or malicious software coding), computer viruses, and cyber-attacks which shut down, disable, slow or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality (including denial of service attacks). Cyber incidents could adversely impact the Acquiring Fund and cause the Acquiring Fund to incur financial loss and expense, as well as face exposure to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures. Cyber incidents may cause the Acquiring Fund or its service providers to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, lose operational capacity or fail to comply with applicable privacy and other laws. Among other potentially harmful effects, cyber incidents also may result in theft, unauthorized monitoring and failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Acquiring Fund and its service providers. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Acquiring Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Acquiring Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Acquiring Fund.
Certain Affiliations. Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Funds, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, Nuveen Investments and/or TIAA. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, each Fund generally is precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency
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transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit a Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. Each Fund’s organizational documents include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status.
C. | INFORMATION ABOUT THE REORGANIZATIONS |
The boards of directors/trustees of Nuveen’s municipal closed-end funds, including the Board of each Fund, have approved a series of combinations of single-state municipal closed-end funds, including the Reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund. Each Fund’s Board has determined that its respective Reorganization(s) would be in the best interests of its Fund. Each Fund’s Board considered the Reorganization(s) as part of a broad initiative to rationalize the product offerings of Nuveen funds and eliminate overlapping products. As noted above, the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies, risks and portfolio compositions.
Based on information provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, each Fund’s Board believes that the proposed Reorganizations may benefit common shareholders in a number of ways, including, among other things:
• | Lower fund operating expenses excluding the costs of leverage for all Funds, as the combined fund’s size results in the same or a lower effective management fee rate based on managed assets and as certain fixed costs are spread over a larger asset base; |
• | The potential for higher common share net earnings over time from increased operating economies of scale, which may support higher distribution rates in the future and increase investor interest in the combined fund, and, in turn, may lower the trading discount to net asset value of common shares; |
• | Increased portfolio and leverage management flexibility due to the significantly larger asset base of the combined fund; and |
• | Improved secondary market trading for common shares as a result of the combined fund’s greater share volume, which may lead to narrower bid-ask spreads and smaller trade-to-trade price movements. |
The pro forma total expense ratio of the combined fund as of the date presented in the Comparative Fee Table on page 36 of this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is lower than the total expense ratio of each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 and the same as the total expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund.
The closing of each Reorganization is contingent upon the closing of all of the Reorganizations. The closing of each Reorganization is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, which include customary closing conditions. In order for the Reorganizations to occur, all
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requisite shareholder approvals must be obtained at the Annual Meetings, and certain other consents, confirmations and/or waivers must also be obtained from various third parties, including the liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares. Because the closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon each of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund obtaining such shareholder approvals and satisfying (or obtaining the waiver of) other closing conditions, it is possible that the Reorganizations will not occur, even if shareholders of your Fund entitled to vote on your Fund’s Reorganization proposal(s) approve such proposal(s) and your Fund satisfies all of its closing conditions, if one or more of the other Funds does not obtain its requisite shareholder approvals or satisfy (or obtain the waiver of) its closing conditions. If the requisite shareholder approvals are not obtained, each Fund’s Board may take such actions as it deems in the best interests of its Fund.
General. The Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund (the “Agreement”), in the form attached as Appendix A to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, provides for: (1) the Acquiring Fund’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets of each Target Fund in exchange for newly issued common shares of the Acquiring Fund, par value $0.01 per share, and newly issued VRDP Shares, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of each Target Fund; and (2) the distribution of the newly issued Acquiring Fund common shares and Acquiring Fund preferred shares received by each Target Fund to its common and preferred shareholders, respectively, as part of the liquidation, dissolution and termination of each Target Fund in accordance with applicable law. No fractional Acquiring Fund common shares will be distributed to a Target Fund’s common shareholders in connection with a Reorganization and, in lieu of such fractional shares, each Target Fund’s common shareholders entitled to receive a fractional share will receive cash in an amount equal to a pro-rata share of the proceeds from the sale by the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent of the aggregated fractional shares in the open market (as described further below), which may be higher or lower than net asset value. Preferred shareholders of each Target Fund will receive the same number of Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares having terms substantially similar to those of the outstanding preferred shares of the Target Fund held by such preferred shareholders immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The aggregate liquidation preference of the Acquiring Fund preferred shares received in connection with each Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the corresponding Target Fund preferred shares held immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization. The preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations will have equal priority with each other and with the Acquiring Fund’s other outstanding preferred shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. In addition, the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, including the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations, will be senior in priority to the Acquiring Fund’s common shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund.
As a result of the Reorganizations, the assets of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund would be combined, and the shareholders of each Target Fund would become shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. The closing date is expected to be on or about October 12, 2016, or such other date as the parties may agree (the “Closing Date”). Following the Reorganizations, each Target Fund would terminate its registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. The Acquiring Fund will
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continue to operate after the Reorganizations as a registered closed-end management investment company, with the investment objectives and policies described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
The aggregate net asset value, as of the Valuation Time (as defined below), of the Acquiring Fund common shares received by each Target Fund in connection with a Reorganization will equal the aggregate net asset value of the Target Fund common shares held by shareholders of such Target Fund as of the Valuation Time. However, no fractional Acquiring Fund common shares will be distributed to a Target Fund’s common shareholders in connection with the Reorganizations. The Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent will aggregate all fractional Acquiring Fund common shares that may be due to Target Fund shareholders as of the Closing Date and will sell the resulting whole shares for the account of holders of all such fractional interests at a value that may be higher or lower than net asset value, and each such holder will be entitled to a pro rata share of the proceeds from such sale. With respect to the aggregation and sale of fractional common shares, the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent will act directly on behalf of the shareholders entitled to receive fractional shares and will accumulate fractional shares, sell the shares and distribute the cash proceeds net of brokerage commissions, if any, directly to shareholders entitled to receive the fractional shares (without interest and subject to withholding taxes). For federal income tax purposes, shareholders will be treated as if they received fractional share interests and then sold such interests for cash. The holding period and the aggregate tax basis of the Acquiring Fund shares received by a shareholder, including fractional share interests deemed received by a shareholder, will be the same as the holding period and aggregate tax basis of the Target Fund common shares previously held by the shareholder and exchanged therefor, provided the Target Fund shares exchanged therefor were held as capital assets at the effective time of the Reorganizations. As a result of the Reorganizations, common shareholders of the Funds will hold a smaller percentage of the outstanding common shares of the combined fund as compared to their percentage holdings of their respective Fund prior to the Reorganizations and thus, common shareholders will hold reduced percentages of ownership in the larger combined entity than they held in the Acquiring Fund or Target Fund individually.
Following the Reorganizations, each preferred shareholder of a Target Fund would own the same number of Acquiring Fund preferred shares with the same aggregate liquidation preference as preferred shares of the Target Fund held by such shareholder immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, with terms substantially similar to those of the outstanding preferred shares of the Target Fund held by such preferred shareholder immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. As a result of the Reorganizations, preferred shareholders of the Funds would hold reduced voting percentages of preferred shares in the combined fund than they held in the Acquiring Fund or Target Fund individually.
Valuation of Assets and Liabilities. If the Reorganizations are approved and the other closing conditions are satisfied or waived, the value of the net assets of each Target Fund will be the value of its assets, less its liabilities, computed as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the business day immediately prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Time”). The value of each Target Fund’s assets will be determined by using the valuation procedures of the Nuveen closed-end funds adopted by the Board or such other valuation procedures as will be mutually agreed upon by the parties. The value of each Target Fund’s net assets will be calculated net of the liquidation preference (including accumulated and unpaid dividends) of all outstanding preferred shares of such Target Fund.
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Distributions. Undistributed net investment income represents net earnings from a Fund’s investment portfolio that over time have not been distributed to shareholders. Under the terms of the Agreement, if a Target Fund has undistributed net investment income or undistributed net capital gains, such Target Fund is required to declare a distribution, which, together with all previous dividends, has the effect of distributing to its shareholders all undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards) for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund is not subject to a similar distribution requirement; however, it is anticipated that the Acquiring Fund will declare a distribution prior to the Closing Date which will result in the distribution of a portion of its undistributed net investment income to its shareholders. Consequently, Target Fund shareholders effectively will purchase a pro rata portion of the Acquiring Fund’s remaining undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains, if any, which may be more or less than each Target Fund’s undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains immediately preceding the distributions described above, if any. As a result, the Acquiring Fund’s existing shareholders will experience a corresponding reduction in their respective portion of undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains per share, if any, such that the Acquiring Fund’s undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains per share immediately following the Reorganizations is expected to be less than the Acquiring Fund’s undistributed net investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains per share immediately preceding the Reorganizations.
Amendments. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by each Fund as specifically authorized by each Fund’s Board; provided, however, that following the receipt of shareholder approval of the Agreement at the Annual Meeting, no such amendment, modification or supplement may have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of Acquiring Fund shares to be issued to each Target Fund’s shareholders under the Agreement to the detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
Conditions. Under the terms of the Agreement, the closing of the Reorganizations is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following closing conditions: (1) the requisite approval by the shareholders of each Fund, as applicable, of the proposals with respect to the Reorganization(s) in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, (2) each Fund’s receipt of an opinion substantially to the effect that its Reorganization(s) will qualify as a reorganization under the Code (see “—Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganizations”), (3) the absence of legal proceedings challenging the Reorganizations, and (4) the Funds’ receipt of certain customary certificates and legal opinions. Additionally, in order for the Reorganizations to occur, each Fund must obtain certain consents, confirmations and/or waivers from various third parties, including the liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares.
Termination. The Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the parties and such termination may be effected by each Fund’s Chief Administrative Officer or a Vice President without further action by the Board. In addition, any Fund may at its option terminate the Agreement at or before the closing due to: (1) a breach by any other party of any representation, warranty or agreement contained therein to be performed at or before the closing, if not cured within 30 days of the breach and prior to the closing; (2) a condition precedent to the obligations of the terminating party that has not been met and it reasonably appears it will not or cannot be met; or (3) a determination by its
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Board that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement is not in the best interests of the Fund.
Reasons for the Reorganizations
Based on the considerations below, the Board of each Fund, including the Independent Board Members, has determined that its Fund’s Reorganization(s) would be in the best interests of its Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of such Fund would not be diluted as a result of such Reorganization(s). At a meeting held on May 24-26, 2016 (the “May Meeting”), the Boards approved the Reorganizations and recommended that shareholders of the respective Funds approve the Reorganizations.
During the time leading up to the May Meeting, the Adviser made presentations, and the Boards received a variety of materials, relating to the proposed Reorganizations, including the rationale therefor. Prior to approving the Reorganizations, the Independent Board Members reviewed the foregoing information with their independent legal counsel and with management, reviewed with independent legal counsel applicable law and their duties in considering such matters and met with independent legal counsel in private sessions without management present. The Boards considered a number of principal factors presented at the time of the May Meeting or at prior meetings in reaching their determinations, including the following:
• | the compatibility of the Funds’ investment objectives, policies and related risks; |
• | the consistency of portfolio management; |
• | the anticipated improved economies of scale, creating the potential for lower fees and total expenses (excluding the costs of leverage); |
• | the potential for improved secondary market trading with respect to the common shares; |
• | the anticipated federal income tax-free nature of the Reorganizations; |
• | the expected costs of the Reorganizations; |
• | the terms of the Reorganizations and whether the Reorganizations would dilute the interests of the shareholders of the Funds; |
• | the effect of the Reorganizations on shareholder rights; and |
• | any potential benefits of the Reorganizations to the Adviser and its affiliates as a result of the Reorganizations. |
Compatibility of Investment Objectives, Policies and Related Risks. Based on the information presented, the Boards noted that the Funds have the same investment objectives and substantially similar investment policies and risks. The Boards noted that each Fund is a diversified fund that invests primarily in municipal securities the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. In addition, under normal circumstances, each Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment-grade securities. The Boards considered that the portfolio compositions of the Funds are substantially similar and considered the impact of the Reorganizations on each Fund’s
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portfolio, including any shifts in sector allocations, credit ratings, duration, yield and leverage costs. Accordingly, they also considered the relative performance of the Funds and the factors that may affect the future performance of the combined fund. The Boards also recognized that each Fund utilizes leverage. Because the Funds have substantially similar investment strategies, the principal risks of each Fund are also substantially similar.
Consistency of Portfolio Management. The Boards considered that each Fund has the same investment adviser, sub-adviser and portfolio manager, and that such portfolio manager would continue to manage the combined fund upon completion of the Reorganizations. Through the Reorganizations, the Boards recognized that shareholders will remain invested in a closed-end management investment company that will have greater net assets and benefits from potential economies of scale; the same investment adviser, sub-adviser, portfolio manager and investment objectives; and substantially similar investment strategies.
Anticipated Improved Economies of Scale, Creating the Potential for Lower Operating Expenses. The Boards considered the fees and expense ratios of each of the Funds (including estimated expenses of the combined fund following the Reorganizations). As a result of the economies of scale from the larger asset size of the combined fund after the Reorganizations, the Boards noted that it was expected that the operating expenses per common share (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) of the combined fund would be lower than those of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The Boards also considered the anticipated benefit to the Funds from the larger asset size as fixed costs are shared over a larger asset base. In addition, as each Fund utilizes leverage, the Boards considered the differences in the costs of leverage among the Funds and the impact of the Reorganizations on such costs. In this regard, the Boards took into account the Adviser’s position that the greater asset size of the combined fund may provide increased portfolio and leverage management flexibility.
Potential for Improved Secondary Market Trading with Respect to the Common Shares. While it is not possible to predict trading levels following the Reorganizations, the Boards noted that the Reorganizations are being proposed, in part, to seek to enhance the secondary trading market for the common shares of the Funds. The Boards considered that the combined fund’s greater share volume may result in improved secondary market trading after the Reorganizations, which may lead to narrower bid-ask spreads and smaller trade-to-trade price movements.
Anticipated Tax-Free Reorganizations; Capital Loss Carryforwards. The Reorganizations will be structured with the intention that they qualify as tax-free reorganizations for federal income tax purposes, and the Funds will obtain opinions of counsel substantially to this effect (based on certain factual representations and certain customary assumptions). In addition, the Boards considered the impact of the Reorganizations on any estimated capital loss carryforwards of the Funds and applicable limitations of federal income tax rules.
Expected Costs of the Reorganizations. The Boards considered the terms and conditions of the Agreement, including the estimated costs associated with the Reorganizations and the allocation of such costs among the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. The Boards also noted, however, that, assuming the Reorganizations are consummated, the Adviser anticipated that the projected costs of each Reorganization may be recovered over time for the common shareholders and that preferred shareholders will not bear any costs of the Reorganizations.
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Terms of the Reorganizations and Impact on Shareholders. The terms of the Reorganizations are intended to avoid dilution of the interests of the existing shareholders of the Funds. In this regard, the Boards considered that each holder of common shares of a Target Fund will receive common shares of the Acquiring Fund (taking into account any fractional shares to which the shareholder would be entitled) equal in value as of the Valuation Time to the aggregate per share net asset value of that shareholder’s Target Fund common shares held as of the Valuation Time. However, no fractional common shares of the Acquiring Fund will be distributed to a Target Fund’s common shareholders in connection with the Reorganizations. In lieu of such fractional shares, the respective Target Fund’s common shareholders will receive cash.
Preferred shareholders of each Target Fund will receive the same number of Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares, having terms substantially similar to those of the outstanding preferred shares of the Target Fund held by such preferred shareholders immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The aggregate liquidation preference of the Acquiring Fund preferred shares received in connection with each Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the corresponding Target Fund preferred shares held immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization.
Effect on Shareholder Rights. The Boards considered that each Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. In this regard, there will be no change to shareholder rights under state statutory law.
Potential Benefits to Nuveen Fund Advisors and Affiliates. The Boards recognized that the Reorganizations may result in some benefits and economies of scale for the Adviser and its affiliates. These may include, for example, a reduction in the level of operational expenses incurred for administrative, compliance and portfolio management services as a result of the elimination of the Target Funds as separate funds in the Nuveen complex.
Conclusion. Each Board, including the Independent Board Members, approved the Reorganization(s) involving its Fund, concluding that such Reorganization(s) are in the best interests of its Fund and that the interests of existing shareholders of the Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization(s).
The following table sets forth the unaudited capitalization of the Funds as of February 29, 2016 and the pro-forma combined capitalization of the combined fund as if the Reorganizations had occurred on that date. The table reflects pro forma exchange ratios of approximately 0.99792618 common shares of the Acquiring Fund issued for each common share of Dividend Advantage 2 and approximately 0.92473205 common shares of the Acquiring Fund issued for each common share of Dividend Advantage 3. If the Reorganizations are consummated, the actual exchange ratios may vary.
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Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | Pro Forma Adjustments | Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma(1) | ||||||||||||||||
Variable Rate Demand Preferred (VRDP) Shares, $100,000 stated value per share, at liquidation value; 6,996 shares outstanding for the Acquiring Fund; 980 shares outstanding for Dividend Advantage 2; 1,600 shares outstanding for Dividend Advantage 3; and 9,576 shares outstanding for Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma | $ | 699,600,000 | $ | 98,000,000 | $ | 160,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 957,600,000 | ||||||||||
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Common Shareholders’ Equity: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share; 107,383,777 shares outstanding for the Acquiring Fund; 14,760,104 shares outstanding for Dividend Advantage 2; 24,151,884 shares outstanding for Dividend Advantage 3; and 144,447,356 shares outstanding for Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma | $ | 1,073,838 | $ | 147,601 | $ | 241,519 | $ | (18,484 | )(2) | $ | 1,444,474 | |||||||||
Paid-in surplus | 1,454,675,843 | 207,962,588 | 333,101,519 | (1,066,516 | )(3) | 1,994,673,434 | ||||||||||||||
Undistributed (over-distribution of) net investment income | 9,020,920 | 1,014,086 | 2,243,808 | (1,606,419 | )(4) | 10,672,395 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | (19,631,949 | ) | (2,305,555 | ) | (27,569,412 | ) | — | (49,506,916 | ) | |||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 279,606,918 | 30,279,369 | 52,266,908 | — | 362,153,195 | |||||||||||||||
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Net assets attributable to common shares | $ | 1,724,745,570 | $ | 237,098,089 | $ | 360,284,342 | $ | (2,691,419 | ) | $ | 2,319,436,582 | |||||||||
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Net asset value per common share outstanding (net assets attributable to common shares, divided by common shares outstanding) | $ | 16.06 | $ | 16.06 | $ | 14.92 | $ | 16.06 | ||||||||||||
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Authorized shares: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||||||||||||||||
Preferred | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
(1) | The pro forma balances are presented as if the Reorganizations were effective as of February 29, 2016, and are presented for informational purposes only. The actual Closing Date of the Reorganizations is expected to be on or about October 12, 2016, or such later time agreed to by the parties at which time the results would be reflective of the actual composition of shareholders’ equity as of that date. All pro forma adjustments are directly attributable to the Reorganizations. |
(2) | Assumes the issuance of 14,729,503 and 22,334,076 Acquiring Fund common shares in exchange for the net assets of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3, respectively. These numbers are based on the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund and Target Funds as of February 29, 2016, adjusted for estimated Reorganization costs and the effect of distributions. |
(3) | Includes the impact of estimated total Reorganization costs of $1,085,000, which are currently expected to be borne by the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 in the amounts of $450,000, $260,000 and $375,000, respectively. |
(4) | Assumes Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 make net investment income distributions of $322,033 and $1,284,386, respectively. |
Expenses Associated with the Reorganizations
In evaluating the Reorganizations, management of the Funds estimated the amount of expenses the Funds would incur to be approximately $1,085,000, which includes additional stock exchange listing fees, SEC registration fees, legal and accounting fees, proxy solicitation and distribution costs and other related administrative or operational costs. The expenses of the Reorganizations (whether or not consummated) will be allocated among the Funds ratably based on the relative expected benefits of the Reorganizations comprised of forecasted operating cost savings (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) and improved secondary market trading, if any, to each Fund during the first year following the Reorganizations. Reorganization expenses have been or will be accrued as expenses of each Fund prior to the Valuation Time. Reorganization expenses have been or will be reflected in each Fund’s net asset value at or before the close of trading on the business day immediately prior to the close of the Reorganizations. These estimated expenses are currently expected to be borne by the
Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 in the amounts of $450,000
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(0.03%), $260,000 (0.11%), and $375,000 (0.11%), respectively (all percentages are based on average net assets applicable to common shares for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016). Preferred shareholders of the Funds will not bear any costs of the Reorganizations.
Additional solicitation may be made by letter or telephone by officers or employees of Nuveen Investments or the Adviser, or by dealers and their representatives. The Funds have engaged Computershare Fund Services to assist in the solicitation of proxies at an estimated aggregate cost of $[•] per Fund plus reasonable expenses, which is included in the foregoing estimate.
Dissenting Shareholders’ Rights of Appraisal
Under the charter documents of each Fund, shareholders do not have dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respect to the Reorganizations.
Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reorganizations
As a condition to each Fund’s obligation to consummate the Reorganizations, each Fund will receive a tax opinion from Vedder Price P.C. (which opinion will be based on certain factual representations and certain customary assumptions) with respect to its Reorganization(s) substantially to the effect that, on the basis of the existing provisions of the Code, current administrative rules and court decisions, for federal income tax purposes:
1. | The transfer by the Target Fund of substantially all its assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund, immediately followed by the distribution of all the Acquiring Fund shares so received by the Target Fund to the Target Fund’s shareholders of record in complete liquidation of the Target Fund and the dissolution of the Target Fund as soon as practicable thereafter, will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization,” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, with respect to the Reorganization. |
2. | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of substantially all the Target Fund’s assets solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund. |
3. | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund upon the transfer of substantially all its assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of such Acquiring Fund shares to the Target Fund’s shareholders solely in exchange for such shareholders’ shares of the Target Fund in complete liquidation of the Target Fund. |
4. | No gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund’s shareholders upon the exchange, pursuant to the Reorganization, of all their shares of the Target Fund solely for Acquiring Fund shares, except to the extent the Target Fund’s common shareholders receive cash in lieu of a fractional Acquiring Fund common share. |
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5. | The aggregate basis of the Acquiring Fund shares received by each Target Fund shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization (including any fractional Acquiring Fund common share to which a shareholder would be entitled) will be the same as the aggregate basis of the Target Fund shares exchanged therefor by such shareholder. |
6. | The holding period of the Acquiring Fund shares received by each Target Fund shareholder in the Reorganization (including any fractional Acquiring Fund common share to which a shareholder would be entitled) will include the period during which the shares of the Target Fund exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder, provided such Target Fund shares are held as capital assets at the effective time of the Reorganization. |
7. | The basis of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets in the hands of the Target Fund immediately before the effective time of the Reorganization. |
8. | The holding period of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by the Target Fund. |
No opinion will be expressed as to (1) the effect of the Reorganizations on a Target Fund, the Acquiring Fund or any Target Fund shareholder with respect to any asset (including, without limitation, any stock held in a passive foreign investment company as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code) as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized under federal income tax principles (a) at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination thereof) or (b) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such transfer would otherwise be a non-taxable transaction under the Code, or (2) any other federal tax issues (except those set forth above) and all state, local or non-U.S. tax issues of any kind.
The opinions addressing the federal income tax consequences of the Reorganizations described above will rely on the position that the Acquiring Fund preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund. In that regard, Sidley Austin LLP, as special tax counsel to the Acquiring Fund, will deliver an opinion to the Acquiring Fund, subject to certain representations, assumptions and conditions, substantially to the effect that the Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares received in the Reorganizations by the holders of preferred shares of the Target Funds will qualify as equity of the Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes. Because the treatment of a corporate security as debt or equity is determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and no controlling precedent exists for the preferred shares issued in the Reorganizations, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not question special tax counsel’s opinion and the Acquiring Fund’s treatment of the preferred shares as equity. If the IRS were to succeed in such a challenge, holders of preferred shares could be characterized as receiving taxable interest income rather than exempt-interest or other dividends, possibly requiring them to file amended income tax returns and retroactively to recognize additional amounts of ordinary income and pay additional tax, interest and penalties, and the tax consequences of the Reorganizations could differ significantly from those described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
If a Target Fund shareholder receives cash in lieu of a fractional Acquiring Fund share, the shareholder will be treated as having received the fractional Acquiring Fund share pursuant to the Reorganization and then as having sold that fractional Acquiring Fund share for cash. As a result, each
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such Target Fund shareholder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the basis in the fractional Acquiring Fund share to which the shareholder is entitled. This gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the effective time of the Reorganization, the holding period for the shares (including the holding period of Target Fund shares surrendered therefor if such Target Fund shares were held as capital assets at the time of the Reorganization) is more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any cash received in lieu of a fractional share may be subject to backup withholding taxes.
Prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, each Target Fund will declare a distribution to its common shareholders, which, together with all other distributions to preferred and common shareholders made with respect to the taxable year in which the Reorganization occurs and all prior taxable years, will have the effect of distributing to shareholders all its net investment income and realized net capital gains (after reduction by any available capital loss carryforwards), if any, through the Closing Date of the Reorganizations. To the extent distributions are attributable to ordinary taxable income or capital gains, the distribution will be taxable to shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund designates distributions to common and preferred shareholders as consisting of particular types of income (such as exempt interest, ordinary income and capital gain) based on each class’ proportionate share of the total distributions paid by the Fund with respect to the year. Additional distributions may be made if necessary. All dividends and distributions will be paid in cash unless a shareholder has made an election to reinvest dividends and distributions in additional shares under the Target Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Taxable dividends and distributions are subject to federal income tax whether received in cash or additional shares.
After the Reorganizations, the combined fund’s ability to use the Target Funds’ or the Acquiring Fund’s pre-Reorganization capital losses may be limited under certain federal income tax rules applicable to reorganizations of this type. Therefore, in certain circumstances, shareholders may pay federal income taxes sooner, or pay more federal income taxes, than they would have had the Reorganizations not occurred. However, the effect of these potential limitations will depend on a number of factors including the amount of the losses, the amount of gains to be offset, the exact timing of the Reorganizations and the amount of unrealized capital gains in the Funds at the time of the Reorganizations. As of February 29, 2016, the Funds had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against capital gains, if any, per the table below.
Capital losses to be carried forward | Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | |||||||||
Expires February 28, 2017 | $ | 13,863,811 | $ | — | $ | 4,536,999 | ||||||
Expires February 28, 2018 | 731,149 | 705,843 | 10,646,251 | |||||||||
Expires February 28, 2019 | — | — | 1,340,157 | |||||||||
Not subject to expiration | 4,827,353 | 792,392 | 10,931,933 | |||||||||
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Total | $ | 19,422,313 | $ | 1,498,235 | $ | 27,455,340 | ||||||
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A Fund is generally able to carry forward net capital losses arising in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-enactment losses”) indefinitely. However, net capital losses of the Funds from taxable years beginning on or prior to December 22, 2010 are subject to the expiration dates shown above and can be used only after post-enactment losses.
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In addition, the shareholders of a Target Fund will receive a proportionate share of any taxable income and gains realized by the Acquiring Fund and not distributed to its shareholders prior to the closing of the Reorganizations when such income and gains are eventually distributed by the Acquiring Fund. Any gain the Acquiring Fund realizes after the Reorganizations, including any built-in gain in the portfolio investments of the Target Funds and Acquiring Fund that was unrealized at the time of the Reorganizations, may result in taxable distributions to shareholders holding shares of the Acquiring Fund (including former Target Fund shareholders who hold shares of the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganizations). As a result, shareholders of a Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund may receive a greater amount of taxable distributions than they would have had the Reorganizations not occurred.
This description of the federal income tax consequences of the Reorganizations is made without regard to the particular facts and circumstances of any shareholder. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers as to the specific consequences to them of the Reorganizations, including the applicability and effect of state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws.
The foregoing is intended to be only a summary of the principal federal income tax consequences of the Reorganizations and should not be considered to be tax advice. There can be no assurance that the IRS will concur on all or any of the issues discussed above. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the federal, state and local tax consequences with respect to the foregoing matters and any other considerations which may be applicable to them.
Each Reorganization is required to be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of each Target Fund’s outstanding common shares and preferred shares entitled to vote on the matter, voting together as a single class, and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of such Target Fund’s outstanding preferred shares entitled to vote on the matter, voting separately. The Reorganizations also are required to be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of the Acquiring Fund’s outstanding preferred shares entitled to vote on the matter, voting as a separate class. Holders of the Funds’ preferred shares are being solicited separately on the foregoing proposals through a separate proxy statement and not through this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against the approval of the Reorganizations. Broker non-votes are shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which (1) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (2) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter.
Preferred shareholders of each Fund are separately being asked to approve the Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” under the 1940 Act. Section 18(a)(2)(D) of the 1940 Act provides that the terms of preferred shares issued by a registered closed-end management investment company must contain provisions requiring approval by the vote of a majority of such shares, voting as a class, of any plan of reorganization adversely affecting such shares. Because the 1940 Act makes no distinction between a plan of reorganization that has an adverse effect as opposed to a materially adverse effect, each Fund is seeking approval of the Agreement by the holders of such Fund’s preferred shares.
The closing of each Reorganization is contingent upon the closing of all of the Reorganizations. The closing of each Reorganization is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing
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conditions, which include customary closing conditions. In order for the Reorganizations to occur, all requisite shareholder approvals must be obtained at the Annual Meetings, and certain other consents, confirmations and/or waivers must also be obtained from various third parties, including liquidity providers with respect to the Funds’ outstanding VRDP Shares. Because the closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon each of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund obtaining such shareholder approvals and satisfying (or obtaining the waiver of) other closing conditions, it is possible that the Reorganizations will not occur, even if shareholders of your Fund entitled to vote on your Fund’s Reorganization proposal(s) approve such proposal(s) and your Fund satisfies all of its closing conditions, if one or more of the other Funds does not obtain its requisite shareholder approvals or satisfy (or obtain the waiver of) its closing conditions. VRDP Shares were issued on a private placement basis to one or a small number of institutional holders. To the extent that one or more preferred shareholders of a Fund owns, holds or controls, individually or in the aggregate, all or a significant portion of a Fund’s outstanding preferred shares, one or more shareholder approvals required for the Reorganizations may turn on the exercise of voting rights by such particular shareholder(s) and its or their determination as to the favorable view of such proposal(s) with respect to its or their interests. The Funds exercise no influence or control over the determinations of such shareholders with respect to the proposals; there is no guarantee that such shareholders will approve the proposals over which they may exercise effective disposition power. If the requisite shareholder approvals are not obtained, each Fund’s Board may take such actions as it deems in the best interests of its Fund.
Description of Common Shares to Be Issued by the Acquiring Fund; Comparison to Target Funds
General
As a general matter, the common shares of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund have equal voting rights and equal rights with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of their respective Fund and have no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may authorize, or rights to cumulative voting. Holders of whole common shares of each Fund are entitled to one vote per share on any matter on which the shares are entitled to vote, while each fractional share entitles its holder to a proportional fractional vote. Furthermore, the provisions set forth in the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust are substantially similar to the provisions of each Target Fund’s declaration of trust, and each contains, among other things, similar super-majority voting provisions, as described under “Additional Information About the Acquiring Fund—Certain Provisions in the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.” The full text of each Fund’s declaration of trust is on file with the SEC and may be obtained as described on page vi.
The Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust authorizes an unlimited number of common shares, par value $0.01 per share. If the Reorganizations are consummated, the Acquiring Fund will issue additional common shares on the Closing Date to the common shareholders of each Target Fund based on the relative per share net asset value of the Acquiring Fund and the net asset value of such Target Fund that are transferred in connection with the Reorganization, in each case as of the Valuation Time. The value of a Fund’s net assets will be calculated net of the liquidation preference (including accumulated and unpaid dividends) of all of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares.
The terms of the Acquiring Fund common shares to be issued pursuant to the Reorganizations will be identical to the terms of the Acquiring Fund common shares that are then outstanding.
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Acquiring Fund common shares have equal rights with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund common shares, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable and have no preemptive, conversion or exchange rights or rights to cumulative voting. See also “Description of Massachusetts Business Trusts.”
Distributions
As a general matter, each Fund has a monthly distribution policy and each Fund seeks to maintain a stable level of distributions. Each Fund’s current policy, which may be changed by its Board, is to make regular monthly cash distributions to holders of its common shares at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per common share dividend rate) that reflects the past and projected performance of the Fund.
The Acquiring Fund’s ability to maintain a level dividend rate will depend on a number of factors, including the rate at which dividends are payable on the preferred shares. The net income of the Acquiring Fund generally consists of all interest income accrued on portfolio assets less all expenses of the Fund. Expenses of the Acquiring Fund are accrued each day. Over time, all the net investment income of the Acquiring Fund will be distributed. At least annually, the Acquiring Fund also intends to effectively distribute net capital gains and ordinary taxable income, if any, after paying any accrued dividends or making any liquidation payments to preferred shareholders. Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board may change the Acquiring Fund’s dividend policy and the amount or timing of the distributions based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and historical and projected investment income and the amount of the expenses and dividend rates on the outstanding preferred shares.
As explained more fully below, at least annually, the Acquiring Fund may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of any net capital gains (which are the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) otherwise allocable to shareholders and pay federal income tax on the retained gain. As provided under federal income tax law, shareholders will include their share of the retained net capital gains in their income for the year as a long-term capital gain (regardless of their holding period in the shares) and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for the federal income tax deemed paid on their behalf by the Acquiring Fund. See “Additional Information About the Acquiring Fund—Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Acquiring Fund” below and “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters” in the Reorganization SAI.
So long as preferred shares are outstanding, the Acquiring Fund may not declare a dividend or distribution to common shareholders (other than a dividend in common shares of the Fund) or purchase outstanding common shares unless all accumulated dividends on preferred shares have been paid and unless the asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, with respect to its preferred shares at the time of the declaration of such dividend or distribution or at the time of such purchase would be at least 200% after giving effect to the dividend or distribution or purchase price.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Generally, the terms of the dividend reinvestment plan (the “Plan”) for the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund are identical. Under the Acquiring Fund’s Plan, you may elect to have all dividends, including any capital gain distributions, on your common shares automatically reinvested by State
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Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Plan Agent”) in additional common shares under the Plan. You may elect to participate in the Plan by completing a Dividend Reinvestment Plan Application Form. If you do not participate, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you by State Street Bank and Trust Company as dividend paying agent.
If you decide to participate in the Plan of the Acquiring Fund, the number of common shares you will receive will be determined as follows:
(1) If common shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Acquiring Fund will issue new shares at the greater of net asset value or 95% of the then-current market price; or
(2) If common shares are trading below net asset value at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase common shares in the open market, on the exchange on which the common shares are listed, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the common shares may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in common shares issued by the Acquiring Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase common shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments.
If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Acquiring Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value.
You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving notice to the Plan Agent either in writing or by telephone. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Common shares in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all common shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in common shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due on taxable dividends and distributions.
The Acquiring Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of the Acquiring Fund the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Acquiring Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service
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charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from State Street Bank and Trust Company, Attn: Computershare Nuveen Investments, P.O. Box 43071, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3071, (800) 257-8787.
Common Share Price Data
The following tables show for the periods indicated: (1) the high and low sales prices for common shares reported as of the end of the day on the corresponding stock exchange of each Fund, (2) the high and low net asset values of the common shares, and (3) the high and low of the premium/(discount) to net asset value (expressed as a percentage) of the common shares.
