Duff & Phelps Utility & Infrastructure Fund Inc PRE 14A, filed Dec 30, 2021
Duff & Phelps Utility & Infrastructure Fund Inc. (DPG)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
| ☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
| ☐ | Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
| ☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 | |
DNP Select Income Fund Inc.
Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund Inc.
DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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DNP SELECT INCOME FUND INC.
DUFF & PHELPS UTILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND INC.
DTF TAX-FREE INCOME 2028 TERM FUND INC.
200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 338-8214
NOTICE OF JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
March 7, 2022
The annual meeting of shareholders of each of DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (“DNP”) and Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund Inc. (“DPG”) and DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund Inc. (formerly known as DTF Tax-Free Income Inc.) (“DTF” and, together with DNP and DPG, the “Funds”) will be held on March 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, conducted solely online via webcast.
Shareholders will be able to attend and participate in the annual meeting online, vote electronically and submit questions prior to and during the meeting by visiting https://meetnow.global/MT7S9RS on the meeting date and at the time noted above and described in the accompanying proxy statement. To participate in the annual meeting, you will need to log on using the control number from your proxy card or meeting notice. The control number can be found in the shaded box. There is no physical location for the annual meeting.
The annual meeting will be held to:
| 1. | Elect directors of each Fund in the following manner: |
| a. | Elect Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DNP by the holders of DNP’s common stock, voting as a separate class; |
| b. | Elect Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DPG by the holders of DPG’s common and preferred stock, voting together as a single class; |
| c. | Elect Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DTF by the holders of DTF’s common and preferred stock, voting together as a single class; and |
| d. | Elect Donald C. Burke as a director of DTF by the holders of DTF’s preferred stock, voting as a separate class; and |
| 2. | Consider and vote on an amendment to DNP’s charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 350,000,000 to 450,000,000; and |
| 3. | Transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2021 are entitled to vote at the meeting.
For the Board of Directors of each of the Funds,
DANIEL J. PETRISKO, Assistant Secretary
January [21], 2022
SHAREHOLDERS, WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE IMMEDIATELY.
YOUR VOTE IS VITAL. THE JOINT MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS WILL HAVE TO BE ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS IF FEWER THAN A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE REPRESENTED. IN THAT EVENT, ONE OR MORE OF THE FUNDS WOULD ADJOURN THE MEETING AND CONTINUE TO SOLICIT VOTES IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A QUORUM. TO AVOID THE EXPENSE OF AND THE POSSIBLE DELAY CREATED BY SUCH A SOLICITATION, PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY IMMEDIATELY. YOU AND ALL OTHER SHAREHOLDERS WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR COOPERATION.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on March 7, 2022: The proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting, the form of proxy card and the annual report for the most recently ended fiscal year are available to DNP shareholders at www.dpimc.com/dnp, to DPG shareholders at www.dpimc.com/dpg and to DTF shareholders at www.dpimc.com/dtf. There is no physical location for the annual meeting so you cannot attend in person. If you have questions regarding how to access the virtual meeting, please contact the administrator for DNP and DTF at (833) 604-3163 (toll-free) or fa@rwbaird.com or the administrator for DPG at (866) 270-7598 (toll-free) or duff@virtus.com.
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT
The board of directors (the “Board”) of each of DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (“DNP”), Duff & Phelps Utility and Infrastructure Fund Inc. (“DPG”) and DTF Tax-Free Income 2028 Term Fund Inc. (formerly known as DTF Tax-Free Income Inc.) (“DTF” and, together with DNP and DPG, the “Funds”) is soliciting proxies from the shareholders of each Fund for use at the joint annual meeting of shareholders to be held on Monday, March 7, 2022 and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting. A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted, either by voting at the meeting or by written notice to the applicable Fund or delivery of a later-dated proxy.
The meeting is scheduled as a joint meeting of the respective shareholders of the Funds because the shareholders of each Fund are expected to consider and vote on similar matters. The Board has determined that the use of a joint proxy statement for the meeting is in the best interest of the shareholders of each Fund. In the event that any shareholder of a Fund virtually present at the meeting objects to the holding of a joint meeting, raises a reasonable basis for the objection, and moves for an adjournment of such Fund’s meeting to a time immediately after the meeting, so that such Fund’s meeting may be held separately, the persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment. Shareholders of each Fund will vote separately on each of the proposals relating to their respective Fund, and an unfavorable vote on a proposal by the shareholders of one Fund will not affect the implementation by the other Fund of such proposal if the shareholders of such other Fund approve the proposal.
Summary of Proposals to Be Voted Upon
| Proposal | Fund and Classes of Shareholders Entitled to Vote | |||
| 1a. | Election of Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DNP | DNP common stock | ||
| 1b. | Election of Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DPG | DPG common and preferred stock | ||
| 1c. | Election of Philip R. McLoughlin as a director of DTF | DTF common and preferred stock | ||
| 1d. | Election of Donald C. Burke as a director of DTF | DTF preferred stock | ||
| 2 | Amendment of DNP’s charter | DNP common and preferred stock | ||
Shareholders of record of each Fund at the close of business on December 10, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to participate in the meeting. On the record date: DNP had 345,195,067 shares of common stock outstanding and 2,070 shares of preferred stock outstanding, DPG had 37,992,373 shares of common stock outstanding and 1,600,000 shares of preferred stock outstanding and DTF had 7,029,567 shares of common stock outstanding and 650 shares of preferred stock outstanding. Each share of common stock outstanding on the record date entitles the holder thereof to one vote for each director being elected by the common stock (with no cumulative voting permitted) and to one vote on each other matter. Each share of preferred stock outstanding on the record date entitles the holder thereof to one vote for each director being elected by the preferred stock (with no cumulative voting permitted) and to one vote on each other matter.
This proxy statement is first being mailed on or about January [21], 2022. The Funds will bear the cost of the annual meeting and this proxy solicitation.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of each Fund is responsible for the overall management and operations of that Fund. As of the date of this joint proxy statement, the Board of each Fund is comprised of six directors. Directors of each Fund are divided into three classes and are elected to serve staggered three-year terms.
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The persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote in favor of the election of the persons named below (unless otherwise instructed). Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director of the Funds, if elected. In case any of the nominees should become unavailable for election for any unforeseen reason, the persons designated in the proxy will have the right to vote for a substitute.
Upcoming Director Retirement
Nathan I. Partain retired as President and Chief Investment Officer of the Funds’ investment adviser, Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (the “Adviser”), in December 2020 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Funds in March 2021. He will also be retiring from the Board when his current term expires at the end of the annual meeting of shareholders on March 7, 2022. Mr. Partain has been a director of DNP and DTF since 2007, and of DPG since 2011, and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of DNP from 2001 to 2021 (Chief Investment Officer from 1998 to 2017), of DPG from 2011 to 2021, and of DTF from 2004 to 2021. The Funds express deep appreciation to Mr. Partain for his many years of dedicated service and wish him well in his retirement.
