N-2/A 1 n-2a.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2021

1933 Act File No. 333-252699
1940 Act File No. 811-23635

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-2


(Check appropriate box or boxes)
 
X

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
     
X
   Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3
     
   Post-Effective Amendment No.
         
 
X

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
     
X
   Amendment No. 3

Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter

c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104-0002
Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(212) 476-9000
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code

Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer and President
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104-0002

Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service

With copies to:

Arthur C. Delibert, Esq.
 
Clifford R. Cone, Esq.
Jennifer R. Gonzalez, Esq.
 
Jefferey D. LeMaster, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
 
Clifford Chance US LLP
1601 K Street, N.W.
 
31 West 52nd Street
Washington, D. C. 20006
 
New York, New York 10019

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
__________________________

☐ Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans.
 
☐ Check box if any securities being registered on the Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan.
 
☐ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto.
 
☐ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
 
☐ Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act.
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
 
☐ when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c)
 
If appropriate, check the following box:
 
☐ This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].
 
☐ This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: ______.
 
☐ This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: ______.
 
☐ This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: ______.


Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
 
☒ Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”))
 
☐ Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act).
 
☐ Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act).
 
☐ A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).
 
☐ Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
 
☐ Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”).
 
If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.
 
☒ New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing).
__________________________

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Title of Securities
Being
Registered
Amount
Being
Registered (1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit (1)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price (1)
Amount of
Registration Fee (1)
Shares of Common Stock
50,000
$20.00
$1,000,000
$109.10(2)
(1)
 
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Previously paid.
 
___________________________

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 this Registration Statement shall thereafter become

effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


The information in this preliminary 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 preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus dated April 26, 2021

PROSPECTUS

        shares

Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.

Common Stock
$20.00 per share

Investment Objectives. Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide capital appreciation and income. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives or that its investment strategy will be successful.

Investment Strategy. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies, in any market capitalization range, that are relevant to the theme of investing in “NextGen Companies.” The Fund considers “NextGen Companies” to be companies that, in the Adviser’s (defined below) view, demonstrate significant growth potential from the development, advancement, use or sale of products, processes or services related to the fifth generation mobile network and future generations of mobile network connectivity and technology (“NextGen Connectivity”).

As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to employ a strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the common stocks in its portfolio and writing (selling) other call and put options on individual common stocks, which may include uncovered call and put options, and, to a lesser extent, writing (selling) call and put options on indices of securities and sectors of securities. This options writing strategy is intended to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted returns. A substantial portion of the options written by the Fund may be over-the-counter options (“OTC options”).

No Prior History. Because the Fund is newly organized, it has no performance history and its shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) have no history of public trading. The common stock of closed-end management investment companies frequently trades at a discount from its net asset value per share (“NAV”). The risk of the Fund’s Common Stock trading at such a discount may be greater for investors expecting to sell their shares relatively soon after completion of the public offering.

The Fund’s investment strategy involves substantial risk. You could lose some or all of your investment. See “Risks” beginning on page 47.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

____________________


      Per Share       Total(1)
Public Offering Price
$         20.00
$            
Sales Load(2)

None

None
Proceeds to the Fund(3)
$ 20.00
$       

The underwriters expect to deliver the Common Stock to purchasers on or about           , 2021.

____________________
BofA Securities Morgan Stanley UBS Investment Bank Wells Fargo Securities
Oppenheimer & Co. RBC Capital Markets Stifel
B. Riley Securities Brookline Capital Markets D.A. Davidson & Co. GMS Group, LLC
Hennion & Walsh, Inc. Hilltop Securities Inc. Incapital Janney Montgomery Scott
JonesTrading Ladenburg Thalmann Maxim Group LLC Newbridge Securities Corporation
Pershing LLC Rockefeller Capital Management Wedbush Securities Inc.
____________________

The date of this prospectus is           , 2021


____________________
(1) The Fund has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to      additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price within 45 days from the date of this prospectus solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is exercised in full, the aggregate public offering price and proceeds to the Fund will be $     . See “Underwriters.”
(2) Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA” or the “Adviser”) (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay, from its own assets, compensation of $.60 per share of Common Stock to the underwriters in connection with this offering. Separately, NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay, from its own assets, a structuring and syndication fee to BofA Securities, Inc. (or an affiliate), a structuring fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, a fee to each of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, and may pay certain other qualifying underwriters and dealers a structuring fee, sales incentive fee or other additional compensation in connection with the offering.
(3) NBIA has agreed to pay all organizational expenses of the Fund and all offering costs associated with this offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expenses or offering costs paid by NBIA.

The Fund expects to list its Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NBXG.”

Investment Adviser. NBIA will act as the Fund’s investment manager. See “Management of the Fund.” As of December 31, 2020, Neuberger Berman and its affiliates had $405 billion in assets under management and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.

Investment Strategy (continued). In selecting companies that the Adviser believes are relevant to the Fund’s investment theme, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that demonstrate certain economic characteristics, including: growth of earnings and/or sales, increases in research and development budgets, and increases in other operating expenses (e.g., sales, general and administrative expenses) related to NextGen Connectivity. In seeking to identify NextGen Companies that use NextGen Connectivity, the Adviser seeks companies with products, processes or services that enable or are enabled by NextGen Connectivity (e.g., connected health care, including remote care and surgery, real-time automation of factories and product distribution centers, virtual reality enabled e-commerce, gaming and other media applications, autonomous vehicles and related connected mobility applications and smart home technology).

The Adviser will utilize disciplined, fundamental, bottom-up securities analysis in an effort to identify those NextGen Companies that it believes are well-positioned to benefit from new business models, products or services related to NextGen Connectivity. Through its fundamental research the Adviser will seek to identify companies with certain characteristics, including: (i) stock prices which appear undervalued relative to long-term cash flow growth potential; (ii) companies that are deemed industry leaders represented by high market share, pricing power, or superior technology and/or business models relative to peers or new entrants; (iii) companies that demonstrate potential for significant improvement in their businesses (e.g., top line growth greater than peers, margin expansion and/or increased cash flow generation); (iv) strong financial characteristics, including growth, margins, and/or capital returns and historic valuations on metrics such as price to cash flow, price to earnings or price to book value; and (v) proven management track records.

NextGen Companies may include companies operating in any industry, including, but not limited to internet software & services, interactive media & services, hardware, communications equipment, semiconductors and semiconductor equipment, media, internet retail, consumer discretionary, healthcare, industrials, diversified telecom services and wireless telecom services. The Fund will concentrate its investments in companies operating in one or more industries within the information technology and communication services groups of industries. See “Investment Objectives, Policies and Limitations” in the SAI for additional information regarding the Fund’s concentration policy.

The Fund may invest in securities of U.S. and foreign (non-U.S.) companies, including companies located in emerging markets, of any market capitalization. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depositary receipts, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and equity interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). From time to time, the Fund may invest in shares of companies through initial public offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may also invest in privately placed or restricted securities (including in Rule 144A securities, which are privately placed securities purchased by qualified institutional buyers), pre-IPO securities, illiquid securities and securities in which no secondary market is readily available, including those of private companies. Issuers of these securities may not have a class of securities registered, and may not be subject to periodic reporting, pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in illiquid securities. Foreign securities in which the Fund may invest may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated.

ii


The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in equity securities issued by companies that are not NextGen Companies, as well as in debt securities from any type of issuer and credit rating.

Use of Leverage. The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund is, however, permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its Managed Assets (defined below) (50% of its net assets), or issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net assets). If the Fund uses a combination of borrowing money and issuing preferred shares, the maximum allowable leverage will be between 33 1/3% and 50% (but in no event more than 50%) of the Fund’s Managed Assets based on the relative amounts borrowed or preferred shares issued. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s total assets minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund also may enter into other transactions that are not currently subject to the leverage limitations of the 1940 Act but that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, certain derivative transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions.

The use of leverage, if employed, is subject to numerous risks. When leverage is employed, the Fund’s NAV, the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock and the yield to holders of the Fund’s Common Stock (“Common Stockholders”) will be more volatile than if leverage was not used. A reduction in the Fund’s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock. The Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage would result in a higher yield on the Fund’s Common Stock. Any leveraging strategy the Fund may employ may not be successful. See “Use of Leverage,” “Risks – Leverage Risk” and “Risks – Derivatives Risk.”

Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer. The Fund will terminate on the first business day following the twelfth anniversary of the effective date of the Fund’s initial registration statement, which is currently anticipated to be May 26, 2033 (the “Stated Termination Date”); provided, that if the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board of Directors”) believes that, under then-current market conditions, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so, the Fund may extend the Termination Date: (i) once for up to one year and (ii) once for up to an additional six months (in the event of any such extension, the termination date shall be referred to as the “Extended Termination Date” and the later of the Stated Termination Date and the Extended Termination Date is referred to as the “Termination Date”), in each case upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without the approval of Common Stockholders.

In addition, as of a date within twelve months preceding the Termination Date, the Board of Directors may cause the Fund to conduct a tender offer to all Common Stockholders to purchase Common Stock of the Fund at a price equal to the Fund’s NAV of Common Stock (an “Eligible Tender Offer”). The Board of Directors has established that, following an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund must have at least $200 million of net assets to ensure the continued viability of the Fund (the “Termination Threshold”). In an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund will offer to purchase all Common Stock held by each Common Stockholder; provided, that if the number of properly tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets totaling less than the Termination Threshold, the Eligible Tender Offer will be terminated and no Common Stock will be repurchased pursuant to the Eligible Tender Offer. Instead, the Fund will begin (or continue) liquidating its portfolio and proceed to terminate on or before the Termination Date. An Eligible Tender Offer would be made, and Common Stockholders would be notified thereof, in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the applicable tender offer rules thereunder (including Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act). If the number of properly tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets equaling or totaling greater than the Termination Threshold, all Common Stock properly tendered and not withdrawn will be purchased by the Fund pursuant to the terms of the Eligible Tender Offer. In addition, the Fund would continue to be subject to its obligations with respect to its issued and outstanding preferred stock or debt securities, if any. See “Risks—Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.”

Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without the approval of Common Stockholders. In making a decision to do so to provide for the Fund’s perpetual existence, the Board of Directors will take such actions with respect to the continued operations of the Fund as it deems to be in the best interests of the Fund, based on market conditions at such time, the extent of Common Stockholder participation

iii


in the Eligible Tender Offer and all other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors in consultation with the Adviser, taking into account that the Adviser may have a potential conflict of interest in seeking to convert to a perpetual fund. The Board may also update the Fund’s investment program at that time if it has not done so earlier.

The Fund is not a so called “target date” or “life cycle” fund whose asset allocation becomes more conservative over time as its target date, often associated with retirement, approaches. In addition, the Fund is not a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original NAV on the termination date. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors that purchase Common Stock in this offering their initial investment of $20.00 per share of Common Stock on the Termination Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer, and such investors and investors that purchase Common Stock after the completion of this offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination or in an Eligible Tender Offer. See “Risks—Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.

You should read this Prospectus, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest in the Fund’s Common Stock, and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated           , 2021, containing additional information about the Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into, which means that it is a part of, this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information by calling 877-461-1899 or by writing to the Fund, or you may obtain a copy (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

As permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual stockholder reports will not be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website www.nb.com/CEFliterature, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

You may elect to receive stockholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you become a direct investor, by calling 800.877.9700 or by sending an e-mail request to fundinfo@nb.com.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you receive paper copies of your stockholder reports. If you invest directly with the Fund, you can call 800.877.9700 or send an email request to fundinfo@nb.com to inform the Fund that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your stockholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the fund complex if you invest directly with the Fund.

Shares of the Fund’s Common Stock are not a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

iv


You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. The Fund has not, and the Underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information you should not rely on it. The Fund is not, and the Underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this Prospectus is only accurate as of the date on the front of this Prospectus. The Fund’s business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects may have changed since the date of this Prospectus.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY       1
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
30
THE FUND
31
USE OF PROCEEDS
31
THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS
31
USE OF LEVERAGE
44
RISKS
47
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
72
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
73
NET ASSET VALUE
73
DISTRIBUTIONS
74
DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN
76
CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE
78
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
79
ANTI-TAKEOVER AND PROVISIONS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
80
REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN END FUND
82
LIMITED TERM AND ELIGIBLE TENDER OFFER
83
TAX MATTERS
85
UNDERWRITERS
87
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
89
LEGAL OPINIONS
89

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund’s common stock. You should carefully read the entire Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into it, particularly the section entitled “Risks” and the Statement of Additional Information.

The Fund      
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (“Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company. See “The Fund.”
     
The Offering      
The Fund is offering            shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) at $20.00 per share through a group of underwriters (the “Underwriters”) led by BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. You must purchase at least 100 shares of Common Stock ($2,000) in order to participate in the offering. The Fund has given the Underwriters an option to purchase up to            additional shares of Common Stock within 45 days of the date of this Prospectus solely to cover over-allotments, if any. Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA” or the “Adviser”) has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses and all Common Stock offering costs of the Fund associated with this offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expenses or offering costs paid by NBIA.
     
Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer      
The Fund will terminate on the first business day following the twelfth anniversary of the effective date of the Fund’s initial registration statement, which is currently anticipated to be May 26, 2033 (the “Stated Termination Date”); provided, that if the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) believes that, under then-current market conditions, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so, the Fund may extend the Termination Date: (i) once for up to one year and (ii) once for up to an additional six months (in the event of any such extension, the termination date shall be referred to as the “Extended Termination Date” and the later of the Stated Termination Date and the Extended Termination Date is referred to as the “Termination Date”) upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without the approval of Common Stockholders (as defined below).
     

     
In addition, as of a date within twelve months preceding the Termination Date, the Board of Directors may cause the Fund to conduct a tender offer to all Common Stockholders to purchase Common Stock of the Fund at a price equal to the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”) of Common Stock (an “Eligible Tender Offer”). The Board of Directors has established that, following an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund must have at least $200 million of net assets to ensure the continued viability of the Fund (the “Termination Threshold”). In an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund will offer to purchase all Common Stock held by each Common Stockholder; provided, that if the number of properly tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets totaling less than the Termination Threshold, the Eligible Tender Offer will be terminated and no Common Stock will be repurchased pursuant to the Eligible Tender Offer. Instead, the Fund will begin (or continue) liquidating its portfolio and proceed to terminate on or before the Termination Date. An Eligible Tender Offer would be made, and Common Stockholders would be notified thereof, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940,

1



        
as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the applicable tender offer rules thereunder (including Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act). If the number of properly tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets equaling or totaling greater than the Termination Threshold, all Common Stock properly tendered and not withdrawn will be purchased by the Fund pursuant to the terms of the Eligible Tender Offer. In addition, the Fund would continue to be subject to its obligations with respect to its issued and outstanding preferred stock or debt securities, if any. See “Risks—Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.”
     
   
Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without the approval of Common Stockholders. In making a decision to do so to provide for the Fund’s perpetual existence, the Board of Directors will take such actions with respect to the continued operations of the Fund as it deems to be in the best interests of the Fund, based on market conditions at such time, the extent of Common Stockholder participation in the Eligible Tender Offer and all other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors in consultation with the Adviser, taking into account that the Adviser may have a potential conflict of interest in seeking to convert to a perpetual fund. The Board may also update the Fund’s investment program at that time if it has not done so earlier.
     
  
The Fund currently expects that beginning approximately one year before an Eligible Tender Offer or the Termination Date (such period of time, the “wind-down period”), the Fund may begin liquidating all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, may deviate from its investment policies and may not achieve its investment objectives. During the wind-down period (or in anticipation of an Eligible Tender Offer), the Fund’s portfolio composition may change as portfolio holdings are disposed of in anticipation of liquidation. During this period, the Fund may increase its holdings in short term or other lower yielding securities, including in cash, which may adversely affect its performance. The timing of the wind-down period may change based on the Fund’s then-current portfolio composition, the market conditions at such time and all other factors deemed relevant by the Adviser.
     


The Fund is not a so called “target date” or “life cycle” fund whose asset allocation becomes more conservative over time as its target date, often associated with retirement, approaches. In addition, the Fund is not a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original NAV on the termination date. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors that purchase Common Stock in this offering their initial investment of $20.00 per share of Common Stock on the Termination Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer, and such investors and investors that purchase Common Stock after the completion of this offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination or in an Eligible Tender Offer. See “Risks—Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.

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Investment Objectives      
The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide capital appreciation and income. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. The investment objectives and, unless otherwise specified, the investment policies and limitations of the Fund are not fundamental. Any investment objective, policy or limitation that is not fundamental may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Directors without stockholder approval. See “The Fund’s Investments.”
     
Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies, in any market capitalization range, that are relevant to the theme of investing in “NextGen Companies.”
     


The Fund considers “NextGen Companies” to be companies that, in the Adviser’s view, demonstrate significant growth potential from the development, advancement, use or sale of products, processes or services related to the fifth generation mobile network and future generations of mobile network connectivity and technology (“NextGen Connectivity”).
     


In selecting companies that the Adviser believes are relevant to the Fund’s investment theme, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that demonstrate certain economic characteristics, including: growth of earnings and/or sales, increases in research and development budgets, and increases in other operating expenses (e.g., sales, general and administrative expenses) related to NextGen Connectivity. In seeking to identify NextGen Companies that use NextGen Connectivity, the Adviser seeks companies with products, processes or services that enable or are enabled by NextGen Connectivity (e.g., connected health care, including remote care and surgery, real-time automation of factories and product distribution centers, virtual reality enabled e-commerce, gaming and other media applications, autonomous vehicles and related connected mobility applications and smart home technology).
     


The Adviser will utilize disciplined, fundamental, bottom-up securities analysis in an effort to identify those NextGen Companies that it believes are well-positioned to benefit from new business models, products or services related to NextGen Connectivity. Through its fundamental research the Adviser will seek to identify companies with certain characteristics, including: (i) stock prices which appear undervalued relative to long-term cash flow growth potential; (ii) companies that are deemed industry leaders represented by high market share, pricing power, or superior technology and/or business models relative to peers or new entrants; (iii) companies that demonstrate potential for significant improvement in their businesses (e.g., top line growth greater than peers, margin expansion and/or increased cash flow generation); (iv) strong financial characteristics, including growth, margins, and/or capital returns and historic valuations on metrics such as price to cash flow, price to earnings or price to book value; and (v) proven management track records.
     


NextGen Companies may include companies operating in any industry, including, but not limited to internet software & services, interactive media & services, hardware, communications equipment, semiconductors and semiconductor equipment, media, internet retail, consumer discretionary, healthcare, industrials, diversified telecom services and wireless telecom services. The Fund will concentrate its investments in companies operating in one or more industries within the information technology and communication services groups of industries. See “Investment Objectives, Policies and Limitations” in the SAI for additional information regarding the Fund’s concentration policy.

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The Fund may invest in securities of U.S. and foreign (non-U.S.) companies, including companies located in emerging markets, of any market capitalization. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depositary receipts, exchange-traded funds, and equity interests in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). From time to time, the Fund may invest in shares of companies through initial public offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may also invest in privately placed or restricted securities (including in Rule 144A securities, which are privately placed securities purchased by qualified institutional buyers), pre-IPO securities, illiquid securities and securities in which no secondary market is readily available, including those of private companies. The Fund currently anticipates that any investments in pre-IPO securities would be in those issued by private companies that the Adviser believes may seek to conduct an initial public offering within two years of the Fund’s investments. Issuers of these securities may not have a class of securities registered, and may not be subject to periodic reporting, pursuant to the Exchange Act. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in illiquid securities. Foreign securities in which the Fund may invest may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated.
     


The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in equity securities issued by companies that are not NextGen Companies, as well as in debt securities from any type of issuer and credit rating, including non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk” or “high yield” securities).
     


As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to employ a strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the common stocks in its portfolio and writing (selling) other call and put options on individual common stocks, which may include uncovered call and put options, and, to a lesser extent, writing (selling) call and put options on indices of securities and sectors of securities. This options writing strategy is intended to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted return potential. The Fund’s risk-adjusted return potential factors in the expected amount of investment risk the Fund may be exposed to from its investments. A substantial portion of the options written by the Fund may be over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). There is no guarantee that the Fund’s options writing strategy will be successful and/or that the Fund will generate a consistent or specific amount of investment income. The Fund may distribute short-term capital gain and/or return of capital to stockholders in an effort to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital is a distribution by the Fund that exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits and which represents a return of a Common Stockholder’s original investment. To the extent a distribution paid by the Fund represents a return of capital, a Common Stockholder's cost basis in Fund shares will be reduced, which will increase a capital gain or reduce a capital loss upon sale of those shares. There is no guarantee that the Fund will employ its options writing strategy at all times and under all market conditions.

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The Fund may initially write put and call options, the notional amount of which the Fund currently intends would be approximately 10% to 40% of the Fund’s total assets, although this percentage may vary from time to time with market conditions. The notional amount represents the economic exposure provided by the put and call options and represents the number of shares included in the put and call options multiplied by the exercise price. As the Fund writes covered call options over more of its portfolio, its ability to benefit from capital appreciation on the underlying securities may become more limited, and the Fund will lose money to the extent that it writes covered call options and the securities on which it writes these options appreciate above the exercise price of the option and the options are exercised. Therefore, over time, the Adviser may choose to decrease its use of a covered call options writing strategy to the extent that it may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation. The number of covered put and call options on securities the Fund can write is limited by the total assets the Fund holds, and further limited by the fact that all options represent 100 share lots of the underlying common stock. The Fund will also lose money if the price of a security or index on which the Fund has written an uncovered, or “naked”, call or put option appreciates above the option’s exercise price, in the case of a call option, or depreciates below the option’s exercise price, in the case of a put option, by an amount greater than the premium received for writing the option.

Other Strategies: During temporary defensive periods, including the period during which the net proceeds of this offering are being invested, and in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in liquid, short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives under these circumstances.

The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, enter into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currency or currency futures and swap contracts (including, but not limited to, credit default swaps) and may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”) put and call options on securities and swap contracts, financial indices and futures contracts and use other derivative instruments or management techniques. The Fund may engage in these transactions for risk management purposes, including to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio resulting from trends in the securities markets and changes in interest rates or to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of portfolio securities for investment purposes, to establish a position in the securities markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities or to enhance income or gain.

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The Fund may lend securities with a value of up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including such loans) to financial institutions that provide cash or equivalent collateral.

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to seek to achieve its investment objectives.

 

Leverage


The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund is, however, permitted by the 1940 Act to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its Managed Assets (defined below) (50% of its net assets), or issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net assets). If the Fund uses a combination of borrowing money and issuing preferred shares, the maximum allowable leverage will be between 33 1/3% and 50% (but in no event more than 50%) of the Fund’s Managed Assets based on the relative amounts borrowed or preferred shares issued. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s total assets minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. For the avoidance of doubt, total assets include assets attributable to the use of leverage. Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund also may enter into other transactions that are not currently subject to the leverage limitations of the 1940 Act but that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, certain derivative transactions, short sales (see “Risks – Short Sale Risk.”), reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions. To the extent the Fund “covers” its obligations under these transactions, as described in this Prospectus, such transactions should not be treated as borrowings under the 1940 Act. See “Leverage—Derivatives” and “Portfolio Composition—Options—Limitation on Option Writing Strategy.”

The use of leverage, if employed, is subject to numerous risks. When leverage is employed, the Fund’s NAV, the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock and the yield to holders of the Fund’s Common Stock (“Common Stockholders”) will be more volatile than if leverage was not used. A reduction in the Fund’s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock. The Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage would result in greater appreciation or a higher yield on the Fund’s Common Stock. Any leveraging strategy the Fund may employ may not be successful. See “Use of Leverage,” “Risks –Leverage Risk” and “Risks – Derivatives Risk.”

 

Distributions on Common Stock


Currently, the Fund intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to Common Stockholders at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock, to be determined based on the projected performance of the Fund after its launch, subject to adjustment from time to time (“Level-Rate Distribution Policy”). There is no guarantee that the Fund’s investment strategy, including its options writing strategy, will be successful and/or that the Fund will generate a consistent or specific amount of investment

6



           

income. Likewise, there is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a distribution, or that the distribution will be of any particular size. The Fund may distribute short-term capital gain and/or return of capital to Common Stockholders in an effort to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital distribution may involve a return of a Common Stockholder’s original investment. The Level-Rate Distribution Policy may also require certain distributions to be recharacterized as a return of capital.

The initial distribution is expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of this offering of Common Stock, depending on market conditions and operations.

Unless you elect to receive distributions in cash, all of your distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock under the Fund’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan.

The Fund has exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to permit it to pay long-term capital gain more frequently than is currently allowed under the 1940 Act, which would allow it to adopt a managed distribution policy (“Managed Distribution Policy”). Pursuant to a Managed Distribution Policy, the Fund could make regular cash distributions to Common Stockholders, at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock or at a fixed percentage of its NAV, that may include periodic distributions of net long- and short-term capital gains or, in certain instances, return of capital.

If the Board determines to rely on the exemptive relief and adopt a Managed Distribution Policy, the Fund would terminate its Level-Rate Distribution Policy.

     

    

The distribution rate that the Fund expects to pay on its Common Stock will depend on a number of factors, including the level of investment income received by the Fund and other Fund fees and expenses. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Stock could be adjusted upward or downward from time to time.

See “Distributions” and “Distribution Reinvestment Plan.”

 

Neuberger Berman


NBIA will serve as the investment manager of the Fund. Subject to the general supervision of the Fund’s Board, NBIA is responsible for managing, either directly or through others selected by it, the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters. NBIA will receive a management fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 1.00% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. The Fund also has agreed to pay NBIA a fee payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily Managed Assets for services provided under an Administration Agreement.

As of December 31, 2020, Neuberger Berman and its affiliates had $405 billion in total assets under management and continue an asset management history that began in 1939.

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Listing and Symbol

     

The Fund expects to list its Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “NBXG.” See “Description of Shares—Common Stock.”

 

Custodian and Transfer Agent


State Street Bank and Trust Company will serve as custodian of the Fund’s assets. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC will serve as the Fund’s transfer agent. See “Custodian and Transfer Agent.”

 

Special Risk Considerations


Newly Organized. The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company with no history of operations or history of public trading.

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire amount that you invest.

 


     

Market Risk. Your Common Stock at any point in time may be worth less than what you initially invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and other distributions. Your investment in Common Stock will represent an indirect investment in the assets owned by the Fund. The market value of your Common Stock may trade at a discount to the Fund’s NAV. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities will fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. See “Risks—Market and Investment Risk.”

Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk. The Fund is scheduled to terminate on or about the Termination Date (unless it is converted to a perpetual fund). The Fund is not a so called “target date” or “life cycle” fund whose asset allocation becomes more conservative over time as its target date, often associated with retirement, approaches. In addition, the Fund is not a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original NAV on the termination date. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors that purchase Common Stock in this offering their initial investment of $20.00 per share of Common Stock on the Termination Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer, and such investors and investors that purchase Common Stock after the completion of this offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination or in an Eligible Tender Offer.

The Fund is not required to conduct an Eligible Tender Offer. If the Fund conducts an Eligible Tender Offer, there can be no assurance that the number of tendered shares of Common Stock would not result in the Fund’s net assets totaling less than the Termination Threshold, in which case the Eligible Tender Offer will be terminated, no Common Stock will be repurchased pursuant to the Eligible Tender Offer and the Fund will terminate on or before the Termination Date (subject to possible extensions). Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer in which the number of tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets equaling or totaling greater than the Termination Threshold, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without a vote of Common Stockholders. Thereafter, the Fund will have a perpetual existence. The Fund is not required to conduct additional tender offers following an Eligible Tender Offer and conversion to a perpetual structure. Therefore, remaining Common

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Stockholders may not have another opportunity to participate in a tender offer or exchange their Common Stock for the then-existing NAV of Common Stock. Common Stock of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their NAV and as a result remaining Common Stockholders may only be able to sell their Common Stock at a discount to NAV. The Adviser may have a conflict of interest in recommending to the Board of Directors that the limited term structure be eliminated and the Fund have a perpetual existence.

In order to pay for Common Stock to be purchased in an Eligible Tender Offer or to liquidate the portfolio in connection with the Fund’s termination, the Fund will be required to sell its assets. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not, including at times when market conditions are not favorable, which may cause the Fund to lose money. The Fund may receive proceeds from the disposition of portfolio investments that are less than the valuations of such investments by the Fund and, in particular, losses from the disposition of illiquid securities may be significant. The disposition of portfolio investments by the Fund could also cause market prices of such instruments, and hence the NAV and market price of the Common Stock, to decline. In addition, disposition of portfolio investments will cause the Fund to incur increased brokerage and related transaction expenses.

Moreover, in conducting such portfolio transactions, the Fund may need to deviate from its investment policies and may not achieve its investment objectives. The Fund’s portfolio composition may change as its portfolio holdings mature or are called or sold in anticipation of an Eligible Tender Offer or the Termination Date. During such period(s), it is possible that the Fund will hold a greater percentage of its total assets in shorter term and lower yielding securities and cash and cash equivalents than it would otherwise, which may impede the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives and adversely impact the Fund’s performance and distributions to Common Stockholders, which may in turn adversely impact the market value of the Common Stock. The additional cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund could be obtained through reducing the Fund’s distributions to Common Stockholders and/or holding cash in lieu of reinvesting, which could limit the ability of the Fund to participate in new investment opportunities. The Fund does not limit its investments to securities having a maturity date prior to or around the Termination Date, which may exacerbate the foregoing risks and considerations. A Common Stockholder may be subject to the foregoing risks over an extended period of time, particularly if the Fund conducts an Eligible Tender Offer and is also subsequently terminated by or around the Termination Date.

If the Fund’s tax basis for the investments sold is less than the sale proceeds, the Fund will recognize capital gains, which the Fund will be required to distribute to Common Stockholders. In addition, the Fund’s purchase of tendered Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer will have tax consequences for tendering Common Stockholders and may have tax consequences for non-tendering Common Stockholders. The purchase of Common Stock by the Fund pursuant to a tender offer will have the effect of increasing the proportionate interest in the Fund of

9



      

non-tendering Common Stockholders. All Common Stockholders remaining after a tender offer may be subject to proportionately higher expenses due to the reduction in the Fund’s total assets resulting from payment for the tendered Common Stock. A reduction in net assets, and the corresponding increase in the Fund’s expense ratio, could result in lower returns and put the Fund at a disadvantage relative to its peers and potentially cause the Fund to trade at a wider discount to NAV than it otherwise would. Such reduction in the Fund’s total assets may also result in less investment flexibility, reduced diversification and greater volatility for the Fund, and may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment performance. Furthermore, the portfolio of the Fund following an Eligible Tender Offer could be significantly different and, therefore, Common Stockholders retaining an investment in the Fund could be subject to greater risk. For example, the Fund may be required to sell its more liquid, higher quality portfolio investments to purchase Common Stock that is tendered in an Eligible Tender Offer, which would leave a less liquid, lower quality portfolio for remaining Common Stockholders. The prospects of an Eligible Tender Offer may attract arbitrageurs who would purchase the Common Stock prior to the tender offer for the sole purpose of tendering those shares which could have the effect of exacerbating the risks described herein for Common Stockholders retaining an investment in the Fund following an Eligible Tender Offer.

In connection with its termination, the Fund may distribute the proceeds from the disposition of portfolio securities in one or more liquidating distributions prior to the final liquidation, which may cause fixed expenses to increase when expressed as a percentage of assets under management. Upon a termination, it is anticipated that the Fund will have distributed substantially all of its net assets to Common Stockholders, although securities for which no market exists, securities trading at depressed prices, if any, and assets recovered following termination may be placed in a liquidating trust. Common Stockholders will bear the costs associated with establishing and maintaining a liquidating trust, if necessary. Securities placed in a liquidating trust may be held for an indefinite period of time until they can be sold or pay out all of their cash flows. The Fund cannot predict the amount, if any, of securities that will be required to be placed in a liquidating trust. See “Risks–Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.”

Non-Diversified Fund Risk. The Fund is classified as non-diversified. As such, the percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in any single issuer or a few issuers is not limited as much as it is for a fund classified as diversified. Investing a higher percentage of its assets in any one or a few issuers could increase the Fund’s risk of loss and its share price volatility, because the value of its shares would be more susceptible to adverse events affecting those issuers.

Next Generation Connectivity and Emerging Technologies Investment Risk. Companies across a wide variety of industries, primarily in the technology sector, are exploring the possible applications of next generation mobile internet and connectivity technologies. The extent of such technologies’ versatility has not yet been fully explored. Consequently, the Fund's holdings will include equity securities of

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operating companies that focus on or have exposure to a wide variety of industries. The economic fortunes of the companies held by the Fund will be significantly tied to next generation connectivity technologies. Currently, there are few public companies for which next generation connectivity technologies represent an attributable and significant revenue or profit stream, and such technologies may not ultimately have a material effect on the economic returns of companies in which the Fund invests.

Communication Services Companies Risk. Communication services companies may be subject to specific risks associated with legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions, intellectual property use and/or increased competition. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid advancements in technology, the innovation of competitors, rapid product obsolescence and government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain communication services companies may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

Technology Company Risk. The market prices of technology and technology-related stocks tend to exhibit a greater degree of market risk and price volatility than other types of investments. These stocks may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices. These stocks also may be affected adversely by changes in technology, consumer and business purchasing patterns, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, government regulation, lack of standardization or compatibility with existing technologies, intense competition, aggressive pricing, dependence on copyright and/or patent protection and/or obsolete products or services.

Telecommunications Company Risk. Telecommunications companies can be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in government regulation, intense competition, dependency on patent protection, significant capital expenditures, heavy debt burdens and rapid obsolescence of products and services due to product compatibility or changing consumer preferences, among other things.

Computer Software/Services Companies Risk. Computer software/services companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by computer software/services companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of computer software/services companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products and the ability to service such products. An unexpected

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change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.

Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.

Internet Companies Risk. Investments in internet industry companies may be volatile. Internet companies are subject to intense competition, the risk of product obsolescence, changes in consumer preferences and legal, regulatory and political changes. They are also especially at risk of hacking and other cybersecurity events. In addition, it can be difficult to adequately capture what qualifies as an Internet company.

Semiconductor Companies Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that market or economic factors impacting semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Additionally, semiconductor companies may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.

Industrial Products, Services and Equipment Company Risk. Industrial products, services and equipment companies can be significantly affected by general economic trends, changes in consumer sentiment and spending, commodity prices, technological obsolescence, labor relations, legislation, government regulations and spending, import controls, and worldwide competition, and can be subject to liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.

Sector Risk. In addition to the Fund’s policy regarding concentration in the information technology and communication services groups of industries, from time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more other sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.

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Equity Securities Risk. Stock markets are volatile, and the prices of equity securities fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average total returns than fixed-income securities over the long-term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in those returns and, in certain periods, have significantly underperformed relative to fixed-income securities. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock held by the Fund. A common stock may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. The value of a particular common stock held by the Fund may decline for a number of other reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, the issuer’s historical and prospective earnings, the value of its assets and reduced demand for its goods and services. Also, the prices of common stocks are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks to which the Fund has exposure. Common stock prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Common equity securities in which the Fund may invest are structurally subordinated to preferred stock, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and are therefore inherently more risky than preferred stock or debt instruments of such issuers.

Investments in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and other similar global instruments are generally subject to risks associated with equity securities and investments in foreign securities. Unsponsored ADR, EDR and GDR programs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities. As a result, available information concerning the issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, and the prices of unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Although such investments may be denominated in U.S. dollars, they may carry currency risk because the issuer of the underlying security conducts its business in a foreign currency.

Dividend Risk. There is no guarantee that the companies in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or that dividends, if declared, will remain at current levels or increase over time. Securities that pay dividends may be sensitive to changes in interest rates, and as interest rates rise or fall, the prices of such securities may fall.

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Smaller Capitalization Company Risk. At times, small-cap companies may be out of favor with investors. Compared to larger companies, smaller capitalization companies may depend on a more limited management group, may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. The securities of small-cap companies are often more volatile and less liquid than the securities of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of securities by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns.

Mid- and Large-Cap Companies Risk. At times, mid- and large-cap companies may be out of favor with investors. Compared to smaller companies, large-cap companies may be less responsive to changes and opportunities. Compared to larger companies, mid-cap companies may depend on a more limited management group, may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. The securities of mid-cap companies are often more volatile and less liquid than the securities of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of securities by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns.

Private Companies and Pre-IPO Investments Risk. Investments in private companies, including companies that have not yet issued securities publicly in an initial public offering (“IPO”) (“pre-IPO shares”), involve greater risks than investments in securities of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. Investments in these companies are generally less liquid than investments in securities issued by public companies and may be difficult for the Fund to value. Compared to public companies, private companies may have a more limited management group and limited operating histories with narrower, less established product lines and smaller market shares, which may cause them to be more vulnerable to competitors’ actions, market conditions and consumer sentiment with respect to their products or services, as well as general economic downturns.

In addition, private companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations. The Fund may only have limited access to a private company’s actual financial results and there is no assurance that the information obtained by the Fund is reliable. These companies may not ever issue shares in an IPO and a liquid market for their shares may never develop, which could adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity. If the company does issue shares in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of the Fund’s investment to decrease significantly. Moreover, because securities issued by private companies are generally not freely or publicly tradable, the Fund may not have the opportunity to purchase, or the ability to sell, these securities in the amounts, or at the prices, the Fund desires.

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Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which the Adviser has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.

Growth Stock Risk. Because the prices of most growth stocks are based on future expectations, these stocks tend to be more sensitive than value stocks to bad economic news and negative earnings surprises. Bad economic news or changing investor perceptions may adversely affect growth stocks across several sectors and industries simultaneously.

Value Stock Risk. Value stocks may remain undervalued or may decrease in value during a given period or may not ever realize what the portfolio management team believes to be their full value This may happen, among other reasons, because of a failure to anticipate which stocks or industries would benefit from changing market or economic conditions or investor preferences.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may invest in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available. In addition, from time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

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Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt securities. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks.

Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral and/or segregate cash or other liquid assets; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. See “Use of Leverage - Derivatives”; and “Portfolio Composition—Options—Limitation on Option Writing Strategy.” The need to provide margin or collateral and/or segregate assets could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.

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Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies.

Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

Options Risk. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events, as will the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors.

By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. In the case of an uncovered call option, there

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is a risk of unlimited loss. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying instrument to meet its call obligations and the necessary instruments may be unavailable for purchase. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

Risks Associated with the Fund’s Options Strategy. The ability of the Fund to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted returns is partially dependent on the successful implementation of its options strategy. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

Risks of Writing Options. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. In other words, as the Fund writes covered calls over more of its portfolio, the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation becomes more limited.

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If the Fund writes call options on individual securities or call options on an index that includes securities, in each case, that are not in the Fund’s portfolio or that are not in the same proportion as securities in the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund may experience loss if the price of the security or index increases above the exercise price of the option plus the premium received for writing the option. This loss, theoretically, could be unlimited, since the Fund assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the individual security, index or basket of securities above the exercise price of the option written by the Fund. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying security to meet its call obligations and the necessary securities may be unavailable for purchase. In addition, the purchase of securities to satisfy the exercise of a call option can cause the price of the underlying securities to rise further, sometimes by a significant amount, thereby exacerbating the loss. Additionally, volatility in the market for equity securities, which has been dramatically increased recently for certain stocks, can meaningfully increase the risk of loss associated with options.

When the Fund writes put options, it bears the risk of loss if the value of the underlying stock declines below the exercise price minus the put premium. If the option is exercised, the Fund could incur a loss if it is required to purchase the stock underlying the put option at a price greater than the market price of the stock at the time of exercise plus the put premium the Fund received when it wrote the option. While the Fund’s potential gain in writing a put option is limited to distributions earned on the liquid assets securing the put option plus the premium received from the purchaser of the put option, the Fund risks a loss equal to the entire exercise price of the option minus the put premium.

Exchange-Listed Options Risks. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an exchange-listed option position. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”) may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options).

Over-the-Counter Options Risk. The Fund may write (sell) unlisted OTC options to a significant extent. OTC options differ from exchange-listed options in that they are two-party contracts, with exercise price, premium and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-listed options. The OTC options written by the Fund will not be issued, guaranteed or cleared by the OCC. In addition, the

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Fund’s ability to terminate OTC options may be more limited than with exchange-traded options. Banks, broker-dealers or other financial institutions participating in such transactions may fail to settle a transaction in accordance with the terms of the option as written. In the event of default or insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund may be unable to liquidate an OTC option position.

Limitation on Options Writing Risk. The number of covered call options the Fund can write is limited by the amount of the Fund’s total assets invested in exchange traded equity securities and, in the case of exchange-traded options, is further limited by the fact that all options represent 100 share lots of the underlying common stock. Furthermore, the Fund’s options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. The Fund’s investments in illiquid investments, including private companies and pre-IPO securities, may limit the amount of call options the Fund can write.

Tax Risk. Income on options on individual stocks will generally not be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes until an option is exercised, lapses or is subject to a “closing transaction” (as defined by applicable regulations) pursuant to which the Fund’s obligations with respect to the option are otherwise terminated. If the option lapses without exercise or is otherwise subject to a closing transaction, the premiums received by the Fund from the writing of such options will generally be characterized as short-term capital gain. If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund may recognize taxable gain depending on the exercise price of the option, the option premium, and the tax basis of the security underlying the option. The character of any gain on the sale of the underlying security as short-term or long-term capital gain will depend on the holding period of the Fund in the underlying security. In general, distributions received by Common Stockholders of the Fund that are attributable to short-term capital gains recognized by the Fund from its options writing activities will be taxed to such Common Stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. Because derivative transactions in which the Fund may engage may involve instruments that are not traded on an exchange or cleared through a central counterparty but are instead traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery, in such circumstances. Although the Fund intends to enter into transactions only with counterparties that the Adviser believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that, as a result, a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not

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sustain a loss on a transaction. In the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund’s collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk -- that is, the value of convertible securities will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates; they are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due; and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).

Warrants and Rights Risk. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. The Fund could lose the value of a warrant or right if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrant’s or right’s expiration date. The market for warrants and rights may be very limited and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for warrants and rights.

REITs and Other Real Estate Companies Risk. REIT and other real estate company securities are subject to risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general, including, among other risks: general and local economic conditions; changes in interest rates; declines in property values; defaults by mortgagors or other borrowers and tenants; increases in property taxes and other operating expenses; overbuilding in their sector of the real estate market; fluctuations in rental income; lack of availability of mortgage funds or financing; extended vacancies of properties, especially during economic downturns; changes in tax and regulatory requirements; losses due to environmental liabilities; or casualty or condemnation losses. REITs also are dependent upon the skills of their managers and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency or self-liquidation. Regardless of where a REIT is organized or traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in the region where its properties are located. Domestic REITs could be adversely affected by failure to qualify for tax-free “pass-through” of distributed net investment income and net

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realized gains under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (“Code”) or to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the Code generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities a deduction for 20% of qualified REIT dividends. Regulations provide that a regulated investment company can pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its stockholders. The value of REIT common shares may decline when interest rates rise. REIT and other real estate company securities tend to be small- to mid-cap securities and are subject to the risks of investing in small- to mid-cap securities.

Investment Companies and ETFs Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and ETFs, its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses. An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

Interest Rate Risk. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities or income-oriented equity securities that pay dividends, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.

Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole.

Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

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Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield and may not benefit from any increase in value that might otherwise result from declining interest rates.

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities.

Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers

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for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

Most economies in the Greater China region are generally considered emerging markets and carry the risks associated with emerging markets, as well as risks particular to the region. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the Greater China region as a whole. The economies, industries, and securities and currency markets of the Greater China region may be adversely affected by slow economic activity worldwide, protectionist trade policies, supply chain disruption, political differences within a country or with other countries in the region, dependence on exports and international trade, currency devaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations, restrictions on monetary repatriation, increasing competition from Asia’s low-cost emerging economies, environmental events and natural disasters that may occur in the Greater China region, and military conflicts either in response to social unrest or with other countries.

Risks of Investments in China A-shares through Stock Connect Programs. There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-shares through “Connect Programs” of local stock exchanges in China, namely the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Shanghai Connect Program”) and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Shenzhen Connect Program”). The Chinese investment and banking systems are materially different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. The Connect Programs are subject to daily quota limitations, and an investor cannot purchase and sell the same security on the same trading day, which may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in China A-shares through the Connect Programs and to enter into or exit trades on a timely basis. If either one or both markets involved in a particular Connect Program are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its China A-shares in a timely manner under such Connect Program, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Only certain China A-shares are eligible to be accessed through the Connect Programs. Such securities may lose their eligibility at any time, in which case they could be sold but could no longer be purchased through the Connect Programs.

Further regulations or restrictions, such as limitations on redemptions or suspension of trading, may adversely impact the Connect Programs. The future impact of this integration of Chinese and foreign markets is unclear and the actual effect on the market for trading China A-shares with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is unknown.

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Currency Risk. To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

Leverage Risk. The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased Common Stock net investment income dividends and capital appreciation, but also creates risks for the Common Stockholders. The Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage, if employed, will result in a higher yield on the Common Stock. Any leveraging strategy the Fund employs may not be successful.

Leverage involves risks and special considerations for Common Stockholders, including:

the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV, market price and distribution rate of the Common Stock than a comparable portfolio without leverage;
 
the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the interest or dividend rates on any leverage that the Fund must pay will reduce the return to the common stockholders;
 
the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV of the common stock than if the Fund were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the common stock;
 
when the Fund uses financial leverage, the management fee payable to the Adviser will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage; and
 
leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return.

The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares, but may in the future borrow funds from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, as described in this prospectus. Certain types of leverage the Fund may use may result in the Fund being subject to covenants relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for any debt securities or preferred shares issued by the Fund. The terms of any borrowings or these rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. The Adviser does not believe that these covenants or guidelines will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. See “Use of Leverage.”

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Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.

