11/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/17/2025 12:43
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2025
Securities Act Registration No. 333-[__]
Investment Company Registration No. 811-22658
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
| ☒ | Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933: | |
| ☐ | Pre-Effective Amendment No. | |
| ☐ | Post-Effective Amendment No. | |
|
and |
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| ☒ | Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940: | |
| ☒ | Amendment No. 3 | |
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in the Declaration of Trust
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)
(800) 257-8787
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code
Mark L. Winget
Vice President and Secretary
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service
Copies of Communications to:
| Eric S. Purple, Esquire | Joel D. Corriero, Esquire | Eric F. Fess | ||
|
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP 2000 K Street, N.W., Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 |
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 |
Chapman and Cutler LLP 111 West Monroe Chicago, Illinois 60603 |
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering:
From time to time 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 this 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) of the Securities Act.
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).
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 that specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
BASE PROSPECTUS
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This 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, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 2025
[_______] Shares
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Rights to Purchase Common Shares
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund
The Offering. Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (the "Fund") is offering, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, up to [______] common shares ("Common Shares"), preferred shares ("Preferred Shares"), and/or subscription rights to purchase Common Shares ("Rights," and collectively with Common Shares and Preferred Shares, "Securities"), in any combination. The Fund may offer and sell such Securities directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of Securities will describe such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The prospectus supplement relating to any Rights offering will set forth the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right (or number of Rights) and the other terms of such Rights offering. For more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Securities, see "Plan of Distribution."
The Fund. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and long-term capital appreciation. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that the Fund's investment strategies will be successful.
This Prospectus, together with any related prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely information about the Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing, and should be retained for future reference. Investing in Securities involves risks, including the risks associated with the Fund's use of leverage. You could lose some or all of your investment. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase any of the Securities. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page [_].
Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). The trading or "ticker" symbol of the Common Shares is "JRI." The closing price of the Common Shares, as reported by the NYSE on [__], 2025, was $[__] per Common Share. The net asset value of the Common Shares at the close of business on that same date was $[_] per Common Share. Preferred Shares and/or Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange.
* * *
You should read this Prospectus, together with any related prospectus supplement, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated [ ], 2025 (the "SAI"), containing additional information about the Fund has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the SAI, the table of contents of which is on the last page of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or from the Fund's website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund's website is not part of this Prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein. You also may obtain a copy of the SAI (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC's web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The date of this Prospectus is [_], 2025.
The Securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency.
Neither the 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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Summary |
1 | |||
|
Summary of Fund Expenses |
7 | |||
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Financial Highlights |
8 | |||
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Trading and Net Asset Value Information |
9 | |||
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The Fund |
9 | |||
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Use of Proceeds |
10 | |||
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The Fund's Investments |
10 | |||
|
Use of Leverage |
11 | |||
|
Risk Factors |
14 | |||
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Management of the Fund |
14 | |||
|
Net Asset Value |
17 | |||
|
Distributions |
17 | |||
|
Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
18 | |||
|
Plan of Distribution |
18 | |||
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Description of Shares |
21 | |||
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Rights Offerings |
24 | |||
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Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws |
25 | |||
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Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund |
27 | |||
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Tax Matters |
28 | |||
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Custodian and Transfer Agent |
29 | |||
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
30 | |||
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Legal Matters |
30 | |||
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Available Information |
30 | |||
|
Incorporation By Reference |
30 |
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on their covers. The Fund will update this Prospectus to reflect any material changes to the disclosures herein.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any projections, forecasts and estimates contained or incorporated by reference herein are forward looking statements and are based upon certain assumptions. Projections, forecasts and estimates are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying any projections, forecasts or estimates will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Actual results may vary from any projections, forecasts and estimates and the variations may be material. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward looking statements include changes in interest rates, market, financial or legal uncertainties, including changes in tax law, and the timing and frequency of defaults on underlying investments. Consequently, the inclusion of any projections, forecasts and estimates herein should not be regarded as a representation by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any other person or entity of the results that will actually be achieved by the Fund. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates has any obligation to update or otherwise revise any projections, forecasts and estimates including any revisions to reflect changes in economic conditions or other circumstances arising after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, even if the underlying assumptions do not come to fruition. The Fund acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to investment companies such as the Fund.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement and in the Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI").
|
The Fund |
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. See "The Fund." The Fund's common shares, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Shares"), are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "JRI." Preferred Shares and/or Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange. |
| The closing price of the Common Shares, as reported by the NYSE on [__], 2025, was $[__] per Common Share. The net asset value ("NAV") of the Common Shares at the close of business on that same date was $[__] per Common Share. As of [__], 2025, the Fund had [__] Common Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $[__]. See "Description of Shares." |
|
The Offering |
The Fund may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to [______] Common Shares, preferred shares ("Preferred Shares"), and/or subscription rights to purchase Common Shares ("Rights," and collectively with Common Shares and Preferred Shares, "Securities"), in any combination, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Fund may offer and sell such Securities directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of Securities will describe such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. For more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Securities, see "Plan of Distribution." The prospectus supplement relating to any Rights offering will set forth the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right (or number of Rights) and the other terms of such Rights offering. The minimum price on any day at which the Common Shares may be sold will not be less than the NAV per Common Share at the time of the offering plus the per share amount of any underwriting commission or discount; provided that Common Shares offered pursuant to Rights offerings that meet certain conditions may be offered at a price below the then current NAV. See "Rights Offerings." |
|
The Fund may not sell any Securities through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery, or deemed delivery, of a prospectus, including the appropriate prospectus supplement, describing the method and terms of the particular offering of such Securities. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our Securities. |
1
|
Investment Objective and Policies |
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundInvestment Objective" and "Investment Policies," as such investment objective and investment policies may be supplemented from time to time, which are incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund's investment objective and policies. |
| There can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful. For a more complete discussion of the Fund's portfolio composition and its corresponding risks, see "The Fund's Investments" and "Risk Factors." | |
2
|
Investment Adviser |
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC ("Nuveen Fund Advisors"), the Fund's investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund's overall investment strategy and its implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund's portfolio, manages the Fund's business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC ("Nuveen"), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ("TIAA"). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2025, Nuveen managed approximately $1.4 trillion in assets, of which approximately $154.6 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors. |
|
Sub-Adviser |
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC ("Nuveen Asset Management"), located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund's sub-adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. |
|
Use of Leverage |
The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objective. The Fund may source leverage through the issuance of "senior securities" as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), which include (1) borrowings, including loans from financial institutions; (2) the issuance of debt securities; and (3) the issuance of preferred shares of beneficial interest ("Preferred Shares"). Additionally, the Fund may use certain derivatives and other financing instruments that have the economic effect of leverage by creating additional investment exposures, such as investments in inverse floating rate securities and reverse repurchase agreements. The amount and sources of leverage will vary depending on market conditions. See "Use of Leverage" for more information. |
3
| Currently, the Fund employs leverage through borrowings. |
| In pursuit of its investment objective, the Fund may reduce or increase the amount and type of leverage based upon changes in market conditions and composition of the Fund's holdings. The Fund's leverage ratio varies from time to time based upon such changes in the amount of leverage used and variations in the value of the Fund's holdings. So long as the net income received on the Fund's investments purchased with leverage proceeds exceeds the then current expense on any leverage, the investment of leverage proceeds will generate more net income than if the Fund had not used leverage. Under these circumstances, the excess net income will be available to pay higher distributions to Common Shareholders. However, if the net income received from the Fund's portfolio investments purchased with leverage is less than the then current expense on outstanding leverage, the Fund may be required to utilize other Fund assets to make expense payments on outstanding leverage, which may result in a decline in Common Share NAV and reduced net investment income available for distribution to Common Shareholders. |
|
The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act. There is no assurance that the Fund will continue to use leverage. The Fund's use of leverage may not work as planned or achieve its goals. The Fund pays a management fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors (which in turn pays a portion of such fee to Nuveen Asset Management) based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets include the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund's use of most types of leverage (excluding the leverage exposure attributable to the use of futures, swaps and similar derivatives). Because Managed Assets include the Fund's net assets as well as assets that are attributable to the Fund's investment of the proceeds of its leverage, the Fund's Managed Assets are greater than its net assets. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management are responsible for using leverage to pursue the Fund's investment objective. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management base their decision regarding whether and how much leverage to use for the Fund, and the terms of that leverage, on their assessment of whether such use of leverage is in the best interests of the Fund. However, a decision to employ or increase leverage has the effect, all other things being equal, of increasing Managed Assets, and in turn Nuveen Fund Advisors' and Nuveen Asset Management's management fees. Thus, Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management have a conflict of interest in determining whether to use or increase leverage. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management seek to manage that conflict by recommending to the Board of Trustees to leverage the Fund (or increase such leverage) only when they determine that such action would be in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders, and by periodically reviewing with the Board of Trustees the Fund's performance and the impact of the use of leverage on that performance. |
4
|
Distributions |
[The Fund pays regular monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend distribution rate which may be set from time to time). The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income each year through its regular monthly distributions and to distribute realized capital gains at least annually. In addition, in any monthly period, to maintain its declared per common share distribution amount, the Fund may distribute more or less than its net investment income during the period. In the event the Fund distributes more than its net investment income during any yearly period, such distributions may also include realized gains and/or a return of capital. To the extent that a distribution includes a return of capital the NAV per share may erode. If a distribution includes anything other than net investment income, the Fund provides a notice of the best estimate of its distribution sources at the time. See "Distributions."] |
|
The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time and may do so without prior notice to Common Shareholders. |
|
Custodian and Transfer Agent |
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Fund's custodian, and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the Fund's transfer agent for the Common Shares. The corresponding agent for any Preferred Shares to be offered pursuant to this Prospectus will be identified in the related prospectus supplement. See "Custodian and Transfer Agent." |
|
Risk Factors |
Investment in the Fund involves risk. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundPrincipal Risks of the Fund," as such principal risks may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the principal risks you should consider before making an investment in the Fund. Any additional risks applicable to a particular offering of Securities will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. |
5
|
Use of Proceeds |
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will use the net proceeds from any offering of Securities, pursuant to this Prospectus, to make investments in accordance with the Fund's investment objective. See "Use of Proceeds." |
|
Federal Income Tax |
The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code the Fund must, among other requirements, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and satisfy a diversification test on a quarterly basis. If the Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the diversification requirements, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions were not available to the Fund and it were to fail to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at the 21% regular corporate rate without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits. To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund must consist of obligations exempt from regular income tax as of the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by the Fund exceeds 50% of the Fund's total assets as of the close of any quarter of any Fund taxable year, the Fund will not for that taxable year satisfy the general eligibility test that otherwise permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends. |
|
See "Fund Tax Risk" as contained in the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundPrincipal Risks of the FundFund Level and Other Risks." |
|
|
Governing Law |
The Fund's Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust") is, and each Statement and Statement Supplement for Preferred Shares will be, governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
6
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The purpose of the table below and the Examples below are to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The table shows the expenses of the Fund as a percentage of the average net assets applicable to Common Shares, and not as a percentage of total assets or Managed Assets.
| Shareholder Transaction Expenses | ||||
| Maximum Sales Charge (as a percentage of offering price) | 1.00 | %* | ||
| Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees (1) | $ | 2.50 |
| * | The maximum sales charge for offerings made at-the-market is 1.00%. If the Common Shares are sold to or through underwriters in an offering that is not made at-the-market, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth any other applicable sales load and the estimated offering expenses. Fund shareholders will pay all offering expenses involved with an offering. |
|
As a Percentage of Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares(2) |
||||
| Annual Expenses | ||||
| Management Fees | 1.42% | |||
| Interest and Other Related Expenses (3) | 2.38% | |||
| Other Expenses (4) | 0.17% | |||
| Total Annual Expenses | 3.97% | |||
| (1) | You will be charged a $2.50 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for the Common Shareholders (the "Plan Agent"), to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. |
| (2) | Stated as annualized percentages of average net assets attributable to Common Shares for the six month period ended June 30, 2025 (unaudited). |
| (3) | Interest and Other Related Expenses reflect actual expenses and fees for leverage incurred by the Fund for the six month period ended June 30, 2025 (annualized). The types of leverage used by the Fund during the six month period ended June 30, 2025 (annualized) are described in the Fund Leverage and the Notes to Financial Statements sections of the Fund's semi-annual report. Actual Interest and Other Related Expenses incurred in the future maybe higher or lower. If short-term market interest rates rise in the future, and if the Fund continues to maintain leverage, the cost of which is tied to short-term interest rates, the Fund's Interest and Other Related Expenses on its short-term borrowings can be expected to rise in tandem. The Fund's use of leverage will increase the amount of management fees paid to the Fund's adviser and sub-advisor(s). |
| (4) | Other Expenses is based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Expenses attributable to the Fund's investments, if any, in other investment companies are currently estimated not to exceed 0.01%. See "Investment Objective and Policies-Other Investment Companies" in the SAI. |
Example
The following example illustrates the expenses, including the transaction fee (referred to as the "Maximum Sales Charge" in the Shareholder Transaction Expenses table above), if any, that a common shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods provided in the table. The example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested in the Fund and that the Fund's Annual Expenses, as provided above, remain the same. The example also assumes a 5% annual return. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund's actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.
| 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||||||||
| $ | 50 | $ | 130 | $ | 212 | $ | 424 | |||||||
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown above.
7
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the periods presented. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Common Share of the Fund. The information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 has been audited by [__], an independent registered public accounting firm. The information with respect to the six months ended June 30, 2025 is unaudited and is included in the Fund's 2025 Semi-Annual Report. The report of [ ] is included in the Fund's December 31, 2024 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein. The information in the table below for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is derived from the Fund's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
| Period Ended June 30 | Year Ended December 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Per Share Operating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance | 2025(e) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value (NAV) | $ | 13.19 | $ | 13.69 | $ | 13.57 | $ | 17.41 | $ | 15.84 | $ | 20.04 | $ | 16.48 | $ | 19.61 | $ | 18.09 | $ | 17.27 | $ | 19.84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income (Loss)(a) | 0.35 | 0.54 | 0.55 | 0.78 | 1.00 | 0.80 | 0.91 | 1.05 | 1.14 | 1.12 | 1.18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss) | 0.82 | 0.39 | 0.65 | (3.46 | ) | 1.73 | (3.78 | ) | 3.94 | (2.93 | ) | 1.66 | 1.04 | (2.18 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1.17 | 0.93 | 1.20 | (2.68 | ) | 2.73 | (2.98 | ) | 4.85 | (1.88 | ) | 2.80 | 2.16 | (1.00 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less Distributions to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From Net Investment Income | (0.80 | ) | (0.65 | ) | (0.66 | ) | (0.77 | ) | (1.09 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.29 | ) | (1.12 | ) | (1.28 | ) | (1.14 | ) | (1.15 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| From Accumulated Net Realized Gains | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return of Capital | - | (0.78 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.23 | ) | - | (0.15 | ) | - | (0.21 | ) | (0.38 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | (0.80 | ) | (1.43 | ) | (1.08 | ) | (1.16 | ) | (1.16 | ) | (1.22 | ) | (1.29 | ) | (1.27 | ) | (1.28 | ) | (1.35 | ) | (1.57 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount Per Share Repurchased and Retired | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | (h) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | (h) | $ | - | $ | 0.02 | $ | - | $ | 0.01 | $ | - | (h) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ending NAV | $ | 13.56 | $ | 13.19 | $ | 13.69 | $ | 13.57 | $ | 17.41 | $ | 15.84 | $ | 20.04 | $ | 16.48 | $ | 19.61 | $ | 18.09 | $ | 17.27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ending Share Price | $ | 13.50 | $ | 12.13 | $ | 11.72 | $ | 11.70 | $ | 16.12 | $ | 13.46 | $ | 18.36 | $ | 13.63 | $ | 17.80 | $ | 15.74 | $ | 15.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Share Total Returns: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on NAV(b) | 9.13 | % | 7.03 | % | 9.32 | % | (15.83 | )% | 17.73 | % | (14.15 | )% | 30.18 | % | (9.90 | )% | 15.81 | % | 12.82 | % | (5.39 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on Share Price(b) | 18.34 | % | 16.12 | % | 10.02 | % | (20.83 | )% | 29.09 | % | (19.31 | )% | 45.48 | % | (17.07 | )% | 21.62 | % | 12.37 | % | (11.72 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Share Supplemental Data/Ratios Applicable to Common Shares: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ending Net Assets (000) | $ | 371,865 | $ | 361,498 | $ | 375,319 | $ | 372,451 | $ | 477,911 | $ | 434,736 | $ | 550,464 | $ | 452,703 | $ | 541,875 | $ | 176,439 | $ | 168,755 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses | 3.97 | %* | 4.14 | % | 4.07 | % | 2.63 | % | 1.82 | % | 2.20 | % | 2.80 | % | 2.77 | % | 2.47 | % | 2.18 | % | 2.12 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income (Loss)(d) | 5.38 | %* | 3.99 | % | 4.15 | % | 5.09 | % | 5.94 | % | 5.26 | % | 4.84 | % | 5.73 | % | 5.90 | % | 6.19 | % | 6.24 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio Turnover Rate | 36 | % | 80 | % | 59 | % | 71 | % | 73 | % | 102 | % | 90 | % | 92 | % | 100 | % | 107 | % | 96 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings at the End of Period: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)(f) | $ | 170,945 | $ | 178,945 | $ | 151,695 | $ | 166,985 | $ | 197,935 | $ | 166,035 | $ | 222,225 | $ | 215,225 | $ | 225,225 | $ | 73,275 | $ | 74,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Coverage Per $1,000 Share(g) | $ | 3,175 | $ | 3,020 | $ | 3,474 | $ | 3,230 | $ | 3,414 | $ | 3,618 | $ | 3,477 | $ | 3,103 | $ | 3,406 | $ | 3,408 | $ | 3,265 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
| (b) | Total Return Based on Common Share NAV is the combination of changes in common share NAV, reinvested distributions at Common Share NAV, if any. The last distribution declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual reinvest price for the last distribution declared in the period may often be based on the Fund's market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. |
| Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last distribution declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last distribution declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized. | |
| (c) |
• Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to borrowings and/or reverse repurchase agreements, where applicable. • The expense ratios reflect, among other things, all interest expense and other costs related to borrowings and/or reverse repurchase agreements and/or the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund, where applicable, as follows: |
| Ratios of Interest Expense to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares | ||||
| Period Ended June 30: | ||||
| 2025(e) | 2.38 | % | ||
| Year Ended December 31: | ||||
| 2024 | 2.48 | % | ||
| 2023 | 2.53 | |||
| 2022 | 1.04 | |||
| 2021 | 0.34 | |||
| 2020 | 0.66 | |||
| 2019 | 1.28 | |||
| 2018 | 1.20 | |||
| 2017 | 0.82 | |||
| 2016 | 0.56 | |||
| 2015 | 0.52 | |||
| (d) | Includes voluntary compensation from Nuveen Fund Advisors. |
| (e) | For the six months ended June 30, 2025. Unaudited. |
| (f) | Aggregate Amount Outstanding: Aggregate amount outstanding represents the principal amount outstanding or liquidation preference, if applicable, as of the end of the relevant fiscal year. |
| (g) | Asset Coverage Per $1,000: Asset coverage per $1,000 of debt is calculated by subtracting the Fund's liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities from the Fund's total assets, dividing the results by the aggregate amount of the Fund's senior securities representing indebtedness then outstanding (if applicable), plus the aggregate of the involuntary liquidation preference of the outstanding preferred shares, if applicable, and multiplying the result by 1,000. |
| (h) | Value rounded to zero. |
| * | Annualized. |
| 8 |
TRADING AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION
The following table shows for the periods indicated: (i) the high and low sales prices for Common Shares reported as of the end of the day on the NYSE, (ii) the corresponding NAV per share, and (iii) the premium/(discount) to NAV per share at which the Common Shares were trading as of such date. The Fund's Common Shares have historically traded both at premiums and discounts in relation to the Fund's NAV per share. The Fund cannot predict whether its Common Shares will trade at a premium or discount to NAV in the future. The Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from NAV in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at NAV, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.
| Closing Market Price per | NAV per Common Share on | Premium/(Discount) on | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Share | Date of Market Price | Date of Market Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiscal Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 2025 | $ | 14.25 | $ | 13.03 | $ | 13.71 | $ | 13.38 | 3.94 | % | (2.62 | )% | ||||||||||||
| June 2025 | $ | 13.50 | $ | 11.26 | $ | 13.56 | $ | 12.32 | (0.44 | )% | (8.60 | )% | ||||||||||||
| March 2025 | $ | 13.14 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 13.36 | $ | 12.91 | (1.65 | )% | (6.74 | )% | ||||||||||||
| December 2024 | $ | 13.61 | $ | 11.95 | $ | 14.02 | $ | 12.97 | (2.92 | )% | (7.86 | )% | ||||||||||||
| September 2024 | $ | 13.67 | $ | 12.21 | $ | 14.54 | $ | 13.21 | (5.98 | )% | (7.57 | )% | ||||||||||||
| June 2024 | $ | 12.21 | $ | 10.86 | $ | 13.18 | $ | 12.66 | (7.36 | )% | (14.22 | )% | ||||||||||||
| March 2024 | $ | 12.12 | $ | 11.35 | $ | 13.68 | $ | 13.25 | (11.40 | )% | (14.34 | )% | ||||||||||||
| December 2023 | $ | 11.85 | $ | 9.71 | $ | 13.73 | $ | 11.72 | (13.69 | )% | (17.15 | )% | ||||||||||||
| September 2023 | $ | 11.75 | $ | 10.39 | $ | 13.73 | $ | 12.39 | (14.42 | )% | (16.14 | )% | ||||||||||||
| June 2023 | $ | 11.83 | $ | 10.97 | $ | 13.85 | $ | 13.08 | (14.58 | )% | (16.13 | )% | ||||||||||||
| March 2023 | $ | 13.11 | $ | 10.93 | $ | 14.85 | $ | 13.09 | (11.72 | )% | (16.50 | )% | ||||||||||||
The net asset value per Common Share, the market price, and percentage of premium/(discount) to net asset value per Common Share on [__], 2025, $[__], $[__] and [__]%, respectively. As of [__], 2025, the Fund had [__] Common Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $[__].
THE FUND
The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 10, 2012 and commenced investment operations on April 25, 2012. The Fund's Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "JRI" Preferred Shares and/or Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange.
The following provides information about the Fund's outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares as of [__], 2025:
| Title of Class |
Amount Authorized |
Amount Held by the Fund or for its Account |
Amount Outstanding |
|||||||||
| Common Shares | Unlimited | [__] | [__] | |||||||||
| Preferred Shares | Unlimited | [__] | 0 | |||||||||
9
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from any offering will be invested in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies as stated below. The Fund currently anticipates that it will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds in investments that meet the Fund's investment objective and policies within approximately three months of the receipt of such proceeds. Pending investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality, short-term money market instruments.
THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
Investment Objective and Policies
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundInvestment Objective" and "Investment Policies," as such investment objective and investment policies may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund's investment objective and policies.
Portfolio Composition and Other Information
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundInvestment PoliciesPortfolio Contents," as such portfolio contents may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the investments principally included in the Fund's portfolio. More detailed information about the Fund's portfolio investments are contained in the SAI under "The Fund's Investments."
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund's investment objective. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 80%. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 36% (unaudited). However, there are no limits on the Fund's rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in Nuveen Asset Management's opinion, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund's "Annual Expenses," they will be reflected in the Fund's total return. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See "Tax Matters."
Other Policies
Certain investment policies specifically identified in the SAI as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. See "Investment Restrictions" in the SAI.
10
USE OF LEVERAGE
The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objective. The Fund may source leverage through the issuance of "senior securities" as defined under the 1940 Act, which include (1) borrowings, including loans from financial institutions; (2) the issuance of debt securities; and (3) the issuance of Preferred Shares. Additionally, the Fund may use certain derivatives and other financing instruments that have the economic effect of leverage by creating additional investment exposures, such as investments in inverse floating rate securities and reverse repurchase agreements. See "Investment Restrictions" in the SAI. For a discussion of risks, see "Fund Level and Other RisksReverse Repurchase Agreement Risk," as such risk is contained in the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundPrincipal Risks of the Fund."
11
Currently, the Fund employs leverage through borrowings.
The Fund may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps with varying terms, in order to hedge duration risk or manage the interest rate expense associated with all or a portion of its leverage. Interest rate swaps are bi-lateral agreements whereby parties agree to exchange future payments, typically based upon the differential of a fixed rate and a variable rate, on a specified notional amount. Interest rate swaps can enable the Fund to effectively convert its variable leverage expense to fixed, or vice-versa. For example, if the Fund issues leverage having a short-term floating rate of interest, the Fund could use interest rate swaps to hedge against a rise in the short-term benchmark interest rates associated with its outstanding leverage. In doing so, the Fund would seek to achieve lower leverage costs, and thereby enhance Common Share distributions, over an extended period, which would be the result if short-term market interest rates on average exceed the fixed interest rate over the term of the swap. To the extent the fixed swap rate is greater than short-term market interest rates on average over the period, overall costs associated with leverage will be greater (and thereby reduce distributions to Common Shareholders) than if the Fund had not entered into the interest rate swap(s).
The Fund also may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act. There is not assurance that the Fund will continue to use leverage. The Fund's use of leverage may not work as planned or achieve its goals.
In pursuit of its investment objective, the Fund may reduce or increase the amount and type of leverage based upon changes in market conditions and composition of the Fund's holdings. The Fund's leverage ratio will vary from time to time based upon such changes in the amount of leverage used and variations in the value of the Fund's holdings. So long as the net income received from the Fund's investments purchased with leverage proceeds exceeds the then current expense of any leverage, the investment of the proceeds of leverage will generate more net income than if the Fund had not leveraged itself. Under these circumstances, the excess net income will be available to pay higher distributions to Common Shareholders. However, if the net income received from the Fund's portfolio investments purchased with the proceeds of leverage is less than the current expense of any leverage, the Fund may be required to utilize other Fund assets to make interest or dividend payments on its leveraging instruments which may result in a decline in Common Share NAV and reduced net investment income available for distribution to Common Shareholders.
The Fund pays a management fee to Nuveen Fund Advisors (which in turn pays a portion of such fee to Nuveen Asset Management) based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets include the proceeds realized and managed from the Fund's use of most types of leverage (excluding the leverage exposure attributable to the use of futures, swaps and similar derivatives). Because Managed Assets include the Fund's net assets as well as assets that are attributable to the Fund's investment of the proceeds of its leverage, it is anticipated that the Fund's Managed Assets will be greater than its net assets. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management are responsible for using leverage to pursue the Fund's investment objective. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management will base their decision regarding whether and how much leverage to use for the Fund, and the terms of that leverage, on their assessment of whether such use of leverage is in the best interests of the Fund. However, a decision to employ or increase leverage will have the effect, all other things being equal, of increasing Managed Assets and in turn Nuveen Fund Advisors' and Nuveen Asset Management's management fees. Thus, Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management have a conflict of interest in determining whether to use or increase leverage, including the use of the Facility. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management will seek to manage that conflict by using leverage only when they determine that it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders, and by periodically reviewing with the Board of Trustees the Fund's performance and the Fund's degree of overall use of leverage and the impact of the use of leverage on that performance.