When Mr. Partain retires from the Board at the annual meeting of shareholders, the size of the Board will be reduced from six to five. In the future, the Board may decide to increase the size of the Board if doing so would improve the overall diversity of backgrounds, experiences and/or skills of the Board members.
Mr. Partain is currently serving as one of two directors elected by the holders of DTF’s preferred stock, having been elected to that position in 2021 by Ms. McNamara (who at that time was the sole remaining director elected by the holders of DTF’s preferred stock) to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Robert J. Genetski. In light of Mr. Partain’s upcoming retirement, the Board has nominated Donald C. Burke for election at this year’s annual meeting by the holders of DTF’s preferred stock, voting as a separate class. Mr. Burke has been a director of DNP and DPG since 2014 and is currently holding over as a DTF director because no successor was elected at the annual meeting of DTF shareholders in 2021.
Election of DNP Director (Proposal 1a.)
At the meeting, holders of DNP common stock are entitled to elect one director for a term ending in 2025, to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in that year and until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. A plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of DNP common stock is necessary to elect that director. Abstentions and broker-non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting, but will not affect the determination of whether a director candidate has received a plurality of votes cast.
Election of DPG Director (Proposal 1b.)
At the meeting, holders of DPG common and preferred stock, voting as a single class, are entitled to elect one director for a term ending in 2025, to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in that year and until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. A plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of DPG common and preferred stock, voting as a single class, is necessary to elect that director. Abstentions and broker-non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting, but will not affect the determination of whether a director candidate has received a plurality of votes cast.
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Election of DTF Directors (Proposal 1c. and 1d.)
At the meeting, holders of DTF common and preferred stock, voting as a single class, are entitled to elect one director for a term ending in 2025 and the holders of DTF preferred stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect one director for a term ending in 2024, in each case to serve until the annual meeting of shareholders in that year and until their respective successors shall be duly elected and qualified. A plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of DTF common and preferred stock, voting as a single class, as to the director representing the common and preferred stock is necessary to elect that director. A plurality of votes cast at the meeting by the holders of DTF preferred stock as to the director representing the preferred stock is necessary to elect that director. Abstentions and broker-non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting, but will not affect the determination of whether a director candidate has received a plurality of votes cast.
Biographical Information about Nominees and Continuing Directors
Set forth in the table below are the names and certain biographical information about the nominees for the position of director and the continuing directors of the Funds. Except as noted:
| • | all of the directors are elected to the DNP Board by the holders of DNP common stock voting as a separate class; |
| • | all of the directors are elected to the DPG Board by the holders of DPG common and preferred stock voting as a single class; and |
| • | all of the directors are elected to the DTF Board by the holders of DTF common and preferred stock voting as a single class;. |
All of the directors of the Funds are classified as independent directors because none of them are “interested persons” of the Funds, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). Each of the directors formerly served on the Board of Directors of Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. until its merger into DNP in March 2021. The term “Fund Complex” refers to the Funds and all other investment companies advised by affiliates of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (“Virtus”), the Adviser’s parent company. The address for all directors is c/o Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
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| Name, Address and Age |
Positions |
Term of |
Principal |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other | |||||||
| Nominees—Independent Directors | ||||||||||||
| Donald C. Burke(1)(2) (3) Age: 61 |
Director | Nominee for DTF term expiring in 2024; DNP and DPG term expires 2024; Director of DNP, DPG and DTF since 2014. | Private investor since 2009; President and Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock U.S. Funds 2007-2009; Managing Director, BlackRock Inc. 2006-2009; Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers 1990-2006 | 93 | Director, Avista Corp. (energy company); Trustee, Goldman Sachs Fund Complex 2010-2014; Director, BlackRock Luxembourg and Cayman Funds 2006-2010 | |||||||
| Mr. Burke was selected to serve on the Board because of his extensive experience with mutual funds, including as president and chief executive officer of a major fund complex, and subsequently as an independent trustee of another major fund complex, and because of his knowledge of the utility industry derived from his service on the board of a public company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy. | ||||||||||||
| Philip R. McLoughlin Age: 75 |
Director | Nominee for term expiring in 2025; Director of DNP since 2009, of DPG since 2011 and of DTF since 1996 | Private investor since 2010 | 100 | Chairman of the Board, Lazard World Trust Fund (closed-end fund; f/k/a The World Trust Fund) 2010-2019 (Director 1991-2019) | |||||||
| Mr. McLoughlin was selected to serve on the Board because of his understanding of asset management and mutual fund operations and strategy gained from his experience as chief executive officer of an asset management company and chief investment officer of an insurance company. | ||||||||||||
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| Name, Address and Age |
Positions |
Term of |
Principal |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other | |||||||
| Continuing Directors—Independent Directors | ||||||||||||
| Geraldine M. McNamara(1)(2) (3) Age: 70 |
Director | Term expires 2023; Director of DNP since 2009, of DPG since 2011 and of DTF since 2003 | Private investor since 2006; Managing Director, U.S. Trust Company of New York 1982-2006 | 93 | ||||||||
| Ms. McNamara was selected to serve on the Board because her experience of advising individuals on their personal financial management has given her an enhanced understanding of the goals and expectations that individual investors bring to the Funds. | ||||||||||||
| Eileen A. Moran Age: 67 |
Director and Vice Chairperson of the Board | Term expires 2024; Director of DNP since 1996, of DPG since 2011 and of DTF since 1996 | Private investor since 2011; President and Chief Executive Officer, PSEG Resources L.L.C. (investment company) 1990-2011 | 3 | ||||||||
| Ms. Moran was selected to serve on the Board because of her experience in managing a large portfolio of assets, a significant portion of which were invested in the electric and natural gas utility industry. | ||||||||||||
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| Name, Address and Age |
Positions |
Term of |
Principal |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other | |||||||
| David J. Vitale Age: 75 |
Director and Chairman of the Board | Term expires 2023; Director of DNP since 2000, of DPG since 2011 and of DTF since 2005 | Advisor, Ariel Investments, LLC since 2019; Chairman, Urban Partnership Bank 2010-2019; President, Chicago Board of Education 2011-2015; Senior Advisor to the CEO, Chicago Public Schools 2007-2008 (Chief Administrative Officer 2003-2007); President and Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. 2001-2002; Vice Chairman and Director, Bank One Corporation 1998-1999; Vice Chairman and Director, First Chicago NBD Corporation, and President, The First National Bank of Chicago 1995-1998; Vice Chairman, First Chicago Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago 1993-1998 (Director 1992-1998; Executive Vice President 1986-1993) | 3 | Director, United Continental Holdings, Inc. (airline holding company); Ariel Investments, LLC; Wheels, Inc. (automobile fleet management) and Chairman, Urban Partnership Bank 2010-2019 | |||||||
| Mr. Vitale was selected to serve on the Board because of his extensive experience as an executive in both the private and public sector, his experience serving as a director of other public companies and his knowledge of financial matters, capital markets, investment management and the utilities industry. | ||||||||||||
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| (1) | Elected (or nominated to be elected) to the DNP Board by the holders of DNP preferred stock, voting as a separate class. |
| (2) | Elected (or nominated to be elected) to the DPG Board by the holders of DPG preferred stock, voting as a separate class. |
| (3) | Elected (or nominated to be elected) to the DTF Board by the holders of DTF preferred stock, voting as a separate class. |
Board Leadership Structure
The Board believes that the most appropriate leadership structure for the Funds is for the Chairman of the Board to be an independent director, in order to provide strong, independent oversight of each Fund’s management and affairs, including each Fund’s risk management function. Accordingly, while the Chief Executive Officer of the Funds may be elected to serve on the Board, he or she will not normally be eligible to serve as Chairman of the Board. The independent Chairman of the Board presides at meetings of the shareholders, meetings of the Board and meetings of independent directors. In addition, the independent Chairman of the Board takes part in the meetings and deliberations of all committees of the Board, facilitates communication among directors and communication between the Board and the Funds’ management and is available for consultation with the Funds’ management between Board meetings. The Board has four standing committees, which are described below: the executive committee, the audit committee, the contracts committee, and the nominating and governance committee.