Short Sale Risk. To effect a short sale, the Fund borrows a security from or through a brokerage firm to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. Short sales, at least theoretically, present a risk of unlimited loss on an individual security basis, particularly in cases where the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short position, since the Fund may be required to buy the security sold short at a time when the security has appreciated in value, and there is potentially no limit to the amount of such appreciation. Because the Fund may invest the proceeds of a short sale, another effect of short selling on the Fund is leverage, in that it amplifies changes in the Fund’s net asset value since it increases the exposure of the Fund to the market. The Fund may not always be able to close out a short position at a favorable time or price. If the Fund covers its short sale at an unfavorable price, the cover transaction is likely to reduce or eliminate any gain, or cause a loss to the Fund. When the Fund is selling a security short, it must maintain a segregated account of cash or high-grade securities equal to the margin requirement. As a result, the Fund may maintain high levels of cash or other liquid assets (such as U.S. Treasury bills, money market instruments, certificates of deposit, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions).

The Fund may utilize the collateral obtained from securities lending for this cash. The need to maintain cash or other liquid assets in segregated accounts could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise.

Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value some investments, SEC rules and applicable accounting protocols may require the Fund to value these investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates.

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Deflation Risk. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time--the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to Common Stockholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

Recent Market Conditions. Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely affect the global economy. Outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, or other similarly infectious diseases may have material adverse impacts on a Fund. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this virus, and other epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future, has negatively affected and may continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. The impact of the outbreak may last for an extended period of time. The current pandemic has accelerated trends toward working remotely and shopping on-line, which may negatively affect the value of office and commercial real estate and companies that have been slow to transition to an on-line business model. The travel, hospitality and public transit industries may suffer long-term negative effects from the pandemic and resulting changes to public behavior.

Governments and central banks have moved to limit these negative economic effects with interventions that are unprecedented in size and scope and may continue to do so, but the ultimate impact of these efforts is uncertain. Governments’ efforts to limit potential negative economic effects of the pandemic may be altered, delayed, or eliminated at inopportune times for political, policy or other reasons. The impact of infectious diseases may be greater in countries that do not move effectively to control them, which may occur for political reasons or because of a lack of health care or economic resources. Health crises caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries. Although promising vaccines have been released, if either vaccines are slow to be distributed or they prove less effective than currently expected, it may take many months before the restoration of full economic activity.

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty and there may be a further increase in the amount of debt due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic relief and public health measures. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, and central banks have reduced rates further in an

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effort to combat the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extremely low or negative interest rates may become more prevalent. In that event, to the extent a Fund has a bank deposit, holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate, or invests its cash in a money market fund holding such instruments, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Because there is little precedent for this situation, it is difficult to predict the impact on various markets of a significant rate increase or other significant policy changes, whether brought about by government policy makers or by dislocations in world markets. For example, because investors may buy equity securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. Also, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. Over the longer term, rising interest rates may present a greater risk than has historically been the case due to the current period of relatively low rates and the effect of government fiscal and monetary policy initiatives and potential market reaction to those initiatives, or their alteration or cessation. Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility, disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.

National economies are increasingly interconnected, as are global financial markets, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. A rise in protectionist trade policies, tariff “wars,” changes to some major international trade agreements and the potential for changes to others, and campaigns to “buy American,” could affect international trade and the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Equity markets in the U.S. and China have been very sensitive to the outlook for resolving the U.S.-China “trade war,” a trend that may continue in the future.

In December 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the European Union (“EU”) signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”) to delineate the terms on which the UK left the EU. The TCA did little to address financial services and products provided by UK entities to customers in the EU, leaving the future of such services uncertain. New trading rules have disrupted the cross-border flow of products and supplies for many businesses; it remains to be seen whether these will be smoothed out with the passage of time or cause long-term damage to affected businesses.

The Fund and the Adviser, as well as many of the companies in which they invest, are subject to regulation by the federal government. Over the past several years, the U.S. has moved away from tighter legislation and regulation impacting businesses and the financial services industry. There is a potential for materially increased regulation in the future, as well as higher taxes or taxes restructured to incentivize different activities. These changes, should they occur, may impose added costs on the Fund and its service providers, and affect the businesses of various portfolio companies, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

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Climate Change. Economists and others have expressed increasing concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. A rise in sea levels, an increase in powerful windstorms and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause coastal properties to lose value or become unmarketable altogether. Economists warn that, unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected coastal zones may not ever recover their value. Large wildfires driven by high winds and prolonged drought may devastate businesses and entire communities and may be very costly to any business found to be responsible for the fire. The new U.S. administration appears concerned about the climate change problem and may focus regulatory and public works projects around those concerns. Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.

Market Discount Risk. The market price of the Fund’s Common Stock will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the secondary market. Because the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for the Fund’s Common Stock in the market, general market and economic circumstances, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether its Common Stock will trade at, below or above NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Common Stockholders bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower than at the time of purchase.

Secondary Market Risk for the Common Stock. The issuance of Common Stock through the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan may have an adverse effect on the secondary market for the Common Stock. The increase in the number of shares outstanding of Common Stock resulting from issuances pursuant to the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan, may put downward pressure on the market price for the Common Stock. When the Common Stock is trading at a premium, the Fund may issue Common Stock that may be sold through private transactions effected on the NYSE or through broker-dealers. The increase in the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock resulting from these offerings may put downward pressure on the market price for shares of Common Stock.

Temporary Defensive Strategies Risk. When the Adviser anticipates unusual market or other conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies as a defensive measure and invest all or a portion of its Managed Assets in cash or cash equivalents or accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in high-yielding long-term securities. In such a case, Common Stockholders of the Fund may be adversely affected and the Fund may not pursue or achieve its investment objectives.

Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, to cause it to engage in certain transactions or to modify its structure. Such provisions may limit the ability of Common Stockholders to sell their shares at a premium over the then-current market prices and may have the effect of inhibiting structural changes to the Fund, such as a conversion to an open-end investment company.

For a detailed discussion of the risks of the Fund’s investment strategy, see “Risks” beginning on page 47.

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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

The following table shows estimated Fund expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to the Fund’s Common Stock. The purpose of the following table and the example below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a holder of the Fund’s Common Stock, would bear directly or indirectly. The expenses shown in the table under “Estimated Annual Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the Fund’s first full year of operations and assume that the Fund issues 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock (representing an aggregate public offering price of $500,000,000). If the Fund issues fewer shares of Common Stock, all other things being equal, these expenses would increase as a percentage of net assets attributable to the Fund’s Common Stock. See “Management of the Fund” and “Distribution Reinvestment Plan.” The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The following table should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown.

Stockholder Transaction Expenses     
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price) (1)
None
Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (2)(3)
None
Distribution Reinvestment Plan Fees (4)
None


     Percentage of Net Assets Attributable to


Common Stock
Estimated Annual Expenses

Management Fees(5)
1.25%
Other Expenses
.10%
Total Annual Expenses
1.35%
____________________
(1)

The Adviser (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay, from its own assets, underwriting compensation of $.60 per share of Common Stock to the Underwriters in connection with this offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay such underwriting compensation paid by the Adviser.

(2)

The Adviser has agreed to pay all organizational expenses of the Fund and all offering costs associated with this offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expenses or offering costs paid by the Adviser.

(3)

The Adviser (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets, a structuring and syndication fee to BofA Securities, Inc. (or an affiliate), a structuring fee to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, a fee to each of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, and may pay certain other qualifying underwriters and dealers a structuring fee, sales incentive fee or other additional compensation in connection with the offering.

(4)

The Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of the reinvestment of distributions will be paid by the Fund. However, you will pay brokerage charges if you direct the Plan Agent to sell your Common Stock held in a distribution reinvestment account. See “Distribution Reinvestment Plan.”

(5)

The Fund has agreed to pay a management fee at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets for the services provided under the Management Agreement. The Fund also has agreed to pay a fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets for services provided under an Administration Agreement.

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Example:

The following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in Common Stock, assuming (1) Total Annual Expenses of 1.35% of net assets attributable to Common Stock and (2) a 5% annual return:(1)



Cumulative Expenses Paid for a Period of:

      1 Year       3 Years       5 Years       10 Years
An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5% annual return throughout the periods
$         14
$         43
$         74
$         162
____________________
(1) The example assumes that the estimated Other Expenses set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses or returns. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be higher or lower than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

THE FUND

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a corporation on February 3, 2021 pursuant to Articles of Incorporation governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. As a newly organized entity, the Fund has no operating history or history of public trading. Its principal office is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor New York, New York 10104-0002, and its telephone number is 877-461-1899.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds of the offering of Common Stock will be approximately $           ($           if the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full). The Adviser has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses and all offering costs associated with this offering. The Adviser (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay underwriting compensation of $.60 per share of Common Stock to the Underwriters in connection with the offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expenses or offering costs paid by the Adviser. The Fund will invest the net proceeds of the offering in accordance with its investment objectives and policies as stated below. It is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds in accordance with its investment objectives and policies within three months after the completion of the offering. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in U.S. government securities or high-quality, short-term money market instruments, including shares of money market funds.

THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Investment Objectives

The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide capital appreciation and income. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives or that its investment strategy will be successful. The investment objectives and, unless otherwise specified, the investment policies and limitations of the Fund are not fundamental. Any investment objective, policy or limitation that is not fundamental may be changed by the Board of Directors of the Fund without stockholder approval.

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Investment Strategy and Policies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies, in any market capitalization range, that are relevant to the theme of investing in NextGen Companies. The Fund considers NextGen Companies to be companies that, in the Adviser’s view, demonstrate significant growth potential from the development, advancement, use or sale of products, processes or services related to NextGen Connectivity.

In selecting companies that the Adviser believes are relevant to the Fund’s investment theme, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that demonstrate certain economic characteristics, including: growth of earnings and/or sales, increases in research and development budgets, and increases in other operating expenses (e.g., sales, general and administrative expenses) related to NextGen Connectivity. In seeking to identify NextGen Companies that use NextGen Connectivity, the Adviser seeks companies with products, processes or services that enable or are enabled by NextGen Connectivity (e.g., connected health care, including remote care and surgery, real-time automation of factories and product distribution centers, virtual reality enabled e-commerce, gaming and other media applications, autonomous vehicles and related connected mobility applications and smart home technology).

The Adviser will utilize disciplined, fundamental, bottom-up securities analysis in an effort to identify those NextGen Companies that it believes are well-positioned to benefit from new business models, products or services related to NextGen Connectivity. Through its fundamental research the Adviser will seek to identify companies with certain characteristics, including: (i) stock prices which appear undervalued relative to long-term cash flow growth potential; (ii) companies that are deemed industry leaders represented by high market share, pricing power, or superior technology and/or business models relative to peers or new entrants; (iii) companies that demonstrate potential for significant improvement in their businesses (e.g., top line growth greater than peers, margin expansion and/or increased cash flow generation); (iv) strong financial characteristics, including growth, margins, and/or capital returns and historic valuations on metrics such as price to cash flow, price to earnings or price to book value; and (v) proven management track records.

NextGen Companies may include companies operating in any industry, including, but not limited to internet software & services, interactive media & services, hardware, communications equipment, semiconductors and semiconductor equipment, media, internet retail, consumer discretionary, healthcare, industrials, diversified telecom services and wireless telecom services. The Fund will concentrate its investments in companies operating in one or more industries within the information technology and communication services groups of industries. See “Investment Objectives, Policies and Limitations” in the SAI for additional information regarding the Fund’s concentration policy.

The Fund may invest in securities of U.S. and foreign (non-U.S.) companies, including companies located in emerging markets, of any market capitalization. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depositary receipts, ETFs, and equity interests in REITs. From time to time, the Fund may invest in shares of companies through IPOs. The Fund may also invest in privately placed or restricted securities (including in Rule 144A securities, which are privately placed securities purchased by qualified institutional buyers), pre-IPO securities, illiquid securities and securities in which no secondary market is readily available, including those of private companies. The Fund currently anticipates that any investments in pre-IPO securities would be in those issued by private companies that the Adviser believes may seek to conduct an initial public offering within two years of the Fund’s investments. Issuers of these securities may not have a class of securities registered, and may not be subject to periodic reporting, pursuant to the Exchange Act. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in illiquid securities. Foreign securities in which the Fund may invest may be U.S. dollar-denominated or non-U.S. dollar-denominated.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in equity securities issued by companies that are not NextGen Companies, as well as in debt securities from any type of issuer and credit rating, including non-investment grade securities (commonly referred to as “junk” or “high yield” securities).

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As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to employ a strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the common stocks in its portfolio and writing (selling) other call and put options on individual common stocks, which may include uncovered call and put options, and, to a lesser extent, writing (selling) call and put options on indices of securities and sectors of securities. This options writing strategy is intended to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted return potential. The Fund’s risk-adjusted return potential factors in the expected amount of investment risk the Fund may be exposed to from its investments. A substantial portion of the options written by the Fund may be OTC options. There is no guarantee that the Fund’s options writing strategy will be successful and/or that the Fund will generate a consistent or specific amount of investment income. The Fund may distribute short-term capital gains and/or return of capital to Common Stockholders in an effort to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital is a distribution by the Fund that exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits and which represents a return of a Common Stockholder’s original investment. To the extent a distribution paid by the Fund represents a return of capital, a Common Stockholder’s cost basis in Fund shares will be reduced, which will increase a capital gain or reduce a capital loss upon sale of those shares. There is no guarantee that the Fund will employ its options writing strategy at all times and under all market conditions.

The Fund may initially write put and call options, the notional amount of which the Fund currently intends would be approximately 10% to 40% of the Fund’s total assets, although this percentage may vary from time to time with market conditions. The notional amount represents the economic exposure provided by the put and call options and represents the number of shares included in the put and call options multiplied by the exercise price. As the Fund writes covered call options over more of its portfolio, its ability to benefit from capital appreciation on the underlying securities may become more limited, and the Fund will lose money to the extent that it writes covered call options and the securities on which it writes these options appreciate above the exercise price of the option and the options are exercised. Therefore, over time, the Adviser may choose to decrease its use of a covered call options writing strategy to the extent that it may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation. The number of covered put and call options on securities the Fund can write is limited by the total assets the Fund holds, and further limited by the fact that all options represent 100 share lots of the underlying common stock. The Fund will also lose money if the price of a security or index on which the Fund has written an uncovered, or “naked”, call or put option appreciates above the option’s exercise price, in the case of a call option, or depreciates below the option’s exercise price, in the case of a put option, by an amount greater than the premium received for writing the option.

Other Strategies: During temporary defensive periods, including the period during which the net proceeds of this offering are being invested, and in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in liquid, short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives under these circumstances.

The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, enter into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currency or currency futures and swap contracts (including, but not limited to, credit default swaps) and may purchase and sell exchange-listed and OTC put and call options on securities and swap contracts, financial indices and futures contracts and use other derivative instruments or management techniques. The Fund may engage in these transactions for duration management and other risk management purposes, including to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio resulting from trends in the securities markets and changes in interest rates or to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of portfolio securities for investment purposes, to establish a position in the securities markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities or to enhance income or gain.

The Fund may lend securities with a value of up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including such loans) to financial institutions that provide cash or equivalent collateral.

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to seek to achieve its investment objectives.

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Portfolio Composition

The Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the following investments. Additional information with respect to the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and certain of the Fund’s portfolio investments is contained in the SAI. There is no guarantee the Fund will buy all of the types of securities or use all of the investment techniques that are described herein and in the SAI.

Equity Securities. The Fund invests in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depositary receipts, ETFs and equity interests in REITs. Common stock represents an equity ownership interest in a company. The Fund may hold or have exposure to common stocks of issuers of any size, including small and medium capitalization stocks. Because the Fund will ordinarily have exposure to common stocks, historical trends would indicate that the Fund’s portfolio and investment returns will be subject at times, and over time, to higher levels of volatility and market and issuer-specific risk than if it invested exclusively in debt securities. The Fund intends to also employ a strategy, as described below, of writing call and put options on common stocks.

Options. An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. Certain options, known as “American style” options may be exercised at any time during the term of the option. Other options, known as “European style” options, may be exercised only on the expiration date of the option. As the writer of an option, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the value of the assets underlying the option.

If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, underlying security, exercise price and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund may sell call or put options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the call or put option when purchased. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. Net gains from the Fund’s options strategy will be short-term capital gains which, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will constitute net investment company taxable income.

Call Options. The Fund intends to follow a call options writing strategy intended to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted returns. The strategy involves writing both covered and other call options. A call option written by the Fund on a security is considered a covered call option where the Fund owns the security underlying the call option. Unlike a written covered call option, other written options will not provide the Fund with any potential appreciation on an underlying security to offset any loss the Fund may experience if the option is exercised.

Over time, as the Fund writes covered call options over more of its portfolio, its ability to benefit from capital appreciation on the underlying securities may become more limited, and the Fund will lose money to the extent that it writes covered call options and the securities on which it writes these options appreciate above the exercise price of the option. Therefore, over time, the Adviser may choose to decrease its use of a covered call options writing strategy to the extent that it may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation.

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For any written call option where the Fund does not own the underlying security, the option will be considered “covered” if the Fund has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or liquid securities in such amount are segregated on the Fund’s books) or the Fund holds a call on the same security where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference is segregated on the Fund’s books. A call option whose strike price is above the current price of the underlying stock is called “out-of-the-money.” Most of the options that will be sold by the Fund are expected to be out-of-the-money, allowing for potential appreciation in addition to the proceeds from the sale of the option. An option whose strike price is below the current price of the underlying stock is called “in-the-money” and could be sold by the Fund as a defensive measure to protect against a possible decline in the underlying stock.

For conventional listed call options, the option’s expiration date can be up to nine months from the date the call options are first listed for trading. Longer-term call options can have expiration dates up to three years from the date of listing. It is anticipated that, under certain circumstances when deemed at the Adviser’s discretion to be in the best interest of the Fund, options that are written against Fund stock holdings will be repurchased prior to the option’s expiration date, generating a gain or loss in the options. If the options were not to be repurchased, the option holder would exercise their rights and buy the stock from the Fund at the strike price if the stock traded at a higher price than the strike price. In general, when deemed at the Adviser’s discretion to be in the best interests of the Fund, the Fund may enter into transactions, including closing transactions, that would allow it to continue to hold its common stocks rather than allowing them to be called away by the option holders.

Put Options. Put options are contracts that give the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to sell to the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. Put option strategies may produce a higher return than covered call writing, but may involve a higher degree of risk and potential volatility.

When writing a put option on a security, the Fund will segregate on its books cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the option exercise price or the Fund may hold a put option on the same security as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided an amount equal to the difference in cash or liquid securities is segregated on the Fund’s books. Unlike a covered call option, a put option written in this manner will not provide the Fund with any appreciation to offset any loss the Fund experiences if the put option is exercised.

Limitation on Options Writing Strategy. The Fund may write put and call options, the notional amount of which the Fund currently anticipates would be approximately 10% to 40% of the Fund’s total assets, although this percentage may vary from time to time with market conditions. The Fund generally writes options that are “out of the money” – in other words, the strike price of a written call option will be greater than the market price of the underlying security on the date that the option is written, or, for a written put option, less than the market price of the underlying security on the date that the option is written; however, the Fund may also write “in the money” options for defensive or other purposes.

The number of put and call options on securities the Fund can write is limited by the total assets the Fund holds, and further limited by the fact that all exchange-listed options represent 100 share lots of the underlying common stock. The Fund’s exchange-listed option transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be limited by options written

35


or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”). The Fund will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by the third quarter of 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose new limits on the amount of derivatives and short sales that the Fund can enter into; eliminate the asset segregation framework the Fund initially intends to use to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act; treat certain derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits might be alleged by a regulator to be a statutory violation; and potentially require the Fund to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The extent of the impact of such new regulations on the Fund, including the ability of the Fund to continue to utilize derivatives and short sales in an amount similar to its initial use of such transactions, remains uncertain as of the date of this Prospectus.

Preferred Securities. The Fund may invest in preferred securities. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if dividends are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are generally more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Income payments on typical preferred securities currently outstanding are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accumulate even if not declared by the board of directors or otherwise made payable. In such a case, all accumulated dividends must be paid before any dividend on the common stock can be paid. However, some traditional preferred stocks are non-cumulative, in which case dividends do not accumulate and need not ever be paid. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an obligation to make up any arrearages to its shareholders. Should an issuer of a non-cumulative preferred stock held by the Fund determine not to pay dividends on such stock, the amount of dividends the Fund pays may be adversely affected. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on the preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

Preferred shareholders usually have no right to vote for corporate directors or on other matters. Shares of preferred stock have a liquidation value that generally equals the original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market value of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes impacting companies in the utilities and financial services sectors, which are prominent issuers of preferred securities, and by actual and anticipated changes in tax laws, such as changes in corporate income tax rates or the “Dividends Received Deduction.” Because the claim on an issuer’s earnings represented by preferred securities may become onerous when interest rates fall below the rate payable on such securities, the issuer may redeem the securities. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, the Fund’s holdings, if any, of higher rate-paying fixed rate preferred securities may be reduced and the Fund may be unable to acquire securities of comparable credit quality paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

Convertible Securities. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security or debt obligation that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. Convertible securities generally have features of, and risks associated with, both equity and fixed income instruments. As such, the value of most convertible securities will vary with changes in the price of, and will be subject to the risks associated with, the underlying common stock. Additionally, convertible securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to pay principal or interest when due and the value of the convertible security may change based on the issuer’s credit rating.

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A convertible security entitles the holder to receive the interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, such securities ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower than the yield on non-convertible debt. Convertible securities are usually subordinated to comparable non-convertible securities and other senior debt obligations of the issuer, but rank senior to common stock in a company’s capital structure. The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison to the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth if converted into the underlying common stock.

Warrants and Rights. Warrants and rights may be acquired by the Fund in connection with other securities or separately. Warrants are securities permitting, but not obligating, their holder to subscribe for other securities or commodities and provide the Fund with the right to purchase at a later date other securities of the issuer. Rights are similar to warrants but typically are issued by a company to existing holders of its stock and provide those holders the right to purchase additional shares of stock at a later date. Rights also normally have a shorter duration than warrants. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants and rights may be more speculative than certain other types of investments and entail risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional equity instrument. While warrants and rights are generally considered equity securities, because the value of a warrant or right is derived, at least in part, from the value of the underlying securities, they may be considered hybrid instruments that have features of both equity securities and derivative instruments. However, there are characteristics of warrants and rights that differ from derivatives, including that the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. The purchase of warrants and rights involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of the warrants or rights if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ or rights’ expiration date because warrants and rights cease to have value if they are not exercised prior to their expiration date. Also, the purchase of warrants and rights involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrants or rights added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying security. The market for warrants or rights may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price.

Depositary Receipts. The Fund may invest in ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”). ADRs (sponsored or unsponsored) are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Most ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars and are traded on a U.S. stock exchange. However, they are subject to the risk of fluctuation in the currency exchange rate if, as is often the case, the underlying securities are denominated in foreign currency. EDRs are receipts issued by a European bank evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in a foreign currency. GDRs are receipts issued by either a U.S. or non-U.S. banking institution evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities and are often denominated in U.S. dollars. IDRs are receipts typically issued by a foreign bank or trust company evidencing its ownership of the underlying foreign securities. Depositary receipts involve many of the same risks of investing directly in foreign securities, including currency risks and risks of foreign investing.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers and foreign branches of U.S. banks, including negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), bankers’ acceptances, and commercial paper. Foreign issuers are issuers organized and doing business principally outside the United States and include banks, non-U.S. governments, and quasi-governmental organizations. Investments in foreign securities involve sovereign and other risks, in addition to the credit and market risks normally associated with domestic securities. These risks include the possibility of adverse political and economic developments (including political or social instability, nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation); the potentially adverse effects of the unavailability of public information regarding issuers, less governmental supervision and regulation of financial markets, reduced liquidity of certain financial markets, and the lack of uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards or the application of standards that are different or less stringent than those applied in the United

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States; different laws and customs governing securities tracking; and possibly limited access to the courts to enforce the Fund’s rights as an investor. It may be difficult to invoke legal process or to enforce contractual obligations abroad, and it may be especially difficult to sue a foreign government in the courts of that country.

Emerging Markets Investments. The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries, including securities denominated in currencies of emerging market countries. Historically, the markets of emerging market countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed countries, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, emerging market countries may have less stable governments; may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets; and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of some emerging market countries may be reliant on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions and may suffer from high and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

Restricted Securities and Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may invest in “restricted securities,” which generally are securities that may be resold to the public only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration. Regulation S under the 1933 Act is an exemption from registration that permits, under certain circumstances, the resale of restricted securities in offshore transactions, subject to certain conditions, and Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (“Rule 144A”) is an exemption that permits the resale of certain restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.

Since its adoption by the SEC in 1990, Rule 144A has facilitated trading of restricted securities among qualified institutional investors. To the extent restricted securities held by the Fund qualify under Rule 144A and an institutional market develops for those securities, the Fund expects that it will be able to dispose of the securities without registering the resale of such securities under the 1933 Act. However, to the extent that a robust market for such 144A securities does not develop, or a market develops but experiences periods of illiquidity, investments in Rule 144A securities could increase the level of the Fund’s illiquidity.

Where an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act is unavailable, or where an institutional market is limited, the Fund may, in certain circumstances, be permitted to require the issuer of restricted securities held by the Fund to file a registration statement to register the resale of such securities under the 1933 Act. In such case, the Fund will typically be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to resell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, or the value of the security were to decline, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities for which no market exists are priced by a method that the Board believes accurately reflects fair value.

Private Companies and Pre-IPO Investments. Investments in private companies, including Pre-IPO shares involve greater risks than investments in securities of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. Investments in these companies are generally less liquid than investments in securities issued by public companies and may be difficult for the Fund to value. Compared to public companies, private companies may have a more limited management group and limited operating histories with narrower, less established product lines and smaller market shares, which may cause them to be more vulnerable to competitors’ actions, market conditions and consumer sentiment with respect to their products or services, as well as general economic downturns. In addition, private companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations. This could lead to bankruptcy or liquidation of such private company or the dilution or subordination of the Fund’s investment in such private company. Additionally, there is significantly less information available about private companies’ business models, quality of management, earnings growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate their investment prospects and the little public information available about such companies

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may not be reliable. Because financial reporting obligations for private companies are not as rigorous as public companies, it may be difficult to fully assess the rights and values of certain securities issued by private companies. The Fund may only have limited access to a private company’s actual financial results and there is no assurance that the information obtained by the Fund would be reliable. Although there is a potential for pre-IPO shares to increase in value if the company does issue shares in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of the Fund’s investment to decrease significantly. Moreover, because securities issued by private companies shares are generally not freely or publicly tradable, the Fund may not have the opportunity to purchase or the ability to sell these shares in the amounts or at the prices the Fund desires. The private companies the Fund may invest in may not ever issue shares in an IPO and a liquid market for their pre-IPO shares may never develop, which may negatively affect the price at which the Fund can sell these shares and make it more difficult to sell these shares, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity. Furthermore, these investments may be subject to additional contractual restrictions on resale that would prevent the Fund from selling the company’s securities for a period of time following any IPO. The Fund’s investment in a private company’s securities will involve investing in restricted securities. If the Fund invests in private companies or issuers, there is a possibility that NBIA may obtain access to material non-public information about an issuer of private placement securities, which may limit NBIA’s ability to sell such securities, could negatively impact NBIA’s ability to manage the Fund since NBIA may be required to sell other securities to meet redemptions, or could adversely impact the Fund’s performance.

Securities of ETFs and Other Exchange-Traded Vehicles. The Fund may invest in the securities of ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles that are traded on an exchange and that hold a portfolio of securities or other financial instruments (collectively, “exchange-traded investment vehicles”). When investing in the securities of exchange-traded investment vehicles, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to all the risks of the portfolio securities or other financial instruments they hold. The performance of an exchange-traded investment vehicle will be reduced by transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the exchange-traded investment vehicle to service providers. ETFs are investment companies that are registered as open-end management companies or unit investment trusts. The limits that apply to the Fund’s investment in securities of other investment companies generally apply also to the Fund’s investment in securities of ETFs.

Shares of exchange-traded investment vehicles are listed and traded in the secondary market. Many exchange-traded investment vehicles are passively managed and seek to provide returns that track the price and yield performance of a particular index or otherwise provide exposure to an asset class (e.g., currencies or commodities). Although such exchange-traded investment vehicles may invest in other instruments, they largely hold the securities (e.g., common stocks) of the relevant index or financial instruments that provide exposure to the relevant asset class. The share price of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not track its specified market index, if any, and may trade below its NAV. An active secondary market in the shares of an exchange-traded investment vehicle may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions, or other reasons. There can be no assurance that the shares of an exchange-traded investment vehicle will continue to be listed on an active exchange.

REITs. REITs are subject to certain risks which differ from an investment in common stocks. REITs are financial vehicles that pool investors’ capital to purchase or finance real estate. REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types (e.g., hotels, shopping malls, residential complexes and office buildings). The market value of REIT shares and the ability of REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including rising interest rates, changes in the national, state and local economic climate and real estate conditions, perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties, the ability of the owners to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance, the cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, increased competition from new properties, the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws, changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses, adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies, adverse changes in zoning laws and other factors beyond the control of the REIT issuers. In addition, distributions received by the Fund from REITs may consist of dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. As REITs generally pay a higher rate of dividends (on

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a pre-tax basis) than operating companies, to the extent application of the Fund’s investment strategy results in the Fund investing in REIT shares, the percentage of the Fund’s dividend income received from REIT shares will likely exceed the percentage of the Fund’s portfolio which is comprised of REIT shares.

Corporate Bonds. Corporate bonds are debt obligations issued by corporations. Corporate bonds may be either secured or unsecured. Collateral used for secured debt includes real property, machinery, equipment, accounts receivable, stocks, bonds or notes. If a bond is unsecured, it is known as a debenture. Bondholders, as creditors, have a prior legal claim over common and preferred stockholders as to both income and assets of the corporation for the principal and interest due them and may have priority over other creditors if liens or mortgages are involved. Interest on corporate bonds may be fixed or floating, or the bonds may be zero coupons. Interest on corporate bonds is typically paid semi-annually and is fully taxable to the bondholder. Corporate bonds contain elements of both interest rate risk and credit risk. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and may also be affected by the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. Corporate bonds usually yield more than government or agency bonds due to the presence of credit risk.

High Yield Securities. Subject to its investment policies, the Fund may invest without limit in securities rated, at the time of investment, below investment grade quality such as those rated Ba or below by Moody’s Investor’s Service Inc. (“Moody’s”), BB or below by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), or securities comparably rated by other rating agencies or in unrated securities determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Such securities, sometimes referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds, are predominantly speculative with respect to the capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the security and generally involve greater price volatility than securities in higher rating categories. Often the protection of interest and principal payments with respect to such securities may be very moderate and issuers of such securities face major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.

Lower grade securities, though high yielding, are characterized by high risk. They may be subject to certain risks with respect to the issuing entity and to greater market fluctuations than certain lower yielding, higher rated securities. The secondary market for lower grade securities may be less liquid than that of higher rated securities. Adverse conditions could make it difficult at times for the Fund to sell certain securities or could result in lower prices than those used in calculating the Fund’s NAV.

The prices of fixed-income securities generally vary inversely related to interest rate changes; however, the price volatility caused by fluctuating interest rates of securities also is inversely related to the coupons of such securities. Accordingly, below investment grade securities may be relatively less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher quality securities of comparable maturity because of their higher coupon. The investor receives this higher coupon in return for bearing greater credit risk. The higher credit risk associated with below investment grade securities potentially can have a greater effect on the value of such securities than may be the case with higher quality issues of comparable maturity.

Direct Debt Instruments. Direct debt includes interests in loans, notes and other interests in amounts owed to financial institutions by borrowers, such as companies and governments, including emerging market countries. Direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by corporate, governmental, or other borrowers (including emerging market countries) to lenders or lending syndicates. Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest. The borrower may be in financial distress or may default. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Participations in debt instruments may involve a risk of insolvency of the selling bank. In addition, there may be fewer legal protections for owners of participation interests than for direct lenders. Direct indebtedness of developing countries involves

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a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. Direct debt instruments may have floating interest rates. These interest rates will vary depending on the terms of the underlying loan and market conditions.

Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund’s shares of Common Stock are priced in U.S. dollars and the distributions paid by the Fund to Common Stockholders are paid in U.S. dollars. However, a portion of the Fund’s assets may be denominated in non-U.S. currencies and the income received by the Fund from such securities will be paid in non-U.S. currencies. The Fund also may invest in or gain exposure to non-U.S. currencies for investment or hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, non-U.S. currencies will be subject to currency risk, which is the risk that fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may (but is not required to) hedge some or all of its exposure to non-U.S. currencies through the use of derivative strategies, including forward foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in such transactions at any given time or from time to time when they would be beneficial. Although the Fund has the flexibility to engage in such transactions, the Adviser may determine not to do so or to do so only in unusual circumstances or market conditions. These transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for the Fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies. The Fund may also use derivatives contracts for purposes of increasing exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another.

U.S. Dollar-Denominated Foreign Debt Securities. These are securities of foreign issuers (including corporations, banks, governments and quasi-governmental organizations) and foreign branches of U.S. banks, including negotiable CDs, bankers’ acceptances, and commercial paper. While investments in foreign securities are intended to reduce risk by providing further diversification, such investments involve sovereign and other risks, in addition to the credit and market risks normally associated with domestic securities. These additional risks include the possibility of adverse political and economic developments (including political instability, nationalization, expropriation and confiscatory taxation) and the potentially adverse effects of unavailability of public information regarding issuers, less governmental supervision and regulation of financial markets, reduced liquidity of certain financial markets, and the lack of uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards or the application of standards that are different or less stringent than those applied in the United States. It may be difficult to invoke legal process or to enforce contractual obligations abroad.

Foreign Currency-Denominated Securities. Foreign currency-denominated securities are denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, including (1) CDs (including similar time deposits), commercial paper, and bankers’ acceptances issued by foreign banks, (2) obligations of other corporations, and (3) obligations of foreign governments, their subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities, international agencies, and supranational entities. Investing in foreign currency-denominated securities involves the special risks associated with investing in non-U.S. issuers, as described in the preceding section, and the additional risks of (a) adverse changes in foreign exchange rates and (b) adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which could prevent cash from being brought back to the United States). Additionally, dividends and interest payable on foreign securities (and gains realized on disposition thereof) may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from those payments.

Foreign securities often trade with less frequency and in less volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than apply to domestic custody arrangements and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions.

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures. In certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of the Fund to make intended security

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purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

Interest rates prevailing in other countries may affect the prices of foreign securities and exchange rates for foreign currencies. Local factors, including the strength of the local economy, the demand for borrowing, the government’s fiscal and monetary policies, and the international balance of payments, often affect interest rates in other countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments position.

Illiquid Securities. Generally, an illiquid security is any investment that may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid securities may include unregistered or other restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in greater than seven days. Illiquid securities may also include commercial paper under section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, and Rule 144A securities (restricted securities that may be traded freely among qualified institutional buyers pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the securities laws); these securities are considered illiquid unless the Adviser determines they are liquid. Most such securities held by the Fund are deemed liquid. Generally, foreign securities freely tradable in their principal market are not considered restricted or illiquid even if they are not registered in the United States. Illiquid securities may be difficult for the Fund to value or dispose of due to the absence of an active trading market. The sale of some illiquid securities by the Fund may be subject to legal restrictions, which could be costly to the Fund.

Short Sales. The Fund may use short sales for hedging and non-hedging purposes. To effect a short sale, the Fund borrows a security from or through a brokerage firm to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obliged to replace the borrowed security by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender any dividends on the borrowed security and may be required to pay loan fees or interest. The Fund may realize a gain if the security declines in price between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will incur a loss if the price of the security increases between those dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss will be increased, by the amount of any premium or interest the Fund is required to pay in connection with a short sale. A short position may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the securities sold short and the securities being hedged.

The Fund may also make short sales against-the-box, in which it sells short securities only if it owns or has the right to obtain without payment of additional consideration an equal amount of the same type of securities sold.

The effect of short selling is similar to the effect of leverage. Short selling may amplify changes in the Fund’s NAV. Short selling may also produce higher than normal portfolio turnover, which may result in increased transaction costs to the Fund.

When the Fund is selling stocks short, it must maintain a segregated account of cash or high-grade securities that, together with any collateral (exclusive of short sale proceeds) that it is required to deposit with the securities lender or the executing broker, is at least equal to the value of the shorted securities, marked to market daily. As a result, the Fund may need to maintain high levels of cash or liquid assets (such as Treasury Department bills, money market accounts, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions).

Securities Lending. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to banks, brokerage firms, and other institutional investors, provided that cash or equivalent collateral, initially equal to at least 102% (105% in the case of foreign securities) of the market value of the loaned securities, is maintained by the borrower with the Fund or with the

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Fund’s lending agent, which holds the collateral on the Fund’s behalf. Thereafter, cash or equivalent collateral, equal to at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities, is to be continuously maintained by the borrower with the Fund. The Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income, or it may receive an agreed upon amount of interest income from a borrower that has delivered equivalent collateral. During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund an amount equivalent to any dividends or interest paid on such securities. These loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower. The Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan and may pay a negotiated portion of the interest earned on the cash or equivalent collateral to the borrower. The Fund does not have the right to vote securities while they are on loan. However, it is the Fund’s policy to attempt to terminate loans in time to vote those proxies that the Fund has determined are material to the interests of the Fund. The Adviser believes the risk of loss on these transactions is slight because if a borrower were to default for any reason, the collateral should satisfy the obligation. However, as with other extensions of secured credit, loans of portfolio securities involve some risk of loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially.

Cash Positions. In anticipation of or in response to adverse market conditions, for cash management purposes, during a reasonable start-up period following the completion of this offering, during the wind-down period, or for defensive purposes, the Fund may temporarily hold all or a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments, shares of money market funds or bonds or other debt securities. Doing so may help the Fund avoid losses but may mean lost opportunities for the Fund to achieve its investment objectives. A reasonable start-up period following any offering would not be expected to exceed three months.

Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest its cash reserves will generally consist of obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, repurchase agreements collateralized by such obligations, commercial paper and shares of money market funds, including money market funds. To the extent the Fund purchases shares of a money market fund, the Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of the advisory fees and other operating expenses of such fund.

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. It is not the Fund’s policy to engage in transactions with the objective of seeking profits from short-term trading. However, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading when considered appropriate by the Adviser, which may cause the Fund to have a high portfolio turnover rate. This may result in increased transaction costs and realized capital gains. There are no limits on the rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to the length of time held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund, which would reduce the amount of income available for distributions or interest payments. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund’s realization of net short-term capital gains that, when distributed to stockholders, will be taxable as ordinary income.

Fundamental Investment Policies

The Fund has adopted certain fundamental investment policies designed to limit investment risk. These fundamental limitations may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Stock and, if issued, preferred stock voting as a single class, as well as by the vote of a majority of any outstanding preferred stock tabulated separately. A “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever of (i) or (ii) is less. See “Investment Objectives, Policies and Limitations” and “Investment Strategies, Techniques and Risks” in the Statement of Additional Information for a complete list of the fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies of the Fund.

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USE OF LEVERAGE

The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares. The Fund is, however, permitted to borrow money or issue debt securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its Managed Assets (50% of its net assets), or issue preferred shares in an amount up to 50% of its Managed Assets (100% of its net assets). If the Fund uses a combination of borrowing money and issuing preferred shares, the maximum allowable leverage will be between 33 1/3% and 50% (but in no event more than 50%) of the Fund’s Managed Assets based on the relative amounts borrowed or preferred shares issued. “Managed Assets” means the Fund’s total assets minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. For the avoidance of doubt, total assets include assets attributable to the use of leverage. Although it has no present intention to do so, the Fund reserves the right to borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, in the future if it believes that market conditions would be conducive to the successful implementation of a leveraging strategy through borrowing money or issuing debt securities or preferred shares. Any such leveraging will not be fully achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of leverage have been invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

The use of leverage, if employed, can create risks. When leverage is employed, the NAV and market price of the Fund’s Common Stock and the yield to Common Stockholders will be more volatile than if leverage were not used. If the Fund uses leverage to invest in leveraged instruments, the effects of leverage on volatility might be compounded. Changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, including securities bought with the proceeds of leverage, will be borne entirely by the Common Stockholders. If there is a net decrease or increase in the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio, leverage will decrease or increase, as the case may be, the NAV of Common Stock to a greater extent than if the Fund did not utilize leverage. A reduction in the Fund’s NAV may cause a reduction in the market price of its shares. During periods in which the Fund is using leverage, the fee paid to the Adviser for advisory services will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage, because the fees paid will be calculated on the basis of the Fund’s Managed Assets, which includes the proceeds from leverage. Any leveraging strategy the Fund employs may not be successful. See “Risks—Leverage Risk.”

Certain types of leverage the Fund may use may result in the Fund being subject to covenants relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by one or more lenders or by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for any short-term debt securities or preferred shares issued by the Fund. The terms of any borrowings or rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. The Adviser does not believe that these covenants or guidelines will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives and policies if the Fund were to utilize leverage.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities, the Fund would have an asset coverage ratio (as defined in the 1940 Act) of less than 300% with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets) or less than 200% with respect to senior securities representing preferred stock (i.e., for every dollar of preferred stock outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least two dollars of assets). The 1940 Act also provides that the Fund may not declare distributions or purchase its stock (including through tender offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage ratio of less than 300% or 200%, as applicable. Under the 1940 Act, certain short-term borrowings (such as for cash management purposes) are not subject to these limitations if (i) repaid within 60 days, (ii) not extended or renewed and (iii) not in excess of 5% of the total assets of the Fund. However, the Fund also may enter into other transactions that are not currently subject to the leverage limitations of the 1940 Act but that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, certain derivative transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions.

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Credit Facility

The Fund is permitted to leverage its portfolio by entering into one or more credit facilities. If the Fund enters into a credit facility, the Fund may be required to prepay outstanding amounts or incur a penalty rate of interest upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Fund would also likely have to indemnify the lenders under the credit facility against liabilities they may incur in connection therewith. In addition, the Fund expects that any credit facility would contain covenants that, among other things, likely would limit the Fund’s ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change certain of its investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations, and require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the 1940 Act. The Fund may be required to pledge its assets and to maintain a portion of its assets in cash or high-grade securities as a reserve against interest or principal payments and expenses. The Fund expects that any credit facility would have customary covenant, negative covenant and default provisions. There can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into an agreement for a credit facility, or one on terms and conditions representative of the foregoing, or that additional material terms will not apply. In addition, if entered into, a credit facility may in the future be replaced or refinanced by one or more credit facilities having substantially different terms or by the issuance of preferred shares.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio investments subject to the investment restrictions set forth herein. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon price, date and interest payment. At the time the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may establish and maintain a segregated account with the custodian containing, or designate on its books and records, cash and/or liquid assets having a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). If the Fund establishes and maintains such a segregated account, or earmarks such assets as described, a reverse repurchase agreement will not be considered a senior security under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be considered a borrowing by the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act or the Fund’s limitation on borrowing. The use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements involves many of the same risks of leverage since the proceeds derived from such reverse repurchase agreements will be invested in additional securities. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities acquired in connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase. Also, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale by the Fund in connection with the reverse repurchase agreement may decline in price.

If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such decision. Also, the Fund would bear the risk of loss to the extent that the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement are less than the value of the securities subject to such agreement.

The Fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty that purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Fund’s repurchase of the underlying security.

Preferred Shares

The Fund is permitted to leverage its portfolio by issuing preferred shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares if, immediately after such issuance, the liquidation value of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares exceeds 50% of its assets (including the proceeds from the issuance) less liabilities other than borrowings (i.e., the value of the Fund’s assets must be at least 200% of the liquidation value of its

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outstanding preferred shares). In addition, the Fund would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its shares of Common Stock shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s assets less liabilities other than borrowings is at least 200% of such liquidation value.

The Fund expects that preferred shares, if issued, would pay adjustable rate dividends based on shorter-term interest rates, which would be redetermined periodically by a fixed spread or remarketing process, subject to a maximum rate which would increase over time in the event of an extended period of unsuccessful remarketing. The adjustment period for preferred share dividends could be as short as one day or as long as a year or more. Preferred shares, if issued, could include a liquidity feature that allows holders of preferred shares to have their shares purchased by a liquidity provider in the event that sell orders have not been matched with purchase orders and successfully settled in a remarketing. The Fund expects that it would pay a fee to the provider of this liquidity feature, which would be borne by Common Stockholders of the Fund. The terms of such liquidity feature could require the Fund to redeem preferred shares still owned by the liquidity provider following a certain period of continuous, unsuccessful remarketing, which may adversely impact the Fund.

If preferred shares are issued, the Fund may, to the extent possible, purchase or redeem preferred shares from time to time to the extent necessary in an effort to maintain asset coverage of any preferred shares of at least 200%. In addition, as a condition to obtaining ratings on the preferred shares, the terms of any preferred shares issued are expected to include asset coverage maintenance provisions which will require the redemption of the preferred shares in the event of non-compliance by the Fund and may also prohibit dividends and other distributions on the Common Stock in such circumstances. In order to meet redemption requirements, the Fund may have to liquidate portfolio securities. Such liquidations and redemptions would cause the Fund to incur related transaction costs and could result in capital losses to the Fund. Prohibitions on dividends and other distributions on the Fund’s Common Stock could impair the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, two of the Directors will be elected by the holders of preferred shares voting separately as a class. The remaining Directors will be elected by Common Stockholders and holders of preferred shares voting together as a single class. In the event the Fund failed to pay dividends on preferred shares for two years, holders of preferred shares would be entitled to elect a majority of the Directors.

If the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund expects that it will be subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares issued by the Fund. These guidelines are expected to impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these guidelines would impede the Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

Derivatives

The Fund may enter into derivative transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them. Derivative transactions that the Fund may enter into and the risks associated with them are described elsewhere in this prospectus. The Fund cannot assure you that investments in derivative transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them will result in a higher return on its Common Stock.