12
The 1940 Act generally defines a "senior security" as any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any stock of a class having priority over any other class as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends; however, the term does not include any promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made for temporary purposes and in an amount not exceeding five percent of the value of the Fund's total assets. A loan shall be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed. Accordingly, "senior securities" include (i) the issuance of Preferred Shares; (ii) certain borrowings (including certain loans from financial institutions); and (iii) the issuance of debt securities.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue "senior securities" that are Preferred Shares if, immediately after the issuance of Preferred Shares, the asset coverage ratio with respect to such Preferred Shares would be less than 200%. With respect to any such Preferred Shares, asset coverage means the ratio which the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, bears to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the Fund plus the aggregate liquidation preference of such Preferred Shares.
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue "senior securities representing indebtedness" if, immediately after the issuance of such senior securities representing indebtedness, the asset coverage ratio with respect to such senior securities would be less than 300%. "Senior securities representing indebtedness" include certain borrowings (including certain loans from financial institutions) and debt securities. "Senior securities representing indebtedness" may also include other investments or transactions in accordance with the 1940 Act, such as reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions depending upon their treatment under Rule 18f-4 of the 1940 Act. In accordance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, when the Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, such as transactions in inverse floating rate securities, the Fund may either (i) maintain asset coverage in accordance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act with respect to such transactions and any other senior securities, including Preferred Shares and borrowings, or (ii) treat such transactions as "derivatives transactions" and comply with Rule 18f-4 with respect to such transactions. With respect to any such senior securities representing debt, asset coverage means the ratio which the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of such borrowing represented by senior securities issued by the Fund.
If the Fund issues senior securities and the asset coverage with respect to such senior securities declines below the required ratios discussed above (as a result of market fluctuations or otherwise), the Fund may sell portfolio securities when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
Certain types of leverage used by the Fund may result in the Fund being subject to certain covenants, asset coverage or other portfolio composition limits by its lenders, debt or preferred securities purchasers, rating agencies that may rate the debt or preferred securities, or reverse repurchase counterparties. Such limitations may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act and may impact whether the Fund is able to maintain its desired amount of leverage. At this time Nuveen Fund Advisors does not believe that any such potential investment limitations will impede it from managing the Fund's portfolio in accordance with its investment objective and policies.
Utilization of leverage is a speculative investment technique and involves certain risks to the Common Shareholders, including increased variability of the Fund's net income, distributions and NAV in relation to market changes. See "Leverage Risk," as such risk is contained in the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder Update-Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Fund-Principal Risks of the Fund-Fund Level and Other Risks." There is no assurance that the Fund will use leverage or that the Fund's use of leverage will work as planned or achieve its goals.
Effects of Leverage
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundEffects of Leverage," as such may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the effects of leverage.
13
RISK FACTORS
Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in any investment company security involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundPrincipal Risks of the Fund," as such principal risks may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the principal risks you should consider before making an investment in the Fund. Any additional risks applicable to a particular offering of Securities will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management. The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under "Management of the Fund" in the SAI.
Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers
Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund's overall investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund's portfolio, manages the Fund's business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2025, Nuveen managed approximately $1.4 trillion in assets, of which approximately $154.6 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Sub-Adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund's sub-adviser pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement"). Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management oversees day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
Portfolio Managers. Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for the execution of specific investment strategies and day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management manages the Nuveen funds using a team of analysts and portfolio managers that focuses on a specific group of funds. The day-to-day operation of the Fund and the execution of its specific investment strategies is the primary responsibility of Brenda Langenfeld, CFA, Tryg Sarsland, Benjamin Kerl, Noah Hauser, CFA and James Kim, the designated portfolio managers of the Fund. Ms. Langenfeld and Mr. Sarsland have served as portfolio managers of the Fund since April 2015, Mr. Kerl has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since October 2021, Mr. Hauser has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since March 2024, and Mr. Kim has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since February 2025.
14
Brenda A. Langenfeld, CFA, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's global fixed income team and a member of the preferred securities sector team. She is the lead manager for Nuveen's preferred and income-focused closed-end funds and portfolio manager of the Preferred Securities and Income strategy. She joined the preferred securities sector team in 2011. Brenda has been a co-manager for the Real Asset Income strategy since 2015, which invests in income generating debt and equity securities from both the real estate and infrastructure segments. In 2020 she became co-manager of the Credit Income strategy. Prior to her portfolio management roles, Brenda was a member of the high-grade credit sector team, responsible for trading corporate bonds. Previously, she was a member of the securitized debt sector team, trading mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
Tryg T. Sarsland, Managing Director and Director of Global Infrastructure Research at Nuveen, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's public global infrastructure and real asset income strategies. Offerings span both the traditional public real assets and responsible investing-focused investment styles. In addition, he is the director of research - infrastructure, overseeing direct management of the U.S.-based equity research analysts dedicated to global infrastructure and real asset income. Tryg also maintains analyst responsibilities for the global infrastructure and real asset income strategies, specializing in non-U.S. utilities. Before joining the firm in 2011, he was vice president and director of project finance at National Wind, LLC, where he spearheaded the development, procurement and investment of funds for wind energy projects. He was also vice president with Meridian Companies, LLC, and Standard Chartered Bank.
Benjamin T. Kerl, Managing Director at Nuveen, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's global real estate securities and global real estate carbon reduction strategies. He is also head of real estate investments for the Real Assets investment team at Nuveen. He specializes in real estate equities in the U.K., Europe and Canada. From 2012 through 2017, Ben also covered the multi-family and healthcare sectors for the firm's Real Estate Securities strategy. Ben began working in the investment industry in 2012 when he joined the firm. Before joining the firm, he worked for eight years in the real estate and renewable energy industries. Most recently, Ben was an independent consultant providing project development services to national and international wind energy developers. He started his career as a real estate development manager at Lander Group, where he managed infill multifamily and commercial projects from 2005 to 2007.
Noah P. Hauser, CFA, serves as Head of Infrastructure Investments for Nuveen, overseeing strategy, investment process and performance of the firm's infrastructure platform and also serves as a portfolio manager for Nuveen's public global infrastructure strategies. Offerings span both the traditional public real assets and responsible investing-focused investment styles. Previously, Noah served as a senior research analyst and head of North American utilities. Prior to joining Nuveen in 2015, Noah worked at Xcel Energy as the director of investor relations. Previously, he was a buy-side investment analyst for an energy-focused, relative value equity strategy at Decade Capital Management, a Millennium Group company. In that role, Noah performed detailed analysis on regulated utilities, independent power producers, pipelines and master limited partnerships. He began his career working as a sell-side equity analyst covering regulated utilities and power companies at Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers. Noah began working in the investment industry in 2008.
James Kim is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's leveraged finance team with a focus on the management of high yield mandates. James is the lead manager of the High Yield Income strategy and a co-manager on the High Yield, Real Asset Income and Credit Income strategies. He is also head of special situations, leading workouts and opportunistic investing for the leveraged finance platform. Previously, James was co-head of global fixed income research and head of the leveraged finance research team, overseeing its daily investment process. He also served as the co-head of research at Nuveen affiliate Symphony Asset Management, leading the firm's research team, daily investment process and opportunistic investments across its various mandates. Prior to this, he was a distressed generalist and an industry analyst responsible for a number of different industries, including energy, power, metals & mining and chemicals, providing long and short ideas across the capital structure. Prior to joining the firm, James was an associate at Greywolf Capital in its special situations group and an analyst at Watershed Asset Management. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, as an investment banking analyst both in the Strategy Group and Energy & Power Group.
Additional information about the Portfolio Managers' compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and the Portfolio Managers' ownership of securities in the Fund is provided in the SAI. The SAI is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting the Fund's website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund's website is not part of this Prospectus or the SAI, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein or in the SAI.
15
Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements
Investment Management Agreement. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the "Investment Management Agreement"), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below.
Fund-Level Fee. The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:
|
Average Daily Managed Assets* |
Fund Level Fee Rate |
|||
|
For the first $500 million |
0.8000% | |||
|
For the next $500 million |
0.7750% | |||
|
For the next $500 million |
0.7500% | |||
|
For the next $500 million |
0.7250% | |||
|
For managed assets over $2 billion |
0.7000% | |||
Complex-Level Fee. The overall complex-level fee, payable monthly, begins at a maximum rate of 0.1600% of the Fund's average daily managed assets, with breakpoints for eligible complex-level assets above $124.3 billion. Therefore, the maximum management fee rate for the Fund is the Fund-level fee plus 0.1600%. The current overall complex-level fee schedule is as follows:
| Complex-Level Asset Breakpoint Level* | Complex-Level Fee |
| For the first $124.3 billion | 0.1600% |
| For the next $75.7 billion | 0.1350% |
| For the next $200 billion | 0.1325% |
| For eligible assets over $400 billion | 0.1300% |
| * | See "Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers" in the SAI for more detailed information about the complex-level fee and eligible complex-level assets. |
As of October 31, 2025, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1559%.
In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any borrowings, expenses of issuing any Preferred Shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' most recent approval of the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund's semi-annual report to shareholders dated June 30, 2025.
Sub-Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management will receive from Nuveen Fund Advisors a management fee equal to 50% of Nuveen Fund Advisors' net management fee from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board's most recent decision to approve the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund's semi-annual report to shareholders dated June 30, 2025.
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Control Persons and Principal Holders of Common Shares
Except as noted below in the table, to the Fund's knowledge, no persons own of record or beneficially, five percent or more of any class of shares of the Fund as of [__], 2025:
| Class | Shareholder Name and Address |
Number of Shares Owned |
Percentage Owned | |||||
| [_] | [_] | [_] | [_]% | |||||
NET ASSET VALUE
[The Fund's NAV per Common Share is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. NAV is calculated by taking the market value of the Fund's total assets, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the NAV per share.
The Fund utilizes independent pricing services approved by its valuation designee to value portfolio instruments at their market value. Independent pricing services typically value non-equity portfolio instruments utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing services may consider information about a security, its issuer or market activity provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management.
The valuations for fixed-income securities and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of fair valuation techniques and methodologies.
For non-U.S. traded investments whose principal local markets close before the close of the NYSE, the Fund may adjust the local closing price based upon such factors as developments in non-U.S. markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent non-U.S. investments. The Fund may rely on an independent fair valuation service in making any such fair value determinations. If the Fund holds portfolio instruments that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the value of such instruments may change on days when the Fund's NAV is calculated.
If a price cannot be obtained from a pricing service or other pre-approved source, or if the Fund's valuation designee deems such price to be unreliable, or if a significant event occurs after the close of the local market but prior to the time at which the Fund's NAV is calculated, a portfolio instrument will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund's valuation designee. The Fund's valuation designee may determine that a price is unreliable in various circumstances. For example, a price may be deemed unreliable if it has not changed for an identified period of time, or has changed from the previous day's price by more than a threshold amount, and recent transactions and/or broker dealer price quotations differ materially from the price in question.
The Board of Trustees has designated Nuveen Fund Advisors as the Fund's valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act and delegated to Nuveen Fund Advisors the day-to-day responsibility of making fair value determinations. All fair value determinations made by Nuveen Fund Advisors are subject to review by the Board of Trustees. As a general principle, the fair value of a portfolio instrument is the amount that an owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the instrument's current sale. A range of factors and analysis may be considered when determining fair value, including relevant market data, interest rates, credit considerations and/or issuer specific news. However, fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a portfolio instrument may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that instrument.]
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund pays regular monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend distribution rate which may be set from time to time). The Fund intends to distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income each year through its regular monthly distributions and to distribute realized capital gains at least annually. In addition, in any monthly period, to maintain its declared per common share distribution amount, the Fund may distribute more or less than its net investment income during the period. In the event the Fund distributes more than its net investment income during any yearly period, such distributions may also include realized gains and/or a return of capital.
To the extent that a distribution includes a return of capital the NAV per share may erode. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."
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If the Fund's distribution includes anything other than net investment income, the Fund will provide a notice to Common Shareholders of its best estimate of the distribution sources at the time of the distribution. These estimates may not match the final tax characterization (for the full year's distributions) contained in the Common Shareholders' 1099-DIV forms after the end of the year.
While the Fund intends to distribute all realized capital gains at least annually, the Fund may elect to retain all or a portion of any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) otherwise allocable to Common Shareholders and pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. As provided under U.S. federal income tax law, Common Shareholders of record as of the end of the Fund's taxable year will include their share of the retained net capital gain in their income for the year as a long-term capital gain (regardless of their holding period in the common shares), and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for the federal income tax deemed paid on their behalf by the Fund. If the Fund's total distributions during a given year is an amount that exceeds the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess would be treated by Common Shareholders as return of capital for federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Common Shareholder's basis in their shares and thereafter as capital gain.
Distributions will be reinvested in additional shares under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless a shareholder elects to receive cash. The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time and may do so without prior notice to Common Shareholders.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateDividend Reinvestment Plan," which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
[The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings under this Prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Fund may offer and sell such Securities directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. Sales of Securities may be made in transactions that are deemed to be "at the market" as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of Securities will describe the terms of such offering, including, as applicable:
| ● | the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers; |
| ● | any sales loads, underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation; |
| ● | any discounts, commissions, fees or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers or agents; |
| ● | the public offering or purchase price of the offered Securities, the estimated net proceeds the Fund will receive from the sale and the use of proceeds; and |
| ● | any securities exchange on which the offered Securities may be listed. |
The prospectus supplement relating to any Rights offering will set forth the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right (or number of Rights) and the other terms of such Rights offering.
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Direct Sales
The Fund may offer and sell Securities directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resales of Securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The Fund may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered Securities directly. The Fund will describe the terms of any of those sales in a prospectus supplement.
By Agents
The Fund may offer and sell Securities through an agent or agents designated by the Fund from time to time. An agent may sell Securities it has purchased from the Fund as principal to other dealers for resale to investors and other purchasers, and may reallow all or any portion of the discount received in connection with the purchase from the Fund to the dealers. After the initial offering of Securities, the offering price (in the case of Securities to be resold at a fixed offering price), the concession and the discount may be changed.
By Underwriters
If any underwriters are involved in the offer and sale of Securities, such Securities will be acquired by the underwriters and may be resold by them, either at a fixed public offering price established at the time of offering or from time to time in one or more negotiated transactions or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing market prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase Securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all Securities described in the prospectus supplement if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to underwriters may be changed from time to time.
In connection with an offering of Common Shares, if a prospectus supplement so indicates, the Fund may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the prospectus supplement, to cover any overallotments.
By Dealers
The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time through one or more dealers who would purchase the securities as principal. The dealers then may resell the offered Securities to the public at fixed or varying prices to be determined by those dealers at the time of resale. The Fund will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the prospectus supplement.
General
Any underwriters, dealer or agent participating in an offering of Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter," as that term is defined in the 1933 Act, of Securities so offered and sold, and any discounts and commission received by them, and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered Securities for whom they act as agent, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Fund, to indemnification by the Fund against some liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act.
The Fund may offer to sell Securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may vary, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
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To facilitate an offering of Common Shares in an underwritten transaction and in accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares or any other Security. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.
| ● | An overallotment in connection with an offering creates a short position in the Common Shares for the underwriter's own account. |
| ● | An underwriter may place a stabilizing bid to purchase the Common Shares for the purpose of pegging, fixing, or maintaining the price of the Common Shares. |
| ● | Underwriters may engage in syndicate covering transactions to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the Common Shares by bidding for, and purchasing, the Common Shares or any other Securities in the open market in order to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering. |
| ● | The managing underwriter may impose a penalty bid on a syndicate member to reclaim a selling concession in connection with an offering when the Common Shares originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions or otherwise. |
Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities above independent market levels. Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
In connection with any Rights offering, the Fund may also enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter(s) will purchase Common Shares remaining unsubscribed for after the Rights offering.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each series of offered Preferred Shares will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is no market. Any underwriters to whom Preferred Shares are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Preferred Shares as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so, and any such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the Preferred Shares.
Underwriters, agents and dealers may engage in transactions with or perform services, including various investment banking and other services, for the Fund and/or any of the Fund's affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
The maximum amount of compensation to be received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed the applicable FINRA limit for the sale of any securities being offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements.
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.
A prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of Securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of Securities for Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell Securities to online brokerage account holders.]
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Common Shares
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares have a par value of $0.01 per share and, subject to the rights of holders of any Preferred Shares, have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Common Shares when issued, are fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in "Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws," non-assessable, and have no preemptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. A copy of the Declaration of Trust is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Fund's registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Each whole Common Share has one vote with respect to matters submitted for a vote by the Fund's Common Shareholders and on which the shareholder is entitled to vote, and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportional fractional vote consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. Whenever the Fund incurs borrowings and/or Preferred Shares are outstanding, Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all interest on such borrowings has been paid and all accumulated dividends on Preferred Shares have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the distributions and asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to Preferred Shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See "Preferred Shares" below.
The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE and trade under the ticker symbol "JRI" The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund does not issue share certificates.
Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Common shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than NAV. Common shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than NAV and have during other periods traded at prices lower than NAV.
Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, NAV, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than NAV in the future. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See "Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund."
Preferred Shares
The Fund's Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Preferred Shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The Fund currently has no Preferred Shares outstanding. The discussion below generally describes the rights of the holders of Preferred Shares, although the terms of any Preferred Shares that may be issued by the Fund may be the same as, or different from, the terms described below, subject to the applicable Statement, applicable law and the Declaration of Trust.
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Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue "senior securities" that are Preferred Shares if, immediately after the issuance of Preferred Shares, the asset coverage ratio would be less than 200%. See "Use of Leverage." Additionally, the Fund will generally not be permitted to purchase any of its Common Shares or declare dividends (except a dividend payable in Common Shares) or other distributions on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such purchase or declaration, the asset coverage ratio with respect to such Preferred Shares, after taking into account such purchase or distribution, is at least 200%. Preferred Shares issued by the Fund have priority over the Common Shares.
For so long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Fund will not: (1) declare or pay any dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in Common Shares) in respect of the Common Shares, (2) call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Common Shares, or (3) pay any proceeds of the liquidation of the Fund in respect of the Common Shares, unless, in each case, (A) immediately thereafter, the Fund shall be in compliance with the 200% asset coverage limitations set forth under the 1940 Act after deducting the amount of such dividend or other distribution or redemption or purchase price or liquidation proceeds and (B) all cumulative dividends and other distributions of shares of all series of Preferred Shares of the Fund due on or prior to the date of the applicable dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or acquisition shall have been declared and paid.
Dividends and Distributions and Priority of Payment
If the Fund issues Preferred Shares, the Fund's Preferred Shares will rank equally with each other and have priority over the Common Shares as to the payment of dividends and other distributions. The holders of Preferred Shares of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of funds legally available therefor in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and applicable law, cumulative cash dividends at the dividend rate for the Preferred Shares of such series payable on the dividend payment dates with respect to the Preferred Shares of such series. Holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on Preferred Shares which may be in arrears, and no additional sum of money will be payable in respect of such arrearage. Dividends on a series of Preferred Shares may be determined at a fixed rate, by reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, established by a remarketing agent or otherwise. Dividends may be subject to a maximum rate as set forth in the applicable statement establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of such Preferred Shares.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of Preferred Shares 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 Shareholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, holders of Preferred Shares will 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 another entity 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 Shares, the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that Preferred Shares be voting shares and have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except with respect to certain matters affecting only the holders of the Preferred Shares and except as discussed further below, holders of Preferred Shares vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class on matters submitted to Fund shareholders.
In connection with the election of the Fund's trustees, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect two of the Fund's trustees, and the remaining trustees are elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund's outstanding Preferred Shares are unpaid in an amount equal to two full years' dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund's trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.
22
The Fund's Preferred Shares, if any, will be issued pursuant to a Statement that sets forth certain voting and consent rights of the holders of such Shares, including with respect to certain actions that would affect the preferences, rights, or powers of such class or series or the authorization or issuance of any class or series ranking prior to the Preferred Shares. Except as may otherwise be required by law, the Fund's Declaration of Trust requires that (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund's Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company and (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares; provided however, that such separate class vote would be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any action not described in the preceding sentence 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 or changes in the investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under "Investment Restrictions" in the SAI. The class or series vote of holders of Preferred Shares described above would in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and Preferred Shares necessary to authorize the action in question.
The foregoing voting provisions would not apply with respect to any Fund Preferred Shares if, at or prior to the time when a vote was required, such shares have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient funds would have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.
Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares
The terms of the Preferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable by the Fund at certain times, in whole or in part, at the liquidation preference of such share plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase Preferred Shares and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares by the Fund would reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any resale of such shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.
23
RIGHTS OFFERINGS
The Fund may in the future, and at its discretion, choose to make offerings of Rights to its shareholders to purchase Common Shares. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with a Rights offering to shareholders, the Fund would distribute certificates or other documentation evidencing the Rights and a prospectus supplement to the Fund's shareholders as of the record date that the Fund sets for determining the shareholders eligible to receive Rights in such Rights offering. Any such future Rights offering will be made in accordance with the 1940 Act and, to the extent such Rights are transferable, will comply with applicable interpretations of the SEC or its staff, as such interpretations may be modified in the future, which currently require that: (i) the Fund's Board of Trustees make a good faith determination that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; (ii) the offering fully protects shareholders' preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional rights); (iii) management uses its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the Rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such Rights; and (iv) the ratio of such transferable Rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held.
The applicable prospectus supplement would describe the following terms of the Rights (to the extent each is applicable) in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the period of time the offering would remain open; |
| ● | the underwriter or distributor, if any, of the Rights and any associated underwriting fees or discounts applicable to purchases of the Rights; |
| ● | the title of such Rights; |
| ● | the exercise price for such Rights (or method of calculation thereof); |
| ● | the number of such Rights issued in respect of each share; |
| ● | the number of Rights required to purchase a single share; |
| ● | the extent to which such Rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable; |
| ● | if such Rights are transferable, a discussion regarding the Board of Trustees' basis for determining that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such Rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such Rights will commence, and the date on which such right will expire (subject to any extension); |
| ● | the extent to which such Rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such over-subscription privilege; |
| ● | termination rights the Fund may have in connection with such Rights offering; and |
| ● | any other terms of such Rights, including exercise, settlement and other procedures and limitations relating to the transfer and exercise of such Rights. |
A certain number of Rights would entitle the holder of the Right(s) to purchase for cash such number of shares at such exercise price as in each case is set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the Rights offered thereby. Rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such Rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised Rights would become void. Upon expiration of the Rights offering and the receipt of payment and the Rights certificate or other appropriate documentation properly executed and completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Rights agent, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, the Common Shares purchased as a result of such exercise will be issued as soon as practicable. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Fund may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS
General. The By-laws of the Fund provide that by becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the terms of the Declaration of Trust and By-laws. However, neither the Declaration of Trust nor the By-laws purport to require the waiver of a shareholder's rights under the federal securities laws.
Shareholder and Trustee Liability. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the Fund's obligations. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the Fund's debts or obligations and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration of Trust further provides for indemnification out of the Fund's assets and property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the Fund's obligations. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund's obligations are not binding upon the Fund's trustees individually, but only upon the Fund's assets and property, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration of Trust, however, protects a trustee against any liability to which the trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the trustee's office.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Declaration of Trust and By-laws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. The By-laws require the Board of Trustees be divided into three classes with staggered terms. See "Management of the Fund" in the SAI. This provision of the By-laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. When Preferred Shares are issued, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect two of the Fund's trustees. In addition, the Declaration of Trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and, if issued, Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund's assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund's investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders, and then only for cause, unless, with respect to (1) through (5), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund's Common Shares and, if issued, Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, would be required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. However, approval of shareholders would not be required for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end investment company to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization that adversely affects the holders of any outstanding Preferred Shares, the action in question also would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, unless such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund's Preferred Shares outstanding at the time would be required. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and any Preferred Shares voting together as a single class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees believes that the provisions of the Declaration of Trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
25
Procedural Requirements on Derivative Actions, Exclusive Jurisdiction and Jury Trial Waiver. The By-laws of the Fund contain certain provisions affecting potential shareholder claims against the Fund, including procedural requirements for derivative actions, an exclusive forum provision, and the waiver of shareholder rights to a jury trial. Massachusetts is considered a "universal demand" state, meaning that under Massachusetts corporate law a shareholder must make a demand on the company before bringing a derivative action (i.e., a lawsuit brought by a shareholder on behalf of the company). The By-laws of the Fund provide detailed procedures for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders which are modeled on the substantive provisions of the Massachusetts corporate law derivative demand statute. The procedures are intended to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to the Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Among other things, these procedures:
| ● | provide that before bringing a derivative action, a shareholder must make a written demand to the Fund; |
| ● | establish a 90-day review period, subject to extension in certain circumstances, for the Board of Trustees to evaluate the shareholder's demand; |
| ● | establish a mechanism for the Board of Trustees to submit the question of whether to maintain a derivative action to a vote of shareholders; |
| ● | provide that if the Fund does not notify the requesting shareholder of the rejection of the demand within the applicable review period, the shareholder may commence a derivative action; |
| ● | establish bases upon which a trustee will not be considered to be not independent for purposes of evaluating a derivative demand; and |
| ● | provide that if the trustees who are independent for purposes of considering a shareholder demand determine in good faith within the applicable review period that the maintenance of a derivative action is not in the best interest of the Fund, the shareholder shall not be permitted to maintain a derivative action unless the shareholder first sustains the burden of proof to the court that the decision of the trustees not to pursue the requested action was not a good faith exercise of their business judgment on behalf of the Fund. |
These procedures may be more restrictive than procedures for bringing derivative suits applicable to other investment companies.
The By-laws also require that actions by shareholders against the Fund, except for actions under the U.S. federal securities laws, be brought only in a certain federal court in Massachusetts, or if not permitted to be brought in federal court, then in the Business Litigation Session of the Massachusetts Superior Court in Suffolk County (the "Exclusive Jurisdictions"), and that the right to jury trial be waived to the fullest extent permitted by law. Other investment companies may not be subject to similar restrictions. The designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit than if the shareholder were permitted to select another jurisdiction. In the event a shareholder selects another jurisdiction to bring its suit and the venue for such suit is subsequently changed back to an Exclusive Jurisdiction through the legal process, then such shareholder shall be required to reimburse all expenses incurred by the Fund or any other person in effecting such change of venue back to the Exclusive Jurisdiction. Also, the designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions and the waiver of jury trials limit a shareholder's ability to litigate a claim in the jurisdiction and in a manner that may be more favorable to the shareholder. It is possible that a court may choose not to enforce these provisions of the Fund's By-laws.
26
Preemptive Rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that Common Shareholders shall have no right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares or investments of the Fund, other than such right, if any, as the Fund's Board of Trustees in its discretion may determine. As of the date of this Prospectus, no preemptive rights have been granted by the Board of Trustees.
Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust and By-laws on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV, the Fund's Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from NAV in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at NAV, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.
If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, it would be required to redeem all Preferred Shares, if any, then outstanding (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the Common Shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE or elsewhere and it would likely have to significantly reduce any leverage it is then employing, which may require a repositioning of its investment portfolio, which may in turn generate substantial transaction costs, which would be borne by Common Shareholders, and may adversely affect Fund performance and Fund distributions. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder) at their NAV, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. The Fund currently expects that any such redemptions would be made in cash. The Fund may charge sales or redemption fees upon conversion to an open-end fund. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end investment companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end investment companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. The Board of Trustees may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company depending upon its judgment as to the advisability of such action in light of circumstances then prevailing.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below NAV, the Fund's Board of Trustees would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund's shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.