Acquiring Fund | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market Price | Net Asset Value | Premium/(Discount) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||
May 2016 | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | [ | •]% | [ | •]% | ||||||||||||
February 2016 | $ | 16.01 | $ | 14.82 | $ | 16.24 | $ | 15.78 | (0.56 | )% | (6.36 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2015 | $ | 15.43 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 15.76 | $ | 15.39 | (1.34 | )% | (6.31 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2015 | $ | 15.19 | $ | 14.18 | $ | 15.65 | $ | 15.30 | (2.14 | )% | (7.92 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2015 | $ | 15.51 | $ | 15.05 | $ | 16.00 | $ | 15.40 | (1.36 | )% | (4.92 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 | $ | 15.75 | $ | 14.62 | $ | 16.34 | $ | 15.79 | (2.37 | )% | (7.74 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2014 | $ | 14.98 | $ | 14.02 | $ | 15.99 | $ | 15.47 | (4.77 | )% | (9.75 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2014 | $ | 14.26 | $ | 13.66 | $ | 15.61 | $ | 15.10 | (5.95 | )% | (10.26 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2014 | $ | 14.37 | $ | 13.63 | $ | 15.40 | $ | 14.60 | (4.79 | )% | (7.58 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2014 | $ | 14.07 | $ | 12.26 | $ | 14.68 | $ | 13.76 | (4.16 | )% | (11.03 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2013 | $ | 13.28 | $ | 12.18 | $ | 14.05 | $ | 13.24 | (5.28 | )% | (10.91 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2013 | $ | 14.54 | $ | 12.01 | $ | 15.47 | $ | 13.31 | (4.20 | )% | (10.40 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2013 | $ | 15.81 | $ | 14.14 | $ | 16.08 | $ | 15.49 | 0.11 | % | (8.72 | )% |
Dividend Advantage 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market Price | Net Asset Value | Premium/(Discount) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||
May 2016 | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | [ | •]% | [ | •]% | ||||||||||||
February 2016 | $ | 16.23 | $ | 14.85 | $ | 16.22 | $ | 15.74 | 0.93 | % | (5.75 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2015 | $ | 15.32 | $ | 14.65 | $ | 15.72 | $ | 15.31 | (1.79 | )% | (5.24 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2015 | $ | 14.77 | $ | 13.52 | $ | 15.55 | $ | 15.23 | (4.77 | )% | (11.75 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2015 | $ | 14.68 | $ | 14.22 | $ | 15.87 | $ | 15.31 | (6.35 | )% | (9.46 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 | $ | 15.01 | $ | 14.12 | $ | 16.13 | $ | 15.65 | (6.94 | )% | (10.16 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2014 | $ | 14.21 | $ | 13.76 | $ | 15.81 | $ | 15.38 | (8.85 | )% | (12.40 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2014 | $ | 14.33 | $ | 13.66 | $ | 15.47 | $ | 15.07 | (6.71 | )% | (10.74 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2014 | $ | 14.34 | $ | 13.39 | $ | 15.37 | $ | 14.77 | (5.88 | )% | (10.01 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2014 | $ | 13.77 | $ | 12.20 | $ | 14.85 | $ | 13.94 | (6.41 | )% | (12.52 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2013 | $ | 13.32 | $ | 12.40 | $ | 14.23 | $ | 13.46 | (5.73 | )% | (11.10 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2013 | $ | 14.67 | $ | 12.24 | $ | 15.85 | $ | 13.60 | (6.25 | )% | (10.72 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2013 | $ | 16.16 | $ | 14.50 | $ | 16.43 | $ | 15.87 | (1.28 | )% | (8.63 | )% |
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Dividend Advantage 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market Price | Net Asset Value | Premium/(Discount) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||
May 2016 | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | $ | [•] | [ | •]% | [ | •]% | ||||||||||||
February 2016 | $ | 14.70 | $ | 13.58 | $ | 15.06 | $ | 14.63 | (2.13 | )% | (7.48 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2015 | $ | 13.89 | $ | 13.00 | $ | 14.62 | $ | 14.27 | (4.21 | )% | (9.78 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2015 | $ | 13.48 | $ | 12.70 | $ | 14.46 | $ | 14.16 | (5.96 | )% | (10.81 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2015 | $ | 13.90 | $ | 13.30 | $ | 14.76 | $ | 14.23 | (4.55 | )% | (8.97 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2015 | $ | 14.10 | $ | 13.03 | $ | 14.99 | $ | 14.50 | (5.82 | )% | (10.33 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2014 | $ | 13.25 | $ | 12.57 | $ | 14.68 | $ | 14.27 | (8.37 | )% | (11.92 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2014 | $ | 12.98 | $ | 12.46 | $ | 14.37 | $ | 13.90 | (7.48 | )% | (11.44 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2014 | $ | 12.93 | $ | 11.99 | $ | 14.14 | $ | 13.43 | (7.53 | )% | (10.92 | )% | ||||||||||||
February 2014 | $ | 12.24 | $ | 11.01 | $ | 13.50 | $ | 12.61 | (7.36 | )% | (12.96 | )% | ||||||||||||
November 2013 | $ | 11.81 | $ | 11.18 | $ | 12.86 | $ | 12.24 | (6.83 | )% | (12.38 | )% | ||||||||||||
August 2013 | $ | 13.10 | $ | 11.10 | $ | 14.29 | $ | 12.31 | (5.36 | )% | (11.27 | )% | ||||||||||||
May 2013 | $ | 14.20 | $ | 12.99 | $ | 14.81 | $ | 14.32 | (3.27 | )% | (9.29 | )% |
On [•], 2016, the closing sale prices of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 common shares were $[•], $[•] and $[•], respectively. These prices represent discounts to net asset value for the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 of ([•])%, ([•])% and ([•])%, respectively.
Common shares of each Fund have historically traded at both a premium and discount to net asset value. It is not possible to state whether Acquiring Fund common shares will trade at a premium or discount to net asset value following the Reorganizations, or what the extent of any such premium or discount might be.
Description of VRDP Shares to Be Issued by the Acquiring Fund
The terms of the VRDP Shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued pursuant to the Reorganization of each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 into the Acquiring Fund (previously defined as the “New VRDP Shares”) will be substantially similar, as of the closing of the Reorganizations, to the outstanding Target Fund VRDP Shares for which they are exchanged. The aggregate liquidation preference of the New VRDP Shares to be received in each such Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the corresponding series of Target Fund VRDP Shares held immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization.
The outstanding VRDP Shares of each Target Fund had a 30-year final mandatory redemption date as of their date of original issue, subject to earlier redemption or repurchase by the Fund, and pay an adjustable dividend rate set weekly by the remarketing agent. The New VRDP Shares of each series will have the same mandatory redemption date as the corresponding series of Target Fund VRDP Shares exchanged therefor. Holders of New VRDP Shares will have the right to give seven days’ notice on any business day to tender the securities for remarketing. The New VRDP Shares will also be subject to a mandatory tender for remarketing upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the non-payment of dividends by the Acquiring Fund. Should a remarketing be unsuccessful, the dividend rate will reset to a maximum rate as defined in the governing documents of the New VRDP Shares.
The Statement for the New VRDP Shares of each series generally requires that the Acquiring Fund maintain a purchase agreement which contains an unconditional demand feature pursuant to a
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purchase obligation provided by an entity acting as liquidity provider to ensure full and timely repayment of the liquidation preference amount plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to holders upon the occurrence of certain events. The agreement requires the liquidity provider to purchase from holders all New VRDP Shares of the applicable series tendered for sale that were not successfully remarketed. The liquidity provider also must purchase all outstanding New VRDP Shares of the applicable series prior to termination of the purchase agreement, including by reason of the failure of the liquidity provider to maintain the requisite short-term ratings, if the Acquiring Fund has not obtained an alternate purchase agreement before the termination date.
The obligation of each liquidity provider to purchase the New VRDP Shares of the applicable series pursuant to the applicable purchase agreement will run to the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the New VRDP Shares of such series and will be unconditional and irrevocable, and as such the short-term ratings assigned to each series of New VRDP Shares are directly linked to the short-term creditworthiness of the associated liquidity provider. Each liquidity provider entered into a purchase agreement with respect to the applicable series of Target Fund VRDP Shares, subject to periodic extension by agreement with the respective Fund. The initial term of the purchase agreement with the liquidity provider for the New VRDP Shares of each series is expected to be no less than the remaining term immediately prior to the Reorganizations of the applicable purchase agreement with respect to the corresponding series of Target Fund VRDP Shares exchanged therefor.
Prior to the final mandatory redemption date for the New VRDP Shares of each series, the New VRDP Shares of such series will be subject to optional and mandatory redemption by the Acquiring Fund in certain circumstances. New VRDP Shares may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the Acquiring Fund (in whole or, from time to time, in part), out of funds legally available therefor, at a redemption price per share equal to the sum of $100,000 plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. Pursuant to the Statement and fee agreement with the liquidity provider for the New VRDP Shares of each series, the Acquiring Fund will have an obligation to redeem, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board for redemption, shares of such series purchased by the liquidity provider pursuant to its obligations under the purchase agreement if the liquidity provider continues to be the beneficial owner for a period of six months and such shares cannot be successfully remarketed. If the Acquiring Fund fails to maintain the minimum asset coverage required under the 1940 Act and under the Acquiring Fund’s agreement with the liquidity provider with respect to a series of New VRDP Shares, and such failure is not cured by the applicable cure date, the Acquiring Fund also will redeem, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board for redemption, such number of preferred shares as is necessary to achieve compliance with the minimum asset coverage requirement. The number of preferred shares to be redeemed may, at the Acquiring Fund’s sole option (to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and Massachusetts law), include any number or proportion of preferred shares of any series; provided, that to the extent the Acquiring Fund does a mandatory redemption of any VRDP Shares, the Acquiring Fund will allocate the number to be redeemed pro rata among the VRDP Shares of each series subject to redemption or retirement (if more than one such series is then outstanding).
Holders of the New VRDP Shares of each series, as a separate class, will have voting and consent rights with respect to certain actions that would materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of the New VRDP Shares of each series or holders of the New VRDP Shares of each
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series. Holders of the New VRDP Shares of each series also will be entitled to vote as a class with holders of other preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund on matters that relate to the conversion of the Acquiring Fund to an open-end investment company, certain plans of reorganization adversely affecting holders of the preferred shares or any other action requiring a vote of security holders of the Acquiring Fund under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. Holders of preferred shares, including the New VRDP Shares of each series, are entitled to elect additional trustees constituting, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the holders of preferred shares, a majority of the trustees, in the event at least two full years’ dividends are due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities have not been deposited for their payment, or at any time holders of preferred shares are entitled under the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the trustees of the Acquiring Fund.
The New VRDP Shares of each series will be senior in priority to the Acquiring Fund’s common shares as to the payment of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. The New VRDP Shares of each series will have equal priority with each other and with the other preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, including the Acquiring Fund’s Outstanding VRDP Shares, and any other preferred shares that the Acquiring Fund may issue in the future, as to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund.
Description of Massachusetts Business Trusts
Each Fund is a Massachusetts business trust. The following description is based on relevant provisions of applicable Massachusetts law and each Fund’s operative documents. This summary does not purport to be complete, and we refer you to applicable Massachusetts law and each Fund’s operative documents.
General
A fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust is governed by the trust’s declaration of trust or similar instrument.
Massachusetts law allows the trustees of a business trust to set the terms of a fund’s governance in its declaration of trust. All power and authority to manage the fund and its affairs generally reside with the trustees, and shareholder voting and other rights are limited to those provided to the shareholders in the declaration of trust.
Because Massachusetts law governing business trusts provides more flexibility compared to typical state corporate statutes, the Massachusetts business trust is a common form of organization for closed-end funds. However, some consider it less desirable than other entities because it relies on the terms of the applicable declaration of trust and judicial interpretations rather than statutory provisions for substantive issues, such as the personal liability of shareholders and trustees, and does not provide the level of certitude that corporate laws, or newer statutory trust laws such as those of Delaware, provide.
Shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust are not afforded the statutory limitation of personal liability generally afforded to shareholders of a corporation from the trust’s liabilities. Instead, the declaration of trust of a fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust typically provides that a shareholder will not be personally liable, and further provides for indemnification to the extent that a shareholder is found personally liable, for the fund’s acts or obligations. The declaration of trust for each Fund contain, such provisions.
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Similarly, the trustees of a Massachusetts business trust are not afforded statutory protection from personal liability for the obligations of the trust. However, courts in Massachusetts have recognized limitations of a trustee’s personal liability in contract actions for the obligations of a trust contained in the trust’s declaration of trust, and declarations of trust may also provide that trustees may be indemnified out of the assets of the trust to the extent held personally liable. The declaration of trust for each Fund contains such provisions.
The Funds
Each Fund is organized as a Massachusetts business trust and is governed by its declaration of trust and by-laws. Under the declaration of trust, any determination as to what is in the interests of the Fund made by the trustees in good faith is conclusive, and in construing the provisions of the declaration of trust, there is a presumption in favor of a grant of power to the trustees. Further, the declaration of trust provides that certain determinations made in good faith by the trustees are binding upon the Fund and all shareholders, and shares are issued and sold on the condition and understanding, evidenced by the purchase of shares, that any and all such determinations will be so binding. The following is a summary of some of the key provisions of the Funds’ governing documents.
Shareholder Voting. The declaration of trust of each Fund requires a shareholder vote on a number of matters, including certain amendments to the declaration of trust, the election of trustees, the merger or reorganization of the Fund (under certain circumstances) or sales of assets in certain circumstances and matters required to be voted by the 1940 Act.
Meetings of shareholders may be called by the trustees and by the written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. The by-laws of each Fund provide that the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of the voting power of the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund entitled to vote at a meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The declaration of trust of each Fund provides that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (more than 50%) of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present is required to approve a matter, except in the case of the election of trustees, which requires only a plurality vote, and for events to which other voting provisions apply under the 1940 Act or the declaration of trust and by-laws, such as the super-majority voting provisions with respect to a merger, consolidation or dissolution of, or sale of substantially all of the assets by, the Fund, or its conversion to an open-end investment company in certain circumstances under the terms of the declaration of trust.
Election and Removal of Trustees. The declaration of trust of each Fund provides that the trustees determine the size of the Board, subject to a minimum and a maximum number. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, the declaration of trust also provides that vacancies on the Board may be filled by the remaining trustees. A trustee may be removed only for cause and only by action of at least two-thirds of the remaining trustees or by action of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the class or classes that elected such trustee.
Issuance of Shares. Under the declaration of trust of each Fund, the trustees are permitted to issue an unlimited number of shares for such consideration and on such terms as the trustees may determine. Shareholders are not entitled to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe to additional shares, except as the trustees may determine. Shares are subject to such other preferences, conversion, exchange or similar rights, as the trustees may determine.
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Classes. The declaration of trust of each Fund gives broad authority to the trustees to establish classes or series in addition to those currently established and to determine the rights and preferences, conversion rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemptions of the shares of the classes or series. The trustees are also authorized to terminate a class or series without a vote of shareholders under certain circumstances.
Amendments to Declaration of Trust. Amendments to the declaration of trust generally require the consent of shareholders owning more than 50% of shares entitled to vote, voting in the aggregate. Certain amendments may be made by the trustees without a shareholder vote, and any amendment to the voting requirements contained in the declaration of trust requires the approval of two-thirds of the outstanding common shares and preferred shares, voting in the aggregate and not by class except to the extent that applicable law or the declaration of trust may require voting by class.
Shareholder, Trustee and Officer Liability. The declaration of trust of each Fund provides that shareholders have no personal liability for the acts or obligations of the Fund and require the Fund to indemnify a shareholder from any loss or expense arising solely by reason of his or her being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other reasons. In addition, the Fund will assume the defense of any claim against a shareholder for personal liability at the request of the shareholder. Similarly, the declaration of trust provides that any person who is a trustee, officer or employee of the Fund is not personally liable to any person in connection with the affairs of the Fund, other than to the Fund and its shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his or her duty. The declaration of trust further provides for indemnification of such persons and advancement of the expenses of defending any such actions for which indemnification might be sought. The declaration of trust also provides that the trustees may rely in good faith on expert advice.
Derivative Actions. Massachusetts has what is commonly referred to as a “universal demand statute,” which requires that a shareholder make a written demand on the board, requesting the trustees to bring an action, before the shareholder is entitled to bring or maintain a court action or claim on behalf of the entity.
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D. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE INVESTMENT POLICIES |
Comparison of the Investment Objectives and Policies of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds
General
The investment objectives of the Funds are the same. The investment objectives of each Fund are to provide current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes and to enhance portfolio value relative to the California municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt California municipal securities that the Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.
Under normal circumstances, each Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
Note that (1) each Fund’s investment objectives; and (2) each Fund’s policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. are fundamental investment policies of the Fund and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class, and the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares, voting separately as a single class. When used with respect to particular shares of a Fund as used in this paragraph, a “majority of the outstanding” shares means (1) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present in person or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less.
Investment Policies
The Funds have substantially similar investment policies. Each Fund pursues its investment objectives by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. As a non-fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities rated, at the time of investment, below the three highest grades (Baa or BBB or lower) by at least one NRSRO, which includes below-investment-grade securities, or unrated securities judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser. Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, no more than 10% of the Acquiring Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser.
Securities of below-investment-grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Municipal securities rated below-investment-grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal securities rated below-investment-grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality securities because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated municipal securities is
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even narrower. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and a Fund may have greater difficulty selling its holdings of these types of portfolio securities. A Fund will be more dependent on the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s research and analysis when investing in these securities.
Municipal securities rated Baa or BBB are considered “investment grade” securities. Issuers of municipal securities rated BBB or Baa are regarded as having average creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal issuers; however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to meet its financial commitments.
The foregoing credit quality policy targets apply only at the time a security is purchased, and a Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency upgrades or downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer or that valuation changes of various municipal securities cause the Fund’s portfolio to fail to satisfy those targets. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider such factors as the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. The credit ratings assigned by rating agencies from time to time, represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal securities they rate. However, it should be emphasized that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. A general description of the ratings of municipal securities by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch is set forth in Appendix A to the Reorganization SAI.
Each Fund’s investment objectives include enhancing portfolio value relative to the municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt municipal bonds that the Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued. Underrated municipal securities are those whose ratings do not, in the Adviser’s opinion, reflect their true value. Municipal securities may be underrated because of the time that has elapsed since their rating was assigned or reviewed or because of positive factors that may not have been fully taken into account by rating agencies, or for other similar reasons. Municipal securities that are undervalued or that represent undervalued municipal market sectors are municipal securities that, in the Adviser’s opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Municipal securities of particular types or purposes (e.g., hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal securities of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular municipal securities that are considered undervalued. A Fund’s investment in underrated or undervalued municipal securities will be based on the Adviser’s belief that the prices of such municipal securities should ultimately reflect their true value.
Each Fund will invest primarily in municipal securities with long-term maturities in order to maintain an average effective maturity of at least 15 years, but the average effective maturity of obligations held by the Fund may be lengthened or shortened as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, depending on market conditions. As a result, a Fund’s portfolio at any given time may include both long-term and intermediate-term municipal securities. Moreover, during temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt bond market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal
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securities are available), and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable and up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As of February 29, 2016, the effective maturities of the portfolios of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 were 19.88, 21.72 and 21.96 years, respectively.
In addition, each Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies that provide such credit enhancements may affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature may reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce a Fund’s income. The insurance feature guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the obligation when due and does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligations, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer, and the effectiveness and value of the insurance itself is dependent on the continued creditworthiness of the insurer. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.
Each Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge certain risks of its investments in fixed-income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. A Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities represent a leveraged investment in the underlying municipal bond deposited. Inverse floating rate securities offer the opportunity for higher income than the underlying bond, but will subject a Fund to the risk of lower or even no income if short-term interest rates rise sufficiently. By investing in an inverse floating rate security rather than directly in the underlying bond, a Fund will experience a greater increase in its common share net asset value if the underlying municipal bond increases in value, but will also experience a correspondingly larger decline in its common share net asset value if the underlying bond declines in value.
Each Fund may borrow money to finance the repurchase of its shares or for temporary or emergency purposes, such as for the payment of dividends or the settlement of portfolio transactions. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by a Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Fund’s Board would have to comply with the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Each Fund is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of its assets, the Acquiring Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), except that this limitation does not apply to cash, securities of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies.
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As noted above, during temporary defensive periods and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment objectives and invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. It is the intent of each Fund to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal and California income taxes, and if the proportion of taxable investments exceeded 50% of a Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable year. For more information, See “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters” in the Reorganization SAI.
Municipal Securities
General. Each Fund may invest in various municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and California income tax. Municipal securities are generally debt obligations issued by state and local governmental entities and may be issued by U.S. territories and possessions to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide permanent financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal securities may also be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. Municipal securities may be issued and purchased in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms including fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds and residual interest bonds or inverse floating rate securities; or acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. Inverse floating rate securities are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and represent a leveraged investment in an underlying municipal security, which may increase the effective leverage of a Fund.
Each Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by U.S. territories and possessions (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) the income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax. The yields on municipal securities depend on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The market value of municipal securities will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result of changing evaluations of the ability of their issuers to meet interest and principal payments.
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Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Each Fund also may purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations and certificates of participation in such leases. These carry special risks because the issuer of the securities may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. A municipal lease is an obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase that is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities. Income from such obligations generally is exempt from state and local taxes in the state of issuance. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment or facilities. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering, or the failure to recover fully, a Fund’s original investment. To the extent that a Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, each Fund will purchase municipal securities representing lease obligations only where the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates typically are issued by a municipal agency, a trust or other entity that has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements. Such certificates provide a Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying municipal securities. In addition, such participations generally provide a Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the underlying municipal securities, plus accrued interest.
Municipal Notes. Municipal securities in the form of notes generally are used to provide for short-term capital needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Such instruments may include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes and construction loan notes. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance the working capital needs of governments. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the bond anticipation notes. Tax and revenue anticipation notes combine the funding sources of both tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. Mortgage notes insured by the Federal Housing Administration secure these notes; however, the proceeds from the insurance may be less than the economic equivalent of the payment of principal and interest on the mortgage note if there has been a
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default. The anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing generally secure the obligations of an issuer of municipal notes. However, an investment in such instruments presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.
Pre-Refunded Municipal Securities. The principal of, and interest on, pre-refunded municipal securities are no longer paid from the original revenue source for the securities. Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. government securities. The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the pre-refunded municipal securities. Issuers of municipal securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the issuer. For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded municipal securities. However, except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded municipal securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer.
Private Activity Bonds. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust, commonly referred to as a “tender option bond trust” (“TOB trust”), that holds municipal bonds. The TOB trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds (“TOBs”)), and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates or receipts. The floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the TOB trust. In this structure, the floating rate security holders have the option, at periodic short-term intervals, to tender their securities to the trust for purchase and to receive the face value thereof plus accrued interest. The obligation of the trust to repurchase tendered securities is supported by a remarketing agent and by a liquidity provider. As consideration for providing this support, the remarketing agent and the liquidity provider receive periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the trust is not obligated to purchase tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults with respect to the underlying municipal bonds or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer.
As the holder of an inverse floating rate investment, a Fund receives the residual cash flow from the TOB trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security plus accrued interest, the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal bond deposited into the
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TOB trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the total face value of the short-term floaters to the value of the inverse floaters that are issued by the TOB trust, and can exceed three times for more “highly leveraged” trusts. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the TOB trust are passed through, pro rata, to the holders of the short-term floaters and to a Fund as the holder of the associated inverse floaters.
Because any increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters issued by a TOB trust would reduce the residual interest paid on the associated inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the TOB trust would affect only the value of the inverse floater and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust so long as the value of the municipal bond held by the trust exceeded the face amount of short-term floaters outstanding, the value of inverse floaters is generally more volatile than that of an otherwise comparable municipal bond held on an unleveraged basis outside a TOB trust. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market of fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but will tend to outperform the market of fixed-rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile in value and return, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields higher than those available on fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity or illiquidity based primarily upon the inverse floater holder’s ability to sell the underlying bonds deposited in the TOB trust at an attractive price.
Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by TOB trusts in which the liquidity providers have recourse to the Fund pursuant to a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement. Such an agreement would require a Fund to reimburse the liquidity provider, among other circumstances, upon termination of the TOB trust for the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount and accrued interest due to the holders of floating rate securities issued by the trust. A Fund will enter into such a recourse agreement (1) when the liquidity provider requires such a recourse agreement because the level of leverage in the TOB trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (2) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event the municipal bond held in the trust has declined in value to the point where it may cease to exceed the face amount of outstanding short-term floaters. In an instance where a Fund has entered such a recourse agreement, the Fund may suffer a loss that exceeds the amount of its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities; such loss could be as great as that original investment amount plus the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by the trust plus accrued interest thereon.
Each Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with the 1940 Act to cover its obligations with respect to its investments in TOB trusts.
Each Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same TOB trust.
Floating Rate Securities. Each Fund may also invest in short-term floating rate securities, as described above, issued by TOB trusts. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to other periods of up to one year. Since the tender option feature provides a shorter term than the final
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maturity or first call date of the underlying municipal bond deposited in the trust, a Fund, as the holder of the floating rate securities, relies upon the terms of the remarketing and liquidity agreements with the financial institution that acts as remarketing agent and/or liquidity provider as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the TOB trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal bond deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate securities. The TOB trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate securities.
Special Taxing Districts. Special taxing districts are organized to plan and finance infrastructure developments to induce residential, commercial and industrial growth and redevelopment. The bond financing methods such as tax increment finance, tax assessment, special services district and Mello-Roos bonds, generally are payable solely from taxes or other revenues attributable to the specific projects financed by the bonds without recourse to the credit or taxing power of related or overlapping municipalities. They often are exposed to real estate development-related risks and can have more taxpayer concentration risk than general tax-supported bonds, such as general obligation bonds. Further, the fees, special taxes, or tax allocations and other revenues that are established to secure such financings generally are limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. The bonds could default if development failed to progress as anticipated or if larger taxpayers failed to pay the assessments, fees and taxes as provided in the financing plans of the districts.
Illiquid Securities
Each Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable), including, but not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may be resold only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act that are deemed to be illiquid, and certain repurchase agreements.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at a fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegatee.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
Each Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. On such transactions, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. Beginning on the date a Fund enters into a commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required under interpretations of the SEC to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value, at all times, at least equal to the amount of the commitment. Income generated
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by any such assets which provide taxable income for federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of a Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be taxable to shareholders. Each Fund may enter into contracts to purchase municipal securities on a forward basis (i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within 60 days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and, at the time of delivery, the market value may be less than cost.
Derivatives
General. Each Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. Credit default swaps may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. If a Fund is a seller of a contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to such debt obligations. In return, a Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, a Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If a Fund is a buyer of a contract, the Fund would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt obligations. In return, a Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to a Fund. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. A Fund will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.
The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of a Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate taxable income.
There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will determine to use them for a Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful.
Limitations on the Use of Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps. The Adviser has claimed, with respect to each Fund, the exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the CEA provided by CFTC Regulation 4.5 and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser has claimed the
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exemption from registration as a commodity trading advisor provided by CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to each Fund. In February 2012, the CFTC announced substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if a Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net asset value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s net asset value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on December 31, 2012, and each Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5’s requirements such that the Adviser will not be required to register as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. Each Fund reserves the right to employ futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. However, the requirements for qualification as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code may limit the extent to which a Fund may employ futures, options on futures or swaps.
Structured Notes
Each Fund may utilize structured notes and similar instruments for investment purposes and also for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending upon a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index or indices or other assets. Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.
Special Considerations Relating to California Municipal Securities
As described above, each Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. Each Fund is therefore susceptible to political, economic or regulatory factors affecting issuers of California municipal securities. See “Concentration Risk” and Appendix D to this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (“Factors Affecting Municipal Securities in California”). Information regarding the financial condition of the State of California is ordinarily included in various public documents issued thereby, such as the official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of California. Such official statements may be obtained by contacting the State Treasurer’s Office at 800-900-3873 or at www.treasurer.ca.gov. Complete text of the Governor’s proposed 2016-2017 budget, the 2015-2016 budget and prior budgets may be found at the electronic budget website of the Department of Finance (www.ebudget.ca.gov).
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The State of California is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in governmental operations. Information regarding some of the more significant litigation pending against the State would ordinarily be included in various public documents issued thereby, such as the official statements referred to above prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of California.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (the “LAO”) has released several reports which include their estimates and assessments of State budget acts and associated fiscal and economic projections.
Publications from the LAO can be read in full by accessing the LAO’s website (www.lao.ca.gov) or by contacting the LAO at 916-445-4656. Complete text of the State Controller’s monthly Summary Analysis may be accessed at the State Controller’s website (www.sco.ca.gov).
None of the information on the above websites is incorporated herein by reference.
Other Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including ETFs) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, each Fund may invest a portion of its Managed Assets in pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. Each Fund generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies and/or other pooled investment vehicles either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive, high yielding municipal securities available in the market. Each Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. No Fund has applied for, and no Fund currently intends to apply for, such relief. As a shareholder in an investment company, each Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of its own management fees with respect to assets so invested. Common shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent each Fund invests in other investment companies.
The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available municipal security investments. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. The net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile, and the yield to common shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
Zero Coupon Bonds
Each Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. A zero coupon bond is a bond that typically does not pay interest for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligation. The market prices of zero coupon bonds are affected to a greater extent by changes in prevailing levels of interest rates and therefore tend to be more volatile in price than securities that pay interest periodically. In addition, because each Fund accrues income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of such interest, it may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to obtain cash needed to pay income dividends in amounts necessary to avoid unfavorable tax consequences.
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Hedging Strategies
Each Fund may use various investment strategies designed to limit the risk of bond price fluctuations and to preserve capital. These hedging strategies include using financial futures contracts, options on financial futures or options based on either an index of long-term municipal securities or on taxable debt securities whose prices, in the opinion of the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, correlate with the prices of each Fund’s investments. These hedging strategies may generate taxable income.
Portfolio Turnover
Each Fund may buy and sell municipal securities to accomplish its investment objectives in relation to actual and anticipated changes in interest rates. Each Fund also may sell one municipal security and buy another of comparable quality at about the same time to take advantage of what the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two bonds that may result from imbalanced supply and demand. Each Fund also may engage in a limited amount of short-term trading, consistent with its investment objectives. Each Fund may sell securities in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or buy securities in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sell them, but the Fund will not engage in trading solely to recognize a gain. Each Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objectives by prudently selecting California municipal securities with a view to holding them for investment. Although a Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, each Fund expects, though it cannot guarantee, that its annual portfolio turnover rate generally will not exceed 25% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the portfolio turnover rates of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 were 15%, 17% and 18%, respectively. There are no limits on the rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by a Fund. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by a Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes or may result in greater amounts of net capital gain distributions. See “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters” in the Reorganization SAI.
The Board of each Fund recommends that shareholders vote FOR the approval of the Reorganization(s).
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PROPOSAL NO. 3—APPROVAL OF ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL COMMON SHARES OF ACQUIRING FUND (ACQUIRING FUND ONLY)
In connection with the proposed Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund will issue additional Acquiring Fund common shares to each of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3. Subject to notice of issuance, the Acquiring Fund will list such shares on the NYSE. In addition, the Acquiring Fund will issue VRDP Shares. The Acquiring Fund will acquire substantially all of the assets of each Target Fund in exchange for newly issued Acquiring Fund common shares and newly issued Acquiring Fund preferred shares and the assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of each Target Fund. Each Target Fund will distribute Acquiring Fund common shares to its common shareholders and Acquiring Fund preferred shares to its preferred shareholders and will then terminate its registration under the 1940 Act and dissolve under applicable state law. The Acquiring Fund’s Board, based upon its evaluation of all relevant information, anticipates that the Reorganizations may benefit holders of the Acquiring Fund’s common shares and preferred shares due to, among other reasons, the increased size of the combined fund. For a fuller discussion of the Boards’ considerations regarding the approval of the Reorganizations, see “Proposal No. 2—Information About the Reorganizations—Reasons for the Reorganizations.”
The aggregate net asset value, as of the Valuation Time, of the Acquiring Fund common shares received by each Target Fund in connection with a Reorganization will equal the aggregate net asset value of the Target Fund common shares held by shareholders of such Target Fund as of the Valuation Time. Prior to the Valuation Time, the net asset value of each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund will be reduced by the costs of the Reorganizations borne by such Fund. No fractional Acquiring Fund common shares will be distributed to a Target Fund’s common shareholders in connection with a Reorganization and, in lieu of such fractional shares, each Target Fund’s common shareholders entitled to receive such fractional shares will receive cash in an amount equal to a pro-rata share of the proceeds from the sale of such shares in the open market, which may be higher or lower than net asset value. The aggregate liquidation preference of the preferred shares issued by the Acquiring Fund in connection with each Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the corresponding Target Fund preferred shares held immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganization. As a result of the Reorganizations, shareholders of the Funds will hold reduced percentages of ownership in the larger combined entity than they held in the Acquiring Fund or Target Fund individually.
The Reorganizations will result in no reduction in net asset value of the Acquiring Fund’s common shares, other than to reflect the costs of the Reorganizations. It is expected that no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund for federal income tax purposes as a direct result of the Reorganizations. To the extent that portfolio securities of a Target Fund are sold prior to the closing of the Reorganizations, such Fund may realize gains or losses, which may increase or decrease the net capital gains or net investment income to be distributed by such Fund. The shareholders of a Target Fund will receive a proportionate share of any income and gains realized by the Acquiring Fund and not distributed to its shareholders prior to the closing of the Reorganizations when such income and gains are eventually distributed by the Acquiring Fund.
The Acquiring Fund will continue to operate following the Reorganizations as a registered closed-end management investment company with the investment objectives and policies described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
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While applicable state and federal law does not require the common shareholders of the Acquiring Fund to approve the issuance of additional Acquiring Fund common shares, applicable NYSE rules require shareholder approval of additional Acquiring Fund common shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations.
Shareholder approval of the issuance of additional common shares of the Acquiring Fund requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal, provided that the total votes cast on the proposal, with common and preferred shareholders of the Acquiring Fund voting together as a single class, and common shareholders of the Acquiring Fund voting separately, represent over 50% of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal. Broker non-votes are shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which (1) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (2) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter.
The consummation of the Reorganizations is contingent on the satisfaction or waiver of all closing conditions, including approval of the proposals relating to the Reorganizations by each Target Fund’s shareholders and the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders.
The Board of the Acquiring Fund recommends that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund vote FOR the approval of the issuance of additional Acquiring Fund common shares in connection with the Reorganizations.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACQUIRING FUND
Certain Provisions in the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Acquiring Fund. However, the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each obligation, contract or instrument made or issued by the Fund or the trustees. The Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Acquiring Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Acquiring Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.
The Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. Specifically, the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding common shares and preferred shares, voting as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization or recapitalization of the Fund or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund or a class or a series of the Fund, or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders, and then only for cause, unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust or the Acquiring Fund’s by-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s outstanding common shares and preferred shares, voting as a single class, is required; provided, however, that, where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. For the purposes of the foregoing, the term “recapitalization” will not mean, without limitation, the issuance or redemption of preferred shares pursuant to the terms of the declaration of trust or the applicable Statement adopted with respect to such preferred shares, whether or not in conjunction with the issuance, retirement or redemption of other securities or indebtedness of the Fund. However, approval of shareholders is not required for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) of any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Acquiring Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization (as that term is used in the 1940 Act) which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares, the action in question will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Acquiring Fund’s preferred shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust or the Acquiring Fund’s by-laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Acquiring Fund’s preferred shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class. None of the foregoing voting provisions may be amended or repealed except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the common shares and preferred shares, voting as a single class. The
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votes required to approve the conversion of the Acquiring Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Acquiring Fund’s Board believes that the provisions of the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund.
The Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding upon the Fund’s trustees individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Fund, and that the trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, nothing in the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust protects a trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
In addition, the Acquiring Fund’s by-laws require the Board be divided into three classes with staggered terms. This provision of the by-laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. Holders of preferred shares, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. See “Proposal No. 1—The Election of Board Members.”
The provisions of the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust and by-laws described above could have the effect of depriving the common shareholders of opportunities to sell their common shares at a premium over the then-current market price of the common shares by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a third party. However, they provide the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Acquiring Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Acquiring Fund’s Board has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund.
The Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust provides that common shareholders will have no right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares or securities of the Fund, other than such right, if any, as the Fund’s Board in its discretion may determine.
Reference should be made to the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust and by-laws on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund
The Acquiring Fund is a closed-end management investment company, and as such its shareholders do not have the right to cause the Acquiring Fund to redeem their common shares. Instead, the common shares of the Acquiring Fund trade in the open market at a price that is a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because common shares of closed-end management investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Acquiring Fund’s Board has determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of common shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private
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transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Acquiring Fund to an open-end investment company. There is no assurance that the Acquiring Fund’s Board will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Acquiring Fund’s preferred shares are outstanding, the Acquiring Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its common shares unless (1) all accumulated but unpaid preferred shares dividends due to be paid have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the acquisition price of the common shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation value (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon) of the outstanding preferred shares, including VRDP Shares.
If the Acquiring Fund converted to an open-end investment company, it would be required to redeem all its preferred shares then outstanding (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the common shares would no longer be listed on an exchange. In contrast to a closed-end management investment company, shareholders of an open-end management investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. See “Certain Provisions in the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” above for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to the conversion of the Acquiring Fund to an open-end management investment company.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the common shares trade below net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Acquiring Fund or its shareholders and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Acquiring Fund’s common shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Acquiring Fund, no action should be taken. See the Reorganization SAI under “Repurchase of Common Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” for a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate such discount to net asset value.
Description of Outstanding Acquiring Fund VRDP Shares
Series | Outstanding Shares | Par Value Per Share | Liquidation Preference Per Share | Mandatory Redemption Date(1) | ||||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 1 | 1,362 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | June 1, 2041 | ||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 2 | 910 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | December 1, 2040 | ||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 3 | 498 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | March 1, 2040 | ||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 4 | 1,056 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | December 1, 2042 | ||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 5 | 1,589 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | August 1, 2040 | ||||||||||
VRDP Shares, Series 6 | 1,581 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 100,000 | August 1, 2040 |
(1) | In each case, the mandatory redemption date is subject to earlier redemption or repurchase by the Fund. |
The Acquiring Fund has outstanding an aggregate of 6,996 VRDP Shares in six series (previously defined as the “Outstanding VRDP Shares”). The Outstanding VRDP Shares will remain
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outstanding following the completion of the Reorganizations. The Acquiring Fund initially issued each series of the Outstanding VRDP Shares to a small number of institutional investors in a private transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
The Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series pays an adjustable dividend rate set weekly by the applicable remarketing agent. Holders of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series have the right to give notice on any business day to tender the securities for remarketing in seven days. The Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series are also subject to a mandatory tender for remarketing upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the non-payment of dividends by the Acquiring Fund. Should a remarketing be unsuccessful, the dividend rate will reset to a maximum rate as defined in the governing documents of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of the applicable series.
The Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series have the benefit of an unconditional demand feature pursuant to a purchase agreement provided by a bank acting as liquidity provider to ensure full and timely repayment of the liquidation preference amount plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to holders upon the occurrence of certain events. The agreement for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series requires the applicable liquidity provider to purchase from holders all Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series tendered for sale that were not successfully remarketed. The liquidity provider also must purchase all Outstanding VRDP Shares of the applicable series prior to termination of the purchase agreement for such series, including by reason of the failure of the liquidity provider to maintain the requisite level of short-term ratings, if the Acquiring Fund has not obtained an alternate purchase agreement before the termination date.
The obligation of the liquidity provider for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series to purchase the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series pursuant to the purchase agreement for such series runs to the benefit of the holders of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series and is unconditional and irrevocable, and as such the short-term ratings assigned to the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series are directly linked to the short-term creditworthiness of the associated liquidity provider. The liquidity provider for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series entered into a purchase agreement with respect to the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series, subject to periodic extension by agreement with the Acquiring Fund.