The executive committee of the Board is currently comprised of Mr. Vitale (Chairman), Mr. Burke, Ms. McNamara and Ms. Moran, and has authority, with certain exceptions, to exercise the powers of the Board between Board meetings.
The audit committee of the Board is currently comprised of all independent directors of the Funds (Mr. Burke, Chairman) and makes recommendations regarding the selection of each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and meets with representatives of that accounting firm to determine the scope of and review the results of each audit and assists the Board in overseeing each Fund’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting and internal control functions.
The contracts committee of the Board is currently comprised of all independent directors of the Funds (Ms. Moran, Chairperson) and makes recommendations regarding each Fund’s contractual arrangements for investment management and administrative services, including the terms and conditions of such contracts.
The nominating and governance committee of the Board is currently comprised of all independent directors of the Funds (Ms. McNamara, Chairperson) and selects nominees for election as directors, recommends individuals to be appointed by the Board as officers of the Funds and members of Board committees and makes recommendations regarding other Fund governance and Board administration matters. The committee also oversees the Board’s continuing education program, which includes quarterly presentations for directors covering a variety of topics, including, among other topics, (i) the industries and types of investments in which the Funds invests, (ii) investment techniques utilized by the Funds, (iii) current developments in securities law and the mutual fund industry, (iv) best practices in corporate and mutual fund governance and (v) enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, and other emerging issues.
In addition to the four standing committees, the DNP Board also has a special committee called the ATM committee, which is comprised of the members of the executive committee of the DNP Board (Mr. Vitale
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(Chairman), Mr. Burke, Ms. McNamara and Ms. Moran) and is responsible for certain oversight functions in connection with DNP’s ongoing “at-the-market” (“ATM”) offering program.
During DNP’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the DNP Board met six times and acted once by written consent; the DNP audit committee met two times; the DNP nominating and governance committee met two times; the DNP contracts committee met two times; the DNP executive committee did not meet or act by written consent; and the DNP ATM committee did not meet or act by written consent. During DPG’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the DPG Board met four times; the DPG audit committee met two times; the DPG nominating and governance committee met two times; the DPG contracts committee met two times; and the DPG executive committee did not meet or act by written consent. During DTF’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the DTF Board met six times and acted once by written consent; the DTF audit committee met two times; the DTF nominating and governance committee met two times; the DTF contracts committee met two times; and the DTF executive committee did not meet or act by written consent. Each director attended at least 75% in the aggregate of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which he or she served.
Risk Oversight. The audit committee charter provides that the audit committee is responsible for discussing with management the guidelines and policies that govern the process by which management assesses and manages each Fund’s major financial risk exposures. The contracts committee charter provides that in assessing whether each Fund’s investment advisory agreement and administration agreement should be continued, the contracts committee is to give careful consideration to the risk oversight policies of the Adviser and each Fund’s administrator, respectively. In addition, the audit committee and the full Board receive periodic reports on enterprise risk management from the chief risk officer of the Adviser.
Nomination of Directors. The nominating and governance committee acts under a written charter that was most recently amended on December 17, 2020. A copy of the charter is available on each Fund’s website at www.dpimc.com/dnp, www.dpimc.com/dpg and www.dpimc.com/dtf and in print to any shareholder who requests it. None of the members of the nominating and governance committee are “interested persons” of the Funds as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. In identifying potential director nominees, the nominating and governance committee considers candidates recommended by one or more of the following sources: the Funds’ current directors, the Funds’ officers, the Funds’ shareholders and any other source the committee deems appropriate. The committee may, but is not required to, retain a third-party search firm at the Funds’ expense to identify potential candidates. Shareholders wishing to recommend candidates to the nominating and governance committee should submit such recommendations to the Secretary of the Funds, who will forward the recommendations to the committee for consideration. See also “Shareholder Proposals and Nominations” under “Other Information” below.
Criteria for Director Nominations. The goal of the Funds is to have a board of directors comprising individuals with a diversity of business, educational and life experiences (including, without limitation, with respect to accounting and finance, business and strategic judgment, investment management and financial markets, and knowledge of the industries in which the Funds invest) that will enable them to constructively review, advise and guide management of the Funds. The annual Board self-evaluation process includes consideration of whether the Board’s composition represents an appropriate balance of skills and diversity for the Funds’ needs. In evaluating potential director nominees, including nominees recommended by shareholders, the nominating and governance committee considers such qualifications and skills as it deems relevant but does not have any specific minimum qualifications that must be met by a nominee. The committee considers, among other things:
| • | the extent to which the candidate’s business, educational and life experiences will add to the diversity of the Board; |
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| • | whether the candidate will qualify as a director who is not an “interested person” of the Funds; |
| • | the absence of any real or apparent conflict of interest that would interfere with the candidate’s ability to act in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders; |
| • | the contribution that the candidate can make to the Board by virtue of his or her education, business experience and financial expertise; |
| • | the interplay of the candidate’s skills and experience with the skills and experience of other Board members; |
| • | whether the candidate is willing to commit the time necessary to attend meetings and fulfill the responsibilities of a director; and |
| • | the candidate’s personality traits, including integrity, independence, leadership, sound business judgment and the ability to work effectively with the other members of the Board. |
With respect to the renomination of incumbent directors, past service to the Board is also considered.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In selecting nominees for the position of director, and in appointing officers of the Funds, the nominating and governance committee is required by its charter to consider and seek out candidates who are women or members of racial or ethnic minority groups in order to help promote diversity, equity and inclusion among the members of the Board and the officers of the Funds.
Retirement Policy. The bylaws of the Funds establish a mandatory retirement age of 78 for directors of the Funds. Specifically, no person who has attained the age of 78 years is eligible for election or reelection as a director, and no incumbent director who attains the age of 78 years is qualified to continue serving as a director following the adjournment of the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders, and therefore his or her service on the Board will automatically terminate at such time. None of the director nominees or directors whose terms will continue after the annual meeting are 78 years or older as of the date of this proxy statement or will be 78 years or older as of the scheduled date of the annual meeting.