27
TAX MATTERS
[The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. Common Shareholders. Please see the SAI for additional information. Investors should rely on their own tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund. This summary does not discuss the tax consequences of an investment in Rights or Preferred Shares. The tax consequences of such an investment will be discussed in the relevant prospectus supplement.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. Provided that the Fund timely distributes its income it is not expected to be subject to federal income tax. Dividends paid out of the Fund's investment company taxable income (which includes dividends the Fund receives, interest income and net short-term capital gain) will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, except as described below with respect to qualified dividend income. Net capital gain distributions (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains for non-corporate shareholders are currently taxable at a maximum federal income tax rate of 20%. In addition, certain individuals, estates and trusts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income, including net capital gains and other taxable dividends. Corporate shareholders are taxed on capital gain at the same rates as apply to ordinary income. Distributions derived from qualified dividend income and received by a non- corporate shareholder will be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the non-corporate shareholder must meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund. Taxable distributions are taxable whether or not such distributions are reinvested in the Fund. Dividend distributions may be subject to state and local taxation, depending on a shareholder's situation. The Fund's investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to make distributions eligible to be reported as qualified dividend income or for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. While the Fund may invest in municipal securities the interest income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax, the Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirements to pay exempt-interest dividends to shareholders.
If the Fund's total distributions exceed both the current taxable year's earnings and profits and accumulated earnings and profits from prior years, the excess generally will be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to and including the amount of a shareholder's tax basis in its shares of the Fund, and thereafter as capital gain. Upon a sale of shares of the Fund, the amount, if any, by which the sales price exceeds the basis in the shares of the Fund is gain subject to federal income tax. Because a return of capital reduces basis in the shares of the Fund, it will increase the amount of gain or decrease the amount of loss on a shareholder's subsequent disposition of the shares of the Fund.
As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain distribution requirements. The Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at the regular corporate rate on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) may claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder's gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. Unless a shareholder's investment in the Fund is through a tax-exempt entity or tax deferred retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan, the shareholder will normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any applicable state or local taxes, on the dividends and other distributions the shareholder receives from the Fund, whether it takes the distributions in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.
If the Fund utilizes leverage through borrowings, or otherwise, asset coverage limitations imposed by the 1940 Act as well as additional restrictions that may be imposed by certain lenders on the payment of dividends or distributions potentially could limit or eliminate the Fund's ability to make distributions on its common shares and/or preferred shares, if any, until the asset coverage is restored. These limitations could prevent the Fund from distributing at least 90% of its investment company taxable income as is required under the Code and therefore might jeopardize the Fund's qualification as a regulated investment company and/or might subject the Fund to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. The Fund endeavors to avoid restrictions on its ability to distribute dividends.
28
Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, and paid during the following January will be treated as having been received by shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.
Investments by the Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the Fund equal to a portion of the excess of the face value of the securities over their issue price (the "original issue discount" or "OID") each year that the securities are held, even though the Fund may receive no cash interest payments or may receive cash interest payments that are less than the income recognized for tax purposes. In addition, any market discount recognized on a market discount bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value, or below adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund's disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount. Because the income required to be recognized by the Fund as a result of the OID and/or market discount rules may not be matched by a corresponding cash payment to the Fund, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to be able to make distributions to its shareholders in order to qualify for treatment as a RIC and eliminate taxes at the Fund level.
Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the U.S. federal income tax status of all distributions.
Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-exempt entity or tax deferred retirement account, the repurchase, sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to Common Shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder's gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such Common Shares may be at least partly attributable to tax-exempt interest income. For non-corporate taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at rates of up to 20%. Short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are taxed to non-corporate taxpayers at ordinary income rates. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of Common Shares before holding them for six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the common shareholder of long-term capital gain (including any amount credited to the common shareholder as undistributed capital gain). Any loss realized by a shareholder on the disposition of shares held 6 months or less is disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to Common Shares. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund are replaced by substantially identical shares of the Fund (including shares acquired by reason of participation in the Plan) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares, or to the extent the shareholder enters into a contract or option to repurchase shares within such period. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
The Fund may be required to withhold (as "backup withholding") U.S. federal income tax for distributions (including exempt-interest dividends) and repurchase proceeds payable to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Fund with the shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if the shareholder has been notified by the IRS that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is 24%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability.
The Fund may invest in other instruments the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which is uncertain or subject to re-characterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such instruments or their income differs from the tax treatment expected by the Fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell instruments, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to RICs under the Code. Common Shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.]
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, located at One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016 (the "Custodian"). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund's transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent with respect to the Fund's Common Shares is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., located at 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021. The transfer agent, tender and dividend paying agent and calculation agent for any Preferred Shares, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
29
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, served as independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The principal business address of [ ] is [ ].
[ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, has been engaged to serve as independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund for the current fiscal year. The principal business address of [ ] is [ ].
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for the Fund by Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, located at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of [__]. Any additional legal opinions will be described in a prospectus supplement.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the 1940 Act and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE.
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information in the Fund's Registration Statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.
Additional information about the Fund and the Securities can be found in the Fund's Registration Statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund's Registration Statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The documents listed below, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b)(2) of the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering will be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and deemed to be part of this Prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents:
| ● | The Fund's SAI, dated [__], 2025; and |
| ● | The Fund's annual report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. |
| ● | The description of the Common Shares contained in the Fund's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-35472) filed with the SEC on March 23, 2012, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description prior to the termination of the offering registered hereby. |
The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Prospectus, and later information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Incorporated materials not delivered with the Prospectus may be obtained, without charge, by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or from the Fund's website (http://www.nuveen.com).
30
All dealers that effect transactions in Common Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a Prospectus.
[__]
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 jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 17, 2025
NUVEEN REAL ASSET INCOME AND GROWTH FUND
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
[__], 2025
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 10, 2012 and commenced investment operations on April 25, 2012.
This Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI") relating to the common shares ("Common Shares") of the Fund does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund's prospectus relating thereto dated [__], 2025 (the "Prospectus") and any related prospectus supplement. This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing such shares. Investors should obtain and read the Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement prior to purchasing. In addition, the Fund's financial statements and the independent registered public accounting firm's report therein included in the Fund's annual report dated December 31, 2024, are incorporated herein by reference. The Fund's unaudited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2025 included in the Fund's 2025 semi-annual report are also incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") web site (https://http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
Use of Proceeds |
2 |
|
Investment Objectives and Policies |
2 |
|
Investment Restrictions |
2 |
|
The Fund's Investments |
5 |
|
Management of the Fund |
28 |
|
Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers |
53 |
|
Code of Ethics |
59 |
|
Proxy Voting Policies |
59 |
|
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage |
59 |
|
Tax Matters |
61 |
|
Financial Statements |
71 |
|
Custodian and Transfer Agent |
72 |
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
72 |
|
Legal Matters |
72 |
|
Additional Information |
72 |
|
Appendix A |
A-1 |
|
Appendix B |
B-1 |
1
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from any offering will be invested in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies as stated below. The Fund currently anticipates that it will be able to invest substantially all of the net proceeds in investments that meet the Fund's investment objective and policies within approximately three months of the receipt of such proceeds. Pending investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality, short-term money market instruments.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Please refer to the section of the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled "Shareholder UpdateCurrent Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the FundInvestment Objective" and "Investment Policies," as such investment objective and investment policies may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund's investment objective and policies.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Except as described below, the Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class:
| (1) | Issue senior securities, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), except as permitted by the 1940 Act1; |
| (2) | Borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act1,2; |
| (3) | Act as underwriter of another issuer's securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities; |
| (4) | Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry, provided that the Fund will invest more than 25% of its total assets in the real estate industry group and more than 25% of its total assets in an industry group comprised of the energy, utilities and transportation industry groups, and provided further that such limitation shall not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities; |
| (5) | Purchase or sell real estate, except to the extent that interests in securities the Fund may invest in are considered to be interests in real estate, and this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities of companies that deal in real estate or are engaged in the real estate business, including real estate investment trusts, and securities secured by real estate or interests therein and the Fund may hold and sell real estate or mortgages on real estate acquired through default, liquidation, or other distributions of an interest in real estate as a result of the Fund's ownership of such securities; |
1 Section 18(c) of the 1940 Act generally limits a registered closed-end investment company to issuing one class of senior securities representing indebtedness and one class of senior securities representing stock, except that the class of indebtedness or stock may be issued in one or more series, and promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed, are not deemed a separate class of senior securities.
2 Section 18(a) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a registered closed-end fund from incurring borrowings if, immediately thereafter, the aggregate amount of its borrowings exceeds 33 1/3% of its total assets.
2
| (6) | Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments except to the extent that interests in securities the Fund may invest in are considered to be interests in commodities and this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities; |
| (7) | Make loans except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act3; |
| (8) | with respect to 75% of the value of the Fund's total assets, purchase any securities (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or by its agencies or instrumentalities, and securities issued by other investment companies), if as a result more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would then be invested in securities of a single issuer or if as a result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer; and |
| (9) | Invest in collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations. |
The Fund will generally use industry classifications such as those provided by MSCI and Standard & Poor's (The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)), Bloomberg, Barclays or similar sources commonly used in the financial industry.
For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (8) above, a governmental issuer shall be deemed the single issuer of a security when its assets and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-governmental issuer, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental issuer, then such non-governmental issuer would be deemed to be the single issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental or other entity (other than a bond insurer), it shall also be included in the computation of securities owned that are issued by such governmental or other entity. Where a security is guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank guarantee or letter of credit, such a guarantee or letter of credit would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such government, other entity or bank. When a municipal bond is insured by bond insurance, it shall not be considered a security that is issued or guaranteed by the insurer; instead, the issuer of such municipal bond will be determined in accordance with the principles set forth above.
3 Section 21 of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for a registered investment company, like the Fund, to lend money or other property if (i) the investment company's policies set forth in its registration statement do not permit such a loan or (ii) the borrower controls or is under common control with the investment company.
3
Subject to certain exemptions, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest only up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and only up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a shareholder in any investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company's expenses, and will also remain subject to payment of the Fund's management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Holders of Common Shares would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies.
Collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") and collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") are subsets of ABS that are collateralized by pools of corporate debt obligations, senior loans or other structured products. For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (9) above, CDOs and CLOs do not include other subsets of ABS that are not CDOs or CLOs as defined herein, including but not limited to, MBS and other forms of collateralized mortgage instruments, such as CMBS and residential MBS, and the other subsets of ABS that are not collateralized by corporate debt obligations, senior loans or other structured products and in which the Fund may invest as described in the Prospectus and this SAI.
In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees upon 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund may not:
| (1) | Purchase securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies except in compliance with the 1940 Act or any exemptive relief obtained thereunder. |
| (2) | Purchase securities of companies for the purpose of exercising control, except to the extent that exercise by the Fund of its rights under loan agreements would be deemed to constitute exercising control. |
The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at the time of purchase of securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities.
The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more credit rating agencies that may issue ratings for preferred shares, commercial paper or notes, or, if the Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. If these restrictions were to apply, it is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede the Fund's Advisers from managing the Fund's portfolio in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies.
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THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
The Fund generally invests in equity and debt securities issued by real asset-related companies located anywhere in the world in the infrastructure and real estate sectors. The infrastructure sector includes investments related to the energy, telecommunications, utilities and materials sectors. The real estate sector includes investments in real estate companies. Real asset-related companies are defined as: (i) companies that are in the energy, telecommunications, utilities or materials sectors; (ii) companies in the real estate or transportation industry groups; (iii) companies that, if not in one of these sectors or industry groups (a) derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from the ownership, management, operation, development, construction, financing or sale of real assets or (b) have at least 50% of the fair market value of their assets invested in real assets; or (iv) pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in the foregoing companies or that are otherwise designed primarily to provide investment exposure to real assets.
The Fund may invest in the securities of less seasoned companies, which may include start-up companies that have insubstantial operational or earnings history or limited products, markets, financial resources or management depth. These companies may also include emerging companies at the research and development stage with no products or technologies to market or that are approved for marketing.
The Fund also employs an option strategy focused on securities issued by real asset-related companies that seeks to generate option premiums for the purpose of enhancing the Fund's risk-adjusted total returns over time.
Equity Securities
Common Stock. The Fund may invest in common stocks issued by real asset-related companies. Common stock generally represents an equity ownership interest in an issuer, without preference over and with a lower priority than any other class of securities, including such issuer's debt securities, preferred stock and other senior equity securities. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Common stocks fluctuate in price in response to many factors including historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity, as such the company may or may not pay dividends. Dividends on common stocks are declared at the discretion of the company's board. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company's stock price.
Preferred Securities. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks issued by real asset-related companies. Preferred stock, which generally pays fixed or adjustable rate dividends or interest to investors, has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends or interest and the liquidation of a company's assets, which means that a company typically must pay dividends or interest on its preferred stock before paying any dividends on its common stock. On the other hand, preferred stock is junior to all forms of the company's debt, including both senior and subordinated debt. Because of its subordinated position in the capital structure of an issuer, the ability to defer dividend or interest payments for extended periods of time without adverse consequences to the issuer, and certain other features, preferred stock is often treated as an equity-like instrument by both issuers and investors, as its quality and value is heavily dependent on the profitability and cash flows of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets.
Warrants and Equity Securities. The Fund may acquire equity securities, warrants or rights issued by a borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the borrower or its affiliates issued in connection with a senior loan of the borrower. The Fund also may convert a warrant so acquired into the underlying security. Investments in warrants and equity securities entail certain risks in addition to those associated with investments in senior loans. The value of these securities may be affected more rapidly, and to a greater extent, by company-specific developments and general market conditions. These risks may increase fluctuations in the Fund's net asset value. The Fund may possess material non-public information about a borrower as a result of its ownership of a senior loan of such borrower. Because of prohibitions on trading in securities of issuers while in possession of such information, the Fund might be unable to enter into a transaction in a security of such a borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so.
Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). MLPs are publicly traded limited partnerships. The partnership units are registered with the SEC and are freely exchanged on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. MLPs are limited by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") to only apply to enterprises that engage in certain businesses, mostly pertaining to the use of natural resources, such as petroleum and natural gas extraction and transportation. Some real estate enterprises also may qualify as MLPs.
Real Estate Investment Trusts. Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") are typically publicly traded corporations or trusts that invest in residential or commercial real estate. REITs generally can be divided into the following three types: (i) equity REITs which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains or real estate appreciation; (ii) mortgage REITs which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgage loans and derive their income primarily from interest payments; and (iii) hybrid REITs which combine the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs. The Fund can invest in common stock, preferred securities, debt securities and convertible securities issued by REITs.
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Debt Securities
Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs). ETNs are a type of senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt security issued by financial institutions that combine aspects of both bonds and ETFs. An ETN's returns are based on the performance of a market index minus fees and expenses. Similar to ETFs, ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. However, unlike an ETF, an ETN can be held until the ETN's maturity, at which time the issuer will pay a return linked to the performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked minus certain fees.
Corporate Debt Securities. Corporate debt securities are fully taxable debt obligations issued by corporations. These securities fund capital improvements, expansions, debt refinancing or acquisitions that require more capital than would ordinarily be available from a single lender. Investors in corporate debt securities lend money to the issuing corporation in exchange for interest payments and repayment of the principal at a set maturity date. Rates on corporate debt securities are set according to prevailing interest rates at the time of the issue, the credit rating of the issuer, the length of the maturity and other terms of the security, such as a call feature. Corporate debt securities are subject to the risk of an issuer's inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. In addition, corporate restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers or similar corporate transactions are often financed by an increase in a corporate issuer's debt securities. As a result of the added debt burden, the credit quality and market value of an issuer's existing debt securities may decline significantly.
High Yield Debt Securities. High yield and comparable unrated debt securities (also known as "junk" bonds) are typically issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by companies that have questionable credit strength. These securities: (a) will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the NRSRO, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; and (b) are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. The yields on high yield and comparable unrated debt securities generally are higher than the yields available on investment-grade debt securities. However, investments in these securities generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of income and principal, including the possibility of default by or insolvency of the issuers of such securities. Since the risk of default is higher for high yield and comparable unrated debt securities, the Fund will try to minimize the risks inherent in investing in these securities by engaging in credit analysis, diversification, and attention to current developments and trends affecting interest rates and economic conditions. The Fund will attempt to identify those issuers of high yield and comparable unrated debt securities with a financial condition that is adequate to meet future obligations, has improved, or is expected to improve in the future. Accordingly, with respect to these types of securities, the Fund may be more dependent on credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds.
The market values of certain high yield and comparable unrated debt securities tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher-rated securities. In addition, issuers of these securities often are highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. The risk of loss due to default by such issuers is significantly greater because high yield and comparable unrated debt securities generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to senior indebtedness. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on such securities. The existence of limited markets for these securities may diminish the Fund's ability to: (a) obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing such securities and calculating its NAV; and (b) sell the securities at fair value either to meet its obligations or to respond to changes in the economy or in financial markets.
An economic recession could severely disrupt the market for such securities and adversely affect the value of such securities. Any such economic downturn also could severely and adversely affect the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon. Because certain high yield and comparable unrated debt securities may be issued by non-U.S. companies, some of which may be located in emerging markets countries, there are certain additional risks associated with such investments. See "-Securities Issued by Non-U.S. Issuers."
Senior Loans
Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. The capital structure of a borrower may include senior loans, senior and junior subordinated debt, preferred stock and common stock issued by the borrower, typically in descending order of seniority with respect to claims on the borrower's assets. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used by borrowers to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, re-financings, internal growth and for other corporate purposes. A senior loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or non-U.S. commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution ("Agent") for a lending syndicate of financial institutions which typically includes the Agent ("Lenders"). The Agent typically administers and enforces the senior loan on behalf of the other Lenders in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Lenders. In executing the Fund's investment strategies, the portfolio management team may consider in its discretion certain environmental, social, governance, climate, sustainability and other related factors to the extent any of these factors are deemed financially relevant from an investment perspective. Whether and the degree to which any of these factors are considered largely depends on the particular portfolio management team, strategy, asset classes, securities, and other factors, which could vary.
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Senior loans, like most other debt obligations, are subject to the risk of default. Default in the payment of interest or principal on a senior loan results in a reduction in income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the senior loan and a decrease in the Fund's net asset value ("NAV"). This decrease in the Fund's NAV would be magnified by the Fund's use of leverage. The risk of default increases in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase in interest rates. An increased risk of default could result in a decline in the value of senior loans and in the Fund's NAV.
Many senior loans in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO"), generally will not be registered with the SEC and generally will not be listed on a securities exchange. In addition, the amount of public information available with respect to senior loans generally may be less extensive than that available for registered and exchange-listed securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain senior loans or senior loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund's NAV per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Senior loans may not be rated at the time that the Fund purchases them. If a senior loan is rated at the time of purchase, Nuveen Asset Management may consider the rating when evaluating the senior loan but may not view ratings as a determinative factor in investment decisions. As a result, the Fund is more dependent on the credit analysis abilities of Nuveen Asset Management. Because of the protective terms of most senior loans, it is possible that the Fund is more likely to recover more of its investment in a defaulted senior loan than would be the case for most other types of defaulted debt securities.
Some senior loans in which the Fund may invest are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans, such as the Fund, including, under certain circumstances, invalidating such senior loans. Lenders commonly have certain obligations pursuant to the loan agreement, which may include the obligation to make additional loans or release collateral in certain circumstances.
No active trading market currently exists for some of the senior loans in which the Fund may invest and, thus, those loans may be illiquid. Liquidity relates to the ability of the Fund to sell an investment in a timely manner at a price approximately equal to its value on the Fund's books. The illiquidity of some senior loans may impair the Fund's ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets. Because of the lack of an active trading market, illiquid investments are also difficult to value and prices provided by external pricing services may not reflect the true fair value of the securities. The risks of illiquidity are particularly important when the Fund's operations require cash, and may in certain circumstances require that the Fund sell other investments or borrow to meet short-term cash requirements. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain senior loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The market for senior loans could be disrupted in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase or decrease in interest rates. This could result in increased volatility in the market and in the Fund's NAV and market price per share.
If legislation or state or federal regulators impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of financial institutions to make loans that are considered highly leveraged transactions, the availability of senior loans for investment by the Fund may be adversely affected. In addition, such requirements or restrictions could reduce or eliminate sources of financing for certain borrowers. This would increase the risk of default. If legislation or federal or state regulators require financial institutions to dispose of senior loans that are considered highly leveraged transactions or subject such senior loans to increased regulatory scrutiny, financial institutions may determine to sell such senior loans. Such sales could result in prices that, in the opinion of Nuveen Asset Management, do not represent fair value. If the Fund attempts to sell a senior loan at a time when a financial institution is engaging in such a sale, the price the Fund could get for the senior loan may be adversely affected.
Any lender, which could include the Fund, is subject to the risk that a court could find the lender liable for damages in a claim by a borrower arising under the common laws of tort or contracts or anti-fraud provisions of certain securities laws for actions taken or omitted to be taken by the lenders under the relevant terms of a loan agreement or in connection with actions with respect to the collateral underlying the senior loan. The Fund may purchase participations in senior loans. By purchasing a participation interest in a loan, the Fund acquires some or all of the interest of a bank or other financial institution in a loan to a corporate borrower. Under a participation, the Fund generally will have rights that are more limited than the rights of lenders or of persons who acquire a senior loan by assignment. In a participation, the Fund typically has a contractual relationship with the lender selling the participation, but not with the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the lender selling the participation in addition to the credit risk of the borrower. In the event of insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not have a senior claim to the lenders' interest in the senior loan. A lender selling a participation and other persons interpositioned between the lender and the Fund with respect to participations will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries.
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The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio senior loans where the borrowers have experienced, or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including involvement in or recent emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. Such investments may provide opportunities for enhanced income as well as capital appreciation. At times, in connection with the restructuring of a senior loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a senior loan.
Convertible Securities
Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred securities or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio or predetermined price (the "conversion price"). Convertible securities have general characteristics similar to both debt securities and common stock. The interest paid on convertible securities may be fixed or floating rate. Floating rate convertible securities may specify an interest rate or rates that are conditioned upon changes to the market price of the underlying common stock. Convertible securities also may be issued in zero coupon form with an original issue discount. See "-Zero Coupon and Payment-In-Kind Securities." Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stock and, therefore, will also react to variations in the general market for common stock. Depending upon the relationship of the conversion price to the market value of the underlying common stock, a convertible security may trade more like a common stock than a debt instrument. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation's common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a debt obligation. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt obligations and can provide for a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than common stock. However, convertible securities fall below debt obligations of the same issuer in order of preference or priority in the event of a liquidation, and are typically unrated or rated lower than such debt obligations. In addition, contingent payment convertible securities allow the issuer to claim deductions based on its nonconvertible cost of debt which generally will result in deductions in excess of the actual cash payments made on the securities (and accordingly, holders will recognize income in amounts in excess of the cash payments received). There can be no assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations. The convertible securities in which the Fund may invest may be below investment grade quality.
Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. A convertible security, in addition to providing current income, offers the potential for capital appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to benefit from any increases in the market price of the underlying common stock. The common stock underlying convertible securities may be issued by a different entity than the issuer of the convertible securities.
The value of convertible securities is influenced by both the yield of non-convertible securities of comparable issuers and by the value of the underlying common stock. The value of a convertible security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the basis of its yield) is sometimes referred to as its "investment value." The investment value of the convertible security typically will fluctuate based on the credit quality of the issuer and will fluctuate inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates. However, at the same time, the convertible security will be influenced by its "conversion value," which is the market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained if the convertible security were converted. Conversion value fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying common stock, and will therefore be subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. Depending upon the relationship of the conversion price to the market value of the underlying security, a convertible security may trade more like an equity security than a debt instrument.
If, because of a low price of the common stock, the conversion value is substantially below the investment value of the convertible security, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the value of the security will be principally influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security will sell at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed-income security.
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Mandatory convertible securities are distinguished as a subset of convertible securities because the conversion is not optional and the conversion price at maturity (or redemption) is based solely upon the market price of the underlying common stock, which may be significantly less than par or the price (above or below par) paid. Mandatory convertible securities may be called for conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including at a specified price) established upon its issuance. For these reasons, the risks associated with the investing in mandatory convertible securities most closely resemble the risks inherent in common stock. Mandatory convertible securities customarily pay a higher coupon yield to compensate for the potential risk of additional price volatility and loss upon redemption. Since the correlation of common stock risk increases as the security approaches its redemption date, there can be no assurance that the higher coupon will compensate for the potential loss. If a mandatory convertible security is called for conversion, the Fund will be required to either convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible fixed-income securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, a convertible security's market value also tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company, particularly when the stock price is greater than the convertible security's conversion price. The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price or exchange ratio at which the convertible security can be converted or exchanged for the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines below the conversion price, the price of the convertible security tends to be increasingly influenced more by the yield of the convertible security than by the market price of the underlying common stock.
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Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities
Mortgage-related securities are debt instruments that provide periodic payments consisting of interest and/or principal that are derived from or related to payments of interest and/or principal on underlying mortgages. Additional payments on mortgage-related securities may be made out of unscheduled prepayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, or from refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs that may be incurred. The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund invests will typically pay variable rates of interest, although the Fund may invest in fixed-rate obligations as well.
The Fund may invest in certain subsets of asset-backed securities ("ABS") as discussed in the Prospectus and in this SAI. ABS are payment claims that are securitized in the form of negotiable paper that is issued by a financing company (generally called a special purpose vehicle or "SPV"). These securitized payment claims are, as a rule, corporate financial assets brought into a pool according to specific diversification rules. The SPV is a company founded solely for the purpose of securitizing these claims and its only asset is the risk arising out of this diversified asset pool. On this basis, marketable securities are issued which, due to the diversification of the underlying risk, generally represent a lower level of risk than the original assets. The redemption of the securities issued by the SPV takes place at maturity out of the cash flow generated by the collected claims.
The underlying assets (e.g., mortgages) are subject to prepayments which shorten the securities' maturity and may lower their return. If the credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in the market's perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or fund providing the credit support or enhancement.
Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed-rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, mortgage-related securities held by the Fund may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. Nuveen Asset Management expects that the Fund will focus its mortgage-related investments principally in adjustable rate mortgage-related and other ABS, which should minimize the Fund's overall sensitivity to interest rate volatility and extension risk. However, because interest rates on most adjustable rate mortgage-related and other ABS typically only reset periodically (e.g., monthly or quarterly), changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the market value of these securities, including declines in market value as interest rates rise. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment risk. This can reduce the Fund's returns because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at lower prevailing interest rates. Below investment grade securities frequently have call features that allow an issuer to redeem a security at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met (commonly referred to as call protection). An issuer may redeem a lower grade security if, for example, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. senior loans typically have no such call protection. For premium bonds (bonds acquired at prices that exceed their par or principal value) purchased by the Fund, prepayment risk may be increased. The Fund's investments in other ABS are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.
Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities ("MBS") guaranteed by, or secured by collateral that is guaranteed by, the United States government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations. MBS are structured debt obligations collateralized by pools of commercial or residential mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans and mortgage-related loans, such as mezzanine loans, are assembled into pools of assets that secure or back securities sold to investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations. MBS in which the Fund may invest include those with fixed, floating or variable interest rates, those with interest rates that change based on a specified index of interest rates and those with interest rates that change inversely to changes in interest rates, as well as those that do not bear interest.