To the extent the terms of such transactions obligate the Fund to make payments, the Fund may earmark or segregate cash or liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions or otherwise cover such transactions in accordance with applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC. If the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions is represented by the notional amounts of such investments, the Fund would segregate or earmark cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to such notional amounts, and if the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions is represented by the market value of the Fund’s current obligations, the Fund would segregate or earmark cash or liquid assets having a market value at least

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equal to such current obligations. To the extent the terms of such transactions obligate the Fund to deliver particular securities to extinguish the Fund’s obligations under such transactions the Fund may “cover” its obligations under such transactions by either (i) owning the securities or collateral underlying such transactions or (ii) having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities or collateral without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, having earmarked or segregated an appropriate amount of cash or liquid assets). Such earmarking, segregation or cover is intended to provide the Fund with available assets to satisfy its obligations under such transactions. As a result of such earmarking, segregation or cover, the Fund’s obligations under such transactions will not be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act, or considered borrowings subject to the Fund’s limitations on borrowings, but may create leverage for the Fund. To the extent that the Fund’s obligations under such transactions are not so earmarked, segregated or covered, such obligations may be considered “senior securities representing indebtedness” under the 1940 Act and therefore subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement.

These earmarking, segregation or cover requirements can result in the Fund maintaining securities positions it would otherwise liquidate, segregating or earmarking assets at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so or otherwise restrict portfolio management.

On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4. The Fund will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by the third quarter of 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose new limits on the amount of derivatives and short sales that the Fund can enter into; eliminate the asset segregation framework the Fund initially intends to use to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act; treat certain derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits might be alleged by a regulator to be a statutory violation; and potentially require the Fund to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The extent of the impact of such new regulations on the Fund, including the ability of the Fund to continue to utilize derivatives and short sales in an amount similar to its initial use of such transactions, remains uncertain as of the date of this Prospectus.

Temporary Borrowings

The Fund may also borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of distributions or the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Fund securities.

RISKS

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The 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 Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Your Common Stock at any point in time may be worth less than the amount you invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and other distributions.

Newly Organized

The Fund is newly organized and has no operating history or history of public trading.

Market and Investment Risk

An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including possible loss of the entire amount that you invest. The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries

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represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in political conditions, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously.

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its stockholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their Common Stock. Instead, the Common Stock will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of factors relating to the Fund such as distribution levels and stability, leverage, market supply and demand and similar factors relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The market price of the Common Stock may also be affected by general market or economic conditions, including market trends affecting securities values generally or values of closed-end fund shares more specifically. Shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV.

Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk

The Fund is scheduled to terminate on or about the Termination Date (unless it is converted to a perpetual fund). The Fund is not a so called “target date” or “life cycle” fund whose asset allocation becomes more conservative over time as its target date, often associated with retirement, approaches. In addition, the Fund is not a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original NAV on the termination date. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors that purchase Common Stock in this offering their initial investment of $20.00 per share of Common Stock on the Termination Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer, and such investors and investors that purchase Common Stock after the completion of this offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination or in an Eligible Tender Offer.

The Fund is not required to conduct an Eligible Tender Offer. If the Fund conducts an Eligible Tender Offer, there can be no assurance that the number of tendered shares of Common Stock would not result in the Fund’s net assets totaling less than the Termination Threshold, in which case the Eligible Tender Offer will be terminated, no Common Stock will be repurchased pursuant to the Eligible Tender Offer and the Fund will terminate on or before the Termination Date (subject to possible extensions). Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer in which the number of tendered shares of Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets equaling or totaling greater than the Termination Threshold, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without a vote of Common Stockholders. Thereafter, the Fund will have a perpetual existence. The Fund is not required to conduct additional tender offers following an Eligible Tender Offer and conversion to a perpetual structure. Therefore, remaining Common Stockholders may not have another opportunity to participate in a tender offer or exchange their Common Stock for the then-existing NAV of Common Stock. Common Stock of closed-end management investment companies frequently trades at a discount from their NAV and as a result remaining Common Stockholders may only be able to sell their Common Stock at a discount to NAV. The Adviser may have a conflict of interest in recommending to the Board of Directors that the limited term structure be eliminated and the Fund have a perpetual existence.

In order to pay for Common Stock to be purchased in an Eligible Tender Offer or to liquidate the portfolio in connection with the Fund’s termination, the Fund will be required to sell its assets. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities when it otherwise would not, including at times when market conditions are not favorable, which may cause the Fund to lose money. The Fund may receive proceeds from the disposition of portfolio investments that are less than the valuations of such investments by the Fund and, in particular, losses from the disposition of illiquid securities may be significant. The disposition of portfolio investments by the Fund could also cause market prices of such instruments, and hence the NAV and market price of the Common Stock, to decline. In addition, disposition of portfolio investments will cause the Fund to incur increased brokerage and related transaction expenses.

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Moreover, in conducting such portfolio transactions, the Fund may need to deviate from its investment policies and may not achieve its investment objectives. The Fund’s portfolio composition may change as its portfolio holdings mature or are called or sold in anticipation of an Eligible Tender Offer or the Termination Date. During such period(s), it is possible that the Fund will hold a greater percentage of its total assets in shorter term and lower yielding securities and cash and cash equivalents than it would otherwise, which may impede the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives and adversely impact the Fund’s performance and distributions to Common Stockholders, which may in turn adversely impact the market value of the Common Stock. The additional cash or cash equivalents held by the Fund could be obtained through reducing the Fund’s distributions to Common Stockholders and/or holding cash in lieu of reinvesting, which could limit the ability of the Fund to participate in new investment opportunities. The Fund does not limit its investments to securities having a maturity date prior to or around the Termination Date, which may exacerbate the foregoing risks and considerations. A Common Stockholder may be subject to the foregoing risks over an extended period of time, particularly if the Fund conducts an Eligible Tender Offer and is also subsequently terminated by or around the Termination Date.

If the Fund’s tax basis for the investments sold is less than the sale proceeds, the Fund will recognize capital gains, which the Fund will be required to distribute to Common Stockholders. In addition, the Fund’s purchase of tendered Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer will have tax consequences for tendering Common Stockholders and may have tax consequences for non-tendering Common Stockholders. The purchase of Common Stock by the Fund pursuant to a tender offer will have the effect of increasing the proportionate interest in the Fund of non-tendering Common Stockholders. All Common Stockholders remaining after a tender offer may be subject to proportionately higher expenses due to the reduction in the Fund’s total assets resulting from payment for the tendered Common Stock. A reduction in net assets, and the corresponding increase in the Fund’s expense ratio, could result in lower returns and put the Fund at a disadvantage relative to its peers and potentially cause the Fund to trade at a wider discount to NAV than it otherwise would. Such reduction in the Fund’s total assets may also result in less investment flexibility, reduced diversification and greater volatility for the Fund, and may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investment performance. Moreover, the resulting reduction in the number of outstanding Common Stock could cause the Common Stock to become thinly traded or otherwise adversely impact the secondary market trading of such shares. Furthermore, the portfolio of the Fund following an Eligible Tender Offer could be significantly different and, therefore, Common Stockholders retaining an investment in the Fund could be subject to greater risk. For example, the Fund may be required to sell its more liquid, higher quality portfolio investments to purchase Common Stock that is tendered in an Eligible Tender Offer, which would leave a less liquid, lower quality portfolio for remaining Common Stockholders. The prospects of an Eligible Tender Offer may attract arbitrageurs who would purchase the Common Stock prior to the tender offer for the sole purpose of tendering those shares which could have the effect of exacerbating the risks described herein for Common Stockholders retaining an investment in the Fund following an Eligible Tender Offer.

In connection with its termination, the Fund may distribute the proceeds from the disposition of portfolio securities in one or more liquidating distributions prior to the final liquidation, which may cause fixed expenses to increase when expressed as a percentage of assets under management. Upon a termination, it is anticipated that the Fund will have distributed substantially all of its net assets to Common Stockholders, although securities for which no market exists, securities trading at depressed prices, if any, and assets recovered following termination may be placed in a liquidating trust. Common Stockholders will bear the costs associated with establishing and maintaining a liquidating trust, if necessary. Securities placed in a liquidating trust may be held for an indefinite period of time until they can be sold or pay out all of their cash flows. The Fund cannot predict the amount, if any, of securities that will be required to be placed in a liquidating trust.

Non-Diversified Fund Risk

The Fund is classified as non-diversified. As such, the percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in any single issuer or a few issuers is not limited as much as it is for a fund classified as diversified. Investing a higher percentage of its assets in any one or a few issuers could increase the Fund’s risk of loss and its share price volatility, because the value of its shares would be more susceptible to adverse events affecting those issuers.

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Next Generation Connectivity and Emerging Technologies Investment Risk

Companies across a wide variety of industries, primarily in the technology sector, are exploring the possible applications of next generation mobile internet and connectivity technologies. The extent of such technologies' versatility has not yet been fully explored. Consequently, the Fund's holdings will include equity securities of operating companies that focus on or have exposure to a wide variety of industries. The economic fortunes of the companies held by the Fund will be significantly tied to next generation connectivity technologies. Currently, there are few public companies for which next generation connectivity technologies represent an attributable and significant revenue or profit stream, and such technologies may not ultimately have a material effect on the economic returns of companies in which the Fund invests.

Communication Services Companies Risk

The Fund may invest significantly in communication services companies. Communication services companies may be subject to specific risks associated with legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions, intellectual property use and/or increased competition. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid advancements in technology, the innovation of competitors, rapid product obsolescence and government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally. Communication services companies also rely on the use of intellectual property such as patents, copyrights and trademarks owned internationally or licensed through third-parties. Legal check-ups or claims regarding infringement of intellectual property could cause an adverse effect on the operations, profitability or reputation of the company. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company's profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain communication services companies may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

Technology Company Risk

The market prices of technology and technology-related stocks tend to exhibit a greater degree of market risk and price volatility than other types of investments. These stocks may fall in and out of favor with investors rapidly, which may cause sudden selling and dramatically lower market prices. These stocks also may be affected adversely by changes in technology, consumer and business purchasing patterns, short product cycles, falling prices and profits, government regulation, lack of standardization or compatibility with existing technologies, intense competition, aggressive pricing, dependence on copyright and/or patent protection, failure to innovate, product failure and/or obsolete products or services. Certain technology-related companies may face special risks that their products or services may not prove to be commercially successful. Technology-related companies are also strongly affected by worldwide scientific or technological developments. As a result, their products may rapidly become obsolete. Such companies are also often subject to governmental regulation and may, therefore, be adversely affected by governmental policies. The ability to use or sell leading-edge technology or technology with potential military or espionage uses may also be affected by government regulations on transferring such technology to foreign countries In addition, a rising interest rate environment tends to negatively affect technology and technology-related companies. In such an environment, those companies with high market valuations may appear less attractive to investors, which may cause sharp decreases in the companies’ market prices. Further, those technology or technology-related companies seeking to finance their expansion would have increased borrowing costs, which may negatively impact their earnings. As a result, these factors may negatively affect the performance of the Fund. Finally, the Fund may be susceptible to factors affecting the technology and technology-related industries, and the Fund’s NAV may fluctuate more than a fund that invests in a wider range of industries. Technology and technology-related companies are often smaller and less experienced companies and may be subject to greater risks than larger companies, such as limited product lines, markets and financial and managerial resources. These risks may be heightened for technology companies in foreign markets.

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Telecommunications Company Risk

The telecommunications industry today includes both traditional telephone companies, with a history of broad market coverage and highly regulated businesses, and cable companies, which began as small, lightly regulated businesses focused on limited markets. Today these two historically different businesses are converging in an industry that is trending toward larger, competitive national and international markets with an emphasis on deregulation. Companies that distribute telephone services and provide access to the telephone networks still comprise the greatest portion of this segment, but non-regulated activities such as wireless telephone services, paging, data transmission and processing, equipment retailing, computer software and hardware and internet services are becoming increasingly significant components as well. In particular, wireless and internet telephone services continue to gain market share at the expense of traditional telephone companies. The presence of unregulated companies in this industry and the entry of traditional telephone companies into unregulated or less regulated businesses provide significant investment opportunities with companies that may increase their earnings at faster rates than had been allowed in traditional regulated businesses. Still, increasing competition, technological innovations and other structural changes could adversely affect the profitability of such companies and the growth rate of their dividends. Given mergers and proposed legislation and enforcement changes, it is likely that both traditional telephone companies and cable companies will continue to provide an expanding range of services to both residential, corporate and governmental customers.

Additionally, telecommunications companies can be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in government regulation, intense competition, dependency on patent protection, significant capital expenditures, heavy debt burdens and rapid obsolescence of products and services due to product compatibility or changing consumer preferences, among other things.

Computer Software/Services Companies Risk

Computer software/services companies can be significantly affected by competitive pressures, aggressive pricing, technological developments, changing domestic demand, the ability to attract and retain skilled employees and availability and price of components. The market for products produced by computer software/services companies is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of computer software/services companies depends in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products and the ability to service such products. An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could have a material adverse effect on a participant's operating results.

Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies' technology.

Internet Companies Risk

Investments in internet industry companies may be volatile. Internet companies are subject to intense competition, the risk of product obsolescence, changes in consumer preferences and legal, regulatory and political changes. They are also especially at risk of hacking and other cybersecurity events. In addition, it can be difficult to adequately capture what qualifies as an Internet company.

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Semiconductor Companies Risk

The Fund is subject to the risk that market or economic factors impacting semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a major effect on the value of the Fund's investments. The value of stocks of semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Semiconductor companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Additionally, semiconductor companies may face dramatic and often unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel.

Industrial Products, Services and Equipment Company Risk

Industrial products, services and equipment companies may include manufacturers of civil or military aerospace and defense equipment, building components and home improvement products and equipment, civil engineering firms and large-scale contractors, companies producing electrical components or equipment, manufacturers of industrial machinery and industrial components and products, providers of commercial printing services, and companies providing transportation services. Industrial products, services and equipment companies can be significantly affected by general economic trends, changes in consumer sentiment and spending, commodity prices, technological obsolescence, labor relations, legislation, government regulations and spending, import controls, and worldwide competition, and can be subject to liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.

Sector Risk

In addition to the Fund’s policy regarding concentration in the information technology and communication services groups of industries, from time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant positions in one or more other sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in one sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors, industries, or sub-sectors. An individual sector, industry, or sub-sector of the market may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events. The Fund’s performance could also be affected if the sectors, industries, or sub-sectors do not perform as expected. Alternatively, the lack of exposure to one or more sectors or industries may adversely affect performance.

Equity Securities Risk

Stock markets are volatile, and the prices of equity securities fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average total returns than fixed-income securities over the long-term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in those returns and, in certain periods, have significantly underperformed relative to fixed-income securities. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a particular common stock held by the Fund. A common stock may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. The value of a particular common stock held by the Fund may decline for a number of other reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage, the issuer’s historical and prospective earnings, the value of its assets and reduced demand for its goods and services. Also, the prices of common stocks are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks to which the Fund has exposure. Common stock prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common

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stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Common equity securities in which the Fund may invest are structurally subordinated to preferred stock, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and are therefore inherently more risky than preferred stock or debt instruments of such issuers.

Investments in ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and other similar global instruments are generally subject to risks associated with equity securities and investments in foreign securities. Unsponsored ADR, EDR and GDR programs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities. As a result, available information concerning the issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, and the prices of unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer. Although such investments may be denominated in U.S. dollars, they may carry currency risk because the issuer of the underlying security conducts its business in a foreign currency.

Dividend Risk

Dividends the Fund receives on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of an issuer’s board of directors. There is no guarantee that the companies in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or that dividends, if declared, will remain at current levels or increase over time. Securities that pay dividends may be sensitive to changes in interest rates, and as interest rates rise, or fall, the prices of such securities may fall. A sharp rise in interest rates, or other market downturn, could result in a decision to decrease or eliminate a dividend.

Market Capitalization Risk

To the extent the Fund invests in securities of small-, mid-, or large-cap companies, it takes on the associated risks. At times, any one of these market capitalizations may be out of favor with investors. Compared to small- and mid-cap companies, large-cap companies may be unable to respond as quickly to changes and opportunities. Compared to large-cap companies, small- and mid-cap companies may depend on a more limited management group, may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than the market as a whole, may be difficult to sell when the economy is not robust or during market downturns, and may be more affected than other types of securities by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns. There may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities, which means that buy and sell transactions in those securities could have a larger impact on a security’s price than is the case with large-cap securities and the Fund may not be able to liquidate a position at a particular time.

Smaller Capitalization Company Risk

At times, small-cap companies may be out of favor with investors. Compared to larger companies, smaller capitalization companies may depend on a more limited management group, may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. The securities of small-cap companies are often more volatile and less liquid than the securities of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of securities by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns.

Mid- and Large-Cap Companies Risk

At times, mid- and large-cap companies may be out of favor with investors. Compared to smaller companies, large-cap companies may be less responsive to changes and opportunities. Compared to larger companies, mid-cap companies may depend on a more limited management group, may have a shorter history of operations, and may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources. The securities of mid-cap companies are often more volatile and less liquid than the securities of larger companies and may be more affected than other types of securities by the underperformance of a sector or during market downturns.

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Private Companies and Pre-IPO Investments Risk

Investments in private companies, including pre-IPO shares involve greater risks than investments in securities of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. Investments in these companies are generally less liquid than investments in securities issued by public companies and may be difficult for the Fund to value. Compared to public companies, private companies may have a more limited management group and limited operating histories with narrower, less established product lines and smaller market shares, which may cause them to be more vulnerable to competitors’ actions, market conditions and consumer sentiment with respect to their products or services, as well as general economic downturns. In addition, private companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations. This could lead to bankruptcy or liquidation of such private company or the dilution or subordination of the Fund’s investment in such private company. Additionally, there is significantly less information available about private companies’ business models, quality of management, earnings growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate their investment prospects and the little public information available about such companies may not be reliable. Because financial reporting obligations for private companies are not as rigorous as public companies, it may be difficult to fully assess the rights and values of securities issued by private companies. The Fund may only have limited access to a private company’s actual financial results and there is no assurance that the information obtained by the Fund is reliable. These companies may not ever issue shares in an IPO and a liquid market for their shares may never develop, which may negatively affect the price at which the Fund can sell these shares and make it more difficult to sell these shares, which could also adversely affect the Fund’s liquidity. If the company does issue shares in an IPO, IPOs are risky and volatile and may cause the value of the Fund’s investment to decrease significantly. Furthermore, these investments may be subject to additional contractual restrictions on resale that would prevent the Fund from selling the company’s securities for a period of time following any IPO. Moreover, because securities issued by private companies are generally not freely or publicly tradable, the Fund may not have the opportunity to purchase, or the ability to sell, these securities in the amounts, or at the prices, the Fund desires. The Fund’s investment in a private company generally will involve investing in restricted securities.

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk

Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which the Adviser has material non-public information, are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities laws. These securities may not be listed on an exchange and may have no active trading market. As a result of the absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more volatile and more difficult to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market value. A security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. In addition, transaction costs may be higher for private placements and other restricted securities. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for sale and there may be substantial delays in effecting the registration. If, during such a delay, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed at the time it decided to seek registration of the securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security, so it may be less able to anticipate a loss. Also, if the Adviser receives material non-public information about the issuer, the Fund may, as a result, be legally prohibited from selling the securities.

Growth Stock Risk

Because the prices of most growth stocks are based on future expectations, these stocks tend to be more sensitive than value stocks to bad economic news and negative earnings surprises. Bad economic news or changing investor perceptions may adversely affect growth stocks across several sectors and industries simultaneously. Growth stocks also may lack the dividends often associated with value stocks that can cushion their decline in a falling market. While the price of any type of stock may rise and fall rapidly, growth stocks may underperform during periods when the market favors value stocks.

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Value Stock Risk

Value stocks may remain undervalued or may decrease in value during a given period, may not ever realize what the portfolio management team believes to be their full value, or may turn out to have been appropriately priced at the time the Fund purchased them. This may happen because value stocks, as a category, lose favor with investors compared to growth stocks, because of a failure to anticipate which stocks or industries would benefit from changing market or economic conditions, or because the stocks’ worth was misgauged. Entire industries or sectors may lose favor with investors, and the Fund, in seeking value stocks, may focus its investments more heavily in those industries or sectors.

Liquidity Risk

The Fund may invest in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available. In addition, from time to time, the trading market for a particular investment or type of investment in which the Fund invests is or may become less liquid or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time. An illiquid investment means any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Judgment plays a greater role in pricing these investments than it does in pricing investments having more active markets, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund is carrying them. The Fund may receive illiquid securities as a result of its investment in securities involved in restructurings. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, particularly during periods of increased market volatility or adverse investor perception. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments may be volatile. Market participants attempting to sell the same or a similar investment at the same time as the Fund could decrease the liquidity of such investments, especially during times of market volatility. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.

Preferred Securities Risk

Preferred securities, which are a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities, however, unlike common stocks, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. Distributions on preferred securities are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors and after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt securities. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt securities to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred securities of larger companies. Preferred securities may be less liquid than common stocks. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Preferred shareholders may have certain rights if distributions are not paid but generally have no legal recourse against the issuer and may suffer a loss of value if distributions are not paid. Generally, preferred shareholders have no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless distributions to preferred shareholders have not been paid for a stated period, at which time the preferred shareholders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the distributions have been paid to preferred shareholders, the preferred shareholders no longer have voting rights.

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Derivatives Risk.

Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, which can magnify the impact of a decline in the value of the reference instrument underlying the derivative, and the Fund could lose more than the amount it invests. Derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses, for example, where the Fund may be called upon to deliver a security it does not own. Derivatives may at times be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative, and the reference instrument may not perform as anticipated. An abrupt change in the price of a reference instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives may involve fees, commissions, or other costs that may reduce the Fund’s gains or exacerbate losses from the derivatives. In addition, the Fund’s use of derivatives may have different tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the reference instruments, and those differences may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxable distributions payable to stockholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements. Certain aspects of the regulatory treatment of derivative instruments, including federal income tax, are currently unclear and may be affected by changes in legislation, regulations, or other legally binding authority.

Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the derivative. Counterparty risk may arise because of market activities and developments, the counterparty’s financial condition (including financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), or other reasons. Not all derivative transactions require a counterparty to post collateral, which may expose the Fund to greater losses in the event of a default by a counterparty. Counterparty risk is generally thought to be greater with OTC derivatives than with derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. However, derivatives that are traded on organized exchanges and/or through clearing organizations involve the possibility that the futures commission merchant or clearing organization will default in the performance of its obligations.

When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required to provide margin or collateral and/or segregate cash or other liquid assets; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and regulatory requirements and will not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral and/or segregate assets could limit the Fund's ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Segregated assets are not available to meet redemptions. The amount of assets required to be segregated will depend on the type of derivative the Fund uses and the nature of the contractual arrangement. If the Fund is required to segregate assets equal to only the current market value of its obligation under a derivative, the Fund may be able to use derivatives to a greater extent, which would increase the degree of leverage the Fund could undertake through derivatives and otherwise, than if it were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such derivative. Derivatives that have margin requirements involve the risk that if the Fund has insufficient cash or eligible margin securities to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities or other instruments from its portfolio at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund normally will remain obligated to meet margin requirements until a derivatives position is closed.

Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives markets and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance. See “Use of Leverage – Derivatives.”

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Although the Fund may use derivatives to attempt to hedge against certain risks, the hedging instruments may not perform as expected and could produce losses.

Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:

Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading of forward contracts on currencies. There have been periods during which certain counterparties have refused to continue to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread (the difference between the price at which the counterparty is prepared to buy and the price at which it is prepared to sell).

Futures. There can be no assurance that, at all times, a liquid market will exist for offsetting a futures contract that the Fund has previously bought or sold and this may result in the inability to close a futures position when desired. This could be the case if, for example, a futures price has increased or decreased by the maximum allowable daily limit and there is no buyer (or seller) willing to purchase (or sell) the futures contract that the Fund needs to sell (or buy) at that limit price. To the extent the Fund enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts), the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.

Options Risk. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a strategy is applied at an inappropriate time or market conditions or trends are judged incorrectly, the use of options may lower the Fund’s return. There can be no guarantee that the use of options will increase the Fund’s return or income. In addition, there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for various options. An abrupt change in the price of an underlying security could render an option worthless. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, or in interest or currency exchange rates, including the anticipated volatility of the underlying instrument (known as implied volatility), which in turn are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events, as will the performance of the issuer of the underlying instrument. As such, prior to the exercise or expiration of the option, the Fund is exposed to implied volatility risk, meaning the value, as based on implied volatility, of an option may increase due to market and economic conditions or views based on the sector or industry in which issuers of the underlying instrument participate, including company-specific factors.

By writing put options, the Fund takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price that may be higher than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund. By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less than the market price. In the case of an uncovered call option, there is a risk of unlimited loss. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying instrument to meet its call obligations and the necessary instruments may be unavailable for purchase. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. If a covered call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will experience a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument, depending on the price at which the Fund purchased the instrument and the strike price of the option. The Fund will receive a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from exercised options. In the case of a covered call, the premium received may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying instrument during the option period. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.

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Swaps. Swap transactions generally do not involve delivery of reference instruments or payment of the notional amount of the contract. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.

Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.

Risks Associated with the Fund’s Options Strategy

The ability of the Fund to generate current gains from options premiums and to enhance the Fund’s risk-adjusted returns is partially dependent on the successful implementation of its options strategy. Risks that may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to successfully implement its options strategy include the following:

Risks Associated with Options on Securities Generally. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

Risks of Writing Options. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. In other words, as the Fund writes covered calls over more of its portfolio, the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation becomes more limited. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price.

If the Fund writes call options on individual securities or index call options that include securities, in each case, that are not in the Fund’s portfolio or that are not in the same proportion as securities in the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund will experience loss, which theoretically could be unlimited, since it assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the individual security, index or basket of securities above the exercise price of the option written by the Fund. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying security to meet its call obligations and the necessary securities may be unavailable for purchase. In addition, the purchase of securities to satisfy the exercise of a call option can cause the price of the underlying securities to rise further, sometimes by a significant amount, thereby exacerbating the loss. Additionally, volatility in the market for equity securities, which has been dramatically increased recently for certain stocks, can meaningfully increase the risk of loss associated with options.

When the Fund writes put options, it bears the risk of loss if the value of the underlying stock declines below the exercise price minus the put premium. If the option is exercised, the Fund could incur a loss if it is required to purchase the stock underlying the put option at a price greater than the market price of the stock at the time of exercise plus the put premium the Fund received when it wrote the option. While the Fund’s potential gain in writing a put option is limited to distributions earned on the liquid assets securing the put option plus the premium received from the purchaser of the put option, the Fund risks a loss equal to the entire exercise price of the option minus the put premium.

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Exchange-Listed Options Risks. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an exchange-listed option position. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the OCC may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options). If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The Fund’s ability to terminate OTC options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. Call options are marked to market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks, an increase in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option’s expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce the Fund’s capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.

Over-the-Counter Options Risk. The Fund may write (sell) unlisted OTC options to a significant extent. Options written by the Fund with respect to foreign securities, indices or sectors generally will be OTC options. OTC options differ from exchange-listed options in that they are two-party contracts, with exercise price, premium and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-listed options. The counterparties to these transactions typically will be major international banks, broker-dealers and financial institutions. The Fund may be required to treat as illiquid securities segregated with respect to certain written OTC options. The OTC options written by the Fund will not be issued, guaranteed or cleared by the OCC. In addition, the Fund’s ability to terminate OTC options may be more limited than with exchange-traded options. Banks, broker-dealers or other financial institutions participating in such transactions may fail to settle a transaction in accordance with the terms of the option as written. In the event of default or insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund may be unable to liquidate an OTC option position.

Index Options Risk. The Fund may sell index put and call options from time to time. The purchaser of an index put option has the right to any depreciation in the value of the index below the exercise price of the option on or before the expiration date. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index over the exercise price of the option on or before the expiration date. Because the exercise of index options is settled in cash, sellers of index call options, such as the Fund, cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. The Fund will lose money if it is required to pay the purchaser of an index option the difference between the cash value of the index on which the option was written and the exercise price and such difference is greater than the premium received by the Fund for writing the option. The value of index options written by the Fund, which will be priced daily, will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks in the respective index, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. The value of the index options also may be adversely affected if the market for the index options becomes less liquid or smaller.

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Distributions paid by the Fund on its Common Stock may be derived in part from the net index option premiums it receives from selling index put and call options, less the cost of paying settlement amounts to purchasers of the options that exercise their options. Net index option premiums can vary widely over the short-term and long-term.

Limitation on Options Writing Risk. The number of covered call options the Fund can write is limited by the amount of the Fund’s total assets invested in exchange-traded equity securities and, in the case of exchange-traded options, is further limited by the fact that all options represent 100 share lots of the underlying common stock. Furthermore, the Fund’s options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. The Fund’s investments in illiquid investments, including private companies and pre-IPO securities, may limit the amount of call options the Fund can write. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be limited by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

Tax Risk. Income on options on individual stocks will generally not be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes until an option is exercised, lapses or is subject to a “closing transaction” (as defined by applicable regulations) pursuant to which the Fund’s obligations with respect to the option are otherwise terminated. If the option lapses without exercise or is otherwise subject to a closing transaction, the premiums received by the Fund from the writing of such options will generally be characterized as short-term capital gain. If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund may recognize taxable gain depending on the exercise price of the option, the option premium, and the tax basis of the security underlying the option. The character of any gain on the sale of the underlying security as short-term or long-term capital gain will depend on the holding period of the Fund in the underlying security. In general, distributions received by Common Stockholders of the Fund that are attributable to short-term capital gains recognized by the Fund from its options writing activities will be taxed to such Common Stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains.

Index options will generally be “marked-to-market” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Fund will generally recognize gain or loss on the last day of each taxable year equal to the difference between the value of the index option on that date and the adjusted basis of the index option. The adjusted basis of the index option will consequently be increased by such gain or decreased by such loss. Any gain or loss with respect to index options will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40% of such gain or loss and long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60% of such gain or loss. Because the mark-to-market rules may cause the Fund to recognize gain in advance of the receipt of cash, the Fund may be required to dispose of investments in order to meet its distribution requirements.

Counterparty Risk

The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. Because derivative transactions in which the Fund may engage may involve instruments that are not traded on an exchange or cleared through a central counterparty but are instead traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery, or may obtain no recovery, in such circumstances. Although the Fund intends to enter into transactions only with counterparties that the Adviser believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that, as a result, a counterparty will not default and that the

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Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction. In the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund’s collateral may be subject to the conflicting claims of the counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

Convertible Securities Risk

The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of stocks, and its price may be as volatile as that of the underlying stock, when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price, and a convertible security is subject to the market risks of debt securities, and is particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk -- that is, the value of convertible securities will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates; they are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due; and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because their value can be influenced by many different factors, convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than the underlying common stocks. Securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities that are convertible only at the option of the holder.

Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). Lower-rated debt securities involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Lower-rated debt securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. The credit rating of a company’s convertible securities is generally lower than that of its non-convertible debt securities. Convertible securities are normally considered “junior” securities — that is, the company usually must pay interest on its non-convertible debt securities before it can make payments on its convertible securities. If the issuer stops paying interest or principal, convertible securities may become worthless and the Fund could lose its entire investment. To the extent the Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks of investing in such companies.

Warrants and Rights Risk

Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. If a warrant or right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised or, when permissible, sold prior to the warrant’s or right’s expiration date or redemption by the issuer, the Fund would lose all or substantially all of the purchase price of the warrant or right. The market for warrants and rights may be very limited and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for warrants and rights.

REITs and Other Real Estate Companies Risk

REIT and other real estate company securities are subject to risks similar to those of direct investments in real estate and the real estate industry in general, including, among other risks: general and local economic conditions; changes in interest rates; declines in property values; defaults by mortgagors or other borrowers and tenants; increases in property taxes and other operating expenses; overbuilding in their sector of the real estate market; fluctuations in rental income; lack of availability of mortgage funds or financing; extended vacancies of properties, especially during economic downturns; changes in tax and regulatory requirements; losses due to environmental liabilities;

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or casualty or condemnation losses. REITs also are dependent upon the skills of their managers and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency or self-liquidation. Regardless of where a REIT is organized or traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in the region where its properties are located. Domestic REITs could be adversely affected by failure to qualify for tax-free “pass-through” of distributed net investment income and net realized gains under the Code or to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the Code generally allows individuals and certain other non-corporate entities a deduction for 20% of qualified REIT dividends. Regulations provide that a regulated investment company can pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders. An insurance company separate account or a qualified plan investing in the Fund, however, will not be eligible to benefit from this deduction. The value of REIT common shares may decline when interest rates rise. During periods of high interest rates, REITs and other real estate companies may lose appeal for investors who may be able to obtain higher yields from other income-producing investments. High interest rates may also mean that financing for property purchases and improvements is more costly and difficult to obtain.

Most equity REITs receive a flow of income from property rentals, which, after covering their expenses, they pay to their shareholders in the form of dividends. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property they own. REIT and other real estate company securities tend to be small- to mid-cap securities and are subject to the risks of investing in small- to mid-cap securities. Some of the REIT securities in which the Fund invests may be preferred stock, which receives preference in the payment of dividends.

Investment Companies and ETFs Risk

To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and ETFs, its performance will be affected by the performance of those other investment companies and to the allocation of its assets among those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses. If the Fund invests in other investment companies, the Fund may receive distributions of taxable gains from portfolio transactions by that investment company and may recognize taxable gains from transactions in shares of that investment company, which could be taxable to the Fund’s Common Stockholders when distributed to them. An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying portfolio and may not be liquid. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.

Interest Rate Risk

In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities or income-oriented equity securities that pay dividends, will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities may decline. Interest rates may change in response to the supply and demand for credit, changes to government monetary policy and other initiatives, inflation rates, and other factors. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration (i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. For example, if interest rates increase by 1%, a debt security with a duration of two years will decrease in value by approximately 2%. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities. Short-term securities tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates, and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates. Short-term and long-term interest rates, and interest rates in different countries, do not necessarily move in the same direction or by the same amount. The link between interest rates and debt security prices tends to be weaker with lower-rated debt securities than with investment grade debt securities.

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Issuer-Specific Risk

An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s securities may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. Certain unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, may have a significant adverse effect on the value of an issuer’s securities.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of an issuers, factors affecting an issuer directly (such as management changes, labor relations, collapse of key suppliers or customers, or material changes in overhead), factors affecting the industry in which a particular issuer operates (such as competition or technological advances) and changes in general social, economic or political conditions can increase the risk of default by an issuer, which may affect a security’s credit quality or value. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk. In addition, lower credit quality may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and may negatively affect a security’s liquidity. Ratings represent a rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of the security and are not a guarantee of quality and do not protect against a decline in the value of a security. A downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance. In addition, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes to credit ratings in response to subsequent events and a rating may become stale in that it fails to reflect changes in an issuer’s financial condition. The credit quality of a security or instrument can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly, which may negatively impact its liquidity and value. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement (for example, guarantees, letters of credit, or bond insurance). Entities providing credit or liquidity support also may be affected by credit risk. Credit enhancement is designed to help assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions.

Risks of Investing in Lower-Rated Debt Securities

Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall in price during times when the economy is weak or is expected to become weak. These securities may be less liquid and also may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price, may be difficult to sell at the time and price the Fund desires, and may carry higher transaction costs. In particular, these securities may be issued by smaller companies or by highly indebted companies, which are generally less able than more financially stable companies to make scheduled payments of interest and principal. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Such securities are susceptible to such a default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business developments relating to the issuer, the industry in general, market interest rates and market liquidity. Issuers of securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment. Where it deems it appropriate and in the best interests of Fund Common Stockholders, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery on a defaulted security and/or to pursue litigation to protect the Fund’s investment.

The credit rating of a security may not accurately reflect the actual credit risk associated with such a security. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings may present additional risks.

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Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of such securities, especially in a thinly traded or illiquid market. To the extent the Fund owns or may acquire illiquid or restricted lower-rated debt securities or unrated debt securities of comparable quality, these securities may involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities, costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.

Call Risk

Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, including when interest rates are low and issuers opt to repay the obligation underlying a “callable security” early, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or other less favorable characteristics. This may reduce the amount of the Fund’s distributions. In addition, the Fund may not benefit from any increase in value in the securities that might otherwise result from declining interest rates. The likelihood of a call also may impact the price of a security.

Foreign and Emerging Market Risk

Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade policies (including those of the U.S.); significant government involvement in an economy and/or market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing, corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. The Fund may have limited or no legal recourse in the event of default with respect to certain foreign securities. In addition, key information about the issuer, the markets or the local government or economy may be unavailable, incomplete, or inaccurate. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets, or those in a particular region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions in foreign countries, as well as currency exchange rates. Regardless of where a company is organized or its stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits or in which it conducts significant operations.

Investing in emerging market countries involves risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign countries. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The governments of emerging market countries may be more unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale proceeds of securities from the country, intervene in the financial markets, and/or impose burdensome taxes that could adversely affect security prices. To the extent a foreign security is denominated in U.S. dollars, there is also the risk that a foreign government will not let U.S. dollar-denominated assets leave the country. In addition, the economies of emerging market countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more susceptible to local and global changes, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Emerging market countries may also have less developed legal and accounting systems. Shareholder claims and legal remedies that are common in the United States may be difficult or impossible to pursue in many emerging market countries. In addition, due to jurisdictional limitations, matters of comity and various other factors, U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons in certain emerging market countries. Most foreign and emerging market companies are not subject to the uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States, which may impact the availability and quality of information about foreign and emerging market issuers. Securities markets in emerging market countries are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. Additionally, in times of market stress, regulatory authorities of different emerging market countries may apply varying techniques and degrees of intervention, which can have an effect on prices. Securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers in foreign countries with more developed economies or markets and the situation may require that the Fund fair value its holdings in those countries.

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Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the issuers themselves, by an exchange, or by governmental authorities. The likelihood of such suspensions may be higher for securities of issuers in emerging or less-developed market countries than in countries with more developed markets. Trading suspensions may be applied from time to time to the securities of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. Suspensions may last for significant periods of time, during which trading in the securities and in instruments that reference the securities, such as derivative instruments, may be halted. In the event that the Fund holds material positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions or provide liquidity to investors may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.

In addition, foreign markets may perform differently than the U.S. market. Over a given period of time, foreign securities may underperform U.S. securities—sometimes for years. The Fund could also underperform if it invests in countries or regions whose economic performance falls short.

Most economies in the Greater China region are generally considered emerging markets and carry the risks associated with emerging markets, as well as risks particular to the region. Events in any one country within the region may impact other countries in the region or the Greater China region as a whole. The economies, industries, and securities and currency markets of the Greater China region may be adversely affected by slow economic activity worldwide, protectionist trade policies, supply chain disruption, political differences within a country or with other countries in the region, dependence on exports and international trade, currency devaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations, restrictions on monetary repatriation, increasing competition from Asia’s low-cost emerging economies, environmental events and natural disasters that may occur in the Greater China region, and military conflicts either in response to social unrest or with other countries.

Risks of Investments in China A-shares through Stock Connect Programs

There are significant risks inherent in investing in China A-shares through “Connect Programs” of local stock exchanges in China, namely the Shanghai Connect Program and the Shenzhen Connect Program. The Chinese investment and banking systems are materially different in nature from many developed markets, which exposes investors to risks that are different from those in the U.S. The Connect Programs are subject to daily quota limitations, and an investor cannot purchase and sell the same security on the same trading day, which may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in China A-shares through the Connect Programs and to enter into or exit trades on a timely basis. A Connect Program can operate only when both markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets on the corresponding settlement days. As such, if one or both markets in a particular Connect Program are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its China A-shares in a timely manner under such Connect Program, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Only certain China A-shares are eligible to be accessed through the Connect Programs. Such securities may lose their eligibility at any time, in which case they could be sold but could no longer be purchased through the Connect Programs.

The impact of this integration of Chinese and foreign markets is still unclear and the actual effect on the market for trading China A-shares with the introduction of large numbers of foreign investors is unknown though in the past the PRC regulators have intervened in the market as they believed necessary, which may be difficult to predict. The Connect Programs are subject to regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities for both exchanges and further regulations or restrictions, such as limitations on redemptions or suspension of trading, may adversely impact the Connect Programs, if the authorities believe it is necessary to assure orderly markets or for other reasons. The relevant regulations are relatively new and are subject to change, and there is no certainty as to how they will be applied and Chinese securities trading law can change on a frequent basis. Investments in China A-shares may not be covered by the securities investor protection programs of either exchange and, without the protection of such programs, will be subject to the risk of default by the broker. Because of the way in which China A-shares are held in the Connect Programs, the Fund may not be able to exercise the rights of a shareholder and may be limited in its ability to pursue claims against the issuer of a security, and may suffer losses in the event the depository of

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the Chinese exchange becomes insolvent. Because all trades on the Connect Programs in respect of eligible China A-shares must be settled in Renminbi (“RMB”), the Chinese currency, investors must have timely access to a reliable supply of offshore RMB, which cannot be guaranteed.

Currently, the mainland Chinese tax authorities have temporarily exempted foreign investors from income tax on capital gains derived from the trading of A-shares under the Shanghai Connect Program and the Shenzhen Connect Program. While the exemptions have been in effect for a few years, it is uncertain how long they will last and the exemptions are subject to change.

Currency Risk

To the extent that the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to foreign currencies, including through its investments, or invests in securities or other instruments denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains or add to investment losses. Domestic issuers that hold substantial foreign assets may be similarly affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and can be affected unpredictably by intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. To the extent the Fund invests or hedges based on the perceived relationship between two currencies, there is a risk that the correlation between those currencies may not behave as anticipated.

Leverage Risk

The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased Common Stock net investment income dividends and capital appreciation, but also creates risks for Common Stockholders. The Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage, if employed, will result in a higher yield on the Common Stock. Any leveraging strategy the Fund employs may not be successful.

Leverage involves risks and special considerations for Common Stockholders, including:

the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV, market price and dividend rate of the Common Stock than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 
the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the interest or dividend rates on any leverage that the Fund must pay will reduce the return to the Common Stockholders;

 
the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV of the Common Stock than if the Fund were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price of the Common Stock;

 
if the Fund uses financial leverage, the management fee payable to the Adviser will be higher than if the Fund did not use leverage; and

 
leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return.

Any decline in the NAV of the Fund’s investments will be borne entirely by the Common Stockholders. Therefore, if the market value of the Fund’s portfolio declines, leverage will result in a greater decrease in NAV to the Common Stockholders than if the Fund were not leveraged. This greater NAV decrease will also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for the Common Stock. While the Fund may from time to time consider reducing any outstanding leverage in response to actual or anticipated changes in interest rates in an effort to mitigate the increased volatility of current income and NAV associated with leverage, there can be no assurance that the Fund will actually reduce any outstanding leverage in the future or that any reduction, if undertaken, will benefit the Common Stockholders. Changes in the future direction of interest rates are very difficult to predict accurately. If the Fund were to reduce any outstanding leverage based on a prediction about future changes to interest rates, and that prediction turned out to be incorrect, the reduction in any outstanding leverage would likely operate to reduce the

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income and/or total returns to Common Stockholders relative to the circumstance where the Fund had not reduced any of its outstanding leverage. The Fund may decide that this risk outweighs the likelihood of achieving the desired reduction to volatility in income and share price if the prediction were to turn out to be correct, and determine not to reduce any of its outstanding leverage as described above.

The Fund currently does not intend to borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred shares, but may in the future borrow funds from banks or other financial institutions, or issue debt securities or preferred shares, as described in this prospectus. Certain types of leverage the Fund may use may result in the Fund being subject to covenants relating to asset coverage and portfolio composition requirements. The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on investments imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies, which may issue ratings for any debt securities or preferred shares issued by the Fund. The terms of any borrowings or these rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. The Adviser does not believe that these covenants or guidelines will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies. Such investment companies may also be leveraged, and will therefore be subject to the leverage risks described above. This additional leverage may in certain market conditions reduce the NAV of the Fund’s Common Stock and the returns to the Common Stockholders.

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Settling Securities Risk

When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-settling securities involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or deliver securities at a later date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the Fund’s share value. Accordingly, the purchase of such securities involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-settling securities can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s share price. The Fund will segregate appropriate liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its purchase commitments. When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-settling securities may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its purchase obligations. When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-settling securities also are subject to the risk that the security will not be issued or that a counterparty will fail to complete the sale or purchase of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price and may forgo any gain in the security’s price. The Fund may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date.

Management Risk

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Adviser and the individual portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results. The Fund may be subject to a relatively high level of management risk because the Fund may invest in derivative instruments, which may be highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with equities and bonds.

Securities Lending Risk

Securities lending involves a possible delay in recovery of the loaned securities or a possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. The Fund could also lose money if the value of the collateral decreases.

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To the extent that the portfolio securities acquired with such collateral have decreased in value, it may result in the Fund realizing a loss at a time when it would not otherwise do so. As such, securities lending may introduce leverage into the Fund. The Fund also may incur losses if the returns on securities that it acquires with cash collateral are less than the applicable rebate rates paid to borrowers and related administrative costs.

Short Sale Risk

Short sales involve selling a security the Fund does not own in anticipation that the security’s price will decline. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be higher or lower than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. If the underlying security goes up in price during the period during which the short position is outstanding, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction.

Short sales, at least theoretically, present a risk of unlimited loss on an individual security basis, particularly in cases where the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short position, since the Fund may be required to buy the security sold short at a time when the security has appreciated in value, and there is potentially no limit to the amount of such appreciation. Because the Fund may invest the proceeds of a short sale, another effect of short selling on the Fund is leverage, in that it amplifies changes in the Fund’s NAV since it increases the exposure of the Fund to the market and may increase losses and the volatility of returns.