Officers of the Funds
The officers of the Funds are elected at the annual meeting of the Board held in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders. The officers receive no compensation from the Funds, but are also officers of the Adviser or a Fund administrator, or are employees of an affiliate of the Adviser, and receive compensation in such capacities. The address for all officers listed below is c/o Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., 200 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606, except as noted.
| Name, Address |
Position(s) Held with Funds and |
Principal Occupation(s) | ||
| David D. Grumhaus, Jr. Age: 55 |
President and Chief Executive Officer of DNP, DPG and DTF since March 2021 | President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser since January 2021 (Co-Chief Investment Officer 2020; Senior Portfolio Manager 2014-2020) | ||
| W. Patrick Bradley, CPA Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. |
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of DPG since 2011 | Executive Vice President, Fund Services, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. since 2016 (Senior Vice President 2010–2016 and various | ||
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| Name, Address |
Position(s) Held with Funds and |
Principal Occupation(s) | ||
| One Financial Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Age: 49 |
officer positions with Virtus and/or certain of its subsidiaries since 2006); Executive Vice President, Virtus mutual funds’ complex since 2016 (Senior Vice President 2013–2016) and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2004 (Vice President 2011–2013); Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2021), Virtus AllianzGI Closed-End Funds; Director, Virtus Global Funds, plc since 2013 | |||
| Eric J. Elvekrog, CFA, CPA Age: 56 |
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of DPG since 2016 (Portfolio Manager 2011-2016) | Senior Managing Director of the Adviser since 2015 (Vice President 2001-2014; Assistant Vice President 1996-2001; Analyst 1993-1996) | ||
| Jennifer S. Fromm Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. One Financial Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Age: 48 |
Vice President and Secretary of DNP, DPG and DTF since 2020 | Vice President of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. since 2016 and Senior Counsel, Legal of Virtus Investment Partners Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries since 2007; Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary of Virtus Closed-End Funds since 2020; Vice President of various Virtus-affiliated open-end funds since 2017 and Assistant Secretary since 2008; Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary of Virtus Variable Insurance Trust and Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust since 2013; various officer positions of Virtus affiliates since 2008 | ||
| Timothy M. Heaney, CFA Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. One Financial Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Age: 57 |
Chief Investment Officer of DTF since 2004 and Vice President since 1997 (Portfolio Manager 1997-2004) | Senior Managing Director of the Adviser since 2014 (Senior Vice President 2004-2014; Vice President 1997-2004); Senior Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, Newfleet Asset Management, LLC since 2011; Portfolio Manager, Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund since 2012; Portfolio Manager, Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund since 1997; Senior Managing Director, Fixed Income, Virtus Investment Advisors, Inc. (and predecessor firms) 2006-2011 (Managing Director, Fixed Income 1997-2006; Director, Fixed Income Research 1996-1997; Investment Analyst 1992-1996) | ||
| Lisa H. Leonard | Vice President of DTF since 2006 | Managing Director of the Adviser since 2014 (Vice President 2006-2014; Assistant Vice | ||
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| Name, Address |
Position(s) Held with Funds and |
Principal Occupation(s) | ||
| Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. One Financial Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Age: 58 |
President 1998-2006); Portfolio Manager, Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund since 2012; Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, Newfleet Asset Management, LLC since 2011; Managing Director, Fixed Income, Virtus Investment Advisors, Inc. (and predecessor firms) 2006-2011 (Director, Fixed Income 1998-2006, Director, Investment Operations 1994-1998, Fixed Income Trader 1987-1994) | |||
| Connie M. Luecke, CFA Age: 63 |
Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of DNP since 2018 | Senior Managing Director of the Adviser since 2015 (Senior Vice President 1998-2014; Managing Director 1996-1998; various positions with an Adviser affiliate 1992-1995); Senior Portfolio Manager of the Adviser’s Global Listed Infrastructure strategies since 2004 | ||
| Alan M. Meder, CFA, CPA Age: 62 |
Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary of DNP since 2011 (Assistant Treasurer 2010-2011); Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary of DPG since 2011; Treasurer of DTF since 2000; Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary since 2002 | Chief Risk Officer of the Adviser since 2001 and Senior Managing Director since 2014 (Senior Vice President 1994-2014); Treasurer, Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. 2000-March 2021 and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary 2002-March 2021; Member, Board of Governors of CFA Institute 2008-2014 (Chair 2012-2013; Vice Chair 2011-2012); Member, Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council 2011-2014 | ||
| Daniel J. Petrisko, CFA Age: 61 |
Executive Vice President of DNP since March 2021 and Assistant Secretary since 2015 (Senior Vice President 2017-2021, Vice President 2015-2016); Executive Vice President of DPG since March 2021 and Assistant Secretary since 2015 (Senior Vice President 2017-2021); Executive Vice President of DTF since March 2021 and Assistant Secretary since 2015 (Senior Vice President 2017-2021) | Executive Managing Director of the Adviser since 2017 (Senior Managing Director 2014-2017, Senior Vice President 1997-2014; Vice President 1995-1997); Chief Investment Officer, Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. 2004-March 2021, Senior Vice President 2017-March 2021 and Assistant Secretary 2015-March 2021 (Vice President 200-2016; Portfolio Manager 2002-2004) | ||
| William J. Renahan Age: 52 |
Chief Compliance Officer of DNP, DPG and DTF since 2020 | Secretary of the Adviser since 2014 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2019 (Senior Counsel 2015-2019); Senior Legal Counsel | ||
11
| Name, Address |
Position(s) Held with Funds and |
Principal Occupation(s) | ||
| and Vice President since 2015 (Secretary 2015-2020) | and Vice President, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. 2012-2018; Managing Director, Legg Mason, Inc. (and predecessor firms) 1999-2012; Chief Compliance Officer, Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. 2020-March 2021 and Vice President and Secretary 2015-March 2021 | |||
| Nikita K. Thaker Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. One Financial Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Age: 43 |
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of DPG since 2018 | Vice President and CEF Controller, Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. since 2021 (Assistant Vice President—Mutual Fund Accounting & Reporting, 2015 to 2021; Director 2011-2015); Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer, Virtus Closed-End Funds since 2021 (Assistant Treasurer, 2017-2021) and Vice President, Controller and Assistant Treasurer, Virtus AllianzGI Closed-End Funds since 2021 | ||
| Dianna P. Wengler Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated 500 West Jefferson Street Louisville, KY 40202 Age: 61 |
Vice President of DNP since 2006 and Assistant Secretary since 1988 (Assistant Vice President 2004-2006) | Senior Vice President and Director—Fund Administration, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated since 2019; Senior Vice President, J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC 2016-2019 (Vice President 1990-2015); Vice President, Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust Inc. 2014-March 2021 | ||
The following table provides certain information relating to the equity securities beneficially owned by each director or director nominee as of October 31, 2021, (i) in DNP, (ii) in DPG, (iii) in DTF and (iv) on an aggregate basis, in any registered investment companies overseen or to be overseen by the director or nominee within the same family of investment companies as the Funds, in each case based on information provided to the Funds, including information furnished by the Funds’ service providers.
| Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in DNP |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in DPG |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in DTF |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Funds Overseen or to be Overseen by Director or Nominee in Family of Investment Companies |
|||||||||||||
| Independent Directors |
||||||||||||||||
| Donald C. Burke |
Over $100,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Philip R. McLoughlin |
Over $100,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Geraldine M. McNamara |
Over $100,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Eileen A. Moran |
Over $100,000 | |||||||||||||||
| David J. Vitale |
$50,001–$100,000 | |||||||||||||||
12
Based on information provided to the Funds, including information furnished by the Funds’ service providers, as of October 31, 2021, none of the independent directors, or their immediate family members, owned any securities of the Adviser or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser.