Prior to the applicable final mandatory redemption date, the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series are subject to optional and mandatory redemption by the Acquiring Fund in certain circumstances. Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the Acquiring Fund (in whole or, from time to time, in part), out of funds legally available therefor, at a redemption price per share equal to the sum of $100,000 plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but not excluding, the date fixed for redemption. Pursuant to the Statement for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series and the fee agreement with the liquidity provider for such series, the Acquiring Fund will have an obligation to redeem, at a redemption price equal to $100,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board for redemption, shares of such series purchased by the liquidity provider pursuant to its obligations under the purchase agreement if the liquidity provider continues to be the beneficial owner for a period of six months and such shares cannot be successfully remarketed. The Acquiring Fund also will redeem, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) until, but excluding, the date fixed by the Board for redemption, such number of preferred shares as is necessary to achieve compliance with the applicable requirement, if the Acquiring Fund fails to maintain (1) the minimum VRDP asset coverage required
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under the 1940 Act and the Acquiring Fund’s agreement with the liquidity provider for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series or (2) the VRDP basic maintenance amount (if any) prescribed by the applicable rating agencies then rating the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, and such failures are not cured by the applicable cure date. In the event of changes in, or elimination of, any or all long-term ratings of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, the requirement to effect a mandatory redemption after the applicable cure date upon a failure to maintain the VRDP basic maintenance amount may be changed or eliminated. The Acquiring Fund is not required under the Statement for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of any series to maintain any particular long-term ratings for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series and may, at any time, replace a rating agency with another rating agency or terminate the services of any rating agency then providing a rating for the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series without replacement, in either case without the approval of holders of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series or other shareholders of the Acquiring Fund.
Except as otherwise provided in the Acquiring Fund’s declaration of trust or the Statements for the Outstanding VRDP Shares or as otherwise required by applicable law, (1) each holder of Outstanding VRDP Shares is entitled to one vote for each Outstanding VRDP Share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, and (2) the holders of Outstanding VRDP Shares, along with holders of other outstanding preferred shares, if any, of the Acquiring Fund, vote with holders of common shares of the Acquiring Fund as a single class; provided, however, that holders of preferred shares, including the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, are entitled as a class to elect two trustees of the Acquiring Fund at all times. The holders of outstanding common shares and preferred shares, including the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, voting as a single class, elect the balance of the trustees of the Acquiring Fund.
Holders of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, as a separate class, have voting and consent rights with respect to certain actions that would materially and adversely affect any preference, right or power of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series or holders of the Outstanding VRDP Shares of such series. Holders of Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, together, are also entitled to vote as a class with holders of other preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund on matters that relate to the conversion of the Acquiring Fund to an open-end investment company, certain plans of reorganization adversely affecting holders of the preferred shares or any other action requiring a vote of security holders of the Acquiring Fund under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act. Holders of preferred shares, including the Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series, together, are entitled to elect additional trustees constituting, when added to the two trustees elected exclusively by the holders of preferred shares, a majority of the trustees, in the event at least two full years’ dividends are due and unpaid and sufficient cash or specified securities have not been deposited for their payment, or at any time holders of preferred shares are entitled under the 1940 Act to elect a majority of the trustees of the Acquiring Fund.
The Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series are senior in priority to the Acquiring Fund’s common shares as to the payment of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund. The Outstanding VRDP Shares of each series have equal priority as to the payment of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund with each other and with other preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, including the Acquiring Fund’s Outstanding VRDP Shares and New VRDP Shares to be issued in connection with the Reorganizations.
Custodian, Transfer Agent, Dividend Disbursing Agent and Redemption and Paying Agent
The custodian of the assets of each Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The custodian performs custodial, fund
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accounting and portfolio accounting services. Each Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend disbursing agent and redemption and paying agent is also State Street, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
Federal Income Tax Matters Associated with Investment in the Acquiring Fund
The following information is meant as a general summary of certain federal income tax matters for U.S. shareholders. Please see the Reorganization SAI for additional information. Investors should rely on their own tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Acquiring Fund.
The Acquiring Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year (including the taxable year in which the Reorganizations occur) as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to qualify as a RIC, the Acquiring Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. As a RIC, the Acquiring Fund is not expected to be subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to its shareholders. The Acquiring Fund invests primarily in municipal securities. Thus, substantially all of the Acquiring Fund’s dividends paid to you should qualify as “exempt-interest dividends.” A shareholder treats an exempt-interest dividend as interest on state and local bonds exempt from regular federal income tax. Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations, individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain municipal obligations, such as certain private activity bonds, is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that the Acquiring Fund receives income from such municipal obligations, a portion of the dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund, although exempt from regular federal income tax, will be taxable to shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Acquiring Fund will annually provide a report indicating the percentage of the Acquiring Fund’s income attributable to municipal obligations subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals, if any. Corporations are subject to special rules in calculating their federal alternative minimum taxable income with respect to interest from municipal obligations.
Future legislation could limit the exclusion from gross income of tax-exempt interest (which includes exempt-interest dividends received from the Acquiring Fund). Such legislation could affect the value of the municipal securities owned by the Acquiring Fund. The likelihood of such legislation being enacted cannot be predicted. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the potential consequences of future legislation on their investment in the Acquiring Fund.
In addition to exempt-interest dividends, the Acquiring Fund may also distribute to its shareholders amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain or ordinary income (which may include short-term capital gains). These distributions may be subject to federal, state and local taxation, depending on a shareholder’s situation. If so, they are taxable whether or not such distributions are reinvested. Distributions of net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are currently taxable to noncorporate shareholders at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20%. In addition, certain individuals, estates and trusts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income, including net capital gains and other taxable dividends. Corporate shareholders are taxed on capital gain at the
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same rates as apply to ordinary income. The Acquiring Fund does not expect that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or as “qualified dividend income” to noncorporate shareholders.
As a RIC, the Acquiring Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain distribution requirements. The Acquiring Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gains. If the Acquiring Fund retains any net capital gains or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Acquiring Fund retains any net capital gains, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (1) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (2) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Acquiring Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (3) may claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Acquiring Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (2) of the preceding sentence.
The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as exempt interest, ordinary income and capital gains). Accordingly, the Acquiring Fund reports dividends made with respect to common shares and preferred shares as consisting of particular types of income (e.g., exempt interest, net capital gains and ordinary income) in accordance with each class’ proportionate share of the total dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund with respect to the year.
Dividends declared by the Acquiring Fund in October, November or December to shareholders of record in one of those months and paid during the following January will be treated as having been paid by the Acquiring Fund and received by shareholders on December 31 of the year the distributions were declared.
Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the shareholder’s dividend and capital gains distributions.
The redemption, sale or exchange of shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such shares is attributable to tax-exempt interest income. The gain or loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Current law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. However, for noncorporate taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20%, while short-term capital gains are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may also apply to certain individual, estate or trust shareholders’ capital gain from the sale or other disposition of their shares. Any loss on the sale of shares that have been held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares, unless the shares are of a RIC that declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. Any remaining
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loss on the sale or disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net capital gains received by the shareholder on such shares. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Acquiring Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Acquiring Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Acquiring Fund or other substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Acquiring Fund’s shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules, the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of the shares. In addition, if you receive Social Security or certain railroad retirement benefits, you may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving investment income, including exempt-interest dividends and other distributions paid by the Acquiring Fund.
If the Acquiring Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Acquiring Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Acquiring Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Acquiring Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and its net tax-exempt income, including such income it is required to accrue, to qualify as a RIC and (with respect to its ordinary income and capital gain) to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Acquiring Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
The Acquiring Fund may hold or acquire municipal obligations that are market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Acquiring Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount.
The Acquiring Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 28% from all distributions (including exempt-interest dividends) and redemption proceeds payable to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Acquiring Fund with his, her or its correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if the shareholder has been notified by the IRS (or the IRS notifies the Acquiring Fund) that he, she or it is subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require the Acquiring Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, the Acquiring Fund may be required to withhold under
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FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on Acquiring Fund dividends and distributions and redemption proceeds. The Acquiring Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable law or regulation. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
With respect to the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund issued in the Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund will receive an opinion from special tax counsel that the preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund, and the foregoing discussion and the tax opinion received by the Funds regarding certain aspects of the Reorganizations, including that the Reorganizations will qualify as tax-free reorganizations under the Code, relies on the position that the preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund. Accordingly, distributions with respect to the preferred shares (other than distributions in redemption of preferred shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Acquiring Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes and to the extent allocable to such distribution. Because the treatment of a corporate security as debt or equity is determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and no controlling precedent exists for the preferred shares issued in the Reorganizations, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not question special tax counsel’s opinion and the Acquiring Fund’s treatment of the preferred shares as equity. If the IRS were to succeed in such a challenge, holders of preferred shares could be characterized as receiving taxable interest income rather than exempt-interest or other dividends, possibly requiring them to file amended income tax returns and retroactively to recognize additional amounts of ordinary income and pay additional tax, interest and penalties.
California Tax Matters
The following is based upon the advice of Sidley Austin LLP, special tax counsel to the Acquiring Fund.
The following is a general, abbreviated summary of certain provisions of the applicable California tax law as presently in effect as it directly governs the taxation of resident individual and corporate shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. This summary does not address the taxation of other shareholders nor does it discuss any local taxes that may be applicable. Please see the Reorganization SAI for additional information.
The following is based on the assumptions that the Acquiring Fund will qualify under Subchapter M of the Code as a regulated investment company and that it will satisfy the conditions that will cause distributions by the Acquiring Fund to qualify as exempt-interest dividends to shareholders for federal and California purposes.
The Acquiring Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net income and gains to its shareholders, and therefore, it is not expected that the Acquiring Fund will be subject to California corporate franchise or corporation income tax to the extent its earnings are so distributed.
If, at the close of each quarter of the Acquiring Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the aggregate value of its total assets consists of obligations that, when held by individuals, pay interest that is exempt from tax by California under California or federal law, then distributions by the
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Acquiring Fund that are attributable to interest on any such obligation will not be subject to the California personal income tax; provided that such distributions are properly reported by the Acquiring Fund as exempt-interest dividends in written statements furnished to the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders. All other distributions, including distributions attributable to capital gains, will be includable in gross income for purposes of the California personal income tax.
Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued for the purpose of acquiring or maintaining an investment in the shares will not be deductible for purposes of the California personal income tax.
All distributions of the Acquiring Fund, regardless of source, to corporate shareholders that are subject to the California corporate franchise tax will be included in gross income for purposes of such tax, notwithstanding that all or a portion of such distributions may be exempt from California personal income tax.
Gain on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of shares will be subject to the California personal income and corporate franchise tax. In addition, any loss realized by a shareholder upon the sale of shares held for six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of any exempt interest dividends received with respect to such shares. Moreover, any loss realized upon the sale of shares within thirty days before or after the acquisition of other shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules.
Shares may be subject to the California estate tax if held by a California decedent at the time of death.
The foregoing is a general summary of certain provisions of applicable California tax law as presently in effect as it directly governs the taxation of California resident individual and corporate holders of shares of the Acquiring Fund. These provisions are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. This summary does not address the taxation of other shareholders nor does it discuss any local taxes that may be applicable. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisor for more detailed information concerning California and other state and local tax matters.
Other State and Local Tax Matters
While distributions qualifying as exempt-interest dividends under federal and California law will be exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes, they may not be exempt from other state or local income or other taxes. Some states exempt from state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived from interest a regulated investment company receives on its holdings of securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Therefore, the Acquiring Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income the Fund earned during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations and the Acquiring Fund will indicate, on a state-by-state basis, the source of this income. Shareholders are advised to consult with their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning California tax matters or the tax laws of their state and locality of residence.
The Acquiring Fund’s net asset value per common share is determined as of the close of the regular session trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open for business.
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Net asset value is calculated by taking the market value of the Acquiring Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Acquiring Fund’s Board or its delegate.
The Acquiring Fund’s custodian calculates the Fund’s net asset value. The custodian uses prices for portfolio securities from a pricing service the Acquiring Fund’s Board has approved. The pricing service values portfolio securities at the mean between the quoted bid and asked price or the yield equivalent when quotations are readily available. Securities for which quotations are not readily available (which will constitute the majority of the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio securities) are valued at fair value as determined by the Board in reliance upon data supplied by the pricing service. The pricing service uses methods that consider yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and ratings; dealers’ indications of value; and general market conditions. The pricing service may use electronic data processing techniques or a matrix system, or both. The Acquiring Fund’s officers review the pricing service’s procedures and valuations, under the general supervision of the Board.
Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of common shares and New VRDP Shares pursuant to the Agreement will be passed upon by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.
The financial statements of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds appearing in the Funds’ Annual Reports for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016 are incorporated herein. The financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015 have been audited by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon and incorporated herein. Such financial statements are incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. KPMG provides auditing services to the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. The principal business address of KPMG is 200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015, the Board of each Fund, upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, engaged KPMG as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds, replacing Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”), which resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm effective August 11, 2014, as a result of the subsequently completed acquisition of Nuveen Investments by TIAA.
Ernst & Young’s reports with respect to the financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. For the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015 for the Funds and for the period March 1, 2014 through August 11, 2014, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Funds’ financial statements.
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Outstanding Shares of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds
The following table sets forth the number of outstanding common shares and preferred shares and certain other share information of each Fund as of [•], 2016.
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | |||
Acquiring Fund: | ||||||
Common shares | Unlimited | — | [•] | |||
Preferred shares | Unlimited | — | 6,996 (VRDP) | |||
Dividend Advantage 2: | ||||||
Common shares | Unlimited | — | [•] | |||
Preferred shares | Unlimited | — | 980 (VRDP) | |||
Dividend Advantage 3: | ||||||
Common shares | Unlimited | — | [•] | |||
Preferred shares | Unlimited | — | 1,600 (VRDP) |
The common shares of the Acquiring Fund are listed and trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol NAC. The common shares of Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 are listed and trade on the NYSE MKT under the ticker symbols NVX and NZH, respectively. Upon the closing of the Reorganizations, it is expected that the common shares of the Acquiring Fund will continue to be listed on the NYSE. The VRDP Shares of the Funds are not listed on any exchange.
Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds
As of December 31, 2015, the members of the Board and officers of each Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the total outstanding common shares and less than 1% of the total outstanding preferred shares of each Fund.
Information regarding shareholders or groups of shareholders who beneficially own more than 5% of a class of shares of a Fund is provided below. Information in the table below regarding the number and percentage of shares owned is based on a review of Schedule 13D and 13G filings and amendments made with respect to each Fund on or before [•], 2016. The estimated pro forma information presented is calculated assuming that outstanding common and preferred shares were as of [•], 2016 for each Fund.
Estimated Pro Forma | ||||||||||
Fund and Class | Shareholder Name | Number | Percentage | Corresponding | All | |||||
Acquiring Fund— | ||||||||||
Common Shares | ||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2— | ||||||||||
Common Shares | ||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3— | ||||||||||
Common Shares |
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VRDP Shares are designed to be eligible for purchase by money market funds. Based on information provided by the remarketing agents for the VRDP Shares of the Funds, money market funds within certain fund complexes may hold, in the aggregate, greater than 5% of the outstanding VRDP Shares of one or more of the Funds, and individual money market funds within such complexes may beneficially own an indeterminable amount of VRDP Shares exceeding 5% of the outstanding VRDP Shares of one or more of the Funds. Information with respect to aggregate holdings of VRDP Shares associated with fund complexes identified by the remarketing agents for the Acquiring Fund and Target Funds (number of VRDP Shares and percentage of total outstanding) is as follows: Acquiring Fund (Series 1): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Acquiring Fund (Series 2): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Acquiring Fund (Series 3): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Acquiring Fund (Series 4): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Acquiring Fund (Series 5): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Acquiring Fund (Series 6): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); Dividend Advantage 2 (Series 1): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)); and Dividend Advantage 3 (Series 1): [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)), [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)) and [•] ([•] shares ([•]%)).
Expenses of Proxy Solicitation
Common shareholders will indirectly bear the costs of the Reorganizations, whether or not the Reorganizations are consummated. Preferred shareholders will not bear any costs of the Reorganizations. The total costs of the Reorganizations, which include the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, the accompanying notice and this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and all other costs in connection with the solicitation of proxies, are estimated to be $1,085,000, and each Fund’s allocable share of such costs will be reflected in its net asset value at or before the close of trading on the business day immediately prior to the closing of the Reorganizations. The estimated allocation of the costs among the Funds is as follows: $450,000 (0.03%) for the Acquiring Fund, $260,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 2 and $375,000 (0.11%) for Dividend Advantage 3 (all percentages are based on average net assets applicable to common shares for the twelve (12) months ended February 29, 2016). The allocation of the costs of the Reorganizations will be based on the relative expected benefits of the Reorganizations comprised of forecasted operating cost savings (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) and improved secondary market trading, if any, to each Fund during the first year following the Reorganizations. The Reorganizations are expected to result in operating cost savings (i.e., total expenses excluding the costs of leverage) for common shareholders of each Fund (as shareholders of the combined fund following the Reorganizations) and the potential for increased distributions over time for the common shareholders of each Fund in their capacity as common shareholders of the combined fund following the Reorganizations. Distribution increases, if any, would be realized following the recoupment of the expenses of the Reorganizations.
The Audit Committee of each Fund’s Board is responsible for the oversight and monitoring of (1) the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices, and the audit of the financial statements, of each Fund, (2) the quality and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and (3) the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence. In its oversight capacity, the committee reviews each Fund’s annual financial statements with both management and the independent registered public accounting firm and the committee meets
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periodically with the independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors to consider their evaluation of each Fund’s financial and internal controls. The Committee also selects, retains, evaluates and may replace each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee is currently composed of five Independent Board Members and operates under a written charter adopted and approved by each Board. Each Committee member meets the independence and experience requirements, as applicable, of the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT, LLC, NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC, Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The Committee, in discharging its duties, has met with and held discussions with management and each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has also reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management. Management has represented to the independent registered public accounting firm that each Fund’s financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Committee has also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under relevant auditing standards. Each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm provided to the Committee the written disclosure required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence), and the Committee discussed with representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm their firm’s independence. As provided in the Audit Committee Charter, it is not the Committee’s responsibility to determine, and the considerations and discussions referenced above do not ensure, that each Fund’s financial statements are complete and accurate and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on the Committee’s review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the representations of management and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm to the Committee, the Committee has recommended that the audited financial statements be included in each Fund’s Annual Report.
As of February 15, 2016 the members of the Committee are:
Jack B. Evans
David J. Kundert
John K. Nelson
Carole E. Stone
Terence J. Toth
Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Each Fund’s Board has appointed KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and records of each Fund for its current fiscal year. A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to make a statement, if such representative so desires, and to respond to shareholders’ questions. KPMG LLP has informed each Fund that it has no direct or indirect material financial interests in the Funds, Nuveen, the Adviser or any other investment company sponsored by Nuveen.
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Audit Fees | Audit Related Fees | Tax Fees | All Other Fees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fund(1) | Fund(2) | Adviser and Adviser Entities | Fund(3) | Adviser and Adviser Entities | Fund(4) | Adviser and Adviser Entities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquiring Fund | $ | 25,500 | $ | 26,375 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,889 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 25,500 | 26,375 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 114 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 25,500 | 26,375 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 615 | — | — |
(1) | “Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. |
(2) | “Audit-Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under “Audit Fees”. These fees include offerings related to the Fund’s common shares and leverage. |
(3) | “Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance, and tax planning. These fees include: all global withholding tax services; excise and state tax reviews; capital gain, tax equalization and taxable basis calculations performed by the principal accountant. |
(4) | “All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”. These fees represent all “Agreed-Upon Procedures” engagements pertaining to the Fund’s use of leverage. |
Non-Audit Fees. The following table provides the aggregate non-audit fees billed by each Fund’s independent registered accounting firm for services rendered to each Fund, the Adviser and the Adviser Entities during each Fund’s last two fiscal years. Less than 50% of the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Fund | Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Adviser and Adviser Entities (Engagements Related Directly to the Operations and Financial Reporting of Fund) | Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Adviser and Adviser Entities (All Other Engagements) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | Fiscal Year Ended 2015 | Fiscal Year Ended 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquiring Fund | $ | — | $ | 2,889 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,889 | ||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | — | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | 114 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | — | 615 | — | — | — | — | — | 615 |
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, the Audit Committee must approve each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm’s engagements (1) with the Fund for audit or non-audit services and (2) with the Adviser and Adviser Entities for non-audit services if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. Regarding tax and research projects conducted by the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund and the Adviser and Adviser Entities (with respect to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund), such engagements will be (1) pre-approved by the Audit Committee if they are expected to be for amounts greater than $10,000; (2) reported to the Audit Committee Chairman for his/her verbal approval prior to engagement if they are expected to be for amounts under $10,000 but greater than $5,000; and (3) reported to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting if they are expected to be for an amount under $5,000.
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The Audit Committee has approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that the independent registered public accounting firm provided to each Fund and to the Adviser and Adviser Entities (with respect to the operations and financial reporting of each Fund). None of the services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm to each Fund or the Adviser or Adviser Entities were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the pre-approval exception under Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) or Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Interest Reporting Compliance
Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act require Board Members and officers, the Adviser, affiliated persons of the Adviser and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of a Fund’s equity securities to file forms reporting their affiliation with that Fund and reports of ownership and changes in ownership of that Fund’s shares with the SEC and the NYSE or NYSE MKT. These persons and entities are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Funds with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on a review of these forms furnished to each Fund, each Fund believes that its Board Members and officers, the Adviser and affiliated persons of the Adviser have complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements during its last fiscal year. To the knowledge of management of the Funds, no shareholder of a Fund owns more than 10% of a registered class of a Fund’s equity securities, except as provided above in the section entitled “Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds.”
To be considered for presentation at the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders of the Funds, a shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must have been received at the offices of the Funds, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, not later than [•]. A shareholder wishing to provide notice in the manner prescribed by Rule 14a-4(c)(1) under the Exchange Act of a proposal submitted outside of the process of Rule 14a-8 must, pursuant to each Fund’s by-laws, submit such written notice to the respective Fund by the later of 45 days prior to the 2017 annual meeting or the tenth business day following the date the 2017 annual meeting is first publicly disclosed. Timely submission of a proposal does not mean that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.
The Acquiring Fund expects to hold its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders in [•] 2017. If all proposals are approved and the Reorganizations are consummated, the Target Funds will cease to exist and will not hold their 2017 annual meetings. If the Reorganizations are not approved or are not consummated, each Target Fund will hold its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, expected to be held in [•] 2017.
Fund shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any individual Board Member should write to the attention of Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder and note the Fund or Funds that you own. If the communication is intended for a specific Board Member and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Board Member. If a communication does not indicate a specific Board Member it will be sent to the Independent Chairman and the outside counsel to the Independent Board Members for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.
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The fiscal year end for each Fund is February 28 (or February 29 in leap years).
Shareholder reports will be sent to shareholders of record of each Fund following each Fund’s fiscal year end. Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and/or semi-annual report as available upon request. Such written or oral requests should be directed to a Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling (800) 257-8787.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on [•], 2016:
The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is available at http://www.nuveenproxy.com/Closed-End-Fund-Proxy-Information/. For more information, shareholders may also contact the applicable Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.
Please note that only one annual report or proxy statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or proxy statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of such documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of such documents are received, shareholders should contact the applicable Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.
Management of the Funds does not intend to present and does not have reason to believe that others will present any items of business at the Annual Meetings, except as described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. However, if other matters are properly presented at the meetings for a vote, the proxies will be voted upon such matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons acting under the proxies.
A list of shareholders of each Fund entitled to be present and to vote at the Annual Meetings will be available at the offices of the Funds, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, for inspection by any shareholder of the Funds during regular business hours for ten days prior to the date of the Annual Meetings.
In the absence of a quorum for a particular matter, business may proceed on any other matter or matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting if there are present, in person or by proxy, a quorum of shareholders in respect of such other matters. The chairman of the meeting may, whether or not a quorum is present, propose one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting on behalf of a Fund without further notice to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Fund present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the session of the Annual Meeting to be adjourned.
Broker-dealer firms holding shares in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instruction of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the
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proposals. A broker-dealer firm that has not received instructions from a customer prior to the date specified in its request for voting instructions may not vote such customer’s shares on the proposals described in this Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. A signed proxy card or other authorization by a beneficial owner of shares of a Fund that does not specify how the beneficial owner’s shares are to be voted on a proposal may be deemed to be an instruction to vote such shares in favor of the proposal.
IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
Kevin J. McCarthy
Vice President and Secretary
The Nuveen Funds
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APPENDIX A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this [•] day of [•] 2016, by and among Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Acquiring Fund”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2, a Massachusetts business trust (“Dividend Advantage 2” or a “Target Fund”), and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3, a Massachusetts business trust (“Dividend Advantage 3” or a “Target Fund” and, together with Dividend Advantage 2, the “Target Funds”). The Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund may be referred to herein each as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds.”
For each Reorganization (as defined below), this Agreement is intended to be, and is adopted as, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The reorganization of each Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund will consist of (i) the transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Target Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for newly issued common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Common Shares”) and newly issued Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) of the Acquiring Fund, with a par value of $0.01 per share and liquidation preference of $100,000 per share (the “Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares” and, collectively with the Acquiring Fund Common Shares, the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all of the liabilities of the Target Fund; and (ii) the distribution of all of the Acquiring Fund Common Shares and Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares received by the Target Fund to the holders of common shares and VRDP Shares, respectively, of the Target Fund as part of the complete liquidation, dissolution and termination of the Target Fund as provided herein, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (each, a “Reorganization” and, together, the “Reorganizations”).
WHEREAS, each Fund is a closed-end, management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and each Target Fund owns securities that generally are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest;
WHEREAS, the Acquiring Fund is authorized to issue the Acquiring Fund Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Board”) has determined that the Reorganizations are in the best interests of the Acquiring Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquiring Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganizations, and the Board of Trustees of each Target Fund (each, a “Target Fund Board”) has determined that the applicable Reorganization is in the best interests of such Target Fund and that the interests of the existing shareholders of such Target Fund will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganizations.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF EACH TARGET FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR ACQUIRING FUND SHARES AND THE ASSUMPTION OF THE LIABILITIES OF EACH TARGET FUND AND TERMINATION AND LIQUIDATION OF EACH TARGET FUND
1.1 THE EXCHANGE. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, each Target Fund agrees to transfer substantially all of its assets, as set forth in Section 1.2, to the Acquiring Fund. In consideration therefor, the Acquiring Fund agrees (i) to issue and deliver to such Target Fund (A) the number of Acquiring Fund Common Shares computed in the manner set forth in Section 2.3, and (B) the same number of Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares as the number of VRDP Shares of such Target Fund outstanding immediately prior to the Closing (as defined in this Section 1.1) and having substantially similar terms as the VRDP Shares of the Target Fund as of the Closing, and (ii) to assume substantially all of the liabilities of such Target Fund, if any, as set forth in Section 1.3. The Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares to be issued to each Target Fund will consist of a separate series, as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and such series will (i) have equal priority with each other and with any other outstanding preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund as to the payment of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund; and (ii) have, along with any other outstanding preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, preference with respect to the payment of dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Acquiring Fund over the common shares of the Acquiring Fund. With respect to each Reorganization, the foregoing transactions will take place at the closing provided for in Section 3.1 (the “Closing”).
1.2 ASSETS TO BE TRANSFERRED. Each Target Fund will transfer all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund, including, without limitation, cash, securities, commodities, interests in futures, dividends or interest receivables owned by the Target Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Target Fund as of the Closing, except that the Target Fund will retain assets sufficient to pay the preferred share dividends as set forth in Section 1.4 and the dividend or dividends set forth in Section 8.5.
Each Target Fund will, within a reasonable period of time before the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3.1), furnish the Acquiring Fund with a list of such Target Fund’s portfolio securities and other investments. The Acquiring Fund will, within a reasonable period of time before the Closing Date, identify the securities, if any, on each Target Fund’s list referred to in the foregoing sentence that do not conform to the Acquiring Fund’s investment objectives, policies or restrictions and will notify each Target Fund accordingly. Each Target Fund, if requested by the Acquiring Fund, will dispose of such non-conforming securities identified by the Acquiring Fund before the Closing Date. In addition, if it is determined that the portfolios of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund, when aggregated, would contain investments exceeding certain percentage limitations applicable to the Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, the Target Fund(s) holding such securities, if requested by the Acquiring Fund, will dispose of a sufficient amount of such investments as may be necessary to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing; provided, however, that if more than one of the Target
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Funds hold such securities, the Acquiring Fund will apportion all such sales between the Target Funds in a reasonable manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will require any Target Fund to dispose of any investments or securities if, in the reasonable judgment of the applicable Target Fund Board or Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the investment adviser to the Funds (the “Adviser”), such disposition would adversely affect the status of such Target Fund’s Reorganization as a “reorganization,” as such term is used in Section 368(a) of the Code, or would otherwise not be in the best interests of such Target Fund.
1.3 LIABILITIES TO BE ASSUMED. Each Target Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known liabilities and obligations to the extent possible before the Closing Date, except for the preferred share dividends set forth in Section 1.4 and the dividend(s) set forth in Section 8.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liabilities not so discharged will be assumed by the Acquiring Fund, which assumed liabilities will include all of each Target Fund’s liabilities, debts, obligations, and duties of whatever kind or nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, whether or not determinable at the Closing, and whether or not specifically referred to in this Agreement, provided that the Acquiring Fund will not assume any liabilities with respect to the preferred share dividends set forth in Section 1.4 or the dividend or dividends set forth in Section 8.5.
1.4 DECLARATION OF PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS. Dividends will accumulate on the existing VRDP Shares of a Target Fund up to and including the day immediately preceding the Closing Date and then cease to accumulate, and dividends on the Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares will accumulate from and including the Closing Date. Prior to the Valuation Time (as defined in Section 2.1), each Target Fund will declare all accumulated but unpaid dividends on its VRDP Shares up to and including the day immediately preceding the Closing Date. With respect to the existing VRDP Shares of each Target Fund, such dividends will be paid on the Closing Date to holders thereof as of the day immediately preceding the Closing Date. Each Target Fund will retain assets in an amount sufficient to pay the dividends declared by it pursuant to this Section 1.4, and such assets will not be transferred to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date.
1.5 LIQUIDATION AND DISTRIBUTION.
(a) As soon as practicable after the Closing, each Target Fund will distribute in complete liquidation of such Target Fund, (i) pro rata to its common shareholders of record (the “Target Fund Common Shareholders”), as of the time of such distribution, all of the Acquiring Fund Common Shares received by such Target Fund pursuant to Section 1.1 (together with any dividends declared with respect thereto to holders of record as of a time after the Valuation Time and payable prior to such distribution (“Interim Dividends”)) and (ii) to its preferred shareholders of record (“Target Fund Preferred Shareholders” and, together with Target Fund Common Shareholders, the “Target Fund Shareholders”), as of the time of such distribution, one Acquiring Fund Preferred Share received by such Target Fund in exchange for each VRDP Share of the Target Fund held by such Target Fund Preferred Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing (together with any dividends declared and paid pursuant to Section 1.4). Such distributions will be accomplished by the transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of each Target Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of Target Fund Shareholders and representing, in the case of a Target Fund Common Shareholder, such shareholder’s pro rata share of the Acquiring Fund Common Shares received by such Target Fund and, in the case of a Target Fund Preferred Shareholder, the same number of Acquiring Fund Preferred
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Shares as the number of VRDP Shares of the Target Fund held by such Target Fund Preferred Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing, and by paying to Target Fund Common Shareholders any Interim Dividends on Target Fund common shares exchanged for Acquiring Fund Common Shares in the Reorganizations. All issued and outstanding common and preferred shares of each Target Fund simultaneously will be canceled on the books of the Target Fund. The Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such transfers, except for any global certificate or certificates required by a securities depository in connection with the establishment of book-entry ownership of the shares.
(b) On or as soon after the Closing Date as is practicable, but in no event later than 12 months after the Closing Date, each Target Fund will thereupon proceed to dissolve and terminate as set forth in Section 1.8 below.
1.6 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent.
1.7 TRANSFER TAXES. Any transfer taxes payable upon the issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the registered holder of a Target Fund’s common shares or preferred shares on the books of such Target Fund as of that time will, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred.
1.8 TERMINATION. Each Target Fund will completely liquidate and be dissolved, terminated and have its affairs wound up in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts promptly following the Closing and the payment of all dividends and distributions pursuant to, as applicable, Section 1.4, Section 1.5 and Section 8.5.
1.9 REPORTING. Any reporting responsibility of a Target Fund, including, without limitation, the responsibility for filing regulatory reports, tax returns or other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), the exchange on which such Target Fund’s common shares are listed or any state securities commission and any federal, state or local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and will remain the responsibility of such Target Fund.
1.10 BOOKS AND RECORDS. All books and records of each Target Fund, including all books and records required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be available to the Acquiring Fund from and after the Closing Date and will be turned over to the Acquiring Fund as soon as practicable following the Closing.
ARTICLE II
VALUATION
2.1 VALUATION OF ASSETS. The value of the net assets of each Target Fund will be the value of its assets, less its liabilities, computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being hereinafter called the “Valuation Time”), using the valuation procedures of the Nuveen closed-end funds adopted by the applicable Target Fund Board or such other valuation procedures as may be
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mutually agreed upon by the parties. For purposes of this Section 2.1, the value of each Target Fund’s net assets will be calculated net of the liquidation preference (including accumulated and unpaid dividends) of all outstanding preferred shares of such Target Fund.
2.2 VALUATION OF SHARES. The net asset value per Acquiring Fund Common Share will be computed as of the Valuation Time, using the valuation procedures of the Nuveen closed-end funds adopted by the Acquiring Fund Board or such other valuation procedures as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties. For purposes of this Section 2.2, the value of the Acquiring Fund’s net assets will be calculated net of the liquidation preference (including accumulated and unpaid dividends) of all outstanding preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund.
2.3 COMMON SHARES TO BE ISSUED. The number of Acquiring Fund Common Shares to be issued in exchange for a Target Fund’s assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund will be determined by dividing the value of such assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund (net of the liabilities of such Target Fund that are assumed by the Acquiring Fund), determined in accordance with Section 2.1, by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Common Share, determined in accordance with Section 2.2. The aggregate net asset value of Acquiring Fund Common Shares received by each Target Fund in a Reorganization will equal, as of the Valuation Time, the aggregate net asset value of the Target Fund’s common shares held by Target Fund Common Shareholders as of such time. In the event there are fractional Acquiring Fund Common Shares due Target Fund Common Shareholders after a Target Fund’s assets have been exchanged for Acquiring Fund Common Shares, the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent will aggregate all such fractional common shares and sell the resulting whole on the exchange on which such shares are listed for the account of all such Target Fund Common Shareholders, and each such Target Fund Common Shareholder will be entitled to a pro rata share of the proceeds from such sale. With respect to the aggregation and sale of fractional common shares, the Acquiring Fund’s transfer agent will act directly on behalf of the Target Fund Common Shareholders entitled to receive fractional shares and will accumulate such fractional shares, sell the shares and distribute the cash proceeds net of brokerage commissions, if any, directly to the Target Fund Common Shareholders entitled to receive the fractional shares (without interest and subject to withholding taxes).
2.4 EFFECT OF SUSPENSION IN TRADING. In the event that at the Valuation Time an accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of the Acquiring Fund or a Target Fund is impracticable due to either (a) the closure of, or the imposition of a trading restriction on, the exchange on which shares of a Fund are listed or another exchange on which the portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or a Target Fund are purchased or sold; or (b) a disruption in trading or the reporting of trading on the exchange on which shares of a Fund are listed or elsewhere, the Closing Date will be postponed until at least the first business day after the day on which trading is fully resumed and/or reporting is restored or such later time as the parties may agree pursuant to Section 3.1.
2.5 COMPUTATIONS OF NET ASSETS. All computations of net asset value in this Article II will be made by or under the direction of State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) in accordance with its regular practice as custodian of the Funds.
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ARTICLE III
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1 CLOSING DATE. Each Closing will occur on October 12, 2016, or such other date as the parties may agree (the “Closing Date”). Unless otherwise provided, all acts taking place at the Closing will be deemed to take place as of 7:59 a.m., Central time, on the Closing Date. Each Closing will be held as of 7:59 a.m., Central time, at the offices of Vedder Price P.C. in Chicago, Illinois, or at such other time and/or place as the parties may agree.
3.2 CUSTODIAN’S CERTIFICATE. Each Target Fund will cause State Street, as custodian for such Target Fund, to deliver to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that the Target Fund’s portfolio securities, cash and any other assets have been delivered in proper form to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date.
3.3 CERTIFICATES OF TRANSFER AGENT AND TENDER AND PAYING AGENT.
(a) Each Target Fund will issue and deliver, or cause State Street, in its capacity as transfer agent with respect to common shares to issue and deliver to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of all holders of common shares of such Target Fund and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding common shares owned by each such Target Fund Common Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. Each Target Fund will issue and deliver, or cause The Bank of New York Mellon, in its capacity as tender and paying agent with respect to VRDP Shares, to issue and deliver to the Acquiring Fund at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of all holders of VRDP Shares of such Target Fund and the number and percentage ownership of outstanding VRDP Shares owned by each such Target Fund Preferred Shareholder immediately prior to the Closing.
(b) The Acquiring Fund will issue and deliver, or cause State Street, in its capacity as transfer agent with respect to common shares, and The Bank of New York Mellon, in its capacity as tender and paying agent with respect to VRDP Shares, to issue and deliver to the Secretary of each Target Fund a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date to such Target Fund or provide evidence satisfactory to each Target Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to each Target Fund’s account on the books of the Acquiring Fund.