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"). CMBS generally are multiclass debt or pass-through certificates secured or backed by mortgage loans on commercial properties. CMBS generally are structured to provide protection to the senior class investors against potential losses on the underlying mortgage loans. This protection generally is provided by having the holders of subordinated classes of securities take the first loss if there are defaults on the underlying commercial mortgage loans. Other protection, which may benefit all of the classes or particular classes, may include issuer guarantees, reserve funds, cross-collateralization and over-collateralization. The Fund may invest in CMBS issued or sponsored by commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, private mortgage insurance companies and other non-governmental issuers. CMBS have no governmental guarantee.
Other Investments
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.
Other Corporate Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt securities, including corporate bonds. Corporate bonds generally are used by corporations to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain bonds are "perpetual" in that they have no maturity date. The Fund may invest in bonds and other debt securities of any quality. Corporate debt securities are fully taxable debt obligations issued by corporations. These securities fund capital improvements, expansions, debt refinancing or acquisitions that require more capital than would ordinarily be available from a single lender. Investors in corporate debt securities lend money to the issuing corporation in exchange for interest payments and repayment of the principal at a set maturity date. Rates on corporate debt securities are set according to prevailing interest rates at the time of the issue, the credit rating of the issuer, the length of the maturity and other terms of the security, such as a call feature.
Below Investment Grade Securities. Investments in below investment grade securities, commonly referred to as junk bonds or high yield debt, generally provide greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy. Issuers of below investment grade securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. In addition, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality securities.
Below investment grade securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in lower-grade security prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of an issuer to make principal and interest payments on its debt obligations. If an issuer of below investment grade securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In the case of below investment grade securities structured as zero coupon or ;payment-in-kind securities, their market prices will normally be affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest currently and in cash. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to reduce these risks through diversification, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in both the economy and financial markets.
The secondary market for below investment grade securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund's ability to dispose of a particular security. There are fewer dealers in the market for below investment grade securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and ask price is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund's NAV.
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Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of below investment grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market. When secondary markets for below investment grade securities are less liquid than the market for investment grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be more dependent on Nuveen Asset Management's research and analysis when investing in below investment grade securities. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to minimize the risks of investing in all securities through in-depth credit analysis and attention to current developments in interest rates and market conditions.
The ratings of Moody's, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, in the case of debt obligations, certain debt obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while debt obligations with the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. For these reasons, the use of credit ratings as the sole method of evaluating lower-grade securities can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of lower-grade securities. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated. Nuveen Asset Management does not rely solely on credit ratings when selecting securities for the Fund, and develops its own independent analysis of issuer credit quality.
The Fund's credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or Nuveen Asset Management downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Nuveen Asset Management may consider such factors as its assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. However, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.
Royalty Trusts. Royalty trusts are income-oriented equity investments that indirectly, through the ownership of trust units, provide investors (called "unit holders") with exposure to energy sector assets such as coal, oil and natural gas. Royalty trusts are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
Municipal Bonds and Other Municipal Obligations. These bonds and other obligations are issued by the states and by their local and special-purpose political subdivisions. The term "municipal bond" includes short-term municipal notes issued by the states and their political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, tax anticipation notes ("TANs"), bond anticipation notes ("BANs"), revenue anticipation notes ("RANs"), construction loan notes, tax free commercial paper, and tax free participation certificates. The Fund may invest in both taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds.
Municipal Bonds. The two general classifications of municipal bonds are "general obligation" bonds and "revenue" bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the governmental issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest upon a default by the issuer of its principal and interest payment obligations. They are usually paid from general revenues of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds, on the other hand, are usually payable only out of a specific revenue source rather than from general revenues. Revenue bonds ordinarily are not backed by the faith, credit or general taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. The principal and interest on revenue bonds for private facilities are typically paid out of rents or other specified payments made to the issuing governmental entity by a private company which uses or operates the facilities. Examples of these types of obligations are industrial revenue bond and pollution control revenue bonds. Industrial revenue bonds are issued by governmental entities to provide financing aid to community facilities such as hospitals, hotels, business or residential complexes, convention halls and sport complexes. Pollution control revenue bonds are issued to finance air, water and solids pollution control systems for privately operated industrial or commercial facilities.
Revenue bonds for private facilities usually do not represent a pledge of the credit, general revenues or taxing powers of issuing governmental entity. Instead, the private company operating the facility is the sole source of payment of the obligation. Sometimes, the funds for payment of revenue bonds come solely from revenue generated by operation of the facility. Revenue bonds which are not backed by the credit of the issuing governmental entity frequently provide a higher rate of return than other municipal obligations, but they entail greater risk than obligations which are guaranteed by a governmental unit with taxing power. Federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on industrial revenue bonds, and particularly certain specified private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986. In the future, legislation could be introduced in Congress which could further restrict or eliminate the income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations in which the Fund may invest.
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Refunded Bonds. Refunded bonds may have originally been issued as general obligation or revenue bonds, but become refunded when they are secured by an escrow fund, usually consisting entirely of direct U.S. government obligations and/or U.S. government agency obligations sufficient for paying the bondholders. There are two types of refunded bonds: pre-refunded bonds and escrowed- to-maturity ("ETM") bonds. The escrow fund for a pre-refunded municipal bond may be structured so that the refunded bonds are to be called at the first possible date or a subsequent call date established in the original bond debenture. The call price usually includes a premium from 1% to 3% above par. This type of structure usually is used for those refundings that either reduce the issuer's interest payment expenses or change the debt maturity schedule. In escrow funds for ETM refunded municipal bonds, the maturity schedules of the securities in the escrow funds match the regular debt-service requirements on the bonds as originally stated in the bond indentures.
Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. The Fund also may purchase municipal lease obligations, primarily through certificates of participation. Certificates of participation in municipal leases are undivided interests in a lease, installment purchase contract or conditional sale contract entered into by a state or local governmental unit to acquire equipment or facilities. Municipal leases frequently have special risks which generally are not associated with general obligation bonds or revenue bonds.
Municipal leases and installment purchase or conditional sales contracts (which usually provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer upon payment of all amounts due under the contract) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of municipal debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases and contracts of "non-appropriation" clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for this purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. Although these kinds of obligations are secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the pledged property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might, in some cases, prove difficult and time consuming. In addition, disposition upon non-appropriation or foreclosure might not result in recovery by the Fund of the full principal amount represented by an obligation.
Derivative Municipal Securities. Derivative municipal securities are custodial receipts of certificates underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain municipal securities. The underwriter of these certificates or receipts typically purchases municipal securities and deposits them in an irrevocable trust or custodial account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the obligation.
The principal and interest payments on the municipal securities underlying custodial receipts may be allocated in a number of ways. For example, payments may be allocated such that certain custodial receipts may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be stripped securities which pay only the principal or interest due on the underlying municipal securities.
Tender Option Bonds ("TOBs"). TOBs are created by municipal bond dealers who purchase long-term tax-exempt bonds in the secondary market, place the certificates in trusts, and sell interests in the trusts with puts or other liquidity guarantees attached. The credit quality of the resulting synthetic short-term instrument is based on the put provider's short-term rating and the underlying bond's long-term rating. There is some risk that a remarketing agent will renege on a tender option agreement if the underlying bond is downgraded or defaults. Because of this Nuveen Fund Advisors will consider on an ongoing basis the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying municipal securities, of any custodian, and of the third-party provider of the tender option. In certain instances and for certain TOBs, the option may be terminable in the event of a default in payment of principal or interest on the underlying municipal securities and for other reasons.
Inverse Floating Rate Municipal Obligations. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate municipal obligations. An inverse floating rate obligation entitles the holder to receive interest at a rate which changes in the opposite direction from, and in the same magnitude as, or in a multiple of, changes in a specified index rate. Although an inverse floating rate municipal obligation would tend to increase portfolio income during a period of generally decreasing market interest rates, its value would tend to decline during a period of generally increasing market interest rates. In addition, its decline in value may be greater than for a fixed-rate municipal obligation, particularly if the interest rate borne by the floating rate municipal obligation is adjusted by a multiple of changes in the specified index rate. For these reasons, inverse floating rate municipal obligations have more risk than more conventional fixed-rate and floating rate municipal obligations.
Variable Rate Demand Notes ("VRDNs"). VRDNs are long-term municipal obligations that have variable or floating interest rates and provide the Fund with the right to tender the security for repurchase at its stated principal amount plus accrued interest. Such securities typically bear interest at a rate that is intended to cause the securities to trade at par. The interest rate may float or be adjusted at regular intervals (ranging from daily to annually), and is normally based on an applicable interest index or another published interest rate or interest rate index. Most VRDNs allow the Fund to demand the repurchase of the security on not more than seven days prior notice. Other notes only permit the Fund to tender the security at the time of each interest rate adjustment or at other fixed intervals. Variable interest rates generally reduce changes in the market value of municipal obligations from their original purchase prices. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease, the potential for capital appreciation is less for variable rate municipal obligations than for fixed income obligations.
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Variable, Floating, and Fixed Rate Debt Obligations. The debt obligations in which the Fund invests or to which the Fund has exposure may have variable, floating, or fixed interest rates. Variable rate securities provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. Floating rate securities are generally offered at an initial interest rate which is at or above prevailing market rates. The interest rate paid on floating rate securities is then reset periodically (commonly every 90 days) to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. Commonly utilized indices include the three month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, the one-month term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), the prime rate of a bank, the commercial paper rates, or the longer term rates on U.S. Treasury securities. Variable and floating rate securities are relatively long-term instruments that often carry demand features permitting the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to maturity. If Nuveen Asset Management incorrectly forecasts such movements, the Fund could be adversely affected by use of variable and floating rate securities.
Fixed rate securities pay a fixed rate of interest and tend to exhibit more price volatility during times of rising or falling interest rates than securities with variable or floating rates of interest. The value of fixed rate securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. The value of variable or floating rate securities, on the other hand, fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed rate securities. This is because variable and floating rate securities behave like short-term instruments in that the rate of interest they pay is subject to periodic adjustments according to a specified formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. Fixed rate securities with short-term characteristics are not subject to the same price volatility as fixed rate securities without such characteristics. Therefore, they behave more like variable or floating rate securities with respect to price volatility.
Securities Issued by Non-U.S. Issuers
General. The Fund may invest in securities of non-U.S. issuers that are U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar denominated. The Fund may invest in any region of the world and invest in companies operating in developed countries such as Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries. An "emerging market" country is any country determined to have an emerging markets economy, considering, among other things, factors such as whether the country has a low-to-middle income economy according to the World Bank or its related organizations, the country's credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. These countries generally include countries located in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern and Central Europe. Securities of non-U.S. issuers include American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") or other securities representing underlying shares of non-U.S. issuers. Positions in those securities are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as the common stock into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. GDRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts evidencing ownership of non-U.S. securities. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for the U.S. securities markets and GDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in non-U.S. securities markets. The Fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored ADRs. In the case of an unsponsored ADR, the Fund is likely to bear its proportionate share of the expenses of the depository and it may have greater difficulty in receiving shareholder communications than it would have with a sponsored ADR.
Investors should understand and consider carefully the risks involved in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers involves certain considerations comprising both risks and opportunities not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These considerations include: (i) less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile, meaning that, in a changing market, Nuveen Asset Management may not be able to sell the Fund's portfolio securities at times, in amounts or at prices it considers reasonable; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund's investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession; (v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic developments may adversely affect the securities markets; (vi) withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund's return; (vii) certain non-U.S. countries may impose restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and/or interest to investors located outside the U.S. due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise; and (viii) possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of the company or its assets. These risks are more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant amount of its investments in issuers located in one region and to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of issuers in emerging markets.
Although the Fund may hedge its exposure to certain of these risks, including the foreign currency exchange rate risk, there can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into hedging transactions at any time or at times or under circumstances in which it might be advisable to do so.
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Foreign Securities Exchanges. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on foreign securities exchanges. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in some 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 is uninvested. In addition, settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities or to incur losses due to an inability to sell or deliver securities in a timely fashion. In the event of a default by an issuer of foreign securities, it may be more difficult for the Fund to obtain or to enforce a judgment against the issuer.
Whole Loans, Loan Participations and Other Mortgage-Related Interests
Whole Loans and Loan Participations. Whole loans are entire ownership interests in mortgage loans or installment sales contracts on residential property, including multifamily and/or single family residences. An installment sales contract is an agreement by a seller to deliver a deed to property when certain conditions have been met, such as the completion of payment by the purchaser. Payments typically include an initial down payment with the balance being paid in installments over a period of time. Loan participations are fractional interests in mortgage loans or installment sales contracts on residential property, including multifamily and/or single family residences. Payments of principal and interest on each underlying mortgage loan or installment sales contract are made by the borrower to the mortgage servicer who in turn is responsible for remitting to each loan participation holder its proportionate share of such payments in accordance with each holder's percentage interest in the underlying mortgage or installment sales contract.
Mortgage Servicing Rights. Loan participations to be offered by financial institutions may include, in addition to such loan participations, mortgage servicing rights. To the extent that loan participations and mortgage servicing rights are offered in one package by such financial institutions the Fund may seek to enter into arrangements with entities qualified to service mortgages pursuant to which the Fund would acquire the loan participations and such other entities would acquire the related mortgage servicing rights. In connection therewith, the Fund may seek to acquire an interest in the income generated by such mortgage servicing rights.
Mortgage servicing includes collecting and remitting loan payments, accounting for principal and interest, holding escrow funds for payments of taxes and insurance, collecting delinquent mortgages and supervising foreclosures in the event of unremedied defaults. Fees for performing mortgage servicing are based on the outstanding principal balance of the mortgages and are retained by the servicer out of monthly mortgage payments. As part of its servicing fees a mortgage servicer generally retains the interest earned on principal and interest payments prior to the time the servicer remits such amounts to the mortgage holder and the interest earned on escrows established for the payment of taxes and insurance of the mortgaged property. Interests in the cash flow from servicing fees may be acquired through contractual arrangements with the mortgage servicers or otherwise. The Fund will not seek to participate in mortgage servicing through the purchase of a mortgage banking company or the direct purchase of an existing servicing portfolio. In no event will the Fund actually perform mortgage servicing or be the mortgage servicer of record or enter into any arrangement pursuant to which the Fund could be liable to third parties in the event the mortgage servicer were to default on its obligations.
When a mortgage is prepaid or goes into default it generates no further income for the servicer. Accordingly, the value of mortgage servicing rights is extremely sensitive to prepayments and defaults. A rate of prepayment or default on the underlying mortgages greater than that anticipated by the Fund at the time of its investment in mortgage servicing rights would result in a reduced yield and possible loss of all or a portion of such investment.
In addition, the Fund's ability to invest in mortgage servicing rights may be further limited by the requirement that it derive at least 90% of its gross income from certain permitted sources in order to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.
The Fund's entitlement to income from servicing fees pursuant to the Fund's agreements with mortgage servicers is likely to depend on the mortgage servicer retaining its contractual right to servicing fees during the term of its agreement with the Fund. Should the mortgage servicer, during the term of its agreement with the Fund, become insolvent or have a receiver, conservator or similar official appointed for it by the appropriate regulatory authority or become a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding or for other reasons, such as a default, or lose its contractual rights to servicing fees, the Fund could lose the remaining value of its investment including anticipated future income. However, the Fund will seek to structure agreements which would provide for contractual remedies against the mortgage servicer under such circumstances.
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Zero Coupon and Payment-In-Kind Securities
The Fund's investments in debt securities may be in the form of a zero coupon bond or payment-in-kind securities. Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest for the entire life of the obligation. When held to its maturity, its return comes from the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. Payment-in-kind securities ("PIKs") pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. Each of these instruments is typically issued and traded at a deep discount from its face amount. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero coupon bonds and PIKs generally are more volatile than the market prices of debt instruments that pay interest currently and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund must generally distribute for each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the original issue discount accrued on zero coupon bonds and PIKs. Because the Fund will not on a current basis receive cash payments from the issuer of these securities in respect of any accrued original issue discount, in some years the Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from selling portfolio holdings of the Fund in order to avoid unfavorable tax consequences. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities at such time. Under many market conditions, investments in zero coupon bonds and PIKs may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.
When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions
The Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. On such transactions, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of the Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be taxable to shareholders. The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase municipal securities on a forward basis (i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within 60 days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and, at the time of delivery, the market value may be less than cost.
Derivatives and Hedging Strategies
The Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge certain risks of its investments in fixed-income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include options, financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate, credit default swaps and currency swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, forward foreign currency contracts and options on foreign currencies or other derivative instruments. The Fund's use of currency-related derivative instruments will be limited to hedging purposes only.
"Hedging" is a term used for various methods of seeking to preserve portfolio capital value by offsetting price changes in one investment through making another investment whose price should tend to move in the opposite direction.
A "derivative" is a financial contract whose value is based on (or "derived" from) a traditional security (such as a stock or a bond), an asset (such as a commodity like gold), or a market index (such as the S&P National Bond Fund Index). Some forms of derivatives may trade on exchanges, while non-standardized derivatives, which tend to be more specialized and complex, trade in "over-the-counter" ("OTC") or a one-on-one basis. It may be desirable and possible in various market environments to partially hedge the portfolio against fluctuations in market value due to market interest rate or credit quality fluctuations, or instead to gain a desired investment exposure, by entering into various types of derivative transactions, including financial futures and index futures as well as related put and call options on such instruments, structured notes, or interest rate swaps on taxable or tax-exempt securities or indexes (which may be "forward-starting"), credit default swaps, and options on interest rate swaps, among others.
These transactions present certain risks. In particular, the imperfect correlation between price movements in the futures contract and price movements in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge by the Fund may be greater than gains in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to close out the transaction without incurring losses substantially greater than the initial deposit. Finally, the potential deposit requirements in futures contracts create an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce yield. The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by the Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser to be active and sufficiently liquid. Net gains, if any, from hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable distributions to shareholders. Successful implementation of most hedging strategies will generate taxable income.
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Both parties entering into an index or financial futures contract are required to post an initial deposit, typically equal to from 1% to 5% of the total contract price. Typically, option holders enter into offsetting closing transactions to enable settlement in cash rather than take delivery of the position in the future of the underlying security. Interest rate swap and credit default swap transactions are typically entered on a net basis, meaning that the two payment streams are netted out with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund will sell only covered futures contracts.
There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful.
Short Sales. The Fund may make short sales of securities if, at all times when a short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, securities of the same issuer as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short. This technique is called selling short "against the box."
In a short sale, the Fund will not deliver from its portfolio the securities sold and will not receive immediately the proceeds from the sale. Instead, the Fund will borrow the securities sold short from a broker-dealer through which the short sale is executed and the broker-dealer will deliver such securities, on behalf of the Fund, to the purchaser of such securities. Such broker-dealer will be entitled to retain the proceeds from the short sale until the Fund delivers to such broker-dealer the securities sold short. In addition, the Fund will be required to pay the broker-dealer the amount of any dividends paid on shares sold short. Finally, to secure its obligation to deliver to such broker-dealer the securities sold short, the Fund must deposit and continuously maintain in a separate account with its custodian an equivalent amount of the securities sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities without the payment of additional consideration. The Fund is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers to the broker-dealer the securities sold, at which time the Fund will receive the proceeds of the sale. Because the Fund ordinarily will want to continue to hold securities in its portfolio that are sold short, the Fund will normally close out a short position by purchasing on the open market and delivering to the broker-dealer an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than delivering portfolio securities.
Short sales may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of its portfolio securities because any unrealized losses with respect to such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. However, any potential gain in such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are offset will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the conversion premium. The Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with short sales.
In addition to enabling the Fund to hedge against market risk, short sales may afford the Fund an opportunity to earn additional current income to the extent the Fund is able to enter into arrangements with broker- dealers through which the short sales are executed to receive income with respect to the proceeds of the short sales during the period the Fund's short positions remain open.
The Code imposes constructive sale treatment for federal income tax purposes on certain hedging strategies with respect to appreciated financial positions. Under these rules, the Fund will recognize gain, but not loss, with respect to securities if it enters into short sales or "offsetting notional principal contracts" (as defined by the Code) with respect to, or futures or forward contracts to deliver, the same or substantially identical property, or if it enters into such transactions and then acquires the same or substantially identical property.
Options on Securities. In order to hedge against adverse market shifts, the Fund may purchase put and call options on stock, bonds or other securities. In addition, the Fund may seek to hedge a portion of its portfolio investments through writing (i.e., selling) covered put and call options. A put option embodies the right of its purchaser to compel the writer of the option to purchase from the option holder an underlying security or its equivalent at a specified price at any time during the option period. In contrast, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying security covered by the option or its equivalent from the writer of the option at the stated exercise price at any time during the option period.
As a holder of a put option, the Fund will have the right to sell the securities underlying the option and as the holder of a call option, the Fund will have the right to purchase the securities underlying the option, in each case at their exercise price at any time during the option period prior to the option's expiration date. The Fund may choose to exercise the options it holds, permit them to expire or terminate them prior to their expiration by entering into closing sale or purchase transactions. In entering into a closing sale or purchase transaction, the Fund would sell an option of the same series as the one it has purchased. The ability of the Fund to enter into a closing sale transaction with respect to options purchased and to enter into a closing purchase transaction with respect to options sold depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market.
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In purchasing a put option, the Fund will seek to benefit from a decline in the market price of the underlying security, while in purchasing a call option, the Fund will seek to benefit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security. If an option purchased is not sold or exercised when it has remaining value, or if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, in the case of a put, or remains equal to or below the exercise price, in the case of a call, during the life of the option, the option will expire worthless. For the purchase of an option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price, in the case of a put, and must increase sufficiently above the exercise price, in the case of a call, to cover the premium and transaction costs. Because option premiums paid by the Fund are small in relation to the market value of the instruments underlying the options, purchasing options can result in amounts of leverage to the Fund. The leverage caused by trading in options could cause the Fund's NAV to be subject to more frequent and wider fluctuation than would be the case if the Fund did not invest in options.
The Fund will receive a premium when it writes put and call options, which increases the Fund's return on the underlying security in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. By writing a call, the Fund will limit its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund's obligation as the seller of the option continues. Upon the exercise of a put option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to the difference between the price at which the Fund is required to purchase the underlying security and its market value at the time of the option exercise, less the premium received for writing the option. Upon the exercise of a call option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to an amount not less than the excess of the security's market value at the time of the option exercise over the Fund's acquisition cost of the security, less the sum of the premium received for writing the option and the difference, if any, between the call price paid to the Fund and the Fund's acquisition cost of the security. Thus, in some periods the Fund might receive less total return and in other periods greater total return from its hedged positions than it would have received from its underlying securities unhedged.
Options on Stock and Bond Indexes. The Fund may purchase put and call options on stock indexes and bond indexes to hedge against risks of market-wide price movements affecting its assets. In addition, the Fund may write covered put and call options on stock and bond indexes. The advisability of using stock or bond index options to hedge against the risk of market-wide movements will depend on the extent of diversification of the Fund's investments and the sensitivity of its investments to factors influencing the underlying index. The effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock or bond index options as a hedging technique will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the Fund's investments correlate with price movements in the stock or bond index selected. In addition, successful use by the Fund of options on stock or bond indexes will be subject to the ability of the adviser to predict correctly changes in the relationship of the underlying index to the Fund's portfolio holdings. No assurance can be given that Nuveen Asset Management's judgment in this respect will be correct.
Options Strategy. The Fund may opportunistically employ an option strategy by writing (selling) call options on custom baskets of real estate securities not owned by the Fund. The Fund may also write (sell) covered call options on individual real estate and/or infrastructure securities owned by the Fund. The Fund also may write (sell) covered call options on individual securities issued by real asset-related companies.
An option contract 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 reference instrument underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the reference instrument (or the cash) upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the reference instrument (or the cash). Upon exercise of an index option, the writer of an option on an index is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. Options may be "covered," meaning that the party required to deliver the reference instrument if the option is exercised owns that instrument (or has set aside sufficient assets to meet its obligation to deliver the instrument). Options may be listed on an exchange or traded in the OTC market. In general, exchange-traded options have standardized exercise prices and expiration dates and may require the parties to post margin against their obligations, and the performance of the parties' obligations in connection with such options is guaranteed by the exchange or a related clearing corporation. OTC options have more flexible terms negotiated between the buyer and the seller, but generally are subject to counterparty risk. The ability of the Fund to transact business with any one or any number of counterparties, the lack of any independent evaluation of the counterparties or their financial capabilities, and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement, may increase the potential for losses to the Fund. OTC options also involve greater liquidity risk. This risk may be increased in times of financial stress, if the trading market for OTC derivative contracts becomes limited. The staff of the SEC takes the position that certain purchased OTC options, and assets used as cover for certain written OTC options, are illiquid.
The Fund may also write call options on custom baskets of real estate securities. A custom basket call option is an OTC option with a counterparty whose value is linked to the market value of a portfolio of underlying securities and is collateralized by a portion of the Fund's portfolio. In order to minimize the difference between the returns of the underlying securities in the custom basket (commonly referred to as a tracking error), Nuveen Asset Management will use optimization calculations when selecting the individual securities for inclusion in the custom basket.
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In selecting real estate securities for each custom basket, the Fund seeks to minimize the difference between the returns of the underlying stocks of the custom basket and an index of real estate securities (commonly referred to as tracking error) and, at the same time, maximize exposure to securities that the portfolio managers believe are less likely to outperform the relevant market benchmarks over time. Securities selected for each custom basket will primarily consist of underweighted positions relative to the relevant market benchmarks, and may include securities held and not held in the Fund's portfolio. The objective in structuring these custom baskets is to produce option premiums without limiting the upside potential for specific securities that the portfolio managers believe may outperform over time.
In addition to the use of call options as described above, the Fund may enter into certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective, including to seek to enhance return, to hedge certain risks of its investments in fixed-income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate, credit default swaps and credit default swap indices), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments.
Stock and Bond Index Futures Contracts. The Fund may purchase and sell stock or bond index futures as a hedge against movements in the equity or bond markets. Stock and bond index futures contracts are agreements in which one party agrees to deliver to the other an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock or bond index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made.
For example, if Nuveen Asset Management expects general stock or bond market prices to decline, they might sell a futures contract on a particular stock or bond index. If that index does in fact decline, the value of some or all of the securities in the Fund's portfolio may also be expected to decline, but that decrease would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund's position in such futures contract. If, on the other hand, Nuveen Asset Management expects general stock or bond market prices to rise, they might purchase a stock or bond index futures contract as a hedge against an increase in prices of particular securities they want ultimately to purchase. If in fact the stock or bond index does rise, the price of the particular securities intended to be purchased may also increase, but that increase would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund's futures contract resulting from the increase in the index. The Fund may purchase futures contracts on a stock or bond index to enable Nuveen Asset Management to gain immediate exposure to the underlying securities market pending the investment in individual securities of the Fund's portfolio.
Parties to a futures contract must make "initial margin" deposits to secure performance of the contract. There are also requirements to make "variation margin" deposits from time to time as the value of the futures contract fluctuates.
The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs).
With respect to options purchased by the Fund, there are no daily cash payments made by the Fund to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of the Fund.
Other Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund's use of derivative instruments also may include (i) U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts; and (ii) options on U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts. All such instruments must be traded and listed on an exchange. U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency futures contracts are standardized contracts for the future delivery of a U.S. Treasury Bond or U.S. Treasury Note or a U.S. Government Agency security or their equivalent at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. An option on a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser of the option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time on or before the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the seller of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the seller's future margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.