The Fund may not always be able to close out a short position at a favorable time or price. A lender may request that borrowed securities be returned to it on short notice, and the Fund may have to buy the borrowed securities at an unfavorable price, which will potentially reduce or eliminate any gain or cause a loss to the Fund. The Fund incurs expenses for borrowing securities that may include fees paid to the lender and amounts equal to dividends or interest paid by the borrowed security.

When the Fund is selling a security short, it must maintain a segregated account of cash or high-grade securities equal to the margin requirement. (Margin posted with the broker, not including the proceeds of the short sale, counts toward this requirement.) As a result, the Fund may maintain high levels of cash or other liquid assets (such as U.S. Treasury bills, money market instruments, certificates of deposit, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions) or may utilize the collateral obtained from securities lending for this cash. The need to maintain cash or other liquid assets in segregated accounts could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise.

Valuation Risk

The price at which the Fund sells any particular investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market or other conditions make it difficult to value some investments, SEC rules and applicable accounting protocols may require the Fund to value these investments using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent closing price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The value of foreign securities, certain futures and fixed income securities, and currencies, as applicable, may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its NAV. The value of fixed income securities may be materially affected by events after the close of the markets on which they are traded but before the Fund determines its NAV. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.

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Inflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future, as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of Common Stock and distributions on those shares can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, interest rates on any borrowings by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to the Common Stockholders.

Deflation Risk

Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and their revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

High Portfolio Turnover

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to Common Stockholders than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.

Recent Market Conditions

Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly and adversely affect the global economy. Outbreaks such as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, or other similarly infectious diseases may have material adverse impacts on a Fund. Epidemics and/or pandemics, such as the coronavirus, have and may further result in, among other things, closing borders, extended quarantines and stay-at-home orders, order cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, widespread business closures and layoffs, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this virus, and other epidemics and/or pandemics that may arise in the future, has negatively affected and may continue to affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the global securities and commodities markets, including their liquidity, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. The impact of the outbreak may last for an extended period of time. The current pandemic has accelerated trends toward working remotely and shopping on-line, which may negatively affect the value of office and commercial real estate and companies that have been slow to transition to an on-line business model. The travel, hospitality and public transit industries may suffer long-term negative effects from the pandemic and resulting changes to public behavior.

Governments and central banks have moved to limit these negative economic effects with interventions that are unprecedented in size and scope and may continue to do so, but the ultimate impact of these efforts is uncertain. Governments’ efforts to limit potential negative economic effects of the pandemic may be altered, delayed, or eliminated at inopportune times for political, policy or other reasons. The impact of infectious diseases may be greater in countries that do not move effectively to control them, which may occur for political reasons or because of a lack of health care or economic resources. Health crises caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries. Although promising vaccines have been released, if either vaccines are slow to be distributed or they prove less effective than currently expected, it may take many months before the restoration of full economic activity.

High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market risks and policymaking uncertainty and there may be a further increase in the amount of debt due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic relief and public health measures. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the U.S. and abroad, and central banks have reduced rates further in an effort to combat the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extremely low or negative interest rates may become more prevalent. In that event, to the extent a Fund has a bank deposit, holds a debt instrument with a negative interest rate, or invests its cash in a

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money market fund holding such instruments, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Because there is little precedent for this situation, it is difficult to predict the impact on various markets of a significant rate increase or other significant policy changes, whether brought about by government policy makers or by dislocations in world markets. For example, because investors may buy equity securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. Also, regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. Over the longer term, rising interest rates may present a greater risk than has historically been the case due to the current period of relatively low rates and the effect of government fiscal and monetary policy initiatives and potential market reaction to those initiatives, or their alteration or cessation.

Historical patterns of correlation among asset classes may break down in unanticipated ways during times of high volatility, disrupting investment programs and potentially causing losses.

National economies are increasingly interconnected, as are global financial markets, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. A rise in protectionist trade policies, tariff “wars,” changes to some major international trade agreements and the potential for changes to others, and campaigns to “buy American,” could affect international trade and the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Equity markets in the U.S. and China have been very sensitive to the outlook for resolving the U.S.-China “trade war,” a trend that may continue in the future.

In December 2020, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the European Union (“EU”) signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“TCA”) to delineate the terms on which the UK left the EU. The TCA did little to address financial services and products provided by UK entities to customers in the EU, leaving the future of such services uncertain. New trading rules have disrupted the cross-border flow of products and supplies for many businesses; it remains to be seen whether these will be smoothed out with the passage of time or cause long-term damage to affected businesses.

The Fund and the adviser, as well as many of the companies in which they invest, are subject to regulation by the federal government. Over the past several years, the U.S. has moved away from tighter legislation and regulation impacting businesses and the financial services industry. There is a potential for materially increased regulation in the future, as well as higher taxes or taxes restructured to incentivize different activities. These changes, should they occur, may impose added costs on the Fund and its service providers, and affect the businesses of various portfolio companies, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.

Climate Change. Economists and others have expressed increasing concern about the potential effects of global climate change on property and security values. A rise in sea levels, an increase in powerful windstorms and/or a climate-driven increase in flooding could cause coastal properties to lose value or become unmarketable altogether. Economists warn that, unlike previous declines in the real estate market, properties in affected coastal zones may not ever recover their value. Large wildfires driven by high winds and prolonged drought may devastate businesses and entire communities and may be very costly to any business found to be responsible for the fire. The new U.S. administration appears concerned about the climate change problem and may focus regulatory and public works projects around those concerns. Regulatory changes and divestment movements tied to concerns about climate change could adversely affect the value of certain land and the viability of industries whose activities or products are seen as accelerating climate change.

LIBOR Transition. Trillions of dollars’ worth of financial contracts around the world specify rates that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). LIBOR is produced daily by averaging the rates for inter-bank

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lending reported by a number of banks. Current plans call for most maturities and currencies of LIBOR to be phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021.

Market Discount Risk

The market price of the Fund’s Common Stock will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the secondary market. Because the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for the Fund’s Common Stock in the market, general market and economic circumstances, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether its Common Stock will trade at, below or above NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Common Stockholders bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower than at the time of purchase

Secondary Market Risk for the Common Stock.

The issuance of Common Stock through the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan may have an adverse effect on the secondary market for the Common Stock. The increase in the number of shares outstanding of Common Stock resulting from issuances pursuant to the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan, may put downward pressure on the market price for the Common Stock. When the Common Stock is trading at a premium, the Fund may issue Common Stock that may be sold through private transactions effected on the NYSE or through broker-dealers. The increase in the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock resulting from these offerings may put downward pressure on the market price for shares of Common Stock.

Temporary Defensive Strategies Risk

When the Adviser anticipates unusual market or other conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies as a defensive measure and invest all or a portion of its Managed Assets in cash or cash equivalents or accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in high-yielding long-term securities. In such a case, Common Stockholders of the Fund may be adversely affected and the Fund may not pursue or achieve its investment objectives.

Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, to cause it to engage in certain transactions or to modify its structure. Such provisions may limit the ability of Common Stockholders to sell their shares at a premium over the then-current market prices and may have the effect of inhibiting structural changes to the Fund, such as a conversion to an open-end investment company. See “Anti-Takeover and Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation” below.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk

The Adviser and the Portfolio Managers have interests which may conflict with the interests of the Fund. In particular, the Adviser advises other investment funds or accounts. As a result, the management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest if

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the funds and accounts have different or similar objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees, as the Portfolio Managers must allocate their time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. Additionally, if a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity. Although the Adviser has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict may arise. See “Conflicts of Interest” under “Investment Management and Administration Services” in the SAI.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Directors and Officers

The Board of Directors is broadly responsible for the management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by NBIA. The names and business addresses of the Directors and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information.

Investment Adviser

NBIA will serve as the investment manager of the Fund. Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Directors, NBIA will be responsible for managing the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters. NBIA is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.

Continuing an asset management history that began in 1939, NBIA provides investment management and advisory services to several investment company clients and other institutional investors, as well as to individuals. As of December 31, 2020, Neuberger Berman and its affiliates had $405 billion in assets under management.

Portfolio Managers

Timothy Creedon, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBIA. He has been a Portfolio Manager with the firm since 2011.

Hari Ramanan, is a Managing Director of NBIA. He has been a Portfolio Manager with the firm since 2019.

Yan Taw (YT) Boon, is a Managing Director of NBIA. He has been a Portfolio Manager with the firm since 2013.

Each of the Portfolio Managers has managed the Fund since its inception on January 29, 2021. The Fund is co-managed by Timothy Creedon (Managing Director of NBIA), Hari Ramanan (Managing Director of NBIA), and Yan Taw (YT) Boon (Managing Director of NBIA).

Please see the SAI for additional information about each Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each Portfolio Manager, and each Portfolio Manager’s ownership of stock of the Fund.

Management Agreement

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between NBIA and the Fund (the “Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay NBIA a management fee payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets for the services and facilities it provides. The Fund also has agreed to pay NBIA a fee payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets for services provided under an Administration Agreement.

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A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the management agreement by the Board will be available in the Fund’s annual report to stockholders for the period ending October 31, 2021.

In addition to the fees of NBIA, the Fund will pay all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Directors (other than those affiliated with NBIA), custodial expenses, transfer agency and distribution disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, leveraging expenses, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing Prospectuses, stockholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Affiliates of NBIA may act as principal brokers for the Fund, subject to periodic evaluation by the Portfolio Transactions and Pricing Committee of the Board of the quality and cost of execution.

In effecting securities transactions, the Fund seeks to obtain the best price and execution of orders. While affiliates of NBIA are permitted to act as brokers for the Fund in the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities (other than certain securities traded on the OTC market) where such brokers are capable of providing best execution, the Fund generally will use unaffiliated brokers.

NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset value of a share of Common Stock is calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (including liabilities from borrowings such as any outstanding notes) from total assets (the market value of the securities the Fund holds plus cash and other assets). The per share net asset value is calculated by dividing the Fund’s net asset value by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding and rounding the result to the nearest full cent. The Fund calculates its net asset value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, every day on which the NYSE is open.

The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities, preferred stocks, warrants, convertible preferred stocks, limited partnership units, ETFs and exchange-traded options purchased and written, for which market quotations are readily available, is generally determined by NBIA by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on the latest sale price quoted on a principal exchange or market for that security. Securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market are normally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”) provided by NASDAQ each business day. The NOCP is the most recently reported price as of 4:00:02 p.m., Eastern Time, unless that price is outside the range of the “inside” bid and asked prices (i.e., the bid and asked prices that dealers quote to each other when trading for their own accounts); in that case, NASDAQ will adjust the price to equal the inside bid or asked price, whichever is closer. Because of delays in reporting trades, the NOCP may not be based on the price of the last trade to occur before the market closes. If there is no sale of a security on a particular day, the independent pricing services may value the security based on market quotations. The value of the Fund’s investments in debt securities is determined by NBIA primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on readily available bid quotations, or if quotations are not available, by methods which include various considerations based on security type, including, but not limited to, yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. If a valuation is not available from an independent pricing service, the Fund seeks to obtain quotations from principal market makers. In addition, NBIA has developed a process to periodically review information provided by independent pricing services for all types of securities.

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If a valuation is not available from an independent pricing service, or if NBIA has reason to believe that the valuation received does not represent the amount the Fund might reasonably expect to receive on a current sale in an orderly transaction, NBIA seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers. If such quotations are not readily available, the security is valued using methods the Board has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the security. Inputs and assumptions considered in determining the fair value of a security may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security; the initial cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or pricing services; information obtained from the issuer, and/or analysts; an analysis of the company’s or issuer’s financial statements; an evaluation of the inputs that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.

The value of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities is generally determined using the same valuation methods and inputs as other Fund investments, as discussed above. Foreign security prices expressed in local currency values are normally translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on days the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. The Board has approved the use of ICE Data Pricing & Reference Data LLC (“ICE”) to assist in determining the fair value of foreign equity securities when changes in the value of a certain index suggest that the closing prices on the foreign exchanges may no longer represent the amount that the Fund could expect to receive for those securities or on days when foreign markets are closed and U.S. markets are open. In each of these events, ICE will provide adjusted prices for certain foreign equity securities using a statistical analysis of historical correlations of multiple factors. The Board has also approved the use of ICE to evaluate the prices of foreign debt securities as of the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated. ICE utilizes benchmark spread and yield curves and evaluates available market activity from the local close to the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated to assist in determining prices for certain foreign debt securities. In the case of both foreign equity and foreign debt securities, in the absence of precise information about the market values of these foreign securities as of the time as of which the Fund’s share price is calculated, the Board has determined on the basis of available data that prices adjusted or evaluated in this way are likely to be closer to the prices the Fund could realize on a current sale than are the prices of those securities established at the close of the foreign markets in which the securities primarily trade.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income on a monthly basis. At least annually, the Fund intends to distribute all of its realized net long- and short-term capital gains, if any. Both monthly and annual distributions to Common Stockholders will be made only after paying any accrued distributions on, or, if applicable, redeeming or liquidating, preferred stock, if any, and making interest and required principal payments on notes or any other borrowings, if any. See “Tax Matters.” There is no guarantee that the Fund’s investment strategy, including its options writing strategy, will be successful and/or that the Fund will generate a consistent or specific amount of investment income. The Fund may distribute short-term capital gain and/or return of capital to Common Stockholders in an effort to maintain a level distribution. A return of capital distribution may involve a return of a Common Stockholder’s original investment.

The Fund has exemptive relief from the SEC to permit it to adopt a Managed Dividend Policy. As more fully described below, a Managed Dividend Policy permits the Fund to make regular cash distributions to Common Stockholders, at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock or at a fixed percentage of its NAV, that may include periodic distributions of realized net long-and short-term capital gains, or, in certain circumstances, return of capital.

Level-Rate Distribution Policy

Commencing with the Fund’s first distribution, the Fund intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to Common Stockholders at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock based on its projected performance, which

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rate may be adjusted from time to time (“Level-Rate Distribution Policy”). The Fund’s ability to maintain a Level-Rate Distribution Policy will depend on a number of factors, including the stability of income received from its investments and Fund expenses.

The initial distribution to Common Stockholders is expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the commencement of this offering, depending upon market conditions. Over time, all the net investment income of the Fund will be distributed. That income will consist of all distribution and interest income accrued on portfolio assets less all expenses of the Fund, which will be accrued each day.

To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly distributions, the Fund may include a return of capital as part of the distributions or may distribute less than the entire amount of its net investment income earned in a particular period. The undistributed net investment income may be available to supplement future distributions. The distribution the Fund pays for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income it actually earns during the period, and the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio to make a distribution at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action. Undistributed net investment income is included in the Common Stock’s net asset value, and, correspondingly, distributions from net investment income will reduce the Common Stock’s net asset value. Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, a notice would be provided for each monthly distribution that does not consist entirely of net investment income that would provide estimated sources of the distribution made.

While the Fund intends to pay a level distribution, investors should understand that there is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a distribution, or that the distribution will be of any particular size.

Managed Distribution Policy

The Fund has received exemptive relief from the SEC under the 1940 Act permitting it to pay long-term capital gain more frequently than is currently allowed under the 1940 Act, which facilitates the implementation of a Managed Dividend Policy. The Fund may, subject to the determination of its Board of Directors, implement a Managed Dividend Policy pursuant to this order. If implemented, the Managed Dividend Policy would supersede the Level-Rate Dividend Policy.

Under a Managed Dividend Policy, the Fund would intend to make monthly distributions to Common Stockholders, at a fixed rate per share of Common Stock or a fixed percentage of its net asset value, that may include periodic distributions of realized net long- and short-term capital gains or, in certain circumstances, return of capital. Under a Managed Dividend Policy, if, for any monthly distribution, the sum of net investment income and any net realized capital gains for the month was less than the amount of the distribution, the difference would be distributed from the Fund’s capital. If, for any fiscal year, the Fund’s total distributions exceeded such income and gains (an “Excess”), the Excess generally would first be treated as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, and then would be treated by each Common Stockholder as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of its tax basis in the Common Stock, with any amounts exceeding such basis being treated as gain from the sale of those shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, a notice would be provided for each monthly distribution that does not consist entirely of net investment income that would provide estimated sources of the distribution made.

Any distribution of an Excess would decrease the Fund’s total assets and, as a result, would have the likely effect of increasing its expense ratio. There is a risk that the Fund would not eventually realize capital gain in an amount corresponding to an Excess. In addition, in an effort to make such distributions, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment might not dictate such action.

The Board of Directors reserves the right to change the Fund’s distribution policy from time to time.

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DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Plan Agent”) will act as plan agent for stockholders who have not elected in writing to receive dividends and other distributions in cash (each a “Participant”), will open an account for each Participant under the Distribution Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”) in the same name as their then current Common Stock is registered, and will put the Plan into effect for each Participant as of the first record date for a dividend or capital gains distribution.

Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or distribution with respect to the Common Stock, each Participant will, except as described in the next paragraph, receive such dividends and distributions in additional newly-issued shares of Common Stock, including fractional shares of Common Stock acquired by the Plan Agent from the Fund and credited to each Participant’s account. If on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, the net asset value is equal to or less than the market price per share of Common Stock plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent shall automatically receive such shares of Common Stock, including fractions, for each Participant’s account. The Fund's initial stockholder has approved the Fund issuing new shares of Common Stock at times when the NAV exceeds the market price per share of Common Stock. Except in the circumstances described in the next paragraph, the number of additional shares of Common Stock to be credited to each Participant’s account shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution payable on their Common Stock by the greater of the net asset value per share of Common Stock determined as of the date of purchase or 95% of the then current market price per share of Common Stock on the payment date.

Should the net asset value per share of Common Stock exceed the market price per share of Common Stock plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, and the Fund has not determined to issue new shares of Common Stock, the Plan Agent or a broker-dealer selected by the Plan Agent shall endeavor, for a purchase period lasting until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Stock trade on an “ex-dividend” basis, but in no event, except as provided below, more than 30 days after the payment date, to apply the amount of such dividend or distribution on each Participant’s Common Stock (less their pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of such dividend or distribution) to purchase Common Stock on the open market for each Participant’s account. No such purchases may be made more than 30 days after the payment date for such dividend or distribution except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary to comply with applicable provisions of federal securities laws. If, at the close of business on any day during the purchase period the net asset value per share of Common Stock equals or is less than the market price per share of Common Stock plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will not make any further open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of such dividend or distribution. If the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend or distribution amount through open-market purchases during the purchase period, the Plan Agent shall request that, with respect to the uninvested portion of such dividend or distribution amount, the Fund issue new Common Stock at the close of business on the earlier of the last day of the purchase period or the first day during the purchase period on which the net asset value per share of Common Stock equals or is less than the market price per share of Common Stock, plus estimated brokerage commissions, such Common Stock to be issued in accordance with the terms specified in the third paragraph hereof. These newly issued Common Stock will be valued at the then-current market price per share of Common Stock at the time such Common Stock is to be issued.

For purposes of making the reinvestment purchase comparison under the Plan, (a) the market price of the Common Stock on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the NYSE (or if the Common Stock are not listed on the NYSE, such other exchange on which the Common Stock are principally traded) on that date, or, if there is no sale on such exchange (or if not so listed, in the OTC market) on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such Common Stock on such exchange on such date and (b) the net asset value per share of Common Stock on a particular date shall be the net asset value per share of Common Stock most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund. All dividends, distributions and other payments (whether made in cash or Common Stock) shall be made net of any applicable withholding tax.

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Open-market purchases provided for above may be made on any securities exchange where the Fund’s Common Stock are traded, in the OTC market or in negotiated transactions and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Plan Agent shall determine. Each Participant’s uninvested funds held by the Plan Agent will not bear interest, and it is understood that, in any event, the Plan Agent shall have no liability in connection with any inability to purchase Common Stock within 30 days after the initial date of such purchase as herein provided, or with the timing of any purchases effected. The Plan Agent shall have no responsibility as to the value of the Common Stock acquired for each Participant’s account. For the purpose of cash investments, the Plan Agent may commingle each Participant’s funds with those of other stockholders of the Fund for whom the Plan Agent similarly acts as agent, and the average price (including brokerage commissions) of all Common Stock purchased by the Plan Agent as Plan Agent shall be the price per share of Common Stock allocable to each Participant in connection therewith.

The Plan Agent may hold each Participant’s Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Common Stock of other stockholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Plan in noncertificated form in the Plan Agent’s name or that of the Plan Agent’s nominee. The Plan Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any Common Stock so held for each Participant only in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by the Participant to the Fund.

The Plan Agent will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made for their account as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a share of Common Stock, no certificates for a fractional share of Common Stock will be issued. However, dividends and other distributions on fractional shares of Common Stock will be credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Common Stock at the time of termination, less the pro rata expense of any sale required to make such an adjustment.

Any Common Stock dividends or split of shares of Common Stock distributed by the Fund on Common Stock held by the Plan Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes available to its stockholders rights to purchase additional shares of Common Stock or other securities, the Common Stock held for each Participant under the Plan will be added to other Common Stock held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to each Participant.

The Plan Agent’s service fee for handling capital gains and other distributions or income dividends will be paid by the Fund. Participants will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions on all open-market purchases.

Each Participant may terminate their account under the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing. Such termination will be effective immediately if the Participant’s notice is received by the Plan Agent not less than ten days prior to any dividend or distribution record date, otherwise such termination will be effective the first trading day after the payment date for such dividend or distribution with respect to any subsequent dividend or distribution. The Plan may be terminated by the Plan Agent or the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund.

These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Plan Agent or the Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the SEC or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Agent receives written notice of the termination of their account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Agent in its place and stead of a successor Plan Agent under these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the

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acts to be performed by the Plan Agent under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any Plan Agent for the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Fund will be authorized to pay to such successor Plan Agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on Common Stock held in their name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor Plan Agent as provided in these terms and conditions.

The Plan Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Plan and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Plan Agent’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees.

These terms and conditions will be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

Reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions — i.e., reinvestment in additional Common Stock does not relieve stockholders of, or defer the need to pay, any income tax that may be payable (or that is required to be withheld) on Fund dividends and distributions. Participants should contact their tax professionals for information on how the Plan impacts their personal tax situation.

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from your broker. To obtain information on how to change your distribution option from the Plan to cash distributions, or vice versa, contact your broker or, if you own shares of Common Stock directly, call the Plan Agent at 1-866-227-2136. The Plan Agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11219.

CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company (commonly referred to as a closed-end fund). Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (which are generally referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange and do not redeem their shares at the request of the stockholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund you must trade them on the market like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In a mutual fund, if the stockholder wishes to sell shares of the fund, the mutual fund will redeem or buy back the shares at “net asset value.” Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to new investors, and closed-end funds generally do not. The continuous inflows and outflows of assets in a mutual fund can make it more difficult to manage the fund’s investments. By comparison, closed-end funds are generally able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their investment objectives and also have greater flexibility to make certain types of investments and to use certain investment strategies, such as leverage and investments in illiquid securities.

Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. If the Common Stock were to trade at a substantial discount to net asset value for an extended period of time, the Board may consider the repurchase of Common Stock on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Directors will decide to take or propose any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount. The conversion of the Fund to an open-end mutual fund would require stockholder approval. See “Anti-Takeover and Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation.” If the Fund converted to an open-end management investment company, the Common Stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE.

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Common Stock

The Articles authorize the issuance of 1 billion shares of capital stock. The Common Stock will be issued with a par value of $0.0001 per share. All Common Stock has equal rights to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. If and whenever financial leverage instruments are outstanding, Common Stockholders will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless all accrued distributions or interest on such financial leverage instruments have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) (a) with respect to the preferred stock would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions or (b) with respect to the notes and other borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the interest.

The Fund expects to list its Common Stock on the NYSE under the symbol “NBXG.” The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of stockholders so long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund must continue to meet the NYSE requirements in order for the Common Stock to remain listed.

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a stockholder determines to buy additional shares of Common Stock or sell shares already held, the stockholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Shares of closed-end funds may frequently trade on an exchange at prices higher or lower than net asset value.

The market value of the Common Stock may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, distribution stability, portfolio credit quality, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund. The Fund cannot assure you that Common Stock will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Stock is designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Stock should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “—Preferred Stock” and the Statement of Additional Information under “Repurchase of Common Stock; Tender Offers; Conversion to Open-end Fund.”

Preferred Stock

The Articles authorize the Board to create additional classes of stock, and the Fund may issue one or more series of preferred stock, with rights as determined by the Board of Directors. Such shares may be issued by action of the Board of Directors without the approval of the Common Stockholders.

Prior to issuance of any preferred stock, the Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by the Fund’s Charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for such shares. Thus, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for Fund’s Common Stockholder or otherwise be in their best interest. No preferred stock is currently outstanding.

Any issuance of preferred stock must comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act. Specifically, the Fund is not permitted under the 1940 Act to issue preferred stock unless immediately after such issuance the total asset value of the Fund’s portfolio is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred stock. Among other requirements, including other voting rights, the 1940 Act requires that the holders of any preferred stock, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect at least two Directors at all times. In addition, subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of any other class of senior securities outstanding, the holders of any preferred stock would have the right to elect a majority of the Fund’s Directors at any time two years’ dividends on any preferred stock are unpaid.

The Fund does not currently intend to issue preferred stock.

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ANTI-TAKEOVER AND PROVISIONS IN THE
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, to cause it to engage in certain transactions or to modify its structure.

The Articles require a vote by (a) a majority of the Fund’s Directors, including a majority of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Directors”) (except for the transactions described in (8) below which shall require the affirmative vote of 75% of the Fund’s Directors) and (b) the holders of at least 75% of the shares of the Fund’s capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote, except as described below, to authorize the following types of actions:

1)

the Fund’s conversion from a closed-end to an open-end management investment company;
 

2)

any merger or consolidation or share exchange of the Fund with or into any other company, including a trust or an open-end registered investment company;
 

3)

the dissolution or liquidation of the Fund or an amendment to the Articles to terminate the Fund’s existence;
 

4)

a change in the nature of the business of the Fund so that it would cease to be an investment company registered under the 1940 Act;
 

5)

with certain exceptions, the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition by the Fund (in one or a series of transactions in any 12 month period) to or with any Principal Stockholder of any assets of the Fund having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more;
 

6)

with certain exceptions, the issuance of any securities of the Fund to any person or entity for cash;
 

7)

with certain exceptions, the issuance or transfer by the Fund (in one or a series of transactions in any 12 month period) of any securities of the Fund to any person or entity for cash, securities or other property or assets (or combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more;
 

8)

unless the 1940 Act or federal law requires a lesser vote, any stockholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be made with respect to the Fund’s assets as to which stockholder approval is required under federal or Maryland law; or
 

9)

any transaction between the Fund and a person, or group of persons acting together (including, without limitation, a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), that is entitled (or controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a person or group that is entitled) to exercise or direct the exercise, or acquire the right to exercise or direct the exercise, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power in the election of directors generally; provided, if such transaction, except with respect to (8), has been authorized by: (i) the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Fund’s Directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors; and (ii) the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the Fund’s Continuing Directors (as defined below), no stockholder vote is required to authorize such action unless Maryland law or the 1940 Act requires stockholder approval.

The term “Principal Stockholder” means any person, entity or group that holds, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and includes any Associates or Affiliates of such person or entity or of any member of the group. The term “Business Combination” means any of the transactions described in clauses (2), (5), (6) and (7) above. The term “Interested Party” shall mean any person, other than an investment company advised by the Fund’s initial investment manager, or any of its Affiliates, that enters, or proposes to enter, into a Business Combination with the Fund. The term “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the meaning ascribed to each such respective term in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. The term “Continuing Director” shall mean any member of the Board of Directors who: (1) has been a member of the Board of Directors for a period of at least 18 months during no part of which time he or she has been an Interested Party or an Affiliate of an Interested Party; (2) has been a member of the Board of Directors since the Corporation’s initial public offering of its Common Stock; or (3) is a successor to a Continuing Director who is unaffiliated with an Interested Party and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

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The percentage vote required under these provisions is higher than that required under Maryland law or by the 1940 Act. The Board believes that the provisions of the Articles relating to such a higher vote threshold are in the best interest of the Fund and its Common Stockholders. Even if agreed to by the Fund, however, certain of the transactions described above may be prohibited by the 1940 Act unless exemptive or other relief is sought from the SEC. In addition, as noted above, preferred stockholders vote together with Common Stockholders on all matters on which Common Stockholders vote. In addition, the 1940 Act requires approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred stock, tallied separately, for any conversion from a closed-end to an open-end management investment company. As the 1940 Act also prohibits doing indirectly what cannot be done directly, a vote of the preferred stockholders may be required to effect some of the other transactions described above if the effective result would be conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end structure.

The Articles also require, to the extent permitted by law, that prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand must first be made on the Board by stockholder(s) representing at least 5% of the shares of Fund’s capital stock outstanding, or five percent (5%) of the shares of the class or series of the Fund’s capital stock outstanding to which the action relates, except that no ownership threshold applies with respect to claims brought under the federal securities laws. A decision by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or such committee, including in each case a majority of the members who are “disinterested’ directors, as that term is discussed in Section 2-405.3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law or a successor provision thereto, not to bring, or to seek termination of, a derivative action shall be conclusive and shall terminate the right of the stockholder(s) to bring or maintain the action. Except with respect to claims brought under the federal securities laws, reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, shall be assessed against a stockholder who brings a derivative action without merit. There may also be additional requirements or restrictions on stockholder derivative lawsuits involving the Fund imposed by law.

The Articles provide that the federal or state courts in Maryland shall be the exclusive forum in which certain types of litigation may be brought and further provide that any stockholder that files an action in breach of the forum selection requirement in the Articles is liable for all reasonable costs incurred in enforcing the forum selection requirement, including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, as determined by the Board. The Articles also include a provision that any stockholder bringing an action against the Fund or the Board members waives the right to trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Board is classified into three classes, each with a term of three years with only one class of Directors standing for election in any year. Such classification may prevent replacement of a majority of the Directors for up to a two-year period. Directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by vote of the holders of at least 75% of the shares entitled to be voted for such Director in an election of directors.

The Fund has opted in to the Maryland Business Combination Act. In general, the Maryland Business Combination Act prohibits an interested stockholder (a stockholder that holds 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation) of a Maryland corporation, or affiliates of such interested stockholder, from engaging in a business combination (generally defined to include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of a substantial amount of assets, a transfer of the corporation’s securities and similar transactions to or with the interested stockholder or an entity affiliated with the interested stockholder) with the corporation for a period of five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder.

While some of the provisions described above are permitted by Maryland law, certain of the provisions described above are neither permitted nor prohibited by Maryland law. A final judgment by a court about these provisions has not been made as of the date of this Prospectus and it is not clear what judgment a court would reach regarding these provisions.

Reference should be made to the Articles on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions. See the SAI under “Certain Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation” for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to certain other transactions.

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The Fund has opted in to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “MCSAA”), which provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers of the acquirer or by an employee of the acquirer who is also a director of the acquirer are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer, or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (i) one-tenth or more but less than one-third; (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the MCSAA, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS;
CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end management investment company and as such its Common Stockholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Stock will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, distribution stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Shares of a closed-end management investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund’s Board of Directors will regularly monitor the relationship between the market price and net asset value of the Common Stock. If the Common Stock were to trade at a substantial discount to net asset value for an extended period of time, the Board may consider the repurchase of Common Stock on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Directors will decide to take or propose any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.

If the Fund converted to an open-end management investment company, the Common Stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In contrast to a closed-end management investment company, stockholders 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.

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Before deciding whether to take any action to convert the Fund to an open-end management investment company, 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 stockholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Common Stock should trade at a discount, the Board of Directors may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its stockholders, no action should be taken. See the Statement of Additional Information under “Repurchase of Common Stock; Tender Offers; Conversion to Open-end Fund” for a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate such discount to net asset value.

LIMITED TERM AND ELIGIBLE TENDER OFFER

The Fund will terminate on or before the Termination Date; provided, that if the Board of Directors believes that under then-current market conditions it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so, the Fund may extend the Termination Date (i) once for up to one year and (ii) once for up to an additional six months, in each case upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without a vote of Common Stockholders. In addition, as of a date within twelve months preceding the Termination Date, the Board of Directors may cause the Fund to conduct an Eligible Tender Offer, which is a tender offer by the Fund to all Common Stockholders to purchase Common Stock of the Fund at a price equal to the NAV of Common Stock. Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund and convert the Fund to a perpetual fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without a vote of Common Stockholders.

The Fund is not a so called “target date” or “life cycle” fund whose asset allocation becomes more conservative over time as its target date, often associated with retirement, approaches. In addition, the Fund is not a “target term” fund whose investment objective is to return its original NAV on the termination date. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to seek to return to investors that purchase Common Stock in this offering their initial investment of $20.00 per share of Common Stock on the Termination Date or in an Eligible Tender Offer, and such investors and investors that purchase Common Stock after the completion of this offering may receive more or less than their original investment upon termination or in an Eligible Tender Offer.

Upon its termination, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net assets to Common Stockholders, after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether due or accrued or anticipated, of the Fund, as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Beginning approximately one year before an Eligible Tender Offer or the Termination Date (such period of time, the “wind-down period”), the Fund may begin liquidating all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio, may deviate from its investment policies and may not achieve its investment objectives. During the wind-down period, the Fund’s portfolio composition may change as portfolio holdings are disposed of in anticipation of liquidation. The Fund may increase its holdings in short term or other lower yielding securities, including in cash, which may adversely affect its performance. The Fund’s distributions during the wind-down period may decrease, and such distributions may include a return of capital. The Fund may distribute the proceeds in one or more liquidating distributions prior to the final liquidation, which may cause fixed expenses to increase when expressed as a percentage of assets under management. It is expected that Common Stockholders will receive cash in any liquidating distribution from the Fund, regardless of their participation in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. However, if on the Termination Date the Fund owns securities for which no market exists or securities trading at depressed prices, such securities may be placed in a liquidating trust. Common Stockholders generally will realize capital gain or loss upon the termination of the Fund in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash or other property received by the Common Stockholder (including any property deemed received by reason of its being placed in a liquidating trust) and the Common Stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Stock of the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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If the Board of Directors believes that under then-current market conditions it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so, the Fund may extend the Termination Date (i) once for up to one year, and (ii) once for up to an additional six months, in each case upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without a vote of Commons Stockholders. In determining whether to extend the Termination Date, the Board of Directors may consider the inability to sell the Fund’s assets in a time frame consistent with termination due to lack of market liquidity or other extenuating circumstances. Additionally, the Board of Directors may determine that market conditions are such that it is reasonable to believe that, with an extension, the Fund’s remaining assets will appreciate and generate income in an amount that, in the aggregate, is meaningful relative to the cost and expense of continuing the operation of the Fund.

The Board of Directors may cause the Fund to conduct an Eligible Tender Offer. An Eligible Tender Offer would consist of a tender offer to all Common Stockholders to purchase Common Stock of the Fund at a price equal to the Fund’s NAV of Common Stock. The Board of Directors has established that, following an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund must have at least $200 million of net assets to ensure the continued viability of the Fund (the “Termination Threshold”). In an Eligible Tender Offer, the Fund will offer to purchase all Common Stock held by each Common Stockholder; provided, that if the number of properly tendered Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets totaling less than the Termination Threshold, the Eligible Tender Offer will be terminated and no Common Stock will be repurchased pursuant to the Eligible Tender Offer. Instead, the Fund will begin (or continue) liquidating its portfolio and proceed to terminate on or before the Termination Date.

If the number of properly tendered Common Stock would result in the Fund’s net assets equaling or totaling greater than the Termination Threshold, all Common Stock properly tendered and not withdrawn will be purchased by the Fund pursuant to the terms of the Eligible Tender Offer. The Fund’s purchase of tendered Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer will have tax consequences for tendering Common Stockholders and may have tax consequences for non-tendering Common Stockholders. See “Risks—Structural Risks—Limited Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk.” Following the completion of an Eligible Tender Offer, the Board of Directors may eliminate the limited term structure of the Fund upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and without the approval of Common Stockholders. In making a decision to do so to provide for the Fund’s perpetual existence, the Board of Directors will take such actions with respect to the continued operations of the Fund as it deems to be in the best interests of the Fund, based on market conditions at such time, the extent of Common Stockholder participation in the Eligible Tender Offer and all other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors in consultation with the Adviser, taking into account that the Adviser may have a potential conflict of interest in recommending to the Board of Directors that the limited term structure be eliminated and the Fund have a perpetual existence (or that the Termination Date be extended). The Fund is not required to conduct additional tender offers following an Eligible Tender Offer and conversion to a perpetual structure. Therefore, remaining Common Stockholders may not have another opportunity to participate in a tender offer or exchange their Common Stock for the then-existing NAV of Common Stock.

An Eligible Tender Offer would be made, and Common Stockholders would be notified thereof, in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act and the applicable tender offer rules thereunder (including Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act or successor rules to the same general effect). The repurchase of tendered Common Stock by the Fund in a tender offer would be a taxable event to Common Stockholders.

An Eligible Tender Offer may be commenced upon approval of a majority of the Board of Directors, without a vote of Common Stockholders. The Fund is not required to conduct an Eligible Tender Offer. If no Eligible Tender Offer is conducted, the Fund will liquidate on or before the Termination Date (subject to extension as described above), unless the limited term provisions of the Articles of Incorporation are amended with the vote of Common Stockholders, as described above.

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TAX MATTERS

The following is a brief summary of certain material federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its stockholders with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Common Stock and does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of federal taxation that may be relevant to stockholders in light of their particular circumstances. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury regulations, judicial authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). This discussion is limited to U.S. persons who hold Common Stock as a capital asset for federal income tax purposes (generally, assets held for investment). No ruling has been or will be obtained from the IRS regarding any matter relating to the Common Stock. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert a position contrary to any of the tax aspects described below.

The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a RIC, which requires (among other things) that it distribute each taxable year to its stockholders at least the sum of 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (which generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss, all determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and 90% of its net exempt interest income, if any. If the Fund so qualifies, it will not be required to pay federal income tax on any net income and realized gains it distributes to its stockholders, but those distributions generally will be taxable to you as a stockholder when you receive them.

Dividends paid to you that are attributable to the Fund’s investment company taxable income generally will be taxable as ordinary income (currently at a maximum federal income tax rate of 37% of individuals, except as noted below) to the extent of its earnings and profits. Distributions to you attributable to net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, will be taxable at lower rates as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your Common Stock. The Fund intends to distribute to its stockholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain. A distribution by the Fund to you of an amount in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital that will reduce your tax basis in your Common Stock; the amount of any such distribution in excess of your basis will be treated as gain from a sale of your Common Stock. The tax treatment of distributions on your Common Stock will be the same regardless of whether they are paid to you in cash or reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock under the Plan. Stockholders not subject to tax on their income generally will not be required to pay income tax on amounts distributed to them.

A distribution will be treated as paid to you on December 31 of a particular calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December of that year with a record date in such a month and is paid during January of the following year. Each year, the Fund will notify you of the tax status of its distributions.

If you sell your Common Stock or the Fund purchases it, you will realize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and your adjusted tax basis in the Common Stock, which gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on your holding period for the Common Stock.

The Fund may be required to withhold federal income tax (currently at the rate of 24%) from all taxable distributions otherwise payable to you if you are an individual or other non-corporate stockholder and you:

fail to provide the Fund with your correct taxpayer identification number (social security number in the case of an individual);
 
fail to make required certifications; or
 
 have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding.

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The maximum federal income tax rate is reduced to 20% on (1) net capital gain individuals recognize and (2) “qualified dividend income” individuals receive from certain domestic and foreign corporations (“QDI”). Distributions of net capital gain the Fund makes will be eligible for the reduced rate, which will also apply to capital gains you recognize on the sale of Common Stock you have held for more than one year.

The 20% rate for QDI applies to Fund dividends based on QDI received by the Fund and paid to individuals, provided they satisfy certain holding period and other requirements.

Fund distributions also may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. You should consult with your own tax adviser regarding the particular consequences of investing in the Fund.

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UNDERWRITERS

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the Fund’s underwriting agreement dated      , 2021, each Underwriter named below, for which BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), have severally agreed to purchase, and the Fund has agreed to sell to such Underwriter, the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter.



Number of


Shares of
Underwriter       Common Stock
BofA Securities, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC    
UBS Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

B. Riley Securities, Inc.

Brookline Capital Markets, a Division of Arcadia Securities, LLC

D.A. Davidson & Co.

GMS Group, LLC

Hennion & Walsh, Inc.

Hilltop Securities Inc.

Incapital LLC

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

Maxim Group LLC

Newbridge Securities Corporation

Pershing LLC

Rockefeller Financial LLC

Wedbush Securities Inc.

Total

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Common Stock included in this offering are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and certain other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase all shares of Common Stock sold under the underwriting agreement if any of the shares of Common Stock are purchased.

In the underwriting agreement, the Fund and NBIA have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make for any of these liabilities.

Commissions

The Underwriters propose to initially offer some of the Common Stock directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and some of the Common Stock to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $.40 per share of Common Stock. Investors purchasing Common Stock in this offering will not be charged a sales load. NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay, from its own assets, compensation of $.60 per share of Common Stock to the Underwriters in connection with the offering, which aggregate amount will not exceed      % of the total public offering price of the Common Stock sold in this offering. After the initial public offering, the concession may be changed. Investors must pay for any Common Stock purchased on or before          , 2021.

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The following table shows the public offering price, sales load and proceeds to the Fund. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the Underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock.






Total

      Per Share       No Exercise       Full Exercise
Public Offering Price
$         20.00
$           

$           
Sales Load

None

None

None
Proceeds to the Fund
$         20.00
$           

$           

NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay all organizational expenses of the Fund and all offering costs associated with this offering. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expense or offering costs paid by NBIA.

Option to Purchase Additional Common Stock

The Fund has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to            additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price within 45 days from the date of this prospectus solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If the Underwriters exercise this option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares of Common Stock proportionate to that Underwriter’s initial amount set forth in the table above.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

Until the distribution of the Common Stock is complete, SEC rules may limit Underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing Common Stock. However, the Representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the Common Stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

If the Underwriters create a short position in the Common Stock in connection with the offering (i.e., if they sell more Common Stock than are listed on the cover of this prospectus), the Representatives may reduce that short position by purchasing Common Stock in the open market. The Representatives may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the option to purchase shares of Common Stock described above. The Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers in respect of the Common Stock sold in this offering for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such shares of Common Stock are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. Purchases of the Common Stock to stabilize their price or to reduce a short position may cause the price of the Common Stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

Neither the Fund nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Common Stock. In addition, neither the Fund nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation that the Representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The Fund has agreed not to offer or sell any additional shares of Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of the underwriting agreement without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, except: (a) for the sale of the Common Stock to the Underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement; (b) for shares purchased in the open market pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan and (c) for share repurchases in accordance with applicable law.

The Common Stock will be sold so as to ensure that the NYSE distribution standards (i.e., round lots, public shares and aggregate market value) will be met.

Other Relationships

NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets to BofA Securities, Inc. (or an affiliate) a structuring and syndication fee for advice relating to the design and organization of the Fund as well as for services related to the sale and distribution of the Common Stock in the amount of $          . If the option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock is not exercised, the total amount of this structuring and syndication fee payment to BofA Securities, Inc. (or an affiliate) will not exceed      % of the total price to the public of the Common Stock sold in this offering.

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NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC a structuring fee for advice relating to the design and organization of the Fund as well as for services related to the sale and distribution of the Common Stock in the amount of $          , $           and $          , respectively. If the option to purchase additional Common Stock is not exercised, the total amount of this structuring fee payment to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will not exceed      %,      % and      %, respectively, of the total price to the public of the Common Stock sold in this offering.

NBIA (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay from its own assets to Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated a fee in the amount of $          , $           and $          , respectively. If the option to purchase additional Common Stock is not exercised, the total amount of this fee payment to Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated will not exceed      %,      % and      %, respectively, of the total price to the public of the Common Stock sold in this offering.

NBIA (and not the Fund) may also pay certain other qualifying Underwriters or dealers a structuring fee, a sales incentive fee or other additional compensation in connection with the offering.

NBIA (and not the Fund) has also agreed to pay expenses related to the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Common Stock.

The sum total of all compensation and expense reimbursement paid to the Underwriters in connection with this offering of the Common Stock will not exceed in the aggregate      % of the total price to the public of the Common Stock sold in this offering.

Certain of the Underwriters also have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with affiliates of the Fund, including NBIA.

The Fund anticipates that certain Underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers in connection with the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions after they have ceased to be Underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, may act as brokers while they are Underwriters.

Prior to the public offering of the Common Stock, Neuberger Berman Asia Holdings LLC (“NBAH”), an affiliate of the Adviser, purchased Common Stock from the Fund in an amount satisfying the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act, which requires the Fund to have a net worth of at least $100,000 prior to making a public offering. As of the date of this prospectus, NBAH owned 100% of the Fund's outstanding Common Stock and therefore may be deemed to control the Fund until such time as it owns less than 25% of the Fund's outstanding Common Stock, which is expected to occur upon the closing of this offering.

The principal business address of BofA Securities, Inc. is One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of UBS Securities LLC is 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019. The principal business address of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is 550 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund will be State Street Bank and Trust Company. The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, stockholder services and distribution paying agent will be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

LEGAL OPINIONS

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Stock will be passed upon for the Fund by K&L Gates LLP, Washington, D.C., and for the Underwriters by Clifford Chance US LLP.

89



           shares

Neuberger Berman
Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.

Common Stock
$20.00 per share
______________________________
PROSPECTUS
          , 2021
______________________________
BofA Securities
Morgan Stanley
UBS Investment Bank
Wells Fargo Securities
Oppenheimer & Co.
RBC Capital Markets
Stifel
B. Riley Securities
Brookline Capital Markets
D.A. Davidson & Co.
GMS Group, LLC
Hennion & Walsh, Inc.
Hilltop Securities Inc.
Incapital
Janney Montgomery Scott
JonesTrading
Ladenburg Thalmann
Maxim Group LLC
Newbridge Securities Corporation
Pershing LLC
Rockefeller Capital Management
Wedbush Securities Inc.