3.4 DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS. At the Closing, each party will deliver to the other parties such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, receipts and other documents, if any, as such other parties or their counsel may reasonably request to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1 REPRESENTATIONS OF EACH TARGET FUND. Each Target Fund represents and warrants solely on its own behalf with respect to its Reorganization as follows:
(a) The Target Fund is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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(b) The Target Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full force and effect.
(c) The Target Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (subject to shareholder approval and compliance with the other provisions hereof) will not result, in violation of any provision of the Target Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or Statement Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“Target Fund VRDP Statement”) or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Target Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(d) Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to and accepted by the Acquiring Fund, the Target Fund has no material contracts or other commitments that will be terminated with liability to it on or before the Closing Date.
(e) No litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body currently is pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Target Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business or the ability of the Target Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Target Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
(f) The financial statements of the Target Fund as of February 29, 2016, and for the fiscal year then ended, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and have been audited by independent auditors, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Target Fund as of February 29, 2016, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Target Fund as of such date that are not disclosed in such statements.
(g) Since the date of the financial statements referred to in subsection (f) above, there have been no material adverse changes in the Target Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business (other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business), and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Target Fund that have arisen after such date. For the purposes of this subsection (g), a decline in the net asset value of the Target Fund will not constitute a material adverse change.
(h) All federal, state, local and other tax returns and reports of the Target Fund required by law to be filed by it (taking into account permitted extensions for filing) have been timely filed and are complete and correct in all material respects. All federal, state, local and other taxes of the Target Fund required to be paid (whether or not shown on any such return or report) have been paid, or provision will have been made for the payment thereof, and any such unpaid taxes, as of the date of the financial statements referred to above, are properly reflected thereon. To the best of the Target Fund’s knowledge, no tax authority is currently auditing or preparing to audit the Target Fund, and no assessment for taxes, interest, additions to tax or penalties has been asserted against the Target Fund.
(i) The authorized capital of the Target Fund consists of the shares set forth in Exhibit B hereto. All issued and outstanding shares of the Target Fund are duly and validly issued,
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fully paid and non-assessable by the Target Fund. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Target Fund will, at the time of the Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of the Target Fund’s transfer agent or tender and paying agent, as applicable, as provided in Section 3.3. The Target Fund has no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of the Target Fund and has no outstanding securities convertible into shares of the Target Fund.
(j) At the Closing, the Target Fund will have good and marketable title to the Target Fund’s assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to Section 1.2, and full right, power and authority to sell, assign, transfer and deliver such assets, and the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), except those restrictions as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice and necessary documentation at or prior to the Closing.
(k) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Target Fund, including the determinations of the Target Fund Board required by Rule 17a-8(a) under the 1940 Act. Subject to approval by shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Target Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(l) The information to be furnished by the Target Fund for use in any “no-action” letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated herein will be accurate and complete in all material respects and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the federal securities laws and other laws and regulations.
(m) From the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 5.7) through the time of the meeting of shareholders and on the Closing Date, any written information furnished by the Target Fund with respect to the Target Fund for use in the Proxy Materials (as defined in Section 5.7), or any other materials provided in connection with the Target Fund’s Reorganization, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading.
(n) For each taxable year of its operations (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Target Fund (i) has elected to qualify, and has qualified or will qualify (in the case of the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), as a “regulated investment company” under the Code (a “RIC”); (ii) has been eligible to compute and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and on or prior to the Closing Date will have declared a distribution with respect to all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), the excess of its interest income excludible from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code over its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Code and its net capital gain (after reduction for any available capital loss carryforward) (as such terms are defined in the Code) that has accrued or will accrue on or prior to the Closing Date; and (iii) has been, and will be (in the case of the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes.
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4.2 REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND. The Acquiring Fund represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Fund is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(b) The Acquiring Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full force and effect.
(c) The Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (subject to shareholder approval and compliance with the other provisions hereof) will not result, in violation of the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or Statements Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“Acquiring Fund VRDP Statements”) or any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(d) No litigation, administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body currently is pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets, which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition, the conduct of its business or the ability of the Acquiring Fund to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and it is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
(e) The financial statements of the Acquiring Fund as of February 29, 2016, and for the fiscal year then ended, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and have been audited by independent auditors, and such statements (copies of which have been furnished to each Target Fund) fairly reflect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund as of February 29, 2016, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund as of such date that are not disclosed in such statements.
(f) Since the date of the financial statements referred to in subsection (e) above, there have been no material adverse changes in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business (other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business), and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund that have arisen after such date. For the purposes of this subsection (f), a decline in the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund will not constitute a material adverse change.
(g) All federal, state, local and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to be filed by it (taking into account permitted extensions for filing) have been timely filed and are complete and correct in all material respects. All federal, state, local and other taxes of the Acquiring Fund required to be paid (whether or not shown on any such return or report) have been paid, or provision will have been made for the payment thereof, and any such unpaid taxes, as of the date of the financial statements referred to above, are properly reflected thereon. To the best of the Acquiring Fund’s knowledge, no tax authority is currently auditing or preparing to audit the Acquiring Fund, and no assessment for taxes, interest, additions to tax or penalties has been asserted against the Acquiring Fund.
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(h) The authorized capital of the Acquiring Fund consists of an unlimited number of common and preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund are duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund (recognizing that under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund shareholders, under certain circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of the Acquiring Fund). The Acquiring Fund has no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of the Acquiring Fund and has no outstanding securities convertible into shares of the Acquiring Fund.
(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, including the determinations of the Acquiring Fund Board required pursuant to Rule 17a-8(a) under the 1940 Act. Subject to approval by shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(j) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to each Target Fund for the account of Target Fund Shareholders pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will, at the Closing, have been duly authorized. When so issued and delivered, such Acquiring Fund Shares will be duly and validly issued shares of the Acquiring Fund and will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund (recognizing that under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund shareholders, under certain circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of the Acquiring Fund).
(k) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in any “no-action” letters, applications for orders, registration statements, proxy materials and other documents that may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated herein will be accurate and complete in all material respects and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the federal securities laws and other laws and regulations.
(l) From the effective date of the Registration Statement through the time of the meeting of shareholders and on the Closing Date, any written information furnished by the Acquiring Fund with respect to the Acquiring Fund for use in the Proxy Materials, or any other materials provided in connection with the Reorganizations, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading.
(m) For each taxable year of its operations, including the taxable year that includes the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund (i) has elected to qualify, has qualified or will qualify (in the case of the year that includes the Closing Date) and intends to continue to qualify as a RIC under the Code; (ii) has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will do so for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date; and (iii) has been, and will be (in the case of the taxable year that includes the Closing Date), treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes.
(n) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and any state securities laws as it may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
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ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE FUNDS
5.1 OPERATION IN ORDINARY COURSE. Subject to Sections 1.2, 1.4 and 8.5, the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund will operate their respective business in the ordinary course from the date of this Agreement through the Closing, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include customary dividends and distributions and any other distributions necessary or desirable to avoid federal income or excise taxes.
5.2 APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS. The Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund will call meetings of their respective shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other appropriate action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein.
5.3 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION. Each Target Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement are not being acquired for the purpose of making any distribution other than in connection with such Target Fund’s Reorganization and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.4 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Each Target Fund will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Target Fund’s shares.
5.5 FURTHER ACTION. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, each Fund will take or cause to be taken all action, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any actions required to be taken after the Closing.
5.6 STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND PROFITS. As promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, each Target Fund will furnish the Acquiring Fund, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and which will be certified by such Target Fund’s Controller, a statement of the earnings and profits of the Target Fund for federal income tax purposes, as well as any net operating loss carryovers and capital loss carryovers that will be carried over to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to Section 381 of the Code.
5.7 PREPARATION OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROXY MATERIALS. The Funds will prepare and file with the Commission one or more registration statements on Form N-14 relating to the Acquiring Fund Common Shares to be issued to Target Fund Common Shareholders and related matters (the “Registration Statement”) and one or more proxy statements relating to the Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares to be issued to the Target Fund Preferred Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”). Each Registration Statement will include a proxy statement of the Funds and a prospectus of the Acquiring Fund relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). Each Registration Statement and Proxy Statement will be in compliance with the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act, as applicable. Each party will provide the other parties with the materials and information necessary to prepare the proxy statements and related materials (the “Proxy Materials”), for inclusion therein, in connection with the meetings of the Funds’ shareholders to consider the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
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5.8 TAX STATUS OF REORGANIZATIONS. The intention of the parties is that each Reorganization will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. None of the Target Funds or the Acquiring Fund will take any action, or cause any action to be taken (including, without limitation, the filing of any tax return), that is inconsistent with such treatment or that results in the failure of the transactions to qualify as “reorganizations” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. At or prior to the Closing, the parties to this Agreement will take such action, or cause such action to be taken, as is reasonably necessary to enable counsel to render the tax opinions contemplated in Section 8.8.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITION PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH TARGET FUND
The obligations of each Target Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein will be subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the following condition:
6.1 All representations, covenants and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing. The Acquiring Fund will have delivered to each Target Fund a certificate executed in the Acquiring Fund’s name by the Acquiring Fund’s (i) Chief Administrative Officer or Vice President and (ii) Controller, in form and substance satisfactory to each Target Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as each Target Fund may reasonably request.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to consummate the transactions provided for herein will be subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the following conditions:
7.1 All representations, covenants and warranties of each Target Fund contained in this Agreement will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing. Each Target Fund will have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date a certificate executed in the Target Fund’s name by the Target Fund’s (i) Chief Administrative Officer or Vice President and (ii) Controller, in form and substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to such effect and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund may reasonably request.
7.2 Each Target Fund will have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Target Fund’s assets and liabilities, together with a list of the Target Fund’s portfolio securities showing the tax basis of such securities by lot and the holding periods of such securities, as of the Closing, certified by the Controller of the Target Fund.
7.3 Prior to the Valuation Time, each Target Fund will have declared the dividends and/or distributions contemplated by Section 1.4 and Section 8.5.
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ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
The obligations of each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund hereunder will also be subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the following conditions:
8.1 This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein will have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding common and preferred shares of each Target Fund in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of each Target Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Target Fund VRDP Statement. In addition, this Agreement, the issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares and the transactions contemplated herein, will have been approved by the requisite votes of the holders of the outstanding common and preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund in accordance with applicable law, the requirements of any applicable national securities exchange(s) and the provisions of the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Acquiring Fund VRDP Statements.
8.2 As of the Closing, the Commission will not have issued an unfavorable report under Section 25(b) of the 1940 Act, or instituted any proceeding seeking to enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under Section 25(c) of the 1940 Act. Furthermore, no action, suit or other proceeding will be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
8.3 All consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those of the Commission and of state securities authorities, including any necessary “no-action” positions and exemptive orders from such federal and state authorities) to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will have been obtained or made. All notices to, or consents or waivers from, other persons, including without limitation holders of preferred shares or liquidity providers with respect to preferred shares, or other actions necessary to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will have been obtained or made.
8.4 The Registration Statement will have become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof will have been issued. To the best knowledge of the parties to this Agreement, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose will have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act.
8.5 Each Target Fund will have declared, prior to the Valuation Time, a dividend or dividends that, together with all previous such dividends, will have the effect of distributing to its shareholders at least all of the Target Fund’s investment company taxable income for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid), if any, plus the excess of its interest income excludible from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code, if any, over its deductions disallowed under Sections 265 and 171(a)(2) of the Code for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date and all of its net capital gains realized in all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date (after reduction for any available capital loss carryforward).
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8.6 The Target Funds will have received an opinion from Vedder Price P.C. dated as of the Closing Date substantially to the effect that:
(a) The Acquiring Fund has been formed as a voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust,” and is existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, to such counsel’s knowledge, has the power as a business trust to carry on its business as currently conducted as described in the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.
(b) The Acquiring Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
(c) Assuming that the Acquiring Fund Shares will be issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to each Target Fund on behalf of its Target Fund Shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and, upon such delivery, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable by the Acquiring Fund, except that, as described in the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act, shareholders of the Acquiring Fund may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for its obligations under Massachusetts law, and no shareholder of the Acquiring Fund has, as such holder, any preemptive rights to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Acquiring Fund under the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or Massachusetts law.
(d) The Registration Statement is effective and, to such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order under the 1933 Act pertaining thereto has been issued.
(e) To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required for consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein, except as have been obtained.
(f) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund did not, and the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions contemplated herein will not, violate the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or Acquiring Fund VRDP Statements (assuming the requisite approval of the Fund’s shareholders has been obtained in accordance with its Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Acquiring Fund VRDP Statements).
Insofar as the opinions expressed above relate to or are dependent upon matters that are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Vedder Price P.C. may rely on the opinions of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
8.7 The Acquiring Fund will have received an opinion from Vedder Price P.C. dated as of the Closing Date substantially to the effect that:
(a) Each Target Fund has been formed as a voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust,” and is existing
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under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, to such counsel’s knowledge, has the power as a business trust to carry on its business as currently conducted as described in the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.
(b) Each Target Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and, to such counsel’s knowledge, such registration under the 1940 Act is in full force and effect.
(c) To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority of the United States or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required for consummation by the Target Funds of the transactions contemplated herein, except as have been obtained.
(d) With respect to each Target Fund, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Target Fund did not, and the consummation by the Target Fund of the transactions contemplated herein will not, violate the Target Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or Target Fund VRDP Statement (assuming the requisite approval of the Fund’s shareholders has been obtained in accordance with its Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Target Fund VRDP Statement).
Insofar as the opinions expressed above relate to or are dependent upon matters that are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Vedder Price P.C. may rely on the opinions of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
8.8 With respect to each Reorganization, the Funds participating in such Reorganization will have received an opinion of Vedder Price P.C. dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund substantially to the effect that for federal income tax purposes:
(a) The transfer by the Target Fund of substantially all its assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund, immediately followed by the distribution of all the Acquiring Fund Shares so received by the Target Fund to the Target Fund’s shareholders of record in complete liquidation of the Target Fund and the dissolution of the Target Fund as soon as practicable thereafter, will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization,” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, with respect to the Reorganization.
(b) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of substantially all the Target Fund’s assets solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund.
(c) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund upon the transfer of substantially all its assets to the Acquiring Fund solely in exchange for Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of substantially all the liabilities of the Target Fund or upon the distribution (whether actual or constructive) of such Acquiring Fund Shares to the Target Fund’s shareholders solely in exchange for such shareholders’ shares of the Target Fund in complete liquidation of the Target Fund.
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(d) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Target Fund’s shareholders upon the exchange, pursuant to the Reorganization, of all their shares of the Target Fund solely for Acquiring Fund Shares, except to the extent the Target Fund’s common shareholders receive cash in lieu of a fractional Acquiring Fund Common Share.
(e) The aggregate basis of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Target Fund shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization (including any fractional Acquiring Fund Common Share to which a Target Fund shareholder would be entitled) will be the same as the aggregate basis of the Target Fund shares exchanged therefor by such shareholder.
(f) The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Target Fund shareholder in the Reorganization (including any fractional Acquiring Fund Common Share to which a Target Fund shareholder would be entitled) will include the period during which the shares of the Target Fund exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder, provided such Target Fund shares are held as capital assets at the effective time of the Reorganization.
(g) The basis of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets in the hands of the Target Fund immediately before the effective time of the Reorganization.
(h) The holding period of the assets of the Target Fund received by the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by the Target Fund.
No opinion will be expressed as to (1) the effect of the Reorganizations on a Target Fund, the Acquiring Fund or any Target Fund Shareholder with respect to any asset (including, without limitation, any stock held in a passive foreign investment company as defined in Section 1297(a) of the Code) as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized under federal income tax principles (a) at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination thereof) or (b) upon the transfer of such asset regardless of whether such transfer would otherwise be a non-taxable transaction under the Code, or (2) any other federal tax issues (except those set forth above) and all state, local or foreign tax issues of any kind.
Such opinions will be based on customary assumptions and such representations as Vedder Price P.C. may reasonably request of the Funds, and each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund will cooperate to make and certify the accuracy of such representations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor any Target Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this Section 8.8. Insofar as the opinions expressed above relate to or are dependent upon the classification of the Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares as equity securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Vedder Price P.C. may rely on the opinion delivered to the Acquiring Fund by Sidley Austin LLP with respect to such issue for the Acquiring Fund Preferred Shares.
ARTICLE IX
EXPENSES
9.1 The expenses incurred in connection with the Reorganizations (whether or not the Reorganizations are consummated) will be allocated among the Funds pro rata based on the projected relative benefits to each Fund during the first year following the Reorganizations, and each Fund will
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have accrued such expenses as liabilities at or before the Valuation Time. Reorganization expenses include, without limitation, (a) expenses associated with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and other Proxy Materials; (b) postage; (c) printing; (d) accounting fees; (e) legal fees incurred by each Fund; (f) solicitation costs of the transactions; and (g) other related administrative or operational costs.
9.2 Each party represents and warrants to the other parties that there is no person or entity entitled to receive any broker’s fees or similar fees or commission payments in connection with structuring the transactions provided for herein.
9.3 Notwithstanding the foregoing, expenses will in any event be paid by the party directly incurring such expenses if and to the extent that the payment by another party of such expenses would result in the disqualification of a Target Fund or the Acquiring Fund, as the case may be, as a RIC under the Code.
ARTICLE X
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES
10.1 The parties agree that no party has made to any other party any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between and among the parties.
10.2 The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement will not survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION
11.1 This Agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the parties, and such termination may be effected by each Fund’s Chief Administrative Officer or any Vice President without further action by a Target Fund Board or the Acquiring Fund Board. In addition, this Agreement may be terminated at or before the Closing due to:
(a) a breach by the non-terminating party of any representation or warranty, or agreement to be performed at or before the Closing, if not cured within 30 days of the breach and prior to the Closing;
(b) a condition precedent to the obligations of the terminating party that has not been met or waived and it reasonably appears that it will not or cannot be met; or
(c) a determination by a Target Fund Board or the Acquiring Fund Board that the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein is not in the best interests of its respective Fund involved in the Reorganization(s).
11.2 In the event of any such termination, in the absence of willful default, there will be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund or a Target Fund.
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ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
12.1 This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the officers of each Fund as specifically authorized by each Fund’s Board of Trustees; provided, however, that following the meeting of the shareholders of the Funds called by each Fund pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, no such amendment, modification or supplement may have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Target Fund Shareholders under this Agreement to the detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
ARTICLE XIII
HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; GOVERNING LAW; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
13.1 The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
13.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which may be deemed an original.
13.3 This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
13.4 This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party without the written consent of the other parties. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or may be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
13.5 It is expressly agreed that the obligations of each Fund hereunder will not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of such Fund personally, but will bind only the property of the Fund, as provided in such Fund’s Declaration of Trust, which is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the each Fund’s Board of Trustees, and this Agreement has been signed by authorized officers of each Fund acting as such. Neither the authorization by such trustees nor the execution and delivery by such officers will be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but will bind only the property of a Fund, as provided in such Fund’s Declaration of Trust.
13.6 It is understood and agreed that the use of a single agreement is for administrative convenience only and that this Agreement constitutes a separate agreement between each Target Fund and the Acquiring Fund as if each party had executed a separate document. No Fund will have any liability for the obligations of any other Fund, and the liabilities of each Fund will be several and not joint.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
ACKNOWLEDGED: | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
ACKNOWLEDGED: | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
ACKNOWLEDGED: | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: |
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EXHIBIT A
Target Fund | Target Fund Preferred Shares | Acquiring Fund Preferred | ||
Dividend Advantage 2 | VRDP Shares, Series 1 $100,000 liquidation preference per share Final Mandatory Redemption Date: August 3, 2043 | VRDP Shares, Series 7 $100,000 liquidation preference per share Final Mandatory Redemption Date: August 3, 2043 | ||
Dividend Advantage 3 | VRDP Shares, Series 1 $100,000 liquidation preference per share Final Mandatory Redemption Date: September 1, 2043 | VRDP Shares, Series 8 $100,000 liquidation preference per share Final Mandatory Redemption Date: September 1, 2043 |
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EXHIBIT B
CAPITALIZATION OF TARGET FUNDS
Target Fund | Authorized Common Shares | Authorized Preferred Shares | ||
Dividend Advantage 2 | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||
Dividend Advantage 3 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
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NUVEEN FUND BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
I. Organization and Membership
There shall be a committee of each Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Board”) of the Nuveen Management Investment Companies (the “Funds” or, individually, a “Fund”) to be known as the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall be comprised of at least three Directors/Trustees. Audit Committee members shall be independent of the Funds and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Directors/Trustees, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. In particular, each member must meet the independence and experience requirements applicable to the Funds of the exchanges on which shares of the Funds are listed, Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Each such member of the Audit Committee shall have a basic understanding of finance and accounting, be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, and be financially literate, and at least one such member shall have accounting or related financial management expertise, in each case as determined by the Directors/Trustees, exercising their business judgment (this person may also serve as the Audit Committee’s “financial expert” as defined by the Commission). The Board shall appoint the members and the Chairman of the Audit Committee, on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically but in any event no less frequently than on a semi-annual basis. Except for the Funds, Audit Committee members shall not serve simultaneously on the audit committees of more than two other public companies.
II. Statement of Policy, Purpose and Processes
The Audit Committee shall assist the Board in oversight and monitoring of
(1) | The accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices, and the audits of the financial statements, of the Funds; |
(2) | The quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Funds; |
(3) | The Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, |
(4) | The independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and |
(5) | Oversight of the Pricing Procedures of the Funds and the Valuation Group. |
In exercising this oversight, the Audit Committee can request other committees of the Board to assume responsibility for some of the monitoring as long as the other committees are composed exclusively of independent directors.
In doing so, the Audit Committee shall seek to maintain free and open means of communication among the Directors/Trustees, the independent auditors, the internal auditors and the management of the Funds. The Audit Committee shall meet periodically with Fund management, the Funds’ internal auditor, and the Funds’ independent auditors, in separate executive sessions. The Audit Committee shall prepare reports of the Audit Committee as required by the Commission to be included in the Fund’s annual proxy statements or otherwise.
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The Audit Committee shall have the authority and resources in its discretion to retain special legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Audit Committee and to otherwise discharge its responsibilities, including appropriate funding as determined by the Audit Committee for compensation to independent auditors engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for a Fund, compensation to advisers employed by the Audit Committee, and ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties, as determined in its discretion. The Audit Committee may request any officer or employee of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (or its affiliates) (collectively, “Nuveen”) or the Funds’ independent auditors or outside counsel to attend a meeting of the Audit Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee. The Funds’ independent auditors and internal auditors shall have unrestricted accessibility at any time to Committee members.
Responsibilities
Fund management has the primary responsibility to establish and maintain systems for accounting, reporting, disclosure and internal control.
The independent auditors have the primary responsibility to plan and implement an audit, with proper consideration given to the accounting, reporting and internal controls over financial reporting. Each independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Funds shall report directly to the Audit Committee. The independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Board and the Audit Committee. It is the ultimate responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, appoint, retain, evaluate, oversee and replace any independent auditors and to determine their compensation, subject to ratification of the Board, if required. These Audit Committee responsibilities may not be delegated to any other Committee or the Board.
The Audit Committee is responsible for the following:
With respect to Fund financial statements:
1. | Reviewing and discussing the annual audited financial statements and semi-annual financial statements with Fund management and the independent auditors including significant issues regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices, and the Funds’ disclosures in its periodic reports under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis.” |
2. | Requiring the independent auditors to deliver to the Chairman of the Audit Committee a timely report on any issues relating to the significant accounting policies, management judgments and significant accounting estimates and related significant assumptions, or other matters that would need to be communicated under PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees., that arise during the auditors’ review of the Funds’ financial statements, which information the Chairman shall further communicate to the other members of the Audit Committee, as deemed necessary or appropriate in the Chairman’s judgment. |
3. | Discussing with management, as applicable, the Funds’ press releases regarding financial results and dividends, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies. This discussion may be done generally, consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be authorized to have these discussions with management on behalf of the Audit Committee. |
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4. | Discussing with management and the independent auditors (a) significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation and presentation of the Funds’ financial statements, including any significant changes in the Funds’ selection or application of accounting principles and any major issues as to the adequacy of the Funds’ internal controls over financial reporting and any special audit steps adopted in light of significant control deficiencies; and (b) analyses prepared by Fund management or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements. |
5. | Discussing with management and the independent auditors the effect of new or proposed regulatory and accounting standards on the Funds’ financial statements. |
6. | Reviewing and discussing reports, both written and oral, from the independent auditors and/or Fund management regarding (a) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used; (b) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, ramifications of the use of such alternative treatments and disclosures, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditors; and (c) other material written communications between the independent auditors and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences. |
7. | Discussing with Fund management the Funds’ major financial risk exposures, including the risk of fraud or error, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including the Funds’ risk assessment and risk management policies and guidelines and anti-fraud programs and controls. In fulfilling its obligations under this paragraph, the Audit Committee may review in a general manner the processes other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management. |
8. | Reviewing disclosures made to the Audit Committee by the Funds’ principal executive officer and principal financial officer during their certification process for the Funds’ periodic reports about any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in the Funds’ internal controls. In fulfilling its obligations under this paragraph, the Audit Committee may review in a general manner the processes other Board committees have in place with respect to deficiencies in internal controls, material weaknesses, or any fraud associated with internal controls. |
With respect to the independent auditors:
1. | Selecting, appointing, retaining or replacing the independent auditors, subject, if applicable, only to Board and shareholder ratification; and compensating, evaluating and overseeing the work of the independent auditor (including the resolution of disagreements between Fund management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting). |
2. | Meeting with the independent auditors and Fund management to review the scope, fees, audit plans and staffing for the audit, for the current year. At the conclusion of the audit, reviewing the audit results, including any and all communications required by the current auditing standards. |
3. | Pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services based on PCAOB Rule 3524 and Rule 3525, as applicable, and the terms thereof, to be performed for the Funds by their independent auditors, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A of the Exchange Act that the Audit Committee approves prior to the completion of |
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the audit, in accordance with any policies or procedures relating thereto as adopted by the Board or the Audit Committee. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be authorized to give pre-approvals of such non-audit services on behalf of the Audit Committee. |
4. | Obtaining and reviewing a report or reports from the independent auditors at least annually (including a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the auditors and the Funds consistent with PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rules) regarding (a) the independent auditor’s internal quality-control procedures; (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, peer review or PCAOB review or inspection, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm; (c) any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (d) all relationships between the independent auditor and the Funds and their affiliates, in order to assist the Audit Committee in assessing the auditor’s independence. After reviewing the foregoing report[s] and the independent auditor’s work throughout the year, the Audit Committee shall be responsible for evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor and their compliance with all applicable requirements for independence and peer review, and a review and evaluation of the lead partner, taking into account the opinions of Fund management and the internal auditors, and discussing such reports with the independent auditors. The Audit Committee shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to the Board. |
5. | Reviewing any reports from the independent auditors mandated by Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act regarding any illegal act detected by the independent auditor (whether or not perceived to have a material effect on the Funds’ financial statements) and obtaining from the independent auditors any information about illegal acts in accordance with Section 10A(b). |
6. | Ensuring the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law, and further considering the rotation of the independent auditor firm itself. |
7. | Establishing and recommending to the Board for ratification policies for the Funds’, Fund management or the Fund adviser’s hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor who participated in the audits of the Funds. |
8. | Taking, or recommending that the Board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the outside auditor. |
With respect to any internal auditor:
1. | Reviewing the proposed programs of the internal auditor for the coming year. It is not the obligation or responsibility of the Audit Committee to confirm the independence of any internal auditors performing services relating to the Funds or to approve any termination or replacement of the Manager of Internal Audit. |
2. | Receiving a summary of findings from any completed internal audits pertaining to the Funds and a progress report on the proposed internal audit plan for the Funds, with explanations for significant deviations from the original plan. |
With respect to pricing and valuation oversight:
1. | The Board has responsibilities regarding the pricing of a Fund’s securities under the 1940 Act. The Board has delegated this responsibility to the Committee to address and oversee valuation |
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issues, subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions. The Committee is primarily responsible for the oversight of the Pricing Procedures and actions taken by the internal Valuation Group (“Valuation Matters”). The Valuation Group will report on Valuation Matters to the Committee and/or the Board of Directors/Trustees, as appropriate. |
2. | Performing all duties assigned to it under the Funds’ Pricing Procedures, as such may be amended from time to time. |
3. | Periodically reviewing and making recommendations regarding modifications to the Pricing Procedures as well as consider recommendations by the Valuation Group regarding the Pricing Procedures. |
4. | Reviewing any issues relating to the valuation of a Fund’s securities brought to the Committee’s attention, including suspensions in pricing, pricing irregularities, price overrides, self-pricing, NAV errors and corrections thereto, and other pricing matters. In this regard, the Committee should consider the risks to the Funds in assessing the possible resolutions of these Valuation Matters. |
5. | Evaluating, as it deems necessary or appropriate, the performance of any pricing agent and recommend changes thereto to the full Board. |
6. | Reviewing any reports or comments from examinations by regulatory authorities relating to Valuation Matters of the Funds and consider management’s responses to any such comments and, to the extent the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, propose to management and/or the full Board the modification of the Fund’s policies and procedures relating to such matters. The Committee, if deemed necessary or desirable, may also meet with regulators. |
7. | Meeting with members of management of the Funds, outside counsel, or others in fulfilling its duties hereunder, including assessing the continued appropriateness and adequacy of the Pricing Procedures, eliciting any recommendations for improvements of such procedures or other Valuation Matters, and assessing the possible resolutions of issues regarding Valuation Matters brought to its attention. |
8. | Performing any special review, investigations or oversight responsibilities relating to Valuation as requested by the Board of Directors/Trustees. |
9. | Investigating or initiating an investigation of reports of improprieties or suspected improprieties in connection with the Fund’s policies and procedures relating to Valuation Matters not otherwise assigned to another Board committee. |
Other responsibilities:
1. | Reviewing with counsel to the Funds, counsel to Nuveen, the Fund adviser’s counsel and independent counsel to the Board legal matters that may have a material impact on the Fund’s financial statements or compliance policies. |
2. | Receiving and reviewing periodic or special reports issued on exposure/controls, irregularities and control failures related to the Funds. |
3. | Reviewing with the independent auditors, with any internal auditor and with Fund management, the adequacy and effectiveness of the accounting and financial controls of the Funds, and eliciting any recommendations for the improvement of internal control procedures or particular areas |
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where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable. Particular emphasis should be given to the adequacy of such internal controls to expose payments, transactions or procedures that might be deemed illegal or otherwise improper. |
4. | Reviewing the reports of examinations by regulatory authorities as they relate to financial statement matters. |
5. | Discussing with management and the independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies that raise material issues regarding the Funds’ financial statements or accounting policies. |
6. | Obtaining reports from management with respect to the Funds’ policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations. |
7. | Reporting regularly to the Board on the results of the activities of the Audit Committee, including any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Funds’ financial statements, the Funds’ compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the Funds’ independent auditors, or the performance of the internal audit function. |
8. | Performing any special reviews, investigations or oversight responsibilities requested by the Board. |
9. | Reviewing and reassessing annually the adequacy of this charter and recommending to the Board approval of any proposed changes deemed necessary or advisable by the Audit Committee. |
10. | Undertaking an annual review of the performance of the Audit Committee. |
11. | Establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Funds regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters by employees of Fund management, the investment adviser, administrator, principal underwriter, or any other provider of accounting related services for the Funds, as well as employees of the Funds. |
12. | Resolving any disagreements between Fund management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting. |
Although the Audit Committee shall have the authority and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, it is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Funds’ financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. It is the responsibility of management to prepare the Funds’ financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and it is the independent auditor’s responsibility to audit the Funds’ financial statements. Nor is it the duty of the Audit Committee to conduct investigations or to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information contained in the tables below under the headings “Per Share Operating Performance” and “Ratios/Supplemental Data” shows the operating performance for the ten most recent fiscal years.
Acquiring Fund
The following Financial Highlights table is intended to help a prospective investor understand the Acquiring Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information of the Acquiring Fund reflects financial results for a single Common share or preferred share of the Acquiring Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in common shares of the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The Acquiring Fund’s annual financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, including the financial highlights for the fiscal years then ended, have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG’s report, along with the Acquiring Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Acquiring Fund’s Annual Report. KPMG has not reviewed or examined any records, transactions or events after the date of such reports. The information with respect to the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of the Annual Report may be obtained from www.sec.gov or by visiting www.nuveen.com.
Year Ended February 28/29 | Year Ended August 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009(f) | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”) | $ | 15.96 | $ | 14.68 | $ | 15.90 | $ | 14.87 | $ | 12.68 | $ | 13.88 | $ | 12.10 | $ | 14.43 | $ | 14.93 | $ | 15.59 | $ | 15.98 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 0.88 | 0.87 | 0.84 | 0.84 | 0.94 | 0.98 | 1.01 | 0.49 | 1.02 | 1.00 | 1.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) | 0.15 | 1.34 | (1.17 | ) | 1.11 | 2.17 | (1.27 | ) | 1.63 | (2.07 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.56 | ) | (0.25 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Net Investment Income to Auction Rate Preferred (“ARPS”) Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | (0.01 | ) |
| (0.02 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Accumulated Net Realized Gains to ARPS Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 0.00 |
| (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | 1.03 | 2.21 | (0.33 | ) | 1.95 | 3.10 | (0.31 | ) | 2.59 | (1.69 | ) | 0.28 | 0.19 | 0.55 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Less Distributions to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Net Investment Income | (0.93 | ) | (0.93 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.92 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.74 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.91 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From Accumulated Net Realized Gains | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | (0.26 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | (0.93 | ) | (0.93 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.92 | ) | (0.91 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.94 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Common Share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending NAV | $ | 16.06 | $ | 15.96 | $ | 14.68 | $ | 15.90 | $ | 14.87 | $ | 12.68 | $ | 13.88 | $ | 12.10 | $ | 14.43 | $ | 14.93 | $ | 15.59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ending Share Price | $ | 15.84 | $ | 15.34 | $ | 14.07 | $ | 15.81 | $ | 15.14 | $ | 12.20 | $ | 12.60 | $ | 10.82 | $ | 13.44 | $ | 14.34 | $ | 15.97 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Common Share Total Returns: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on NAV(b) | 6.73 | % | 15.39 | % | (1.81 | )% | 13.39 | % | 25.30 | % | (2.57 | )% | 21.97 | % | (11.45 | )% | 1.85 | % | 1.16 | % | 3.63 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on Share Price(b) | 9.79 | % | 16.21 | % | (4.95 | )% | 10.80 | % | 32.82 | % | 3.54 | % | 24.62 | % | (14.14 | )% | (0.84 | )% | (5.19 | )% | 5.47 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Share Supplemental Data/Ratios Applicable to Common Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Net Assets (000) | $ | 1,724,746 | $ | 1,713,628 | $ | 345,463 | $ | 374,096 | $ | 349,203 | $ | 297,629 | $ | 325,791 | $ | 284,221 | $ | 338,732 | $ | 350,523 | $ | 365,516 |
C-1
Year Ended February 28/29 | Year Ended August 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009(f) | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets Before Reimbursement(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | 1.42 | % | 1.50 | %(h) | 1.86 | % | 1.60 | % | 1.50 | % | 1.18 | % | 1.21 | % | 1.31 | %* | 1.26 | % | 1.17 | % | 1.13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 5.62 | % | 5.97 | %(h) | 5.79 | % | 5.44 | % | 6.84 | % | 7.18 | % | 7.63 | % | 7.92 | %* | 6.77 | % | 6.24 | % | 6.22 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets After Reimbursement(c)(d) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.18 | % | 1.24 | %* | 1.11 | % | 0.95 | % | 0.84 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7.66 | % | 7.99 | %* | 6.92 | % | 6.46 | % | 6.50 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio Turnover Rate(g) | 15 | % | 9 | % | 25 | % | 12 | % | 13 | % | 20 | % | 4 | % | 14 | % | 19 | % | 20 | % | 13 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARPS Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 135,525 | $ | 135,525 | $ | 135,525 | $ | 135,525 | $ | 175,000 | $ | 175,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $25,000 Share | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 79,903 | $ | 85,098 | $ | 77,430 | $ | 87,485 | $ | 75,075 | $ | 77,217 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable Rate Demand Preferred (“VRDP”) Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | 699,600 | $ | 699,600 | $ | 136,200 | $ | 136,200 | $ | 136,200 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share | $ | 346,533 | $ | 344,944 | $ | 353,644 | $ | 374,666 | $ | 356,390 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
(a) | The amounts shown for ARPS are based on Common Share equivalents. |
(b) | Total Return Based on Common Share NAV is the combination of changes in common share NAV, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
(c) | Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to ARPS shareholders, during periods when ARPS were outstanding; Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to ARPS, and other subsequent forms of preferred shares issued by the Fund, where applicable. |
(d) | After expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of July 31, 2009 the Adviser is no longer contractually reimbursing the Fund for any fees or expenses. |
(e) | The expense ratios reflect, among other things, all interest expense and other costs related to Preferred Shares and/or the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund where applicable, as follows: |
Year Ended 2/28-2/29 | ||||
2016 | 0.48 | % | ||
2015 | 0.50 | |||
2014 | 0.61 | |||
2013 | 0.61 | |||
2012 | 0.46 | |||
2011 | 0.06 | |||
2010 | 0.08 | |||
2009(f) | 0.14 | * | ||
Year Ended 8/31 | ||||
2008 | 0.11 | |||
2007 | 0.05 | |||
2006 | — |
(f) | For the six months ended February 28, 2009. |
C-2
(g) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(h) | During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015, NFALLC voluntarily reimbursed the Fund for certain expenses incurred in connection with a equity shelf program. As a result, the Expenses and Net Investment Income (Loss) Ratios to Average Net Assets reflect this voluntary expense reimbursement from NFALLC. The Expenses and Net Investment Income (Loss) Ratios to Average Net Assets excluding this expense reimbursement from NFALLC are 1.53% and 5.95%, respectively. |
* | Annualized. |
N/A. | The Fund no longer has a contractual reimbursement agreement with the Adviser. |
C-3
Target Funds
The following Financial Highlights table is intended to help a prospective investor understand each Target Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information of each Target Fund reflects financial results for a single common share or preferred share of each Target Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in common shares of each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The Target Funds’ annual financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, including the financial highlights for the fiscal years then ended, have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG’s report, along with each Target Funds’ financial statements, is included in each Fund’s Annual Report. KPMG has not reviewed or examined any records, transactions or events after the date of such reports. The information with respect to the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of the Annual Report may be obtained from www.sec.gov or by visiting www.nuveen.com.