Risks Associated with Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures prices are affected by many factors, such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. While the Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example, the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell a portion of its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily variation margin requirements on its futures contracts or options on futures contracts at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Fund's portfolio holdings and futures contracts or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as: variations in speculative market demand for futures, futures options and the related securities, including technical influences in futures and futures options trading and differences between the securities markets and the securities underlying the standard contracts available for trading. Futures prices are affected by many factors, such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until the expiration of the contract. Further, the Fund's use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to Nuveen Asset Management's ability to predict correctly changes in interest rate relationships or other factors. A decision as to whether, when and how to use futures contracts 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 stock price or interest rate trends. No assurance can be given that Nuveen Asset Management's judgment in this respect will be correct.
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Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day's settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses. Stock index futures contracts are not normally subject to such daily price change limitations.
The Fund may invest in other options. An option is an instrument that gives the holder of the instrument the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a predetermined number of specific securities (i.e., preferred stocks, common stocks or bonds) at a stated price within the expiration period of the instrument, which is generally less than 12 months from its issuance. If the right is not exercised after a specified period but prior to the expiration, the option expires. Both put and call options may be used by the Fund.
The Fund may purchase and sell various other kinds of financial futures contracts and options thereon. Futures contracts may be based on various debt securities and securities indexes. Such transactions involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the Fund's initial investment in these contracts. The Fund only purchases or sells futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"). These transactions involve transaction costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund's use of futures will be advantageous to the Fund.
Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. The Fund expects that the Fund's portfolio investments in adjustable rate debt instruments in which the Fund may invest will serve as a hedge against the risk that common share net income and/or returns may decrease due to rising market dividend or interest rates on any preferred shares or borrowings. If market conditions are deemed favorable, the Fund also may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions to attempt to protect itself from such interest rate risk on the remaining amount of any outstanding preferred shares and/or borrowings. Interest rate swaps involve the Fund's agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the Fund a payment at a variable rate that is expected to approximate the rate on the Fund's variable rate payment obligation on borrowings or any variable rate preferred shares. The payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund may use an interest rate cap, which would require it to pay a premium to the cap counterparty and would entitle it, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, to receive from the counterparty payment of the difference based on the notional amount. The Fund would use interest rate swaps or caps only with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on common share net earnings as a result of leverage. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
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Because adjustable rate debt instruments in which the Fund may invest and the Fund's preferred shares and borrowings generally pay interest or dividends based on short-term market interest rates, the Fund's investments in adjustable rate debt instruments may potentially offset the leverage risks borne by the Fund relating to the fluctuations on common share income due to variations in the preferred share dividend rate and/or the interest rate on borrowings. The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund will not enter into any interest rate swap unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by Nuveen Fund Advisors. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.
The Fund may use interest rate swaps for risk management purposes only and not as a speculative investment and would typically use interest rate swaps to shorten the average interest rate reset time of the Fund's holdings. The use of interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and caps, is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund's use of interest rate swaps or caps could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Common Shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and could result in a decline in the NAV of Common Shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund's fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce common share net earnings. If, on the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance common share net earnings. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the common shares by providing a maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the common shares in the event that the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount the Fund would have been required to pay had it not entered into the cap agreement. The Fund will not enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions in an aggregate notional amount that exceeds the remainder of the outstanding amount of the Fund's leverage, less the amount of adjustable rate debt instruments in the Fund's portfolio. The Fund has no current intention of selling an interest rate swap or cap. The Fund will monitor its interest rate swap and cap transactions with a view to insuring that it remains in compliance with all applicable tax requirements.
Interest rate swaps and caps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset the interest payments on borrowings or dividend payments on the preferred shares. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the common shares. Although this will not guarantee that the counterparty does not default, the Fund will not enter into an interest rate swap or cap transaction with any counter-party that Nuveen Fund Advisors believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligation under the interest rate swap or cap transaction. Further, Nuveen Fund Advisors will continually monitor the financial stability of a counterparty to an interest rate swap or cap transaction in an effort to proactively protect the Fund's investments.
In addition, at the time the interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund would not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement would not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Fund's common shares. The Fund may choose or be required to prepay any borrowings or redeem some or all of the preferred shares. This redemption would likely result in the Fund seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transaction. Such early termination of a swap could result in termination payment by or to the Fund. An early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund.
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Total Return Swaps. The Fund will enter into total return swaps only on a net basis. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the "total return" of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. The Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.
Such instruments may include total return swaps whose prices, in Nuveen Asset Management's opinion, correlate with the prices of the instruments in which the Fund may primarily invest. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset(s), which may include indices, securities or baskets of securities during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from other underlying asset(s).
The Fund may utilize total return swaps as a component of "synthetic" investments. A "synthetic" investment is comprised of two components that, when combined, replicate or emulate the economic exposure of a third investment. The Fund may use the combination of a total return swap and cash equivalents to replicate or emulate exposure to adjustable rate debt instruments. The cash equivalent market value effectively represents the "principal" portion of such "synthetic" instrument exposure, and the total return swap market value (not notional value) represents the "interest" and/or "return" portion of such adjustable rate debt instruments exposure. When combined, these two components provide the investment profile of a direct investment in portfolio instruments.
Currency Swaps. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange equivalent fixed amounts in two different currencies for a fixed period of time. The exchange of currencies at the inception date of the contract takes place at the current spot rate. Such an agreement may provide that, for the duration of the swap, each party pays interest to the other on the received amount at an agreed upon fixed or floating interest rate. When the contract ends, the parties re-exchange the currencies at the initial exchange rate, a specified rate, or the then current spot rate. Some currency swaps may not provide for exchanging currencies, but only for exchanging interest cash flows.
Credit Default Swaps. The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts for risk management purposes, including diversification. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. Credit default swaps may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. If the Fund is a seller of a contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to such debt obligations. In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If the Fund is a buyer of a contract, the Fund would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt obligations. In return, the Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund.
The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a "short" position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.
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As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund would pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. However, if a credit event occurs the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.
If the Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. However, if a credit event occurs, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under "-Risks Associated with Swap Transactions."
Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally would incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Risks Associated with Swap Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund generally may close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract only with its particular counterparty, and generally may transfer a position only with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund's ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Futures and Options on Futures Generally. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a "financial instrument") for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract (same exchange, underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.
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Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant ("FCM"), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income. Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM's other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs.
A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.
Limitations on the Use of Futures, Futures Options and Swaps. Nuveen Fund Advisors has claimed, with respect to the Fund, the exclusion from the definition of "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended ("CEA"), provided by CFTC Regulation 4.5 and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In addition, Nuveen Asset Management has claimed the exemption from registration as a commodity trading advisor provided by CFTC Regulation 4.14(a)(8) and is therefore not currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In February 2012, the CFTC announced substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if the Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are "in-the-money" at the time of purchase are "in-the-money") may not exceed 5% of the Fund's NAV, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund's NAV (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on December 31, 2012, and the Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5's requirements such that Nuveen Fund Advisors will not be required to register as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to employ futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund's policies. However, the requirements for qualification as a "regulated investment company" under the Code, may limit the extent to which the Fund may employ futures, options on futures or swaps.
Credit-Linked Notes. The Fund may invest in credit-linked notes ("CLN") for risk management purposes, including diversification. A CLN is a derivative instrument that is a synthetic obligation between two or more parties where the payment of principal and/or interest is based on the performance of some obligation (a reference obligation). In addition to credit risk of the reference obligation and interest rate risk, the purchaser/seller of the CLN is subject to counterparty risk.
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Currency Exchange Transactions. The Fund may enter into currency exchange transactions to hedge the Fund's exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the event the Fund invests in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers. The Fund's currency transactions will be limited to portfolio hedging involving portfolio positions. Portfolio hedging is the use of a forward contract with respect to a portfolio security position denominated or quoted in a particular currency. A forward contract is an agreement to purchase or sell a specified currency at a specified future date (or within a specified time period) and price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are usually entered into with banks, foreign exchange dealers or broker-dealers, are not exchange- traded, and are usually for less than one year, but may be renewed. At the maturity of a forward contract to deliver a particular currency, the Fund may either sell the portfolio security related to such contract and make delivery of the currency, or it may retain the security and either acquire the currency on the spot market or terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing an offsetting contract with the same currency trader obligating it to purchase on the same maturity date the same amount of the currency.
It is impossible to forecast with absolute precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a forward contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of currency that the Fund is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some of the currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security if its market value exceeds the amount of currency the Fund is obligated to deliver.
If the Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will incur a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been movement in forward contract prices. If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to sell the currency. Should forward prices decline during the period between the Fund's entering into a forward contract for the sale of a currency and the date it enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of the currency, the Fund will realize a gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to sell exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to sell. A default on the contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits or force the Fund to cover its commitments for purchase or sale of currency, if any, at the current market price.
Hedging against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent losses if the prices of such securities decline. Such transactions also preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged currency should rise. Moreover, it may not be possible for the Fund to hedge against a devaluation that is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to contract to sell the currency at a price above the devaluation level it anticipates. The cost to the Fund of engaging in currency exchange transactions varies with such factors as the currency involved, the length of the contract period, and prevailing market conditions. Since currency exchange transactions are usually conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.
Other Hedging Transactions. The Fund may invest in relatively new instruments without a significant trading history for purposes of hedging the Fund's portfolio risks. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.
Risks associated with hedging transactions. The Fund may use derivatives or other instruments for purposes of hedging its portfolio against declining markets. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Fund's portfolio holdings and such derivatives, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended consequences of the applicable hedging transaction or expose the Fund to risk of loss. Further, the Fund's use of derivatives and other instruments to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to Nuveen Asset Management's ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedging instruments to the Fund's portfolio or other factors. No assurance can be given that Nuveen Asset Management's judgment in this respect will be correct. Consequently, the use of hedging transactions might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund, whether or not adjusted for risk, than if the Fund had not hedged its portfolio. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging transactions at times or under circumstances in which it would be advisable to do so.
24
Illiquid Securities
The Fund may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable), including, but not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may be resold only pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days. Illiquid securities may also include securities legally restricted as to resale, such as securities issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the 1933 Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its designee.
Short-Term/Long-Term Debt Securities; Temporary Defensive Positions
For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in cash equivalents and short-term taxable fixed-income securities. Short-term taxable fixed income investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
| (1) | U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the GNMA, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the FNMA, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate. |
| (2) | Certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current Federal Deposit Insurance Company regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully insured. |
| (3) | Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt instruments. At the time the Fund purchases securities pursuant to a repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers' acceptances in which the Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. Nuveen Fund Advisors monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. Nuveen Fund Advisors does so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Fund. |
If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.
25
| (4) | Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. Nuveen Fund Advisors will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity measures) and will continuously monitor the corporation's ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund's liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. |
Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest.
| (5) | Bankers' acceptances, which are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the full amount of the instrument upon maturity. |
| (6) | Variable amount master demand notes, which are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate according to the terms of the instrument. Because master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, they are not normally traded. Although there is no secondary market in the notes, the Fund may demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any time. While the notes are not typically rated by credit rating agencies, issuers of variable amount master demand notes (which are normally manufacturing, retail, financial, and other business concerns) must satisfy the same criteria as set forth above for commercial paper. |
| (7) | Variable rate demand obligations ("VRDOs"), which are securities in which the interest rate is adjusted at pre-designated periodic intervals. VRDOs may include a demand feature which is a put that entitles the holder to receive the principal amount of the underlying security or securities and which may be exercised either at any time on no more than 30 days' notice or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 calendar days on no more than 30 days' notice. |
The Fund may also invest in Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of U.S. or foreign banks; Eurodollar time deposits, which are U.S. dollar-denominated deposits in foreign branches of U.S. or foreign banks; and Yankee certificates of deposit, which are U.S. dollar denominated certificates of deposit issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks and held in the United States. In each instance, the Fund may only invest in bank instruments issued by an institution which has capital, surplus and undivided profits of more than $100 million or the deposits of which are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
26
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, the Fund may invest a portion of its Managed Assets in pooled investment vehicles (other than investment companies) that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies and/or other pooled investment vehicles either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of a large purchase of common shares, preferred shares and/or borrowings, or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive securities of the types in which the Fund may invest in directly available in the market. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors or its affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. As an investor in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company's expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund's advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Nuveen Asset Management will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in the investment company relative to available securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, the securities of other investment companies also may be leveraged and therefore will be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. As described in the section entitled "Risk Factors," the NAV and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares. The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act. Moreover, the Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell that security at a higher price) with respect to its permitted investments. The Fund's repurchase agreements will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the agreement, and will be marked-to-market daily. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund's holding period.
Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The Fund only enters into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in Nuveen Asset Management's opinion, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
Nuveen Asset Management will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, Nuveen Asset Management will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.
27
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement (as defined under "Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers-Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees"), is the responsibility of the Board. The number of Trustees of the Fund is twelve, all of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as "Independent Trustees"). None of the Independent Trustees has ever been a director, trustee or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen LLC ("Nuveen"), Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, or their affiliates. The Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, the Class I Trustees serving until the 2025 annual meeting, the Class II Trustees serving until the 2026 annual meeting and the Class III Trustees serving until the 2027 annual meeting, in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, as described below. Currently, Michael A. Forrester, Thomas J. Kenny, Margaret L. Wolff and Robert L. Young are slated in Class I, Joseph A. Boateng, Amy B. R. Lancellotta, John K. Nelson and Terence J. Toth are slated in Class II, and Joanne T. Medero, Albin F. Moschner, Loren M. Starr and Matthew Thornton III are slated in Class III. As each Trustee's term expires, shareholders will be asked to elect Trustees and such Trustees shall be elected for a term expiring at the time of the third succeeding annual meeting subsequent to their election or thereafter in each case when their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. These provisions could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. See "Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws" in the prospectus.
The officers of the Fund serve annual terms through August of each year and are elected on an annual basis. The names, business addresses and years of birth of the Trustees and officers of the Fund, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each oversees and other trusteeships they hold are set forth below. Except as noted in the table below, the Trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 220 Nuveen-sponsored registered investment companies (the "Nuveen Funds"), which includes 147 open-end mutual funds, 46 closed-end funds and 27 Nuveen-sponsored exchange-traded funds.
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|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
| Independent Trustees: | ||||||||||
|
Thomas J. Kenny Chicago, IL 60606 1963 |
Trustee | Term-Class I Length of Service-Since 2011. | Advisory Director (2010-2011), Partner (2004-2010), Managing Director (1999-2004) and Co- Head of Global Cash and Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team (2002-2010), Goldman Sachs Asset Management (asset management). | 220 | Director (since 2015) and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee (since 2018), Aflac Incorporated; formerly, Director (2021-2022), ParentSquare; formerly, Director (2021-2022) and Finance Committee Chair (2016- 2022), Sansum Clinic; formerly, Advisory Board Member (2017-2019), B'Box; formerly, Member (2011-2020), the University of California at Santa Barbara Arts and Lectures Advisory Council; formerly, Investment Committee Member (2012-2020), Cottage Health System; formerly, Board Member (2009-2019) and President of the Board (2014- 2018), Crane Country Day School; Trustee (2011-2023) and Chairman (2017-2023), the College Retirement Equities Fund; Manager (2011-2023) and Chairman (2017-2023), TIAA Separate Account VA-1 |
29
Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Robert L. Young 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1963 |
Chair of the Board and Trustee |
Term-Class I Length of Service- Since 2017, Chair since January 1, 2025. | Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (financial services) (2010-2016); formerly, President and Principal Executive Officer (2013-2016), and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2005-2010), of J.P. Morgan Funds; formerly, Director and various officer positions for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (formerly, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and formerly, One Group Administrative Services) and JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. (financial services) (formerly, One Group Dealer Services, Inc.) (1999-2017). | 220 | None |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Joseph A. Boateng*
Chicago, IL 60606 |
Trustee | Term-Class II. Length of Service -Since 2019. | Chief Investment Officer, Casey Family Programs (since 2007); formerly, Director of U.S. Pension Plans, Johnson & Johnson (2002-2006). | 219 | Board Member, Lumina Foundation (since 2018) and Waterside School (since 2021); Board Member (2012- 2019) and Emeritus Board Member (since 2020), Year-Up Puget Sound; Investment Advisory Committee Member and Former Chair (since 2007), Seattle City Employees' Retirement System; Investment Committee Member (since 2012), The Seattle Foundation; Trustee (2018- 2023), the College Retirement Equities Fund; Manager (2019- 2023), TIAA Separate Account VA- 1. | |||||
|
Michael A. Forrester*
Chicago, IL 60606 |
Trustee | Term-Class I. Length of Service -Since 2007. | Formerly, Chief Executive Officer (2014-2021) and Chief Operating Officer (2007-2014), Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC. | 219 | Director, Aflac Incorporated (since 2025); Trustee, Dexter Southfield School (since 2019); Member (since 2020), Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council (IDC); Trustee, the College Retirement Equities Fund and Manager, TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (2007-2023). | |||||
|
Amy B.R. Lancellotta 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1959 |
Trustee | Term-Class II Length of Service-Since 2021 | Formerly, Managing Director, IDC (supports the fund independent director community and is part of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents regulated investment companies) (2006-2019); formerly, various positions with ICI (1989-2006). | 220 | President (since 2023) and Member (since 2020) of the Board of Directors, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA). |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Joanne T. Medero 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1954 |
Trustee | Term-Class III Length of Service-Since 2021 | Formerly, Managing Director, Government Relations and Public Policy (2009-2020) and Senior Advisor to the Vice Chairman (2018-2020), BlackRock, Inc. (global investment management firm); formerly, Managing Director, Global Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, Barclays Group (IBIM) (investment banking, investment management businesses) (2006-2009); formerly, Managing Director, Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Barclays Global Investors (global investment management firm) (1996-2006); formerly, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (law firm) (1993-1995); formerly, General Counsel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (government agency overseeing U.S. derivatives markets) (1989- 1993); formerly, Deputy Associate Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial Affairs, Office of Presidential Personnel, The White House (1986-1989). | 220 | Member (since 2019) of the Board of Directors, Baltic- American Freedom Foundation (seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development through exchanges in the U.S.). |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Albin F. Moschner 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1952 |
Trustee | Term-Class III Length of Service-Since 2016 | Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Northcroft Partners, LLC, (management consulting), (since 2012); previously, held positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., (consumer wireless service) including Consultant (2011-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011) and Chief Marketing Officer (2004-2008); formerly, President, Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (telecommunications services) (2000-2003); formerly, President, One Point Services at One Point Communications (telecommunications services) (1999-2000); formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board, Diba, Incorporated (internet technology provider) (1996- 1997); formerly, various executive positions (1991-1996) and Chief Executive Officer (1995-1996) of Zenith Electronics Corporation (consumer electronics). | 220 | Formerly, Chairman (2019), and Director (2012-2019), USA Technologies, Inc. (a provider of solutions and services to facilitate electronic payment transactions); formerly, Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation (1996-2016). |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
John K. Nelson 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1962 |
Trustee | Term-Class II Length of Service-Since 2016 | Formerly, Senior External Advisor to the Financial Services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (consulting and accounting) (2012-2014); Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., North America (insurance), and Global Head of the Financial Markets Division (2007-2008), with various executive leadership roles in ABN AMRO Bank N.V. between 1996 and 2007. | 220 | Formerly, Member of Board of Directors (2008-2023) of Core12 LLC (private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients); formerly, Member of the President's Council (2010-2019) of Fordham University; formerly, Director (2009-2018) of the Curran Center for Catholic American Studies; formerly, Trustee and Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2013). | |||||
|
Loren M. Starr*
Chicago, IL 60606 |
Trustee | Term-Class III Length of Service-Since 2022 | Independent Consultant/Advisor (since 2021), Vice Chair, Senior Managing Director (2020- 2021), Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managing Director (2005-2020), Invesco Ltd (asset management). | 219 | Director (since 2023) and Chair of the Board (since 2025), formerly, Chair of the Audit Committee (2024-2025), AMG; formerly, Chair and Member of the Board of Directors (2014- 2021), Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI); formerly, Chair and Member of the Board of Trustees (2014- 2018), Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE); Trustee, the College Retirement Equities Fund and Manager, TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (2022-2023). |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Matthew Thornton III 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1958 |
Trustee | Term-Class III Length of Service -Since 2020 | Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2018- 2019), FedEx Freight Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation ("FedEx") (provider of transportation, ecommerce and business services through its portfolio of companies); formerly, Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations (2006-2018), Federal Express Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx. | 220 | Member of the Board of Directors (since 2014), The Sherwin-Williams Company (develops, manufactures, distributes and sells paints, coatings and related products); Member of the Board of Directors (since 2020), Crown Castle International (provider of communications infrastructure); formerly, Member of the Board of Directors (2012-2018), Safe Kids Worldwide® (a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries). |
35
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Terence J. Toth 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1959 |
Trustee | Term-Class II Length of Service- Since 2008 | Formerly, Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (investment advisory firm) (2008-2017); formerly, Director of Quality Control Corporation (manufacturing) (2012- 2021); formerly, Director, Fulcrum IT Service LLC (information technology services firm to government entities) (2010- 2019); formerly, Director, LogicMark LLC (health services) (2012-2016); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (asset management) (2008- 2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (financial services) (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000- 2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (financial services) (since 1994). | 220 | Formerly, Chair and Member of the Board of Directors (2021- 2024), Kehrein Center for the Arts (philanthropy); Member of the Board of Directors (since 2008), Catalyst Schools of Chicago (philanthropy); Member of the Board of Directors (since 2012), formerly, Investment Committee Chair (2017-2022), Mather Foundation (philanthropy); formerly, Member (2005-2016), Chicago Fellowship Board (philanthropy); formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004- 2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004). |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Trust |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years |
|||||
|
Margaret L. Wolff 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1955 |
Trustee | Term-Class I Length of Service-Since 2016 | Formerly, Of Counsel (2005- 2014), Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (legal services). | 220 | Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2005), New York-Presbyterian Hospital; Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2004) formerly, Chair (2015-2022), The John A. Hartford Foundation (philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College; formerly, Member of the Board of Directors (2013- 2017) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). |
| * | Mr. Boateng, Mr. Forrester and Mr. Starr were each elected or appointed as a board member of each of the Nuveen Funds except Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund for which each serves as a consultant. |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served with Funds in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
|||
| Officers of the Fund: | ||||||
|
David J. Lamb 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1963 |
Chief Administrative Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2015 | Senior Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen; has previously held various positions with Nuveen. | |||
|
Brett E. Black 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1972 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2022 | Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer of Nuveen; formerly, Vice President (2014-2022), Chief Compliance Officer and Anti- Money Laundering Compliance Officer (2017-2022) of BMO Funds, Inc. | |||
|
Mark J. Czarniecki 901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55402 1979 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2013 | Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen; Managing Director Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; has previously held various positions with Nuveen; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC. | |||
|
Marc Cardella 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd Charlotte, NC 28262 1984 |
Vice President and Controller (Principal Financial Officer) | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2024 | Senior Managing Director, Head of Public Investment Finance of Nuveen; Senior Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC, Managing Director of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and TIAA SMA Strategies LLC; Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer of TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and the College Retirement Equities Fund. | |||
|
Joseph T. Castro 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1964 |
Vice President | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2025 | Executive Vice President, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, formerly, Senior Managing Director and Head of Compliance, Nuveen; Executive Vice President, formerly, Senior Managing Director, Nuveen Securities, LLC; Senior Managing Director, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen, LLC. | |||
|
Jeremy D. Franklin 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 1983 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2024 | Managing Director and Assistant Secretary, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Vice President Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America; Vice President and Assistant Secretary, TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary, TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and College Retirement Equities Fund; has previously held various positions with TIAA. |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served with Funds in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
|||
|
Diana R. Gonzalez 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 1978 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2017 | Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen. | |||
|
Nathaniel T. Jones 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1979 |
Vice President | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2016 | Senior Managing Director, Head of Public Product of Nuveen; President, formerly, Senior Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; has previously held various positions with Nuveen, Chartered Financial Analyst. | |||
|
Brian H. Lawrence 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 1982 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2023 | Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen; Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; formerly Corporate Counsel of Franklin Templeton (2018-2022). | |||
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Tina M. Lazar 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1961 |
Vice President | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2002 | Managing Director of Nuveen Securities, LLC. | |||
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Brian J. Lockhart 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1974 |
Vice President | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2019 | Senior Managing Director and Head of Investment Oversight of Nuveen; Senior Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; has previously held various positions with Nuveen; Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Risk Manager. |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served with Funds in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
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John M. McCann 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 1975 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2022 | Senior Managing Director, Division General Counsel of Nuveen; Senior Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of TIAA SMA Strategies LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds, TIAA-CREF Life Funds, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Teacher Advisors LLC, TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC, and Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC; has previously held various positions with Nuveen/TIAA. | |||
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Kevin J. McCarthy 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1966 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2007 | Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Executive Vice President and Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC, TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC and Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC; Executive Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; has previously held various positions with Nuveen/TIAA; Vice President and Secretary of Winslow Capital Management, LLC; formerly, Vice President (2007-2021) and Secretary (2016-2021) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC. |
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R. Tanner Page 1985 |
Vice President and Treasurer | Term-Indefinite Length of Service-Since 2025 | Managing Director, formerly, Vice President of Nuveen; has previously held various positions with Nuveen. |
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Table of Contents
|
Name, Business Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with the Fund |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served with Funds in the Fund Complex |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
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William A. Siffermann 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1975 |
Vice President |
Term-Indefinite Length of Service- Since 2017 |
Senior Managing Director of Nuveen. |
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Mark L. Winget 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1968 |
Vice President and Secretary |
Term-Indefinite Length of Service- Since 2008 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen. | |||
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Rachael Zufall 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 1973 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Term-Indefinite Length of Service- Since 2022 |
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Teacher Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director of Nuveen, LLC and of TIAA. |
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Table of Contents
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Board oversees the operations and management of the Fund, including the duties performed for the Fund by Nuveen Fund Advisors. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of trustees who serves on the board of every fund in the complex. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, diversity (including, among other things, gender, race and ethnicity), independence and experience to oversee the Fund's business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the Trustees consider not only the candidate's particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and experience enhance the Board's diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the Board generally benefits from diversity of background (including, among other things, gender, race and ethnicity), skills, experience and views among Trustees, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy on diversity or any particular definition of diversity.
The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme which raises common issues that must be addressed by the Trustees across the fund complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures which increases the Board's knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Board's influence and oversight over Nuveen Fund Advisors and other service providers.
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In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chair that is an Independent Trustee. The Board recognizes that a chair can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for Fund management and reinforcing the Board's focus on the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chair may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with Fund management. Accordingly, the Trustees have elected Mr. Young to serve as an independent Chair of the Board. Pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, the Chairs shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chair of the Board and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Trustees or the By-Laws. Specific responsibilities of the Chairs include (i) coordinating with fund management in the preparation of the agenda for each meeting of the Board; (ii) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; and (iii) serving as a liaison with other trustees, the Trust's officers and other fund management personnel, and counsel to the independent trustees.
Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters (such as advisory contracts and underwriting contracts), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a committee structure is an effective means to permit Trustees to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Nuveen Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters relating to valuation, compliance and investment risk to certain committees (as summarized below). In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of Trustees among the different committees allows the Trustees to gain additional and different perspectives of the Fund's operations. The Board has established seven standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Investment Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Closed-End Funds Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below. For more information on the Board, please visit www.nuveen.com/fundgovernance.
The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. The members of the Executive Committee are Mr. Young, Chair, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Toth. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 the Executive Committee met five times.
The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions (with subsequent ratification by the Board) on each Nuveen Fund's shares, including, but not limited to, regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. The Dividend Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Dividend Committee are Mr. Thornton, Chair, Mr. Kenny, Ms. Lancellotta, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Starr. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 the Dividend Committee met ten times.