Until           , 2021 (25 days after the date of this Prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Common Stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.


The information in this statement of additional information 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 statement of additional information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject To Completion
Preliminary Statement of Additional Information Dated April 26, 2021

Neuberger Berman Next Generation
Connectivity Fund Inc.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company.

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relating to shares of common stock of the Fund (“Common Stock”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus relating to Common Stock dated           , 2021 (“Prospectus”). This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Stock, and investors should obtain and read the Fund’s Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. You can get a free copy of the Prospectus from Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA” or the “Manager”), 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10104-0002 or by calling 877-461-1899. You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the website (http://www.sec.gov) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations not contained in the Prospectus or in this SAI in connection with the offering made by the Prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund. The Prospectus and this SAI do not constitute an offering by the Fund in any jurisdiction in which such offering may not lawfully be made.

The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC” and the Fund name in this SAI are either service marks or registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC.

©2021 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. All rights reserved.

This Statement of Additional Information is dated           , 2021.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


      Page
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
1
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
3
PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE
35
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
36
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
51
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
55
DISTRIBUTIONS
59
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
60
CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
62
REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
63
TAX MATTERS
64
REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
70
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT
70
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
70
COUNSEL
70
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
70
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
71
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
72
APPENDIX A RATINGS
A-1

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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS

The investment objective and general investment policies of the Fund are described in the Fund’s Prospectus relating to the Common Stock.

Additional information concerning the characteristics of certain of the Fund’s investments is set forth below. NBIA is responsible for the day-to-day management of the assets of the Fund.

Unless otherwise specified, the investment objective, policies and limitations of the Fund are not fundamental. Any investment policy or limitation that is not fundamental may be changed by the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) without stockholder approval. The fundamental investment policies and limitations of the Fund may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and, if issued, preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”) voting as a single class, as well as by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock tabulated separately. A “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever of (i) or (ii) is less. These percentages are specified by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).

Unless otherwise indicated, any investment policy or limitation that involves a maximum percentage of securities or assets will not be considered exceeded unless the percentage limitation is exceeded immediately after, and because of, a transaction by the Fund. If, because of changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, the asset coverage for any notes (“Notes”) or other borrowings (which, for the sake of clarity, do not include preferred stock) were to fall below 300%, this would limit the Fund’s ability to pay dividends and other distributions, and, therefore, the Fund intends to restore the 300% asset coverage as soon as practical in light of the circumstances.

The Fund’s fundamental investment policies and limitations are as follows:

1. Borrowing. The Fund may not borrow money in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount of money borrowed) minus liabilities (other than the amount borrowed), except that the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes.

2. Commodities. The Fund may not purchase physical commodities or contracts thereon, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable interpretations or modifications by the SEC, the SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority, or unless acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or instruments, but this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing futures contracts, options (including options on futures contracts, but excluding options or futures contracts on physical commodities other than foreign currency), foreign currencies or forward contracts, swaps, caps, collars, floors and other financial instruments or from investing in securities of any kind, including, for the sake of clarity, securities of companies whose principal or only business consists of investing in, owning, holding, extracting, transporting, processing, selling and/or dealing in or with physical commodities of any kind.

For purposes of the limitation on commodities, the Fund does not consider foreign currencies or forward contracts to be physical commodities.

3. Industry Concentration. The Fund may not purchase any security if, as a result, 25% or more of its total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, except that the Fund will invest greater than 25% of its total assets in companies conducting their principal business in one or more industries within the information technology and communication services groups of industries. This limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government and Agency Securities”), securities of other investment companies and tax- exempt securities or such other securities as may be excluded for this purpose under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable interpretations or modifications by the SEC, the SEC staff of other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority. For purposes of the Fund’s industry concentration policy, NBIA will, on behalf of the Fund, make reasonable determinations as to the appropriate industry classification to assign to each security or instrument in which the Fund invests. The definition of what constitutes a particular “industry” is an evolving one, particularly

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for industries or sectors within industries that are new or are undergoing rapid development. Some securities could reasonably fall within more than one industry category. The Fund’s industry concentration policy will be interpreted to give broad authority to the Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries.

4. Lending. The Fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets (taken at current value) would be lent to other parties, except, in accordance with its investment objective, policies, and limitations, (i) through the purchase of a portion of an issue of debt securities, loans, loan participations or other forms of direct debt instruments or (ii) by engaging in repurchase agreements. The Fund does not consider derivatives instruments and strategies that may have a leveraging effect to be loans for this purpose.

5. Real Estate. The Fund may not purchase real estate unless acquired as a result of the ownership of securities or instruments, but this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from purchasing securities issued by entities or investment vehicles that own or deal in real estate or interests therein or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein.

6. Senior Securities. The Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any applicable interpretations or modifications by the SEC, the SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.

7. Underwriting. The Fund may not underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the Fund, in disposing of portfolio securities, may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”).

Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness regarding a loan for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed. Any Preferred Stock, if issued, would be considered senior securities under the 1940 Act. The Fund may only issue Preferred Stock if the asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to Preferred Stock would be at least 200% after such issuance.

To the extent the Fund covers its commitment under a derivative instrument by the segregation of assets determined by the Manager, as appropriate, to be liquid and/or by holding instruments representing offsetting commitments, such instrument will not be considered a “senior security” for purposes of the asset coverage requirements otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund or the Fund’s issuance, if any, of Preferred Stock.

The Fund interprets its policies with respect to borrowing and lending to permit such activities as may be lawful for the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act or by any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC.

If rating agencies assign different ratings to the same security, the Manager will determine which rating it believes best reflects the security’s quality and risk at that time, which may be the highest of the several assigned ratings.

Cash Management and Temporary Defensive Positions. In anticipation of or in response to adverse market conditions, for cash management purposes, during a reasonable start-up period following the completion of this offering, during the wind-down period, or for defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in cash or cash equivalents, U.S. Government and Agency Securities, commercial paper, and certain other money market instruments, as well as repurchase agreements collateralized by the foregoing. In such a case, the Fund may not be pursuing, and may not achieve, its investment objective, and Common Stockholders may be adversely affected.

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INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS

The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s investment objective, policies and techniques in the Prospectus. The Fund may make the following investments, among others, some of which are part of its principal investment strategies and some of which are not. The principal risks of the Fund’s principal strategies are discussed in the Prospectus. The Fund may not buy all of the types of securities or use all of the investment techniques that are described.

Investment Companies and ETFs

Subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and the Fund’s governing documents or as otherwise permitted by the SEC, the Fund may acquire shares in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) or business development companies (“BDCs”). The market value of the shares of other investment companies may differ from their net asset value (“NAV”). As an investor in investment companies, including ETFs or BDCs, the Fund would bear its ratable share of that entity’s expenses, including its investment advisory and administration fees, while continuing to pay its own advisory and administration fees and other expenses (to the extent not offset by the Manager through waivers). As a result, Common Stockholders will be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in other investment companies, including ETFs or BDCs (to the extent not offset by the Manager through waivers).

The securities of other investment companies, including ETFs or BDCs, in which the Fund may invest may be leveraged. As a result, the Fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an investment in such securities. An investment in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs or BDCs, that use leverage may expose the Fund to higher volatility in the market value of such securities and the possibility that the Fund’s long-term returns on such securities (and, indirectly, the long-term returns of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock) will be diminished.

ETFs are generally not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in market segments relating to its index. An ETF typically invests in securities included in, or representative of, its index regardless of their investment merits and does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

Cyber Security Risk

With the increased use of the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational and information security risks. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by computer viruses or other malicious software code, gaining unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital systems through system-wide “hacking” or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on the Fund’s websites. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Fund’s systems.

Cyber security failures or breaches by the Fund’s third party service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodians and financial intermediaries) and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may cause disruptions and impact the service providers’ and the Fund’s business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, inability to calculate the Fund’s NAV, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund may incur incremental costs to prevent cyber incidents in the future. The Fund and its stockholders could be negatively impacted as a result. In addition, the Fund cannot directly control any cyber security plans and systems put in place by third party service providers, or by issuers in which the Fund invests.

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Securities of Issuers in Emerging Market Countries

The risks described above for foreign securities may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging market countries. Historically, the markets of emerging market countries have been more volatile than the markets of developed countries, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, emerging market countries may have less stable governments; may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets; and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of emerging market countries may be reliant on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions and may suffer from high and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

In determining where an issuer of a security is based, the Manager may consider such factors as where the company is legally organized, maintains its principal corporate offices and/or conducts its principal operations.

Additional costs could be incurred in connection with the Fund’s investment activities outside the United States. Brokerage commissions may be higher outside the United States, and the Fund will bear certain expenses in connection with its currency transactions. Furthermore, increased custodian costs may be associated with maintaining assets in certain jurisdictions.

Certain risk factors related to emerging market countries include:

Currency fluctuations. The Fund’s investments may be valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Certain emerging market countries’ currencies have experienced and may in the future experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar. For example, if the U.S. dollar appreciates against foreign currencies, the value of the Fund’s securities holdings would generally depreciate and vice versa. Consistent with its investment objective, the Fund can engage in certain currency transactions to hedge against currency fluctuations. See the section entitled “Forward Foreign Currency Transactions.”

Government regulation. The political, economic and social structures of certain developing countries may be more volatile and less developed than those in the United States. Certain emerging market countries lack uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, have less governmental supervision of financial markets than in the United States, and do not honor legal rights enjoyed in the United States. Certain governments may be more unstable and present greater risks of nationalization or restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies.

Repatriation of investment income, capital and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some emerging market countries. While the Fund will only invest in markets where these restrictions are considered acceptable by the Manager, a country could impose new or additional repatriation restrictions after the Fund’s investment. If this happened, the Fund’s response might include, among other things, applying to the appropriate authorities for a waiver of the restrictions or engaging in transactions in other markets designed to offset the risks of decline in that country. Such restrictions will be considered in relation to the Fund’s liquidity needs and all other positive and negative factors. Further, some attractive equity securities may not be available to the Fund, or the Fund may have to pay a premium to purchase those equity securities, due to foreign stockholders already holding the maximum amount legally permissible.

While government involvement in the private sector varies in degree among emerging market countries, such involvement may in some cases include government ownership of companies in certain sectors, wage and price controls or imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures. With respect to any emerging market country, there is no guarantee that some future economic or political crisis will not lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, or creation of government monopolies to the possible detriment of the Fund’s investments.

Less developed securities markets. Emerging market countries may have less well developed securities markets and exchanges. These markets have lower trading volumes than the securities markets of more developed countries. These markets may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume. Consequently, these markets may be substantially less liquid than those of more developed countries, and the securities of issuers located in these markets may have limited marketability. These factors may make prompt liquidation of substantial portfolio holdings difficult or impossible at times.

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Settlement risks. Settlement systems in emerging market countries are generally less well organized than developed markets. Supervisory authorities may also be unable to apply standards comparable to those in developed markets. Thus, there may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities belonging to the Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the systems. In particular, market practice may require that payment be made before receipt of the security being purchased or that delivery of a security be made before payment is received. In such cases, default by a broker or bank (the “counterparty”) through whom the transaction is effected might cause the Fund to suffer a loss. The Fund will seek, where possible, to use counterparties whose financial status is such that this risk is reduced. However, there can be no certainty that the Fund will be successful in eliminating this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in emerging market countries frequently lack the substance or financial resources of those in developed countries. There may also be a danger that, because of uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims may arise with respect to securities held by or to be transferred to the Fund.

Investor information. The Fund may encounter problems assessing investment opportunities in certain emerging market securities markets in light of limitations on available information and different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. In such circumstances, the Manager will seek alternative sources of information, and to the extent it may not be satisfied with the sufficiency of the information obtained with respect to a particular market or security, the Fund will not invest in such market or security.

Taxation. Taxation of dividends received and net capital gains realized by non-residents varies among emerging market countries and, in some cases, is comparatively high. In addition, emerging market countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and procedures, and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that the Fund could in the future become subject to local tax liability that it had not reasonably anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets.

Litigation. The Fund and its stockholders may encounter substantial difficulties in obtaining and enforcing judgments against non-U.S. resident individuals and companies.

Fraudulent securities. Securities purchased by the Fund may subsequently be found to be fraudulent or counterfeit, resulting in a loss to the Fund. The securities laws of foreign countries may not include strong anti-fraud provisions.

Risks of Investing in Frontier Emerging Market Countries. Frontier emerging market countries are countries that have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging markets. Frontier emerging market countries tend to have relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the larger traditionally-recognized emerging markets. The frontier emerging market countries include the least developed countries even by emerging markets standards. The risks of investments in frontier emerging market countries include all the risks described above for investment in foreign securities and emerging markets, although these risks are magnified in the case of frontier emerging market countries.

Equity Securities

Growth Stocks. The Fund may invest in “growth” stocks. Growth stocks may have higher price-to-earnings ratios, may not pay consistent or any dividends and are typically characterized by greater volatility. As such, growth stocks involve a greater degree of risk than income or other types of stocks, particularly over the short term.

Investments in Developing and Small- and Mid-Cap Companies. The Fund’s investments in small and developing companies involve a number of significant risks, including the following:

These companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of their assets;

 
There is generally less public information readily available about these companies, including investment research, industry reports and news analysis, and the Fund’s investigation of such investment opportunities may require significantly higher cost, longer time frame and more extensive management commitment compared to investments in companies with a greater degree of visibility in the public markets;

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These companies typically have shorter operating histories and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;
   
These companies may not be widely followed by the investment community, which may result in reduced demand;
   
These companies are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on the Fund’s portfolio company and, in turn, on the Fund;
   
These companies may have less predictable operating results, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position.

IPO Securities. From time to time the Fund may purchase securities which are part of initial public offerings (“IPO”). The prices of these securities may be very volatile. The issuers of these securities may be undercapitalized, have a limited operating history, and lack revenues or operating income without any prospects of achieving them in the near future. Some of these issuers may only make available a limited number of shares for trading and therefore it may be difficult for the Fund to trade these securities without unfavorably impacting their prices. In addition, investors may lack extensive knowledge of the issuers of these securities. The Fund may invest in securities that are “new issues,” as defined in FINRA Rule 5130, or any successor provision thereto. The Fund may not be able to invest in IPOs, or to invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be available to the Fund. In addition, under certain market conditions, a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. IPO investments may be held a short time, and could increase portfolio turnover.

Preferred Securities. Preferred and other subordinated securities rank lower than bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. There are various special risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including:

Limited Voting Rights. Generally, preferred security holders (such as the Fund) have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. In the case of certain preferred securities issued by trusts or special purpose entities, holders generally have no voting rights except if a declaration of default occurs and is continuing. In such an event, preferred security holders generally would have the right to appoint and authorize a trustee to enforce the trust’s or special purpose entity’s rights as a creditor under the agreement with its operating company.
   
Liquidity. Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as U.S. government securities or common stock.
   
New Types of Securities. From time to time, preferred securities, including hybrid-preferred securities, have been, and may in the future be, offered having features other than those described herein. The Fund reserves the right to invest in these securities if the Manager believes that doing so would be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Since the market for these instruments would be new, the Fund may have difficulty disposing of them at a suitable price and time. In addition to limited liquidity, these instruments may present other risks, such as high price volatility. The preferred securities market is comprised predominately of securities issued by companies in the financial services sector. Therefore, preferred securities present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial services companies more than companies in other sectors and industries. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and proposed regulations affecting the financial services sector could lead to the issuance of new forms of preferred and hybrid-preferred securities with features such as automatic equity conversion and/or write downs from par value under certain circumstances. Such conversion or write-down features might be applied by regulators to existing securities as well. The Dodd- Frank Act contains provisions which will make certain hybrid-preferred securities less attractive for issuing banks, which may result in a reduction in the issuance and availability of these types of securities. These changes may negatively impact the prices of

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some securities, particularly those trading above their par values, as the new legislation may make near-term redemptions at par possible. However, other securities may be positively affected, particularly those trading at discounts to par value. Such securities may experience an increase in market value from issuers’ redemption activity. A longer-term consequence of the relevant provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, which are to be phased in over a period of a few years, is the potential for some types of preferred securities in which the Fund intends to invest to become more scarce and potentially less liquid.
 
Payment Deferral. Generally, preferred securities may be subject to provisions that allow an issuer, under certain conditions, to skip “noncumulative” preferred securities) or defer (“cumulative” preferred securities) distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Non-cumulative preferred securities can defer distributions indefinitely. Cumulative preferred securities typically contain provisions that allow an issuer, at its discretion, to defer distribution payments for up to 10 years. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distribution, the Fund may be required to report income for tax purposes while it is not receiving any corresponding cash.
 
Regulatory Risk. Issuers of preferred securities may be in industries that are heavily regulated and that may receive government funding. The value of preferred securities issued by these companies may be affected by changes in government policy, such as increased regulation, ownership restrictions, deregulation or reduced government funding.
 
Special Redemption Rights. In certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities at par prior to their stated maturity date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in federal income tax or securities laws or regulatory or major corporate action. A redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by the Fund.
 
Subordination. Preferred securities are ranked lower than bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure and therefore are subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.
 
Tax Risk. The Fund may invest in preferred securities or other securities the federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to re-characterization by the Internal Revenue Service. It could be more difficult for the Fund to comply with the tax requirements applicable to regulated investment companies (“RIC”) if the tax characterization of the Fund’s investments or the tax treatment of the income from such investments were successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service. See “Tax Matters.”

Undervalued Securities. The Fund may invest in companies that the Manager believes are undervalued. Opportunities in undervalued equity securities arise from market inefficiencies or due to a lack of wide recognition of the potential impact (positive or negative) that specific events or trends may have on the value of a security. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued securities is a difficult task, and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. Although investments in undervalued securities offer opportunities for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial losses.

Fixed Income Securities

While the emphasis of the Fund’s investment program is on common stocks and other equity securities or equity investments, the Fund may invest in money market instruments, U.S. Government and Agency Securities, and other fixed income securities. The debt securities in which the Fund may invest include variable rate securities, the interest rates on which reset at specified intervals to reflect current market rates as defined by a certain index or reference rate, and floating rate securities, the interest rates on which reset whenever the specified index or reference rate changes. The Fund may invest in investment grade corporate bonds and debentures, and may also invest in corporate debt securities rated below investment grade (commonly known as “junk bonds”).

“U.S. Government Securities” are obligations of the Treasury Department backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. During times of market turbulence, investors may turn to the safety of securities issued or guaranteed by the Treasury Department, causing the prices of these securities to rise and their yields to decline.

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“U.S. Government Agency Securities” are issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or by instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, such as Ginnie Mae (also known as the Government National Mortgage Association), Fannie Mae (also known as the Federal National Mortgage Association), Freddie Mac (also known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), SLM Corporation (formerly, the Student Loan Marketing Association) (commonly known as “Sallie Mae”), and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some U.S. Government Agency Securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, while others may be supported by the issuer’s ability to borrow from the Treasury Department, subject to the Treasury’s discretion in certain cases, or only by the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Agency Securities include U.S. Government Agency mortgage-backed securities. The market prices of U.S. Government and Agency Securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. Government.

“Investment grade” debt securities are those receiving one of the four highest ratings from Moody’s, S&P, or another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if unrated by any NRSRO, determined by the Manager to be comparable to such rated securities (“Comparable Unrated Securities”). Securities rated by Moody’s in its fourth highest rating category (Baa) or Comparable Unrated Securities may be deemed to have speculative characteristics.

The ratings of an NRSRO represent its opinion as to the quality of securities it undertakes to rate. Ratings are not absolute standards of quality; consequently, securities with the same maturity, coupon, and rating may have different yields. Although the Fund may rely on the ratings of any NRSRO, the Fund refers primarily to ratings assigned by S&P and Moody’s, which are described in Appendix A to this SAI.

Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (“credit risk”) and are subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity (“interest rate risk”), market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer, and market liquidity (“market risk”). The value of the Fund’s fixed income investments is likely to decline in times of rising market interest rates. Conversely, the value of the Fund’s fixed income investments is likely to rise in times of declining market interest rates. Typically, the longer the time to maturity of a given security, the greater is the change in its value in response to a change in interest rates. Foreign debt securities are subject to risks similar to those of other foreign securities.

Lower-rated securities are more likely to react to developments affecting market and credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to movements in the general level of interest rates. Debt securities in the lowest rating categories may involve a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Changes in economic conditions or developments regarding the individual issuer are more likely to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuer of such securities to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade debt securities. An economic downturn affecting the issuer may result in an increased incidence of default. The market for lower rated securities may be thinner and less active than for higher-rated securities. Pricing of thinly traded securities requires greater judgment than pricing of securities for which market transactions are regularly reported. The Manager will invest in lower-rated securities only when it concludes that the anticipated return on such an investment to the Fund warrants exposure to the additional level of risk.

LIBOR Rate Risk.

Many debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments, including some of the Fund’s investments, utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as the reference or benchmark rate for variable interest rate calculations. However, concerns have arisen regarding LIBOR’s viability as a benchmark, due to manipulation allegations dating from about 2012 and, subsequently, reduced activity in the financial markets that it measures. Current plans call for most maturities and currencies of LIBOR to be phased out at the end of 2021, with the remaining ones to be phased out on June 30, 2023. There are risks that the financial services industry will not have a suitable substitute in place by that time and that there will not be time to perform the substantial work necessary to revise the many existing contracts that rely on LIBOR. The transition process, or a failure of the industry to transition properly, might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR. It also could lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based instruments. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021.

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Futures Contracts, Options on Futures Contracts, Options on Securities and Indices, Forward Currency Contracts, Options on Foreign Currencies, and Swap Agreements (collectively, “Financial Instruments”)

Financial Instruments are instruments whose value is dependent upon the value of an underlying asset or assets, which may include stocks, bonds, commodities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, or related indices. As described below, Financial Instruments may be used for “hedging” purposes, meaning that they may be used in an effort to offset a decline in value in the Fund’s other investments, which could result from changes in interest rates, market prices, currency fluctuations, or other market factors. Financial Instruments may also be used for non-hedging purposes in an effort to implement a cash management strategy, to enhance income or gain, to manage or adjust the risk profile of the Fund or the risk of individual positions, to gain exposure more efficiently than through a direct purchase of the underlying security, or to gain exposure to securities, markets, sectors or geographical areas.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to establish new regulations with respect to derivatives defined as security-based swaps (e.g., derivatives based on an equity or a narrowly based equity index) and swaps (e.g., derivatives based on a broad-based index or commodity), respectively, and the markets in which these instruments trade. In addition, it subjected all security-based swaps and swaps to SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, respectively.

The SEC recently voted to adopt Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under the Investment Company Act (‘‘Rule 18f-4’’). Unless the Fund qualifies as a ‘‘limited derivatives user’’ as defined in Rule 18f-4, Rule 18f-4 would, among other things, require the Fund to establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, which may limit the Fund’s ability to enter into derivative transactions, to appoint a derivatives risk manager and to provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. For funds that qualify as limited derivatives users, Rule 18f-4 requires a fund to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk. These requirements could have an impact on the Fund, including a potential increase in cost to enter into derivatives transactions. The full impact of Rule 18f-4 on the Fund remains uncertain, however, due to the compliance timeline within Rule 18f-4, it is unlikely that the Fund will be required to fully comply with the requirements until 2022.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”) and options thereon for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to offset against changes in the prices of securities or, in the case of foreign currency futures and options thereon, to attempt to offset against changes in prevailing currency exchange rates) or non-hedging purposes.

A “purchase” of a futures contract (or entering into a “long” futures position) entails the buyer’s assumption of a contractual obligation to take delivery of the instrument underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time. A “sale” of a futures contract (or entering into a “short” futures position) entails the seller’s assumption of a contractual obligation to make delivery of the instrument underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time.

The value of a futures contract tends to increase or decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase the Fund’s exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if the Fund had purchased the underlying instrument directly. The Fund may purchase futures contracts to fix what the Manager believes to be a favorable price for securities the Fund intends to purchase. When the Fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the market for the underlying instrument. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the Fund had sold the underlying instrument. The Fund may sell futures contracts to offset a possible decline in the value of its portfolio securities. In addition, the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge to attempt to compensate for anticipated differences in volatility between positions the Fund may wish to hedge and the standardized futures contracts available to it, although this may not be successful in all cases. Further,

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a loss incurred on a particular transaction being used as a hedge does not mean that it failed to achieve its objective, if the goal was to prevent a worse loss that may have resulted had a particular securities or cash market investment suffered a substantial loss and there were no offsetting hedge.

Certain futures, including index futures and futures not calling for the physical delivery or acquisition of the instrument underlying the contract, are settled on a net cash payment basis rather than by the delivery of the underlying instrument. In addition, although futures contracts by their terms may call for the physical delivery or acquisition of the instrument underlying the contract, in most cases the contractual obligation is extinguished by being closed out before the expiration of the contract. A futures position is closed out by buying (to close out an earlier sale) or selling (to close out an earlier purchase) an identical futures contract calling for delivery in the same month. This may result in a profit or loss. While futures contracts entered into by the Fund will usually be liquidated in this manner, the Fund may instead make or take delivery of the underlying instrument or utilize the cash settlement process whenever it appears economically advantageous for it to do so.

The Fund may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts, stock and bond index futures contracts and foreign currency futures contracts and may purchase and sell options thereon in an attempt to hedge against changes in the prices of securities or, in the case of foreign currency futures and options thereon, to hedge against changes in prevailing currency exchange rates. The Fund may also invest in commodity-linked futures contracts either directly or through a wholly owned subsidiary. Because the futures markets may be more liquid than the cash markets, the use of futures contracts permits the Fund to enhance portfolio liquidity and maintain a defensive position without having to sell portfolio securities. For example, (i) futures contracts on single stocks, interest rates and indices (including on narrow-based indices) and options thereon may be used as a maturity or duration management device and/or a device to reduce risk or preserve total return in an adverse environment for the hedged securities, and (ii) foreign currency futures and options thereon may be used as a means of establishing more definitely the effective return on, or the purchase price of, securities denominated in foreign currencies that are held or intended to be acquired by the Fund.

For purposes of managing cash flow, the Fund may use futures and options thereon to increase its exposure to the performance of a recognized securities index.

With respect to currency futures, the Fund may sell a currency futures contract or a call option thereon, or may purchase a put option on a currency futures contract, if the Manager anticipates that exchange rates for a particular currency will fall. Such a transaction will be used as a hedge (or, in the case of a sale of a call option, a partial hedge) against a decrease in the value of portfolio securities denominated in that currency. If the Manager anticipates that exchange rates for a particular currency will rise, the Fund may purchase a currency futures contract or a call option thereon to protect against an increase in the price of securities that are denominated in that currency and that the Fund intends to purchase. The Fund also may purchase a currency futures contract or a call option thereon for non-hedging purposes when the Manager anticipates that a particular currency will appreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio.

“Initial Margin” with respect to a futures contract is the amount of assets that must be deposited by the Fund with, or for the benefit of, a futures commission merchant or broker in order to initiate the Fund’s futures positions. Initial margin is the margin deposit made by a Fund when it enters into a futures contract; it is intended to assure performance of the contract by the Fund. If the value of the Fund’s futures account declines by a specified amount, the Fund will receive a margin call and be required to post assets sufficient to restore the equity in the account to the initial margin level. (This is sometimes referred to as “variation margin;” technically, variation margin refers to daily payments that a clearing member firm is required to pay to the clearing organization based upon marking to market of the firm’s portfolio.) However, if favorable price changes in the futures account cause the margin deposit to exceed the required initial margin level, the excess margin may be transferred to the Fund. The futures commission merchant or clearing member firm through which the Fund enters into and clears futures contracts may

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require a margin deposit in excess of exchange minimum requirements based upon its assessment of the Fund’s creditworthiness. In computing its NAV, the Fund will mark to market the value of its open futures positions. The Fund also must make margin deposits with respect to options on futures that it has written (but not with respect to options on futures that it has purchased, if the Fund has paid the required premium in full at the outset). If the futures commission merchant or broker holding the margin deposit or premium goes bankrupt, the Fund could suffer a delay in recovering excess margin or other funds and could ultimately suffer a loss.

Because of the low margin deposits required, futures trading involves an extremely high degree of leverage; as a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, or gain, to the investor. Losses that may arise from certain futures transactions are potentially unlimited, and may exceed initial margin deposits as well as deposits made in response to subsequent margin calls.

The Fund may enter into futures contracts and options thereon that are traded on exchanges regulated by the CFTC or on non-U.S. exchanges. U.S. futures contracts are traded on exchanges that have been designated as “contract markets” by the CFTC; futures transactions must be executed through a futures commission merchant that is a member of the relevant contract market. Futures executed on regulated futures exchanges have minimal counterparty risk to the Fund because the exchange’s clearing organization assumes the position of the counterparty in each transaction. Thus, the Fund is exposed to risk only in connection with the clearing organization and not in connection with the original counterparty to the transaction. However, if a futures customer defaults on a futures contract and the futures commission merchant carrying that customer’s account cannot cover the defaulting customer’s obligations on its futures contracts, the clearing organization may use any or all of the collateral in the futures commission merchant’s customer omnibus account — including the assets of the futures commission merchant’s other customers, such as the Fund — to meet the defaulting customer’s obligations. This is sometimes referred to as “fellow customer risk.” Trading on non-U.S. exchanges is subject to the legal requirements of the jurisdiction in which the exchange is located and to the rules of such exchange, and may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees. Funds deposited in connection with such trading may also be subject to the bankruptcy laws of such other jurisdiction, which may result in a delay in recovering such funds in a bankruptcy and could ultimately result in a loss.

An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the option exercise period. The writer of the option is required upon exercise to assume a short futures position (if the option is a call) or a long futures position (if the option is a put). Upon exercise of the option, the accumulated cash balance in the writer’s futures margin account is delivered to the holder of the option. That balance represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. Options on futures have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein.

Although the Fund believes that the use of futures contracts and options may benefit it, if the Manager’s judgment about the general direction of the markets or about interest rate or currency exchange rate trends is incorrect, the Fund’s overall return would be lower than if it had not entered into any such contracts. The prices of futures contracts and options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in interest or currency exchange rates, which in turn are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political and economic events. At best, the correlation between changes in prices of futures contracts or options and of securities being hedged can be only approximate due to differences between the futures and securities markets or differences between the securities or currencies underlying the Fund’s futures or options position and the securities held by or to be purchased for the Fund. The currency futures or options market may be dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from changes in exchange rates. This would reduce the value of such contracts used for hedging purposes over a short-term period. Such distortions are generally minor and would diminish as the contract approaches maturity.

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Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation in the price of a futures contract or option thereon during a single trading day; once the daily limit has been reached, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. Daily limits govern only price movements during a particular trading day, however; they do not limit potential losses. In fact, a daily limit may increase the risk of loss, because prices can move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable futures and options positions and subjecting traders to substantial losses. If this were to happen with respect to a position held by the Fund, it could (depending on the size of the position) have an adverse impact on the Fund’s NAV. In addition, the Fund would continue to be subject to margin calls and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the futures contract or option thereon or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.

Many electronic trading facilities that support futures trading are supported by computer-based component systems for the order, routing, execution, matching, registration or clearing of trades. The Fund’s ability to recover certain losses may be subject to limits on liability imposed by the system provider, the market, the clearing house or member firms.

Call Options on Securities. The Fund may write (sell) covered call options and purchase call options on securities for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to reduce, at least in part, the effect on the Fund’s NAV of price fluctuations of securities held by the Fund) or non-hedging purposes. Portfolio securities on which the Fund may write and purchase call options are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

When the Fund writes a call option, it is obligated to sell a security to a purchaser at a specified price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The Fund will receive a premium for writing a call option. So long as the obligation of the call option continues, the Fund may be assigned an exercise notice, requiring it to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. The Fund may be obligated to deliver securities underlying an option at less than the market price.

The writing of covered call options is a conservative investment technique that is believed to involve relatively little risk in contrast to the writing of “naked” or uncovered call options, but is capable of enhancing the Fund’s total return. When writing a covered call option, the Fund, in return for the premium, gives up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline.

The Fund may write covered and uncovered call options. The writing of uncovered call options, at least theoretically, presents the potential for an unlimited loss, since it assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the security underlying the option above the exercise price of the option. When an uncovered call is exercised, the Fund must purchase the underlying security to meet its call obligations and the necessary securities may be unavailable for purchase. In addition, the purchase of securities to satisfy the exercise of a call option can cause the price of the underlying securities to rise further, sometimes by a significant amount, thereby exacerbating the loss. Recently, some traders have begun heavily purchasing securities in which large institutions have taken substantial short positions, which have proven very costly to some of those institutions. There is a prospect for similar behavior and similar losses with respect to uncovered call options because the writer of the call option may be forced to purchase the underlying security at whatever its current price.

If a call option that the Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium; however, that gain may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If a call option that the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security.

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When the Fund purchases a call option, it pays a premium to the writer for the right to purchase a security from the writer for a specified amount at any time until a certain date. The Fund generally would purchase a call option to offset a previously written call option or to protect itself against an increase in the price of a security it intends to purchase.

Put Options on Securities. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put options on securities for hedging purposes (i.e., to attempt to reduce, at least in part, the effect on the Fund’s NAV of price fluctuations of securities held by the Fund) or non-hedging purposes. Portfolio securities on which the Fund may write and purchase put options are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

When the Fund writes a put option, it is obligated to acquire a security at a certain price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option. When writing a put option, the Fund, in return for the premium, takes the risk that it must purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than the current market price of the security. If a put option that the Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium.

When the Fund purchases a put option, it pays a premium to the writer for the right to sell a security to the writer for a specified amount at any time until a certain date. The Fund generally would purchase a put option to protect itself against a decrease in the market value of a security it owns.

Low Exercise Price Options. The Fund may use non-standard warrants, including low exercise price options (“LEPOs”), to gain exposure to issuers in certain countries. These securities are issued by banks and other financial institutions. LEPOs are different from standard warrants in that they do not give their holders the right to receive a security of the issuer upon exercise. Rather, LEPOs pay the holder the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the LEPO was purchased and the date it is sold. By purchasing LEPOs, the Fund could incur losses because it would face many of the same types of risks as owning the underlying security directly. Additionally, LEPOs entail the same risks as other over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty or issuer of the LEPO may be unable or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its obligations, that the parties to the transaction may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. Additionally, while LEPOs may be listed on an exchange, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist or that the counterparty or issuer of a LEPO will be willing to repurchase such instrument when the Fund wishes to sell it.

General Information About Options on Securities. The exercise price of an option may be below, equal to, or above the market value of the underlying security at the time the option is written. Options normally have expiration dates between three and nine months from the date written. American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to their expiration date. European-style options are exercisable only immediately prior to their expiration date. The obligation under any option written by the Fund terminates upon expiration of the option or, at an earlier time, when the Fund offsets the option by entering into a “closing purchase transaction” to purchase an option of the same series. If an option is purchased by the Fund and is never exercised or closed out, the Fund will lose the entire amount of the premium paid.

Options are traded both on U.S. national securities exchanges and in the OTC market. Options also are traded on non-U.S. exchanges. Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed; the clearing organization in effect guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and a counterparty, with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund sells (or purchases) an OTC option, it generally will be able to “close out” the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing transaction with the dealer to whom (or from whom) the Fund originally sold (or purchased) the option. There can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to liquidate an OTC option at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund is able to effect a closing purchase transaction in a covered OTC call option it has written, it will not be able to liquidate securities used as cover until the option expires

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or is exercised or until different cover is substituted. In the event of the counterparty’s insolvency, the Fund may be unable to liquidate its options position and the associated cover. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of dealers with which the Fund may engage in OTC options transactions.

The premium the Fund receives (or pays) when it writes (or purchases) an option is the amount at which the option is currently traded on the applicable market. The premium may reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security, the length of the option period, the general supply of and demand for credit, and the interest rate environment. The premium the Fund receives when it writes an option is recorded as a liability on the Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. This liability is adjusted daily to the option’s current market value.

Closing transactions are effected in order to realize a profit (or minimize a loss) on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, or to permit the sale or the put of the underlying security. Furthermore, effecting a closing transaction permits the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with a different exercise price or expiration date or both. There is, of course, no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at favorable prices. If the Fund cannot enter into such a transaction, it may be required to hold a security that it might otherwise have sold (or purchase a security that it might otherwise not have bought), in which case it would continue to be at market risk on the security.

The Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing the call or put option. Because increases in the market price of a call option generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset, in whole or in part, by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund; however, the Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if it had not written the call option.

The Fund pays brokerage commissions or spreads in connection with purchasing or writing options, including those used to close out existing positions. From time to time, the Fund may purchase an underlying security for delivery in accordance with an exercise notice of a call option assigned to it, rather than deliver the security from its inventory. In those cases, additional brokerage commissions are incurred.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities close, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets.

Put and Call Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call options on securities indices and other financial indices for hedging or non-hedging purposes. In so doing, the Fund can pursue many of the same objectives it would pursue through the purchase and sale of options on individual securities or other instruments.

Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, options on indices settle by cash settlement; that is, an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option times a specified multiple (multiplier), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount.

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A securities index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the securities included in the index. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments comprising the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities. The risks of investment in options on indices may be greater than the risks of investment in options on securities.

The effectiveness of hedging through the purchase of securities index options will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the securities being hedged correlate with price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation is not possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the Fund will not exactly match the composition of the securities indices on which options are available.

For purposes of managing cash flow, the Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices to increase its exposure to the performance of a recognized securities index.

Securities index options have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain securities index options are traded in the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded securities index options.

Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for hedging or non-hedging purposes. The Fund may use options on foreign currencies to protect against decreases in the U.S. dollar value of securities held or increases in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired by the Fund or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those securities. In addition, the Fund may write and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies for non-hedging purposes (e.g., when the Manager anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio). The Fund may write covered call and put options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities alone.

Currency options have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain options on foreign currencies are traded on the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded currency options.

Forward Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may enter into contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days in excess of two days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract (“forward currency contracts”) for hedging or non-hedging purposes. The Fund also may engage in foreign currency transactions on a spot basis (i.e., cash transaction that results in actual delivery within two days) at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency market.

The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts in an attempt to hedge against changes in prevailing currency exchange rates (i.e., as a means of establishing more definitely the effective return on, or the purchase price of, securities denominated in foreign currencies). The Fund may also enter into forward currency contracts to protect against decreases in the U.S. dollar value of securities held or increases in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired by the Fund or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those securities. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward currency contracts for non-hedging purposes when the Manager anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period, and the market conditions then prevailing.

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Sellers or purchasers of forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on futures, by purchasing or selling, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument sold or bought, respectively. Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, however, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity. In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out a forward currency contract at any time prior to maturity. In either event, the Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position, and would continue to be required to maintain a position in the securities or currencies that are the subject of the hedge or to maintain cash or securities.

The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the forward currency contract has been established. Thus, the Fund might need to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward currency contracts. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

The Manager believes that the use of foreign currency hedging techniques, including “proxy-hedges,” can provide significant protection of NAV in the event of a general increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. For example, the return available from securities denominated in a particular foreign currency would decline if the value of the U.S. dollar increased against that currency. Such a decline could be partially or completely offset by an increase in the value of a hedge involving a forward currency contract to sell that foreign currency or a proxy-hedge involving a forward currency contract to sell a different foreign currency whose behavior is expected to resemble the behavior of the currency in which the securities being hedged are denominated, but which is available on more advantageous terms.

However, a hedge or a proxy-hedge cannot protect against exchange rate risks perfectly and, if the Manager is incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate relationships, the Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. If the Fund uses proxy-hedging, it may experience losses on both the currency in which it has invested and the currency used for hedging if the two currencies do not vary with the expected degree of correlation. Using forward currency contracts to protect the value of the Fund’s securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities. Because forward currency contracts may not be traded on an exchange, the assets used to cover such contracts may be illiquid. The Fund may experience delays in the settlement of its foreign currency transactions.

Forward currency contracts in which the Fund may engage include foreign exchange forwards. The consummation of a foreign exchange forward requires the actual exchange of the principal amounts of the two currencies in the contract (i.e., settlement on a physical basis). Because foreign exchange forwards are physically settled through an exchange of currencies, they are traded in the interbank market directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A foreign exchange forward generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades; foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the prices at which they are buying and the prices at which they are selling various currencies. When the Fund enters into a foreign exchange forward, it relies on the counterparty to make or take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

The Fund may be required to obtain the currency that it must deliver under the foreign exchange forward through the sale of portfolio securities denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency. When the Fund engages in foreign currency transactions for hedging purposes, it will not enter into foreign exchange forwards to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if their consummation would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency materially in excess of the value of its portfolio securities or other assets denominated in that currency.

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Forward currency contracts in which the Fund may engage also include non-deliverable forwards (“NDFs”). NDFs are cash-settled, short-term forward contracts on foreign currencies (each a “Reference Currency”) that are non-convertible and that may be thinly traded or illiquid. NDFs involve an obligation to pay an amount (the “Settlement Amount”) equal to the difference between the prevailing market exchange rate for the Reference Currency and the agreed upon exchange rate (the “NDF Rate”), with respect to an agreed notional amount. NDFs have a fixing date and a settlement (delivery) date. The fixing date is the date and time at which the difference between the prevailing market exchange rate and the agreed upon exchange rate is calculated. The settlement (delivery) date is the date by which the payment of the Settlement Amount is due to the party receiving payment.

Although NDFs are similar to foreign exchange forwards, NDFs do not require physical delivery of the Reference Currency on the settlement date. Rather, on the settlement date, the only transfer between the counterparties is the monetary settlement amount representing the difference between the NDF Rate and the prevailing market exchange rate. NDFs typically may have terms from one month up to two years and are settled in U.S. dollars.

The Fund will typically use NDFs for hedging purposes or for direct investment in a foreign country for income or gain. The use of NDFs for hedging or to increase income or gain may not be successful, resulting in losses to the Fund, and the cost of such strategies may reduce the Fund’s respective returns.

NDFs are subject to many of the risks associated with derivatives in general and forward currency transactions, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency and the risk that the counterparty will fail to fulfill its obligations. Although NDFs have historically been traded OTC, in the future, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, they may be exchange-traded. Under such circumstances, they may be centrally cleared and a secondary market for them will exist. With respect to NDFs that are centrally-cleared, an investor could lose margin payments it has deposited with the clearing organization as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if the clearing organization breaches its obligations under the NDF, becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor. Even if some NDFs remain traded OTC, they will be subject to margin requirements for uncleared swaps and counterparty risk common to other swaps, as discussed below.

The Fund may purchase securities of an issuer domiciled in a country other than the country in whose currency the securities are denominated.

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into swap agreements to manage or gain exposure to particular types of investments (including commodities, equity securities, interest rates or indices of equity securities in which the Fund otherwise could not invest efficiently) or to help enhance the value of its portfolio. The Fund may also enter into other types of swap agreements, including total return swaps, asset swaps, currency swaps and credit default swaps, and may write (sell) and purchase options thereon for hedging and non-hedging purposes. In a swap agreement, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to floating rate on a specified amount in exchange for payments equally to a fixed rate, or a different floating rate, on the same amount for a specified period.

Swap agreements historically have been individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. Swap agreements can vary in term like other fixed-income investments. Most swap agreements are currently traded OTC. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange one or more payments based, for example, on the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments (such as securities, indices, or other financial or economic interests). The gross payments to be exchanged (or “swapped”) between the parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount, which is the predetermined dollar principal of the trade representing the hypothetical underlying quantity upon which payment obligations are computed. If a swap agreement provides for payment in different currencies,

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the parties may agree to exchange the principal amount. A swap also includes an instrument that is dependent on the occurrence, nonoccurrence or the extent of the occurrence of an event or contingency associated with a potential financial, economic or commercial consequence, such as a credit default swap.

Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. Swap agreements are subject to liquidity risk, meaning that the Fund may be unable to sell a swap agreement to a third party at a favorable price. Swap agreements may involve leverage and may be highly volatile; depending on how they are used, they may have a considerable impact on the Fund’s performance. The risks of swap agreements depend upon the Fund’s ability to terminate its swap agreements or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments.

Some swaps currently are, and more in the future will be, centrally cleared. Swaps that are centrally cleared are subject to the creditworthiness of the clearing organization involved in the transaction. For example, an investor could lose margin payments it has deposited with its futures commission merchant as well as the net amount of gains not yet paid by the clearing organization if the clearing organization becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In the event of bankruptcy of the clearing organization, the investor may be entitled to the net amount of gains the investor is entitled to receive plus the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the clearing organization’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the investor.

To the extent a swap is not centrally cleared, the use of a swap involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. If a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap might decline, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Changing conditions in a particular market area, whether or not directly related to the referenced assets that underlie the swap agreement, may have an adverse impact on the creditworthiness of the counterparty. If a default occurs by the counterparty to such a transaction, the Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

The regulation of the U.S. and non-U.S. swaps markets has undergone substantial change in recent years. Although the CFTC released final rules relating to clearing, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements under the legislation, many of the provisions of Dodd-Frank Act are subject to further final rule making or phase-in periods, and thus their ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in swap transactions (for example, by making certain types of swaps no longer available to the Fund) and/or increase the costs of such swap transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the Fund might be unable to fully execute its investment strategies as a result. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in swaps also could prevent the Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investment. Regulations adopted by the CFTC, SEC and banking regulators, which may be phased-in through at least 2022, may require the Fund to post initial margin in connection with OTC swaps, and exchanges will set minimum margin requirements for exchange-traded and cleared swaps.

The prudential regulators issued final rules that will require banks subject to their supervision to exchange variation and initial margin in respect of their obligations arising under OTC swap agreements. The CFTC adopted similar rules that apply to CFTC registered swap dealers that are not banks. Such rules generally require the Fund to segregate additional assets in order to meet the new variation and initial margin requirements when they enter into OTC swap agreements. The European Supervisory Authorities (“ESA”), various national regulators in Europe, the Australian Securities & Investment Commission, the Japanese Financial Services Agency and the Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions adopted rules and regulations that are similar to that of the Federal Reserve. The variation margin requirements are now effective and the initial margin requirements are being phased-in through 2022 based on average daily aggregate notional amount of covered swaps between swap dealers and swap entities. Due to these regulations, the Fund could be required to engage in greater documentation and recordkeeping with respect to swap agreements.