Dividend Advantage 2 | Year Ended February 28/29 | Year Ended August 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009(j) | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”) | $ | 15.82 | $ | 14.85 | $ | 16.35 | $ | 15.49 | $ | 13.47 | $ | 14.49 | $ | 12.91 | $ | 14.39 | $ | 14.69 | $ | 15.36 | $ | 15.63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 0.82 | 0.81 | 0.80 | 0.85 | 0.90 | 1.03 | 1.07 | 0.51 | 1.01 | 0.96 | 0.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) | 0.25 | 1.02 | (1.40 | ) | 0.96 | 2.08 | (1.07 | ) | 1.43 | (1.47 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.62 | ) | (0.19 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Net Investment Income to Auction Rate Preferred (“ARPS”) Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | * | (0.02 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.21 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Accumulated Net Realized Gains to ARPS Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | (0.01 | ) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | 1.07 | 1.83 | (0.60 | ) | 1.81 | 2.98 | (0.06 | ) | 2.46 | (1.08 | ) | 0.39 | 0.09 | 0.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Less Distributions to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Net Investment Income | (0.83 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.36 | ) | (0.69 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.84 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From Accumulated Net Realized Gains | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | (0.04 | ) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | (0.83 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.95 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.40 | ) | (0.69 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.84 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Discount from Common Shares Repurchased and Retired | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | * | $ | 0.00 | * | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending NAV | $ | 16.06 | $ | 15.82 | $ | 14.85 | $ | 16.35 | $ | 15.49 | $ | 13.47 | $ | 14.49 | $ | 12.91 | $ | 14.39 | $ | 14.69 | $ | 15.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ending Share Price | $ | 15.62 | $ | 14.59 | $ | 13.75 | $ | 16.30 | $ | 15.58 | $ | 12.83 | $ | 13.56 | $ | 10.51 | $ | 12.67 | $ | 13.73 | $ | 14.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Common Share Total Returns: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on NAV(b) | 7.03 | % | 12.57 | % | (3.42 | )% | 11.94 | % | 22.90 | % | (0.64 | )% | 19.52 | % | (7.40 | )% | 2.76 | % | 0.46 | % | 3.82 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on Share Price(b) | 13.22 | % | 12.72 | % | (9.86 | )% | 11.03 | % | 30.01 | % | 1.37 | % | 38.29 | % | (13.83 | )% | (2.80 | )% | (3.39 | )% | 4.19 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Share Supplemental Data/Ratios Applicable to Common Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Net Assets (000) | $ | 237,098 | $ | 233,435 | $ | 219,123 | $ | 241,237 | $ | 228,474 | $ | 198,675 | $ | 213,687 | $ | 190,824 | $ | 212,890 | $ | 217,332 | $ | 227,160 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets Before Reimbursement(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | 1.46 | % | 1.50 | % | 2.24 | % | 2.19 | % | 2.30 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.37 | %** | 1.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.16 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 5.25 | % | 5.23 | % | 5.43 | % | 5.29 | % | 6.29 | % | 7.10 | % | 7.58 | % | 7.85 | %** | 6.56 | % | 5.97 | % | 5.94 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets After Reimbursement(c)(d) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2.30 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.04 | % | 1.14 | %** | 0.99 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.74 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6.30 | % | 7.19 | % | 7.74 | % | 8.08 | %** | 6.83 | % | 6.31 | % | 6.35 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio Turnover Rate(f) | 17 | % | 14 | % | 39 | % | 23 | % | 12 | % | 13 | % | 4 | % | 7 | % | 20 | % | 21 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARPS Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 39,950 | $ | 93,775 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $25,000 Share | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 77,310 | $ | 81,968 | $ | 68,369 | $ | 73,384 | $ | 74,394 | $ | 76,627 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable Rate Demand Preferred (“VRDP”) Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | 98,000 | $ | 98,000 | $ | 98,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share | $ | 341,937 | $ | 338,199 | $ | 323,595 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MuniTerm Preferred (“MTP”) Shares at the End of Period(g): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 97,846 | $ | 97,846 | $ | 55,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $10 Share | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 34.65 | $ | 33.35 | $ | 30.92 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARPS and/or MTP Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $1 Liquidation Preference | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3.09 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
C-4
(a) | The amounts shown for ARPS are based on Common Share equivalents. |
(b) | Total Return Based on Common Share NAV is the combination of changes in common share NAV, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
(c) | Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to ARPS shareholders, during periods when ARPS were outstanding; Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to ARPS and other subsequent forms of preferred shares issued by the Fund, where applicable. |
(d) | After expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of March 31, 2011 the Adviser is no longer reimbursing the Fund for any fees or expenses. |
(e) | The expense ratios reflect, among other things, all interest expense and other costs related to preferred shares and/or the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund where applicable, as follows: |
Year Ended 2/28-2/29 | ||||
2016 | 0.50 | % | ||
2015 | 0.51 | |||
2014 | 1.18 | |||
2013 | 1.15 | |||
2012 | 1.25 | |||
2011 | 0.26 | |||
2010 | 0.04 | |||
2009(j) | 0.05 | ** | ||
Year Ended 8/31 | ||||
2008 | 0.09 | |||
2007 | 0.08 | |||
2006 | — |
(f) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(g) | The Ending and Average Market Value Per Share for each Series of the Fund’s MTP Shares were as follows: |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011(k) | |||||||||||||
Series 2014 (NVX PRA) | ||||||||||||||||
Ending Market Value Per Share | $ | — | $ | 10.05 | $ | 10.11 | $ | — | ||||||||
Average Market Value Per Share | 10.03 | (h) | 10.07 | 10.09 | (i) | — | ||||||||||
Series 2015 (NVX PRC) | ||||||||||||||||
Ending Market Value Per Share | — | 10.05 | 10.01 | 9.82 | ||||||||||||
Average Market Value Per Share | 10.02 | (h) | 10.04 | 9.89 | 9.72 | (l) |
(h) | For the period March 1, 2013 through September 9, 2013. |
(i) | For the period March 29, 2011 (first issuance date of shares) through February 29, 2012. |
(j) | For the six months ended February 28, 2009. |
(k) | The Fund did not issue MTP shares prior to the fiscal year ended February 28, 2011. |
(l) | For the period October 22, 2010 (first issuance date of shares) through February 28, 2011. |
* | Rounds to less than $0.01 per share. |
** | Annualized. |
N/A | The Fund no longer has a contractual reimbursement agreement with the Adviser. |
C-5
Dividend Advantage 3 | Year Ended February 28/29 | Year Ended August 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009(j) | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value (“NAV”) | $ | 14.70 | $ | 13.50 | $ | 14.71 | $ | 13.91 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 13.18 | $ | 11.53 | $ | 13.62 | $ | 14.25 | $ | 15.03 | $ | 15.31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 0.84 | 0.84 | 0.74 | 0.75 | 0.82 | 0.88 | 0.98 | 0.50 | 1.03 | 0.98 | 0.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) | 0.19 | 1.17 | (1.15 | ) | 0.90 | 1.86 | (1.02 | ) | 1.53 | (2.13 | ) | (0.70 | ) | (0.73 | ) | (0.20 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Net Investment Income to Auction Rate Preferred (“ARPS”) Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | * | (0.01 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.22 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions from Accumulated Net Realized Gains to ARPS Shareholders(a) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | 1.03 | 2.01 | (0.41 | ) | 1.65 | 2.68 | (0.15 | ) | 2.48 | (1.72 | ) | 0.08 | (0.02 | ) | 0.55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Less Distributions to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Net Investment Income | (0.81 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.83 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From Accumulated Net Realized Gains | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total | (0.81 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.85 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (0.83 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.76 | ) | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Discount from Common Shares Repurchased and Retired: | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | * | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Common Share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending NAV | $ | 14.92 | $ | 14.70 | $ | 13.50 | $ | 14.71 | $ | 13.91 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 13.18 | $ | 11.53 | $ | 13.62 | $ | 14.25 | $ | 15.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ending Share Price | $ | 14.56 | $ | 13.63 | $ | 12.24 | $ | 14.25 | $ | 14.35 | $ | 11.67 | $ | 12.67 | $ | 10.23 | $ | 12.87 | $ | 13.52 | $ | 14.84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Common Share Total Returns: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on NAV(b) | 7.26 | % | 15.18 | % | (2.50 | )% | 12.15 | % | 22.89 | % | (1.40 | )% | 22.17 | % | (12.54 | )% | 0.60 | % | (0.32 | )% | 3.81 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on Share Price(b) | 13.31 | % | 18.47 | % | (8.23 | )% | 5.41 | % | 31.93 | % | (1.21 | )% | 32.93 | % | (17.58 | )% | 0.46 | % | (4.12 | )% | 8.50 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Share Supplemental Data/Ratios Applicable to Common Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Net Assets (000) | $ | 360,284 | $ | 354,962 | $ | 325,948 | $ | 355,163 | $ | 335,830 | $ | 292,563 | $ | 317,860 | $ | 278,056 | $ | 329,659 | $ | 343,806 | $ | 362,473 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets Before Reimbursement(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | 1.50 | % | 1.56 | % | 2.42 | % | 2.53 | % | 2.56 | % | 2.07 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.39 | %** | 1.21 | % | 1.22 | % | 1.16 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | 5.77 | % | 5.93 | % | 5.57 | % | 5.22 | % | 6.28 | % | 6.61 | % | 7.68 | % | 8.50 | %** | 6.96 | % | 6.16 | % | 6.08 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets After Reimbursement(c)(d) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses(e) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2.52 | % | 1.94 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.13 | %** | 0.90 | % | 0.83 | % | 0.71 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 6.33 | % | 6.74 | % | 7.88 | % | 8.75 | %** | 7.27 | % | 6.54 | % | 6.53 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio Turnover Rate(f) | 18 | % | 15 | % | 41 | % | 20 | % | 18 | % | 16 | % | 6 | % | 9 | % | 23 | % | 23 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARPS Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 69,500 | $ | 69,500 | $ | 154,075 | $ | 159,925 | $ | 187,000 | $ | 187,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $25,000 Share | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 71,960 | $ | 76,021 | $ | 70,117 | $ | 76,377 | $ | 70,963 | $ | 73,459 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Variable Rate Demand Preferred (“VRDP”) Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | 160,000 | $ | 160,000 | $ | 160,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $100,000 Share | $ | 325,178 | $ | 321,851 | $ | 303,718 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MuniTerm Preferred (“MTP”) Shares at the End of Period (g): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 159,545 | $ | 159,545 | $ | 86,250 | $ | 86,250 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $10 Share | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 32.26 | $ | 31.05 | $ | 28.78 | $ | 30.41 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARPS and/or MTP Shares at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Per $1 Liquidation Preference | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2.88 | $ | 3.04 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
(a) | The amounts shown for ARPS are based on Common Share equivalents. |
(b) | Total Return Based on Common Share NAV is the combination of changes in common share NAV, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
C-6
Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
(c) | Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to ARPS shareholders, during periods when ARPS were outstanding; Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to ARPS and other subsequent forms of preferred shares issued by the Fund, where applicable. |
(d) | After expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of September 30, 2011 the Adviser is no longer reimbursing the Fund for any fees or expenses. |
(e) | The expense ratios reflect, among other things, all interest expense and other costs related to preferred shares and/or the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund where applicable, as follows: |
Year Ended 2/28-2/29 | ||||
2016 | 0.52 | % | ||
2015 | 0.54 | |||
2014 | 1.37 | |||
2013 | 1.47 | |||
2012 | 1.49 | |||
2011 | 0.94 | |||
2010 | 0.19 | |||
2009(j) | 0.12 | ** | ||
Year Ended 8/31 | ||||
2008 | 0.02 | |||
2007 | 0.06 | |||
2006 | — |
(f) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(g) | The Ending and Average Market Value Per Share for each Series of the Fund’s MTP Shares were as follows: |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010(l) | ||||||||||||||||
Series 2014 (NZH PRA) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Market Value Per Share | $ | — | $ | 10.05 | $ | 10.17 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Average Market Value Per Share | 10.04 | (h) | 10.09 | 10.11 | (i) | — | — | |||||||||||||
Series 2014-1 (NZH PRB) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Market Value Per Share | — | 10.05 | 10.15 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Average Market Value Per Share | 10.03 | (h) | 10.08 | 10.12 | (k) | — | — | |||||||||||||
Series 2015 (NZH PRC) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Market Value Per Share | — | 10.14 | 10.18 | 10.06 | 10.11 | |||||||||||||||
Average Market Value Per Share | 10.07 | (h) | 10.13 | 10.11 | 10.14 | 10.09 | (m) |
(h) | For the period March 1, 2013 through October 7, 2013. |
(i) | For the period April 11, 2011 (first issuance date of shares) through February 29, 2012. |
(j) | For the six months ended February 28, 2009. |
(k) | For the period June 6, 2011 (first issuance date of shares) through February 29, 2012. |
(l) | The Fund did not issue MTP shares prior to the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. |
(m) | For the period December 21, 2009 (first issuance date of shares) through February 28, 2010. |
* | Rounds to less than $0.01 per share. |
** | Annualized. |
N/A | The Fund no longer has a contractual reimbursement agreement with the Adviser. |
C-7
FACTORS AFFECTING MUNICIPAL SECURITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Following is a brief summary of some of the factors that may affect the financial condition of the State of California (referred to herein as the “State” or “California”) and its political subdivisions. The summary is neither a complete nor a comprehensive description of these factors or an analysis of financial conditions and may not be indicative of the financial condition of issuers of obligations or any particular projects financed with the proceeds of such obligations. Many factors not included in the summary, such as the national economy, social and environmental policies and conditions, developments in municipal bankruptcies and the national and international markets for products produced in California, could have an adverse impact on the financial condition of California and its political subdivisions. It is not possible to predict whether and to what extent those factors may affect the financial condition of California and its political subdivisions.
The following summary is based upon the most recent publicly available budget documents and offering statements relating to public debt offerings of the State. This summary has not been updated nor will it be updated during the year. Neither the Funds nor their legal counsel has independently verified this information.
Overview
The State labor market conditions have improved significantly since the depths of the recession. As of March 2016, the State’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, approximately 0.4 percent higher than the national average of 5.0 percent and less than the State’s 6.1 percent unemployment rate before the recession at the beginning of 2008.
The California economy also continues to recover from the 2008 recession. Although the State has faced serious budgetary problems in the past resulting from structural imbalances, the State significantly improved its general fiscal condition with the approval by the voters in November 2012 of a seven-year personal income tax increase and a four-year sales tax increase (collectively known as “Proposition 30”). As a result of the passage of Proposition 30 and other measures taken by the administration, the Department of Finance reported in April 2016 that the State budget has been structurally balanced for the last five fiscal years. See “The State Budget—Constraints on the State Budget—Proposition 30” below.
The adopted State budget for fiscal year 2015-16 (the “2015-16 Budget Act”), which began with a surplus of approximately $2.4 billion at June 30, 2015, was projected to leave a fiscal year-end reserve in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties (the “SFEU”) of approximately $1.1 billion at June 30, 2016. The Governor revised the projected June 30, 2016 SFEU balance in May 2016 to be approximately $3.9 billion, resulting in part from an all-time high in capital gains revenue in calendar year 2015. The projected budget results demonstrate continued improvement in the State’s fiscal condition.
Many local government agencies, however, continue to face budget constraints due to limited taxing powers and a weakened, albeit improving, economy, among other factors. Unfunded pension and other post-retirement liabilities also weigh heavily upon the State as well as many local jurisdictions, and have been the principal cause of several well-publicized municipal bankruptcy filings.
D-1
Economic Factors
California is by far the most populous state in the nation, almost 50 percent larger than Texas, the second-ranked state, according to the 2010 United States Census. The July 2015 estimate of the State’s population is 38.9 million, which represents approximately 12 percent of the total United States population.
California’s economy, the largest among the 50 states and one of the largest and most diverse in the world, has major components in high technology, trade, entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing, government, tourism, construction and services. The relative proportion of the various components of the California economy closely resembles the make-up of the national economy.
California’s unemployment rate increased from 6.1 percent at the start of 2008 to a high of 12.5 percent in the last four months of 2010. The rate has improved thereafter with the State’s unemployment falling to 5.4 percent in March 2016, compared with the United States unemployment rate, which was 5.0 percent in March 2016.
State personal income declined by 3.7 percent in 2009 from the previous year due to the large toll of lost jobs during the recession. This was the State’s first decline in personal income on a year-over-year basis since 1938. However, the State has made substantial gains since 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, State personal income rose approximately 5.1 percent annually. In 2011, State personal income surpassed pre-recession, 2008 levels. The Department of Finance estimated that personal income increased approximately 4.7 percent in 2014 and 5.3 percent in 2015. As of April 2016, the State had projected personal income to grow by 5.5 percent in 2016 and 5.2 percent in 2017.
In 2009, taxable sales were down nearly 15 percent from the prior year and down nearly 20 percent from the peak reached in 2007. However, substantial gains in taxable sales have occurred since 2009. Taxable sales increased from the previous year by approximately 4.3 percent and 9.1 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Taxable sales during 2012 and 2013 further increased approximately 7.2 percent and 5.8 percent from the previous year, respectively, recovering to approximately the same level as taxable sales in 2008. The Department of Finance estimated that taxable sales increased approximately 5.4 percent in 2014 and 5.6 percent in 2015. As of April 2016, the State had projected taxable sales to grow by 4.2 percent in 2016 and 5.7 percent in 2017.
The Statewide median price for existing single-family homes decreased more than 6 percent from 2010 to 2011, bringing the average median price to approximately $300,000. In February 2016, the Department of Finance reported that this number had increased to $446,460, which was an increase of 3.8 percent from a year earlier. Still, this median price is significantly lower than the pre-recession peak median price of $594,530.
Residential building permitting, which suffered a long, steady decline from calendar years 2006 through 2009, increased steadily over the past several years, from 44,365 in 2010 (approximately $13.7 billion valuation) to 95,922 in 2015 (approximately $28.3 billion valuation), representing an average annual increase of approximately 43.2 percent, but still down from a pre-recession high of 164,187 (approximately $38.2 billion valuation) in 2006.
After slowing sharply in 2009, nonresidential construction increased steadily over the past several years, from a total valuation of approximately $11.2 billion in 2010 to $24.8 billion in 2015,
D-2
representing an average annual increase of approximately 44.3 percent, surpassing the pre-recession high of $22.5 billion in 2007.
Constitutional Limitations on Taxes, Other Charges, Appropriations and General Fund Revenues
Over the years, a number of constitutional amendments have been enacted, often through voter initiatives, which have increased the difficulty of raising State taxes or restricted the use of State Treasury General Fund (the “General Fund”) revenues. Some of the more significant of these approved constitutional amendments are described below. Because of the complex nature of these initiatives and the ambiguities and possible inconsistencies in their terms, it is not possible to predict with certainty the impact on California debt obligations or on the ability of the State or local governments to pay debt service on such California debt obligations. Further initiatives or legislative changes in laws or the California Constitution may also affect the ability of the State or local issuers to repay their obligations.
Limitation on Property Taxes. Certain California debt obligations may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, on ad valorem property taxes as a source of revenue. The taxing powers of California local governments and districts are limited by Article XIIIA of the California Constitution (“Article XIIIA”), enacted by the voters in 1978 and commonly known as “Proposition 13.” Briefly, Article XIIIA limits the rate of ad valorem property taxes to 1 percent of full cash value of real property and generally restricts the reassessment of property to 2 percent per year, except upon new construction or change of ownership (subject to a number of exemptions).
Taxing entities, however, may raise ad valorem taxes above the 1 percent limit to pay debt service on voter-approved bonded indebtedness.
Under Article XIIIA, the basic 1 percent ad valorem tax levy is applied against the assessed value of property as of the owner’s date of acquisition (or as of March 1, 1975, if acquired earlier), subject to certain adjustments. This system has resulted in widely varying amounts of tax on similarly situated properties. Several lawsuits were filed challenging the acquisition-based assessment system of Proposition 13, but it was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992.
Article XIIIA prohibits local governments from raising revenues through ad valorem taxes above the 1 percent limit; it also requires voters of any governmental units to give two-thirds approval to levy certain taxes. For further discussion on Proposition 13, see “Local Governments—Constitutional and Statutory Limitations on Local Government” below. For further discussion on voter approval requirements under Article XIIIA, see “—Voter Requirements for Taxes and Fees” below.
Limitations on Other Taxes, Fees and Charges. On November 5, 1996, the voters of the State approved Proposition 218, called the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act.” Proposition 218 added Article XIIIC (“Article XIIIC”) and Article XIIID (“Article XIIID”) to the State Constitution, which contain a number of provisions affecting the ability of local agencies to levy and collect both existing and future taxes, assessments, fees and charges.
Article XIIIC requires that all new or increased local taxes be submitted to the voters before they become effective. Proposition 26, discussed below under the caption entitled “—Voter Requirements for Taxes and Fees,” amended Article XIIIC by adding an expansive definition of “taxes” to include many regulatory fees currently imposed by the State and its municipalities. Taxes for
D-3
general governmental purposes require a majority vote and taxes for specific purposes require a two-thirds vote.
Article XIIID contains several provisions making it generally more difficult for local agencies to levy and maintain “assessments” for municipal services and programs. Article XIIID also contains several provisions affecting “fees” and “charges,” defined for purposes of Article XIIID to mean any levy other than an ad valorem tax, a special tax, or an assessment, imposed by a local government upon a parcel or upon a person as an incident of property ownership, including a user fee or charge for a property related service. All new and existing property related fees and charges must conform to requirements prohibiting, among other things, fees and charges that generate revenues exceeding the funds required to provide the property related service or are used for unrelated purposes. Article XIIID imposes notice, hearing and protest procedures for levying or increasing property related fees and charges, and, except for fees or charges for sewer, water and refuse collection services (or fees for electrical and gas service, which are not treated as “property related” for purposes of Article XIIID), no property related fee or charge may be imposed or increased without majority approval by the property owners subject to the fee or charge or, at the option of the local agency, two-thirds voter approval by the electorate residing in the affected area.
In addition to the provisions described above, Article XIIIC removes limitations on the initiative power in matters of local taxes, assessments, fees and charges. Consequently, local voters, by future initiative, could repeal, reduce or prohibit the future imposition or increase of any local tax, assessment, fee or charge. It is unclear how this right of local initiative may be used in cases where taxes or charges have been or will be specifically pledged to secure debt issues.
Limitations on the State’s Ability to Transfer Funds from Local Agencies. On November 2, 2010, voters in the State approved Proposition 22. Proposition 22, known as the “Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010,” eliminated or reduced the State’s authority to (i) temporarily shift property taxes from cities, counties and special districts to schools, (ii) use vehicle license fee revenues to reimburse local governments for state-mandated costs (the State will have to use other revenues to reimburse local governments), (iii) redirect property tax increment from redevelopment agencies to any other local government, (iv) use State fuel tax revenues to pay debt service on State transportation bonds or (v) borrow or change the distribution of State fuel tax revenues.
Voter Requirements for Taxes and Fees. Proposition 26, known as the “Supermajority Vote to Pass New Taxes and Fees Act” was approved by State voters on November 2, 2010. Proposition 26 amended provisions of Article XIIIA and Article XIIIC governing the imposition of taxes. Proposition 26 requires a two-thirds supermajority vote in the State Legislature prior to the imposition of any change in State statute which results in any taxpayer paying a higher tax. This requirement eliminated the prior practice that allowed, via majority vote, one tax to be increased if another tax is lowered by an equivalent amount. Furthermore, any increase in a fee beyond the amount needed to provide the specific service or benefit is deemed a “tax,” and thus would require two-thirds vote of any governmental units for passage. Finally, Proposition 26 applies retroactively to any measures passed on or after January 1, 2010. Thus, any tax or fee that was adopted after January 1, 2010 with a majority vote that would have required a two-thirds vote were Proposition 26 in place, was repealed on November 2, 2011, unless readopted by the necessary two-thirds vote.
D-4
Appropriations Limits. The State and its local governments are subject to an annual “appropriations limit” imposed by Article XIIIB of the California Constitution (“Article XIIIB”), enacted by the voters in 1979 and significantly amended by Propositions 98 and 111 in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Article XIIIB prohibits the State or any covered local government from spending “appropriations subject to limitation” in excess of the appropriations limit imposed. “Appropriations subject to limitation” are authorizations to spend “proceeds of taxes,” which consist of tax revenues and certain other funds, including proceeds from regulatory licenses, user charges or other fees, to the extent that such proceeds exceed the cost of providing the product or service, but “proceeds of taxes” exclude most State subventions to local governments. No limit is imposed on appropriations of funds which are not “proceeds of taxes,” such as reasonable user charges or fees, and certain other non-tax funds, including bond proceeds.
Among the expenditures not included in the Article XIIIB appropriations limit are (i) the debt service cost of bonds issued or authorized prior to January 1, 1979, or subsequently authorized by the voters, (ii) appropriations to comply with mandates of courts or the federal government, (iii) appropriations for certain capital outlay projects, (iv) appropriations by the State of post-1989 increases in gasoline taxes and vehicle weight fees and (v) appropriations made in certain cases of emergency.
The appropriations limit for each year is adjusted annually to reflect changes in cost of living and population, and any transfers of service responsibilities between government units.
“Excess” revenues are measured over a two year cycle. Local governments must return any excess to taxpayers by rate reductions. The State must refund 50 percent of any excess, with the other 50 percent paid to schools and community colleges.
With more liberal annual adjustment factors since 1988, and depressed revenues in the early 1990s because of a recession, few governments have been operating near their spending limits, but this condition may change over time. Local governments may by voter approval exceed their spending limits for up to four years. The Department of Finance estimated in April 2016 that the State was $18.4 billion under the limit in fiscal year 2013-14 and projected the State would be approximately $9.4 billion, $6.6 billion and $7.8 billion under its limit in fiscal years 2014-15 through 2016-17, respectively.
Dedication of General Fund Revenues to Schools. The single largest portion of the State budget is support for K-12 public schools and community college districts. Proposition 98, an initiative measure adopted originally in 1988, mandates that a set percentage of General Fund revenues be spent for K-14 schools, with the balance of school funding provided by a share of local property taxes. Proposition 98 is extremely complex, and results in significant fiscal problems when General Fund revenues fall short of the projections on which the original appropriations to schools were made. For further discussion regarding Proposition 98, see “Proposition 98 and K-14 Funding” below.
Obligations of the State
The State has always paid when due the principal of and interest on its general obligation bonds, general obligation commercial paper notes, lease-revenue obligations and short-term obligations, including revenue anticipation notes and revenue anticipation warrants. The State Constitution prohibits the creation of general obligation indebtedness of the State unless a bond measure is approved by a majority of the electorate voting at a general election or a direct primary.
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Capital Facilities Financing. The State builds and acquires capital facilities primarily through the use of general obligation bonds and lease-purchase borrowing. Under the State Constitution, debt service on outstanding general obligation bonds is the second charge to the General Fund after support of the public school system and public institutions of higher education. Since 2006, the voters and/or the State Legislature have authorized a significant amount of new general obligation bonds, lease revenue bonds and other General Fund-supported debt. From July 1, 2006 to January 1, 2016, the State aggregate principal amount of outstanding obligations primarily supported by the General Fund rose from $44.8 billion to approximately $86.0 billion. This outstanding debt consists of approximately $75.2 billion of general obligation bonds and approximately $10.8 billion of lease-revenue bonds. Moreover, as of January 1, 2016, the State had approximately $32.9 billion of authorized and unissued General Fund-supported general obligation bonds ($29.3 billion) and lease revenue bonds ($3.6 billion).
Based upon estimates included in the State’s most recent general obligation bond disclosure, debt service on General Fund-supported general obligation bonds and lease-revenue debt is estimated to equal approximately 5.4 percent of General Fund revenues in fiscal year 2016-17 and 5.4 percent of General Fund revenues again in fiscal year 2017-18. This debt service cost is net of reimbursement from various special funds and subsidy payments from the federal government for taxable “Build America Bonds.”
Future Bond Issuance Plans. As the State had approximately $32.9 billion of authorized but unissued General Fund-supported debt as of January 1, 2016, the amount of General Fund-supported debt, primarily general obligation bonds, is likely to increase in coming years. Based upon estimates from the Department of Finance, approximately $4.4 billion of such obligations will be issued in fiscal year 2016-17 (consisting of approximately $4.0 billion of general obligation bonds and approximately $358 million of lease revenue bonds). However, the exact amount that may be issued will depend on market conditions, budget priorities, the ratings of State bonds and other factors. See “Bond Ratings” below.
Cash Management. As part of its cash management program, the State has regularly issued short-term obligations to meet cash flow needs. External borrowing is typically done with revenue anticipation notes that are payable later in the fiscal year in which they are issued. The State issued $5.5 billion of revenue anticipation notes for fiscal year 2013-14 and $2.8 billion of revenue anticipation notes for fiscal year 2014-15, all of which have been repaid. The State is not expected to issue revenue anticipation notes in 2015-16 or 2016-17.
The State is also authorized under certain circumstances to issue revenue anticipation warrants that are payable in the succeeding fiscal year, as well as registered refunding warrants issued to refund revenue anticipation warrants. The State has issued revenue anticipation warrants to bridge short-term cash flow shortages in five years since 1992. From time to time, the State Legislature defers various payments due under State statute, in order to more closely align the State’s revenues with its expenditures. This technique has been used in past budgets, in order to reduce the State’s need for external borrowing to bridge any cash flow deficit. Further, State law gives the State Controller some flexibility to delay payments to various payees, including State vendors, when the State Controller foresees a relatively short-term cash flow shortage. In addition, the State issued IOUs in lieu of cash payments in July and August 2009, the second such issuance since the 1930s. For information regarding the State’s recent cash management programs, see “Recent Financial Results” below.
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Obligations of State Agencies
A number of State agencies and authorities issue obligations secured or payable from specified revenue streams. These obligations are not payable from the General Fund and carry different ratings than the State’s general obligation bonds. As of December 31, 2015, the State Department of Water Resources had approximately $7.7 billion of outstanding revenue bonds secured by power and water users, and the California Housing Finance Agency had approximately $3.1 billion of outstanding revenue bonds secured by mortgage loans made for single family and multi-family housing units. The Regents of the University of California has been one of the largest issuers of revenue bonds in recent years, with approximately $16.0 billion of outstanding revenue bonds secured by certain revenues of the University of California, as of December 31, 2015. None of these revenue bonds are backed by the State’s faith and credit or taxing power.
Recent Financial Results
Historically, the principal sources of General Fund revenues are personal income tax, sales and use tax and corporation tax. Based on the most recent figures provided in the Governor’s proposed 2016-17 State budget, these sources are expected to contribute approximately 67.3 percent, 21.1 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively, of total General Fund revenues and transfers in fiscal year 2015-2016. The State’s personal income tax structure is highly progressive, with the top 1 percent of taxpayers paying approximately 45.5 percent of the total personal income tax in tax year 2013. The personal income tax was made even more progressive with the passage of Proposition 30, which imposed additional taxes on earnings over $250,000 (retroactive to calendar year 2012, and expiring at the end of calendar year 2018), resulting in an income tax of 12.3 percent on earnings over $1 million. A large portion of personal income tax receipts is derived from capital gains realizations and stock option income. These revenue sources can be particularly volatile.
Along with personal income taxes, sales and use taxes and corporation taxes are subject to economic fluctuations as well, and were adversely affected during the State’s recovery from the recent recession. Total personal income taxes, sales and use taxes and corporation taxes went from approximately $92.6 billion in fiscal year 2007-08 to approximately $76.7 billion in fiscal year 2008-09, recovering to approximately $98.4 billion in fiscal year 2013-14. Moreover, compared to the rest of the nation, California relies less on a relatively stable revenue source, the property tax, because of Proposition 13. See “Limitations on Property Taxes” above. Approximately 90% of all State revenues and transfers come from personal income taxes, sales and use taxes and corporation taxes.
The State is required to maintain the SFEU, derived from General Fund revenues, as a reserve to meet cash needs of the General Fund, but which is required to be replenished as soon as sufficient revenues are available. Year-end balances in the SFEU are included for financial reporting purposes in the General Fund balance. As of June 30, 2011 and 2012, recurring cash flow shortfalls caused by the recession and structural budget shortfalls, resulted in SFEU deficits of approximately $3.9 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. As the State economy and the State’s finances have improved, SFEU fund balances have turned positive and improved significantly. Estimated SFEU balances as of June 30, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $254 million, $2.9 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. The 2015-2016 Budget Act projected an SFEU balance of approximately $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2016, although, due to larger-than-expected capital gains revenue, the Governor revised this projection in May 2016 to be approximately $3.9 billion. In January 2016, the Governor cautioned that capital gains revenue is very volatile and that the seven-year economic expansion was already two years beyond the average
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economic expansion. See “Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget—General Fund Budget Summary” below.
The last five budget acts were each enacted timely. Further, with the approval by the voters of Proposition 30 in November 2012, the State significantly improved its general fiscal condition. As a result of the passage of Proposition 30 and other measures taken by the administration, the State Legislative Analyst’s Office (the “LAO”) reported in November 2013 that there is no longer a structural imbalance in the State’s budget. The sales tax portion and the property tax portion of Proposition 30 expire on December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See “The State Budget—Constraints on the State Budget—Proposition 30” below.
Proposition 98 and K-14 Funding
Throughout the 1980s, State spending increased rapidly as the State population and economy also grew rapidly. Such spending included increased spending for many assistance programs to local governments, which were constrained by Proposition 13 and other laws. The largest State assistance program is to local public school districts. In 1988, the voters of the State approved Proposition 98, a combined initiative constitutional amendment and statute, which (subject to suspension by a two-thirds vote of the State Legislature and the Governor) guarantees local school districts and community college districts a minimum share of General Fund revenues (the “Proposition 98 Guarantee”). The Proposition 98 Guarantee is calculated each fiscal year using one of three “tests” that apply under varying fiscal and economic conditions. The 2015-16 Budget Act provides approximately 42.8 percent of General Fund revenues in fiscal year 2015-16 for K-14 programs covered by the Proposition 98 Guarantee. For fiscal year 2015-16, the Proposition 98 Guarantee is $68.4 billion, of which $49.4 billion is payable from the General Fund, although the Governor’s proposed 2016-17 State budget revises such estimates to be approximately $69.2 billion and $50.0 billion, respectively. The 2015-16 Budget Act Proposition 98 Guarantee level is an increase of $7.6 billion over the 2014-15 Budget Act level. This Proposition 98 Guarantee level reflects an increase of more than $4.7 billion in General Fund revenues in fiscal year 2014-15 from the prior fiscal year, and the adjustment of the Proposition 98 Guarantee for revenue and program shifts. The Proposition 98 guarantee includes a portion of revenue from the tax increases reflected in Proposition 30 and Proposition 39. In prior years, the State Legislature has approved deferrals of the Proposition 98 Guarantee to satisfy budget shortfalls. The 2015-16 Budget Act repays approximately $897 million of such deferred Proposition 98 payments to schools and community colleges. For further information on the limitations on General Fund revenues imposed by Proposition 98, see “Constitutional Limitations on Taxes, Other Charges, Appropriations and General Fund Revenues—Dedication of General Fund Revenues to Schools” above.
State and Local Pension and Post-Retirement Liabilities
State. The financial condition of the State and its localities is also subject to pension and other post-retirement benefit risks. The pension funds managed by the State’s retirement systems, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (“CalSTRS”), sustained significant investment losses during the economic downturn and currently have substantial unfunded liabilities which will require increased contributions from the General Fund in future years. Fiscal year 2016-17 General Fund contributions to CalPERS and CalSTRS (as of April 2016) are estimated to be approximately $3.2 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. The combined contributions represent approximately 4.6 percent of all General Fund expenditures for fiscal year 2016-17. The State also provides other post-employment health care and
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dental benefits to state to its employees and certain of their spouses and dependants (hereinafter referred to as “OPEB”), which utilize a “pay-as-you-go” funding policy. Fiscal year 2016-17 General Fund contributions to OPEB (as of April 2016) were estimated to be approximately $2.0 billion or approximately 1.6 percent of the total General Fund expenditures shown in the 2016-17 May Revision (defined below).
The most recent report released by the CalPERS Board in April 2016 showed, as of June 30, 2015, an accrued unfunded liability allocable to state employees (excluding judges and elected officials) of $49.6 billion on a market value of assets (“MVA”) basis. CalPERS no longer measures on an actuarial value of assets (“AVA”) basis. CalSTRS reported the unfunded accrued actuarial liability of its Defined Benefit Plan as of June 30, 2014 at $72.7 billion on an AVA basis, and $61.8 billion on an MVA basis. The State’s most recent OPEB actuarial accrued liability report estimated an approximately $71.4 billion unfunded actuarial accrued liability as of June 30, 2015 (compared to $71.8 billion estimated as of June 30, 2014).