The Board has an Audit Committee, in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") that is composed of Independent Trustees who are also "independent" as that term is defined in the listing standards pertaining to closed-end funds of the NYSE. The Audit Committee assists the Board in: the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and financial reporting policies, processes and practices of the Nuveen Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the Nuveen Funds' compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Nuveen Funds' financial statements; the independent auditors' qualifications, performance and independence; and the Valuation Policy of the Nuveen Funds and the internal valuation group of the Adviser, as valuation designee for the Nuveen Funds. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board approval and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Nuveen Funds' portfolios. The Audit Committee is also primarily responsible for the oversight of the Valuation Policy and actions taken by the Adviser, as valuation designee of the Funds, though its internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the Audit Committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the Nuveen Funds' securities brought to its attention, and considers the risks to the Nuveen Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Nuveen Funds in conjunction with performing its functions.
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To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee regularly meets with Fund management to discuss the Nuveen Funds' annual and semi-annual reports and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Nuveen Funds and the Adviser's internal audit group. In assessing financial risk disclosure, the Audit Committee also may review, in a general manner, the processes the Board or other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Nuveen Funds' financial statements. The Audit Committee operates under a written Audit Committee Charter (the "Charter") adopted and approved by the Board, which Charter conforms to the listing standards of the NYSE. Members of the Audit Committee are independent (as set forth in the Charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Trustees, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Nelson, Chair, Mr. Boateng, Ms. Lancellotta, Mr. Starr, Ms. Wolff, Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Young, each of whom is an Independent Trustee of the Nuveen Funds. Mr. Boateng, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Starr and Mr. Young have each been designated as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the rules of the SEC. A copy of the Charter is available at https://www.nuveen.com/fund-governance. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Audit Committee met 14 times.
The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee (the "Compliance Committee") is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds that are not otherwise under or within the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Nuveen Funds' compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee: reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.
In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of general risks related to investments which are not reviewed by other committees, such as liquidity and derivatives usage; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; techniques that may be used to address the foregoing risks, such as hedging and swaps and Fund operational risk and risks related to the overall operation of the TIAA/Nuveen enterprise and, in each case, the controls designed to address or mitigate such risks. In assessing issues brought to the Compliance Committee's attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Nuveen Funds in adopting a particular approach compared to the anticipated benefits to the Nuveen Funds and their shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer ("CCO") and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Nuveen Funds' and other service providers' compliance programs as well as any recommendations for modifications thereto. Certain matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed by another committee or directly by the full Board. The Compliance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Compliance Committee are Ms. Wolff, Chair, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Kenny, Ms. Medero, Mr. Moschner and Mr. Toth. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Compliance Committee met five times.
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The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members, and the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. The Nominating and Governance Committee recognizes that as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the Nominating and Governance Committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions, and recommend any modifications thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Board's governance of the Nuveen Funds.
In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things: makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of Trustees; monitors performance of legal counsel; establishes and monitors a process by which security holders are able to communicate in writing with Trustees; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to Trustee compensation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources, including shareholders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to William Siffermann, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new Trustees and each nominee is evaluated using the same standards. However, the Nominating and Governance Committee reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final selection of any new Trustees. In considering a candidate's qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence meetings with sub-advisers and service providers) and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee candidate, independence from the Adviser, sub-advisers, Nuveen Asset Management, underwriters and other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent Trustees at the time of consideration of the nominees. All candidates, however, must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with Fund management and yet maintain a collegial and collaborative manner toward other Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board, a copy of which is available on the Funds' website at https://www.nuveen.com/fund-governance, and is composed entirely of Independent Trustees, who are also "independent" as defined by NYSE listing standards. Accordingly, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Mr. Young, Chair, Mr. Boateng, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Kenny, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero, Mr. Moschner, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Starr, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Toth and Ms. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Nominating and Governance Committee met five times.
The Investment Committee is responsible for the oversight of Nuveen Fund performance, investment risk management and other portfolio-related matters affecting the Nuveen Funds which are not otherwise the jurisdiction of the other Board committees. As part of such oversight, the Investment Committee reviews each Nuveen Fund's investment performance and investment risks, which may include, but is not limited to, an evaluation of Nuveen Fund performance relative to investment objectives, benchmarks and peer group; a review of risks related to portfolio investments, such as exposures to particular issuers, market sectors, or types of securities, as well as consideration of other factors that could impact or are related to Nuveen Fund performance; and an assessment of Nuveen Fund objectives, policies and practices as such may relate to Nuveen Fund performance. In assessing issues brought to the committee's attention or in reviewing an investment policy, technique or strategy, the Investment Committee evaluates the risks to the Nuveen Funds in adopting or recommending a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Nuveen Funds and their shareholders.
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In fulfilling its obligations, the Investment Committee receives quarterly reports from the investment oversight and the investment risk groups at Nuveen. Such groups also report to the full Board on a quarterly basis and the full Board participates in further discussions with fund management at its quarterly meetings regarding matters relating to Nuveen Fund performance and investment risks, including with respect to the various drivers of performance and Nuveen Fund use of leverage and hedging. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Investment Committee oversees the investment performance and investment risk management of the Nuveen Funds. The Investment Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent Trustees of the Nuveen Funds. Accordingly, the members of the Investment Committee are Mr. Boateng and Ms. Lancellotta, Co-Chairs, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Kenny, Ms. Medero, Mr. Moschner, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Starr, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Toth, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Investment Committee met four times.
The Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen funds that are registered as closed-end management investment companies ("Closed-End Funds"). The Closed-End Funds Committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Closed-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Closed-End Fund. The Closed-End Funds Committee receives updates on the secondary closed-end fund market and evaluates the premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, at each quarterly meeting. The Closed-End Funds Committee reviews, among other things, the premium and discount trends in the broader closed-end fund market, by asset category and by closed-end fund; the historical total return performance data for the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, based on net asset value and price over various periods; the volatility trends in the market; the use of leverage by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund; the distribution data of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, and as compared to peer averages; and a summary of common share issuances, if any, and share repurchases, if any, during the applicable quarter by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund. The Closed-End Funds Committee regularly engages in more in-depth discussions of premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds. Additionally, the Closed-End Funds Committee members participate in in-depth workshops to explore, among other things, actions to address discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds, potential share repurchases and available leverage strategies and their use. The Closed-End Funds Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Closed-End Funds Committee are Mr. Moschner, Chair, Mr. Kenny, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Starr, Mr. Thornton, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Closed-End Funds Committee met four times.
Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications
Listed below for each current Trustee are the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each current Trustee should serve as a trustee of the Fund.
Joseph A. Boateng. Since 2007, Mr. Boateng has served as the Chief Investment Officer for Casey Family Programs. He was previously Director of U.S. Pension Plans for Johnson & Johnson from 2002-2006. Mr. Boateng is a board member of the Lumina Foundation and Waterside School, an emeritus board member of Year Up Puget Sound, member of the Investment Advisory Committee and former Chair for the Seattle City Employees' Retirement System, and an Investment Committee Member for The Seattle Foundation. Mr. Boateng previously served on the Board of Trustees for the College Retirement Equities Fund (2018-2023) and on the Management Committee for TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (2019-2023). Mr. Boateng received a B.S. from the University of Ghana and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Michael A. Forrester. From 2007 to 2021, Mr. Forrester held various positions with Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC ("Copper Rock"), including Chief Executive Officer (2014-2021), Chief Operating Officer ("COO") (2007-2014) and Board Member (2007-2021). Mr. Forrester is currently a member of the Independent Directors Council Governing Council of the Investment Company Institute. He also serves as a Director of Aflac Incorporated and is on the Board of Trustees of the Dexter Southfield School. Mr. Forrester previously served on the Board of Trustees for the College Retirement Equities Fund and on the Management Committee for TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (2007-2023). Mr. Forrester has a B.A. from Washington and Lee University.
Thomas J. Kenny. Mr. Kenny served as an Advisory Director (2010-2011), Partner (2004-2010), Managing Director (1999-2004) and Co-Head (2002-2010) of Goldman Sachs Asset Management's Global Cash and Fixed Income Portfolio Management team, having worked at Goldman Sachs since 1999. Mr. Kenny is a Director and the Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee of Aflac Incorporated and a Director of ParentSquare. He is a Former Director and Finance Committee Chair for the Sansum Clinic; former Advisory Board Member, B'Box; former Member of the University of California at Santa Barbara Arts and Lectures Advisory Council; former Investment Committee Member at Cottage Health System; and former President of the Board of Crane Country Day School. Mr. Kenny previously served on the Board of Trustees (2011-2023) and as Chairman (2017-2023) for the College Retirement Equities Fund and on the Management Committee (2011-2023) and as Chairman (2017- 2023) for TIAA Separate Account VA-1. He received a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.S. from Golden Gate University. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Amy B. R. Lancellotta. After 30 years of service, Ms. Lancellotta retired at the end of 2019 from the Investment Company Institute ("ICI"), which represents regulated investment companies on regulatory, legislative and securities industry initiatives that affect funds and their shareholders. From November 2006 until her retirement, Ms. Lancellotta served as Managing Director of ICI's Independent Directors Council ("IDC"), which supports fund independent directors in fulfilling their responsibilities to promote and protect the interests of fund shareholders. At IDC, Ms. Lancellotta was responsible for all ICI and IDC activities relating to the fund independent director community. In conjunction with her responsibilities, Ms. Lancellotta advised and represented IDC, ICI, independent directors and the investment company industry on issues relating to fund governance and the role of fund directors. She also directed and coordinated IDC's education, communication, governance and policy initiatives. Prior to serving as Managing Director of IDC, Ms. Lancellotta held various other positions with ICI beginning in 1989. Before joining ICI, Ms. Lancellotta was an associate at two Washington, D.C. law firms. In addition, since 2020, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), an organization that seeks to end power-based violence, empower survivors and ensure safe communities. Ms. Lancellotta received a B.A. degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1981 and a J.D. degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University (currently known as "George Washington University Law School") in 1984. Ms. Lancellotta joined the Board in 2021.
Joanne T. Medero. Ms. Medero has over 30 years of financial services experience and, most recently, from December 2009 until her retirement in July 2020, she was a Managing Director in the Government Relations and Public Policy Group at BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock"). From July 2018 to July 2020, she was also Senior Advisor to BlackRock's Vice Chairman, focusing on public policy and corporate governance issues. In 1996, Ms. Medero joined Barclays Global Investors ("BGI"), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. At BGI, she was a Managing Director and served as Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary until 2006. Then, from 2006 to 2009, Ms. Medero was a Managing Director and Global Head of Government Relations and Public Policy at Barclays Group (IBIM), where she provided policy guidance and directed legislative and regulatory advocacy programs for the investment banking, investment management and wealth management businesses. Before joining BGI, Ms. Medero was a Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1993 to 1995, where she specialized in derivatives and financial markets regulation issues. Additionally, she served as General Counsel of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") from 1989 to 1993 and, from 1986 to 1989, she was Deputy Associate Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial Affairs at The White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Further, from 2006 to 2010, Ms. Medero was a member of the CFTC Global Markets Advisory Committee and she has been actively involved in financial industry associations, serving as Chair of the Steering Committee of the SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) Asset Management Group (2016-2018) and Chair of the CTA (Commodity Trading Advisor), CPO (Commodity Pool Operator) and Futures Committee of the Managed Funds Association (2010-2012). Ms. Medero also chaired the Corporations, Antitrust and Securities Practice Group of The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy (from 2010 to 2022 and 2000 to 2002). In addition, since 2019, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, which seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development through exchanges in the United States. Ms. Medero received a B.A. degree from St. Lawrence University in 1975 and a J.D. degree from George Washington University Law School in 1978. Ms. Medero joined the Board in 2021.
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Albin F. Moschner. Mr. Moschner is a consultant in the wireless industry and, in July 2012, founded Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm that provides operational, management and governance solutions. Prior to founding Northcroft Partners, LLC, Mr. Moschner held various positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., a provider of wireless services, where he was a consultant from February 2011 to July 2012, Chief Operating Officer from July 2008 to February 2011, and Chief Marketing Officer from August 2004 to June 2008. Before he joined Leap Wireless International, Inc., Mr. Moschner was President of the Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. from 2000 to 2003, and President of One Point Services at One Point Communications from 1999 to 2000. Mr. Moschner also served at Zenith Electronics Corporation as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 1996, and as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Moschner was formerly Chairman (2019) and a member of the Board of Directors (2012-2019) of USA Technologies, Inc. and, from 1996 until 2016, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation. In addition, he is emeritus (since 2018) of the Advisory Boards of the Kellogg School of Management (1995-2018) and the Archdiocese of Chicago Financial Council (2012-2018). Mr. Moschner received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from The City College of New York in 1974 and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1979. Mr. Moschner joined the Board in 2016.
John K. Nelson. Mr. Nelson formerly served on the Board of Directors of Core12, LLC from 2008 to 2023, a private firm which develops branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. Mr. Nelson has extensive experience in global banking and markets, having served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008, ultimately serving as Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America. During his tenure at the bank, he also served as Global Head of its Financial Markets Division, which encompassed the bank's Currency, Commodity, Fixed Income, Emerging Markets, and Derivatives businesses. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and during his tenure with ABN AMRO served as the bank's representative on various committees of The Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and The Bank of England. Mr. Nelson previously served as a senior, external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (2012-2014). At Fordham University, he served as a director of The President's Council (2010-2019) and previously served as a director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018). He served as a trustee and Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2013). Mr. Nelson is a graduate of Fordham University, holding a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance. Mr. Nelson joined the Board in 2013.
Loren M. Starr. Mr. Starr was Vice Chair, Senior Managing Director from 2020 to 2021, and Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managing Director from 2005 to 2020, for Invesco Ltd. Mr. Starr is also a Director and Chair of the Board for AMG. He is former Chair and member of the Board of Directors, Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI); former Chair and member of the Board of Trustees, Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE). Mr. Starr previously served on the Board of Trustees for the College Retirement Equities Fund and on the Management Committee for TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (2022-2023). Mr. Starr received a B.A. and a B.S. from Columbia College, an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, and an M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Matthew Thornton III. Mr. Thornton has over 40 years of broad leadership and operating experience from his career with FedEx Corporation ("FedEx"), which, through its portfolio of companies, provides transportation, e-commerce and business services. In November 2019, Mr. Thornton retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Freight Corporation (FedEx Freight), a subsidiary of FedEx, where, from May 2018 until his retirement, he had been responsible for day-to-day operations, strategic guidance, modernization of freight operations and delivering innovative customer solutions. From September 2006 to May 2018, Mr. Thornton served as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations at Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Express), a subsidiary of FedEx. Prior to September 2006, Mr. Thornton held a range of positions of increasing responsibility with FedEx, including various management positions. In addition, Mr. Thornton currently (since 2014) serves on the Board of Directors of The Sherwin-Williams Company, where he is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Board of Directors of Crown Castle International (since 2020), where he is a member of the Strategy Committee and the Compensation Committee. Formerly (2012-2018), he was a member of the Board of Directors of Safe Kids Worldwide®, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of childhood injuries. Mr. Thornton is a member (since 2014) of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC), the nation's premier organization of global black senior executives. He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Mr. Thornton has been recognized by Black Enterprise on its 2017 list of the Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America and by Ebony on its 2016 Power 100 list of the world's most influential and inspiring African Americans. Mr. Thornton received a B.B.A. degree from the University of Memphis in 1980 and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee in 2001. Mr. Thornton joined the Board in 2020.
Terence J. Toth. Mr. Toth was a Co-Founding Partner of Promus Capital (2008-2017). From 2012 to 2021, he was a Director of Quality Control Corporation, from 2008 to 2013, he was a Director of Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He formerly served as Chair of the Board of the Kehrein Center for the Arts (2021-2024) and is on the Board of Catalyst Schools of Chicago since 2008. He is on the Mather Foundation Board since 2012 and was Chair of its Investment Committee from 2017 to 2022 and previously served as a Director of LogicMark LLC (2012-2016) and of Fulcrum IT Service LLC (2010-2019). Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University. Mr. Toth joined the Board in 2008.
Margaret L. Wolff. Ms. Wolff retired from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2014 after more than 30 years of providing client service in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. During her legal career, Ms. Wolff devoted significant time to advising boards and senior management on U.S. and international corporate, securities, regulatory and strategic matters, including governance, shareholder, fiduciary, operational and management issues. Ms. Wolff has been a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2005 and, since 2004, she has served as a trustee of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults) where she formerly served as Chair from 2015 to 2022. From 2013 to 2017, she was a Board member of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each of which is a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). From 2005 to 2015, she was a trustee of Mt. Holyoke College and served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor of Arts from Mt. Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Ms. Wolff joined the Board in 2016.
Robert L. Young. Mr. Young, the Nuveen Funds' Independent Chair, has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. From 1997 to 2017, he held various positions with J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("J.P. Morgan Investment") and its affiliates (collectively, "J.P. Morgan"). Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of J.P. Morgan Investment (from 2010 to 2016) and as President and Principal Executive Officer of the J.P. Morgan Funds (from 2013 to 2016). As Chief Operating Officer of J.P. Morgan Investment, Mr. Young led service, administration and business platform support activities for J.P. Morgan's domestic retail mutual fund and institutional commingled and separate account businesses, and co-led these activities for J.P. Morgan's global retail and institutional investment management businesses. As President of the J.P. Morgan Funds, Mr. Young interacted with various service providers to these funds, facilitated the relationship between such funds and their boards, and was directly involved in establishing board agendas, addressing regulatory matters, and establishing policies and procedures. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Young, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was a Senior Manager (Audit) with Deloitte & Touche LLP (formerly, Touche Ross LLP), where he was employed from 1985 to 1996. During his tenure there, he actively participated in creating, and ultimately led, the firm's midwestern mutual fund practice. Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and, from 2008 to 2011, he served on the investment committee of its board of trustees. Mr. Young joined the Board in 2017.
49
Share Ownership
The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2024:
|
Independent Trustees |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustees in Family of Investment Companies |
||||
| Joseph A. Boateng | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Michael A. Forrester | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Thomas J. Kenny | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Amy B. R. Lancellotta | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Joanne T. Medero | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Albin F. Moschner | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| John K. Nelson | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Loren M. Starr | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Matthew Thornton III | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Terence J. Toth | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Margaret L. Wolff | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
| Robert L. Young | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
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The table below presents information on Trustees who own securities in companies (other than registered investment companies) that are advised by entities that are under common control with the Fund's investment adviser as of June 30, 2025:
| Name of Trustee |
Name of Owners/Relationships to Trustee |
Companies(1) |
Title of Class |
Value of Securities(2) |
Percent of Class(3) |
|||||||||
| Thomas J. Kenny | Thomas Joseph Kenny 2021 Trust (Mr. Kenny is Initial Trustee and Settlor.) | Global Timber Resources LLC | None | $ | 34,063 | 0.01 | % | |||||||
| KSHFO, LLC(4) | Global Timber Resources Investor Fund, LP | None | $ | 523,049 | 6.01 | % | ||||||||
| KSHFO, LLC(4) | TIAA-CREF Global Agriculture II LLC | None | $ | 770,200 | 0.05 | % | ||||||||
| KSHFO, LLC(4) | Global Agriculture II AIV (US) LLC | None | $ | 681,237 | 0.17 | % | ||||||||
| (1) | The Adviser, as well as the investment advisers to these Companies, are indirectly commonly controlled by Nuveen. |
| (2) | These amounts reflect the value of holdings as of June 30, 2025. As of the date of this SAI, that is the most recent information available regarding the Companies. |
| (3) | These percentages reflect the overall amount committed to invest in the Companies, not current ownership percentages. |
| (4) | Mr. Kenny owns 6.6% of KSHFO, LLC. |
As of June 30, 2025, the officers and Trustees as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of any class of the Fund's outstanding securities. Other than as noted in the table above, as of June 30, 2025, none of the independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned, beneficially, or of record, any security of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or Nuveen Investments (or any entity controlled by or under common control with Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or Nuveen Investments).
Compensation
The following table shows, for each Independent Trustee, (1) the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, (2) the amount of total compensation paid by the Fund that has been deferred and (3) the total compensation paid to each Trustee by the Nuveen Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2024. The Fund does not have a retirement or pension plan. The officers and Trustees affiliated with Nuveen Investments serve without any compensation from the Fund. Certain of the Nuveen Funds have a deferred compensation plan (the "Compensation Plan") that permits any Trustee who is not an "interested person" of certain Nuveen Funds to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as a Trustee. The deferred compensation of a participating Trustee is credited to the book reserve account of a Nuveen Fund when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the Trustee. The value of the Trustee's deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen Funds. At the time for commencing distributions from a Trustee's deferral account, the Trustee may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a period of five years. The Fund is not liable for any other Nuveen Fund's obligations to make distributions under the Compensation Plan.
51
|
Aggregate Compensation from Fund(1) |
Amount of Total Compensation From the Fund That Has Been Deferred(2) |
Total Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex(3) |
||||||||||
| Joseph A. Boateng(4) | $ | 989 | $ | 247 | $ | 464,250 | ||||||
| Michael A. Forrester(4) | $ | 1,028 | $ | 1,028 | $ | 480,750 | ||||||
| Thomas J. Kenny(4) | $ | 1,310 | $ | 327 | $ | 610,000 | ||||||
| Amy B.R. Lancellotta | $ | 1,433 | $ | 474 | $ | 469,250 | ||||||
| Joanne T. Medero | $ | 1,407 | $ | 492 | $ | 461,987 | ||||||
| Albin F. Moschner | $ | 1,475 | $ | - | $ | 481,250 | ||||||
| John K. Nelson | $ | 1,489 | $ | - | $ | 483,250 | ||||||
| Loren M. Starr(4) | $ | 1,055 | $ | 363 | $ | 479,750 | ||||||
| Matthew Thornton III | $ | 1,412 | $ | - | $ | 463,750 | ||||||
| Terence J. Toth | $ | 1,766 | $ | - | $ | 575,750 | ||||||
| Margaret L. Wolff | $ | 1,636 | $ | 582 | $ | 535,644 | ||||||
| Robert L. Young | $ | 1,546 | $ | 1,007 | $ | 502,381 | ||||||
| (1) |
The compensation paid, including deferred amounts, to the independent Directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 for services to the Fund. |
| (2) |
Pursuant to a deferred compensation agreement with certain of the Nuveen Funds, deferred amounts are treated as though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more eligible Nuveen Funds. Total deferred fees for the Fund (including the return from the assumed investment in the eligible Nuveen Funds) payable are stated above. |
| (3) |
Based on the compensation paid (including any amounts deferred) for the calendar year ended December 31, 2024 for services to the Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column are presented on a calendar year basis. |
| (4) |
Messrs. Boateng, Forrester, Kenny, and Starr were appointed to the Board, effective January 1, 2024. |
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Prior to January 1, 2025, Independent Trustees received a $350,000 annual retainer, plus they received (a) an annual retainer of $30,000 for membership on the Audit Committee and Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, respectively; and (b) an annual retainer of $20,000 for membership on the Dividend Committee, Investment Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Open-End Fund Committee, respectively. In addition to the payments described above, the Chair and/or Co-Chair of the Board received $140,000 annually; the Chair and/or Co-Chair of the Audit Committee and the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee received $30,000 annually; and the Chair and/or Co-Chair of the Dividend Committee, Investment Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and the Closed-End Fund Committee received $20,000 annually. Trustees were paid either $1,000 or $2,500 for any ad hoc meetings of the Board or its standing committees depending upon the meeting's length and immediacy. For any special assignment committees, the Chair and/or Co-Chair were paid a quarterly fee starting at $1,250 and Trustees were paid a quarterly fee starting at $5,000. The annual retainers, fees and expenses of the Board were allocated among the funds in the Nuveen Fund Complex on the basis of relative net assets, although a minimum amount may have been established to be allocated to each fund. In certain instances fees and expenses were allocated only to those funds that were discussed at a given meeting.
Effective January 1, 2025, Independent Trustees receive a $350,000 annual retainer, plus they receive (a) an annual retainer of $35,000 for membership on the Audit Committee and Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, respectively; (b) an annual retainer of $30,000 for membership on the Investment Committee; and (c) an annual retainer of $25,000 for membership on the Dividend Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Closed-End Funds Committee, respectively. In addition to the payments described above, the Chair of the Board receives $150,000, annually; the Chair of the Audit Committee and Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee receive $35,000, annually; the Chair and/or Co-Chair of the Investment Committee receives $30,000, annually; and the Chair of the Dividend Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Closed-End Funds Committee receive $25,000, annually. Trustees will be paid either $1,000 or $2,500 for any ad hoc meetings of the Board or its Committees depending upon the meeting's length and immediacy. For any special assignment committees, the Chair and/or Co-Chair will be paid a quarterly fee starting at $1,250 and members will be paid a quarterly fee starting at $5,000. The annual retainers, fees and expenses of the Board are allocated among the funds in the Nuveen Fund complex in an equitable manner, although a minimum amount may be established to be allocated to each fund. In certain instances, fees and expenses will be allocated only to those funds that are discussed at a given meeting.
INVESTMENT ADVISER, SUB-ADVISER AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund's overall investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund's portfolio, manages the Fund's business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC ("Nuveen"), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ("TIAA"). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2025, Nuveen managed approximately $1.4 trillion in assets, of which approximately $154.6 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the "Investment Management Agreement"), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the overall advisory and administrative services and general office facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors. The Fund's management fee is separated into two componentsa complex-level component, based on the aggregate amount of all fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, and a specific fund-level component, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund. This pricing structure enables Nuveen fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Fund-Level Fee. The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:
|
Average Daily Managed Assets* |
Fund-Level Fee Rate |
|||
| For the first $500 million | 0.8000% | |||
| For the next $500 million | 0.7750% | |||
| For the next $500 million | 0.7500% | |||
| For the next $500 million | 0.7250% | |||
| For managed assets over $2 billion | 0.7000% | |||
53
Complex-Level Fee. The overall complex-level fee, payable monthly, begins at a maximum rate of 0.1600% of the Fund's average daily managed assets, with breakpoints for eligible complex-level assets above $124.3 billion. Therefore, the maximum management fee rate for the Fund is the Fund-level fee plus 0.1600%. The current overall complex-level fee schedule is as follows:
| Complex-Level Asset Breakpoint Level* | Complex-Level Fee |
| For the first $124.3 billion | 0.1600% |
| For the next $75.7 billion | 0.1350% |
| For the next $200 billion | 0.1325% |
| For eligible assets over $400 billion | 0.1300% |
| * | The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily "eligible assets" of all Nuveen-branded closed-end funds and Nuveen Mutual Funds. Except as described below, eligible assets include the net assets of all Nuveen-branded closed-end funds and Nuveen Mutual Funds organized in the United States. Eligible assets do not include the net assets of: Nuveen fund-of-funds, Nuveen money market funds, Nuveen index funds, Nuveen Large Cap Responsible Equity Fund or Nuveen Life Large Cap Responsible Equity Fund. In addition, eligible assets include a fixed percentage of the aggregate net assets of the active equity and fixed income Nuveen Mutual Funds advised by Teachers Advisors, LLC ("TAL") (except those identified above). Eligible assets will include all of the aggregate net assets of TAL-advised active equity and fixed income Nuveen Mutual Funds (except those identified above) on May 1, 2033. Eligible assets include closed-end fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the closed-end funds' use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust's issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by Nuveen Fund Advisors as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. |
As of October 31, 2025, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1559%.
The following table sets forth the management fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:
|
Management Fee Net of Expense Reimbursement |
Expense Reimbursement |
||||||||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 |
$ | 5,767,817 | $ | - | |||||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 |
$ | 5,020,267 | $ | - | |||||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 |
$ | 5,069,213 | $ | - | |||||
In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its Directors (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.