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Separately, on December 8, 2020, the CFTC adopted regulations allowing investment advisers for registered investment companies and other institutional investors to apply a minimum transfer amount (“MTA”) of variation margin based upon the separately managed investment account or sleeve (“Sleeve”) that the adviser is responsible for, rather than having to calculate the MTA across all accounts of the investor. An investment manager must abide by the following conditions: (1) any such swaps are entered into with the swap dealer by an asset manager on behalf of a Sleeve owned by the legal entity pursuant to authority granted under an investment management agreement; (2) the swaps of such Sleeve are subject to a master netting agreement that does not permit netting of initial or variation margin obligations across Sleeves of the legal entity that have swaps outstanding with the swap dealer; and (3) the swap dealer applies an MTA no greater than $50,000 to the initial and variation margin collection and posting obligations required of such Sleeve. As of the date of this SAI, the banking regulators have not provided similar relief, although swaps dealers subject to a banking regulator are expected to act in a manner consistent with the relief provided by the CFTC.

Regulations adopted by the prudential regulators require certain banks to include in a range of financial contracts, including swap agreements, terms delaying or restricting default, termination and other rights in the event that the bank and/or its affiliates become subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings. The regulations could limit the Fund’s ability to exercise a range of cross-default rights if its counterparty, or an affiliate of the counterparty, is subject to bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Such regulations could further negatively impact the Fund’s use of swaps.

Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps, mortgage swaps, total return swaps, inflation swaps, asset swaps (where parties exchange assets, typically a debt security), currency swaps, equity swaps, credit default swaps, commodity-linked swaps, and contracts for differences. The Fund may also write (sell) and purchase options on swaps (swaptions).

Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, and Interest Rate “Caps,” “Floors,” and “Collars.” In a typical interest rate swap agreement, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating rate on a specified amount in exchange for payments equal to a fixed rate, or a different floating rate, on the same amount for a specified period. Mortgage swap agreements are similar to interest rate swap agreements, except the notional principal amount is tied to a reference pool of mortgages or index of mortgages. In an interest rate cap or floor, one party agrees, usually in return for a fee, to make payments under particular circumstances. For example, the purchaser of an interest rate cap has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed level; the purchaser of an interest rate floor has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls below an agreed level. An interest rate collar entitles the purchaser to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls outside an agreed range.

Among other techniques, the Fund may use interest rate swaps to offset declines in the value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. In such an instance, the Fund may agree with a counterparty to pay a fixed rate (multiplied by a notional amount) and the counterparty to pay a floating rate multiplied by the same notional amount. If long-term interest rates rise, resulting in a diminution in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund would receive payments under the swap that would offset, in whole or in part, such diminution in value; if interest rates fall, the Fund would likely lose money on the swap transaction. The Fund may also enter into constant maturity swaps, which are a variation of the typical interest rate swap. Constant maturity swaps are exposed to changes in long-term interest rate movements.

Total Return Swaps. The Fund may enter into total return swaps (“TRS”) to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market. The Fund may be either a total return receiver or a total return payer. Generally, the total return payer sells to the total return receiver an amount equal to all cash flows and price appreciation on a defined security or asset payable at periodic times during the swap term (i.e., credit risk) in return for a periodic payment from the total return receiver based on a designated index (e.g., the London Interbank Offered Rate, known as LIBOR, or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, known as SOFR)

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and spread, plus the amount of any price depreciation on the reference security or asset. The total return payer does not need to own the underlying security or asset to enter into a total return swap. The final payment at the end of the swap term includes final settlement of the current market price of the underlying reference security or asset, and payment by the applicable party for any appreciation or depreciation in value. Usually, collateral must be posted by the total return receiver to secure the periodic interest-based and market price depreciation payments depending on the credit quality of the underlying reference security and creditworthiness of the total return receiver, and the collateral amount is marked-to- market daily equal to the market price of the underlying reference security or asset between periodic payment dates.

TRS may effectively add leverage to the Fund’s portfolio because, in addition to its net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If the Fund is the total return receiver in a TRS, then the credit risk for an underlying asset is transferred to the Fund in exchange for its receipt of the return (appreciation) on that asset. If the Fund is the total return payer, it is hedging the downside risk of an underlying asset, but it is obligated to pay the amount of any appreciation on that asset.

Inflation Swaps. In an inflation swap, one party agrees to pay the cumulative percentage increase in a price index, such as the Consumer Price Index, over the term of the swap (with some lag on the referenced inflation index) and the other party agrees to pay a compounded fixed rate. Inflation swaps may be used to protect the Fund’s NAV against an unexpected change in the rate of inflation measured by an inflation index.

Currency Swaps. A currency swap involves the exchange by the Fund and another party of the cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them, such as exchanging a right to receive a payment in foreign currency for the right to receive U.S. dollars. The Fund may enter into currency swaps (where the parties exchange their respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies).  Currency swap agreements may be entered into on a net basis or may involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the entire principal value of another designated currency. In such cases, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual delivery obligations.

Equity Swaps. Equity swaps are contracts that allow one party to exchange the returns, including any dividend income, on an equity security or group of equity securities for another payment stream.  Under an equity swap, payments may be made at the conclusion of the equity swap or periodically during its term. The Fund may enter into equity swaps. An equity swap may be used to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or disadvantageous.   Furthermore, equity swaps may be illiquid and the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired.  In addition, the value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Credit Default Swaps. In a credit default swap, the credit default protection buyer makes periodic payments, known as premiums, to the credit default protection seller. In return, the credit default protection seller will make a payment to the credit default protection buyer upon the occurrence of a specified credit event. A credit default swap can refer to a single issuer or asset, a basket of issuers or assets or index of assets, each known as the reference entity or underlying asset. The Fund may act as either the buyer or the seller of a credit default swap. The Fund may buy or sell credit default protection on a basket of issuers or assets, even if a number of the underlying assets referenced in the basket are lower-quality debt securities. In an unhedged credit default swap, the Fund buys credit default protection on a single issuer or asset, a basket of issuers or assets or index of assets without owning the underlying asset or debt issued by the reference entity. Credit default swaps involve greater and different risks than investing directly in the referenced asset, because, in addition to market risk, credit default swaps include liquidity, counterparty and operational risk.

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Credit default swaps allow the Fund to acquire or reduce credit exposure to a particular issuer, asset or basket of assets. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. If the Fund is the credit default protection seller, the Fund will experience a loss if a credit event occurs and the credit of the reference entity or underlying asset has deteriorated. If the Fund is the credit default protection buyer, the Fund will be required to pay premiums to the credit default protection seller. In the case of a physically settled credit default swap in which the Fund is the protection seller, the Fund must be prepared to pay par for and take possession of debt of a defaulted issuer delivered to the Fund by the credit default protection buyer. Any loss would be offset by the premium payments the Fund receives as the seller of credit default protection. If the Fund sells (writes) a credit default swap, it currently intends to segregate the full notional value of the swap, except if the Fund sells a credit default swap on an index with certain characteristics (i.e., on a broad based index and cash settled) where the Manager believes segregating only the amount out of the money more appropriately represents the Fund’s exposure.

Commodity-Linked Swaps. Commodity-linked swaps are two party contracts in which the parties agree to exchange the return or interest rate on one instrument for the return of a particular commodity, commodity index or commodity futures or options contract. The payment streams are calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount. A one-period swap contract operates in a manner similar to a forward or futures contract because there is an agreement to swap a commodity for cash at only one forward date. The Fund may engage in swap transactions that have more than one period and therefore more than one exchange of payments. The Fund may invest in total return commodity swaps to gain exposure to the overall commodity markets. In a total return commodity swap, the Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the Fund will pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is more than one period, with interim swap payments, the Fund will pay an adjustable or floating fee. With “floating” rate, the fee is pegged to a base rate such as LIBOR or SOFR, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, the Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.

Options on Swaps (Swaptions). A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. The purchaser of a swaption pays a premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally will incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised.

Contracts for Differences. The Fund may purchase contracts for differences (“CFDs”). A CFD is a form of equity swap in which its value is based on the fluctuating value of some underlying instrument (e.g., a single security, stock basket or index). A CFD is a privately negotiated contract between two parties, buyer and seller, stipulating that the seller will pay to or receive from the buyer the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the opening of the contract and that instrument’s value at the end of the contract. The buyer and seller are both required to post margin, which is adjusted daily, and adverse market movements against the underlying instrument may require the buyer to make additional margin payments. The buyer will also pay to the seller a financing rate on the notional amount of the capital employed by the seller less the margin deposit. A CFD is usually terminated at the buyer’s initiative.

A CFD can be set up to take either a short or long position on the underlying instrument and enables the Fund to potentially capture movements in the share prices of the underlying instrument without the need to own the underlying instrument. By entering into a CFD transaction, the Fund could incur losses because it would face many of the same types of risks as owning the underlying instrument directly.

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As with other types of swap transactions, CFDs also carry counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty to the CFD transaction may be unable or unwilling to make payments or to otherwise honor its financial obligations under the terms of the contract, that the parties to the transaction may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. If the counterparty were to do so, the value of the contract, and of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock, may be reduced.

Combined Transactions. The Fund may enter into multiple transactions, which may include multiple options transactions, multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of options and interest rate transactions, instead of a single Financial Instrument, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the judgment of the Manager it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although the Fund will normally enter into combined transactions based on the Manager’s judgment that the combined transactions will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combined transactions will instead increase risk or hinder achievement of the desired portfolio management goal.

Regulatory Limitations on Using Futures, Options on Futures, and Swaps. The CFTC has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies and/or their investment advisors to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of its NAV in commodity futures, options on commodities or commodity futures, swaps, or other financial instruments regulated under the Commodities Exchange Act, or if the registered investment company is marketed as a vehicle for obtaining exposure to such commodity interests. As discussed in more detail below, the Manager intends to claim an exclusion from CPO registration pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5, with respect to the Fund. To remain eligible for this exclusion, the Fund must comply with certain limitations, including limits on trading in commodity interests, and restrictions on the manner in which the Fund markets its commodity interests trading activities. These limitations may restrict the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategy, increase the costs of implementing its strategy, increase its expenses and/or adversely affect its total return.

To qualify for the CFTC Rule 4.5 exclusion, the Fund is permitted to engage in unlimited “bona fide hedging” (as defined by the CFTC), but if the Fund uses commodity interests other than for bona fide hedging purposes, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish these positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s NAV (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”) or, alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of non-bona fide hedging commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to complying with these de minimis trading limitations, to qualify for the exclusion, the Fund must satisfy a marketing test, which requires, among other things, that the Fund not hold itself out as a vehicle for trading commodity interests.

The Fund may be exposed to commodity interests indirectly in excess of the de minimis trading limitations described above. Such exposure may result from the Fund’s investment in other investment vehicles, such as real estate investment trusts, collateralized loan obligations, collateralized debt obligations and other securitization vehicles that may invest directly in commodity interests. These investment vehicles are referred to collectively as “underlying investment vehicles.” The CFTC treats a fund as a commodity pool whether it invests in commodity interests directly or indirectly through its investments in underlying investment vehicles. The CFTC staff has issued a no-action letter permitting the manager of a fund that invests in such underlying investment vehicles to defer registering as a CPO or claiming the exclusion from the CPO definition until six months from the date on which the CFTC issues additional guidance on the application of the calculation of the de minimis trading limitations in the context of the CPO exemption in CFTC Regulation 4.5 (the “Deadline”). Such guidance is expected to clarify how to calculate compliance with the de minimis trading limitations given a fund’s investments in underlying investment vehicles that may cause the fund to be deemed to be indirectly trading commodity interests. The Manager currently

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intends to file the required notice to claim this no-action relief with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Manager currently intends to claim an exclusion (under CFTC Regulation 4.5) from the CPO definition with respect to the Fund. As a result, at this time the Manager is not required to register as a CPO with respect to the Fund and need not generally comply with the regulatory requirements otherwise applicable to a registered CPO. Prior to the Deadline, however, the Manager will determine with respect to the Fund whether it must operate as a registered CPO or whether it can rely on an exemption or exclusion from the CPO definition. If the Manager determines that it can rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Fund, then the Manager, in its management of the Fund, will comply with one of the two alternative de minimis trading limitations in that regulation. Complying with the de minimis trading limitations may restrict the Manager’s ability to use derivatives as part of the Fund’s investment strategies. Although the Manager believes that it will be able to execute the Fund’s investment strategies within the de minimis trading limitations, the Fund’s performance could be adversely affected. If the Manager determines that it cannot rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Fund, then the Manager will serve as a registered CPO with respect to the Fund. CPO regulation would increase the regulatory requirements to which the Fund is subject and it is expected that it would increase costs for the Fund.

Pursuant to authority granted under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Treasury Department issued a notice of final determination stating that foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps, as defined in the Dodd- Frank Act and described above, should not be considered swaps for most purposes. Thus, foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps are not deemed to be commodity interests. Therefore, if the Manager determines that it can rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Fund, the Fund may enter into foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps without such transactions counting against the de minimis trading limitations discussed above. Notwithstanding the Treasury Department determination, foreign exchange forwards and foreign exchange swaps (1) must be reported to swap data repositories, (2) may be subject to business conduct standards, and (3) are subject to antifraud and antimanipulation proscriptions of swap execution facilities. In addition, for purposes of determining whether the Fund may be subject to initial margin requirements for uncleared swaps, the average daily aggregate notional amount of a foreign exchange forward or a foreign exchange swap must be included in the calculation of whether the Fund has a “material swaps exposure” as defined in the regulations.

In addition, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations adopted by the CFTC in connection with implementing the Dodd-Frank Act, NDFs are deemed to be commodity interests, including for purposes of amended CFTC Regulation 4.5, and are subject to the full array of regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act. Therefore, if the Manager determines that it can rely on the exclusion in CFTC Regulation 4.5 with respect to the Fund, the Fund will limit its investment in NDFs as discussed above.

The staff of the CFTC has issued guidance providing that, for purposes of determining compliance with CFTC Regulation 4.5, and the de minimis trading limitations discussed above, swaps that are centrally-cleared on the same clearing organization may be netted where appropriate, but no such netting is permitted for uncleared swaps. To the extent some NDFs remain traded OTC and are not centrally-cleared, the absolute notional value of all such transactions, rather than the net notional value, would be counted against the de minimis trading limitations discussed above.

Cover for Financial Instruments. Transactions using Financial Instruments, other than purchased options, expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an offsetting (“covering”) position in securities, currencies or other options, futures contracts, forward contracts, or swaps, or (2) cash and liquid assets held in a segregated account, or designated on its records as segregated, with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding “cover” for Financial Instruments and, if the guidelines so require, segregate the prescribed amount of cash or appropriate liquid assets. Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding Financial Instrument is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, the segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede Fund management or other current obligations. The Fund may

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be unable to promptly dispose of assets that cover, or are segregated with respect to, an illiquid futures, options, forward, or swap position; this inability may result in a loss to the Fund. In August 2022, the requirements for segregation and cover will be replaced by SEC Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will place limits on value at risk that may curtail the Fund’s ability to engage in derivative transactions that result in leverage.

General Risks of Financial Instruments. The primary risks in using Financial Instruments are: (1) imperfect correlation or no correlation between changes in market value of the securities or currencies held or to be acquired by the Fund and the prices of Financial Instruments; (2) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for Financial Instruments and the resulting inability to close out Financial Instruments when desired; (3) the fact that the skills needed to use Financial Instruments are different from those needed to select the Fund’s securities; (4) the fact that, although use of Financial Instruments for hedging purposes can reduce the risk of loss, they also can reduce the opportunity for gain, or even result in losses, by offsetting favorable price movements in hedged investments; (5) the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that would otherwise be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time, due to its need to maintain cover or to segregate securities in connection with its use of Financial Instruments; and (6) when traded on non-U.S. exchanges, Financial Instruments may not be regulated as rigorously as in the United States. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of Financial Instruments will be successful.

In addition, Financial Instruments may contain leverage to magnify the exposure to the underlying asset or assets.

The Fund’s use of Financial Instruments may be limited by the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and Treasury Department regulations with which it must comply to continue to qualify as a RIC. Financial Instruments may not be available with respect to some currencies, especially those of so-called emerging market countries.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed-income investments, such as preferred stock and debt securities, will decline in value because of changes in interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. Floating rate securities can be less sensitive to interest rate changes, but the Fund’s NAV may still fluctuate in response to interest rate changes because variable interest rates may only reset periodically and may not rise or decline as much as interest rates. Generally, the longer the maturity or duration of a fixed- income security, the more its value falls in response to a given rise in interest rates. The Fund’s investment in such securities means that its net assets, market price, and the asset coverage for any Financial Leverage Instruments used by the Fund will tend to decline if market interest rates rise. Fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s securities will not affect interest income derived from securities already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s NAV. With respect to the Fund’s investments in floating rate loans, investments in such loans may reduce fluctuations in NAV of the Fund resulting from changes in market interest rates; however, the rate of interest received by the Fund on floating rate securities it already owns will generally rise or fall with market rates. An increase in interest rates can impact other markets as well. For example, because investors may buy derivatives with borrowed money, an increase in interest rates can cause a decline in those markets. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years, partly because of U.S. government policies, which may be under reconsideration, and there is a greater than normal risk that the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value due to rising interest rates. A general rise in interest rates, perhaps because of changing government policies, has the potential to cause investors to move out of fixed income securities on a large scale, which, coupled with a reduction in the ability or willingness of dealers and other institutional investors to buy or hold fixed income securities, may result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Although, based on recent history, the government would likely taper its support for low rates gradually and signal the markets as to its intentions, any particular rate increase may be significant and unexpected nonetheless. The Fund does not currently intends to utilize leverage, which magnifies the interest rate risks.

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Inverse Floating-rate Debt Securities. The Fund also may invest in inverse floating-rate debt securities, which may decrease in value if interest rates increase, and which also may exhibit greater price volatility than fixed-rate debt obligations with similar credit quality. To the extent the Fund holds variable- or floating-rate instruments, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating-rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities and the NAV of the Fund’s Common Stock.

Illiquid Securities

Generally, an illiquid security is any investment that may not reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid securities may include unregistered or other restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in greater than seven days. Illiquid securities may also include commercial paper under section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, and Rule 144A securities (restricted securities that may be traded freely among qualified institutional buyers pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the securities laws); these securities are considered illiquid unless the Manager determines they are liquid. Most such securities held by the Fund are deemed liquid. Generally, foreign securities freely tradable in their principal market are not considered restricted or illiquid even if they are not registered in the United States. Illiquid securities may be difficult for the Fund to value or dispose of due to the absence of an active trading market. The sale of some illiquid securities by the Fund may be subject to legal restrictions, which could be costly to the Fund.

Indexed Securities

The Fund may invest in indexed securities whose values are linked to currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices, or other financial indicators, domestic or foreign. Most indexed securities are short- to intermediate-term fixed income securities whose values at maturity or interest rates rise or fall according to the change in one or more specified underlying instruments. The value of indexed securities may increase or decrease if the underlying instrument appreciates, and they may have return characteristics similar to direct investment in the underlying instrument. An indexed security may be more volatile than the underlying instrument itself.

Lower Rated Debt Securities

Lower-rated debt securities or “junk bonds” are those rated below the fourth highest category (including those securities rated as low as D by S&P) or unrated securities of comparable quality. Securities rated below investment grade are often considered to be speculative. These securities have poor protection with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Lower-rated debt securities generally offer a higher current yield than that available for investment grade issues with similar maturities, but they may involve significant risk under adverse conditions. In particular, adverse changes in general economic conditions (or markedly favorable changes in general economic conditions that cause market interest rates to increase) and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged and changes in the financial condition of the issuers are more likely to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuer to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade debt securities. These securities are susceptible to default or decline in market value due to real or perceived adverse economic and business developments relating to the issuer, market interest rates and market liquidity. In addition, the Fund that invests in lower-quality securities may incur additional expenses to the extent recovery is sought on defaulted securities. Because of the many risks involved in investing in lower-rated debt securities, the success of such investments is dependent on the credit analysis of the Manager.

During periods of economic downturn or rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress which could adversely affect their ability to make payments of interest and principal and increase the possibility of default. In addition, such issuers may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay debt at maturity by refinancing. The risk of loss due to default by such issuers is significantly greater because such securities frequently are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness.

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At certain times in the past, the market for lower-rated debt securities has expanded rapidly, and its growth generally paralleled a long economic expansion. In the past, the prices of many lower-rated debt securities declined substantially, reflecting an expectation that many issuers of such securities might experience financial difficulties. As a result, the yields on lower-rated debt securities rose dramatically. However, such higher yields did not reflect the value of the income stream that holders of such securities expected, but rather the risk that holders of such securities could lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of the issuers’ financial restructuring or defaults. There can be no assurance that such declines will not recur.

The market for lower-rated debt issues generally is thinner or less active than that for higher quality securities, which may limit the Fund’s ability to sell such securities at fair value in response to changes in the economy or financial markets. Judgment may play a greater role in pricing such securities than it does for more liquid securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may also decrease the values and liquidity of lower rated debt securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

The Fund may invest in securities whose ratings imply an imminent risk of default with respect to such payments. Issuers of securities in default may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment.

See Appendix A for further information about the ratings of debt securities assigned by S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch

Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs)

The Fund may invest in securities issued in private investments in public equity transactions, commonly referred to as “PIPEs.” A PIPE investment involves the sale of equity securities, or securities convertible into equity securities, in a private placement transaction by an issuer that already has outstanding, publicly traded equity securities of the same class. Shares acquired in PIPEs are commonly sold at a discount to the current market value per share of the issuer’s publicly traded securities.

Securities acquired in PIPEs generally are not registered with the SEC until after a certain period of time from the date the private sale is completed, which may be months and perhaps longer. PIPEs may contain provisions that require the issuer to pay penalties to the holder if the securities are not registered within a specified period. Until the public registration process is completed, securities acquired in PIPEs are restricted and, like investments in other types of restricted securities, may be illiquid. Any number of factors may prevent or delay a proposed registration. Prior to or in the absence of registration, it may be possible for securities acquired in PIPEs to be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. There is no guarantee, however, that an active trading market for such securities will exist at the time of disposition, and the lack of such a market could hurt the market value of the Fund’s investments. Even if the securities acquired in PIPEs become registered, or the Fund is able to sell the securities through an exempt transaction, the Fund may not be able to sell all the securities it holds on short notice and the sale could impact the market price of the securities.

Rights Offerings and Warrants to Purchase

The Fund may participate in rights offerings and may purchase warrants, which are privileges issued by corporations enabling the owners to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short life span to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the rights’ and warrants’ expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security. Buying a warrant does not make the

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Fund a shareholder of the underlying stock. The warrant holder has no voting or dividend rights with respect to the underlying stock. A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason investments in warrants may be more speculative than other equity-based investments.

Contingent Convertible Securities

Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) are a form of hybrid security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggers. The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuer’s continued viability as a going concern. The unique equity conversion or principal write-down features of CoCos are tailored to the issuer and its regulatory requirements. CoCos typically will be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. One type of CoCo provides for mandatory conversion of the security into common stock of the issuer under certain circumstances. The mandatory conversion might relate, for example, to the issuer’s failure to maintain a capital minimum required by regulations. Because the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in such securities could experience reduced yields (or no yields at all) and conversion would worsen the investor’s standing in the case of an issuer’s insolvency. Another type of CoCo has characteristics designed to absorb losses, where the liquidation value of the security may be adjusted downward to below the original par value or written off entirely under certain circumstances. For instance, in the event that losses have eroded the issuer’s capital levels to below a specified threshold, the liquidation value of the security may be reduced in whole or in part. The write-down of the security’s par value may occur automatically and would not entitle holders to institute bankruptcy proceedings against the issuer. In addition, an automatic write-down could result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment associated with the security is based on the security’s par value. Such securities may, but are not required to, provide for circumstances under which the liquidation value of the security may be adjusted back up to par, such as an improvement in capitalization or earnings. In addition, CoCos may have no stated maturity and may have fully discretionary coupons that can potentially be cancelled at the issuer’s discretion or may be prohibited by the relevant regulatory authority from being paid in order to help the issuer absorb losses.

Convertible Securities

A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, or other security or debt obligation that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. Convertible securities generally have features of, and risks associated with, both equity and fixed income instruments. As such, the value of most convertible securities will vary with changes in the price of, and will be subject to the risks associated with, the underlying common stock. Additionally, convertible securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to pay principal or interest when due and the value of the convertible security may change based on the issuer’s credit rating.

A convertible security entitles the holder to receive the interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, such securities ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower than the yield on nonconvertible debt. Convertible securities are usually subordinated to comparable-tier non-convertible securities and other senior debt obligations of the issuer, but rank senior to common stock in a company’s capital structure. The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison to the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth if converted into the underlying common stock.

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The price of a convertible security often reflects variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt may not. Convertible securities may be issued by smaller capitalization companies whose stock prices may be more volatile than larger capitalization companies. A convertible security may have a mandatory conversion feature or a call feature that subjects it to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to convert it into the underlying common stock, sell it to a third party or permit the issuer to redeem the security. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Master Limited Partnerships

Master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) are limited partnerships (or similar entities, such as limited liability companies) in which the ownership units (e.g., limited partnership interests) are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the OTC market. Many MLPs operate in oil and gas related businesses, including energy processing and distribution. Many MLPs are pass-through entities that generally are taxed at the unitholder level and are not subject to federal or state income tax at the entity level. Annual income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of such an MLP pass through directly to its unitholders. Distributions from an MLP may consist in part of a return of capital. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more general partners. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of an MLP.

Investing in MLPs involves certain risks related to investing in their underlying assets and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or a particular geographic region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. Investments held by MLPs may be relatively illiquid, limiting the MLPs’ ability to vary their portfolios promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions. MLPs may have limited financial resources, their securities may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly based companies.

The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those inherent in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is different than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. For example, although unitholders of an MLP are generally limited in their liability, similar to a corporation’s shareholders, creditors typically have the right to seek the return of distributions made to unitholders if the liability in question arose before the distributions were paid. This liability may stay attached to a unitholder even after it sells its units.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of mortgage loans. Those securities may be guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or instrumentality (such as by Ginnie Mae); issued and guaranteed by a government-sponsored stockholder-owned corporation, though not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (collectively, the “GSEs”), and described in greater detail below); or issued by fully private issuers. Private issuers are generally originators of and investors in mortgage loans and include savings associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment bankers, and special purpose entities. Private mortgage-backed securities may be backed by U.S. Government agency supported mortgage loans or some form of non-governmental credit enhancement.

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Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned by stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Federal Housing Finance Authority (“FHFA”). Fannie Mae purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers that include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. Fannie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on pass-through securities that it issues, but those securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Freddie Mac is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned by stockholders. Freddie Mac issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in mortgages from Freddie Mac’s national portfolio. Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on the PCs it issues, but those PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

The Treasury Department has historically had the authority to purchase obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, in 2008, due to capitalization concerns, Congress provided the Treasury Department with additional authority to lend the GSEs emergency funds and to purchase their stock. In September 2008, those capital concerns led the Treasury Department and the FHFA to announce that the GSEs had been placed in conservatorship.

Since that time, the GSEs have received significant capital support through Treasury Department preferred stock purchases as well as Treasury Department and Federal Reserve purchases of their mortgage backed securities (“MBS”). While the MBS purchase programs ended in 2010, the Treasury Department announced in December 2009 that it would continue its support for the entities’ capital as necessary to prevent a negative net worth. However, no assurance can be given that the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, or FHFA initiatives will ensure that the GSEs will remain successful in meeting their obligations with respect to the debt and MBS they issue into the future.

In 2012, the FHFA initiated a strategic plan to develop a program related to credit risk transfers intended to reduce Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s overall risk through the creation of credit risk transfer assets (“CRTs”). CRTs come in two primary series: Structured Agency Credit Risk (“STACRs”) for Freddie Mac and Connecticut Avenue Securities (“CAS”) for Fannie Mae, although other series may be developed in the future. CRTs are typically structured as unsecured general obligations of either entities guaranteed by a government-sponsored stockholder-owned corporation, though not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (collectively, the “GSEs”) or special purpose entities), and their cash flows are based on the performance of a pool of reference loans. Unlike traditional residential MBS securities, bond payments typically do not come directly from the underlying mortgages. Instead, the GSEs either make the payments to CRT investors, or the GSEs make certain payments to the special purpose entities and the special purpose entities make payments to the investors. In certain structures, the special purpose entities make payments to the GSEs upon the occurrence of credit events with respect to the underlying mortgages, and the obligation of the special purpose entity to make such payments to the GSE is senior to the obligation of the special purpose entity to make payments to the CRT investors. CRTs are typically floating rate securities and may have multiple tranches with losses first allocated to the most junior or subordinate tranche. This structure results in increased sensitivity to dramatic housing downturns, especially for the subordinate tranches. Many CRTs also have collateral performance triggers (e.g., based on credit enhancement, delinquencies or defaults, etc.) that could shut off principal payments to subordinate tranches. Generally, GSEs have the ability to call all of the CRT tranches at par in 10 years.

In addition, the future of the GSEs is in serious question as the U.S. Government is considering multiple options, ranging on a spectrum from significant reform, nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

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The FHFA and the Treasury Department (through its agreement to purchase GSE preferred stock) have imposed strict limits on the size of GSEs’ mortgage portfolios. In August 2012, the Treasury Department amended its preferred stock purchase agreements to provide that the GSEs’ portfolios would be wound down at an annual rate of 15 percent (up from the previously agreed annual rate of 10 percent), requiring the GSEs to reach the $250 billion target by December 31, 2018. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were below the $250 billion cap for year-end 2018. On December 21, 2017, a letter agreement between the Treasury and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac changed the terms of the senior preferred stock certificates to permit the GSEs each to retain a $3 billion capital reserve, quarterly. Under the 2017 letter, each GSE paid a dividend to Treasury equal to the amount that its net worth exceeded $3 billion at the end of each quarter. On September 30, 2019, the Treasury and the FHFA, acting as conservator to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced amendments to the respective senior preferred stock certificates that will permit the GSEs to retain earnings beyond the $ 3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 letter agreements. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

Asset-Backed Securities

Asset-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as, among other things, motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, and receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements, or a combination of the foregoing. These assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations. Credit enhancements, such as various forms of cash collateral accounts or letters of credit, may support payments of principal and interest on asset-backed securities. Although these securities may be supported by letters of credit or other credit enhancements, payment of interest and principal ultimately depends upon individuals paying the underlying loans, which may be affected adversely by general downturns in the economy. Asset-backed securities are subject to the same risk of prepayment described with respect to mortgage-backed securities and to extension risk (the risk that an issuer of a security will make principal payments slower than anticipated by the investor, thus extending the securities’ duration). The risk that recovery on repossessed collateral might be unavailable or inadequate to support payments, however, is greater for asset-backed securities than for mortgage-backed securities.

Certificates for Automobile ReceivablesSM (“CARSSM”) represent undivided fractional interests in a trust whose assets consist of a pool of motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and security interests in the vehicles securing those contracts. Payments of principal and interest on the underlying contracts are passed through monthly to certificate holders and are guaranteed up to specified amounts by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trustee or originator of the trust. Underlying installment sales contracts are subject to prepayment, which may reduce the overall return to certificate holders. Certificate holders also may experience delays in payment or losses on CARSSM if the trust does not realize the full amounts due on underlying installment sales contracts because of unanticipated legal or administrative costs of enforcing the contracts; depreciation, damage, or loss of the vehicles securing the contracts; or other factors.

Credit card receivable securities are backed by receivables from revolving credit card agreements (“Accounts”). Credit balances on Accounts are generally paid down more rapidly than are automobile contracts. Most of the credit card receivable securities issued publicly to date have been pass-through certificates. In order to lengthen their maturity or duration, most such securities provide for a fixed period during which only interest payments on the underlying Accounts are passed through to the security holder; principal payments received on the Accounts are used to fund the transfer of additional credit card charges made on the Accounts to the pool of assets supporting the securities. Usually, the initial fixed period may be shortened if specified events occur which signal a potential deterioration in the quality of the assets backing the security, such as the imposition of a cap on interest rates. An issuer’s ability to extend the life of an issue of credit card receivable securities thus depends on the continued generation of principal amounts in the underlying Accounts and the non-occurrence of the specified events. The non-deductibility of consumer interest, as well as competitive and general economic factors, could adversely affect the rate at which new receivables are created in an Account and conveyed to an issuer, thereby shortening

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the expected weighted average life of the related security and reducing its yield. An acceleration in cardholders’ payment rates or any other event that shortens the period during which additional credit card charges on an Account may be transferred to the pool of assets supporting the related security could have a similar effect on its weighted average life and yield.

Credit cardholders are entitled to the protection of state and federal consumer credit laws. Many of those laws give a holder the right to set off certain amounts against balances owed on the credit card, thereby reducing amounts paid on Accounts. In addition, unlike the collateral for most other asset-backed securities, Accounts are unsecured obligations of the cardholder.

Collateralized Loan Obligations

The Fund also may invest in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), which are another type of asset-backed security. A CLO is a trust or other special purpose entity that is comprised of or collateralized by a pool of loans, including domestic and non-U.S. senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The loans generate cash flow that is allocated among one or more classes of securities (“tranches”) that vary in risk and yield. The most senior tranche has the best credit quality and the lowest yield compared to the other tranches. The equity tranche has the highest potential yield but also has the greatest risk, as it bears the bulk of defaults from the underlying loans and helps to protect the more senior tranches from risk of these defaults. However, despite the protection from the equity and other more junior tranches, more senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults and decreased market value due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CLO securities as a class.

Normally, CLOs are privately offered and sold and are not registered under state or federal securities laws. Therefore, investments in CLOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs allowing a CLO to qualify for transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. CLOs normally charge management fees and administrative expenses, which are in addition to those of the Fund.

The riskiness of investing in CLOs depends largely on the quality and type of the collateral loans and the tranche of the CLO in which the Fund invests. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities, CLOs carry risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from the collateral will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Fund may invest in CLO tranches that are subordinate to other tranches; and (iv) the complex structure of the CLO may not be fully understood at the time of investment or may result in the quality of the underlying collateral not being fully understood and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results. In addition, interest on certain tranches of a CLO may be paid in-kind (meaning that unpaid interest is effectively added to principal), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments. Certain CLOs may receive credit enhancement in the form of a senior-subordinate structure, over-collateralization or bond insurance, but such enhancement may not always be present and may fail to protect the Fund against the risk of loss due to defaults on the collateral. Certain CLOs may not hold loans directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create “synthetic” exposure to the collateral pool of loans.

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies

The Fund may invest in stock, warrants or other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Unless and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC or similar entity generally maintains assets (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in a trust account comprised of U.S. Government securities, money market securities, and cash. If an acquisition is not completed within a pre-established period of time, the invested funds are returned to the entity’s shareholders. Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank-check companies without an operating

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history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. More recently, SPACs have provided an opportunity for startups to go public without going through the traditional IPO process. This presents the risk that startups may become publicly traded with potentially less due diligence than what is typical in a traditional IPO through an underwriter. Since SPAC sponsors often stand to earn equity in the company if a deal is completed, SPAC sponsors may have a potential conflict of interest in completing a deal that may be unfavorable for other investors in the SPAC. SPACs may allow shareholders to redeem their pro rata investment immediately after the SPAC announces a proposed acquisition, sometimes including interest, which may prevent the entity’s management from completing the transaction. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, investments in SPACs may include private placements, including PIPEs, and, accordingly, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

Structured Notes

The Fund may invest in structured notes, such as participatory notes, credit linked notes and securities (“CLNs”), exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) and other related instruments. These instruments are notes where the principal and/or interest rate or value of the structured note is determined by reference to the performance of an underlying indicator. Underlying indicators may include a security or other financial instrument, asset, currency, interest rate, credit rating, commodity, volatility measure or index. Generally, investments in such notes are used as a substitute for positions in underlying indicators. The interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured note may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including the volatility of the underlying indicator. The performance results of structured notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the underlying indicator that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Issuers of structured notes can vary and may include corporations, banks, broker-dealers and limited purpose trusts or other vehicles. Structured notes may be exchange traded or traded OTC and privately negotiated.

Investments in structured notes involve many of the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying indicator the notes seek to replicate. Structured notes may be considered hybrid instruments as they may exhibit features of both fixed income securities and derivatives. The return on a structured note that is linked to a particular underlying indicator that pays dividends generally is increased to the extent of any dividends paid in connection with the underlying indicator. However, the holder of a structured note typically does not receive voting rights and other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying indicator. In addition, structured notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the structured note will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Structured notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the issuer of the note and the Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such issuer and has no rights under a structured note against the issuer of an underlying indicator. Structured notes involve transaction costs.

CLNs are typically issued by a limited purpose trust or other vehicle (the “CLN trust”) that, in turn, invests in a derivative or basket of derivatives instruments, such as credit default swaps, interest rate swaps and/or other securities, in order to provide exposure to certain high yield, sovereign debt, emerging markets, or other fixed income markets. Generally, investments in CLNs represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the CLN. However, these payments are conditioned on the CLN trust’s receipt of payments from, and the CLN trust’s potential obligations, to the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the CLN trust invests. For example, the CLN trust may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the CLN trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default were to occur, the stream of payments may stop and the CLN trust would be obligated to pay the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive as an investor in the CLN trust.

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The Fund may enter in CLNs to gain access to sovereign debt and securities in emerging markets, particularly in markets where the Fund is not able to purchase securities directly due to domicile restrictions or tax restrictions or tariffs. In such an instance, the issuer of the CLN may purchase the reference security directly and/or gain exposure through a credit default swap or other derivative.

Structured notes may also include exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), which are typically unsecured and unsubordinated like other structured notes. ETN returns are based upon the performance of one or more underlying indicators and typically, no periodic coupon payments are distributed and no principal protections exists, even at maturity. ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. An ETN can be held until maturity, at which time the issuer pays the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s market benchmark or strategy factor. When the Fund invests in ETNs, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. Because fees reduce the amount of return at maturity or upon redemption, if the value of the underlying indicator decreases or does not increase significantly, the Fund may receive less than the principal amount of its investment at maturity or upon redemption. In addition, the value of an ETN also may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying indicator, changes in the applicable interest rates, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the underlying indicator. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid, and thus they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. There may be restrictions on the Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which are generally meant to be held until maturity. A decision by the Fund to sell ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN.

Repurchase Agreements

In a repurchase agreement, the Fund purchases securities from a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, from a foreign bank or from a U.S. branch or agency of a foreign bank or from a securities dealer that agrees to repurchase the securities from the Fund at a higher price on a designated future date. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time, usually less than a week. Costs, delays, or losses could result if the selling party to a repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt or otherwise defaults. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of sellers. If the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement subject to foreign law and the counter-party defaults, the Fund may not enjoy protections comparable to those provided to certain repurchase agreements under U.S. bankruptcy law and may suffer delays and losses in disposing of the collateral as a result

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells portfolio securities to another party and agrees to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result in losses to the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by the Fund. When the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, the Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security. The Manager monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.

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Policies and Limitations. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings for purposes of the Fund’s investment policies and limitations concerning borrowings. While a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, the Fund will deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, or designate on its records as segregated, cash or appropriate liquid securities, marked to market daily, in an amount at least equal to the Fund’s obligations under the agreement.

Warrants and Rights

Warrants and rights may be acquired by the Fund in connection with other securities or separately. Warrants are securities permitting, but not obligating, their holder to subscribe for other securities or commodities and provide the Fund with the right to purchase at a later date other securities of the issuer. Rights are similar to warrants but typically are issued by a company to existing holders of its stock and provide those holders the right to purchase additional shares of stock at a later date. Rights also normally have a shorter duration than warrants. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. Warrants and rights may be more speculative than certain other types of investments and entail risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional equity instrument. While warrants and rights are generally considered equity securities, because the value of a warrant or right is derived, at least in part, from the value of the underlying securities, they may be considered hybrid instruments that have features of both equity securities and derivative instruments. However, there are characteristics of warrants and rights that differ from derivatives, including that the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities. The purchase of warrants and rights involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of the warrants or rights if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ or rights’ expiration date because warrants and rights cease to have value if they are not exercised prior to their expiration date. Also, the purchase of warrants and rights involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrants or rights added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying security. The market for warrants or rights may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily within two months, although the Fund may agree to a longer settlement period). These transactions may involve mortgage-backed securities such as GNMA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued and delayed-delivery purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.

When-issued and delayed-delivery purchases and forward commitment transactions enable the Fund to “lock in” what the Manager believes to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might purchase a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis and sell a similar security to settle such purchase, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty may fail to complete the purchase or sale of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may lose the opportunity to purchase or sell the security at the agreed upon price. To reduce this risk, the Fund will enter into transactions with established counterparties and the Manager will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties.

34


The value of securities purchased on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of the Fund’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities. Because the Fund has not yet paid for the securities, this produces an effect similar to leverage. The Fund does not earn interest on securities it has committed to purchase until the securities are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. Because the Fund is committed to buying them at a certain price, any change in the value of these securities, even prior to their issuance, affects the value of the Fund’s interests. The purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis also involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. When the Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in that Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect.

When-issued, delayed-delivery and forward commitment transactions may cause the Fund to liquidate positions when it may not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its purchase or sale obligations.

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Integration

The Manager systematically and explicitly includes material ESG risks and opportunities in investment analysis and investment decisions for all securities to help identify high quality securities. The Manager conducts ongoing proprietary ESG research, including proactive engagement on ESG issues. The Manager assesses all securities in relation to their exposure to and the management of material ESG risks. The Fund’s application of ESG considerations is designed and utilized to help identify companies that demonstrate the potential to create economic value or reduce risk; however as with the use of any investment criteria in selecting a portfolio, there is no guarantee that the ESG criteria used by the Fund will result in the selection of issuers that will outperform other issuers, or help reduce risk in the portfolio. ESG considerations could also affect the Fund’s exposure to certain sectors or industries, and could impact the Fund’s investment performance depending on whether the ESG criteria used is ultimately reflected in the market.

Thermal Coal Policy

The Fund prohibits investment in securities issued by companies that have more than 25% of revenue derived from thermal coal mining or are expanding new thermal coal power generation, as determined by internal screens.

The investment program described above is speculative and entails substantial risks, and the Fund’s risk management methods may not accurately predict future risk exposures. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved.

PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading. The Fund’s turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of the cost of the securities purchased or the proceeds from the securities sold by the Fund during the fiscal year (other than securities, including options, whose maturity or expiration date at the time of acquisition was one year or less) by (2) the month-end average of the value of such securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The Fund generally will not engage in the trading of securities for the purpose of realizing short-term profits, but it will adjust its portfolio as it deems advisable in view of prevailing or anticipated market conditions to accomplish its investment objective. For example, the Fund may sell portfolio securities in anticipation of a movement in interest rates. Higher turnover rates can result in corresponding increases in the Fund’s transaction costs, which must be borne by the Fund and its stockholders. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund’s realization of net short-term capital gains that, when distributed to stockholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. Frequency of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor if the Fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities.

35


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Directors and Officers

The Board is responsible for overseeing the management of the business and affairs of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed by NBIA. Subject to the provisions of the Fund’s Articles and Maryland law, the Board has all powers necessary and convenient to carry out this responsibility, including the election and removal of the Fund’s officers. Among other things, the Board generally oversees the portfolio management of the Fund and reviews and approves the Fund’s investment management agreement and other principal contracts.

The following tables set forth information concerning the Directors and officers of the Fund. All persons named as Directors and officers also serve in similar capacities for other funds administered or managed by NBIA.

The Board of Directors

Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address
(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
Class I
 
Independent Fund Directors
 
Marc Gary
(1952)

Director since 2021
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, Jewish Theological Seminary, since 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Fidelity Investments, 2007 to 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, BellSouth Corporation, 2004 to 2007; formerly, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, BellSouth Corporation, 2000 to 2004; formerly, Associate, Partner, and National Litigation Practice Co-Chair, Mayer, Brown LLP, 1981 to 2000; formerly, Associate Independent Counsel, Office of Independent Counsel, 1990 to 1992.
47
Trustee, Jewish Theological Seminary, since 2015; Director, Legility, Inc. (privately held for-profit company), since 2012; Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (not-for-profit), since 2005; formerly, Director, Equal Justice Works (not-for-profit), 2005 to 2014; formerly, Director, Corporate Counsel Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, 2007 to 2012; formerly, Director, Greater Boston Legal Services (not-for-profit), 2007 to 2012.
 
Michael M. Knetter
(1960)

Director since 2021
President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Wisconsin Foundation, since 2010; formerly, Dean, School of Business, University of Wisconsin - Madison; formerly, Professor of International Economics and Associate Dean, Amos Tuck School of Business - Dartmouth College, 1998 to 2002.
47
Director, 1 William Street Credit Income Fund, since 2018; Board Member, American Family Insurance (a mutual company, not publicly traded), since March 2009; formerly, Trustee, Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc., 2007 to 2011; formerly, Director, Wausau Paper, 2005 to 2011; formerly, Director, Great Wolf Resorts, 2004 to 2009.

36



Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
Peter P. Trapp
(1944)

Director since 2021
Retired; formerly, Regional Manager for Mid-Southern Region, Ford Motor Credit Company, September 1997 to 2007; formerly, President, Ford Life Insurance Company, April 1995 to August 1997.
47
None.
 