The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid to each director by each Fund with respect to its most recently completed fiscal year and by the Fund Complex with respect to the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021.
COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
| Name of Director |
Aggregate Compensation from DNP |
Aggregate Compensation from DPG |
Aggregate Compensation from DTF |
Aggregate Compensation from Other Funds in Fund Complex(2) |
Total Compensation from Fund Complex Paid to Directors(2) |
|||||||||||||||
| Independent Directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Donald C. Burke |
$ | 72,809 | $ | 12,885 | $ | 3,349 | $ | 316,556 | $ | 405,599 | ||||||||||
| Philip R. McLoughlin |
66,477 | 11,765 | 3,057 | 587,806 | 669,105 | |||||||||||||||
| Geraldine M. McNamara |
72,809 | 12,885 | 3,349 | 346,125 | 435,168 | |||||||||||||||
| Eileen A. Moran |
72,809 | 12,885 | 3,349 | — | 89,043 | |||||||||||||||
| David J. Vitale |
106,047 | 18,768 | 4,877 | — | 129,692 | |||||||||||||||
| (1) | Because each director serves as a director of each of DNP, DPG and DTF, directors receive a single set of fees as remuneration for their service to all four funds: (i) each director not affiliated with the Adviser receives a retainer fee of $84,000 per year; (ii) the chairpersons of the audit committee, contracts committee and nominating and governance committee each receive an additional retainer fee of $8,000 per year; and (iii) the Chairman of the Board receives an additional retainer fee of $50,000 per year. Directors and officers affiliated with the Adviser receive no compensation from the Funds for their services as such. In addition to the amounts shown in the table above, all directors and officers who are not interested persons of the Funds or the Adviser or affiliated with a Fund administrator are reimbursed for the expenses incurred by them in connection with their attendance at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board. The Funds do not have a pension or retirement plan applicable to their directors or officers. |
| (2) | Please refer to the table on the preceding pages for the number of investment companies in the Fund Complex overseen by each director. As noted in the table, in addition to DNP, DPG and DTF, Mr. Burke, Mr. McLoughlin and Ms. McNamara respectively oversee 93, 100 and 93 additional funds that are advised by affiliates of Virtus. |
The Board of each of the Funds, including all of the independent directors, unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of the two nominees for director named above.
2. CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO DNP’S CHARTER
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Description of the Proposed Amendment
The Board has unanimously approved, and has recommended that the DNP shareholders approve, an amendment to DNP’s charter to increase the number of DNP’s authorized shares of common stock from 350,000,000 shares to 450,000,000 shares.
13
The Articles of Restatement filed on September 20, 2019, together with the Articles of Merger filed on March 3, 2021, constitute DNP’s corporate charter under Maryland law. Article Fourth of the Articles of Restatement provides that the total number of shares of all classes of stock that DNP has authority to issue is 450,000,000 shares, divided into two classes: 350,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock. If this proposal is approved, DNP will be authorized to issue a total of 550,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 450,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
Potential Benefits of the Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment to DNP’s charter authorizing an additional 100,000,000 shares of common stock will provide DNP with sufficient shares of authorized common stock to continue issuing new shares in connection with DNP’s distribution reinvestment and cash purchase plan (the “Reinvestment Plan”) and its ongoing ATM offering program. It will also give DNP the flexibility to make future issuances of stock in furtherance of its investment objectives without the necessity of delaying such activities for further shareholder approval (except to the extent that shareholder approvals may be required in particular cases by DNP’s charter documents, applicable laws or the rules of any stock exchange on which DNP’s securities are listed).
As more fully described in DNP’s most recent annual report to shareholders, pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan, when DNP makes distributions to holders of common stock at a time when the current market price of the common stock equals or exceeds its net asset value, DNP will issue new shares of common stock to participants in the Reinvestment Plan at the greater of current net asset value or 95% of the then current market price. In order for these new issuances under the Reinvestment Plan to be made, there need to be sufficient shares of common stock authorized for issuance under DNP’s charter. Similarly, under the ATM offering program, DNP may issue and sell, from time to time, new shares of common stock with an aggregate value of up to $200 million. As is the case with the Reinvestment Plan, new shares of common stock issued and sold through the ATM offering program need to be authorized for issuance under DNP’s charter. As of December 30, 2021, DNP has [3,934,086] remaining authorized shares of common stock under the current charter, and currently expects to exhaust those remaining shares within approximately seven months. If those shares are exhausted before the charter is amended to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock, DNP will be unable to continue issuing new shares pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan, the ATM offering program or otherwise.
Potential Risks of the Proposed Amendment
Any future issuances of additional shares of common stock would have the effect of diluting the voting rights of existing shareholders, and could have the effect of diluting earnings per share and book value per share of existing shareholders. In addition, the availability for issuance of additional shares of common stock could discourage and make more difficult efforts to obtain control of DNP. For example, DNP’s authorized but unissued common stock or preferred stock could be issued in one or more transactions that could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or change in control of DNP that might involve a premium price for its shareholders or otherwise be in their best interest. As of the date of this proxy statement, DNP and the Board are not aware of any attempt or plan to obtain control of DNP, and anti-takeover considerations are not part of the Board’s rationale for recommending the proposed amendment. Other than in connection with its existing Reinvestment Plan and ATM offering program, DNP has no present intention or plans to issue any additional shares of common stock.
14
Board Approval of the Proposed Amendment
On December 15, 2021, the DNP Board, based on its review and evaluation of the materials it received from the Adviser and DNP’s administrator, and after receiving advice from independent legal counsel, unanimously adopted resolutions setting forth the foregoing amendment to DNP’s charter, declaring the amendment to be advisable, directing that the amendment be submitted for consideration at the annual meeting of DNP’s shareholders and recommending that shareholders vote for the approval of the amendment. The Board took both the potential benefits and the potential risk factors into account when making its determination that increasing the number of authorized shares of DNP’s common stock is in the best interests of DNP and its shareholders.
Vote Required to Approve the Proposed Amendment
Approval of the proposed DNP charter amendment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of DNP’s outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting, and will also have the effect of a vote “against” the amendment.