54
Investment Sub-Adviser. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement"), Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund's sub-adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management oversees day-to-day operations and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
Sub-Advisory Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management receives from Nuveen Fund Advisors a management fee equal to 50% of Nuveen Fund Advisor's net management fee from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
The following table sets forth the management fee paid by Nuveen Fund Advisors to Nuveen Asset Management for the last three fiscal years:
|
Sub-Advisory Fee Paid by Nuveen Fund Advisors to Nuveen Asset Management |
|||||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 |
$ | 2,883,909 | |||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 |
$ | 2,510,134 | |||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 |
$ | 2,534,606 | |||
Portfolio Managers. Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is provided as of the date of this SAI.
Portfolio Management.
Brenda A. Langenfeld, CFA, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's global fixed income team and a member of the preferred securities sector team. She is the lead manager for Nuveen's preferred and income-focused closed-end funds and portfolio manager of the Preferred Securities and Income strategy. She joined the preferred securities sector team in 2011. Brenda has been a co-manager for the Real Asset Income strategy since 2015, which invests in income generating debt and equity securities from both the real estate and infrastructure segments. In 2020 she became co-manager of the Credit Income strategy. Prior to her portfolio management roles, Brenda was a member of the high-grade credit sector team, responsible for trading corporate bonds. Previously, she was a member of the securitized debt sector team, trading mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
Tryg T. Sarsland, Managing Director and Director of Global Infrastructure Research at Nuveen, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's public global infrastructure and real asset income strategies. Offerings span both the traditional public real assets and responsible investing-focused investment styles. In addition, he is the director of research - infrastructure, overseeing direct management of the U.S.-based equity research analysts dedicated to global infrastructure and real asset income. Tryg also maintains analyst responsibilities for the global infrastructure and real asset income strategies, specializing in non-U.S. utilities. Before joining the firm in 2011, he was vice president and director of project finance at National Wind, LLC, where he spearheaded the development, procurement and investment of funds for wind energy projects. He was also vice president with Meridian Companies, LLC, and Standard Chartered Bank.
Benjamin T. Kerl, Managing Director at Nuveen, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's global real estate securities and global real estate carbon reduction strategies. He is also head of real estate investments for the Real Assets investment team at Nuveen. He specializes in real estate equities in the U.K., Europe and Canada. From 2012 through 2017, Ben also covered the multi-family and healthcare sectors for the firm's Real Estate Securities strategy. Ben began working in the investment industry in 2012 when he joined the firm. Before joining the firm, he worked for eight years in the real estate and renewable energy industries. Most recently, Ben was an independent consultant providing project development services to national and international wind energy developers. He started his career as a real estate development manager at Lander Group, where he managed infill multifamily and commercial projects from 2005 to 2007.
Noah P. Hauser, CFA, serves as Head of Infrastructure Investments for Nuveen, overseeing strategy, investment process and performance of the firm's infrastructure platform and also serves as a portfolio manager for Nuveen's public global infrastructure strategies. Offerings span both the traditional public real assets and responsible investing-focused investment styles. Previously, Noah served as a senior research analyst and head of North American utilities. Prior to joining Nuveen in 2015, Noah worked at Xcel Energy as the director of investor relations. Previously, he was a buy-side investment analyst for an energy-focused, relative value equity strategy at Decade Capital Management, a Millennium Group company. In that role, Noah performed detailed analysis on regulated utilities, independent power producers, pipelines and master limited partnerships. He began his career working as a sell-side equity analyst covering regulated utilities and power companies at Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers. Noah began working in the investment industry in 2008.
James Kim is a portfolio manager for Nuveen's leveraged finance team with a focus on the management of high yield mandates. James is the lead manager of the High Yield Income strategy and a co-manager on the High Yield, Real Asset Income and Credit Income strategies. He is also head of special situations, leading workouts and opportunistic investing for the leveraged finance platform. Previously, James was co-head of global fixed income research and head of the leveraged finance research team, overseeing its daily investment process. He also served as the co-head of research at Nuveen affiliate Symphony Asset Management, leading the firm's research team, daily investment process and opportunistic investments across its various mandates. Prior to this, he was a distressed generalist and an industry analyst responsible for a number of different industries, including energy, power, metals & mining and chemicals, providing long and short ideas across the capital structure. Prior to joining the firm, James was an associate at Greywolf Capital in its special situations group and an analyst at Watershed Asset Management. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, as an investment banking analyst both in the Strategy Group and Energy & Power Group.
55
Other Accounts Managed. The Portfolio Managers also have responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts is set forth below.
| Portfolio Manager |
Type of Account Managed |
Number of Accounts |
Assets* | |||
| Brenda A. Langenfeld | Registered Investment Company | 9 | $11.77 billion | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 2 | $62.41 million | ||||
| Other Accounts | 4,097 | $2.84 billion | ||||
| Noah P. Hauser | Registered Investment Company | 3 | $1.66 billion | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 6 | $1.24 billion | ||||
| Other Accounts | 4 | $276.37 million | ||||
| Tryg T. Sarsland | Registered Investment Company | 2 | $1.55 billion | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 6 | $1.24 billion | ||||
| Other Accounts | 5 | $276.37 million | ||||
| Jean C. Lin | Registered Investment Company | 4 | $3.88 billion | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 | $69.39 million | ||||
| Other Accounts | 3 | $19.74 million | ||||
| Benjamin T. Kerl | Registered Investment Company | 5 | $2.73 billion | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 7 | $1.34 billion | ||||
| Other Accounts | 8 | $801.66 million | ||||
| James Kim | Registered Investment Company | 0 | $0 | |||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | $0 | ||||
| Other Accounts | 1 | $204.81 million | ||||
__________________
| * | Assets are as of December 31, 2024. None of the assets in these accounts are subject to an advisory fee based on performance. |
As shown in the above table, the Portfolio Managers may manage other accounts in addition to the Fund. The potential for conflicts of interest exists when a portfolio manager manages other accounts with a similar investment objective and strategies to the Fund ("Similar Accounts"). Potential conflicts may include, for example, conflicts between investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities.
Responsibility for managing Nuveen Fund Advisors' clients' portfolios is organized according to investment strategies. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed using the same objective, approach and philosophy. Therefore, portfolio holdings, relative position sizes and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest.
Nuveen Fund Advisors may receive more compensation with respect to certain Similar Accounts than that received with respect to the Fund or may receive compensation based in part on the performance of certain Similar Accounts. This may create a potential conflict of interest for the Portfolio Managers by providing an incentive to favor these Similar Accounts when, for example, placing securities transactions. Potential conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities. Allocations of aggregated trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially completed due to limited availability, and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest.
Nuveen Asset Management has policies and procedures designed to manage these conflicts described above such as allocation of investment opportunities to achieve fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among its clients over time. For example, orders for the same equity security are aggregated on a continual basis throughout each trading day consistent with Nuveen Asset Management's duty of best execution for its clients. If aggregated trades are fully executed, accounts participating in the trade will be allocated their pro rata share on an average price basis. Partially completed orders will be allocated among the participating accounts on a pro-rata average price basis as well.
Compensation. Portfolio managers are compensated through a combination of base salary and variable components consisting of (i) a cash bonus; (ii) a long-term performance award; and (iii) participation in a profits interest plan.
56
Base salary. A portfolio manager's base salary is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio manager's general performance, experience and market levels of base pay for such position.
Cash bonus. A portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus that is based on three variables: risk-adjusted investment performance relative to benchmark generally measured over the most recent one, three and five year periods (unless the portfolio manager's tenure is shorter), ranking versus Morningstar peer funds generally measured over the most recent one, three and five year periods (unless the portfolio manager's tenure is shorter), and management and peer reviews.
Long-term performance award. A portfolio manager is eligible to receive a long-term performance award that vests after three years. The amount of the award when granted is based on the same factors used in determining the cash bonus. The value of the award at the completion of the three-year vesting period is adjusted based on the risk-adjusted investment performance of Fund(s) managed by the portfolio manager during the vesting period and the performance of the TIAA organization as a whole.
Profits interest plan. Portfolio managers are eligible to receive profits interests in Nuveen Asset Management and its affiliate, Teachers Advisors, LLC, which vest over time and entitle their holders to a percentage of the firms' annual profits. Profits interests are allocated to each portfolio manager based on such person's overall contribution to the firms.
There are generally no differences between the methods used to determine compensation with respect to the Fund and the Other Accounts shown in the table above.
Material conflicts of interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.
The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.
If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen Asset Management has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.
With respect to many of its clients' accounts, Nuveen Asset Management determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen Asset Management may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen Asset Management may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.
Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, a conflict of interest arises where Nuveen Asset Management has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.
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Conflicts of interest may also arise when the sub-adviser invests one or more of its client accounts in different or multiple parts of the same issuer's capital structure, including investments in public versus private securities, debt versus equity, or senior versus junior/subordinated debt, or otherwise where there are different or inconsistent rights or benefits. Decisions or actions such as investing, trading, proxy voting, exercising, waiving or amending rights or covenants, workout activity, or serving on a board, committee or other involvement in governance may result in conflicts of interest between clients holding different securities or investments. Generally, individual portfolio managers will seek to act in a manner that they believe serves the best interest of the accounts they manage. In cases where a portfolio manager or team faces a conflict among its client accounts, it will seek to act in a manner that it believes best reflects its overall fiduciary duty, which may result in relative advantages or disadvantages for particular accounts.
Nuveen Asset Management has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates, including TIAA, sponsor an array of financial products for retirement and other investment goals, and provide services worldwide to a diverse customer base. Accordingly, from time to time, the Fund may be restricted from purchasing or selling securities, or from engaging in other investment activities because of regulatory, legal or contractual restrictions that arise due to another client account's investments and/or the internal policies of Nuveen Asset Management, TIAA or its affiliates designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when Nuveen Asset Management will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which investment limits have been reached.
The investment activities of Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Fund. For example, in certain circumstances where the Fund invests in securities issued by companies that operate in certain regulated industries, in certain emerging or international markets, or are subject to corporate or regulatory ownership definitions, or invest in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount invested by Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates for the Fund and other client accounts that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent. If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability of Nuveen Asset Management, on behalf of the Fund or other client accounts, to purchase or dispose of investments or exercise rights or undertake business transactions may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, Nuveen Asset Management, on behalf of the Fund or other client accounts, may limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting rights) when Nuveen Asset Management, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate in light of potential regulatory or other restrictions on ownership or other consequences resulting from reaching investment thresholds.
Fund shares owned by the Portfolio Managers. As of December 31, 2024, the Portfolio Managers beneficially owned (as determined pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act) shares of the Fund having values within the indicated dollar range.
| Portfolio Manager |
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in the Fund |
|||
| Brenda A. Langenfeld | None | |||
| Tryg T. Sarsland | None | |||
| Benjamin T. Kerl | None | |||
| Noah P. Hauser | None | |||
| James Kim | None | |||
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CODE OF ETHICS
The Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities and other related entities have adopted a combined code of ethics (the "Code of Ethics") that essentially prohibits certain of their personnel, including the Portfolio Managers, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client's, including the Fund's, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions. Personnel subject to the Code of Ethics may purchase shares of the Fund subject to the restriction set forth in the Code of Ethics. While personnel subject to the Code of Ethics may generally invest in securities in which the Fund may also invest, portfolio managers of municipal bond funds, such as the Fund, may not do so. Text-only versions of the Code of Ethics can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's internet website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics may be obtained, after paying the appropriate duplicating fee, by e-mail request at [email protected].
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
The Fund has delegated authority to Nuveen Fund Advisors to vote proxies for securities held by the Fund, and Nuveen Fund Advisors has in turn delegated that responsibility to Nuveen Asset Management. Nuveen Fund Advisors' proxy voting policy establishes minimum standards for the exercise of proxy voting authority by Nuveen Asset Management.
In the rare event that an issuer were to issue a proxy or that the Fund were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, Nuveen Asset Management will vote proxies in accordance with the Nuveen Proxy Voting Guidelines, which are attached, along with the Nuveen Proxy Voting Policy and Nuveen Proxy Voting Conflicts of Interest Policy and Procedures, as Appendix B to this SAI.
Nuveen Asset Management relies on a dedicated team of professionals responsible for reviewing and voting proxies. In analyzing a proposal, in addition to exercising their professional judgment, these professionals utilize various sources of information to enhance their ability to evaluate the proposal. These sources may include research from third party proxy advisory firms and other consultants, various corporate governance-focused organizations, related publications and Nuveen investment professionals. Based on their analysis of proposals and guided by the Nuveen Proxy Voting Guidelines, these professionals then vote in a manner intended solely to advance the best interests of Fund shareholders.
Nuveen Asset Management believes that they have implemented policies, procedures and processes designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions. These include (i) oversight by the Nuveen Fund Board or a designated committee thereof; (ii) a clear separation of proxy voting functions from external client relationship and sales functions; and (iii) the active monitoring of required annual disclosures of potential conflicts of interest by individuals who have direct roles in executing or influencing the Fund's proxy voting by Nuveen's legal and compliance professionals.
There could be rare instances in which an individual who has a direct role in executing or influencing the Fund's proxy voting (e.g., Nuveen's proxy voting professionals, a Board member, or a senior executive of the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or their affiliates) is either a director or executive of a portfolio company or may have some other association with a portfolio company. In such cases, this individual is required to recuse himself or herself from all decisions related to proxy voting for that portfolio company.
Voted Proxies. Information regarding how your Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by accessing the Fund's Proxy Voting Report on Form N-PX, which is available through both Nuveen's website at http://www.nuveen.com/en-us/closed-end-funds or the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
Subject to the supervision of the Board, Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for decisions to purchase and sell securities for the Fund, the negotiation of the prices to be paid and the allocation of transactions among various dealer firms. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment by the Fund of brokerage commissions. There generally is no stated commission in the case of securities traded OTC but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. Transactions in the OTC market can also be placed with broker-dealers who act as agents and charge brokerage commissions for effecting OTC transactions. The Fund may place its OTC transactions either directly with principal market makers, or with broker-dealers if that is consistent with Nuveen Asset Management's obligation to obtain best qualitative execution. In certain instances, the Fund may make purchases of underwritten issues at prices that include underwriting fees.
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Portfolio securities may be purchased directly from an underwriter or in the OTC market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen Investments or its affiliates or affiliates of Nuveen Fund Advisors except in compliance with the 1940 Act.
It is Nuveen Asset Management's policy to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Asset Management will evaluate price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it will be Nuveen Asset Management's practice to select dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Nuveen Asset Management. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Nuveen Asset Management's own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Asset Management's expenses. While Nuveen Asset Management will be primarily responsible for the placement of the business of the Fund, Nuveen Asset Management's policies and practices in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject to review by the Board of the Fund.
Nuveen Asset Management may manage other investment accounts and investment companies for other clients that may invest in the same types of securities as the Fund and that may have an investment objective similar to that of the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell assets or securities by the Fund and another advisory account. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where Nuveen Asset Management reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. There may also be instances where the Fund will not participate at all in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these allocation procedures could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board that the benefits available from Nuveen Asset Management's management outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from Nuveen Asset Management's larger management activities and its need to allocate securities.
Substantially all of the Fund's trades are effected on a principal basis. The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:
| Brokerage Commissions Paid | ||||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 |
$ | 721,666 | ||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 |
$ | 662,541 | ||
|
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 |
$ | 679,764 | ||
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Fund paid to brokers as commissions in return for research services $408,082, and the aggregate amount of those transactions on which such commissions were paid was $267,826,991.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Fund acquired certain securities of its regular brokers or dealers, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act, or of the parents of the brokers or dealers. The following table sets forth those brokers or dealers and states the value of the Fund's aggregate holdings of the securities of each issuer as of close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024:
| Broker/Dealer | Issuer |
Aggregate Fund Holdings of Broker /Dealer or Parent (as of December 31, 2024) |
||||
| Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC | $ | - | |||
| Morgan Stanley | 1,577,197 | |||||
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TAX MATTERS
[Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax issues concerning the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Common Shares. Because tax laws are complex and often change, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to Common Shareholders in light of their particular circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes you are a U.S. Common Shareholder (as defined below) and that you hold your shares as a capital asset (generally, for investment). A U.S. Common Shareholder means a person (other than a partnership) that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, which change may be retroactive. We have not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regarding any matters discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to those set forth below. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with regard to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of Common Shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other taxing jurisdiction.
The discussion below does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to special classes of taxpayers including, without limitation, financial institutions, insurance companies, taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax, a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Common Shareholders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar, tax-exempt organizations, a controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities or commodities that elect mark-to-market treatment, persons with "applicable financial statements" within the meaning of Section 451(b) of the Code, or persons that will hold Common Shares as a position in a "straddle," "hedge" or as part of a "constructive sale" for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Common Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold Common Shares and partners in such a partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a RIC under the Code. To qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A "qualified publicly traded partnership" is a publicly traded partnership that meets certain requirements with respect to the nature of its income. To qualify as a RIC, the Fund must also satisfy certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its assets. The Fund must, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer, of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. Finally, to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest, income from the interests in certain qualified publicly traded partnerships, and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses) and 90% of its net tax-exempt income each taxable year. If the Fund failed to meet the asset diversification test described above with respect to any quarter, the Fund would nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the requirements for such quarter if the Fund cured such failure within six months and either (i) such failure was de minimis or (ii) (a) such failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (b) the Fund reported the failure under Treasury regulations to be adopted and paid an excise tax.
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As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid net tax-exempt income) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. If the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at the corporate income tax rate on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may report the retained amount as undistributed capital gains as part of its annual reporting to its shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Common Shares owned by a Common Shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder's gross income and the tax deemed paid by the Common Shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund intends to distribute to its Common Shareholders at least annually that portion of its investment company taxable income necessary to maintain its qualification as a RIC, as well as net capital gains (except for net capital gains credited to them but retained by the Fund).
Capital losses in excess of capital gains ("net capital losses") are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC's net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. If the Fund has a net capital loss, the excess of the Fund's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred. As of December 31, 2024, the Fund's tax year end, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any, as follows:
Not subject to expiration:
| Short-Term | $ | 56,281,448 | ||
| Long-Term | $ | 137,760,055 | ||
| Total | $ | 194,041,503 |
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the current calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.
If the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, and was unable to cure such failure, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on its taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its shareholders) and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividends. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as "qualified dividend income" in the case of individual and other noncorporate shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction ("DRD") in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make certain distributions. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. The Board of Trustees reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to Common Shareholders.
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Distributions
Distributions of the Fund's net capital gain ("capital gain distributions"), if any, are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of their holding period in the Common Shares. All other distributions out of the Fund's earnings and profits (including distributions of the Fund's net realized short-term capital gains) will be taxable as ordinary income. The maximum long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to individuals is 20%. No assurance can be given as to what percentage of the distributions paid on the Common Shares, if any, will consist of long-term capital gains or what the tax rates on various types of income will be in future years. None of the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors or the Subadvisers provides tax advice to investors in the Fund or has any knowledge of a particular investor's tax situation. As a result, investors should consult their own tax advisers when determining the tax characterization of any distributions from the Fund.
If, for any calendar year, the Fund's total distributions exceed the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to each shareholder (up to the amount of the shareholder's basis in his or her Common Shares) and thereafter as gain from the sale of Common Shares (assuming the Common Shares are held as a capital asset). The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce the shareholder's adjusted basis in his or her Common Shares (but not below zero), thereby increasing the potential gain or reducing the potential loss on the subsequent sale or other disposition of the Common Shares.
An additional tax at a rate of 3.8% applies to some or all of the net investment income of certain non-corporate taxpayers. For this purpose, "net investment income" includes interest, dividends (including dividends paid with respect to Common Shares), annuities, royalties, rent, net gain attributable to the disposition of property not held in a trade or business (including net gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common Shares) and certain other income, but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such income or net gain. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the taxation of net investment income.
Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal tax status of distributions, and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares will receive a report as to the NAV of those shares.
The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income, capital gains, dividends qualifying for the dividends received deduction, qualified dividend income, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends) based upon the percentage of total dividends paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits to each class for the tax year. Accordingly, the Fund intends to allocate capital gain dividends, if any, between its Common Shares and Preferred Shares in proportion to the total dividends paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits to each class with respect to such tax year. Distributions in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, however, will not be allocated proportionately among the Common Shares and Preferred Shares. Since the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and will first be used to pay dividends on the Preferred Shares, distributions in excess of such earnings and profits, if any, will be made disproportionately to Common Shareholders.
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Sale, Exchange or Liquidation of Fund Shares
The sale, exchange or repurchase of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months. Otherwise, such gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code's "wash sale" rule if other substantially identical shares of the Fund are purchased within thirty days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
A repurchase by the Fund of a shareholder's shares pursuant to a repurchase offer generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the shares by a shareholder provided that either (i) the shareholder tenders, and the Fund repurchases, all of such shareholder's shares, thereby reducing the shareholder's percentage ownership of the Fund, whether directly or by attribution under Section 318 of the Code, to 0%, (ii) the shareholder meets numerical safe harbors under the Code with respect to percentage voting interest and reduction in ownership of the Fund following completion of the repurchase offer, or (iii) the repurchase offer otherwise results in a "meaningful reduction" of the shareholder's ownership percentage interest in the Fund, which determination depends on a particular shareholder's facts and circumstances.
If a tendering shareholder's proportionate ownership of the Fund (determined after applying the ownership attribution rules under Section 318 of the Code) is not reduced to the extent required under the tests described above, such shareholder will be deemed to receive a distribution from the Fund under Section 301 of the Code with respect to the shares held (or deemed held under Section 318 of the Code) by the shareholder after the repurchase offer (a "Section 301 distribution"). The amount of this distribution will equal the price paid by the Fund to such shareholder for the shares sold, and will be taxable as a dividend, i.e., as ordinary income, to the extent of the Fund's current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to such distribution, with the excess treated as a return of capital reducing the shareholder's tax basis in the shares held after the repurchase offer, and thereafter as capital gain. Any Fund shares held by a shareholder after a repurchase offer will be subject to basis adjustments in accordance with the provisions of the Code.
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Provided that no tendering shareholder is treated as receiving a Section 301 distribution as a result of selling shares pursuant to a particular repurchase offer, shareholders who do not sell shares pursuant to that repurchase offer will not realize constructive distributions on their shares as a result of other shareholders selling shares in the repurchase offer. In the event that any tendering shareholder is deemed to receive a Section 301 distribution, it is possible that shareholders whose proportionate ownership of the Fund increases as a result of that repurchase offer, including shareholders who do not tender any shares, will be deemed to receive a constructive distribution under Section 305(c) of the Code in an amount equal to the increase in their percentage ownership of the Fund as a result of the repurchase offer. Such constructive distribution will be treated as a dividend to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to it.
Use of the Fund's cash to repurchase shares may adversely affect the Fund's ability to satisfy the distribution requirements for treatment as a regulated investment company described above. The Fund may also recognize income in connection with the sale of portfolio securities to fund share purchases, in which case the Fund would take any such income into account in determining whether such distribution requirements have been satisfied.
The foregoing discussion does not address the tax treatment of tendering shareholders who do not hold their shares as a capital asset. Such shareholders should consult their own tax advisors on the specific tax consequences to them of participating or not participating in the repurchase offer.
Certain of the Fund's investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions, and (vi) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the income requirement that applies to a RIC. The Fund may, but is not required to, make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.
If the Fund invests in certain pay-in-kind investments, zero coupon investments, deferred interest investments or, in general, any other investments with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently), the Fund must accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, which generally will be prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute to shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), including such accrued income, to qualify as a RIC and to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of its portfolio investments under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash, or may have to leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy these distribution requirements.
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The Fund may hold or acquire obligations that are market discount bonds. A market discount bond is a security acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if it is also an original issue discount bond). If the Fund invests in a market discount bond, it will be required to treat any gain recognized on the disposition of such market discount bond as ordinary taxable income to the extent of the accrued market discount.
If the Fund invests in options that qualify as "section 1256 contracts," Section 1256 of the Code generally requires any gain or loss arising from the lapse, closing out or exercise of such positions to be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. In addition, the Fund generally would be required to "mark to market" (i.e., treat as sold for fair market value) each such outstanding option position at the close of each taxable year (and on October 31 of each year for excise tax purposes). If a section 1256 contract held by the Fund at the end of a taxable year is sold or closed out in a subsequent year, the amount of any gain or loss realized on such sale will be adjusted to reflect the gain or loss previously taken into account under the "mark to market" rules. In addition to most exchange traded index options, section 1256 contracts under the Code include certain other options contracts, certain regulated futures contracts, and certain other financial contracts. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement. It cannot be predicted whether the Fund will invest to any significant extent in section 1256 contracts.
The Code contains special rules that apply to "straddles," defined generally as the holding of "offsetting positions with respect to personal property." For example, the straddle rules normally apply when a taxpayer holds stock and an offsetting option with respect to such stock or substantially identical stock or securities. In general, investment positions will be offsetting if there is a substantial diminution in the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other positions. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may enter into options transactions or certain other investments that may constitute positions in a straddle. If two or more positions constitute a straddle, recognition of a realized loss from one position must generally be deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain in an offsetting position. In addition, long-term capital gain may be recharacterized as short-term capital gain, or short-term capital loss as long-term capital loss. Interest and other carrying charges allocable to personal property that is part of a straddle are not currently deductible but must instead be capitalized. Similarly, "wash sale" rules apply to prevent the recognition of loss by the Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired within a prescribed period.
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Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss.
Investment by the Fund in passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") could subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from such a company or on the proceeds from the sale of its investment in such a company. A PFIC is any foreign corporation: (i) 75% or more of the income of which for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gain over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains.
Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active businesses and certain income received from related persons. The tax on PFIC distributions and the sale of interests in PFICs cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders; however, it can be avoided by making an election to mark such investments to market annually (treating gains as ordinary income) or to treat the PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" (a "QEF election"). In the latter case, the Fund will be required to include its share of the company's income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation.
The Fund may not be able to make a QEF election due to the difficulty of satisfying the requirements of QEF elections. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund's total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as "qualified dividend income."
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes with respect to income from foreign securities, which could reduce the amount of the Fund's distributions. Shareholders may be able to claim a credit or deduction for foreign taxes if more than 50% of the Fund's assets are invested in foreign securities at the end of a fiscal year and the Fund makes an election to pass through to the shareholders their pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, the Fund may report more taxable income to the shareholders than it actually distributes. The shareholders will then be entitled either to deduct their share of these taxes in computing their taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against their U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Fund will provide the shareholders with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on their personal income tax return if the Fund makes this election. It is not anticipated that the Fund will invest in foreign securities to the extent necessary to meet the above 50% threshold to pass through the foreign taxes it pays to shareholders.
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Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a "single property" consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is generally treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount principles.
The Fund may invest in preferred securities or other securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which is uncertain or subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or their income differs from the tax treatment expected by the Fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to a RIC under the Code. The Fund's investment program and the tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by the IRS interpretations of the Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations.
Backup Withholding
The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax from all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. The withholding percentage is currently 24%. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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Foreign Shareholders
U.S. taxation of a shareholder who is not a U.S. Common Shareholder ("foreign shareholder") depends on whether the income of the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder. If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Fund shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding Fund shares should consult its tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund shares.