Class II
 
Independent Fund Directors
 
Michael J. Cosgrove
(1949)

Director since 2021
President, Carragh Consulting USA, since 2014; formerly, Executive, General Electric Company, 1970 to 2014, including President, Mutual Funds and Global Investment Programs, GE Asset Management, 2011 to 2014, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mutual Funds and Intermediary Business, GE Asset Management, 2007 to 2011, President, Institutional Sales and Marketing, GE Asset Management, 1998 to 2007, and Chief Financial Officer, GE Asset Management, and Deputy Treasurer, GE Company, 1988 to 1993.
47
Director, America Press, Inc. (not-for-profit Jesuit publisher), since 2015; formerly, Director, Fordham University, 2001 to 2018; formerly, Director, The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, June 2015 to June 2016; formerly, Director, Skin Cancer Foundation (not-for-profit), 2006 to 2015; formerly, Director, GE Investments Funds, Inc., 1997 to 2014; formerly, Trustee, GE Institutional Funds, 1997 to 2014; formerly, Director, GE Asset Management, 1988 to 2014; formerly, Director, Elfun Trusts, 1988 to 2014; formerly, Trustee, GE Pension & Benefit Plans, 1988 to 2014; formerly, Member of Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute.
 
Deborah C. McLean
(1954)

Director since 2021
Member, Circle Financial Group (private wealth management membership practice), since 2011; Managing Director, Golden Seeds LLC (an angel investing group), since 2009; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, since 2008; formerly, Visiting Assistant Professor, Fairfield University, Dolan School of Business, Fall 2007; formerly, Adjunct Associate Professor of Finance, Richmond, The American International University in London, 1999 to 2007.
47
Board member, Norwalk Community College Foundation, since 2014; Dean’s Advisory Council, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, since 2014; formerly, Director and Treasurer, At Home in Darien (not-for-profit), 2012 to 2014; formerly, Director, National Executive Service Corps (not-for-profit), 2012 to 2013; formerly, Trustee, Richmond, The American International University in London, 1999 to 2013.

37



Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address
(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
George W. Morriss
(1947)

Director since 2021
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, since 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, People’s United Bank, Connecticut (a financial services company), 1991 to 2001.
47
Director, 1 William Street Credit Income Fund, since 2018; Director and Chair, Thrivent Church Loan and Income Fund, since 2018; formerly, Trustee, Steben Alternative Investment Funds, Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund, and Steben Select Multi-Strategy Master Fund, 2013 to 2017; formerly, Treasurer, National Association of Corporate Directors, Connecticut Chapter, 2011 to 2015; formerly, Manager, Larch Lane Multi-Strategy Fund complex (which consisted of three funds), 2006 to 2011; formerly, Member, NASDAQ Issuers’ Affairs Committee, 1995 to 2003.
 
Tom D. Seip
(1950)

Director since 2021; Chairman of the Board since 2021
Formerly, Managing Member, Ridgefield Farm LLC (a private investment vehicle), 2004 to 2016; formerly, President and CEO, Westaff, Inc. (temporary staffing), May 2001 to January 2002; formerly, Senior Executive, The Charles Schwab Corporation, 1983 to 1998, including Chief Executive Officer, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Trustee, Schwab Family of Funds and Schwab Investments, 1997 to 1998; and Executive Vice President-Retail Brokerage, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 1994 to 1997.
47
Formerly, Director, H&R Block, Inc. (tax services company), 2001 to 2018; formerly, Director, Talbot Hospice Inc., 2013 to 2016; formerly, Chairman, Governance and Nominating Committee, H&R Block, Inc., 2011 to 2015; formerly, Chairman, Compensation Committee, H&R Block, Inc., 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director, Forward Management, Inc. (asset management company), 1999 to 2006.

38



Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
Class III
 
Independent Fund Directors
 
Martha C. Goss (1949)
Director since 2021
President, Woodhill Enterprises Inc./Chase Hollow Associates LLC (personal investment vehicle), since 2006; formerly, Consultant, Resources Global Professionals (temporary staffing), 2002 to 2006; formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc., 1995 to 1999; formerly, Enterprise Risk Officer, Prudential Insurance, 1994 to 1995; formerly, President, Prudential Asset Management Company, 1992 to 1994; formerly, President, Prudential Power Funding (investments in electric and gas utilities and alternative energy projects), 1989 to 1992; formerly, Treasurer, Prudential Insurance Company, 1983 to 1989.
47
Director, American Water (water utility), since 2003; Director, Allianz Life of New York (insurance), since 2005; Director, Berger Group Holdings, Inc. (engineering consulting firm), since 2013; Director, Financial Women’s Association of New York (not-for-profit association), since 2003; Trustee Emerita, Brown University, since 1998; Director, Museum of American Finance (not-for-profit), since 2013; formerly, Non-Executive Chair and Director, Channel Reinsurance (financial guaranty reinsurance), 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director, Ocwen Financial Corporation (mortgage servicing), 2005 to 2010; formerly, Director, Claire’s Stores, Inc. (retailer), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. (engineering consulting firm), 2007 to 2010; formerly, Director, Bank Leumi (commercial bank), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Advisory Board Member, Attensity (software developer), 2005 to 2007.
 
James G. Stavridis (1955)
Director since 2021
Operating Executive, The Carlyle Group, since 2018; Commentator, NBC News, since 2015; formerly, Dean, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 2013 to 2018; formerly, Admiral, United States Navy, 1976 to 2013, including Supreme Allied Commander, NATO and Commander, European Command, 2009 to 2013, and Commander, United States Southern Command, 2006 to 2009.
47
Director, American Water (water utility), since 2018; Director, NFP Corp. (insurance broker and consultant), since 2017; Director, U.S. Naval Institute, since 2014; Director, Onassis Foundation, since 2014; Director, BMC Software Federal, LLC, since 2014; Director, Vertical Knowledge, LLC, since 2013; formerly, Director, Navy Federal Credit Union, 2000-2002.

39



Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
Candace L. Straight (1947)
Director since 2021
Private investor and consultant specializing in the insurance industry; formerly, Advisory Director, Securitas Capital LLC (a global private equity investment firm dedicated to making investments in the insurance sector), 1998 to 2003.
47
Director, ERA Coalition (not-for-profit), since January 2019; Director, Rebelle Media (a privately held TV and film production company), since 2018; formerly, Public Member, Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, Rutgers University, 2011 to 2016; formerly, Director, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (reinsurance company), 2006 to 2015; formerly, Director, National Atlantic Holdings Corporation (property and casualty insurance company), 2004 to 2008; formerly, Director, The Proformance Insurance Company (property and casualty insurance company), 2004 to 2008; formerly, Director, Providence Washington Insurance Company (property and casualty insurance company), 1998 to 2006; formerly, Director, Summit Global Partners (insurance brokerage firm), 2000 to 2005.

40



Name, (Year
of Birth),
and Address(1)
      Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s)(3)       Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
      Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
 
Fund Director who is an “Interested Person”
 
Joseph V. Amato* (1962)
Chief Executive Officer, President since 2018; Director since 2009 (NBW, NBH, NBO and NRO) and 2013 (NML)
President and Director, Neuberger Berman Group LLC, since 2009; President and Chief Executive Officer, Neuberger Berman BD LLC and Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.), since 2007; Chief Investment Officer (Equities) and President (Equities), Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”) (formerly, Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC (“NBFI”) and including predecessor entities), since 2007, and Board Member of NBIA since 2006; formerly, Global Head of Asset Management of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s (“LBHI”) Investment Management Division, 2006 to 2009; formerly, member of LBHI’s Investment Management Division’s Executive Management Committee, 2006 to 2009; formerly, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers Inc. (“LBI”), 2006 to 2008; formerly, Chief Recruiting and Development Officer, LBI, 2005 to 2006; formerly, Global Head of LBI’s Equity Sales and a Member of its Equities Division Executive Committee, 2003 to 2005; President and Chief Executive Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
47
Member of Board of Advisors, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, since 2001; Member of New York City Board of Advisors, Teach for America, since 2005; Trustee, Montclair Kimberley Academy (private school), since 2007; Member of Board of Regents, Georgetown University, since 2013.
____________________
(1) The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104.
(2) The Board of Directors shall at all times be divided as equally as possible into three classes of Directors designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of office of Class I, Class II and Class III Directors shall expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in 2024, 2022 and 2023, respectively, and at each third Annual Meeting of Stockholders thereafter.
(3) Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown for at least the last five years.
* Indicates a Director who is an “interested person” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Mr. Amato is an interested person of each Fund by virtue of the fact that he is an officer of NBIA and/or its affiliates.

41


Information about the Officers of the Fund (other than those listed above)

Name, Address and
(Year of Birth)
(1)
      Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Claudia A. Brandon (1956)
Executive Vice President since 2021
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee since 1999; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2008 and Assistant Secretary since 2004; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2002 to 2006; formerly, Vice President – Mutual Fund Board Relations, NBIA, 2000 to 2008; formerly, Vice President, NBIA, 1986 to 1999 and Employee, 1984 to 1999; Executive Vice President and Secretary, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Agnes Diaz (1971)
Vice President since 2021
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2012; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2012 and Employee since 1996; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2007 to 2012; Vice President, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Anthony DiBernardo (1979)
Assistant Treasurer since 2021
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2014; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2014, and Employee since 2003; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2009 to 2014; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Savonne L. Ferguson (1973)
Chief Compliance Officer since 2021
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer (Mutual Funds) and Associate General Counsel, NBIA, since November 2018; formerly, Vice President T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (2018), Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (2014-2018), Vice President and Director of Regulatory Fund Administration, PNC Capital Advisors, LLC (2009-2014), Secretary, PNC Funds and PNC Advantage Funds (2010-2014); Chief Compliance Officer, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Corey A. Issing (1978)
Chief Legal Officer since 2021
General Counsel and Head of Compliance – Mutual Funds since 2016 and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2017; formerly, Associate General Counsel (2015 to 2016), Counsel (2007 to 2015), Senior Vice President (2013 – 2016); Vice President (2009-2013); Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.

42



Name, Address and
(Year of Birth)
(1)
      Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
      Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Sheila R. James (1965)
Assistant Secretary since 2021
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2008 and Employee since 1999; Vice President, NBIA, since 2008; formerly, Assistant Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2007; Employee, NBIA, 1991 to 1999; Assistant Secretary, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Brian Kerrane (1969)
Chief Operating Officer since 2021
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman, since 2013; Chief Operating Officer – Mutual Funds and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2015; formerly, Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2006 to 2014; Vice President, NBIA, 2008 to 2015 and Employee since 1991; Chief Operating Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator; Vice President, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Anthony Maltese (1959)
Vice President since 2021
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2014 and Employee since 2000; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2014; Vice President, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Josephine Marone (1963)
Assistant Secretary since 2021
Senior Paralegal, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee since 2007; Assistant Secretary, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Owen F. McEntee, Jr. (1961)
Vice President since 2021
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006 and Employee since 1992; Vice President, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
John M. McGovern (1970)
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer since 2021
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2007; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2007 and Employee since 1993; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2004 to 2006; formerly, Assistant Treasurer, 2002 to 2005; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
 
Frank Rosato (1971)
Assistant Treasurer since 2021
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006 and Employee since 1995; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
____________________
(1) The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104.
(2) Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Fund each officer elected by the Directors shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, inability to serve, or resignation. Officers serve at the pleasure of the Directors and may be removed at any time with or without cause.

43


The Board of Directors

The Board is responsible for managing the business and affairs of the Fund. Among other things, the Board generally oversees the portfolio management of the Fund and reviews and approves the Fund’s investment management agreement and other principal contracts. It is the Fund’s policy that at least three quarters of the Board shall be comprised of Fund Directors who are not “interested persons” of NBIA (including its affiliates) or the Fund (“Independent Fund Directors”).

The Board has appointed an Independent Director to serve in the role of Chairman of the Board. The Chair’s primary responsibilities are (i) to participate in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board and in the identification of information to be presented to the Board; (ii) to preside at all meetings of the Board; (iii) to act as the Board’s liaison with management between meetings of the Board; and (iv) to act as the primary contact for board communications. The Chair may perform such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time. Except for any duties specified herein or pursuant to the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, the designation as Chair does not impose on such Independent Director any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.

As described below, the Board has an established committee structure through which the Board considers and addresses important matters involving the Fund, including those identified as presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest for management. The Independent Fund Directors also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by experienced independent legal counsel knowledgeable in matters of investment company regulation. The Board periodically evaluates its structure and composition as well as various aspects of its operations. The Board believes that its leadership structure, including its Independent Chair and its committee structure, is appropriate in light of, among other factors, the asset size of the fund complex overseen by the Board, the nature and number of funds overseen by the Board, the number of Fund Directors, the range of experience represented on the Board and the Board’s responsibilities.

Additional Information About Directors

In nominating each candidate to serve, the Board is generally aware of each Director’s skills, experience, judgment, integrity, analytical ability, intelligence, common sense, previous profit and not-for-profit board membership and, for each Independent Director, his or her demonstrated willingness to take an independent and questioning stance toward management. For candidates to serve as Independent Directors, independence from the Manager, its affiliates and other principal service providers is critical. Each Director also has considerable familiarity with the funds in the Neuberger Berman fund complex, the Manager, and their operations, as well as the special regulatory requirements governing regulated investment companies and the special responsibilities of investment company directors as a result of his or her substantial prior service as a director of the funds in the Neuberger Berman fund complex. No particular qualification, experience or background establishes the basis for any Director’s position on the Board and the Governance and Nominating Committee and individual Board members may have attributed different weights to the various factors.

In addition to the information set forth in the table above and other relevant qualifications, experience, attributes or skills applicable to a particular Director, the following provides further information about the qualifications and experience of each Director.

Independent Directors

Michael J. Cosgrove: Mr. Cosgrove is President of an asset management consulting firm. He has experience as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of the asset management division of a major multinational corporation. He also has experience as a President of institutional sales and marketing for the asset management division of the same corporation, where he was responsible for all distribution, marketing, and development of mutual fund products. He also has served as a member of the boards of various not-for-profit organizations.

44


Marc Gary: Mr. Gary has legal and investment management experience as executive vice president and general counsel of a major asset management firm. He also has experience as executive vice president and general counsel at a large corporation, and as national litigation practice chair at a large law firm. He has served as a member of the boards of various profit and not-for-profit organizations. He currently is a trustee and the executive vice chancellor and COO of a religious seminary where he oversees the seminary’s institutional budget.

Martha Clark Goss: Ms. Goss has experience as chief operating and financial officer of an insurance holding company. She has experience as an investment professional, head of an investment unit and treasurer for a major insurance company, experience as the Chief Financial Officer of two consulting firms, and experience as a lending officer and credit analyst at a major bank. She has experience managing a personal investment vehicle. She has served as a member of the boards of various profit and not-for-profit organizations and a university.

Michael M. Knetter: Dr. Knetter has organizational management experience as a dean of a major university business school and as President and CEO of a university supporting foundation. He also has responsibility for overseeing management of the university’s endowment. He has academic experience as a professor of international economics. He has served as a member of the boards of various public companies and another mutual fund.

Deborah C. McLean: Ms. McLean has experience in the financial services industry. She is currently involved with a high net worth private wealth management membership practice and an angel investing group, where she is active in investment screening and deal leadership and execution. For many years she has been engaged in numerous roles with a variety of not-for-profit and private company boards and has taught corporate finance at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She commenced her professional training at a major financial services corporation, where she was employed for multiple years.

George W. Morriss: Mr. Morriss has experience in senior management and as chief financial officer of a financial services company. He has investment management experience as a portfolio manager managing personal and institutional funds. He has served as a member of a committee of representatives from companies listed on NASDAQ. He has served on the board of another mutual fund complex. He has served as a member of the board of funds of hedge funds. He has an advanced degree in finance.

Tom D. Seip: Mr. Seip has experience in senior management and as chief executive officer and director of a financial services company overseeing other mutual funds and brokerage. He has experience as director of an asset management company. He has experience in management of a private investment partnership.

James G. Stavridis: Admiral Stavridis has organizational management experience as a dean of a major university school of law and diplomacy. He also held many leadership roles with the United States Navy over the span of nearly four decades, including serving as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and serving at the Pentagon at different periods of time as a strategic and long range planner on the staffs of the chief of Naval Operations, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as Commander, U.S. Southern Command. He has also served as an advisor to private and public companies on geopolitical and cybersecurity matters.

Candace L. Straight: Ms. Straight has experience as a private investor and consultant in the insurance industry. She has experience in senior management of a global private equity investment firm. She has served as a member of the boards of a public university and various profit companies.

Peter P. Trapp: Mr. Trapp has experience in senior management of a credit company and several insurance companies. He has served as a member of the board of other mutual funds. He is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries.

45


Directors who are “Interested Persons”

Joseph V. Amato: Mr. Amato has investment management experience as an executive with Neuberger Berman and another financial services firm. Effective July 1, 2018, Mr. Amato began serving as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Funds and the other funds in the Neuberger Berman Fund Complex. He also serves as Neuberger Berman’s Chief Investment Officer for equity investments. He has experience in leadership roles within Neuberger Berman and its affiliated entities. He has served as a member of the board of a major university business school.

Information About Committees

The Fund anticipates that the Board will establish several standing committees to oversee particular aspects of the Fund’s management. The anticipated standing committees of the Board are described below.

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee’s purposes are: (a) in accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of service providers; (b) in accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) in accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (d) to approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; (e) to act as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board; (f) to monitor the operation of policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that each portfolio holding is valued in an appropriate and timely manner, reflecting information known to management about the issuer, current market conditions, and other material factors (“Pricing Procedures”); (g) to consider and evaluate, and recommend to the Board when the Committee deems it appropriate, amendments to the Pricing Procedures proposed by management, counsel, the auditors and others; (h) from time to time, as required or permitted by the Pricing Procedures, to establish or ratify a method of determining the fair value of portfolio securities for which market prices are not readily available or deemed unreliable; and (i) to prepare an audit committee report as required by Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K to be included in proxy statements relating to the election of directors. Its members are Michael J. Cosgrove (Chair), Martha C. Goss (Vice Chair), Deborah C. McLean, and Peter P. Trapp. All members are Independent Fund Directors.

Closed-End Funds Committee. The Fund’s Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for consideration and evaluation of issues specific to the Fund. Its members are Michael J. Cosgrove, George W. Morriss (Chair) and Peter P. Trapp (Vice Chair). All members are Independent Fund Directors.

Contract Review Committee. The Contract Review Committee is responsible for overseeing and guiding the process by which the Independent Fund Directors annually consider whether to renew the Fund’s principal contractual arrangements. Its members are Marc Gary, Deborah C. McLean (Chair), George W. Morriss (Vice Chair), and Candace L. Straight. All members are Independent Fund Directors.

Ethics and Compliance Committee. The Ethics and Compliance Committee generally oversees: (a) the Fund’s program for compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and the Fund’s implementation and enforcement of its compliance policies and procedures; (b) the compliance with the Fund’s Code of Ethics, which restricts the personal securities transactions, including transactions in Fund shares, of employees, officers, and directors; (c) the activities of the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”); (d) management’s framework for identifying, prioritizing, and managing compliance risks; (e) the adequacy and fairness of the arrangements for securities lending, if any, in a manner consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, with special emphasis on any arrangements in which the Fund deals with the Manager or any affiliate of the Manager as principal or agent; (f) the program by which the Manager seeks to monitor and improve the quality of execution for portfolio transactions; and (g) the quarterly and

46


annual management reports on contractual arrangements with third party intermediaries, including payments to, and the nature and quality of the services provided by, such parties. The Committee shall not assume oversight duties to the extent that such duties will be assigned by the Board expressly to another Committee of the Board (such as oversight of internal controls over financial reporting, which the Board anticipates assigning to the Audit Committee.) The Committee’s primary function is oversight. Each investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, custodian and transfer agent (collectively, “Service Providers”) will be responsible for its own compliance with the federal securities laws and for devising, implementing, maintaining and updating appropriate policies, procedures and codes of ethics to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and their contracts with the Fund. The CCO is responsible for administering the Fund’s Compliance Program, including devising and implementing appropriate methods of testing compliance by the Fund and its Service Providers. Its members are Marc Gary (Chair), Michael M. Knetter, Tom D. Seip, James G. Stavridis, and Candace L. Straight (Vice Chair). All members are Independent Fund Directors. The entire Board will receive at least annually a report on the compliance programs of the Fund and service providers and the required annual reports on the administration of the Code of Ethics and the required annual certifications from the Fund and NBIA.

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for acting in an emergency when a quorum of the Board of Directors is not available; the Committee will have all the powers of the Board of Directors when the Board is not in session to the extent permitted by Maryland law. Its members are Joseph V. Amato (Vice Chair), Michael J. Cosgrove, Marc Gary, Martha C. Goss, Michael M. Knetter, Deborah C. McLean, George W. Morriss, and Tom D. Seip (Chair). All members except for Mr. Amato are Independent Fund Directors.

Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for: (a) considering and evaluating the structure, composition and operation of the Board of Directors and each committee thereof, including the operation of the annual self- evaluation by the Board; (b) evaluating and nominating individuals to serve as Fund Directors including as Independent Fund Directors, as members of committees, as Chair of the Board and as officers of the Fund; (c) recommending for Board approval any proposed changes to Committee membership and recommending for Board and Committee approval any proposed changes to the Chair and Vice Chair appointments of any Committee following consultation with members of each such Committee; and (d) considering and making recommendations relating to the compensation of Independent Fund Directors. Its members are Martha C. Goss (Chair), Michael M. Knetter, Tom D. Seip, and James G. Stavridis (Vice Chair). All members are Independent Fund Directors. The selection and nomination of candidates to serve as independent directors is committed to the discretion of the current Independent Fund Directors.

Investment Performance Committee. The Investment Performance Committee is responsible for overseeing and guiding the process by which the Board reviews Fund performance and interfacing with management personnel responsible for investment risk management. Each Fund Director is a member of the Committee. Michael M. Knetter and Peter P. Trapp are the Chair and the Vice Chair, respectively, of the Committee. All members except for Mr. Amato are Independent Directors.

Risk Management Oversight

As an integral part of its responsibility for oversight of the Fund in the interests of stockholders, the Board oversees risk management of the Fund’s portfolio management, administration and operations. The Board views risk management as an important responsibility of management.

The Fund faces a number of risks, such as investment risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk, liquidity risk, reputational risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, cybersecurity risk, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk.

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Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, stockholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. Under the overall supervision of the Board, the Fund, the Manager, and the affiliates of the Manager, or other service providers to the Fund, employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks.

The Board exercises oversight of the Manager’s risk management processes primarily through the Board’s committee structure. The various committees, as appropriate, and/or at times the Board, meet periodically with the Chief Risk Officer, head of operational risk, the Chief Information Security Officer, the CCO, the Treasurer, and the Chief Investment Officers for equity, alternative and fixed income, the head of Internal Audit, and the Fund’s independent auditor. The committees, or the Board, as appropriate, review with these individuals, among other things, the design and implementation of risk management strategies in their respective areas, and events and circumstances that have arisen and responses thereto.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Directors as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Furthermore, it is in the very nature of certain risks that they can be evaluated only as probabilities, and not as certainties. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations, and no risk management program can predict the likelihood or seriousness of, or mitigate the effects of, all potential risks.

Compensation and Indemnification

The Fund’s Articles provide that the Fund will indemnify its Fund Directors and officers against liabilities and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Fund, unless it is adjudicated that they (a) engaged in bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices, or (b) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in the best interest of the Fund. In the case of settlement, such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been determined (by a court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition, by a majority of disinterested directors based upon a review of readily available facts, or in a written opinion of independent counsel) that such officers or Fund Directors have not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of their duties.

Officers and Directors who are interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, will receive no salary or fees from the Fund.

For serving as a trustee/director of the funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family, each Independent Fund Director will receive a combined annual retainer of $160,000, paid quarterly, and a fee of $15,000 for each of the regularly scheduled meetings he or she attends in-person or by telephone. For any additional special in-person or telephonic meeting of the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee will determine whether a fee is warranted. To compensate for the additional time commitment, the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Chair of the Contract Review Committee each receives $20,000 per year and each Chair of the other Committees receives $15,000 per year. No additional compensation is provided for service on a Board committee. The Chair of the Board who will also be an Independent Fund Director will receive an additional $40,000 per year.

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The Neuberger Berman Funds will reimburse Independent Fund Directors for their travel and other out-of-pocket expenses related to attendance at Board meetings. The Independent Fund Director compensation is allocated to each fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family based on a method the Board finds reasonable.

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of the Fund Directors. The Fund does not have any retirement plan for the Fund Directors.

TABLE OF COMPENSATION





Total Compensation from




Registered Investment




Companies in the Neuberger


Aggregate Compensation
Berman Fund Complex


from the Fund for
Paid to Directors for


the Fiscal Year Ended
Calendar Year Ended
Name and Position with the Fund       October 31, 2021*       December 31, 2020
Independent Fund Directors
          

          
                
          
Michael J. Cosgrove

$ 2,609


$ 240,000
Marc Gary

$ 2,554


$ 235,000
Martha C. Goss

$ 2,554


$ 235,000
Michael M. Knetter

$ 2,554


$ 235,000
Deborah C. McLean

$ 2,609


$ 240,000
George W. Morriss

$ 2,609


$ 235,000
Tom D. Seip

$ 2,735


$ 260,000
James G. Stavridis

$ 2,391


$ 220,000
Candace L. Straight

$ 2,391


$ 220,000
Peter P. Trapp

$ 2,391


$ 220,000
Director who is an “Interested Person”









Joseph V. Amato

$ 0


$ 0
____________________
* Because the Fund has not completed its first fiscal year, compensation is estimated based upon payments to be made by the Fund during the current fiscal year and upon relative net assets of the Neuberger Berman Fund complex. The estimate is for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2021.

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Ownership of Securities

Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, none of the Directors own Fund shares as of the date of this SAI.

Set forth below is the aggregate dollar range of equity securities owned by each Fund Director in all the funds in the fund family overseen by the Fund Director, valued as of December 31, 2020.



Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity


Securities Held in all Registered


Investment Companies Overseen


by Fund Director in Family of
Name of Fund Director       Investment Companies
Independent Fund Directors

Michael J. Cosgrove
E
Marc Gary
E
Martha C. Goss
E
Michael M. Knetter
E
Deborah C. McLean
E
George W. Morriss
E
Tom D. Seip
E
James G. Stavridis
E
Candace L. Straight
E
Peter P. Trapp
E
Fund Director who is an “Interested Person”
E
Joseph V. Amato
E

A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; E = over $100,000

Independent Fund Directors’ Ownership of Securities

As of December 31, 2020, no Independent Fund Director (or his/her immediate family members) owned securities of NBIA or securities in an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with NBIA (not including registered investment companies).

Codes of Ethics

The Fund and NBIA have personal securities trading policies that restrict the personal securities transactions of employees, officers, and Directors. Their primary purpose is to ensure that personal trading by these individuals does not disadvantage any fund managed by NBIA. The portfolio managers and other investment personnel who comply with the policies’ pre-clearance and disclosure procedures may be permitted to purchase, sell or hold certain types of securities which also may be or are held in the funds they advise, but are restricted from trading in close conjunction with the Fund or taking personal advantage of investment opportunities that may belong to the Fund. Text-only versions of the Codes of Ethics can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, copies of the 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, DC 20549-0102 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

Investment Manager and Administrator

NBIA will serve as the investment manager to the Fund pursuant to a management agreement with the Fund, dated as of                       (“Management Agreement”). NBIA will also provide investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to mutual funds and other registered investment companies. As of December 31, 2020, NBIA and its affiliates had approximately $405 billion in assets under management. NBIA is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.

The Management Agreement will provide, in substance, that NBIA will make and implement investment decisions for the Fund in its discretion and will continuously develop an investment program for the Fund’s assets. The Management Agreement will permit NBIA to effect securities transactions on behalf of the Fund through associated persons of NBIA. The Management Agreement also will specifically permit NBIA to compensate, through higher commissions, brokers and dealers who provide investment research and analysis to the Fund, although NBIA has no current plans to pay a material amount of such compensation.

The Management Agreement will provide that NBIA shall not be subject to any liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. In the event that litigation against NBIA, in connection with its obligations under the Management Agreement or administration agreement (described below), ends with a determination that NBIA acted without culpability, the Fund will reimburse NBIA for reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses. In the event a matter ends without a court ruling on NBIA’s culpability, any unresolved issue will be determined by a committee of disinterested Directors who were not party to the suit or by an opinion of independent legal counsel. The Fund may advance expenses to NBIA if (1) a committee of non-party disinterested Directors or independent legal counsel determines that NBIA is likely to prevail, and (2) the Fund is adequately assured of repayment in the event of an adverse result.

NBIA will provide to the Fund, without separate cost, office space, equipment, and facilities and the personnel necessary to perform executive, administrative, and clerical functions. NBIA will pay all salaries, expenses, and fees of the officers, Directors, and employees of the Fund who are officers, Directors, or employees of NBIA. Director(s) and/or officer(s) of NBIA currently serve as Directors and officers of the Fund. See “Management of the Fund-Directors and Officers.”

Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Fund will agree to pay NBIA an annual management fee, payable on a monthly basis, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily total assets minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage (“Managed Assets”). The liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock, if issued, would not be a liability or permanent equity.

NBIA will provide facilities, services, and personnel as well as accounting, record keeping and other services to the Fund pursuant to an administration agreement with the Fund, dated as of                       (“Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, NBIA also will provide certain stockholder, stockholder-related, and other services that are not furnished by the Fund’s stockholder servicing agent. NBIA will provide the direct stockholder services specified in the Administration Agreement and assist the stockholder servicing agent in the development and implementation of specified programs and systems to enhance overall stockholder servicing capabilities. NBIA will solicit and gather stockholder proxies, perform services connected with the Fund’s exchange listing, and furnish other services the parties agree from time to time should be provided under the Administration Agreement.

For administrative services, the Fund will pay NBIA at the annual rate of 0.25% of average daily Managed Assets. With the Fund’s consent, NBIA may subcontract to third parties some of its responsibilities to the Fund under the Administration Agreement. In addition, the Fund may compensate such third parties for accounting and other services.

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All fees and expenses will be accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors. The Management Agreement will continue until                     . The Management Agreement will be renewable thereafter from year to year with respect to the Fund, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Fund Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the Directors or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding stock of the Fund. The Administration Agreement will continue for a period of two years after the date the Fund becomes subject thereto. The Administration Agreement will be renewable from year to year, so long as its continuance is approved at least annually (1) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Fund Directors, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the Directors or by a 1940 Act majority vote of the outstanding stock in the Fund.

The Management Agreement will be terminable, without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice either by the Fund or by NBIA. The Administration Agreement will be terminable, without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice either by NBIA or by the Fund. Each Agreement will terminate automatically if it is assigned.

Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, the Fund will pay, in addition to the investment management fee described above, all expenses not assumed by NBIA, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of Directors who are not “interested persons” of NBIA or the Fund, interest charges, taxes, brokerage commissions, expenses of issue of shares, fees and expenses of registering and qualifying Fund shares for distribution under federal and state laws and regulations, charges of custodians, auditing and legal expenses, expenses of determining NAV of the Fund, reports to stockholders, expenses of meetings of stockholders, expenses of printing and mailing prospectuses, proxy statements and proxies to existing stockholders, and its proportionate share of insurance premiums and professional association dues or assessments. The Fund will also be responsible for such nonrecurring expenses as may arise, including litigation in which the Fund may be a party, and other expenses as determined by the Board. The Fund may have an obligation to indemnify its officers and Directors with respect to such litigation.

Management and Control of NBIA

NBIA is an indirect subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC (“NBG,” and together with its consolidated subsidiaries “NB Group”). The directors, officers and/or employees of NBIA who are deemed “control persons,” all of whom have offices at the same address as NBIA are: Joseph Amato and Brad Tank. Mr. Amato is both a Director and an officer of the Fund.

NBG’s voting equity is owned by NBSH Acquisition, LLC (“NBSH”). NBSH is owned by portfolio managers, members of the NBG’s management team, and certain of NBG’s key employees and senior professionals.

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Portfolio Manager Information

Accounts Managed

Timothy Creedon, CFA (Managing Director of NBIA), Hari Ramanan (Managing Director of NBIA) and Yan Taw (YT) Boon (Managing Director of NBIA) will serve as portfolio managers of the Fund. The table below describes the accounts for which they have day-to-day management responsibility as of February 28, 2021.










Number of Accounts
Assets Managed for


Number of
Total Assets
Managed for which
which Advisory Fee is


Accounts
Managed
Advisory Fee is
Performance-Based
Type of Account      Managed      ($ millions)      Performance-Based      ($ millions)
Timothy Creedon


    

    


        

        
Registered Investment Companies*
1

$ 823

0

$ 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles**
10

$ 11,893

0

$ 0
Other Accounts***
88

$ 986

0

$ 0
Hari Ramanan













Registered Investment Companies*
1

$ 823

0

$ 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles**
10

$ 11,893

0

$ 0
Other Accounts***
88

$ 986

0

$ 0
Yan Taw (YT) Boon













Registered Investment Companies*
0

$ 0

0

$ 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles**
4

$ 9,776

0

$ 0
Other Accounts***
14

$ 238

0

$ 0
____________________
* Registered Investment Companies include: Mutual Funds.
** A portion of certain accounts may be managed by other portfolio managers; however, the total assets of such accounts are included above even though the portfolio manager listed above is not involved in the day-to-day management of the entire account.
*** Other Accounts include: Institutional Separate Accounts, Sub-Advised Accounts and Managed Accounts (WRAP Accounts).

Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one Fund or other account. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different or similar objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees, as the portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. The portfolio manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value of securities or instruments held by the Fund, and which may include transactions that are directly contrary to the positions taken by the Fund. For example, a portfolio manager may engage in short sales of securities or instruments for another account that are the same type of securities or instruments in which a fund it manages also invests. In such a case, the portfolio manager could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the account engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities or instruments to fall. Additionally, if a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity. There may also be regulatory limitations that prevent the Fund from participating in a transaction that another account or fund managed by the same portfolio manager will invest. For example, the 1940 Act prohibits the Fund from participating in certain transactions with certain of its affiliates and from participating in “joint” transactions alongside certain of its affiliates. The prohibition on “joint” transactions may limit the ability of the Fund to participate alongside its affiliates in privately negotiated transactions unless the transaction is otherwise permitted under existing regulatory guidance and may reduce the amount of privately negotiated transactions that the Fund may participate. Further, the Manager may take an investment position or action for a fund or account that may be different from, inconsistent with, or have different rights than (e.g., voting rights,

53


dividend or repayment priorities or other features that may conflict with one another), an action or position taken for one or more other funds or accounts, including the Fund, having similar or different objectives. A conflict may also be created by investing in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure (e.g., equity or debt, or different positions in the debt structure). Those positions and actions may adversely impact, or in some instances benefit, one or more affected accounts, including the funds. Potential conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions and related actions regarding a position held for a fund or another account may not be in the best interests of a position held by another fund or account having similar or different objectives. If one account were to buy or sell portfolio securities or instruments shortly before another account bought or sold the same securities or instruments, it could affect the price paid or received by the second account. Securities selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform the securities selected for the Fund. Finally, a conflict of interest may arise if the Manager and a portfolio manager have a financial incentive to favor one account over another, such as a performance-based management fee that applies to one account but not all funds or accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible. In the ordinary course of operations, certain businesses within the Neuberger Berman organization (the “Firm”) will seek access to material nonpublic information. For instance, NBIA portfolio managers may obtain and utilize material non-public information in purchasing loans and other debt instruments and certain privately placed or restricted equity instruments. From time to time, NBIA portfolio managers will be offered the opportunity on behalf of applicable clients to participate on a creditors or other similar committee in connection with restructuring or other “work-out” activity, which participation could provide access to material nonpublic information. The Firm maintains procedures that address the process by which material non-public information may be acquired intentionally by the Firm. When considering whether to acquire material nonpublic information, the Firm will attempt to balance the interests of all clients, taking into consideration relevant factors, including the extent of the prohibition on trading that would occur, the size of the Firm’s existing position in the issuer, if any, and the value of the information as it relates to the investment decision-making process. The acquisition of material non-public information would likely give rise to a conflict of interest since the Firm may be prohibited from rendering investment advice to clients regarding the securities or instruments of such issuer and thereby potentially limiting the universe of securities or instruments that the Firm, including the Fund, may purchase or potentially limiting the ability of the Firm, including the Fund, to sell such securities or instruments. Similarly, where the Firm declines access to (or otherwise does not receive or share within the Firm) material non-public information regarding an issuer, the portfolio managers could potentially base investment decisions with respect to assets of such issuer solely on public information, thereby limiting the amount of information available to the portfolio managers in connection with such investment decisions. In determining whether or not to elect to receive material non-public information, the Firm will endeavor to act fairly to its clients as a whole. The Firm reserves the right to decline access to material nonpublic information, including declining to join a creditors or similar committee. NBIA and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

Compensation of Portfolio Managers by NBIA

Our compensation philosophy is one that focuses on rewarding performance and incentivizing our employees. We are also focused on creating a compensation process that we believe is fair, transparent, and competitive with the market.

Compensation for portfolio managers consists of fixed (salary) and variable (bonus) compensation but is more heavily weighted on the variable portion of total compensation and is paid from a team compensation pool made available to the portfolio management team with which the portfolio manager is associated. The size of the team compensation pool is determined based on a formula that takes into consideration a number of factors including the pre-tax revenue that is generated by that particular portfolio management team, less certain adjustments. The bonus portion of the compensation is discretionary and is determined on the basis of a variety of criteria, including investment performance (including the aggregate multi-year track record), utilization of central resources (including research, sales and operations/support), business building to further the longer term sustainable success of the investment team, effective team/people management, and overall contribution to the success of Neuberger Berman.

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Certain portfolio managers may manage products other than mutual funds, such as high net worth separate accounts. For the management of these accounts, a portfolio manager may generally receive a percentage of pre-tax revenue determined on a monthly basis less certain deductions. The percentage of revenue a portfolio manager receives pursuant to this arrangement will vary based on certain revenue thresholds.

The terms of our long-term retention incentives are as follows:

Employee-Owned Equity. Certain employees (primarily senior leadership and investment professionals) participated in Neuberger Berman’s equity ownership structure, which was designed to incentivize and retain key personnel. In addition, in prior years certain employees may have elected to have a portion of their compensation delivered in the form of equity. We also offer an equity acquisition program which allows employees a more direct opportunity to invest in Neuberger Berman.

For confidentiality and privacy reasons, we cannot disclose individual equity holdings or program participation.

Contingent Compensation Plan. Certain employees may participate in the Neuberger Berman Group Contingent Compensation Plan (the “CCP”) to serve as a means to further align the interests of our employees with the success of the firm and the interests of our clients, and to reward continued employment. Under the CCP, up to 20% of a participant’s annual total compensation in excess of $500,000 is contingent and subject to vesting. The contingent amounts are maintained in a notional account that is tied to the performance of a portfolio of Neuberger Berman investment strategies as specified by the firm on an employee-by-employee basis. By having a participant’s contingent compensation tied to Neuberger Berman investment strategies, each employee is given further incentive to operate as a prudent risk manager and to collaborate with colleagues to maximize performance across all business areas. In the case of members of investment teams, including portfolio managers, the CCP is currently structured so that such employees have exposure to the investment strategies of their respective teams as well as the broader Neuberger Berman portfolio.

Restrictive Covenants. Most investment professionals, including portfolio managers, are subject to notice periods and restrictive covenants which include employee and client non-solicit restrictions as well as restrictions on the use of confidential information. In addition, depending on participation levels, certain senior professionals who have received equity grants have also agreed to additional notice and transition periods and, in some cases, non-compete restrictions. For confidentiality and privacy reasons, we cannot disclose individual restrictive covenant arrangements

Ownership of Securities

Because the Fund is new and has not yet commenced operations, the portfolio managers do not beneficially own any Common Stock of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Other Investment Companies or Accounts Managed

The investment decisions concerning the Fund and the other registered investment companies managed by NBIA (collectively, “Other NB Funds”) have been and will continue to be made independently of one another. In terms of their investment objectives, most of the Other NB Funds differ from the Fund. Even where the investment objectives are similar, however, the methods used by the Other NB Funds and the Fund to achieve their objectives may differ. The investment results achieved by all of the registered investment companies managed by NBIA have varied from one another in the past and are likely to vary in the future. In addition, NBIA or its affiliates may manage one or more Other NB Funds or other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies as the Funds that may have risks that are greater or less than the Funds.

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There may be occasions when the Fund and one or more of the Other NB Funds or other accounts or funds managed by NBIA are contemporaneously engaged in purchasing or selling the same securities from or to third parties. When this occurs, the transactions may be aggregated to obtain favorable execution to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations. The transactions will be allocated according to one or more methods designed to ensure that the allocation is equitable to the Fund and accounts involved. Although in some cases this arrangement may have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the securities as to the Fund, in other cases it is believed that the Fund’s ability to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for it. In any case, it is the judgment of the Directors and NBIA that the desirability of the Fund having its advisory arrangements with NBIA outweighs any disadvantages that may result from contemporaneous transactions.

The Fund is subject to certain limitations imposed on all advisory clients of NBIA (including the Fund, the Other NB Funds, and other managed funds or accounts) and personnel of NBIA and its affiliates. These may include, for example, limits that may be imposed in certain industries or by certain companies, and policies of NBIA that limit the aggregate purchases, by all accounts under management, of the outstanding shares of public companies.

Proxy Voting

The Board anticipates that it will delegate to NBIA the responsibility to vote proxies related to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. Under this authority, NBIA would be required by the Board to vote proxies related to portfolio securities in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. The Board would permit NBIA to contract with a third party to obtain proxy voting and related services, including research of current issues.

NBIA has implemented written Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policy”) that are designed to reasonably ensure that NBIA votes proxies prudently and in the best interest of its advisory clients for whom NBIA has voting authority, including the Fund. The Proxy Voting Policy also describes how NBIA addresses any conflicts that may arise between its interests and those of its clients with respect to proxy voting.

NBIA’s Governance and Proxy Committee (“Proxy Committee”) will be responsible for developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting Policy, administering and overseeing the proxy voting process and engaging and overseeing any independent third-party vendors as voting delegate to review, monitor and/or vote proxies. In order to apply the Proxy Voting Policy noted above in a timely and consistent manner, NBIA utilizes Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) to vote proxies in accordance with NBIA’s voting guidelines or, in instances where a material conflict has been determined to exist, in accordance with the voting recommendations of an independent third party. NBIA retains final authority and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting. NBIA believes that this process is reasonably designed to address material conflicts of interest that may arise between NBIA and a client as to how proxies are voted.

In the event that an investment professional at NBIA believes that it is in the best interests of a client or clients to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent with the voting guidelines, the Proxy Committee will review information submitted by the investment professional to determine that there is no material conflict of interest between NBIA and the client with respect to the voting of the proxy in the requested manner.

If the Proxy Committee determines that the voting of a proxy as recommended by the investment professional would not be appropriate, the Proxy Committee shall: (i) take no further action, in which case Glass Lewis shall vote such proxy in accordance with the voting guidelines; (ii) disclose such conflict to the client or clients and obtain written direction from the client as to how to vote the proxy; (iii) suggest that the client or clients engage another party to determine how to vote the proxy; or (iv) engage another independent third party to determine how to vote the proxy.

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The Fund may invest in shares of affiliated funds and may own substantial portions of these underlying affiliated funds. When the Fund holds shares of underlying affiliated funds, the Fund will vote proxies of those funds in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of the fund’s shares, unless the Board otherwise instructs. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available by August 31 of each year, without charge, by calling 1-800-877-9700 (toll-free) or by visiting www.nb.com or the website of the SEC, www.sec.gov.

Brokerage and Research Services

Orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed on behalf of the Fund by NBIA pursuant to the terms of the advisory agreement. In effecting securities transactions, the Fund seeks to obtain the best price and execution of orders. While affiliates of NBIA are permitted to act as brokers for the Fund in the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities (other than certain securities traded on the OTC market) where such brokers are capable of providing best execution (“Affiliated Brokers”), the Fund generally will use unaffiliated brokers.

For Fund transactions which involve securities traded on the OTC market, the Fund purchases and sells OTC securities in principal transactions with dealers who are the principal market makers for such securities.

The amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors, including the types of investments selected by the Manager, investment strategy changes, changing asset levels, shareholder activity, and/or portfolio turnover.

Commission rates, being a component of price, are considered along with other relevant factors in evaluating best price and execution. In selecting a broker other than an Affiliated Broker to execute Fund transactions, NBIA generally considers the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including execution capability, speed of execution, overall performance, and financial responsibility, and may consider, among other factors, research and other investment information or services (“research services”) provided by those brokers as well as any expense offset arrangements offered by the brokers.

The Fund may use an Affiliated Broker where, in the judgment of NBIA, that firm is able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified brokers. To the Fund’s knowledge, no affiliate of the Fund receives give-ups or reciprocal business in connection with its securities transactions.

The use of an Affiliated Broker for the Fund is subject to the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Section 11(a) prohibits members of national securities exchanges from retaining compensation for executing exchange transactions for accounts which they or their affiliates manage, except where they have the authorization of the persons authorized to transact business for the account and comply with certain annual reporting requirements. Before an Affiliated Broker is used, the Fund and NBIA expressly authorize the Affiliated Broker to retain such compensation, and the Affiliate Broker would have to agree to comply with the reporting requirements of Section 11(a).

Under the 1940 Act, commissions paid by the Fund to an Affiliated Broker in connection with a purchase or sale of securities on a securities exchange may not exceed the usual and customary broker’s commission. Accordingly, it is the Fund’s policy that the commissions paid an Affiliated Broker will be at least as favorable to the Fund as those that would be charged by other qualified brokers having comparable execution capability in NBIA’s judgment. The Fund does not deem it practicable and in its best interests to solicit competitive bids for commissions on each transaction effected by an Affiliated Broker. However, when an Affiliated Broker is executing portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund, consideration regularly will be given to information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged by other brokers on comparable transactions during comparable periods of time. The 1940 Act generally prohibits an Affiliated Broker from acting as principal in the purchase of portfolio securities from, or the sale of portfolio securities to, the Fund unless an appropriate exemption is available.

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A committee of Independent Fund Directors from time to time will review, among other things, information relating to the commissions charged by an Affiliated Broker to the Fund and to their other customers and information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged by other brokers having comparable execution capability.