When the Proposed Amendment Would Become Effective
If approved by DNP’s shareholders, the proposed charter amendment would become effective as of the date when Articles of Amendment are filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland or as of such other date as set forth in the Articles of Amendment, not to exceed 30 days after the Articles of Amendment are filed with the Department. It is expected that the Articles of Amendment, if the proposed amendment is approved by the shareholders, would be filed as soon as practicable following the annual meeting. The exact timing of the filing, however, would be determined by DNP, which reserves the right to delay the filing for up to six months following shareholder approval. In addition, DNP reserves the right, notwithstanding shareholder approval and without further action by the shareholders, to elect not to proceed with the amendment if, at any time prior to the effective time of the Articles of Amendment, the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment is no longer in the best interests of DNP or its shareholders.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors
The Board, including all of the independent directors, unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the foregoing amendment to the DNP charter.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management is not aware of any other matters that will come before the meeting. If any other business should come before the meeting, however, your proxy, if signed and returned, will give discretionary authority to the persons designated in it to vote according to their best judgment.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Adviser. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. acts as investment adviser for each Fund. The address of the Adviser is 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Adviser (together with its
15
predecessor) has been in the investment management business for more than 75 years and, as of December 31, 2021, had approximately $[ ] billion in client accounts under discretionary management. The Adviser is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus, a public company whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol “VRTS.”
The Administrators. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated (“Baird”) serves as administrator of DNP and DTF. The address of Baird is 500 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Founded in 1919, Baird is an employee-owned, international financial services firm. Baird provides private wealth management, asset management, investment banking, capital markets and private equity services to clients through its offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Virtus Fund Services, LLC (“Virtus Fund Services”) serves as administrator of DPG. The address of Virtus Fund Services is One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103. Virtus Fund Services is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus and acts as administrator and/or transfer agent to registered investment companies, including DPG.
Shareholders. The following table shows shares of common stock of the Funds as to which each director and director nominee, and all directors and executive officers of the Funds as a group, had or shared power over voting or disposition at October 31, 2021. The directors, director nominees and executive officers of the Funds owned no shares of preferred stock of any of the Funds. Shares are held with sole power over voting and disposition except as noted. The shares of common stock held by each of the persons listed below and by all directors and executive officers as a group represented less than 1% of the outstanding common stock of each Fund.
| Shares of DNP common stock |
Shares of DPG common stock |
Shares of DTF common stock |
||||||||||
| Donald C. Burke(1) |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Philip R. McLoughlin |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Geraldine M. McNamara(1) |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Eileen A. Moran |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Nathan I. Partain(1)(2) |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Shares of DNP common stock |
Shares of DPG common stock |
Shares of DTF common stock |
||||||||||
| David J. Vitale(2) |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| Directors and executive officers as a group(1)(2)(3) |
[ | ] | [ | ] | [ | ] | ||||||
| (1) | Mr. Burke had shared power to vote and/or dispose of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by him. Ms. McNamara had shared power to vote and/or dispose of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by her. Mr. Partain had shared power to vote and/or dispose of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by him. Mr. Vitale had shared power to vote and/or dispose of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by him. The directors and executive officers, in the aggregate, had shared power to vote and/or dispose of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by the directors and executive officers as a group. |
| (2) | Mr. Partain disclaims beneficial ownership of [ ] of the DNP shares listed as owned by him. Mr. Vitale disclaims beneficial ownership of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by him. The directors and executive officers, in the aggregate, disclaim beneficial ownership of [ ] of the DNP shares and [ ] of the DPG shares listed as owned by the directors and executive officers as a group. |
16
| (3) | The group of directors and executive officers consists of 12, 13 and 14 individuals for DNP, DPG and DTF, respectively. |
To the Funds’ knowledge, as of the date of this proxy statement, the only persons (including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)) who beneficially own more than 5% of any class of any Fund’s voting securities (as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) are the persons identified in the following table. Except as otherwise indicated, the information in this table is based on information provided in Schedule 13D and 13G filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission by each of the persons listed.
| Fund |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Class of Shares |
Number of Shares |
Percentage of Class |
||||||||
| DNP |
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MLIC”) and certain affiliated entities advised by MLIC or MetLife Investment Management, LLC(1) | Preferred stock | 908 | 43.86 | % | |||||||
| 10 Park Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07962 | ||||||||||||
| MetLife Reinsurance Company of Charleston (“MRCC”) 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 |
||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166 (“MTLIC”) |
||||||||||||
| DNP |
American International Group Inc. (“AIG”) and certain entities advised by AIG Asset Management (U.S.), LLC (“AAM”)(2) | Preferred stock | 660 | 31.88 | % | |||||||
| 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 | ||||||||||||
| American General Life Insurance Company (“AGLIC”) 2727-A Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 |
||||||||||||
| The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York (“USLIC”) 2727-A Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 |
||||||||||||
| The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (“VALIC”) 2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 |
||||||||||||
| DNP |
Voya Financial, Inc. (“Voya Financial”) and an entity advised by Voya Investment Management, LLC (“VIM”)(3) | Preferred stock | 380 | 18.36 | % | |||||||
| 5780 Powers Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327 | ||||||||||||
| Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“VRIAC”) One Orange Way, Windsor, Connecticut 06095 |
||||||||||||
| Corporate Solutions Life Reinsurance Co. (“CSLR”) 1475 Dunwoody Drive, Suite 200, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380 |
||||||||||||
17
| Fund |
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Class of Shares |
Number of Shares |
Percentage of Class |
||||||||
| DPG |
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and certain affiliated entities advised by MLIC or MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC(4) | Preferred stock | 1,360,000 | 85.00 | % | |||||||
| 10 Park Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07962 |
||||||||||||
| MetLife Insurance K.K. (“MLIKK”) 4-1-3, Tahei, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 130-0012 Japan |
||||||||||||
| Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company (“MTLIC”) 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 |
||||||||||||
| DPG |
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.(5) 11225 North Community House Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28277 |
Preferred stock | 240,000 | 15.00 | % | |||||||
| DTF |
Karpus Management, Inc. (“Karpus Investment Management”)(6) 183 Sully’s Trail, Pittsford, New York 14534 |
Common stock | 1,302,461 | 18.53 | % | |||||||
| DTF |
RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC(7) 325 N. LaSalle Street, Ste. 645, Chicago, Illinois 60654 |
Common stock | 532,312 | 7.57 | % | |||||||
| DTF |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (“JPM”)(8) 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240 |
Preferred stock | 650 | 100.00 | % | |||||||
| (1) | Based on information provided by or on behalf of such entities, (i) MLIC, MRCC and MTLIC, respectively, have sole voting and dispositive power over 643, 200 and 65 of the shares listed (representing, respectively, 31.06%, 9.66%% and 3.14% of the class) and (ii) each such entity disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares other than those set forth with respect to it in clause (i) of this note. |