Income not Effectively Connected
If the income from the Fund is not "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income will be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions. Distributions which are reported by the Fund as "interest-related dividends" or "short-term capital gain dividends" are currently exempt from the 30% withholding tax. Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally represent distributions of interest or short-term capital gains that would not have been subject to U.S. withholding tax at the source if they had been received directly by a foreign person and satisfy certain other requirements.
Distributions of capital gain dividends (including any amounts retained by the Fund which are reported as undistributed capital gains) and gains recognized on the sale or other disposition of our common stock will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the foreign shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, this 30% tax on capital gains of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax from distributions of net capital gain unless the foreign shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption. See "Tax Matters-Backup Withholding."
Income Effectively Connected
If the income from the Fund is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund which are reported as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Foreign corporate shareholders also may be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code.
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The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
FATCA Reporting and Withholding Requirements
Under legislation known as "FATCA" (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund will be required to withhold 30% on income dividends made by the Fund to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. After, December 31, 2018, FATCA withholding also would have applied to certain capital gain dispositions, return of capital distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares; however, based on proposed regulations issued by the IRS, which can be relied upon currently, such withholding is no longer required unless final regulations provide otherwise (which is not expected). In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or foreign individual that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9, W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions ("FFIs"), such as foreign investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities ("NFFEs"). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify itself and may be required to provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity's status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. A foreign shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA may be subject to different requirements provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement. Foreign shareholders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these requirements on their investment in Fund shares.
Other Tax Considerations
Fund shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
The foregoing discussion is a summary only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of Common Shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investing in such Common Shares, including under state, local and other tax laws. Finally, the foregoing discussion is based on applicable provisions of the Code, regulations, judicial authority and administrative interpretations in effect on the date hereof. Changes in applicable authority could materially affect the conclusions discussed above, and such changes often occur.]
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements, financial highlights and notes thereto and the independent registered public accounting firm's report thereon appearing in the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 are incorporated herein by reference in this SAI. The unaudited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2025, appearing in the Fund's 2025 semi-annual report are also incorporated herein by reference in this SAI. In addition, any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b)(2) of the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act prior to the termination of the offering will be incorporated by reference into this SAI and deemed to be part of this SAI from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this SAI, and later information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund's website is not part of this SAI.
Incorporated materials not delivered with the SAI may be obtained, without charge, by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or from the Fund's website (http://www.nuveen.com).
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CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, located at One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016 (the "Custodian"). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund's transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., located at 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
[ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, served as independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The principal business address of [ ] is [ ].
[ ], an independent registered public accounting firm, has been engaged to serve as independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund for the current fiscal year. The principal business address of [ ] is [ ].
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for the Fund by Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, located at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of [__].
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the Securities of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, DC. The 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 Securities offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement. Statements contained in the 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, DC, 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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APPENDIX A
Ratings of Investments
S&P Global RatingsA brief description of the applicable S&P Global Ratings, a Division of S&P Global Inc. ("S&P"), rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:
A S&P issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion evaluates the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.
Issue credit ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers reliable. S&P does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.
Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 daysincluding commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
| ● |
Likelihood of paymentcapacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; |
| ● |
Nature of and provisions of the obligation, and the promise S&P Global Ratings imputes; and |
| ● |
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights. |
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
AAA
An obligation rated 'AAA' has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.
A-1
AA
An obligation rated 'AA' differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 with obligations that are rated higher.
A-2
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 or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 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. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if its subject to distressed debt restructuring.
Plus (+) or minus (-)
The ratings from 'AA' to 'CCC' may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.
NR
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
A short-term obligation rated 'A-1' is rated in the highest category by 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-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 weaken an obligor's capacity 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 that 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. A rating on an obligation is lowered to 'D' if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.
A-3
Dual Ratings
S&P assigns "dual" ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. 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 Investors Service, Inc.A brief description of the applicable Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody's) follows:
Credit ratings assigned on Moody's global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public-sector entities. Moody's Ratings issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale.
The contractual financial obligations addressed by Moody's ratings are those that call for, without regard to enforceability, the payment of an ascertainable amount, which may vary based upon standard sources of variation (e.g., floating interest rates), by an ascertainable date. Moody's rating addresses the issuer's ability to obtain cash sufficient to service the obligation, and its willingness to pay. Moody's ratings do not address non-standard sources of variation in the amount of the principal obligation (e.g., equity indexed), absent an express statement to the contrary in a press release accompanying an initial rating.
Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Moody's issues ratings at the issuer level and instrument level on both the long-term scale and the short-term scale. Typically, ratings are made publicly available although private and unpublished ratings may also be assigned.
Global Long-Term Rating Scale
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.*
A-4
US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings
MIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
VMIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
VMIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
VMIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.
SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.
Global Short-Term Rating Scale (Commercial Paper)
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
A-5
Fitch RatingsA brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
Fitch Ratings publishes credit ratings that are forward-looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Issuer default ratings (IDRs) are assigned to corporations, sovereign entities, financial institutions such as banks, leasing companies and insurers, and public finance entities (local and regional governments). Issue level ratings are also assigned, often include an expectation of recovery and may be notched above or below the issuer level rating. Issue ratings are assigned to secured and unsecured debt securities, loans, preferred stock and other instruments, Structured finance ratings are issue ratings to securities backed by receivables or other financial assets that consider the obligations' relative vulnerability to default.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade
AAA
Highest credit quality. 'AAA' ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA
Very high credit quality. 'AA' ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A
High credit quality. 'A' ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB
Good credit quality. 'BBB' ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
Speculative Grade
BB
Speculative. 'BB' ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists that supports the servicing of financial commitments.
B
Highly speculative. 'B' ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC
Substantial credit risk. Very low margin for safety. Default is a real possibility.
CC
Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.
C
Near default. A default or default like process has begun, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired.
RD and D
Restricted default. 'RD' ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch's opinion has experienced an uncured payment default or distressed debt exchange on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation, but has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation, or other formal winding-up procedure, and has not otherwise ceased operating. 'D' ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch's opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business and debt is still outstanding.
A-6
Short-Term Credit Ratings
The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A Short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for US public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.
Fl
Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2
Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.
F3
Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B
Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C
High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.
RD
Restricted Default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.
D
Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.
Notes to Long-term and Short-term ratings:
"+" or "-" may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA' Long-term rating category, to categories below 'CCC', or to Short-term ratings other than 'FT'.
'NR' indicates that Fitch Ratings does not rate the issuer or issue in question.
'Withdrawn': The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch. When a public rating is withdrawn, Fitch will issue a RAC that details the current rating and Outlook or Watch status (if applicable), a statement that the rating is withdrawn and the reason for the withdrawal. A RAC is not required when an issue has been redeemed, matured, repaid or paid in full. Withdrawals cannot be used to forestall a rating action. Every effort is therefore made to ensure that the rating opinion upon withdrawal reflects an updated view. However, this is not always possible, for example if a rating is withdrawn due to a lack of information. Rating Watches are also resolved prior to or concurrent with withdrawal unless the timing of the event driving the Rating Watch does not support an immediate resolution. Ratings that have been withdrawn will be indicated by the symbol 'WD'.
A-7
Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential upgrade, "Negative", for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving", if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.
A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable, or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are 'stable' could be downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.
A-8
Appendix B
| Nuveen Proxy Voting Policy |
|
Policy Purpose and Statement Proxy voting is the primary means by which shareholders may influence a publicly traded company's governance and operations and thus create the potential for value and positive long-term investment performance. In certain cases, the Advisers may engage with Portfolio Companies as part of their process to make informed vote decisions and generally consider various factors including insights gained through engagement where that occurs. While the Advisers may generally share their views on a particular topic, these are not for the purpose of changing control of the issuer. When an SEC registered investment adviser has proxy voting authority, the adviser has a fiduciary duty to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients and must not subrogate its clients' interests to its own. In their capacity as fiduciaries and investment advisers, Advisers, vote proxies for the Portfolio Companies held by their respective clients, including investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles, institutional and retail separate accounts, and other clients as applicable. The Advisers have adopted this Policy, the Nuveen Proxy Voting Guidelines, and the Nuveen Proxy Voting Conflicts of Interest Policy for voting the proxies of the Portfolio Companies they manage. The Advisers leverage the expertise and services of an internal group referred to as Nuveen's Stewardship Group to administer the Advisers' proxy voting. The Stewardship Group adheres to the Advisers' Proxy Voting Guidelines which are reasonably designed to ensure that the Advisers vote client securities in the best interests of the Advisers' clients. |
Applicability This Policy applies to Nuveen associates acting on behalf of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, ("NAM"), Teachers Advisors, LLC, ("TAL") and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC ("TCIM"), each an "Adviser" and collectively referred to as the "Advisers" |
|
|
Policy Statement Proxy voting is a key component of a Portfolio Company's corporate governance program and is the primary method for exercising shareholder rights and articulating Nuveen's position on the Portfolio Company's behavior in an effort to enhance long-term shareholder value. Nuveen makes informed voting decisions in compliance with Rule 206(4)-6 (the "Rule") of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), and applicable laws and regulations, (e.g., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, "ERISA"). |
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B-1
Enforcement
As provided in the TIAA Code of Business Conduct, all associates are expected to comply with applicable laws and regulations, as well as the relevant policies, procedures and compliance manuals that apply to Nuveen's business activities. Violation of this Policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Terms and Definitions
Advisory Personnel includes the Adviser's portfolio managers and research analysts.
Proxy Voting Guidelines (the ''Guidelines'') are a set of pre-determined principles setting forth the manner in which the Advisers intend to vote on specific voting categories, and serve to assist clients, Portfolio Companies, and other interested parties in understanding how the Advisers generally intend to vote on proxy-related matters. The Guidelines are not exhaustive and do not necessarily dictate how the Advisers will ultimately vote with respect to any proposal or resolution. While the Guidelines are developed, maintained, and implemented by the Stewardship Group, and reviewed by the Nuveen Proxy Voting Committee, the portfolio managers of the Advisers maintain the ultimate authority with respect to how proxies will be voted and may determine to vote contrary to the Guidelines if such portfolio manager believes it is in the best interest of the respective Adviser's clients to do so.
Portfolio Company refers to any publicly traded operating company held in an account that is managed by an Adviser or a Nuveen Affiliated Entity. For the avoidance of doubt, Portfolio Company excludes investment companies.
Policy Requirements
Investment advisers, in accordance with the Rule, are required to (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, and address resolution of material conflicts that may arise, (ii) describe their proxy voting procedures to their clients and provide copies on request, and (iii) disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the Advisers voted their proxies. Portfolio Companies may obtain information on how many shares the Advisers hold through regulatory filings and in public reports.
The Nuveen Proxy Voting Committee (the "Committee"), the Advisers, the Stewardship Group and Nuveen Compliance are subject to the respective requirements outlined below under Roles and Responsibilities.
Although it is the general policy to vote all applicable proxies received in a timely fashion with respect to securities selected by an Adviser for current clients, the Adviser may refrain from voting in certain circumstances where such voting would be disadvantageous, materially burdensome or impractical, or otherwise inconsistent with the overall best interest of clients.
B-2
Roles and Responsibilities
Nuveen Proxy Voting Committee
The purpose of the Committee is to establish a governance framework to oversee the proxy voting activities of the Advisers in accordance with the Policy. The Committee's voting members will be comprised from Research, the Advisers, and the Stewardship Group. Non-voting members will be comprised from Nuveen Legal, Nuveen Compliance, Nuveen Advisory Product, and Nuveen Investment Risk. The Committee may invite others on a standing, routine and/or an ad hoc basis to attend Committee meetings. The CCOs of the CREF Funds and the Nuveen Funds shall be standing, non-voting invitees. The Committee has delegated responsibility for the implementation and ongoing administration of the Policy to the Stewardship Group, subject to the Committee's ultimate oversight and responsibility as outlined in the Committee's Proxy Voting Charter.
Advisers
| 1. | Advisory Personnel maintain the ultimate decision-making authority with respect to how proxies will be voted, unless otherwise instructed by a client, and may determine to vote contrary to the |
Guidelines and/or a vote recommendation of the Stewardship Group if such Advisory Personnel determines it is in the best interest of the Adviser's clients to do so. The rationale for all such contrary vote determinations will be documented and maintained.
| 2. | When voting proxies for different groups of client accounts, Advisory Personnel may vote proxies held by the respective client accounts differently depending on the facts and circumstances specific to such client accounts. The rationale for all such vote determinations will be documented and maintained. |
| 3. | Advisory Personnel must comply with the Nuveen Proxy Voting Conflicts of Interest Policy with respect to potential material conflicts of interest |
Nuveen Stewardship Group
| 1. | Performs day-to-day administration of the Advisers' proxy voting processes. |
| 2. | Seeks to vote proxies in adherence to the Guidelines, which have been constructed in a manner intended to align with the best interests of clients. In applying the Guidelines, the Stewardship Group, on behalf of the Advisers, takes into account several factors, including, but not limited to: |
| · | Input from Advisory Personnel |
| · | Third party research |
| · | Specific Portfolio Company context, including environmental, social and governance practices, and financial performance. |
| 3. | Assists in the development of securities lending recall protocols in cooperation with the Securities Lending Committee. |
| 4. | Performs Form N-PX filings in accordance with regulatory requirements. |
| 5. | Delivers copies of the Advisers' Policy to clients and prospective clients upon request in a timely manner, as appropriate. |
| 6. | Assists with the disclosure of proxy votes as applicable on corporate websites and elsewhere as required by applicable regulations. |
| 7. | Prepares reports of proxies voted on behalf of the Advisers' investment company clients to their Boards or committees thereof, as applicable. |
| 8. | Performs an annual vote reconciliation for review by the Committee. |
| 9. | Arranges the annual service provider due diligence of proxy voting vendors, including a review of the service provider's potential conflicts of interests, and presents the results to the Committee. |
| 10. | Facilitates quarterly Committee meetings, including agenda and meeting minute preparation. |
| 11. | Complies with the Nuveen Proxy Voting Conflicts of Interest Policy with respect to potential material conflicts of interest. |
| 12. | Creates and retains certain records in accordance with Nuveen's Record Management program. |
| 13. | Oversees the proxy voting service provider with respect to its responsibilities, including making and retaining certain records as required under applicable regulation. |
B-3
Nuveen Compliance
| 1. | Seeks to ensure proper disclosure of Advisers' Policy to clients as required by regulation or otherwise. |
| 2. | Seeks to ensure proper disclosure to clients of how they may obtain information on how the Advisers voted their proxies. |
| 3. | Assists the Stewardship Group with arranging the annual service provider due diligence and presenting the results to the Committee. |
| 4. | Assesses regulatory developments, pronouncements and guidance notes in coordination with Legal partners to determine policy and process implications. Shares assessment results with the Committee. |
| 5. | Monitors for compliance with this Policy and retains records relating to its monitoring activities pursuant to Nuveen's Records Management program. |
Nuveen Legal
| 1. | Provides legal guidance as requested. |
Governance
Review and Approval
This Policy will be reviewed at least annually and will be updated sooner if substantive changes are necessary. The Policy Owner, the Committee and the NEFI Compliance Committee are responsible for the review and approval of this Policy.
Implementation
Nuveen has established the Committee to provide centralized management and oversight of the proxy voting process administered by the Stewardship Group for the Advisers in accordance with its Proxy Voting Committee Charter and this Policy.
Exceptions
Any request for a proposed exception or variation to this Policy will be submitted to the Committee for approval and reported to the appropriate governance committee(s), where appropriate.
Related Documents
| · | Nuveen Proxy Voting Committee Charter |
| · | Nuveen Proxy Voting Guidelines |
| · | Nuveen Proxy Voting Conflicts of Interest Policy and Procedures |
| · | Nuveen Policy Statement on Responsible Investing |
|
Policy Adoption Date |
February 3, 2020 |
| Effective Date of Current Policy/Last Date Reviewed | September 22, 2025 |
| Governance | NEFI Compliance Committee |
| Policy Owner | Nuveen Proxy Voting Committee |
| Policy Leader | Nuveen Compliance |
B-4
PART C-OTHER INFORMATION
Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| 1. | Contained in Part A: |
| ● | Six months ended June 30, 2025 and fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are included in Part A. | |
| ● | Fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are included in Part A. |
Contained in Part B:
| ● | Financial Statements are incorporated in Part B by reference to the Registrant's December 31, 2024 Annual Report (audited) on Form N-CSR, as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-25-049513 on March 7, 2025. |
| 2. | Exhibits: |
| a. | Registrant's Declaration of Trust dated January 10, 2012. Filed on January 26, 2012 as Exhibit a to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-179180) and incorporated herein by reference. |
| b. | Amended and Restated By-Laws of Registrant dated February 28, 2024 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit b to Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-277778 and 811-21449), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-24-063442 on March 8, 2024. |
| c. | Not applicable. |
| d. | Not applicable. |
| e. | Terms and Conditions of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit e to Nuveen Global High Income Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-287584) as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-011457 on August 15, 2025. |
| f. | Not applicable. |
| g.1 | Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC dated October 1, 2014. Filed as Exhibit (6)(a) of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-216753 as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-17-085525) on March 16, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference. |
| g.2 | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC dated November 7, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit g.2 of the Nuveen Global High Income Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 811-22988) as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-006696 on May 27, 2025. |
Part C-1
| g.5 | Continuance and Amendment of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC dated April 30, 2024 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit g.5 of the Nuveen Global High Income Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 811-22988) as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-006696 on May 27, 2025. |
| h. | Not applicable. |
| i. | Nuveen/TIAA-CREF Funds Board Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees, effective January 1, 2024, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(1) to Nuveen Enhanced High Yield Municipal Bond Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-231722 and 811-23445), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-24-009186 on July 29, 2024. |
| j.1 | Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 2015 between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit j.1 of the Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund on Form N-2 (File No. 333-184971), as filed with the SEC on November 16, 2017. |
| j.2 | Appendix A, dated April 14, 2016, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 2015 between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit j.2 of the Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-211531), as filed with the SEC on May 23, 2016. |
| j.3 | Appendix A, dated August 1, 2017, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated July 15, 2015. Filed on November 16, 2017 as Exhibit j.2 of the Nuveen California AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2(File No. 333-184971) and incorporated herein by reference. |
| j.4 | Amendment and Revised Appendix A, effective September 8, 2022, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated July 15, 2015 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit g.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to Nuveen Investment Trust V's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 333-138592 and 811-21979), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-22-314076 on December 29, 2022. |
| j.5 | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement, effective February 20, 2024, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(8) to Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-289350 and 811-09161), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-010856 on August 7, 2025. |
| j.6 | Amendment to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement, effective December 11, 2024, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(9) to Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-289350 and 811-09161), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-010856 on August 7, 2025. |
| k.1 | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and ComputerShare Inc. and ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.1 to the Nuveen Dynamic Municipal Opportunities Fund Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-234592), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-20-174170 on June 19, 2020. |
Part C-2
| k.2 | First Amendment, dated September 7, 2017, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and ComputerShare Inc. and ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.2 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
| k.3 | Second Amendment, dated February 26, 2018, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and ComputerShare Inc. and ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.3 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
| k.4 | Third Amendment, effective May 11, 2020, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and ComputerShare Inc. and ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.4 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
| k.5 | Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective March 28, 2023, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and ComputerShare Inc. and ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.5 to Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-271575 and 811-06548), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-23-132482 on May 2, 2023. |
| k.6 | Rule 12d1-4 Investment Agreement between River North Funds as Acquiring Funds and Nuveen CEFs as Acquired Funds, dated January 19, 2022 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.6 to Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (Files Nos. 333-271575 and 811-06548), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-23-132482 on May 2, 2023. |
| k.7 | Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective June 30, 2023, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 15, 2017 between the Registrant and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (k) (6) to Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-289350 and 811-09161), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-010856 on August7, 2025. |
| k.8 | Rule 12d1-4 Investment Agreement between First Trust CEF Income Opportunity ETF and Nuveen CEFs as Acquired Funds dated August 31, 2023 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (k) (8) to Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-289350 and 811-09161), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001999371-25-010856 on August 7, 2025. |
| l.1 | Opinion of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP to be filed by amendment. |
| l.2 | Consent of [ ] to be filed by amendment. |
| m. | Not applicable. |
| n. | Consent of [ ] to be filed by amendment. |
| o. | Not applicable. |
| p. | Not applicable. |
| q. | Not applicable. |
| r.1 | Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen, as amended January 1, 2024. As filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-24-051051 on February 29, 2024, as Exhibit p.i. to Nushares ETF Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.333-212032 and 811-23161) and incorporated by reference herein. |
| r.2 | Code of Ethics for the Independent Trustees of the Nuveen Funds, TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Funds, dated January 1, 2024. As filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-24-051051 on February 29, 2024, as Exhibit p.ii. to Nushares ETF Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.333-212032 and 811-23161) and incorporated by reference herein. |
| s. | Calculation of Filing Fees Table is filed herewith. |
| t. | Powers of Attorney are filed herewith. |
Item 26: Marketing Arrangements.
Not applicable.
Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
| Printing and Engraving Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| Legal Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| Accounting Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| Stock Exchange Listing Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| SEC Registration Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| Miscellaneous Fees | $ | [ ] | ||
| Total | $ | [ ] |
Item 28: Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control.
Not applicable.
Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities.
As of [ ], 2025:
| Title of Class | Number of Record Holders | |||
| Common Shares, $0.01 par value | [ ] | |||
| Total | [ ] | |||
Part C-3
Item 30: Indemnification.
Section 4 of Article XII of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides as follows:
Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person"), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.
No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
| (a) |
against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office; |
| (b) |
with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or |
| (c) |
in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct: |
(i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or
(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4, provided that either:
(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or
(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Section 4, a "Disinterested Trustee" is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.
Part C-4
As used in this Section 4, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by joint errors and omissions insurance policies against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen funds, subject to such policies' coverage limits, exclusions and retention.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), 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 SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC ("Nuveen Fund Advisors" or the "Adviser") manages the Registrant and serves as investment adviser or manager to other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and to separately managed accounts. The principal business address for all of these investment companies and the persons named below is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Part C-5
A description of any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the directors and officers of Nuveen Fund Advisors who serve as officers or Trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under "Management of the Fund" in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers appears below:
|
Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors |
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years |
|
| Oluseun Salami, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Senior Vice President (since 2020) NIS/R&T, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (since 2020), Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC Executive Vice President (since 2024) and Chief Financial Officer (since 2020), formerly, Senior Vice President (2020-2024), TIAA-CREF Asset Management LLC; formerly, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2020-2023), Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Executive Vice President (since 2022), formerly, Senior Vice President (2020-2022), and Chief Financial Officer (since 2020), Nuveen, LLC; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (since 2022), Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since 2021), formerly, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (2018-2021), Business Finance and Planning (2020) Chief Accounting Officer (2019-2020), Corporate Controller (2018-2020), Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America; Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (since 2025), Brooklyn Artificial Intelligence, Inc. and Brooklyn Investment Group, LLC; formerly, Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Board of Overseers, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds, TIAA-CREF Life Funds (2018-2020). | |
| Megan Sendlak, Managing Director and Controller | Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director (since 2019) and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Assistant Controller (2019-2020), of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2021), formerly, Vice President and Assistant Controller (2019-2021), of NIS/R&T, INC.; formerly, Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (2020-2021); Managing Director and Controller of Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2020). | |
| Nathaniel T. Jones, President | Senior Managing Director, Head of Public Product of Nuveen; has previously held various positions with Nuveen. | |
| Erik Mogavero, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer | Formerly employed by Deutsche Bank (2013-2017) as Managing Director, Head of Asset Management and Wealth Management Compliance for the Americas region and Chief Compliance Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas. | |
Nuveen Asset Management LLC ("Nuveen Asset Management") currently serves as sub-adviser to the Fund and as an investment adviser or sub-adviser to certain other open-end and closed-end funds and as investment adviser to separately managed accounts. The address for Nuveen Asset Management is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. See "Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers" in Part B of the Registration Statement.
Part C-6
Set forth below is a list of each director and officer of Nuveen Asset Management, indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which such person has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.
|
Name and Position with Nuveen Asset Management |
Other Business Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years |
|
| William T. Huffman, President | Chief Executive Officer and President (since 2024), formerly, Executive Vice President (2020-2024) of Nuveen, LLC; formerly, Executive Vice President (2020-2023) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Chief Executive Officer (since 2025) and President (since 2020), Nuveen Investments, Inc., Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2019); Senior Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2022) and Chairman (since 2019) of Churchill Asset Management LLC; Executive Vice President (since 2025), Brooklyn Artificial Intelligence, Inc. and Brooklyn Investment Group, LLC. | |
| Stuart J. Cohen, Managing Director and Head of Legal | Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2023) of Nuveen Alternatives Investments, LLC and (since 2019) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary (since 2019) and Assistant General Counsel (since 2023), formerly, General Counsel (2019-2023) of TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Winslow Capital Management, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2025), Brooklyn Artificial Intelligence, Inc. and Brooklyn Investment Group, LLC; formerly, Vice President (2007-2021) and Assistant Secretary (2003-2021) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC; formerly Vice President (2007-2021) and Assistant Secretary (2006-2021) of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC. | |
| Travis M. Pauley, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer | Managing Director (since 2025), Brooklyn Artificial Intelligence, Inc. and Brooklyn Investment Group, LLC; Managing Director (since 2023) Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Regional Head of Compliance and Regulatory Legal (2013-2020) of AXA Investment Managers. | |
| Megan Sendlak, Managing Director and Controller | Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director (since 2019) and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Assistant Controller (2019-2020), of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2021), formerly, Vice President and Assistant Controller (2019-2021), of NIS/R&T, INC., formerly, Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (2020-2021); Managing Director and Controller of Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2020). | |
Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Fund's Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, minutes of trustee and shareholder meetings, and contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, in its capacity as sub-adviser, may also hold certain accounts and records of the Fund.
State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016, maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records not maintained by Nuveen Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management.
Part C-7
Item 33: Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 34: Undertakings.
| 1. | Not applicable. |
| 2. | Not applicable. |
| 3. | The Registrant undertakes: |
a. Not applicable.
b. that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment to this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
c. to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
d. that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
Part C-8
e. that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrants;
(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
| 4. | The Registrant undertakes that: |
a. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
b. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities 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 the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
| 5. | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement 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. |
| 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. Additionally, the Registrant undertakes to only offer rights to purchase common and preferred shares together after a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to such rights has been declared effective. |
Part C-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, 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 this City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 17th day of November, 2025.
| NUVEEN REAL ASSET INCOME AND GROWTH FUND | |
|
/s/ Mark L. Winget |
|
|
Mark L. Winget Vice President and Secretary |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
|
/s/ MARC CARDELLA Marc Cardella |
Vice President and Controller (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
November 17, 2025 | ||
|
/s/ DAVID J. LAMB David J. Lamb |
Chief Administrative Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
November 17, 2025 | ||
| Thomas J. Kenny* | Trustee | |||
| Terence J. Toth* | Trustee | |||
| Joseph A. Boateng* | Trustee | |||
| Michael A. Forrester* | Trustee | |||
| Amy B. R. Lancellotta* | Trustee | |||
| Joanne T. Medero* | Trustee | |||
| Albin F. Moschner* | Trustee | |||
| John K. Nelson* | Trustee | |||
| Loren M. Starr* | Trustee | |||
| Matthew Thornton III* | Trustee | |||
| Margaret L. Wolff* | Trustee | |||
| Robert L. Young* | Chair of the Board and Trustee | |||
| * |
The powers of attorney authorizing Mark L. Winget, among others, to execute this Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for the Trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed herewith as Exhibit t. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| EXHIBIT | EXHIBIT NAME | |
| s. | Filing Fee Exhibit | |
| t. | Powers of Attorney | |