To ensure that accounts of all investment clients, including the Fund, are treated fairly in the event that an Affiliated Broker receives transaction instructions regarding the same security for more than one investment account at or about the same time, the Affiliated Broker may combine orders placed on behalf of clients, including advisory accounts in which affiliated persons have an investment interest, for the purpose of negotiating brokerage commissions or obtaining a more favorable price. Where appropriate, securities purchased or sold may be allocated, in terms of amount, to a client according to the proportion that the size of the order placed by that account bears to the aggregate size of orders contemporaneously placed by the other accounts, subject to de minimis exceptions. All participating accounts will pay or receive the same price when orders are combined.

Under policies anticipated to be adopted by the Board, an Affiliated Broker may enter into agency cross-trades on behalf of the Fund. An agency cross-trade is a securities transaction in which the same broker acts as agent on both sides of the trade and the broker or an affiliate has discretion over one of the participating accounts. In this situation, the Affiliated Broker would receive brokerage commissions from both participants in the trade. The other account participating in an agency cross-trade with the Fund cannot be an account over which the Affiliated Broker exercises investment discretion. A member of the Board of Directors who will not be affiliated with the Affiliated Broker will review information about each agency cross- trade that the Fund participates in.

In selecting a broker to execute Fund transactions, the Manager considers the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including execution capability, speed of execution, overall performance, and financial responsibility, and may consider, among other factors, research and other investment information provided by non-affiliated brokers.

A committee comprised of officers of NBIA who are portfolio managers of the Fund and Other NB Funds (collectively, “NB Funds”) and some of NBIA’s managed accounts (“Managed Accounts”) periodically evaluates throughout the year the nature and quality of the brokerage and research services provided by other brokers. Based on this evaluation, the committee establishes a list and projected rankings of preferred brokers for use in determining the relative amounts of commissions to be allocated to those brokers. Ordinarily, the brokers on the list effect a large portion of the brokerage transactions for the NB Funds and the Managed Accounts. However, in any semi-annual period, brokers not on the list may be used, and the relative amounts of brokerage commissions paid to the brokers on the list may vary substantially from the projected rankings. These variations reflect the following factors, among others: (1) brokers not on the list or ranking below other brokers on the list may be selected for particular transactions because they provide better price and/or execution, which is the primary consideration in allocating brokerage; (2) adjustments may be required because of periodic changes in the execution capabilities of or research or other services provided by particular brokers or in the execution or research needs of the NB Funds and/or the Managed Accounts; and (3) the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions generated by transactions for the NB Funds and the Managed Accounts may change substantially from one semi-annual period to the next.

The commissions paid to a broker other than an Affiliated Broker may be higher than the amount another firm might charge if the Manager determines in good faith that the amount of those commissions is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker. The Manager believes that those research services benefit the Fund by supplementing the information otherwise available to the Manager. That research may also be used by the Manager in servicing Other NB Funds and in servicing Managed Accounts. On the other hand, research received by the Manager from brokers effecting portfolio transactions on behalf of the Other NB Funds and from brokers effecting portfolio transactions on behalf of the Managed Accounts may be used for the Fund’s benefit. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, it does not have brokerage data for prior fiscal years.

In certain instances, the Manager may specifically allocate brokerage for research services (including research reports on issuers and industries as well as economic and financial data) which may otherwise be purchased for cash. While the receipt of such services has not reduced the Manager’s normal internal research activities, the Manager’s

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expenses could be materially increased if it were to generate such additional information internally. To the extent such research services are provided by others, the Manager is relieved of expenses it may otherwise incur. In some cases research services are generated by third parties but provided to the Manager by or through broker dealers. Research obtained in this manner may be used in servicing any or all clients of the Manager and may be used in connection with clients other than those client’s whose brokerage commissions are used to acquire the research services described herein. With regard to allocation of brokerage to acquire research services described above the Manager always considers its best execution obligation when deciding which broker to utilize.

Insofar as Fund transactions result from active management of equity securities, and insofar as Fund transactions result from seeking capital appreciation by selling securities whenever sales are deemed advisable without regard to the length of time the securities may have been held, it may be expected that the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the Fund to brokers (including to Affiliated Brokers) may be greater than if securities were selected solely on a long-term basis.

The Fund may, from time to time, loan portfolio securities to broker-dealers affiliated with NBIA (“Affiliated Borrowers”) in accordance with the terms and conditions of an order issued by the SEC. The order exempts such transactions from the provisions of the 1940 Act that would otherwise prohibit these transactions, subject to certain conditions. In accordance with the order, securities loans made by the Fund to Affiliated Borrowers are fully secured by cash collateral. Each loan to an Affiliated Borrower by the Fund will be made on terms at least as favorable to the Fund as comparable loans to unaffiliated borrowers, and no loans will be made to an Affiliated Borrower unless the Affiliated Borrower represents that the terms are at least as favorable to the Fund as those it provides to unaffiliated lenders in comparable transactions. All transactions with Affiliated Borrowers will be reviewed periodically by officers of the Fund and reported to the Board.

DISTRIBUTIONS

As described in the Prospectus, initial distributions to Common Stockholders are expected to be declared approximately 45 days, and paid approximately 60 to 90 days, from the completion of the offering of the Common Stock, depending on market conditions. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly distributions, it will initially (prior to its first distribution), and may from time to time thereafter, distribute less than the entire amount of distributable cash flow received as cash distributions from its portfolio securities in a particular period. Such undistributed cash flow would be available to supplement future distributions, including distributions that might otherwise have been reduced by a decrease in the Fund’s net cash flow due to fluctuations in cash distributions received on portfolio securities (or other sources of income) or expenses or due to an increase in the distribution rate or interest rate on the Fund’s borrowings, Preferred Stock or Notes, if any. As a result, the distributions the Fund pays for any particular period may be more or less than the amount of cash flow received as cash distributions from portfolio securities during such period. Undistributed cash flow received as cash distributions from portfolio securities will be included in the Fund’s NAV and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed cash flow received as cash distributions from portfolio securities will reduce that NAV.

For information relating to the impact of the borrowings or the issuance of Preferred Stock or Notes on the distributions made by the Fund to Common Stockholders, see “Use of Leverage” in the Prospectus.

While any Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Fund may not declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Stock unless at the time of such declaration (1) all accumulated dividends on the Preferred Stock have been paid and (2) the NAV of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding Preferred Stock. While any borrowings or Notes are outstanding, the Fund may not declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Stock unless at the time of such declaration the NAV of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution) is at least 300% of the principal amount of any borrowings or Notes.

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Common Stock

The Articles authorize the issuance of one billion (1,000,000,000) shares. The Common Stock will be issued with a par value of $0.0001 per share. All Common Stock has equal rights as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Whenever Preferred Stock, if issued, is outstanding, Common Stockholders will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless all accrued dividends on Preferred Stock have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to Preferred Stock would be at least 200% after giving effect to such distributions. See “Preferred Stock” below. Whenever Notes are outstanding, Common Stockholders will not be entitled to receive any distributions from the Fund unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to the Notes would be at least 300%.

The Common Stock is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of stockholders so long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing.

Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV. Shares of closed-end investment companies have during some periods traded at prices higher than NAV and during other periods traded at prices lower than NAV. There can be no assurance that shares of Common Stock or shares of other closed-end funds will trade at a price higher than NAV in the future. NAV generally increases when interest rates decline, and decreases when interest rates rise. Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of Common Stock will not depend solely upon the Fund’s NAV but will depend entirely upon whether the market price of the Common Stock at the time of sale is above or below the original purchase price for the shares. Since the market price of the Fund’s Common Stock will be determined by factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Stock will trade at, below, or above NAV or at, below or above the initial public offering price. Accordingly, the Common Stock is designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Stock should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Common Stock; Tender Offers; Conversion to Open-end Fund” and the Fund’s Prospectus under “Use of Leverage.”

Preferred Stock

The Fund currently does not intend to issue preferred shares. Nonetheless, the Articles authorize the Board to create additional classes of stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such rights as determined by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Stockholders.

Although the terms of any Preferred Stock, including their distribution rate, voting rights, liquidation preference and redemption provisions, would be determined by the Board (subject to applicable law and the Articles) if it authorizes a Preferred Stock offering, Preferred Stock would likely pay distributions based on short-term rates. The liquidation preference, preference on distribution, voting rights and redemption provisions of the Preferred Stock may be as stated below.

As used in this SAI, unless otherwise noted, the Fund’s “net assets” include assets of the Fund attributable to any outstanding Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Notes, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock or principal amount of the Notes. Solely for financial reporting purposes, however, the Fund is required to exclude the liquidation preference of Preferred Stock from “net assets,” so long as the Preferred Stock has redemption features that are not solely within the control of the Fund. For all regulatory and tax purposes, the Fund’s Preferred Stock will be treated as stock (rather than indebtedness).

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Limited Issuance of Preferred Stock. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s net assets, measured immediately after issuance of the Preferred Stock. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Stock unless the liquidation value of the Preferred Stock is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution. To the extent that the Fund has outstanding any senior securities representing indebtedness (such as through the use of derivative instruments that constitute senior securities), the aggregate amount of such senior securities will be added to the total liquidation value of any outstanding Preferred Stock for purposes of these asset coverage requirements. The Fund intends to purchase or redeem Preferred Stock, if necessary, to keep the liquidation value of the Preferred Stock plus the aggregate amount of other senior securities representing indebtedness at or below one-half of the value of the Fund’s net assets.

Distribution Preference. The Preferred Stock would have complete priority over the Common Stock as to distribution of assets.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stockholders”) would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Stockholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, Preferred Stockholders would not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation or merger of the Fund with or into any business trust or corporation or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.

Voting Rights. In connection with any issuance of Preferred Stock, the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that Preferred Stock be voting shares. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles or otherwise required by applicable law, Preferred Stockholders would vote together with Common Stockholders as a single class.

In connection with the election of the Fund’s Directors, Preferred Stockholders, voting as a separate class, would also be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s Directors, and the remaining Directors shall be elected by Common Stockholders and Preferred Stockholders, voting together as a single class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Stock shall be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s Directors until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, shall be required to approve any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act including, among other things, changes in the Fund’s investment objective, the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end company, or changes in the investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under “Investment Objective, Policies and Limitations.” The class or series vote of Preferred Stockholders described above shall in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Stock and Preferred Stock necessary to authorize the action in question.

Preferred Stockholders would not be entitled to vote on matters placed before stockholders if, at or prior to the time when a vote is required, such shares shall have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

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Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Stock by the Fund. The terms of the Preferred Stock may provide that they are redeemable at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase Preferred Stock and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Stock by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Stock, while any resale of shares by the Fund will increase such leverage.

The Fund currently does not intend to issue Preferred Stock. The discussion above describes the possible offering of preferred shares by the Fund. If the Board determines to authorize such an offering, the terms of the Preferred Stock may be the same as, or different from, the terms described above, subject to applicable law and the Articles.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation (“Articles”) include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, to cause it to engage in certain transactions or to modify its structure.

The Articles require a vote by a majority of the Directors, including a majority of the Independent Fund Directors, of the Fund, and holders of at least 75% of the shares of capital stock of the Fund outstanding and entitled to vote, except as described below, to authorize (1) the Fund’s conversion from a closed-end to an open-end investment company; (2) any merger or consolidation or share exchange of the Fund with or into any other company; (3) the dissolution or liquidation of the Fund; (4) any sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets to any Principal Stockholder (as defined below); (5) a change in the nature of the business of the Fund so that it would cease to be an investment company registered under the 1940 Act; (6) with certain exceptions, the issuance of any securities of the Fund to any Principal Stockholder for cash; or (7) any transfer by the Fund of any securities of the Fund to any Principal Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property having an aggregate fair market value of $1 million ($1,000,000) or more; provided, with respect to (1) through (5), if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of 75% of the Directors, including a majority of the Independent Fund Directors, then the affirmative vote of the holders of only a majority of the Fund’s shares of capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the time is required; and provided, further, with respect to (6) and (7), if such transaction has been authorized by the affirmative vote of 75% of the Directors, including a majority of the Independent Fund Directors, no stockholder vote is required to authorize such action. The term “Principal Stockholder” means any person, entity or group that holds, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund and includes any associates or affiliates of such person or entity or of any member of the group. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. As discussed in the Prospectus, certain of the actions described above also require approval by the holders of the Preferred Shares, tallied separately. Certain of the transactions described above, even if approved by stockholders, may be prohibited by the 1940 Act.

The percentage votes required under these provisions, which are greater than the minimum requirements under Maryland law or the 1940 Act, will make more difficult a change in the Fund’s business or management and may have the effect of depriving Common Stockholders of an opportunity to sell shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The Board believes that the provisions of the Articles relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its stockholders.

The Articles contain provisions the effect of which is to prevent matters, including nominations of Directors, from being considered at a stockholders’ meeting where the Fund has not received notice of the matters generally at least 120 but no more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting.

Reference should be made to the Articles on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.

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REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end management investment company, and as such its stockholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Fund’s Common Stock will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection, distribution stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Shares of a closed-end management investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV. The Board will regularly monitor the relationship between the market price and NAV of the Common Stock. If the Common Stock were to trade at a substantial discount to NAV for an extended period of time, the Board may consider the repurchase of its Common Stock on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end management investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that the Board will decide to take or propose any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time when the Fund has Preferred Stock outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Common Stock unless (1) all accrued dividends on Preferred Stock have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the NAV of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the acquisition price of the Common Stock) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding Preferred Stock (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon).

Subject to its investment limitations, the 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 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

The Board may also from time to time consider submitting to the holders of the shares of stock of the Fund a proposal to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company. In determining whether to exercise its sole discretion to submit this issue to stockholders, the Board would consider all factors then relevant, including the relationship of the market price of the Common Stock to NAV, the extent to which the Fund’s capital structure is leveraged and the possibility of re-leveraging, the spread, if any, between the yields on securities in the Fund’s portfolio and interest and dividend charges on any Preferred Stock and/or Notes issued by the Fund and general market and economic conditions.

See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation” in the Prospectus and “Certain Provisions in the Articles of Incorporation” in this SAI for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to conversion of the Fund to an open-end company. If the Fund converted to an open-end management investment company, it would be required to redeem all Preferred Stock and Notes then outstanding (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), if any, and the Fund’s Common Stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In contrast to a closed-end management investment company, stockholders 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 NAV, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their common stock. Open-end companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management.

The repurchase by the Fund of its shares at prices below NAV will result in an increase in the NAV of those shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tenders at or below NAV will result in the Fund’s shares trading at a price equal to their NAV. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund’s shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at NAV from time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end company, may reduce any spread between market price and NAV that might otherwise exist.

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In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Stock will decrease the Fund’s total assets. This would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Stock at a time when Preferred Stock or Notes are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the outstanding Common Stock then remaining. See the Fund’s Prospectus under “Risks – Risks of Leveraged Structure.”

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Fund’s Common Stock trades below NAV, 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 stockholders, market considerations and alternative actions that might be taken. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s Common Stock should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its stockholders, that the Fund should not be converted to an open-end structure and, perhaps, that no action should be taken at that time.

TAX MATTERS

The following is a brief general summary of certain material federal tax considerations affecting the Fund and its stockholders with respect to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of Common Stock. It is based on the Code, the regulations thereunder, judicial authorities, published positions of the IRS, and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect); no assurance can be given that future legislation, regulations, court decisions, and/ or administrative pronouncements will not significantly change applicable law and materially affect the conclusions expressed herein, and any such change, even though made after an investor has invested in the Fund, could be applied retroactively. Tax matters are complicated, and this discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to an investor in light of his, her, or its particular circumstances or to Common Stockholders (such as those enumerated in the Prospectus) who or that are subject to special federal tax rules.

Unless otherwise noted, this discussion applies only to a U.S. Stockholder (as defined in the Prospectus) that holds Common Stock as a capital asset (generally, an asset held for investment). If a partnership holds Common Stock, the federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the partner’s status and the partnership’s activities.

The tax consequences of an investment in and holding Common Stock will depend on the particular facts of each investor’s situation. Prospective investors are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the application to their own circumstances of the general federal income tax rules summarized below, and with respect to other federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences to them, before making an investment in Common Stock.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund intends to qualify each taxable year for treatment as a RIC. To qualify for that treatment, the Fund must, among other things:

(a) derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from interest, dividends, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or those currencies and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (“QPTP”) (“Income Requirement”);

(b) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (consisting generally of net investment income, the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss, and net gains from certain foreign currency transactions, if any, all determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and 90% of its net exempt interest, if any, for that year (“Distribution Requirement”); and

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(c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of its taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities, and (2) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than those of the Government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more QPTPs (“Diversification Requirements”).

If the Fund qualifies for treatment as a RIC, it will not be subject to federal income tax on net income and realized gains it timely distributes to its stockholders. If the Fund failed to qualify for that treatment for any taxable year — either (1) by failing to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, even if it satisfied the Income and Diversification Requirements, or (2) by failing to satisfy the Income Requirement and/or either Diversification Requirement and was unable to, or determined not to, avail itself of Code provisions that enable a RIC to cure a failure to satisfy any of the Income and Diversification Requirements as long as the failure “is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect” and the RIC pays a deductible tax calculated in accordance with those provisions and meets certain other requirements — then for federal income tax purposes it would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on the full amount of its taxable income for that year without being able to deduct the distributions it makes to its stockholders. In addition, for those purposes the stockholders would treat all those distributions, including distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), as dividends to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, taxable as ordinary income, except that, for individual and certain other non-corporate stockholders (each, an “individual stockholder”), the part thereof that is “qualified dividend income” (“QDI”) would be subject to federal income tax at the rates for net capital gain — a maximum of 15% for a single stockholder with taxable income not exceeding $445,800 ($501,600 for married stockholders filing jointly) and 20% for those individual stockholders with taxable income exceeding those respective amounts (which apply for 2021 and will be adjusted for inflation annually); and all or part of those dividends distributions might be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Furthermore, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying for RIC treatment.

The Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its stockholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income. The Fund also will annually (1) distribute its net capital gain or (2) retain all or a portion of its net capital gain for investment. If the Fund retains any such income or gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the retained amount. See “Taxation of the Stockholders” below for a description of the consequences to the Fund’s stockholders of its retention of net capital gain.

To the extent the Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary income for that year plus (2) 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 of that year plus (3) 100% of any retained amount of either from the prior year, it will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (“Excise Tax”). For these purposes, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount with respect to which it pays income tax. The Fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the Excise Tax.

If the Fund issues Preferred Stock, then, at any time when Preferred Stock is outstanding, and the Fund’s assets are insufficient to satisfy certain requirements, the Fund will be required to suspend distributions to holders of the Common Stock until those requirements are satisfied. Doing so may prevent the Fund from satisfying the Distribution Requirement and may therefore jeopardize its qualification for treatment as a RIC or cause it to incur an income tax or Excise Tax liability or both.

Taxation of the Stockholders

Distributions on the Fund’s shares to a stockholder are generally subject to federal income tax as described in the Prospectus and below, even though those distributions may economically represent a return of the stockholder’s investment. Such a distribution is likely to occur in respect of shares purchased when the Fund has undistributed

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income or gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed. Those realized gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund has unrealized losses. Distributions are taxable to a stockholder even if they are paid from net income or gains the Fund earned before the stockholder’s investment (and thus included in the price the stockholder paid).

If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate all or part of the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its stockholders. If the Fund makes such a designation, it would be required to pay federal income tax at the rate of 21% on the undistributed gain (“Fund tax”) and each stockholder subject to federal income tax (1) would be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her proportionate share of the designated gain (which, in the case of an individual stockholder, would be taxed at the rates for net capital gain described above), (2) would be entitled to credit his or her proportionate share of the Fund tax against his or her federal income tax liability, if any, and to claim a refund to the extent the credit exceeds that liability, and (3) would increase the tax basis in his or her Common Stock by an amount equal to the difference between the included gain and that share of the Fund tax.

Distributions of the Fund’s “investment company taxable income” to non-U.S. shareholders (including interest income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital losses) will generally be subject to withholding of federal tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) as dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits unless the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. shareholder, and, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States of the non-U.S. shareholder. In the case of such effectively connected income, the distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. persons, plus, in certain cases where the Non-U.S. shareholder is a corporation, a branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty). Exemptions from the 30% withholding tax are provided for dividends properly designated as interest related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends paid by the Fund with respect to its qualified net interest income or qualified short-term gain.

Actual or deemed distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of short-term capital losses) to a non-U.S. shareholder, and gains realized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon the sale of Fund shares, will not be subject to federal withholding tax and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless (a) the distributions or gains are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. shareholder and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. shareholder in the United States, or (b) the non-U.S. shareholder is an individual, has been present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable, and certain other conditions are satisfied.

If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions, a non-U.S. shareholder will be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the shareholder’s allocable share of the tax the Fund pays on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the non-U.S. shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a U.S. federal income tax return even if the non-U.S. shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. federal income tax return. For a corporate non-U.S. shareholder, distributions (both actual and deemed), and gains realized upon the sale of shares that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty).

A non-U.S. shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to withholding of federal tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on dividends unless the non-U.S. shareholder provides the RIC or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a non-U.S. shareholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.

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Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), “foreign financial institutions” (“FFIs”) or “non-financial foreign entities” (“NFFEs”) that are Fund stockholders may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on income dividends the Fund pays. Proposed regulations (effective while pending) have been issued to eliminate the application of the withholding tax to capital gain distributions and the proceeds from the repurchase of Common Stock that was scheduled to take effect in 2019. As discussed below, the FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided (a) by an FFI, if it reports certain information regarding direct and indirect ownership of financial accounts U.S. persons hold with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if (i) it certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) it does have such owners and reports information relating to them to the withholding agent. The U.S. Treasury Department has negotiated intergovernmental agreements (“IGAs”) with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA; entities in those countries may be required to comply with the terms of the IGA instead of Treasury regulations.

An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding by becoming a “participating FFI,” which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Code. Under such an agreement, a participating FFI agrees to (1) verify and document whether it has U.S. accountholders, (2) report certain information regarding their accounts to the IRS, and (3) meet certain other specified requirements.

An FFI resident in a country that has entered into a Model I IGA with the United States must report to that country’s government (pursuant to the terms of the applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the IRS. An FFI resident in a Model II IGA country generally must comply with U.S. regulatory requirements, with certain exceptions, including the treatment of recalcitrant accountholders. An FFI resident in one of those countries that complies with whichever of the foregoing that applies will be exempt from FATCA withholding.

An NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from the Fund can avoid FATCA withholding generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or by providing the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each such owner. The NFFE will report to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report information to the IRS.

Those foreign stockholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted, or deemed compliant categories established by Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described in the Prospectus. Foreign investors are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation and the impact thereof on their investment in the Fund.

Tax Consequences of Certain Investments

REMICs. The Fund may invest in REITs that (1) hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or (2) engage in mortgage securitization transactions that cause the REITs to be taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”) or have a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a TMP. A portion of the net income allocable to REMIC residual interest holders may be an “excess inclusion.” The Code authorizes the issuance of regulations dealing with the taxation and reporting of excess inclusion income of REITs and RICs that hold residual REMIC interests and of REITs, or qualified REIT subsidiaries, that are TMPs. Although those regulations have not yet been issued, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued a notice in 2006 (“Notice”) announcing that, pending the issuance of further guidance (which has not yet been issued), the IRS would apply the principles in the following paragraphs to all excess inclusion income, whether from REMIC residual interests or TMPs.

The Notice provides that a REIT must (1) determine whether it or its qualified REIT subsidiary (or a part of either) is a TMP and, if so, calculate the TMP’s excess inclusion income under a “reasonable method,” (2) allocate its excess inclusion income to its stockholders generally in proportion to dividends paid, (3) inform stockholders

67


that are not “disqualified organizations” (i.e., governmental units and tax-exempt entities that are not subject to tax on their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”)) of the amount and character of the excess inclusion income allocated thereto, (4) pay tax (at the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations) on the excess inclusion income allocable to its stockholders that are disqualified organizations, and (5) apply the withholding tax provisions with respect to the excess inclusion part of dividends paid to foreign persons without regard to any treaty exception or reduction in tax rate. Excess inclusion income allocated to certain tax-exempt entities (including qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, and public charities) constitutes UBTI to them.

A RIC with excess inclusion income is subject to rules identical to those in clauses (2) through (5) above (substituting “that are nominees” for “that are not ‘disqualified organizations’” in clause (3) and inserting “record” after “its” in clause (4)). The Notice further provides that a RIC is not required to report the amount and character of the excess inclusion income allocated to its stockholders that are not nominees, except that (1) a RIC with excess inclusion income from all sources that exceeds 1% of its gross income must do so and (2) any other RIC must do so by taking into account only excess inclusion income allocated to the RIC from REITs the excess inclusion income of which exceeded 3% of its dividends. The Fund will not invest directly in REMIC residual interests and does not intend to invest in REITs that, to its knowledge, invest in those interests or are TMPs or have a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a TMP.

After calendar year-end, REITs can and often do change the category (e.g., ordinary income dividend, capital gain distribution, or return of capital) of the distributions they have made during that year, which would result at that time in the Fund’s also having to re-categorize some of the distributions it made to its stockholders. These changes would be reflected in the annual Form 1099, together with other tax information. Those forms generally will be distributed to stockholders in February of each year, although the Fund may, in one or more years, request from the IRS an extension of time to distribute those forms until mid-March to enable it to receive the latest information it can from the REITs in which it invests and thereby accurately report that information to its stockholders on a single form (rather than having to send amended forms).

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the Code allows individuals and certain non-corporate entities a deduction for 20% of “qualified REIT dividends.” Treasury Regulations allow a RIC to pass the character of its qualified REIT dividends through to its shareholders, provided they meet certain holding period requirements. As a result, a Fund shareholder will be eligible to receive the benefit of the 20% deduction with respect to the Fund’s REIT-based dividends.

Hedging Transactions. The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling) and purchasing options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes in connection therewith. Gains from the disposition of foreign currencies (except certain gains that may be excluded by future regulations), and gains from options, futures and forward currency contracts the Fund derives with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign currencies, will be treated as qualifying income under the Income Requirement. Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (1) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (2) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain to higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (3) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction to a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (4) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (5) adversely affect the timing as to when a purchase or sale of securities is deemed to occur and (6) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent its disqualification as a RIC.

Foreign Securities. Interest and dividends the Fund receives, and gains it realizes, on foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield and/or total return on its securities. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by foreign investors.

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The Fund may invest in the stock of “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”). A PFIC is any foreign corporation (with certain exceptions) that, in general, meets either of the following tests for a taxable year: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Under certain circumstances, if the Fund holds stock of a PFIC, it will be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” the Fund receives on the stock or of any gain on its disposition of the stock (collectively, “PFIC income”), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its stockholders. The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its stockholders. Fund distributions thereof will not be eligible for the 15% and 20% maximum federal income tax rates on individual stockholders’ QDI.

If the Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then in lieu of the Fund’s incurring the foregoing tax and interest obligation, it would be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain -- which the Fund most likely would have to distribute to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax -- even if the Fund did not receive those earnings and gain from the QEF. In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements thereof.

The Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” any stock in a PFIC it owns at the end of its taxable year. “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in gross income each taxable year (and treating as ordinary income) the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock over the Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year. Pursuant to the election, the Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not a capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net marked-to-market gains with respect to that stock the Fund included in income for prior taxable years under the election. The Fund’s adjusted basis in each PFIC’s stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder.

Investors should be aware that determining whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is a fact-intensive determination that is based on various facts and circumstances and thus is subject to change, and the principles and methodology used in determining whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC are subject to interpretation. As a result, the Fund may not be able, at the time it acquires a foreign corporation’s shares, to ascertain whether the corporation is a PFIC and that a foreign corporation may become a PFIC after the Fund acquires shares therein. While the Fund generally will seek to avoid investing in PFIC shares to avoid the tax consequences detailed above, there are no guarantees that it will be able to do so, and it reserves the right to make such investments as a matter of its investment policy.

Securities Issued or Purchased at a Discount. The Fund may acquire zero coupon or other securities issued with original issue discount (“OID”). As a holder of those securities, the Fund must include in gross income the OID that accrues on them during the taxable year, even if it receives no corresponding payment on them during the year. Because the Fund annually must distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income, including any OID, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax, it may be required in a particular taxable year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash it actually receives. Those distributions will be made from the Fund’s cash assets or from the proceeds of sales of its portfolio securities, if necessary. The Fund may realize capital gains or losses from those sales, which would increase or decrease its investment company taxable income and/or net capital gain.

*     *     *

The foregoing is only a general summary of some of the important federal tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its stockholders. No attempt is made to present a complete explanation of the federal tax treatment of the Fund’s activities, and this discussion is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers for more detailed information and for information regarding any state, local or foreign taxes applicable to the Fund and their purchasing, holding and disposing of Common Stock.

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REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS

Stockholders of the Fund will receive unaudited semi-annual financial statements, as well as year-end financial statements audited by the independent auditors for the Fund. The Fund’s statements show the investments owned by it and the market values thereof and provide other information about the Fund and its operations.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT

State Street Bank and Trust Company will serve as custodian for assets of the Fund. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC will serve as the transfer agent, registrar and distribution disbursement agent for the Common Stock. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC will serve as agent for the Distribution Reinvestment Plan relating to the Common Stock.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Ernst & Young LLP will serve as independent auditors for the Fund. Ernst & Young LLP will provide audit services, tax return preparation and assistance and consultation in connection with review of the Fund’s filings with the SEC.

COUNSEL

K&L Gates LLP, 1601 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20006, will pass upon certain legal matters in connection with shares of Common Stock offered by the Fund, and also acts as counsel to the Fund.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including any amendments thereto, relating to the shares of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, D.C. The Fund’s 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 Fund and the shares offered or to be offered hereby, reference is made to the Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Fund’s 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.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statement

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) as of March 24, 2021 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statement”). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. at March 24, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

This financial statement is the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.  The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. 

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the statement of assets and liabilities. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. 

We have served as the auditor of one or more Neuberger Berman investment companies since 1954.

Boston, Massachusetts
April 2, 2021

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
March 24, 2021

Assets:


Cash       $ 100,000
Total assets

100,000
 


Liabilities:


Total liabilities

-
 


Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders
$ 100,000
 


Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders consist of:


Paid-in capital – Common Stock
$ 100,000
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders
$ 100,000
 


Shares of Common Stock Outstanding ($.0001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized)

5,000
Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock Outstanding
$ 20.00

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Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statement
March 24, 2021

Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Organization:

Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, limited term closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 3, 2021, pursuant to Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated since that date. The Fund has had no operations to date, other than those relating to organizational matters and the sale and issuance of 5,000 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $100,000 ($20.00 per share) to Neuberger Berman Asia Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Management”), the Fund’s investment adviser, on March 24, 2021.

The Fund’s investment objectives are to provide capital appreciation and income.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies, in any market capitalization range, that are, in Management’s view, focused on and expected to benefit from the use, development and enhancement of the mobile internet and mobile network connectivity and technology (“NextGen Companies”). The Fund considers NextGen Companies to be companies that, in Management’s view, demonstrate growth potential from the development, advancement, use or sale of products, processes or services related to the fifth generation mobile network and future generations of mobile network connectivity and technology. As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to employ a strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on a portion of the common stocks in its portfolio and writing (selling) other call and put options on individual common stocks, which may include uncovered and call put options, and, to a lesser extent, writing (selling) call and put options on indices of securities and sectors of securities.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.”

The preparation of the financial statement in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires Management to make estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statement. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note B - Investment Management Agreement, Administration Agreement and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay Management a fee payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily total assets minus liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage, if any (“Managed Assets”). There were no fees incurred as of March 24, 2021 relating to these arrangements.

Pursuant to an Administration Agreement between Management and the Fund, the Fund has agreed to pay Management an administration fee payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. Additionally, Management retains State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) as its sub-administrator under a Sub-Administration Agreement. Management pays State Street a fee for all services received under the Sub-Administration Agreement. There were no fees incurred as of March 24, 2021 relating to these arrangements.

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Note C – Organization Expenses and Offering Costs

Management (and not the Fund) has agreed to pay all of the Fund’s organizational expenses and offering costs. As a result, organizational expenses and offering costs of the Fund are not reflected in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund is not obligated to repay any such organizational expenses or offering costs paid by Management.

Note D - Federal Income Taxes

The Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) by complying with the requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its stockholders. To the extent the Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to stockholders, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.

Note E – Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated all subsequent transactions and events through the date on which this statement was issued and has determined that no additional items require adjustment to or disclosure in this financial statement.

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APPENDIX A
RATINGS

Long-Term and Short-Term Debt Securities Rating Descriptions

S&P Global Ratings -- Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*:

The following descriptions have been published by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.

AAA – An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. 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.

CC – An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

C – An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D – An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period

A-1


or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

NR – This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P Global Ratings does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

*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.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) -- Global Long-Term Rating Scale:

The following descriptions have been published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Aaa – Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa – Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A – Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa – Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba – Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B – Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa – Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca – Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C – Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.*

* By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

A-2


Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) -- Corporate Finance Obligations -- Long-Term Rating Scale:

The following descriptions have been published by Fitch, Inc. and Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

AAA – Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit 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 credit 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 credit 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 credit 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.

BB – Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

B – Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present. For performing obligations, default risk is commensurate with an Issuer Default Risk (“IDR”) in the ranges ‘BB’ to ‘C’. For issuers with an IDR below ‘B’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is moderated by the expected level of recoveries should a default occur. For issuers with an IDR above ‘B’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is exacerbated by the expected low level of recoveries should a default occur. For non-performing obligations, the obligation or issuer is in default, or has deferred payment, but the rated obligation is expected to have extremely high recovery rates consistent with a Recovery Rating of ‘RR1’.

CCC – Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present. For performing obligations, default risk is commensurate with an IDR in the ranges ‘B’ to ‘C’. For issuers with an IDR below ‘CCC’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is moderated by the expected level of recoveries should a default occur. For issuers with an IDR above ‘CCC’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is exacerbated by the expected low level of recoveries should a default occur. For non-performing obligations, the obligation or issuer is in default, or has deferred payment, but the rated obligation is expected to have a superior recovery rate consistent with a Recovery Rating of ‘RR2’.

CC – Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk. For performing obligations, default risk is commensurate with an IDR in the ranges ‘B’ to ‘C’. For issuers with an IDR below ‘CC’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is moderated by the expected level of recoveries should a default occur. For issuers with an IDR above ‘CC’, the overall credit risk of this obligation is exacerbated by the expected low level of recoveries should a default occur. For non-performing obligations, the obligation or issuer is in default, or has deferred payment, but the rated obligation is expected to have a good recovery rate consistent with a Recovery Rating of ‘RR3’.

C – Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk. For performing obligations, default risk is commensurate with an IDR in the ranges ‘B’ to ‘C’. The overall credit risk of this obligation is exacerbated by the expected low level of recoveries should a default occur. For non-performing obligations, the obligation or issuer is in default, or has deferred payment, and the rated obligation is expected to have an average, below-average or poor recovery rate consistent with a Recovery Rating of ‘RR4’, ‘RR5’ or ‘RR6’.

A-3


Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘B’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

Note: 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’ obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below ‘CCC’.

DBRS -- Long Term Obligations Rating Scale:

The following descriptions have been published by Dominion Bond Rating Service.

AAA – Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

AA – Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from AAA only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

A – Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than AA. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

BBB – Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

BB – Speculative, non investment-grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

B – Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

CCC, CC, C – Very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although CC and C ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the CCC to B range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the C category.

D – When the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to D may occur. DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange.”

All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.

S&P Global Ratings -- Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings:

The following descriptions have been published by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.

A-1 – A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. 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-4


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 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 default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings 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 and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

Moody’s -- Global Short-Term Rating Scale:

The following descriptions have been published by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

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.

Fitch -- Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers or Obligations in Corporate, Public and Structured Finance:

The following descriptions have been published by Fitch Inc. and Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

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.

A-5


F3 - Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

BSpeculative 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.

RDRestricted 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.

DDefault. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

DBRS -- Commercial Paper and Short-Term Debt Rating Scale:

The following descriptions have been published by Dominion Bond Rating Service.

R-1 (high)Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

R-1 (middle)Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from R-1 (high) by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

R-1 (low)Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favourable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

R-2 (high)Upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

R-2 (middle)Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

R-2 (low)Lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

R-3Lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

R-4Speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

R-5Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

DWhen the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to D may occur. DBRS may also use SD (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange.”

A-6



PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
   
(1)
Financial Statements
Included in Part A:
Not applicable.
Included in Part B:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
   
(2)
Exhibits
(a)
 
(b)
 
By-Laws. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
(c)
 
Not applicable.
(d)
(i)
Articles Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth of the Articles of Incorporation. Incorporated by Reference to Item 2(a) above.
 
(ii)
Articles II, VI and X of the By-Laws. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
(e)
 
(f)
 
Not applicable.
(g)
 
(h)
(i)
Form of Underwriting Agreement. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
 
(ii)
 
(iii)
(i)
 
Not applicable.
(j)
(i)
Form of Custodian Agreement. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
(k)
(i)
 
(ii)
Form of Amendment to the Transfer Agency and Registrar Services Agreement. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
 
(iii)
(l)
 
Opinion and Consent of K&L Gates LLP as to Registrant's Common Stock. (To be filed by subsequent amendment.)
(m)
 
Not applicable.

(n)
 
(o)
 
Not applicable.
(p)
 
(q)
 
Not applicable.
(r)
 
     
(s)
 
 
Item 26.
Marketing Arrangements

See form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed by amendment.

Item 27.
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Registration and Filing Fees
 
$
 
*
 
FINRA Fees
     
*
 
Printing Costs and Engraving
     
*
 
Legal Fees and Expenses
     
*
 
Exchange Listing Fees
     
*
 
Accounting Fees and Expenses
     
*
 
Blue Sky Filing Fees and Expenses
     
*
 
Miscellaneous Expenses
     
*
 
           
Total
 
$
 
*
 
_________________
* To be completed by subsequent amendment.

Item 28.
Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control

None.

Item 29.
Number of Holders of Securities

Set forth below is the number of record holders as of March 25, 2021 of each class of securities of the Registrant:


Title of Class
Number of
Record
Holders*
   
Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
1

__________________
1 Until such time as the Registrant completes the public offering of its Common Stock, Neuberger Berman Asia Holdings LLC will be a control person of the Registrant. Neuberger Berman Asia Holdings LLC is an affiliate of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC.

* To be completed by subsequent amendment.

Item 30.
Indemnification

Article Twelfth of the Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation provides that the Fund shall indemnify its present and past directors, officers, employees and agents, and persons who are serving or have served at the Fund’s request in similar capacities for, other entities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law (including Maryland law and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”)), provided, however, that a transfer agent is not entitled to such indemnification unless specifically approved by the Fund's Board of Directors. Section 2-418(b) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“Maryland Code”) permits the Registrant to indemnify its directors unless it is proved that the act or omission of the director was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding, and (a) the act or omission was committed in bad faith or was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty or (b) the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the director had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. Indemnification may be made against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding, in accordance with the Maryland Code. Pursuant to Section 2-418 of the Maryland Code, the Registrant is permitted to indemnify its officers, employees and agents to the same extent. The provisions set forth above apply insofar as consistent with Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act, which prohibits indemnification of any director or officer of the Registrant against any liability to the Registrant or its stockholders to which such director or officer otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), may be provided to directors, 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 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 director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding or payment pursuant to any insurance policy) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The Fund also maintains Directors and Officers Insurance.

Item 31.
Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

There is set forth below information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director or officer of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”) is, or at any time during the past two years has been, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Joseph V. Amato
President – Equities and Chief
Investment Officer – Equities,
NBIA
Chief Executive Officer and President, Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.); President and Director of Neuberger Berman Group LLC; Chief Executive Officer and President, Neuberger Berman BD LLC (“NB BD LLC”); Trustee/Director, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator; Chief Executive Officer and President, ten registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator; Portfolio Manager.
Thanos Bardas
Managing Director, NBIA 
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Ashok Bhatia
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
James Bowden
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (“NBAA”).


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Claudia A. Brandon
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Executive Vice President and Secretary, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
David M. Brown
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Chad Bruso
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
John Buser
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; President and Managing Director, NBAA.
Stephen J. Casey
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Brad E. Cetron
Chief Compliance Officer,
Head of Compliance and
Managing Director of Compliance,
NBIA
Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Director, NB BD LLC.
 
Elias Cohen
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
William R. Covode
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Timothy Creedon
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Robert W. D’Alelio
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Derek Devens
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Daniel Doyle
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Ingrid Dyott
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Steven Eisman
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Rory Ewing
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Savonne L. Ferguson
Chief Compliance Officer –
Mutual Funds, Associate
General Counsel, and Senior
Vice President, NBIA
Chief Compliance Officer, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
Michael Foster
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Jacob Gamerman
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Rand W. Gesing
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Jennifer Gorgoll
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Michael C. Greene
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Jeffrey Hunn
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
William Hunter
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Fred Ingham
Managing Director, NBIA
Portfolio Manager
James L. Iselin
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Corey A. Issing
General Counsel and Head of
Compliance – Mutual Funds and
Managing Director, NBIA
Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Brian C. Jones
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Charles Kantor
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Tokufumi Kato
Managing Director, NBIA
Portfolio Manager
Hakan Kaya
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Brian Kerrane
Chief Operating Officer –
Mutual Funds and Managing
Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President, twenty-nine registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
Eric Knutzen
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Multi-Asset Class Chief Investment Officer, Neuberger Berman Group LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Christopher Kocinski
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
David Kupperman
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAIM; Portfolio Manager.
Nathan Kush
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager
Sajjad S. Ladiwala
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Associate Portfolio Manager; Portfolio Manager.
David Levine
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Richard S. Levine
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Joseph Lind
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Brian Lord
Chief Compliance Officer –
Fixed Income and Senior
Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC.
James Lyman
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Joseph P. Lynch
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Jeffrey Majit
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAIM; Portfolio Manager.
James F. McAree
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Matthew McGinnis
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
S. Blake Miller
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Norman Milner
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Trevor Moreno
Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Richard S. Nackenson
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Benjamin H. Nahum
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Thomas P. O’Reilly
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Eric J. Pelio
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Alexandra Pomeroy
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Douglas A. Rachlin
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Hari Ramanan
Managing Director, NBIA
Portfolio Manager.
Marc Regenbaum
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Brett S. Reiner
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Associate Portfolio Manager.
Joana Rocha Schaff
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAA.
Conrad A. Saldanha
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Eli M. Salzmann
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Benjamin E. Segal
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Linda Sharaby
Secretary and Managing
Director, NBIA
Managing Director and Secretary, NB BD LLC; Managing Director and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC.
Steve Shigekawa
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Jonathan Shofet
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAA.
Brian Smith
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, NBAA.
Amit Solomon
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Thomas A. Sontag
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Gregory G. Spiegel
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Associate Portfolio Manager.
David Stonberg
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAA.


NAME
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Robert Surgent
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager
Brad Tank
President - Fixed Income and
Chief Investment Officer -
Fixed Income, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Gillian Tiltman
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman Europe Limited; Portfolio Manager.
Shawn Trudeau
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Kenneth J. Turek
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Anthony Tutrone
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, NBAA.
Gorky Urquieta
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Judith M. Vale
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Niketh Velamoor
Senior Vice President, and
Associate General Counsel,
NBIA
Senior Anti-Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, four registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
Leo Anthony Viola
Treasurer and Senior Vice
President, NBIA
Treasurer and Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Treasurer, NBAA.
Peter Von Lehe
Managing Director, NBIA
Managing Director, NB BD LLC; Managing Director, NBAA.
David Yi Wan
Senior Vice President, NBIA
Senior Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.
Eric Zhou
Vice President, NBIA
Vice President, NB BD LLC; Portfolio Manager.


The principal address of NBIA and each of the investment companies named above is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.

Item 32.
Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to the Registrant are maintained at the offices of State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, except for the Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, minutes of meetings of the Registrant’s Directors and shareholders and the Registrant’s policies and contracts, which are maintained at the offices of the Registrant, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.

Item 33.
Management Services

None.

Item 34.
Undertakings

1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend offering of Common Shares until the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of this Registration Statement or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

2. Not applicable.

3. Not applicable.

4. The Registrant undertakes that:

a. For the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to 497(h) under the 1933 Act shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

5. Not applicable.


6. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, 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 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 director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

7.  The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 26th day of April, 2021.


 
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund
Inc.
 
 
     
 
By:
/s/ Joseph V. Amato
 
 
Name:
Joseph V. Amato
 
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
Title
Date
 
/s/ Joseph V. Amato
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
April 26, 2021
Joseph V. Amato
   
/s/ John M. McGovern
Treasurer and Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer
April 26, 2021
John M. McGovern
   
 
/s/ Michael J. Cosgrove
Director
April 26, 2021
Michael J. Cosgrove*
 
/s/ Marc Gary
Director
April 26, 2021
Marc Gary*
   
 
/s/ Martha C. Goss
Director
April 26, 2021
Martha C. Goss*
   
     
 
/s/ Michael M. Knetter
Director
April 26, 2021
Michael M. Knetter*
   


 
/s/ Deborah C. McLean
Director
April 26, 2021
Deborah C. McLean*
   
 
/s/ George W. Morriss
Director
April 26, 2021
George W. Morriss*
   
 
/s/ Tom D. Seip
 
Chairman of the Board and Director
April 26, 2021
Tom D. Seip*
   
 
/s/ James G. Stavridis
Director
April 26, 2021
James G. Stavridis*
   
 
/s/ Candace L. Straight
Director
April 26, 2021
Candace L. Straight*
 
   
/s/ Peter P. Trapp
Director
April 26, 2021
Peter P. Trapp*
   




*Signatures affixed by Jennifer Gonzalez on April 26, 2021, pursuant to a power of attorney filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration on Form N-2, File Nos. 333-198193 and 811-23635 (April 20, 2021).

 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(e)
(g)
(h)(ii)
(h)(iii)
(k)(i)
(k)(iii)
(n)
(p)
(r)