| (2) | Based information provided by or on behalf of the following entities as well as information derived from a Form 4 filed on March 1, 2019 and a Schedule 13G/A filed by AIG on May 3, 2021, (i) AAM has shared voting and dispositive power over 660 of the shares listed (representing 31.88% of the class), (ii) AGLIC, USLIC and VALIC, respectively, have shared voting and dispositive power over 640, 10 and 10 of the shares listed (representing, respectively, 30.92%, 0.48% and 0.48% of the class) and (iii) each of AGLIC, USLIC and VALIC disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares other than those set forth with respect to it in clause (ii) of this note. |
| (3) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Voya Financial on October 14, 2016 and information provided by or on behalf of the following entities, (i) VRIC and CSLR respectively held 290 and 90 of the shares listed (representing, respectively, 14.01% and 4.35% of the class), and (ii) VIM, VRIAC and CSLR have shared voting and dispositive power over the shares listed. |
| (4) | Based on information provided by or on behalf of such entities, (i) MLIC, MLIKK and MTLIC, respectively, have sole voting and dispositive power over 628,000, 592,000 and 140,000 of the shares listed (representing, respectively, 39.25%, 37.00% and 8.75% of the class) and (ii) each such entity disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares other than those set forth with respect to it in clause (i) of this note. |
| (5) | Based on publicly available information and information provided by or on behalf of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and its subsidiary, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (formerly known as MetLife Insurance Company USA). |
18
| (6) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by Karpus Investment Management, on May 13, 2021. In that filing, Karpus Investment Management stated that it has sole voting and dispositive power over all securities beneficially owned by it. |
| (7) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed by RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC, on February 16, 2021. In that filing, RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC stated that it has sole voting and dispositive power over all securities beneficially owned by it. |
| (8) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed by JPM, on October 30, 2020 and information provided by or on behalf of JPM. In that filing, JPMorgan Chase Bank stated that voting and consent power over all securities owned by it has been assigned to a voting trust pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement. That agreement, as amended, dated November 2, 2021 among JPM, Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC, as trustee (the “Voting Trustee”) and Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC as voting consultant (the “Voting Consultant”). The Voting Trust provides that with respect to voting or consent matters relating to the voting rights assigned to the Voting Trust, the Voting Consultant analyzes such voting or consent matters and makes a recommendation to the Voting Trustee on voting or consenting. The Voting Trustee is obligated to follow any such recommendations of the Voting Consultant when providing a vote or consent. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance. Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act imposes the filing requirements of Section 16 of the 1934 Act upon (i) the Funds’ directors and officers, (ii) the Funds’ investment adviser and certain of their affiliated persons and (iii) every person who is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of a Fund’s outstanding securities (other than short-term paper). Based solely on a review of the copies of Section 16(a) forms furnished to the Funds, or written representations that no Forms 5 were required, the Funds believe that during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year all such filing requirements were complied with, except that Ellen Lyerly Elberfeld, an officer of the Adviser, was late in filing a Form 3 for DPG.
Report of the Audit Committee. The Funds’ independent directors comprise the audit committee of each Fund and act under a written charter which sets forth the audit committee’s responsibilities. A copy of the audit committee charter is available on each Fund’s website at www.dpimc.com/dnp, www.dpimc.com/dpg and www.dpimc.com/dtf and in print to any shareholder who requests it. Each of the members of the audit committee is independent as defined in the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In connection with the audit of each Fund’s 2021 audited financial statements, the audit committee: (1) reviewed and discussed each Fund’s 2021 audited financial statements with management, (2) discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1, AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T, (3) received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountant required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and (4) discussed with the independent accountant its independence from each Fund and its management. Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the audit committee recommended to the board of directors that each Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee
Donald C. Burke (Chairman)
Philip R. McLoughlin
Geraldine M. McNamara
Eileen A. Moran
David J. Vitale
19
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The 1940 Act requires that each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm be selected by the vote, cast in person, of a majority of the members of the Board who are not interested persons of the Fund. In addition, the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange vest the audit committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board, with responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with the foregoing provisions, the firm of Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm of each Fund to perform the audit of the financial books and records of the Funds for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2022. A representative of Ernst & Young is expected to be present at the joint annual meeting of shareholders and will be available to respond to appropriate questions and will have an opportunity to make a statement if the representative so desires.
Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services. Each Fund is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. As part of this responsibility, each Fund’s audit committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent accountant in order to assure that they do not impair the independent accountant’s independence from the Fund. Accordingly, each Fund’s audit committee has adopted a joint audit and non-audit services pre-approval policy (the “Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy”), which sets forth the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which services proposed to be performed by the independent accountant may be pre-approved. Each engagement of an independent accountant to render audit or non-audit services to a Fund must be either (i) a specific service pre-approved by the Fund’s audit committee or the chairman of the audit committee, to whom the committee has delegated the authority to grant such pre-approvals between scheduled meetings of the committee, or (ii) come within the scope of a general pre-approval granted under the Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy. As provided in the Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval (i.e., the proposed services are pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the audit committee), then the service will require specific pre-approval by the audit committee if the proposed service is to be provided by the independent accountant. As provided in the Joint Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy, any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts require specific pre-approval by the audit committee. In deciding whether to grant pre-approval for such services, the audit committee, or the chairman of the audit committee acting under delegated authority, as the case may be, will consider whether such services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence. Additionally, the audit committee, or the chairman of the audit committee acting under delegated authority, as the case may be, will also consider whether the independent accountant is best positioned to provide the most effective and efficient service, after considering a number of factors as a whole, with no one factor being necessarily determinative.
Each Fund’s audit committee is also required to pre-approve its accountant’s engagements for non-audit services rendered to the Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. In deciding whether to grant pre-approval for such non-audit services, the audit committee or the chairman of the audit committee, as the case may be, considers whether the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the Fund’s accountants.
Audit and Non-Audit Fees. The following table sets forth the aggregate audit and non-audit fees billed to each Fund for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young. For purposes of this table, to the extent the amount of a fee for a pre-approved service is known as of the date of this report,
20
such fee amount has been allocated to the fiscal year to which the applicable service relates, even in cases where the applicable Fund has not yet been billed for such service.