Government Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”) Statements 74 and 75, each of which affects OPEB financial reporting, were issued in June 2015. As a result, there is an increased focus on OPEB liability as GASB Statement No. 74 becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2016 and GASB Statement No. 75 becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2017. In January 2016, the State Controller noted that, if OPEB funding is left unchanged, the OPEB actuarial accrued liability could rise to more than $100 billion by fiscal year 2020-21 and to more than $300 billion by fiscal year 2047-48. The Governor has proposed prefunding the entire unfunded liability by fiscal year 2044-45.
The recent economic recession has called into question the reliability of assumed rates of return used to determine actuarial unfunded pension liabilities. Prior to 2012, CalPERS and CalSTRS had used an assumed 7.75 percent rate of return to calculate their respective unfunded liabilities. However, at meetings in February 2012 and March 2012, the CalSTRS Board and the CalPERS Board, respectively, voted to lower the investment earnings assumption to 7.50 percent (a reduction of 0.25 percent) commencing for actuarial valuations dated June 30, 2011. These assumption changes resulted in significant increases in unfunded liability. The assumption changes also increased retirement contributions for many local agencies which contract with CalPERS to manage their pension programs.
As of June 30, 2014, CalPERS had 5-year and 10-year time weighted average returns of 12.5 and 7.2 percent, respectively, and CalSTRS had 5-year and 10-year time weighted average returns of 13.7 and 7.6 percent, respectively. The most recent CalPERS and CalSTRS investment returns have been below the assumed rate of return. On July 13, 2015, CalPERS reported a 2.4 percent return on investments for the twelve months ended June 30, 2015, and on July 17, 2015 CalSTRS reported a 4.8 percent return on investments for the same period compared with 18.4 and 18.7 percent in fiscal year 2013-14, respectively.
In April 2013, CalPERS approved new actuarial policies that are aimed at returning the CalPERS system to fully-funded status within 30 years. These new policies include a rate-smoothing method with a 30-year fixed amortization period for gains and losses (rather than the current 30-year rolling amortization method). CalPERS delayed the implementation of the new policy until fiscal year 2015-16 for the State, schools and all public agencies. These new policies are projected to increase required State and local contributions. It is possible that, in the future, the State will be forced to
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significantly increase its pension fund and post-retirement benefit contributions, reducing discretionary funds available for other State programs. In February 2014, the CalPERS Board approved new demographic assumptions that take into account increased life expectancies (2.1 years for men; 1.6 years for women) and to fully phase in the resulting increased costs to the State (of approximately $1.2 billion per year) within 3 years. In April 2014, CalPERS adopted a new annual state contribution rate of $4.3 billion, an increase of more than $450 million. Further, the State’s credit ratings may be affected if the State does not reduce or manage these unfunded liabilities. See “Bond Ratings” below.
In June 2014, the Governor signed Chapter 47, Statutes of 2014 (“AB 1469”), which increased statutorily required contributions to CalSTRS from the state, school districts, and teachers beginning July 1, 2014. The AB 1469 funding plan includes additional increases in contribution rates for the state, school districts, and teachers over the next several years in order to eliminate the current CalSTRS unfunded liability by 2045-46. The 2014-15 Budget Act also included a plan to fully fund CalSTRS in approximately 30 years. The increased funding requirements imposed upon local school districts may have an adverse affect on their financial condition.
Local. Many local governments in the State, many of which are current members of CalPERS, face similar and, in many cases, more severe issues relating to unfunded pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities. The credit ratings, and even solvency of these local governments may be at risk in the future if these liabilities are not appropriately addressed through wage concessions and restructuring of benefits. Cities are particularly at risk because one of their primary missions is safety, and safety personnel labor and retirement benefit costs are significantly greater than labor and retirement costs of general municipal employees. Three cities, Vallejo, Stockton and San Bernardino, entered bankruptcy under Chapter 9 of the Federal bankruptcy code, largely as a result of escalating labor cost and unfunded pension and post-retirement liabilities. All three of these cities have agreements with CalPERS to administer their pension obligation, and their respective obligations to CalPERS have proven to be a pivotal reason for their insolvency. Other cities (including other cities that contract with CalPERS) and counties have expressed public concerns about their ability to meet their unfunded pension and other post-retirement liabilities, and a willingness to entertain bankruptcy as an option to resolve their fiscal problems. Recently, a federal bankruptcy court has suggested that CalPERS contracts may be subject to adjustment in bankruptcy. Any definitive ruling might encourage other financially-stressed municipalities to explore a Chapter 9 bankruptcy. There can be no assurance that the fiscal stress and cash pressures currently facing certain of the State’s localities will not continue or become more difficult, particularly if the economic recovery falters.
Pension Reform. Both constitutional initiatives and State legislation have been circulated or proposed attempting to reform the State’s pension systems on the State and local basis. In September 2012, the Governor signed into law a comprehensive pension reform package affecting State and local government known as California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (“PEPRA”), which became effective January 1, 2013. PEPRA implements lower defined-benefit formulas with higher retirement ages for new State employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, and includes provisions to increase employee contributions. Provisions in the reform legislation affecting the CalSTRS system do not change the State’s statutory contribution rate and did not have a material effect on State contributions in the short term, although a Senate Concurrent Resolution approved by both houses in August 2012 declared legislative intent to adopt measures during the 2013-14 legislative session to address the long-term funding needs of CalSTRS. Accordingly, the legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 1469 in June 2014. See “—Local” above.
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The LAO’s analysis of PEPRA concluded that the legislation would have little or no immediate effect on State finances. However, in a preliminary actuarial analysis of PEPRA, CalPERS projected total savings to the State of between $10.3 billion and $12.6 billion over the next 30 years due primarily to increased employee contributions and, as the workforce turns over, lower benefit formulas that will gradually reduce normal costs. Total savings to the State and local governments combined have been reported at between $40 billion and $60 billion over the next 30 years. Costs for OPEB are not addressed in PEPRA.
There are many other bills (which could impact the General Fund) passed by the State Legislature in the recent legislative session which remain under consideration by the Governor. However, California courts have been largely supportive of the vested or earned pension rights of State and local employees. Thus reform efforts have been focused largely on limitations on future benefits for new employees, bringing limited, if any, immediate financial relief.
The State Budget
Overview. The State’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. The annual budget is proposed by the Governor by January 10 of each year for the next fiscal year (the “Governor’s Budget”). Under State law, the Governor’s Budget cannot provide for projected expenditures in excess of projected revenues for the ensuing fiscal year. State law also requires the Governor to update the Governor’s Budget projections and budgetary proposals by May 14 of each year (the “May Revision”). The May Revision is generally the basis for final negotiations between the Governor and the State Legislature to reach agreement on appropriations and other legislation to fund State government for the upcoming fiscal year (the “Budget Act”). The budget must be balanced, as required by Proposition 58 (discussed below) and pursuant to Proposition 25, enacted on November 2, 2010, must be approved by a majority (instead of two-thirds, under prior law) of each house of the State Legislature. State law requires the Governor to sign the budget by the start of the fiscal year on July 1, a requirement that, prior to Proposition 25’s enactment, had only been met 12 times in the preceding three decades. Following enactment of Proposition 25, the Legislature has approved and Governor Brown has signed five consecutive Budget Acts before the start of each such fiscal year.
Constraints on the State Budget. Recent State Constitutional amendments approved by State voters have affected the budget process. Several such amendments are described below.
Balanced Budget Amendment. On March 2, 2004, voters approved Proposition 58, a constitutional amendment called the “Balanced Budget Amendment,” which requires the State to enact a balanced budget and establish a special reserve and restricts future borrowing to cover fiscal year-end deficits. As a result of the provisions requiring the enactment of a balanced budget and restricting borrowing, the State would in some cases have to take more immediate actions to correct budgetary shortfalls. Proposition 58 requires the State Legislature to pass a balanced budget and provides for mid-year adjustments in the event that the budget falls out of balance and the Governor calls a special legislative session to address the shortfall. The balanced budget determination is made by subtracting expenditures from all available resources, including prior-year balances.
Under Proposition 58, if the Governor determines that the State is facing substantial revenue shortfalls or spending increases, the Governor is authorized to declare a fiscal emergency. The Governor would then be required to propose legislation to address the emergency and call the State Legislature into special session for that purpose. If the State Legislature fails to pass and send to the
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Governor legislation to address the fiscal emergency within 45 days, the State Legislature would be prohibited from acting on any other bills or adjourning in joint recess until such legislation is passed.
Proposition 58 also established the Budget Stabilization Account (the “BSA”), a special reserve account funded by annual transfers of specified amounts from the General Fund, unless suspended or reduced by the Governor or until a specified maximum amount has been deposited. Until the 2014-15 Budget Act, the Governor had suspended the annual transfer of money from the General Fund to the BSA every year since 2007. The 2014-15 Budget Act and the 2015-16 Budget Act each allocated transfers to the BSA. Funding for the BSA is estimated by the 2015-16 Budget Act to be approximately $1.6 billion as of June 30, 2015 and approximately $3.5 billion as of June 30, 2016 although, due to higher than expected capital gains revenue, the Governor’s proposed 2016-17 State budget revised the June 30, 2016 projection to be approximately $3.4 billion and projected a June 30, 2017 BSA balance of approximately $6.7 billion. In November 2014, voters approved a constitutional amendment (“Proposition 2”) intended to strengthen the BSA by, among other things, basing deposits on when capital gains revenues rise above 8 percent, creating a Proposition 98 reserve and doubling the maximum size of the BSA from 5 percent to 10 percent of revenues. Certain provisions of Proposition 58 relating to the BSA were replaced by the provisions of Proposition 2. See “Revisions to Balanced Budget Amendment” below.
Proposition 58 also prohibits certain future borrowing to cover fiscal year-end deficits. This restriction applies to general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and certain other forms of long-term borrowing. The restriction does not apply to certain other types of borrowing, such as short-term borrowing to cover cash shortfalls in the General Fund (including revenue anticipation notes or revenue anticipation warrants currently used by the State), or inter-fund borrowings.
Revisions to Balanced Budget Amendment. Proposition 2 was approved by voters in November 2014. Certain provisions of Proposition 58 relating to the BSA were replaced by the provisions of Proposition 2. Beginning with the 2015-16 fiscal year, Proposition 2 requires that, among other things: deposits be made into the BSA whenever capital gains revenues rise to more than 8 percent of General Fund tax revenues; 1.5 percent of annual General Fund revenues be set aside each year; half of each year’s deposit through fiscal year 2030-31 be used for supplemental payments to pay down long-term liabilities, after which at least half of each year’s deposit must be saved, with the remainder used for supplemental debt payments or savings; that the maximum size of the BSA be increased 10 percent of General Fund revenues; withdrawal of funds be only for a disaster or if spending remains at or below the highest level of spending from the prior three years; the maximum amount that could be withdrawn in the first year of a recession be limited to half of the BSA’s balance; the state provide a multiyear budget forecast to help better manage the state’s longer term finances; and a Proposition 98 reserve be created, whereby spikes in funding are to be saved for future years to smooth school spending and minimize future cuts.
State-Local Fiscal Relations. The enactment of Proposition 1A in November 2004 (“Proposition 1A of 2004”) and Proposition 22, or the “Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Protection Act of 2010” (“Proposition 22”), in November 2010, significantly changed the fiscal relationship between the State and local governments by severely limiting the State’s access to local funding sources.
Specifically, Proposition 1A of 2004 amended the State Constitution to, among other things, reduce the State’s access to property tax, sales tax and vehicle license fee revenues raised by local
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governments. Proposition 1A of 2004 also prohibits the State from mandating activities on cities, counties or special districts without providing funding to comply with the mandates. If the State does not provide funding for the activity that has been mandated, the requirement to abide by the mandate is suspended.
In addition, Proposition 22 prohibits the State Legislature, among other things, from taking or reallocating money raised by local governments for local purposes, from making changes in the allocation of property taxes among local governments designed to aid State finances, from using State fuel tax revenues to pay debt service on State transportation bonds, from borrowing or changing the distribution of State fuel tax revenues, and from using vehicle licensing fee revenues to reimburse local governments for State-mandated costs. The inability of the State to borrow or redirect funds from these sources, as it has in recent fiscal years, will reduce the State’s flexibility in reaching budget solutions in the future.
Proposition 30. On November 6, 2012, voters approved “The Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012” (also known as “Proposition 30”), which provided temporary increases in personal income tax rates for high-income taxpayers and a temporary increase in the State’s sales tax rate. A portion of the tax increases will be used to pay for the State’s Proposition 98 school funding obligations. The sales tax portion and the property tax portion of Proposition 30 expire on December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See “Proposition 98 and K-14 Funding” herein.
Proposition 30 also constitutionally guarantees that 1.0625 percent of the sales tax rate is dedicated to the cost of the realignment of certain defined public safety services programs from the State to the counties and excludes this amount for purposes of calculating the Proposition 98 Guarantee. For further information regarding the realignment of services to local governments, see “Local Governments—Realigning Services to Local Governments” below.
The LAO projected that Proposition 30 would result in an average annual State revenue gain of $6.0 billion per year from fiscal years 2012-13 through 2016-17, and approximately $5.4 billion in fiscal 2017-18 and $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2018-19. There can be no assurance that a further deterioration in State revenues and/or increases in State expenditures in current or future fiscal years will allow the State to retire these borrowings as projected by the Governor.
The California Clean Energy Jobs Act. On November 6, 2012, voters approved The California Clean Energy Jobs Act (“Proposition 39”), which, among other things, dedicates up to $550 million annually for five years to clean energy projects out of an expected $1 billion annual increase in corporate tax revenue due to the reversal of a provision adopted in 2009 that gave corporations an option as to how to calculate their State income tax liability. However, there can be no assurance that the State will realize the expected increase in corporate tax revenue.
Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget
Governor’s Proposed Budget. On January 7, 2016, the Governor proposed a State budget for fiscal year 2016-17 (“Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget”). The Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget reflects continued improvement in the State’s finances (resulting in significant part from the enhanced revenues from Proposition 30) and high capital gains revenues. The Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget assumes a modest operating surplus at the end of fiscal year 2016-17, and includes the third deposit into the BSA since 2007.
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The Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget includes annual funding increases for public higher education, as well as funding to continue implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act that was enacted on March 23, 2011. See “Other Factors—Health Care Reform” below.
2016-17 May Revision and LAO Overview. On May 13, 2016, Governor Brown released the May Revision (the “2016-17 May Revision”) to the Governor’s Proposed 2016-17 Budget, which updated policy proposals, revenue projections and estimated expenditures for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. The 2016-17 May Revision reduces revenue estimates by $1.9 billion for 2014-15 through 2016-17 combined. The LAO reported that the largest driver of this change is a reduction of $1.8 billion in revenues from the personal income tax in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
General Fund Budget Summary. A summary of the condition of the State’s General Fund, as projected in the 2016-17 May Revision, is set forth below.
2016-17 May Revision
General Fund Condition
(Dollars in Millions)
Actual 2014-15 | Adopted 2015-16 | Proposed 2016-17 | Percent Change from Adopted 2015-16 | |||||||||||||
Prior-year General Fund balance | $ | 5,356 | $ | 3,699 | $ | 4,829 | ||||||||||
Revenues and transfers | 111,318 | 117,537 | 120,080 | 2.2 | % | |||||||||||
Expenditures | (112,974 | ) | (116,064 | ) | (122,155 | ) | 5.2 | % | ||||||||
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Ending General Fund Balance | $ | 3,699 | $ | 5,172 | $ | 2,754 | ||||||||||
Encumbrances | (966 | ) | (966 | ) | (966 | ) | ||||||||||
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SFEU balance | $ | 2,733 | $ | 4,206 | $ | 1,788 | ||||||||||
BSA balance | $ | 1,606 | $ | 4,455 | $ | 6,713 | ||||||||||
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Total Reserves | $ | 4,339 | $ | 8,661 | $ | 8,501 | ||||||||||
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Future Budgets
The State’s ability to balance its budget going forward may be affected by budget pressures, including particularly potential significant increases in required State contributions to pension funds or other post-employment benefits, increased debt service payments, potential adverse decisions in litigation, and deferred obligations to schools and local governments.
Pending Litigation
There are currently numerous legal proceedings pending against the State, that if determined adversely against the State, could affect the State’s expenditures, and in some cases, its revenues and cash flow. Information regarding some of the more significant litigation pending against the State would ordinarily be included in various public documents issued by the State, such as the official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of California. See “Additional Information” below for information on how to obtain such official statements.
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Bond Ratings
As of May 1, 2016, the following ratings for the State’s general obligation bonds have been received from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch:
Moody’s | S&P | Fitch | ||||||
Aa3 | AA- | A+ |
These ratings apply only to the State’s general obligation bonds and are not indicative of the ratings assigned to bonds issued by local governments, such as counties, cities, school districts and other local agencies of the State.
Any explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained only from the rating agency furnishing such ratings. There is no assurance that such ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the particular rating agency, circumstances so warrant.
Additional Information
Information regarding the State’s financial condition is included in various public documents issued by the State, such as the official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of California. Such official statements may be obtained by contacting the State Treasurer’s Office at (800) 900-3873 or at www.treasurer.ca.gov.
Periodic reports on revenues and/or expenditures during the fiscal year are issued by the Administration, the State Controller’s Office and the LAO. The Department of Finance issues a monthly bulletin, which reports the most recent revenue receipts as reported by State departments, comparing those receipts to budget projections. The State Controller issues a monthly report on General Fund cash receipts and disbursements. These reports are normally released on the 10th day of every calendar month for the period ended on the last day of the prior month. The Administration also formally updates its budget projections three times during each fiscal year—in January, May and at the time of budget enactment. These bulletins and reports are available on the internet at websites maintained by the agencies and by contacting the agencies at their offices in Sacramento, California. Investors are cautioned that interim financial information is not necessarily indicative of results for a fiscal year.
Publications from the LAO can be read in full by accessing the LAO’s website (www.lao.ca.gov) or by contacting the LAO at (916) 445-4656.
Complete text of the Budget Acts may be found at the Electronic Budget website of the Department of Finance (www.ebudget.ca.gov).
Complete text of the State Controller’s monthly Summary Analysis may be accessed at the State Controller’s website (www.sco.ca.gov).
None of the information on the above websites is incorporated herein by reference.
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Local Governments
General. The primary units of local government in California are the 58 counties, which range in population from approximately 1,200 in Alpine County to approximately 10 million in Los Angeles County.
Counties are responsible for the provision of many basic services, including indigent health care, welfare, jails, and public safety in unincorporated areas. There are also 482 incorporated cities in California and thousands of special districts formed for education, utilities, and other services.
To the extent the State is constrained by its obligation to schools under Proposition 98, or other fiscal considerations, the absolute level (or the rate of growth) of State assistance to local governments may be affected. Any such reductions in State aid could compound the serious fiscal constraints already experienced by many local governments, particularly counties and schools.
Many local governments are also facing substantial increases in pension liabilities and health care costs for retirees, as a result of generous retirements benefits granted during prior economic boom times. For more information regarding pension liabilities, see “State and Local Pension and Post-Retirement Liabilities” above. At the same time that local governments are facing rising labor and benefit costs, local governments are limited in their ability to levy and raise property taxes and other forms of taxes, fees or assessments, due to State Constitutional as well as (in some cases) local initiatives. Further, the major sources of revenues for local government, property taxes and sales taxes, as well as fees based on real estate development were adversely impacted by the recent economic recession. As a consequence, local governments may increasingly be forced to cut local services to address budget shortfalls or to take even more drastic actions, such as a bankruptcy filing.
Constitutional and Statutory Limitations on Local Government. The fiscal condition of local governments was changed when Proposition 13, which added Article XIII A to the State Constitution, was approved by California voters in 1978. Proposition 13 reduced and limited the future growth of property taxes and limited the ability of local governments to impose “special taxes” (those devoted to a specific purpose) without two-thirds voter approval. Although Proposition 13 limited property tax growth rates, it also has had a smoothing effect on property tax revenues, ensuring greater stability in annual revenues than existed before Proposition 13 passed. For further information on Proposition 13, see “Constitutional Limitations on Taxes, Other Charges, Appropriations and General Fund Revenues—Limitation on Property Taxes” above.
Proposition 218, another constitutional amendment enacted by initiative in 1996, further limited the ability of local governments to raise taxes, fees, and other exactions. See “Constitutional Limitations on Taxes, Other Charges, Appropriations and General Fund Revenues—Limitations on Other Taxes, Fees and Charges” above.
In the aftermath of Proposition 13, the State provided aid to local governments from the General Fund to make up some of the loss of property tax moneys, including assuming principal responsibility for funding K-12 schools and community colleges. During the recession of the early 1990s, the State Legislature reduced the post-Proposition 13 aid to local government entities other than K-12 schools and community colleges by requiring cities and counties to transfer some of their property tax revenues to school districts. However, the State Legislature also provided additional funding sources, such as sales taxes, and reduced certain mandates for local services funded by cities and counties.
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Beginning in 2000, and in part caused by the “internet bubble,” the State was faced with increasing financial stress and began to divert local revenue resources, including sales tax, vehicle license fees and redevelopment moneys, to the State coffers. The 2004-05 Budget Act, related legislation and the enactment of Proposition 1A in 2004 and Proposition 22 in 2010 dramatically changed the State-local fiscal relationship.
Proposition 1A of 2004 amended the State Constitution to, among other things, reduce the State Legislature’s authority over local government revenue sources by placing restrictions on the State’s access to local governments’ property, sales, and vehicle license fee revenues as of November 3, 2004. Proposition 22 supersedes Proposition 1A of 2004 and completely prohibits any future borrowing by the State from local government funds, and generally prohibits the State Legislature from making changes in local government funding sources. For further discussion regarding Proposition 22 and Proposition 1A of 2004, see “The State Budget—Constraints on the State Budget—State-Local Fiscal Relations” above.
Realigning Services to Local Governments. Commencing with the 2011-12 Budget Act, the State implemented a realignment plan to shift certain State program costs to counties and provided a comparable amount of funds to support these new county commitments. Under the realignment plan, a total of $6.3 billion in fiscal year 2011-12 was, and ongoing funds for such programs thereafter are required to be, provided to counties for court security, corrections and public safety, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, child welfare programs, adult protective services, and CalWORKS. Consequently, local governments, particularly counties, have borne an increased part of the financial burden of providing program services, including the risks of cost overruns, revenue declines and insufficient revenue growth. The State reported in April 2016 that, during fiscal year 2016-17, it expected to transfer approximately $6.9 billion in sales tax revenues and $589 million in vehicle license fee revenue to local governments under the realignment plan.
Obligations of Other Issuers
Other Issuers of California Debt Obligations. There are a number of State agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions of the State that issue municipal obligations, some of which may be conduit revenue obligations payable from payments from private borrowers. These entities are subject to various economic risks and uncertainties, and the credit quality of the securities issued by them may vary considerably from the credit quality of obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State. For example, assessment bonds may be adversely affected by a general decline in real estate values or a slowdown in real estate sales activity.
California Long-Term Lease Obligations. Based on a series of court decisions, certain long-term lease obligations, though typically payable from the General Fund or a municipality, are not considered “indebtedness” requiring voter approval. Such leases, however, are subject to “abatement” in the event the facility being leased is unavailable for beneficial use and occupancy by the municipality during the term of the lease. Abatement is not a default, and there may be no remedies available to the holders of the certificates evidencing the lease obligation in the event abatement occurs. The most common cases of abatement are failure to complete construction of the facility before the end of the period during which lease payments have been capitalized and uninsured casualty losses to the facility (e.g., due to earthquake). In the event abatement occurs with respect to a lease obligation, lease payments may be interrupted (if all available insurance proceeds and reserves are exhausted) and the certificates may not be paid when due. Further, lease obligations may represent executory contracts which could be rejected in a bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy
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Code. In recent bankruptcy proceedings involving the City of Stockton, the confirmed plan of adjustment included the discharge of lease obligations at significant discounts from their face value. Although the Federal bankruptcy judge stated that the obligations to CalPERS could be adjusted in federal bankruptcy proceedings, the plan of adjustment was confirmed without reducing such obligations to CalPERS. The plan became effective February 25, 2015.
Tax Increment and the Dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies. Until 2011, local redevelopment agencies throughout the State issued “tax allocation” bonds or similar obligations secured by the increase in assessed valuation of a redevelopment project area after the start of redevelopment activity. Throughout the years, redevelopment agencies issued billions of dollars of tax allocation bonds. In addition, the State has regularly borrowed or appropriated redevelopment tax increments to address its budget shortfalls.
In late-December 2011, the State Supreme Court upheld the validity of legislation, enacted earlier in 2011, that would eliminate redevelopment agencies (as well as the issuance of tax allocation bonds) in the State. On February 1, 2012, all redevelopment agencies in California were dissolved and the process of unwinding their financial affairs began.
The legislation dissolving redevelopment agencies preserved the pledge of tax increment revenues to the payment of tax allocation bonds or tax allocation supported obligations. In addition, the passage of “clean-up” legislation has clarified many outstanding issues relating to the implementation of the legislation, and in particular the mechanics of assuring the payment of outstanding tax allocation obligations. Consequently, tax allocation bonds and other obligations continue to be paid in accordance with their terms, although some of these bonds continue to experience financial stress due to the decline in tax increment revenues as a result of the continuing mortgage crisis. In addition, the clean-up legislation has enabled many jurisdictions to refinance outstanding tax increment bonds.
Many jurisdictions (largely cities) with redevelopment agencies subsidized their general fund operations through the use of tax increment revenues. Consequently, the dissolution of redevelopment agencies and the reallocation of tax increment revenue to other taxing entities has resulted in additional fiscal stress for many of these local jurisdictions. Over time, the elimination of redevelopment agencies and the redirection of tax increment revenues to local taxing entities may provide some relief to the State as well as the local taxing entities.
Statutory Lien Securing General Obligation Bonds. Certain local government agencies, particularly school districts, issue general obligation bonds secured by ad valorem property taxes. California Senate Bill 222 (2015) (“SB 222”) added provisions to the California Education Code and the California Government Code to provide that general obligation bonds issued and sold by local government agencies in California will be secured by a statutory lien on the ad valorem property taxes levied and collected to pay the principal and interest on such general obligation bonds. A statutory lien provides bondholders with a security interest in ad valorem property taxes that should survive a bankruptcy of the local agency. SB 222 took effect on January 1, 2016 and it is unclear whether SB222 applies to bonds issued prior to the effective date.
Other Considerations. The repayment of industrial development securities or single family mortgage revenue bonds secured by real property may be affected by California laws limiting foreclosure rights of creditors. Under California law, mortgage loans secured by single family homes can be prepaid at any time without penalty, except in the first five years of the loan, and subject to
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limits on the size of the penalty. Such prepayments may affect the ability of the issuer of single family mortgage bonds to repay the bonds. Securities backed by health care and hospital revenues may be affected by changes in State regulations governing cost reimbursements to health care providers under Medi-Cal (the State’s Medicaid program), including risks related to the policy of awarding exclusive contracts to certain hospitals. See “Obligations of State Agencies” and “Obligations of Other Issuers—Other Issuers of California Debt Obligations” above.
Other Factors
Earthquake Risk. Substantially all of California is within an active geologic region subject to major seismic activity. Northern California in 1989 and Southern California in 1994 experienced major earthquakes causing billions of dollars in damages. The federal government provided more than $13 billion in aid for both earthquakes, and neither event has had any long-term negative economic impact. Any obligation in the Fund could be affected by an interruption of revenues because of damaged facilities, or, consequently, income tax deductions for casualty losses or property tax assessment reductions. Compensatory financial assistance could be constrained by the inability of (i) an issuer to have obtained earthquake insurance coverage rates; (ii) an insurer to perform on its contracts of insurance in the event of widespread losses; or (iii) the federal or State government to appropriate sufficient funds within their respective budget limitations.
Health Care Reform. In April 2015, the State indicated in disclosure in an official statement that the federal Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”) had resulted in a significant net increase of General Fund program costs in fiscal year 2013-14 and beyond. The net impact of the ACA on the General Fund will depend on a variety of factors, including levels of individual and employer participation, changes in insurance premiums, and expected savings from the reform as beneficiaries in current State-only programs receive coverage through Medi-Cal or the California Health Benefit Exchange also known as Covered California. The 2013-14 State Budget implemented the ACA’s optional expansion to include adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The Governor estimated in January 2015 that approximately $573.3 million from the General Fund would be required to cover the costs of expanded eligibility under the ACA. Under the ACA, the federal government has promised initially to pay for 100 percent of the cost of benefits for newly eligible individuals served under this optional expansion; federal funding will gradually decrease to 90 percent by 2020. Other costs will be shared 50-50, with the State’s estimated share of these other costs being approximately $2.9 billion ($1.4 billion from the General Fund) for fiscal year 2015-16. While not providing an update of the expected costs of implementing the ACA, the Governor indicated in his proposed 2016-17 State budget that there have been numerous recent federal actions in the health and human services area that have increased State costs or created substantial fiscal uncertainty, citing potential increased annual General Fund costs of nearly $2.0 billion. The Governor further noted that his administration would work with its federal partners to relieve the fiscal impact to the State from such federal actions.
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Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1286
(800) 257-8787
www.nuveen.com |
[FORM OF PROXY]
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: | ||||
VOTE ON THE INTERNET Log on to: www.proxy-direct.com or scan the QR code Follow the on-screen instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY PHONE Call [•] Follow the recorded instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY MAIL Vote, sign and date this Proxy Card and return in the postage-paid envelope | ||||
VOTE IN PERSON Attend Shareholder Meeting 333 West Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 on [•], 2016 | ||||
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [•], 2016 | PROXY |
COMMON SHARES
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The undersigned shareholder(s) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund, revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints Gifford R. Zimmerman and Kevin J. McCarthy, or any one of them true and lawful attorneys with power of substitution of each, to vote all shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on [•], 2016, at [•] Central time, at the offices of Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof as indicated on the reverse side. In their discretion, the proxy holders named above are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting and the accompanying Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is hereby acknowledged. The shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund represented hereby will be voted as indicated or FOR the proposals if no choice is indicated.
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com | ||||||
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: [•]
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Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or as custodian for a minor, please sign your name and give your full title as such. If signing on behalf of a corporation, please sign the full corporate name and your name and indicate your title. If you are a partner signing for a partnership, please sign the partnership name, your name and indicate your title. Joint owners should each sign these instructions. Please sign, date and return. | ||||||
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Signature and Title, if applicable | ||||||
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Signature (if held jointly) | ||||||
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Date | [CFS Code] |
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund
Shareholders Meeting to Be Held on [•], 2016.
The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for this meeting is available at:
http://www.nuveenproxy.com/Closed-End-Fund-Proxy-Information/
IF YOU VOTE ON THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE,
YOU NEED NOT RETURN THIS PROXY CARD
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Properly executed proxies will be voted as specified. If no other specification is made, such shares will be voted “FOR” each proposal.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ¢
1. | Election of Board Members: Class I: | FOR ALL | WITHHOLD ALL | FOR ALL EXCEPT | ||||||||||
01. Judith M. Stockdale 02. Carole E. Stone 03. Margaret L. Wolff | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | |||||||||||
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write the nominee’s number on the line provided below.
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FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||||
3. | To approve the issuance of additional common shares in connection with the reorganization of each of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 into Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
[CFS Code]
[FORM OF PROXY]
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: | ||||
VOTE ON THE INTERNET Log on to: www.proxy-direct.com or scan the QR code Follow the on-screen instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY PHONE Call [•] Follow the recorded instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY MAIL Vote, sign and date this Proxy Card and return in the postage-paid envelope | ||||
VOTE IN PERSON Attend Shareholder Meeting 333 West Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 on [•], 2016 | ||||
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [•], 2016 | PROXY |
COMMON SHARES
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The undersigned shareholder(s) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints Gifford R. Zimmerman and Kevin J. McCarthy, or any one of them true and lawful attorneys with power of substitution of each, to vote all shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on [•], 2016 at [•] Central time, at the offices of Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof as indicated on the reverse side. In their discretion, the proxy holders named above are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting and the accompanying Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is hereby acknowledged. The shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 represented hereby will be voted as indicated or FOR the proposals if no choice is indicated.
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com | ||||||
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: [•]
| ||||||
Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or as custodian for a minor, please sign your name and give your full title as such. If signing on behalf of a corporation, please sign the full corporate name and your name and indicate your title. If you are a partner signing for a partnership, please sign the partnership name, your name and indicate your title. Joint owners should each sign these instructions. Please sign, date and return. | ||||||
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Signature and Title, if applicable | ||||||
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Signature (if held jointly) | ||||||
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Date | [CFS Code] |
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2
Shareholders Meeting to Be Held on [•], 2016.
The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for this meeting is available at:
http://www.nuveenproxy.com/Closed-End-Fund-Proxy-Information/
IF YOU VOTE ON THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE,
YOU NEED NOT RETURN THIS PROXY CARD
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Properly executed proxies will be voted as specified. If no other specification is made, such shares will be voted “FOR” each proposal.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ¢
1. | Election of Board Members: Class I: | FOR ALL | WITHHOLD ALL | FOR ALL EXCEPT | ||||||||||
01. Judith M. Stockdale 02. Carole E. Stone 03. Margaret L. Wolff | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | |||||||||||
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write the nominee’s number on the line provided below.
| ||||||||||||||
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||||
2. | To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (the “Target Fund”) would (i) transfer substantially all of its assets to Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”) in exchange solely for newly issued common shares and preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of the Target Fund, (ii) distribute such newly issued shares of the Acquiring Fund to the common shareholders and preferred shareholders of the Target Fund (with cash being distributed in lieu of fractional common shares), and (iii) liquidate, dissolve and terminate in accordance with applicable law. | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
[CFS Code]
[FORM OF PROXY]
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
EASY VOTING OPTIONS: | ||||
VOTE ON THE INTERNET Log on to: www.proxy-direct.com or scan the QR code Follow the on-screen instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY PHONE Call [•] Follow the recorded instructions available 24 hours | ||||
VOTE BY MAIL Vote, sign and date this Proxy Card and return in the postage-paid envelope | ||||
VOTE IN PERSON Attend Shareholder Meeting 333 West Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 on [•], 2016 | ||||
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON [•], 2016 | PROXY |
COMMON SHARES
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The undersigned shareholder(s) of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints Gifford R. Zimmerman and Kevin J. McCarthy, or any one of them true and lawful attorneys with power of substitution of each, to vote all shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on [•], 2016 at [•] Central time, at the offices of Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof as indicated on the reverse side. In their discretion, the proxy holders named above are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting and the accompanying Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is hereby acknowledged. The shares of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 represented hereby will be voted as indicated or FOR the proposals if no choice is indicated.
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com | ||||||
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: [•]
| ||||||
Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or as custodian for a minor, please sign your name and give your full title as such. If signing on behalf of a corporation, please sign the full corporate name and your name and indicate your title. If you are a partner signing for a partnership, please sign the partnership name, your name and indicate your title. Joint owners should each sign these instructions. Please sign, date and return. | ||||||
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Signature and Title, if applicable | ||||||
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Signature (if held jointly) | ||||||
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Date | [CFS Code] |
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3
Shareholders Meeting to Be Held on [•], 2016.
The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for this meeting is available at:
http://www.nuveenproxy.com/Closed-End-Fund-Proxy-Information/
IF YOU VOTE ON THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE,
YOU NEED NOT RETURN THIS PROXY CARD
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Properly executed proxies will be voted as specified. If no other specification is made, such shares will be voted “FOR” each proposal.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ¢
1. | Election of Board Members: Class I: | FOR ALL | WITHHOLD ALL | FOR ALL EXCEPT | ||||||||||
01. Judith M. Stockdale 02. Carole E. Stone 03. Margaret L. Wolff | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ | |||||||||||
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the box “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and write the nominee’s number on the line provided below.
| ||||||||||||||
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||||||||||
2. | To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (the “Target Fund”) would (i) transfer substantially all of its assets to Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”) in exchange solely for newly issued common shares and preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of the Target Fund, (ii) distribute such newly issued shares of the Acquiring Fund to the common shareholders and preferred shareholders of the Target Fund (with cash being distributed in lieu of fractional common shares), and (iii) liquidate, dissolve and terminate in accordance with applicable law. | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
[CFS Code]
The information contained in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration stated filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION,
DATED [•], 2016
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RELATING TO THE REORGANIZATIONS OF
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND (NAC)
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 2 (NVX)
AND
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA DIVIDEND ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND 3 (NZH)
(EACH, A “FUND” AND COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”)
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is available to shareholders of Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”) and Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3” and together with Dividend Advantage 2, the “Target Funds” or each individually, a “Target Fund”) in connection with the proposed reorganization of the Target Fund into the Acquiring Fund, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement”) that provides for: (1) the Acquiring Fund’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the Target Fund in exchange for newly issued common shares of the Acquiring Fund, par value $0.01 per share, and newly issued Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) of the Acquiring Fund, with a par value of $0.01 per share and a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, and the Acquiring Fund’s assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of each Target Fund; and (2) the distribution of the newly issued Acquiring Fund common shares and Acquiring Fund preferred shares received by the Target Fund to its common and preferred shareholders, respectively, as part of the liquidation, dissolution and termination of each Target Fund in accordance with applicable law (each, a “Reorganization” and together, the “Reorganizations”).
This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated [•], 2016 and filed on Form N-14 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to the proposed Reorganizations of the Target Funds into the Acquiring Fund (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). A copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other information may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or from the Funds’ website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Funds’ website is not part of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or this SAI. You may also obtain a copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus on the website of the SEC (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings assigned to them in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
This SAI is dated [•], 2016.
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The following information supplements the information contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Funds. The investment policies described below, except as set forth under “Investment Restrictions” or as otherwise noted, are not fundamental policies and may be changed by a Fund’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Board” or the “Board” and each director or trustee, a “Board Member”), without the approval of shareholders.
The Funds have the same investment objectives. The investment objectives of each Fund are to provide current income exempt from regular federal and California income taxes and to enhance portfolio value relative to the California municipal bond market by investing in tax-exempt California municipal securities that the Adviser believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent municipal market sectors that are undervalued.
The Funds have substantially similar investment policies. It is a fundamental policy of each Fund that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, including assets attributable to any principal amount of any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes) or any preferred shares outstanding (“Managed Assets”), in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, each Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (each, an “NRSRO” or collectively, the “NRSROs”) that rate such security or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, the sub-adviser to each Fund (“Nuveen Asset Management” or the “Sub-Adviser”). Also, as a non-fundamental policy, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser. Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, no more than 10% of each Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser.
Securities of below-investment-grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Municipal securities rated below-investment-grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal securities rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality securities because the market for them is less broad. The market for unrated municipal securities is even narrower. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and a Fund may have greater difficulty selling its holdings of these types of portfolio securities. A Fund will be more dependent on the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s research and analysis when investing in these securities.
Municipal securities rated Baa or BBB are considered “investment grade” securities. Issuers of municipal securities rated BBB or Baa are regarded as having average creditworthiness relative to
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other U.S. municipal issuers; however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the issuer to meet its financial commitments.
The foregoing credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and a Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer or that valuation changes of various bonds cause the Fund’s portfolio to fail to satisfy those policies. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may consider such factors as the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. The credit ratings assigned by rating agencies from time to time represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. A general description of the ratings of municipal securities by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI.
Each Fund will primarily invest in municipal securities with long-term maturities in order to maintain an average effective maturity of at least 15 years, but the average effective maturity of obligations held by a Fund may be shortened as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, depending on market conditions. As a result, a Fund’s portfolio at any given time may include both long-term and intermediate-term municipal securities. Moreover, during temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt bond market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal securities are available), and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term debt securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable and up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As of February 29, 2016, the average effective maturities of the portfolios of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 were 19.88, 21.72 and 21.96 years, respectively.
No Fund has established any limit on the percentage of its portfolio that may be invested in municipal bonds subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of federal tax law, and each Fund expects that a substantial portion of the income it produces will be includable in alternative minimum taxable income.
Each Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements, or escrow accounts. The credit quality of companies which provide such credit enhancements may affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature may reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured obligations may reduce a Fund’s income. The insurance feature guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the obligation when due and does not guarantee the market value of the insured obligations, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer, and the effectiveness and value of the insurance itself is dependent on the continued
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creditworthiness of the insurer. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.
Each Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. A Fund may not enter into a futures contract or related options or forward contracts if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts or related options.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities represent a leveraged investment in the underlying municipal bond deposited. Inverse floating rate securities offer the opportunity for higher income than the underlying bond, but will subject a Fund to the risk of lower or even no income if short-term interest rates rise sufficiently. By investing in an inverse floating rate security rather than directly in the underlying bond, a Fund will experience a greater increase in its common share net asset value if the underlying municipal bond increases in value, but will also experience a correspondingly larger decline in its common share net asset value if the underlying bond declines in value.
Each Fund may borrow money for the repurchase of its shares or for temporary or emergency purposes, such as for the payment of dividends or the settlement of portfolio transactions.
Each Fund is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of its assets, a Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single issuer (and in not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer), except that this limitation does not apply to cash, securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies.
As noted above, during temporary defensive periods and in order to keep a Fund’s cash fully invested, each Fund may deviate from its investment objectives and invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments including high quality, short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. It is the intent of each Fund to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal and California income taxes, and if the proportion of taxable investments exceeded 50% of a Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable year.
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In addition to and supplementing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, each Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the investments described below.
Municipal Securities
General. Each Fund may invest in various municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from federal income tax and California income tax. Municipal securities are generally debt obligations issued by state and local governmental entities and may be issued by U.S. territories and possessions to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide permanent financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal securities may also be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. Municipal securities may be issued and purchased in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms including fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds and residual interest bonds or inverse floating rate securities; or acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. Inverse floating rate securities are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and represent a leveraged investment in an underlying municipal security, which may increase the effective leverage of a Fund.
Each Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by U.S. territories and possessions (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The yields on municipal securities depend on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The market value of municipal securities will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result of changing evaluations of the ability of their issuers to meet interest and principal payments.
Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Each Fund also may purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations and certificates of participation in such leases. These carry special risks because the issuer of the securities may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. A municipal lease is an obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase that is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities. Income from such obligations generally is exempt from state and local taxes in the state of issuance. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion
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in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment or facilities. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering, or the failure to recover fully, a Fund’s original investment. To the extent that a Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, each Fund will purchase municipal securities representing lease obligations only where the Fund’s investment adviser, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors” or the “Adviser”), and/or the Sub-Adviser believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates typically are issued by a municipal agency, a trust or other entity that has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements. Such certificates provide a Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying municipal securities. In addition, such participations generally provide a Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the underlying municipal securities, plus accrued interest.
Municipal Notes. Municipal securities in the form of notes generally are used to provide for short-term capital needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Such instruments may include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes and construction loan notes. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance the working capital needs of governments. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the bond anticipation notes. Tax and revenue anticipation notes combine the funding sources of both tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. Mortgage notes insured by the Federal Housing Administration secure these notes; however, the proceeds from the insurance may be less than the economic equivalent of the payment of principal and interest on the mortgage note if there has been a default. The anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing generally secure the obligations of an issuer of municipal notes. However, an investment in such instruments presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.
Pre-Refunded Municipal Securities. The principal of, and interest on, pre-refunded municipal securities are no longer paid from the original revenue source for the securities. Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. government securities. The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the
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pre-refunded municipal securities. Issuers of municipal securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the issuer. For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded municipal securities. However, except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded municipal securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer.
Private Activity Bonds. Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust, commonly referred to as a “tender option bond trust” (“TOB trust”), that holds municipal bonds. The TOB trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds (“TOBs”)), and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates or receipts. The floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the TOB trust. In this structure, the floating rate security holders have the option, at periodic short-term intervals, to tender their securities to the trust for purchase and to receive the face value thereof plus accrued interest. The obligation of the trust to repurchase tendered securities is supported by a remarketing agent and by a liquidity provider. As consideration for providing this support, the remarketing agent and the liquidity provider receive periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the trust is not obligated to purchase tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults with respect to the underlying municipal bonds or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer.
As the holder of an inverse floating rate investment, a Fund receives the residual cash flow from the TOB trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security plus accrued interest, the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal bond deposited into the TOB trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the total face value of the short-term floaters to the value of the inverse floaters that are issued by the TOB trust, and can exceed three times for more “highly leveraged” trusts. All voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the TOB trust are passed through, pro rata, to the holders of the short-term floaters and to a Fund as the holder of the associated inverse floaters.
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Because any increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters issued by a TOB trust would reduce the residual interest paid on the associated inverse floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the TOB trust would affect only the value of the inverse floater and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust so long as the value of the municipal bond held by the trust exceeded the face amount of short-term floaters outstanding, the value of inverse floaters is generally more volatile than that of an otherwise comparable municipal bond held on an unleveraged basis outside a TOB trust. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market of fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but will tend to outperform the market of fixed-rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although volatile in value and return, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields higher than those available on fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity or illiquidity based primarily upon the inverse floater holder’s ability to sell the underlying bonds deposited in the TOB trust at an attractive price.
Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by TOB trusts in which the liquidity providers have recourse to the Fund pursuant to a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement. Such an agreement would require a Fund to reimburse the liquidity provider, among other circumstances, upon termination of the TOB trust for the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount and accrued interest due to the holders of floating rate securities issued by the trust. A Fund will enter into such a recourse agreement (1) when the liquidity provider requires such a recourse agreement because the level of leverage in the TOB trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (2) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event the municipal bond held in the trust has declined in value to the point where it may cease to exceed the face amount of outstanding short-term floaters. In an instance where a Fund has entered such a recourse agreement, the Fund may suffer a loss that exceeds the amount of its original investment in the inverse floating rate securities; such loss could be as great as that original investment amount plus the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by the trust plus accrued interest thereon.
Each Fund will segregate or earmark liquid assets with its custodian in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to cover its obligations with respect to its investments in TOB trusts.
Each Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same TOB trust.
Floating Rate Securities. Each Fund may also invest in short-term floating rate securities, as described above, issued by TOB trusts. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to other periods of up to one year. Since the tender option feature provides a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of the underlying municipal bond deposited in the trust, a Fund, as the holder of the floating rate securities, relies upon the terms of the remarketing and liquidity agreements with the financial institution that acts as remarketing agent and/or liquidity provider as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the TOB trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal bond deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate securities. The TOB trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate securities.
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Special Taxing Districts. Special taxing districts are organized to plan and finance infrastructure developments to induce residential, commercial and industrial growth and redevelopment. The bond financing methods such as tax increment finance, tax assessment, special services district and Mello-Roos bonds, generally are payable solely from taxes or other revenues attributable to the specific projects financed by the bonds without recourse to the credit or taxing power of related or overlapping municipalities. They often are exposed to real estate development-related risks and can have more taxpayer concentration risk than general tax-supported bonds, such as general obligation bonds. Further, the fees, special taxes, or tax allocations and other revenues that are established to secure such financings generally are limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. The bonds could default if development failed to progress as anticipated or if larger taxpayers failed to pay the assessments, fees and taxes as provided in the financing plans of the districts.
Illiquid Securities
Each Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable), including, but not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may be resold only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act that are deemed to be illiquid, and certain repurchase agreements.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at a fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegatee.
Short-Term Investments
Short-Term Taxable Fixed Income Securities. For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in cash equivalents and short-term taxable fixed-income securities, although the Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of the dividends paid being subject to regular federal income tax and the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. Short-term taxable fixed income investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, the Farmers Home Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Small Business Administration and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose
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securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies, and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.
(2) Certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current regulations of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by a Fund may not be fully insured.
(3) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. At the time a Fund purchases securities pursuant to a repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for a Fund during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for a Fund to invest temporarily available cash. Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers’ acceptances in which the Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to a Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, a Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The Adviser monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The Adviser does so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of a Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.
(4) Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between a Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by a Fund at any time. The Adviser will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because a Fund’s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by an NRSRO and that matures within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest.
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Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Securities. Short-term tax-exempt fixed-income securities are securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and mature within three years or less from the date of issuance. Short-term tax-exempt fixed income securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
(1) Bond Anticipation Notes (“BANs”) are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer’s access to the long-term municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.
(2) Tax Anticipation Notes (“TANs”) are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. Weakness in an issuer’s capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies, could adversely affect the issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.
(3) Revenue Anticipation Notes (“RANs”) are issued by governments or governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.
(4) Construction loan notes are issued to provide construction financing for specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from the Federal Housing Administration.
(5) Bank notes are notes issued by local government bodies and agencies, such as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working capital or capital project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.
(6) Tax-exempt commercial paper (“Municipal Paper”) represents very short-term unsecured, negotiable promissory notes, issued by states, municipalities and their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper may be made from various sources to the extent the funds are available therefrom. Maturities of municipal paper generally will be shorter than the maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues of Municipal Paper.
Certain municipal securities may carry variable or floating rates of interest whereby the rate of interest is not fixed but varies with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or a tax-exempt money market index.
While the various types of notes described above as a group represent the major portion of the short-term tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are available in the marketplace, and each Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the extent permitted under its investment objectives, policies and limitations. Such notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from those mentioned above.
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When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
Each Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. On such transactions, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. Beginning on the date a Fund enters into a commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required under interpretations of the SEC to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value, at all times, at least equal to the amount of the commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of a Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be taxable to shareholders. Each Fund may enter into contracts to purchase municipal securities on a forward basis (i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within 60 days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and, at the time of delivery, the market value may be less than cost.
Derivatives and Hedging Strategies
Each Fund may periodically engage in hedging transactions, and otherwise use various types of derivative instruments, described below, to reduce risk, to effectively gain particular market exposures, to seek to enhance returns, and to reduce transaction costs, among other reasons. In addition to inverse floating rate securities and structured notes, each Fund may invest in certain other derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments whose prices, in the Adviser’s and/or the Sub-Adviser’s opinion, correlate with the prices of a Fund’s investments. The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser uses derivatives to shorten or lengthen the effective duration of a Fund’s portfolio securities, and therefore the interest rate risk, and to adjust other aspects of the portfolio’s risk/return profile. Each Fund may use these instruments if the Fund deems it more efficient from a transaction cost, total return or income standpoint than investing in cash securities.
“Hedging” is a term used for various methods of seeking to preserve portfolio capital value by offsetting price changes in one investment through making another investment whose price should tend to move in the opposite direction.
A “derivative” is a financial contract whose value is based on (or “derived” from) a traditional security (such as a stock or a bond), an asset (such as a commodity like gold), or a market index (such as the Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index). Some forms of derivatives may trade on exchanges, while non-standardized derivatives, which tend to be more specialized and complex, trade in “over-the-counter” (“OTC”) or a one-on-one basis. It may be desirable and possible in various market environments to partially hedge the portfolio against fluctuations in market value due to market interest rate or credit quality fluctuations, or instead to gain a desired investment exposure, by entering into various types of derivative transactions, including financial futures and index futures as well as related put and call options on such instruments, structured notes, or interest rate swaps on taxable or tax-exempt securities or indexes (which may be “forward-starting”), credit default swaps, and options on interest rate swaps, among others.
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These transactions present certain risks. In particular, the imperfect correlation between price movements in the futures contract and price movements in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge by a Fund may be greater than gains in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, a Fund may not be able to close out the transaction without incurring losses substantially greater than the initial deposit. Finally, the potential deposit requirements in futures contracts create an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce yield. A Fund will not make any investment (whether an initial premium or deposit or a subsequent deposit) other than as necessary to close a prior investment if, immediately after such investment, the sum of the amount of its premiums and deposits would exceed 15% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. A Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to be active and sufficiently liquid. Net gains, if any, from hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable distributions to shareholders.
The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of a Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate taxable income.
Both parties entering into an index or financial futures contract are required to post an initial deposit, typically equal to from 1% to 5% of the total contract price. Typically, option holders enter into offsetting closing transactions to enable settlement in cash rather than take delivery of the position in the future of the underlying security. Interest rate swap and credit default swap transactions are typically entered on a net basis, meaning that the two payment streams are netted out with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. A Fund will sell only covered futures contracts, which means that the Fund segregates assets equal to the amount of the obligations.
There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will determine to use them for a Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful.
Swap Transactions. Each Fund may enter into total return, interest rate and credit default swap agreements and interest rate caps, floors and collars. Each Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).
Swap agreements typically are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount” (i.e., the change in the value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index).
The “notional amount” of a swap agreement is the agreed upon basis for calculating the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. Under most swap agreements entered into by the Funds, the obligations of the parties would be exchanged on a “net basis.” Consequently, a Fund’s obligation (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal
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only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement. Each Fund’s obligation under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating cash and/or other appropriate liquid assets.
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banking firms acting as both principals and agents using standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid. However, swap agreements may still be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular swap is difficult to purchase or sell. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. Caps, floors and collars are more recent innovations for which standardized documentation has not been fully developed and, accordingly, swaps with these features are less liquid.
The Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new regulatory framework for certain derivatives, such as swaps, in which a Fund may be authorized to invest. The Dodd-Frank Act requires many swap transactions to be executed on registered exchanges or through swap execution facilities, cleared through a regulated clearinghouse and publicly reported. In addition, many market participants are now regulated as swap dealers or major swap participants and are, or will be, subject to certain minimum capital and margin requirements and business conduct standards. The statutory requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act are being implemented primarily through rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and/or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of most swaps, and has completed most of its rules implementing the Dodd-Frank Act swap regulations. The SEC has jurisdiction over a small segment of the market referred to as “security-based swaps,” which includes swaps on single securities or credits, or narrow-based indices of securities or credits, but has not yet completed its rulemaking. There is a prescribed phase-in period during which most of the mandated rulemaking and regulations are being implemented, and temporary exemptions from certain rules and regulations have been granted so that current trading practices will not be unduly disrupted during the transition period.
Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouse serving as a central counterparty similar to transactions in futures contracts. Currently, central clearing is required only for certain market participants trading certain instruments, although central clearing for additional instruments is expected to be implemented by the CFTC until the majority of the swaps market is ultimately subject to central clearing. In addition, uncleared OTC swaps will be subject to regulatory collateral requirements that could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to enter into swaps in the OTC market. These developments could cause a Fund to terminate new or existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such instruments at an inopportune time. Until the mandated rulemaking and regulations are implemented completely, it will not be possible to determine the complete impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations on a Fund, and the establishment of a centralized exchange or market for swap transactions may not result in swaps being easier to value or trade. However, it is expected that swap dealers, major market participants and swap counterparties will experience other new and/or additional regulations, requirements, compliance burdens and associated costs. The legislation and rules to be promulgated may exert a negative effect on a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives, either through limits or requirements imposed on the Fund or its counterparties. The swap market could be disrupted or limited as a result of the legislation, and the new requirements may increase the cost of a Fund’s investments and of doing business, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to buy or sell derivatives.
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Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. Interest rate swaps are bilateral contracts in which each party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on different referenced interest rates (e.g., a fixed rate and a floating rate) applied to a specified notional amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect a Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
The use of interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and caps, is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, a Fund’s use of interest rate swaps or caps could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund’s common shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the common shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than a Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce common share net earnings. If, on the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance common share net earnings. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the common shares by providing a maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the common shares in the event that the premium paid by a Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount the Fund would have been required to pay had it not entered into the cap agreement.
Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. A Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.
In connection with a Fund’s position in a swap contract, the Fund will segregate liquid assets or will otherwise cover its position in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.
Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. Each Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. Each Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. Each Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.
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As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, a Fund would pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to a Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. However, if a credit event occurs a Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. Each Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.
If a Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. However, if a credit event occurs, generally a Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, a Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “—Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.”
Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. Each Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund generally would incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When a Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when a writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Risks Associated with Swap Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of a Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, a Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. A Fund generally may close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract only with its particular counterparty, and generally may transfer a position only with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which a Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including
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changes in government regulation, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Futures and Options on Futures Generally. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract (same exchange, underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.
Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, a Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income. Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by each Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, a Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to a Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of a Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs and a Fund may have to segregate additional liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. See “—Segregation of Assets” below.
A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.
Bond Futures and Forward Contracts. Bond futures contracts are agreements in which one party agrees to deliver to the other an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific bond at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made. Forward contracts are agreements to purchase or sell a specified security or currency at a specified future date (or within a
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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 and are usually for less than one year, but may be renewed. Forward contracts are generally purchased or sold in OTC transactions.
Under regulations of the CFTC currently in effect, which may change from time to time, with respect to futures contracts purchased by a Fund, the Fund will set aside in a segregated account liquid securities with a value at least equal to the value of instruments underlying such futures contracts less the amount of initial margin on deposit for such contracts. The current view of the staff of the SEC is that each Fund’s long and short positions in futures contracts must be collateralized with cash or certain liquid assets held in a segregated account or “covered” in order to counter the impact of any potential leveraging.
Parties to a futures contract must make “initial margin” deposits to secure performance of the contract. There are also requirements to make “variation margin” deposits from time to time as the value of the futures contract fluctuates.
Options on Currency Futures Contracts. Currency futures contracts are standardized agreements between two parties to buy and sell a specific amount of a currency at a set price on a future date. While similar to currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts are traded on commodities exchanges and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date. An option on a currency futures contract gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell a position in a currency futures contract, at a set price and on or before a specified expiration date. Trading options on international (non-U.S.) currency futures contracts is relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market.
Index Futures. A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the tax-exempt bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included rather than a single bond. An index future is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash—rather than any security—equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index future was originally written. Thus, an index future is similar to traditional financial futures except that settlement is made in cash.
Index Options. Each Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. government or tax-exempt bond index futures and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. Options on index futures are similar to options on debt instruments except that an option on an index future gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index contract rather than an underlying security at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance of the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, is less than the exercise price of the option on the index future.
Bond index futures and options transactions would be subject to risks similar to transactions in financial futures and options thereon as described above.
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Limitations on the Use of Futures, Futures Options and Swaps. The Adviser has claimed, with respect to each Fund, the exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) provided by CFTC Regulation 4.5 and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to each Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser has claimed the exemption from registration as a commodity trading advisor provided by CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to each Fund. In February 2012, the CFTC announced substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if a Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net asset value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s net asset value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on December 31, 2012, and each Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5’s requirements such that the Adviser will not be required to register as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. Each Fund reserves the right to employ futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. However, the requirements for qualification as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), may limit the extent to which a Fund may employ futures, options on futures or swaps.
Segregation of Assets
As a closed-end investment company registered with the SEC, each Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various interpretive provisions of the SEC and its staff. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, each Fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivatives instruments. In the case of forward currency contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, for example, a Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value while the positions are open. However, with respect to forward currency contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. Each Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.
To the extent that each Fund uses its assets to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable positions of the SEC and its staff, such assets may not be used for other operational purposes. The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will monitor each Fund’s use of derivatives and will take action as necessary for the purpose of complying with the asset segregation policy stated above. Such actions may include the sale of a Fund’s portfolio investments.
Each Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts. With respect to such investments, each Fund will segregate or earmark assets in an amount equal to at least 100% of the face amount of the floating rate securities issued by such trusts.
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Special Considerations Relating to California Municipal Securities
As described above, each Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. Each Fund is therefore susceptible to political, economic or regulatory factors affecting issuers of California municipal securities. See “Concentration Risk” and Appendix D to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (“Factors Affecting Municipal Securities in California”). Information regarding the financial condition of the State of California is ordinarily included in various public documents issued thereby, such as the official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of California. Such official statements may be obtained by contacting the State Treasurer’s Office at 800-900-3873 or at www.treasurer.ca.gov. Complete text of the Governor’s proposed 2016-2017 budget, the 2015-2016 budget and prior budgets may be found at the electronic budget website of the Department of Finance (www.ebudget.ca.gov).
The State of California is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in governmental operations. Information regarding some of the more significant litigation pending against the State would ordinarily be included in various public documents issued thereby, such as the official statements referred to above prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of California.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (the “LAO”) has released several reports which include their estimates and assessments of State budget acts and associated fiscal and economic projections.
Publications from the LAO can be read in full by accessing the LAO’s website (www.lao.ca.gov) or by contacting the LAO at 916-445-4656. Complete text of the State Controller’s monthly Summary Analysis may be accessed at the State Controller’s website (www.sco.ca.gov).
None of the information on the above websites is incorporated herein by reference.
Structured Notes
Each Fund may utilize structured notes and similar instruments for investment purposes and also for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending upon a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index or indices or other assets. Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.
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Other Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, each Fund may invest a portion of its Managed Assets in pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies) that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. Each Fund generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies and/or other pooled investment vehicles either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive, high-yielding municipal securities available in the market. Each Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser or their affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. No Fund has applied for, and no Fund currently intends to apply for, such relief. As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of its own management fees with respect to assets so invested. Common shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent a Fund invests in other investment companies.
The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available municipal security investments. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. The net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile, and the yield to common shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
Other Investment Policies and Techniques
Portfolio Trading and Turnover Rate. Each Fund may buy and sell municipal securities to accomplish its investment objectives in relation to actual and anticipated changes in interest rates. Each Fund also may sell one municipal security and buy another of comparable quality at about the same time to take advantage of what the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two bonds that may result from imbalanced supply and demand. Each Fund also may engage in a limited amount of short-term trading, consistent with its investment objectives. Each Fund may sell securities in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or buy securities in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sell them, but the Fund will not engage in trading solely to recognize a gain. Each Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objectives by prudently selecting California municipal securities with a view to holding them for investment. Although a Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, each Fund expects, though it cannot guarantee, that its annual portfolio turnover rate generally will not exceed 25% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016, the portfolio turnover rates of the Acquiring Fund, Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 were 15%, 17% and 18%, respectively. There are no limits on the rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by a Fund. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by a Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be
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taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes or may result in greater amounts of net capital gain distributions. See “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters.”
Repurchase Agreements. As temporary investments, each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contractual agreement whereby the seller of securities (U.S. government securities or municipal securities) agrees to repurchase the same security at a specified price on a future date agreed upon by the parties. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during a Fund’s holding period. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. Income generated from transactions in repurchase agreements will be taxable. See “Tax Matters—Federal Income Tax Matters” for information relating to the allocation of taxable income between common shares and preferred shares. Each Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in the opinion of the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser, present minimal credit risk. The risk to a Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but a Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by a Fund may be delayed or limited. The Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.
Zero Coupon Bonds and Other Original Issue Discount Instruments. A zero coupon bond is a bond that typically does not pay interest for its entire life. When held to its maturity, the holder receives the par value of the zero coupon bond, which generates a return equal to the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. A zero coupon bond is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. This original issue discount (“OID”) approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound prior to its maturity and reflects the payment deferral and credit risk associated with the instrument. Because zero coupon securities and other OID instruments do not pay cash interest at regular intervals, the instruments’ ongoing accruals require ongoing judgments concerning the collectability of deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. As a result, these securities may be subject to greater value fluctuations and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities that pay cash on a current basis. Because zero coupon bonds, and OID instruments generally, allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments, they may involve greater payment deferral and credit risk than coupon loans and bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. Each Fund generally will be required to distribute dividends to shareholders representing the income of these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all of the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, a Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, and use the cash proceeds to make income distributions to its shareholders. For accounting purposes, these cash distributions to shareholders will not be treated as a return of capital.
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Further, the Adviser collects management fees on the value of a zero coupon bond or OID instrument attributable to the ongoing non-cash accrual of interest over the life of the bond or other instrument. As a result, the Adviser receives non-refundable cash payments based on such non-cash accruals while investors incur the risk that such non-cash accruals ultimately may not be realized.
In addition to each Fund’s investment objectives, each Fund’s policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments the income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax and California income taxes is a fundamental investment policy of the Fund and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class, and the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares, voting separately as a single class. For this purpose, “a majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities, whichever is less.
Except as described below, each Fund may not:
Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 | |||
1. | Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, other than preferred shares, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and except as otherwise described in the prospectus. | Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, other than preferred shares, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and except as otherwise described in the prospectus. | ||
2. | Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes or for repurchase of its shares, and then only in an amount not exceeding one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings). | Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes or for repurchase of its shares, and then only in an amount not exceeding one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less the Fund’s liabilities (other than borrowings). | ||
3. | Act as underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. | Act as underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities. | ||
4. | Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to municipal bonds other than those municipal bonds backed only by the assets and revenues of non-governmental users. | Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to municipal bonds other than those municipal bonds backed only by the assets and revenues of non-governmental users. | ||
5. | Purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in municipal bonds secured by real estate or interests therein or foreclosing upon and selling such security. | Purchase or sell real estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in municipal bonds secured by real estate or interests therein or foreclosing upon and selling such security. |
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Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 | |||
6. | Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities). | Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities). | ||
7. | Make loans except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and exemptive orders granted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | Make loans except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and exemptive orders granted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | ||
8. | Invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any one issuer, except that this limitation shall not apply to bonds issued by the United States Government, its agencies and instrumentalities or to the investment of 25% of its total assets. | Purchase any securities (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities), if as a result more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would then be invested in securities of a single issuer or if as a result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer; provided that, with respect to 50% of the Fund’s assets, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in the securities of any one issuer. |
For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in paragraph 8 above, an issuer will be deemed the sole issuer of a security when its assets and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-governmental issuer, such as an industrial corporation or a privately owned or operated hospital, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental issuer, then such non-governmental issuer would be deemed to be the sole issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental or other entity (other than a bond insurer), it will also be included in the computation of securities owned that are issued by such governmental or other entity. Where a security is guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank guarantee or letter of credit, such a guarantee or letter of credit would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such government, other entity or bank. When a municipal security is insured by bond insurance, it will not be considered a security that is issued or guaranteed by the insurer; instead, the issuer of such municipal security will be determined in accordance with the principles set forth above. The foregoing restrictions do not limit the percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in municipal securities insured by any given insurer. For each of the Target Funds, paragraph 8 is no longer operative in accordance with Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
Each Fund is diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. Consequently, as to 75% of each Fund’s total assets, a Fund may not (1) purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than cash, securities of other investment companies and securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) if immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of such issuer or (2) purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
Subject to certain exemptions under the 1940 Act, each Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided 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 shareholder in any
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investment company, each Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and will remain subject to payment of each Fund’s management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Holders of common shares of each Fund would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent a Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and therefore will be subject to the same leverage risks described herein.
In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, each Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed by the Board. Each Fund may not:
(1) | Sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold at no added cost, and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, or other derivative instruments are not deemed to constitute selling securities short. |
(2) | Invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including ETFs) except in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any exemptive relief obtained thereunder. |
(3) | Enter into futures contracts or related options or forward contracts, if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures contracts and related options. |
(4) | Purchase securities when borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets if and so long as preferred shares are outstanding. |
(5) | Purchase securities of companies for the purpose of exercising control, except that the Fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in tax-exempt or taxable fixed-income securities or equity securities for the purpose of acquiring control of an issuer whose municipal bonds (a) the Fund already owns and (b) have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality, provided the Adviser determines that such investment should enable the Fund to better maximize the value of its existing investment in such issuer. |
The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at the time of purchase of securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities.
Each Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more NRSROs that may issue ratings for preferred shares, or, if issued, commercial paper or notes, or, if a Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on a Fund by the 1940 Act. If these restrictions were to apply, it is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede the Adviser from managing a Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.
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Portfolio Turnover
Each Fund may buy and sell municipal securities to accomplish its investment objectives in relation to actual and anticipated changes in interest rates. Each Fund also may sell one municipal bond and buy another of comparable quality at about the same time to take advantage of what the Adviser believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two bonds that may result from imbalanced supply and demand. Each Fund also may engage to a limited extent in short-term trading consistent with its investment objectives. Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest rates) and later sold. Each Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objectives by prudently selecting California municipal securities with a view to holding them for investment. While there can be no assurance, each Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 25%.
For the fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, the portfolio turnover rates of the Funds were as follows:
Fund | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Acquiring Fund | 15 | % | 9 | % | ||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 17 | % | 14 | % | ||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 18 | % | 15 | % |
There are no limits on the rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate may result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by a Fund. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by a Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors is the investment adviser to each Fund and is responsible for overseeing each Fund’s overall investment strategy, including the use of leverage, and its implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors also is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of any sub-adviser to the Funds, managing each Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to the Funds. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”). Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $225 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2015. Nuveen is a separate subsidiary of TIAA, a financial services organization based in New York, New York. TIAA acquired Nuveen on October 1, 2014.
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The total dollar amounts paid to Nuveen Fund Advisors by each Fund under each Fund’s Investment Management Agreement for the last three fiscal years are as follows:
Acquiring Fund | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Gross Advisory Fees | $ | 14,626,844 | $ | 11,530,850 | $ | 3,286,928 | ||||||
Waiver | $ | — | $ | (281,043 | ) | $ | — | |||||
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Net Advisory Fees | $ | 14,626,844 | $ | 11,249,807 | $ | 3,286,928 | ||||||
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Dividend Advantage 2 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Gross Advisory Fees | $ | 2,044,512 | $ | 2,026,731 | $ | 2,013,322 | ||||||
Waiver | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
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Net Advisory Fees | $ | 2,044,512 | $ | 2,026,731 | $ | 2,013,322 | ||||||
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Dividend Advantage 3 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Gross Advisory Fees | $ | 3,215,037 | $ | 3,174,792 | $ | 3,062,299 | ||||||
Waiver | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
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Net Advisory Fees | $ | 3,215,037 | $ | 3,174,792 | $ | 3,062,299 | ||||||
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Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors has selected Nuveen Asset Management to serve as sub-adviser to each Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors compensates Nuveen Asset Management for the portfolio management services it provides to the Funds from the management fees paid by the Funds. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
With respect to each Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors pays Nuveen Asset Management a fee, payable monthly, equal to 38.4615% of the management fee (net of applicable waivers and reimbursements) paid by the Fund to Nuveen Fund Advisors. The total dollar amounts paid to Nuveen Asset Management by Nuveen Fund Advisors for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016 were $5,625,704 for the Acquiring Fund, $786,350 for Dividend Advantage 2 and $1,236,551 for Dividend Advantage 3.
Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is provided as of the date of this SAI.
Portfolio Management. Scott R. Romans, Ph.D., is the portfolio manager of the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. Mr. Romans will continue to manage the Acquiring Fund upon completion of the Reorganizations.
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In addition to managing the Funds, the portfolio managers are also primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the following accounts, as of February 29, 2016:
Portfolio Manager | Type of Account Managed | Number of Accounts | Assets* | |||||||
Scott R. Romans | Registered Investment Companies | 13 | $ | 7.06 billion | ||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
Other Accounts | 2 | $ | 2.03 million |
* | Assets are as of February 29, 2016. None of the assets in these accounts is subject to an advisory fee based on performance. |
Compensation
Portfolio manager compensation consists primarily of base pay, an annual cash bonus and long-term incentive payments.
Base pay. Base pay is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio manager’s general performance, experience, and market levels of base pay for such position.
Annual cash bonus. Each Fund’s portfolio manager is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on pre-tax investment performance, qualitative evaluation and financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management.
A portion of a portfolio manager’s annual cash bonus is based on a Fund’s investment performance, generally measured over the past one- and three- or five-year periods unless the portfolio manager’s tenure is shorter. Investment performance for a Fund generally is determined by evaluating the Fund’s performance relative to its benchmark(s) and/or Lipper industry peer group.
A portion of the cash bonus is based on a qualitative evaluation made by the portfolio manager’s supervisor taking into consideration a number of factors, including the portfolio manager’s team collaboration, expense management, support of personnel responsible for asset growth, and his or her compliance with Nuveen Asset Management’s policies and procedures.
The final factor influencing the portfolio manager’s cash bonus is the financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management based on its operating earnings.
Long-term Incentive Compensation. Certain key employees of Nuveen Investments and its affiliates, including certain portfolio managers, participate in a Long-Term Performance Plan designed to provide compensation opportunities that link a portion of each participant’s compensation to Nuveen Investments’ financial and operational performance. In addition, certain key employees of Nuveen Asset Management, including certain portfolio managers, have received profits interests in Nuveen Asset Management which entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.
Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.
The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to manage such
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competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.
If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen Asset Management has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.
With respect to many of its clients’ accounts, Nuveen Asset Management determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen Asset Management may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen Asset Management may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.
Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Nuveen Asset Management has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.
Nuveen Asset Management has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Beneficial Ownership of Securities. The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Funds’ portfolio manager as of February 29 2016:
Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in the Acquiring Fund | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in Dividend Advantage 2 | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in Dividend Advantage 3 | |||
Scott R. Romans | None | None | None |
Unless earlier terminated as described below, each Fund’s Investment Management Agreement with Nuveen Fund Advisors will remain in effect until August 1, 2016. Each Investment Management Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuation is approved at least annually by: (1) the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (2) a majority of the Board Members who are not interested persons of any party to the Investment Management Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Each Investment Management Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either the Fund or Nuveen Fund Advisors upon 60 days’ written notice and is automatically terminated in the event of its assignment as defined in the 1940 Act.
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The Funds, Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Investments and other related entities have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, that essentially prohibit certain of their personnel, including the Funds’ portfolio manager, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client’s, including the Funds’, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions. The codes of ethics of the Funds, Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Investments can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the SEC’s 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) 942-8090. In addition, copies of those codes of ethics may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
Each Fund invests its assets generally in municipal securities. On rare occasions the Funds may acquire, directly or through a special-purpose vehicle, equity securities of certain issuers whose securities the Funds already own when such securities have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality. The purpose of acquiring equity securities generally will be to acquire control of the issuer and to seek to prevent the credit deterioration or facilitate the liquidation or other workout of the distressed issuer’s credit problem. In the course of exercising control of a distressed issuer, Nuveen Asset Management may pursue the Funds’ interests in a variety of ways, which may entail negotiating and executing consents, agreements and other arrangements, and otherwise influencing the management of the issuer. Nuveen Asset Management does not consider such activities proxy voting for purposes of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), but nevertheless provides reports to the Fund’s Board on its control activities on a quarterly basis.
In the rare event that an issuer were to issue a proxy or that the Funds were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, Nuveen Asset Management would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or based on the instructions, of the Funds’ Board or its representative. A member of Nuveen Asset Management’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting and ensure that records maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act were filed with the SEC on Form N-PX, provided to the Funds’ Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules.
In the event of a conflict of interest that might arise when voting proxies for the Funds, Nuveen Asset Management will defer to the recommendation of an independent third party engaged to determine how the proxy should be voted, or, alternatively, members of Nuveen Asset Management’s legal and compliance departments, in consultation with the Board, will examine the conflict of interest and seek to resolve such conflict in the best interests of each Fund. If a member of Nuveen Asset Management’s legal or compliance department or the Board has a personal conflict of interest, that member will refrain from participating in the consultation.
Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
Subject to the supervision of the Board and Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for decisions to purchase and sell securities for the Funds, the negotiation of the prices to be paid and the allocation of transactions among various dealer firms. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment by the Funds of brokerage commissions. There generally is no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the OTC market, but the prices paid by the Funds usually include an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. Transactions in the OTC market can also be placed with broker-dealers who act as agents and charge brokerage commissions for effecting OTC transactions. Each Fund may place its OTC transactions either directly with principal market makers, or with broker-dealers if that is consistent with Nuveen Asset Management’s obligation to obtain best qualitative execution. In certain instances, the Funds may make purchases of underwritten issues at prices that include underwriting fees.