| DNP | ||||||||
| Fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 |
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 |
|||||||
| Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 109,500 | $ | 104,500 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees(2)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Tax Fees(3)(6) |
26,300 | 19,800 | ||||||
| All Other Fees(4)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Aggregate Non-Audit Fees(5)(6) |
26,300 | 19,800 | ||||||
| DPG | ||||||||
| Fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 |
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 |
|||||||
| Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 54,000 | $ | 54,000 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees(2)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Tax Fees(3)(6) |
6,500 | 6,500 | ||||||
| All Other Fees(4)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Aggregate Non-Audit Fees(5)(6) |
6,500 | 6,500 | ||||||
| DTF | ||||||||
| Fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 |
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 |
|||||||
| Audit Fees(1) |
$ | 54,000 | $ | 54,000 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees(2)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Tax Fees(3)(6) |
8,350 | 8,350 | ||||||
| All Other Fees(4)(6) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| Aggregate Non-Audit Fees(5)(6) |
8,350 | 8,350 | ||||||
| (1) | Audit Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by each Fund’s principal accountant for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. For DNP, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 such fees included $25,000 for services rendered in connection with DNP’s registration statement for its public offering and $15,000 and $5,000 for non-recurring audit fees and its registration statement related to the merger of Duff & Phelps Utility and Corporate Bond Trust with and into DNP. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, such fees included $40,000 for services rendered in connection with DNP’s registration statement for its public offering. |
| (2) | Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for assurance and related services by each Fund’s principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit Fees.” |
| (3) | Tax Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by each Fund’s principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. In both years shown in the table, such services consisted of preparation of the annual federal and state income tax returns and excise tax returns for DNP and DTF. In |
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| the case of DPG, such services consisted of review of the Fund’s annual federal and excise tax returns and preparation and analysis of state income tax returns. |
| (4) | All Other Fees are fees billed for products and services provided by each Fund’s principal accountant, other than the services reported under the captions “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees.” |
| (5) | Aggregate Non-Audit Fees are non-audit fees billed by each Fund’s accountant for services rendered to the Fund, the Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. During both years shown in the table, no portion of such fees related to services rendered by each Fund’s accountant to the Adviser or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. |
| (6) | No portion of these fees was approved by the audit committee after the beginning of the engagement pursuant to the waiver of the pre-approval requirement for certain de minimis non-audit services described in Section 10A of the 1934 Act and applicable regulations. |
Communications with the Board by Shareholders and Other Interested Persons. The Board has adopted the following procedures for shareholders and other interested persons to send communications to the Board. Shareholders and other interested persons may mail written communications to the full Board, to committees of the Board or to specified individual directors in care of the Secretary of the Funds, 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606. All such communications received by the Secretary will be forwarded promptly to the full Board, the relevant Board committee or the specified individual directors, as applicable, except that the Secretary may, in good faith, determine that a communication should not be so forwarded if it does not reasonably relate to the Funds or their operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, shareholders, or other matters relating to an investment in the Funds or is purely ministerial in nature. Each of the Funds’ directors is encouraged to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. All of the individuals who were directors of DNP and DPG at the time of the March 8, 2021 joint annual meeting of the shareholders of DNP and DPG were in attendance at that meeting, and all of the individuals who were directors of DTF at the time of the February 26, 2021 annual meeting of the shareholders of DTF were in attendance at that meeting.
Shareholder Proposals and Nominations. In order for any shareholder proposal or director nomination to be considered for inclusion in any Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders, such proposal or nomination must be received by the Secretary of the Fund no later than September 23, 2022. Under the circumstances described in, and upon compliance with, Rule 14a-4(c) under the 1934 Act, a Fund may solicit proxies in connection with the 2023 annual meeting which confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposals of which the Secretary of the Fund does not receive notice by December 7, 2022. Any notice of a shareholder proposal or director nomination must conform to the requirements in the Fund’s bylaws. Copies of the bylaws of any of the Funds may be requested from the Secretary of the Funds, 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Solicitation of Proxies. Proxies will be solicited by mail. Proxies may be solicited by Fund personnel personally or by telephone, postal mail or electronic mail, but such persons will not be specially compensated for such services. The Funds will inquire of any record holder known to be a broker, dealer, bank or other nominee as to whether other persons are the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. If so, the Funds will supply additional copies of solicitation materials for forwarding to beneficial owners, and will make reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket costs.
Further Information About Voting and the Annual Meeting. A majority of the outstanding shares of each Fund entitled to vote at the annual shareholder meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business of the Fund.
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The Board has fixed the close of business on December 10, 2021 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of each Fund entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. Shareholders of a Fund on that date will be entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted on for each share held.
Instructions regarding how to vote via telephone or the Internet are included on the enclosed proxy card. The required control number for Internet and telephone voting is printed on the enclosed proxy card. The control number is used to match proxy cards with shareholders’ respective accounts and to ensure that, if multiple proxy cards are executed, shares are voted in accordance with the proxy card bearing the latest date.
The annual meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of shareholders, which will be conducted exclusively by webcast. You are entitled to participate in the annual meeting only if you were a shareholder of the Funds as of the close of business on the record date, or if you hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting. No physical meeting will be held.
You will be able to attend the annual meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting https://meetnow.global/MT7S9RS. You also will be able to vote your shares online by attending the annual meeting by webcast.
To participate in the annual meeting, you will need to log on using the control number from your proxy card or meeting notice. The control number can be found in the shaded box.
If you are a registered shareholder, you do not need to register to attend the annual meeting virtually on the Internet. If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance in order to attend the meeting. To register to attend the annual meeting online by webcast you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare. You must contact the bank or broker who holds your shares to obtain your legal proxy. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 3 business days prior to the meeting date. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after we receive your legal proxy. Requests for registration should be directed to us by emailing an image of your legal proxy, to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com.
The online meeting will begin promptly at 1 p.m., Eastern Time. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time leaving ample time for the check in. Please follow the access instructions as outlined in this proxy statement.
The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across MS Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari browsers and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Please note that Internet Explorer is no longer supported. Participants should ensure that they have a strong WiFi connection wherever they intend to participate in the meeting. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. A link on the meeting page will provide further assistance should you need it or you may call 1-888-724-2416 or 1-781-575-2748.
All shares represented by properly executed proxies received prior to the annual meeting will be voted at the annual meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. If any other business is brought before the annual meeting, your shares will be voted at the proxies’ discretion. If you sign the proxy card, but do not fill in a vote, your shares will be voted “FOR ALL” of the nominees for director, in accordance with the recommendation of the Board.
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Shareholders who execute proxy cards or record their voting instructions via telephone or the Internet may revoke their proxies at any time prior to the time they are voted by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Funds, by delivering a subsequently dated proxy (including via telephone or the Internet) prior to the date of the annual meeting or by virtually attending and voting at the annual meeting. Merely virtually attending the annual meeting, however, will not revoke a previously submitted proxy.
Annual Report. Each Fund will provide without charge to any shareholder who so requests, a copy of the Fund’s annual report for the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year. The annual reports for DNP and DTF are available by calling Baird toll-free at (833) 604-3163 and are also available on each such Fund’s web site at www.dpimc.com/dnp and www.dpimc.com/dtf. The annual report for DPG is available by calling Virtus Fund Services toll-free at (866) 270-7598 and is also available on DPG’s web site at www.dpimc.com/dpg.
General. A list of shareholders of each Fund entitled to be present and vote at the annual meeting will be available at the offices of the Funds, 200 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours for ten days prior to the date of the meeting.
Failure of a quorum of shareholders of any of the Funds to be present at the annual meeting will necessitate adjournment of the meeting with respect to those Funds and will give rise to additional expense.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTERNET OR TELEPHONE VOTING. BOTH ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
January [21], 2022
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