Portfolio securities may be purchased directly from an underwriter or in the OTC market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen Investments or its affiliates or affiliates of Nuveen Asset Management except in compliance with the 1940 Act.
It is Nuveen Asset Management’s policy to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Asset Management will evaluate price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it will be Nuveen Asset Management’s practice to select dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Nuveen Asset Management. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Nuveen Asset Management’s own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Asset Management’s expenses. While Nuveen Asset Management will be primarily responsible for the placement of the business of the Funds, Nuveen Asset Management’s policies and practices in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject to review by the Board of the Funds.
Nuveen Asset Management may manage other investment accounts and investment companies for other clients that may invest in the same types of securities as the Funds and that may have investment objectives similar to those of the Funds. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell assets or securities by each Fund and another advisory account. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where Nuveen Asset Management reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. There may also be instances where a Fund will not participate at all in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these allocation procedures could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board that the benefits available from Nuveen Asset Management’s management outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from Nuveen Asset Management’s larger management activities and its need to allocate securities.
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The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the last three fiscal years:
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
Acquiring Fund | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
Substantially all of the Funds’ trades are effected on a principal basis.
REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Acquiring Fund is a closed-end investment company, and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Fund’s common shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Acquiring Fund’s Board has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of common shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. However, there can be no assurance that the Board will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers, if undertaken, will reduce market discount.
Subject to its investment limitations, the Acquiring Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board would have to comply with the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Although the decision to take action in response to a discount from net asset value will be made by the Board at the time it considers such issue, it is the Board’s current policy, which may be changed by the Board, not to authorize repurchases of common shares or a tender offer for such shares if (1) such transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in the delisting of the common shares from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the NYSE MKT or elsewhere, or (b) impair the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code (which would make the Fund a taxable entity, causing the Fund’s taxable income to be taxed at the corporate level in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive dividends from the Fund) or as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act; (2) the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies in order to repurchase shares; or (3) there is, in the Board’s judgment, any (a) material legal action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially adversely affecting the Fund, (b) general suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or elsewhere, (c) declaration of a banking moratorium by federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by United States or state banks in which the Fund invests, (d) material
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limitation affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities by federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the exchange of non-U.S. currency, (e) commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, or (f) other event or condition that would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Acquiring Fund or its shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board may in the future modify these conditions in light of experience.
The repurchase by the Acquiring Fund of its shares at prices below net asset value will result in an increase in the net asset value of those shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tenders at or below net asset value will result in the Fund’s shares trading at a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund’s shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at net asset value from time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end investment company, may reduce any spread between market price and net asset value that might otherwise exist.
In addition, a purchase by the Acquiring Fund of its common shares will decrease the Fund’s total assets, which would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio.
Conversion to an open-end company would require the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Acquiring Fund’s common and preferred shares, voting as a single class, and approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s preferred shares, voting together as a single class, unless the conversion has been approved by the requisite vote of the Board Members, in which case a majority vote of the requisite holders would be required. See the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus under “Certain Provisions in the Acquiring Fund’s Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, the Fund’s common shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or elsewhere, and the Fund’s preferred shares would no longer be outstanding. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares on any business day (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act or rules thereunder) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end investment companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end investment companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. The Board may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company depending upon its judgment as to the advisability of such action in light of circumstances then prevailing.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Acquiring Fund’s common shares trade below net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.
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Federal Income Tax Matters
The following is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a shareholder that acquires, holds and/or disposes of shares of the Acquiring Fund. Substantially similar consequences would be relevant to a shareholder that acquires, holds and/or disposes of shares of a Target Fund. This discussion addresses only U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets and does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to shareholders who are subject to special rules, including, without limitation, shareholders with large positions in the Acquiring Fund, financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, foreign holders, persons who hold their shares as or in a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale, or conversion transaction, holders who are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (except as discussed below), or tax-exempt or tax-advantaged plans, accounts, or entities. In addition, the discussion does not address any state, local, or foreign tax consequences. The discussion reflects applicable tax laws of the United States as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) retroactively or prospectively. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Acquiring Fund, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws.
The Acquiring Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to continue to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and to satisfy conditions which enable its dividends that are attributable to interest on municipal securities to be exempt from federal income tax in the hands of owners of such stock, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum tax.
To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Acquiring Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or non-U.S. currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships,” as defined in the Code; (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Acquiring Fund’s assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Acquiring Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer, or two or more issuers that the Acquiring Fund controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute each year an amount equal to or greater than the sum of 90% of
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its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest.
If the Acquiring Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company in any taxable year, the Acquiring Fund would be taxed in the same manner as a regular corporation on its taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its shareholders) and distributions to shareholders would not be deductible by the Acquiring Fund in computing its taxable income. Additionally, all distributions out of earnings and profits (including distributions from net capital gains and net tax-exempt interest) would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividend income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income,” as discussed below in the case of noncorporate shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction under Section 243 of the Code (the “Dividends Received Deduction”) in the case of corporate shareholders.
The Acquiring Fund intends to continue to qualify to pay “exempt-interest” dividends, as defined in the Code, by satisfying the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consist of tax-exempt state and local bonds. Exempt-interest dividends are dividends or any part thereof (other than a capital gain dividend) paid by the Acquiring Fund which are attributable to interest on state and local bonds that pay interest exempt from regular federal income tax and are so reported by the Acquiring Fund. Exempt-interest dividends will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum tax.
As a regulated investment company, the Acquiring Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. The Acquiring Fund may retain for investment its net capital gains. However, if the Acquiring Fund retains any net capital gains or any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Acquiring Fund retains any net capital gains, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their share of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Acquiring Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Acquiring Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the federal income tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Acquiring Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and the net capital gains not otherwise retained by the Acquiring Fund.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Acquiring Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary taxable income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary taxable income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years and on which
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the Acquiring Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Acquiring Fund intends to make distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.
The Acquiring Fund may acquire municipal obligations and other debt securities that are market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Acquiring Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount unless the Acquiring Fund elects to include the market discount in taxable income as it accrues.
If the Acquiring Fund invests in certain taxable pay-in-kind securities, zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities or, in general, any other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Acquiring Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Acquiring Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Acquiring Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net tax-exempt interest, including such income it is required to accrue, to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and (with respect to taxable income) to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Acquiring Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
A portion of the Acquiring Fund’s expenditures that would otherwise be deductible may not be allowed as deductions by reason of the Acquiring Fund’s investment in municipal securities (with such disallowed portion, in general, being the same percentage of the Acquiring Fund’s aggregate expenses as the percentage of the Acquiring Fund’s aggregate income (other than capital gain income) that constitutes exempt-interest income). A similar disallowance rule also applies to interest expense paid or incurred by the Acquiring Fund, if any. Such disallowed deductions, if any, will reduce the amount that the Acquiring Fund can report as exempt-interest dividends by the disallowed amount. Income distributions by the Acquiring Fund in excess of the amount of the Acquiring Fund’s exempt-interest dividends may be taxable as ordinary income.
Distributions to shareholders of net investment income received by the Acquiring Fund from taxable investments, if any, and of net short-term capital gains realized by the Acquiring Fund, if any, will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions by the Acquiring Fund of net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses), if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned the shares with respect to which such distributions are made. The amount of taxable income allocable to the Acquiring Fund’s shares will depend upon the amount of such income realized by the Acquiring Fund, but is not generally expected to be significant. Taxable distributions are subject to federal income tax whether reinvested in additional shares of the Acquiring Fund or paid in cash.
Distributions, if any, in excess of the Acquiring Fund’s earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a shareholder’s shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to the shareholder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). “Qualified
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dividend income” received by noncorporate shareholders is taxed for federal income tax purposes at rates equivalent to long-term capital gains tax rates, which reach a maximum of 20%. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic corporations and dividends from non-U.S. corporations that meet certain specified criteria. As long as the Acquiring Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Code, it is not expected that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the Dividends Received Deduction available to corporate shareholders or as qualified dividend income in the case of noncorporate shareholders.
The IRS currently requires that the Acquiring Fund report distributions paid with respect to its common shares and its preferred shares as consisting of a portion of each type of income distributed by the Acquiring Fund. The portion of each type of income deemed received by the holders of each class of shares will be equal to the portion of the total Acquiring Fund dividends received by such class. Thus, the Acquiring Fund will report dividends paid as exempt-interest dividends in a manner that allocates such dividends between the holders of the common shares and the preferred shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each such class with respect to the taxable year, or otherwise as required by applicable law. Net capital gain dividends and ordinary income dividends will similarly be allocated between the two classes.
Earnings and profits are generally treated, for federal income tax purposes, as first being used to pay distributions on preferred shares, and then to the extent remaining, if any, to pay distributions on the common shares.
If the Acquiring Fund utilizes leverage through borrowings, or otherwise, asset coverage limitations imposed by the 1940 Act as well as additional restrictions that may be imposed by certain lenders on the payment of dividends or distributions potentially could limit or eliminate the Acquiring Fund’s ability to make distributions on its common shares and/or preferred shares until the asset coverage is restored. These limitations could prevent the Acquiring Fund from distributing at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and tax-exempt interest as is required under the Code and therefore might jeopardize the Acquiring Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company and/or might subject the Acquiring Fund to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. Upon any failure to meet the asset coverage requirements imposed by the 1940 Act, the Acquiring Fund may, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, purchase or redeem preferred shares in order to maintain or restore the requisite asset coverage and avoid the adverse consequences to the Acquiring Fund and its shareholders of failing to meet the distribution requirements. However, there can be no assurance that any such action would achieve these objectives. The Acquiring Fund endeavors to avoid restrictions on its ability to distribute dividends.
The Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Acquiring Fund’s shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under rules used by the IRS for determining when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of such shares.
The interest on private activity bonds in most instances is not federally tax-exempt to a person who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds or a “related person” of such “substantial user.” As a result, the Acquiring Fund may not be an appropriate investment for a shareholder who is considered either a “substantial user” or a “related person” within the meaning of
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the Code. In general, a “substantial user” of a facility includes a “nonexempt person who regularly uses a part of such facility in his trade or business.” “Related persons” are in general defined to include persons among whom there exists a relationship, either by family or business, which would result in a disallowance of losses in transactions among them under various provisions of the Code (or if they are members of the same controlled group of corporations under the Code), including a partnership and each of its partners (and certain members of their families), an S corporation and each of its shareholders (and certain members of their families) and various combinations of these and other relationships. The foregoing is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the Code covering the definitions of “substantial user” and “related person.”
Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, dividends declared in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of those months and paid during the following January, will be treated as having been distributed by the Acquiring Fund (and received by the shareholders) on December 31 of the year declared.
Certain of the Acquiring Fund’s investment practices are subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may defer the use of certain deductions or losses of the Acquiring Fund, affect the holding period of securities held by the Acquiring Fund and alter the character of the gains or losses realized by the Acquiring Fund. These provisions may also require the Acquiring Fund to recognize income or gain without receiving cash with which to make distributions in the amounts necessary to satisfy the requirements for maintaining regulated investment company status and for avoiding federal income and excise taxes. The Acquiring Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Acquiring Fund as a regulated investment company.
The sale or exchange of shares of the Acquiring Fund normally will result in capital gains or losses to shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gains or losses if the shares have been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such shares is attributable to tax-exempt interest income. The gain or loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gains or losses. Current law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. However, for noncorporate taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20%, while short-term capital gains are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. Any loss on the sale of shares that have been held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any distribution of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares, unless the shares are of a regulated investment company that declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of shares before holding them for more than six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any net capital gain dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Acquiring Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Acquiring Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Acquiring Fund or other substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement stock or securities will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation.
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Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations, individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain “private activity” bonds is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. To the extent that the Acquiring Fund receives income from municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, a portion of the dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund, although otherwise exempt from U.S. federal income tax, would be taxable to its shareholders to the extent that their tax liability is determined under the federal alternative minimum tax. The Acquiring Fund will annually provide a report indicating the percentage of the Acquiring Fund’s income attributable to municipal securities subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. In addition, for certain corporations, federal alternative minimum taxable income is increased by 75% of the difference between an alternative measure of income (“adjusted current earnings”) and the amount otherwise determined to be the alternative minimum taxable income. Interest on all municipal securities, and therefore a distribution by the Acquiring Fund that would otherwise be tax-exempt, is included in calculating a corporation’s adjusted current earnings. Certain small corporations are not subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Certain noncorporate shareholders are subject to an additional 3.8% tax on some or all of their “net investment income,” which includes items of gross income that are attributable to interest, original issue discount and market discount (but not including tax-exempt interest), as well as net gain from the disposition of certain property. This tax generally applies to the extent net investment income, when added to other modified adjusted gross income, exceeds $200,000 for an unmarried individual, $250,000 for a married taxpayer filing a joint return (or a surviving spouse), or $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the applicability of this tax in respect of their shares.
Tax-exempt income, including exempt-interest dividends paid by the Acquiring Fund, is taken into account in calculating the amount of social security and railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to federal income tax.
The Acquiring Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 28% from all distributions (including exempt-interest dividends) and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Acquiring Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require the Acquiring Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders. If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, the Acquiring Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on Acquiring Fund dividends and distributions and redemption proceeds. The Acquiring Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning) its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable law or regulation. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
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The Code provides that every shareholder required to file a tax return must include for information purposes on such return the amount of tax-exempt interest received during the taxable year, including any exempt-interest dividends received from the Acquiring Fund.
With respect to the preferred shares of the Acquiring Fund issued in the Reorganizations, the Acquiring Fund will receive an opinion from special tax counsel that the preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund, and the foregoing discussion and the tax opinion received by the Funds regarding certain aspects of the Reorganizations, including that the Reorganizations will qualify as tax-free reorganizations under the Code, relies on the position that the preferred shares will constitute equity of the Acquiring Fund. Accordingly, distributions with respect to the preferred shares (other than distributions in redemption of preferred shares subject to Section 302(b) of the Code) will generally constitute dividends to the extent of the Acquiring Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes and to the extent allocable to such distribution. Because the treatment of a corporate security as debt or equity is determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and no controlling precedent exists for the preferred shares issued in the Reorganizations, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not question special tax counsel’s opinion and the Acquiring Fund’s treatment of the preferred shares as equity. If the IRS were to succeed in such a challenge, holders of preferred shares could be characterized as receiving taxable interest income rather than exempt-interest or other dividends, possibly requiring them to file amended income tax returns and retroactively to recognize additional amounts of ordinary income and pay additional tax, interest, and penalties.
California Tax Matters
The following is based upon the advice of Sidley Austin LLP, special tax counsel to the Acquiring Fund.
The following is a general, abbreviated summary of certain provisions of the applicable California tax law as presently in effect as it directly governs the taxation of resident individual and corporate shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. This summary does not address the taxation of other shareholders nor does it discuss any local taxes that may be applicable.
The following is based on the assumptions that the Acquiring Fund will qualify under Subchapter M of the Code as a regulated investment company and that it will satisfy the conditions that will cause distributions by the Acquiring Fund to qualify as exempt-interest dividends to shareholders for federal and California purposes.
The Acquiring Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net income and gains to its shareholders, and therefore, it is not expected that the Acquiring Fund will be subject to California corporate franchise or corporation income tax to the extent its earnings are so distributed.
If at the close of each quarter of the Acquiring Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the aggregate value of its total assets consists of obligations that, when held by individuals, pay interest that is exempt from tax by California under California or federal law, then distributions by the Acquiring Fund that are attributable to interest on any such obligation will not be subject to the California personal income tax; provided that such distributions are properly reported by the Acquiring Fund as exempt-interest dividends in written statements furnished to the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders. All other distributions, including distributions attributable to capital gains, will be includable in gross income for purposes of the California personal income tax.
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Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued for the purpose of acquiring or maintaining an investment in the shares will not be deductible for purposes of the California personal income tax.
All distributions of the Acquiring Fund, regardless of source, to corporate shareholders that are subject to the California corporate franchise tax will be included in gross income for purposes of such tax, notwithstanding that all or a portion of such distributions may be exempt from California personal income tax.
Gain on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of shares will be subject to the California personal income and corporate franchise tax. In addition, any loss realized by a shareholder upon the sale of shares held for six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of any exempt interest dividends received with respect to such shares. Moreover, any loss realized upon the sale of shares within thirty days before or after the acquisition of other shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules.
Shares may be subject to the California estate tax if held by a California decedent at the time of death.
The foregoing is a general summary of certain provisions of applicable California tax law as presently in effect as it directly governs the taxation of California resident individual and corporate holders of shares of the Acquiring Fund. These provisions are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. This summary does not address the taxation of other shareholders nor does it discuss any local taxes that may be applicable. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisor for more detailed information concerning California and other state and local tax matters.
Other State and Local Tax Matters
While distributions qualifying as exempt-interest dividends under federal and California law will be exempt from regular federal and California personal income taxes, they may not be exempt from other state or local income or other taxes. Some states exempt from state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived from interest a regulated investment company receives on its holdings of securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Therefore, the Acquiring Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income the Fund earned during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations and the Acquiring Fund will indicate, on a state-by-state basis, the source of this income. Shareholders are advised to consult with their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning California tax matters or the tax laws of their state and locality of residence.
The financial statements of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Funds appearing in the Funds’ Annual Reports for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2016 are incorporated herein. The financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015 have been audited by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon and incorporated herein. Such financial statements are incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. KPMG
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provides auditing services to the Acquiring Fund and each Target Fund. The principal business address of KPMG is 200 East Randolph, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015, the Board of each Fund, upon recommendation of the Audit Committee, engaged KPMG as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds replacing Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”), which resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm effective August 11, 2014 as a result of the subsequently completed acquisition of Nuveen Investments by TIAA.
Ernst & Young’s reports with respect to the financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. For the fiscal years ended prior to February 28, 2015 for the Funds and for the period March 1, 2014 through August 11, 2014, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Funds’ financial statements.
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT AND REDEMPTION AND PAYING AGENT
The custodian of the assets of each Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. The custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. Each Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend disbursing agent and redemption and paying agent is also State Street, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
A Registration Statement on Form N-14, including amendments thereto, relating to the common shares of the Acquiring Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Acquiring Fund with the SEC. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Acquiring Fund and the common shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Acquiring Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and this SAI 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 the 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 SEC’s 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.
S-41
PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)
The unaudited pro forma financial information set forth below is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the financial condition that actually would have resulted if the Reorganizations had been consummated. The closing of the Reorganizations is contingent upon certain conditions being satisfied or waived, including that shareholders of each Fund, voting separately, must approve the Reorganization(s) for their Fund and that shareholders of the Acquiring Fund must approve the issuance of additional common shares of the Acquiring Fund in connection with the Reorganizations. If one Fund does not obtain the requisite approvals or other closing conditions are not satisfied or waived, the closing will not occur for any Fund. These pro forma numbers have been estimated in good faith based on information regarding the Target Funds and Acquiring Fund as of February 29, 2016. The unaudited pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund, which are available in their respective annual shareholder reports.
Narrative Description of the Pro Forma Effects of the Reorganizations
Note 1—Reorganization
The unaudited pro forma information has been prepared to give effect to the proposed reorganizations of the Target Funds into the Acquiring Fund pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) as of the beginning of the period indicated in the table below.
Target Funds | Acquiring Fund | 12 Month Period Ended | ||
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 2 (“Dividend Advantage 2”) | Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund (“Acquiring Fund”) | February 29, 2016 | ||
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund 3 (“Dividend Advantage 3”) |
Note 2—Basis of Pro Forma
Each Reorganization will be accounted for as a tax-free reorganization of investment companies; therefore, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund or its shareholders as a result of a Reorganization. The Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund are registered closed-end management investment companies. Each Reorganization will be accomplished by the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and the assumption of substantially all of the liabilities of the Target Fund by the Acquiring Fund in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund and the distribution of such shares to the Target Fund’s shareholders in complete liquidation of the Target Fund. The pro forma financial information has been adjusted to reflect the Reorganization costs discussed in Note 4 and the assumption that Dividend Advantage 2 and Dividend Advantage 3 will make net investment income distributions of $322,033 and $1,284,386, respectively, to their shareholders prior to the Reorganizations. The table below shows the common shares that shareholders of the Target Funds would have received if the Reorganizations were to have taken place on the period end date in Note 1.
Target Fund | Shares Exchanged | |||
Dividend Advantage 2 | 14,729,503 | |||
Dividend Advantage 3 | 22,334,076 |
S-42
In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, each Reorganization will be accounted for as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. For financial reporting purposes, the historical cost basis of the investments received from each Target Fund will be carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the realized and unrealized gains and losses of the surviving fund (which will be the Acquiring Fund) with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.
Fund | Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares | As-of Date | ||||||
Acquiring Fund | $ | 1,724,745,570 | February 29, 2016 | |||||
Dividend Advantage 2 | $ | 237,098,089 | February 29, 2016 | |||||
Dividend Advantage 3 | $ | 360,284,342 | February 29, 2016 | |||||
Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma | $ | 2,319,436,582 | February 29, 2016 |
Note 3—Pro Forma Expense Adjustments
The table below reflects adjustments to annual expenses made to the Pro Forma financial information as if the Reorganizations had taken place on the first day of the period as disclosed in Note 1. The pro forma information has been derived from the books and records used in calculating daily net asset values of the Target Funds and the Acquiring Fund and has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect this information. Pro forma expenses do not include the expenses to be charged to the Funds in connection with the Reorganizations. Percentages presented below are the increase (decrease) in expenses divided by the Nuveen California Enhanced Quality Municipal Fund Pro Forma Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares of the Combined Fund presented in Note 2. Actual results could differ from those estimates. No other significant pro forma effects are expected to result from the Reorganizations.
Fee and Expense Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
Net Expense Category | Dollar Amount | Percentage | ||||||
Management fees(1) | $ | (247,918 | ) | (0.01 | )% | |||
Custodian fees(2) | (37,857 | ) | (0.00 | )%(3) | ||||
Professional fees(2) | (52,833 | ) | (0.00 | )%(3) | ||||
Other(2) | (50,249 | ) | (0.00 | )%(3) | ||||
Stock exchange listing fees(2) | (9,302 | ) | (0.00 | )%(3) | ||||
Shareholder reporting expenses(2) | (19,237 | ) | (0.00 | )%(3) | ||||
|
| |||||||
Total Pro Forma Net Expense Adjustment | $ | (417,396 | ) | (0.02 | )% | |||
|
|
(1) | Reflects the impact of applying the Acquiring Fund’s fund-level management fee rates following the Reorganizations to the combined fund’s average managed assets. |
(2) | Reflects the anticipated reduction of certain duplicative expenses eliminated as a result of the Reorganizations. |
(3) | Rounds to less than (0.01)%. |
No significant accounting policies will change as a result of the Reorganizations, specifically policies regarding security valuation or compliance with Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. No significant changes to any existing contracts of the Acquiring Fund are expected as a result of the Reorganizations.
S-43
Note 4—Reorganization Costs
The Reorganization costs (whether or not the Reorganizations are consummated) will be allocated among the Funds. The costs of the Reorganizations are estimated to be $260,000 for Dividend Advantage 2 and $375,000 for Dividend Advantage 3. These costs represent the estimated nonrecurring expenses of the Target Funds in carrying out their obligations under the Plan and consist of management’s estimate of professional service fees, printing costs and mailing charges related to the proposed Reorganizations to be borne by the Target Funds. The Acquiring Fund is expected to be charged approximately $450,000 of expenses in connection with the Reorganizations. The Pro Forma financial information included in Note 2 has been adjusted for costs related to the Reorganizations to be borne by the Funds. Reorganization costs do not include any commissions that would be incurred due to portfolio realignment.
If the Reorganizations had occurred as of February 29, 2016, the Acquiring Fund would not have been required to dispose of securities of the Target Funds in order to comply with its investment policies and restrictions, and would not have sold any material portion (i.e., more than 5% of a Target Fund’s assets) of the securities in the Target Funds’ portfolios solely as a result of the Reorganizations.
Note 5—Accounting Survivor
The Acquiring Fund will be the accounting survivor. The surviving fund will have the portfolio management team, portfolio composition, strategies, investment objectives, expense structure and policies/restrictions of the Acquiring Fund.
Note 6—Capital Loss Carryforward
As of February 29, 2016, the Funds had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any, per the table below.
Acquiring Fund | Dividend Advantage 2 | Dividend Advantage 3 | ||||||||||
Expiration: | ||||||||||||
February 28, 2017 | $ | 13,863,811 | $ | — | $ | 4,536,999 | ||||||
February 28, 2018 | 731,149 | 705,843 | 10,646,251 | |||||||||
February 28, 2019 | — | — | 1,340,157 | |||||||||
Not subject to expiration | 4,827,353 | 792,392 | 10,931,933 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total | $ | 19,422,313 | $ | 1,498,235 | $ | 27,455,340 | ||||||
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|
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|
S-44
RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”), rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:
A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s analysis of the following considerations:
1. Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation; and
3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
A-1
AAA
An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB
An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B
An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
A-2
CC
An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C
A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
D
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
NR
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3
A-3
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
C
A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D
A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Moody’s U.S. Municipal ratings are opinions of the investment quality of issuers and issues in the U.S. municipal market. As such, these ratings incorporate Moody’s assessment of the default probability and loss severity of these issuers and issues. The default and loss content for Moody’s municipal long-term rating scale differs from Moody’s general long-term rating scale. Historical default and loss rates for obligations rated on the U.S. Municipal Scale are significantly lower than for similarly rated corporate obligations. It is important that users of Moody’s ratings understand these differences when making rating comparisons between the Municipal and Global Scales.
U.S. Municipal Long-Term Debt Ratings
Municipal Ratings are based upon the analysis of five primary factors related to municipal finance: market position, financial position, debt levels, governance, and covenants. Each of the factors is evaluated individually and for its effect on the other factors in the context of the municipality’s ability to repay its debt.
Aaa
Issuers or issues rated Aaa demonstrate the strongest creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
A-4
Aa
Issuers or issues rated Aa demonstrate very strong creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
A
Issuers or issues rated A present above-average creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
Baa
Issuers or issues rated Baa represent average creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax- exempt issuers or issues.
Ba
Issuers or issues rated Ba demonstrate below-average creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
B
Issuers or issues rated B demonstrate weak creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax- exempt issuers or issues.
Caa
Issuers or issues rated Caa demonstrate very weak creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
Ca
Issuers or issues rated Ca demonstrate extremely weak creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
C
Issuers or issues rated C demonstrate the weakest creditworthiness relative to other U.S. municipal or tax-exempt issuers or issues.
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating category from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the issuer or obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
A-5
U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings
MIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
U.S. Municipal Demand Obligation Ratings
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
VMIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
A-6
VMIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
Short-Term Ratings
Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
P-1
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-2
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-3
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Additional Information
Provisional Ratings—(P): When applied to forward delivery bonds, indicates the rating is provisional pending delivery of the bonds. The rating may be revised prior to delivery if changes occur in the legal documents or the underlying credit quality of the bonds.
A-7
Refundeds—#: Issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in trust, reinvested in direct, non-callable U.S. government obligations or non-callable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government or Resolution Funding Corporation are identified with a # (hatch mark) symbol, e.g., #Aaa.
Withdrawn—WR: When Moody’s no longer rates an obligation on which it previously maintained a rating, the symbol WR is employed. Please see Moody’s Guidelines for the Withdrawal of Ratings, available on www.moodys.com.
Not Rated—NR: NR is assigned to an unrated issuer, obligation and/or program.
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch Ratings” or “Fitch”) ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
Long-Term Ratings
Ratings of structured finance, project finance and public finance obligations on the long-term scale, including the financial obligations of sovereigns, consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default. These ratings are typically assigned to an individual security or tranche in a transaction and not to an issuer.
AAA
Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA
Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A
High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB
Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
A-8
BB
Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time.
B
Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC
Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.
CC
Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.
C
Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default appears imminent or inevitable.
D
Default. Indicates a default. Default generally is defined as one of the following:
• | failure to make payment of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of the rated obligation; |
• | the bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of the business of an issuer/obligor; or |
• | the distressed exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation to avoid a probable payment default. |
The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-Term Rating category, or categories below ‘B’.
Specific limitations relevant to the structured, project and public finance obligation rating scale include:
• | The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period. |
• | The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change. |
• | The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock. |
A-9
• | The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default. |
• | The ratings do not opine on any quality related to a transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of each rated tranche or security. |
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience.
Short-Term Ratings
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1
Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2
Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3
Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B
Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C
High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.
RD
Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
A-10
D
Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
“+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to short-term ratings other than ‘F1’.
Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:
• | The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period. |
• | The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change. |
• | The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock. |
• | The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default. |
• | The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation. |
Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience.
Additional Information
A designation of “Not Rated” or “NR” is used to denote securities not rated by Fitch where Fitch has rated some, but not all, securities comprising an issuance capital structure.
‘Withdrawn’: The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch Ratings. Indicated in rating databases with the symbol ‘WD.’
Rating Watch: Rating Watches indicate that there is a heightened probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such a change. These are designated as “Positive”, indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative”, for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving”, if ratings may be raised, lowered or affirmed. However, ratings that are not on Rating Watch can be raised or lowered without being placed on Rating Watch first, if circumstances warrant such an action.
Rating Outlook: Rating Outlooks indicate the direction a rating is likely to move over a one- to two-year period. They reflect financial or other trends that have not yet reached the level that would trigger a rating action, but which may do so if such trends continue. The majority of Outlooks are generally Stable, which is consistent with the historical migration experience of ratings over a one- to two-year period. Positive or Negative rating Outlooks do not imply that a rating change is inevitable and, similarly, ratings with Stable Outlooks can be raised or lowered without a prior revision to the Outlook, if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, where the fundamental trend has strong, conflicting elements of both positive and negative, the Rating Outlook may be described as Evolving.
A-11
TAXABLE EQUIVALENT YIELD TABLE
The taxable equivalent yield is the current yield you would need to earn on a taxable investment in order to equal a stated tax-free yield on a municipal investment. To assist you to more easily compare municipal investments like the Fund with taxable alternative investments, the table below presents the approximate taxable equivalent yields for individuals for a range of hypothetical tax-free yields assuming the stated marginal federal income tax rates for 2016 listed below. This table should not be considered a representation or guarantee of future results.
TAXABLE EQUIVALENT OF TAX-FREE YIELDS*
Single-Return Bracket | Joint-Return Bracket | Federal Tax Rate | 4.00% | 4.50% | 5.00% | 5.50% | 6.00% | 6.50% | 7.00% | 7.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0-$9,275 | 0-$18,550 | 10.0 | % | 4.44 | % | 5.00 | % | 5.56 | % | 6.11 | % | 6.67 | % | 7.22 | % | 7.78 | % | 8.33 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
$9,276-$37,650 | $18,551-$75,300 | 15.0 | % | 4.71 | % | 5.29 | % | 5.88 | % | 6.47 | % | 7.06 | % | 7.65 | % | 8.24 | % | 8.82 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
$37,651-$91,150 | $75,301-$151,900 | 25.0 | % | 5.33 | % | 6.00 | % | 6.67 | % | 7.33 | % | 8.00 | % | 8.67 | % | 9.33 | % | 10.00 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
$91,151-$190,150 | $151,901-$231,450 | 28.0 | % | 5.56 | % | 6.25 | % | 6.94 | % | 7.64 | % | 8.33 | % | 9.03 | % | 9.72 | % | 10.42 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
$190,151-$413,350 | $231,451-$413,350 | 33.0 | % | 5.97 | % | 6.72 | % | 7.46 | % | 8.21 | % | 8.96 | % | 9.70 | % | 10.45 | % | 11.19 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
$413,351-$415,050 | $413,351-$466,950 | 35.0 | % | 6.15 | % | 6.92 | % | 7.69 | % | 8.46 | % | 9.23 | % | 10.00 | % | 10.77 | % | 11.54 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Over $415,050 | Over $466,950 | 39.6 | % | 6.62 | % | 7.45 | % | 8.28 | % | 9.11 | % | 9.93 | % | 10.76 | % | 11.59 | % | 12.42 | % |
* | Please note that the table does not reflect (i) any federal limitations on the amounts of allowable itemized deductions, phase-outs of personal or dependent exemption credits or other allowable credits, (ii) any state or local taxes imposed, or (iii) any alternative minimum taxes or any taxes other than federal personal income taxes. |
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PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 15. Indemnification
Section 4 of Article XII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides as follows: “Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof. No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person: (a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office; (b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or (c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct: (i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or (ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel. The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law. Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4, provided that either: (a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or (b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. As used in this Section 4, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. As used in this Section 4, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.”
The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by the Mutual Fund Professional Liability policy in the aggregate amount of $70,000,000 against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen funds, except for matters that involve willful acts, bad faith, gross
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negligence and willful disregard of duty (i.e., where the insured did not act in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Registrant or where he or she had reasonable cause to believe this conduct was unlawful). The policy has a $2,500,000 deductible for operational failures and $1,000,000 deductible for all other claims.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 16. Exhibits.
(1)(a) | Declaration of Trust of Registrant, dated December 1, 1998.(1) | |
(1)(b) | Certificate of Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of Registrant, dated April 9, 1999.(1) | |
(1)(c) | Certificate of Amendment to the Declaration of Trust of Registrant, dated March 1, 2010.(3) | |
(2) | By-Laws of Registrant, Amended and Restated as of November 18, 2009.(1) | |
(3) | Not applicable. | |
(4) | Form of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization is filed herewith as Appendix A to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus constituting Part A of the Registration Statement. | |
(5) | Not applicable. | |
(6)(a) | Investment Management Agreement, dated October 1, 2014 is filed herewith. | |
(6)(b) | Renewal of Investment Management Agreement, dated July 28, 2015 is filed herewith. | |
(6)(c) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated October 1, 2014 is filed herewith. | |
(6)(d) | Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated July 28, 2015 is filed herewith. | |
(7) | Not applicable. | |
(8) | Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees, Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2013.(2) | |
(9)(a) | Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between the Nuveen Investment Companies and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated July 15, 2015 is filed herewith. | |
(9)(b) | Appendix A to Custodian Agreement, dated July 15, 2015, updated as of November 17, 2015 is filed herewith. | |
(10) | Not applicable. | |
(11) | Opinion and Consent of Counsel.* | |
(12)(a) | Form of Opinion and Consent of Vedder Price P.C. supporting the tax matters discussed in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.* |
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(12)(b) | Form of Opinion and Consent of Sidley Austin LLP supporting the tax matters discussed in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.* | |
(13)(a) | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated October 7, 2002.(1) | |
(13)(b) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated February 24, 2011 is filed herewith. | |
(13)(c) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated July 1, 2011.(4) | |
(13)(d) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated July 15, 2015.(5) | |
(13)(e) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated October 29, 2015 is filed herewith. | |
(13)(f) | Amendment and Schedule A to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated January 7, 2016.(5) | |
(14) | Consent of Independent Auditor is filed herewith. | |
(15) | Not applicable. | |
(16) | Powers of Attorney are filed herewith. | |
(17) | Form of Proxy is filed herein and appears following the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus constituting Part A of the Registration Statement. |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
(1) | Filed on March 3, 2010 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-165179) and incorporated by reference herein. |
(2) | Filed on May 9, 2013 as an exhibit to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-186409) and incorporated by reference herein. |
(3) | Filed on November 21, 2013 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-192466) and incorporated by reference herein. |
(4) | Filed on February 1, 2013 as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-186409) and incorporated by reference herein. |
(5) | Filed on May 9, 2016 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-186409) and incorporated by reference herein. |
Item 17. Undertakings.
(1) The undersigned Registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.
(2) The undersigned Registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.
(3) The undersigned Registrant agrees that executed opinions of counsel supporting the tax matters discussed in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission following the closing of the Reorganizations.
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SIGNATURES
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois, on the 26th day of May, 2016.
Nuveen California Dividend Advantage Municipal Fund | ||
By: | /s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman | |
Gifford R. Zimmerman | ||
Chief Administrative Officer |
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Capacity | Date | ||||
/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman | Chief Administrative Officer | May 26, 2016 | ||||
Gifford R. Zimmerman | (principal executive officer) | |||||
/s/ Stephen D. Foy | Vice President and Controller | May 26, 2016 | ||||
Stephen D. Foy | (principal financial and accounting officer) | |||||
William J. Schneider* | Chairman of the Board and Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
William Adams IV* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Jack B. Evans* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | By: /s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman | |||||
William C. Hunter* | Trustee | ) | Gifford R. Zimmerman | |||
) | Attorney-in-Fact | |||||
David J. Kundert* | Trustee | ) | May 26, 2016 | |||
) | ||||||
John K. Nelson* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Thomas S. Schreier, Jr. | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Judith M. Stockdale* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Carole E. Stone* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Terence J. Toth* | Trustee | ) | ||||
) | ||||||
Margaret L. Wolff* | Trustee | ) |
* | An original power of attorney authorizing, among others, Mark L. Winget, Kevin J. McCarthy and Gifford R. Zimmerman, to execute this registration statement, and amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this registration statement is filed, has been executed and is incorporated by reference herein. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Name of Exhibit | |
(6)(a) | Investment Management Agreement, dated October 1, 2014. | |
(6)(b) | Renewal of Investment Management Agreement, dated July 28, 2015. | |
(6)(c) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated October 1, 2014. | |
(6)(d) | Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated July 28, 2015. | |
(9)(a) | Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between the Nuveen Investment Companies and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated July 15, 2015. | |
(9)(b) | Appendix A to Custodian Agreement, dated July 15, 2015, updated as of November 17, 2015. | |
(13)(b) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated February 24, 2011. | |
(13)(e) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated October 29, 2015. | |
(14) | Consent of Independent Auditor. | |
(16) | Powers of Attorney. |