UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed
by the Registrant [X] |
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] |
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Check
the appropriate box: |
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2)) |
[X] |
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Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
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Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.
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(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
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box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
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Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.
_________________________
NOTICE OF JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on September 16, 2022
_________________________
August 10, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the “Meeting”) of each of Neuberger Berman California Municipal
Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBW), Neuberger Berman High Yield
Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS), Neuberger Berman MLP and
Energy Income Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NML), Neuberger Berman
Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBH), Neuberger Berman New York
Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBO), Neuberger Berman Next
Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (NYSE: NBXG) and Neuberger Berman
Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NRO) (each,
a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) will be held on September
16, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. As part of our precautions
regarding the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and to support the
health and safety of each Fund’s stockholders, stockholders of each
Fund have the option to attend the Meeting either in person at the
offices of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”), 1290
Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104, or virtually via
conference call.
At the Meeting, common stockholders and preferred stockholders, if
any, of each Fund will be asked to consider and act upon the
following:
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(1)
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With respect to each Fund, the election of three Class II Directors
as outlined below:
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A.
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Two Class II Directors, which include Michael J. Cosgrove and
Deborah C. McLean, to be elected by the holders of common stock and
the holders of preferred stock, if any, voting together as a single
class, such Directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2025, or until their successors are elected and
qualified; and
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B.
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One Class II Director, George W. Morriss, to be voted on by the
holders of preferred stock of Neuberger Berman California Municipal
Fund Inc., Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.,
Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc., and Neuberger Berman New York
Municipal Fund Inc., voting as a single class, and by the holders
of common stock of Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund
Inc., Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. and
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc., voting as
a single class, such Director to serve until the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2025, or until his successor is elected and
qualified; and
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(2)
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To consider and act upon any other business that may properly come
before the Meeting or before any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
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You are entitled to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or
postponements thereof if you owned shares of a Fund at the close of
business on July 19, 2022 (“Record Date”). Each Fund will admit to
the Meeting: (1) all stockholders of record of the Fund as of the
Record Date; (2) persons holding proof of beneficial ownership
thereof at the Record Date, such as a letter or account statement
from a broker; (3) persons who have been granted valid proxies; and
(4) such other persons that the Fund, in its sole discretion, may
elect to admit.
As part of our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are sensitive to
the public health and travel concerns that stockholders may have,
as well as any restrictions and/or protocols that federal, state,
and local governments may impose. Accordingly, due to the
difficulties arising from COVID-19, the Funds and each Fund’s Board
of Directors (each, a “Board” and, collectively, the “Boards”) have
decided to hold a “hybrid” meeting, where stockholders of each Fund
may attend the Meeting either in person at the offices of NBIA or
virtually by participating telephonically via conference call.
All persons wishing to attend the Meeting in person must present
photo identification. To protect the health and safety of our
employees, clients, and guests, Neuberger Berman requires that all
visitors to our offices be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (i.e.,
two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks
after a single-dose vaccine). As per the CDC, we encourage visitors
to wear a mask indoors if in an area of substantial or high
transmission. As such, all stockholders that wish to attend the
Meeting in person must provide proof of vaccination when
checking-in at Neuberger Berman’s office. Proof can include a
physical card, photo/photocopy of a card, or mobile app, such as
Excelsior Pass or Docket. To assist the Funds in facilitating
attendance at the Meeting, if you plan to attend the Meeting in
person please call 877-461-1899.
Any stockholder wishing to participate in the Meeting by means of
remote communication can do so. If you held shares of a Fund
through an intermediary (such as a broker-dealer) as of the Record
Date, in order to participate in and vote at the Meeting by means
of remote communication, you must first obtain a legal proxy from
your intermediary reflecting your Fund’s name(s), the number of
Fund shares you held
as of the Record Date, and your name and email address. You may
forward an email from your intermediary containing the legal proxy
or attach an image of the legal proxy, email it to AST Fund
Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendameeting@astfinancial.com and put
“Legal Proxy” in the subject line. Requests for registration must
be received by AST no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
Thursday, September 15, 2022. After receiving the appropriate
information, AST will then email you the conference call dial-in
information and instructions for voting during the Meeting. If you
wish to participate in the Meeting, but not vote at the Meeting,
you may do so by providing AST with proof of ownership as of the
Record Date. You can demonstrate proof of ownership by emailing AST
at attendameeting@astfinancial.com a copy of your proxy card,
letter from your intermediary or a copy of your brokerage account
statement.
If you were a record holder of shares of a Fund (i.e., you
held shares of a Fund directly in an account with the Fund’s
transfer agent) as of the Record Date, you can participate in and
vote at the Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements thereof
by means of remote communication. To do so, please email AST at
attendameeting@astfinancial.com no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on Thursday, September 15, 2022. Please include your Fund’s
name(s) in the subject line and provide your name and address in
the body of the e-mail. After receiving the appropriate
information, AST will then email you the conference call dial-in
information and instructions for voting during the Meeting.
The Boards may choose to reconsider the date, time, and/or means of
conducting the Meeting. If the Boards choose to change the date,
time, and/or means of conducting the Meeting, the Funds will
announce the decision to do so in advance, and details on how to
participate will be set forth in a press release issued by the
Funds, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) as additional proxy material, and/or posted on the Internet
at www.nb.com, which we encourage stockholders to check prior to
the Meeting.
Stockholders of each Fund are not required to attend the Meeting to
vote. Whether or not stockholders plan to attend the Meeting either
in person or virtually, each Fund urges its stockholders to
authorize a proxy to vote their shares in advance of the Meeting by
one of the methods described in the Proxy Materials.
Please review the enclosed materials and follow the instructions
to vote that appear on the enclosed proxy card(s), even if you
expect to attend the Meeting in person or virtually.
If you have
any questions about the proposal or the voting instructions, please
call 877-461-1899. The appointed proxies will vote in their
discretion on any other business, including any vote on
adjournments, as may properly come before the Meeting or before any
adjournments or postponements thereof. Any proposal submitted to a
vote at the Meeting by anyone other than the officers or directors
of the Funds may be voted on only by written proxy.
Unless proxy cards submitted by corporations and partnerships are
signed by the appropriate persons as indicated in the voting
instructions on the proxy cards, they will not be voted. If no
instructions are specified on a proxy card, shares will be voted
“FOR” the election of each nominee for Director and “FOR,”
“ABSTAIN,” or “AGAINST” any other matters, including any vote on
adjournments, acted upon at the Meeting in the discretion of the
persons named as proxies. If you own stock of more than one Fund,
you must submit separate proxy card(s) for each Fund in which you
own shares.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Meeting to be Held on September 16, 2022: This Notice and the
Proxy Statement are available on the Internet at
https://vote.proxyonline.com.
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By order of each Board,
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Claudia A. Brandon
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Secretary of the Funds
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The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman
Investment Advisers LLC” name are registered service marks of
Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund names in this
document are either service marks or registered service marks of
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. © 2022 Neuberger Berman
Investment Advisers LLC. All rights reserved.
Instructions for Signing Proxy Cards
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of
assistance to you and avoid the time and expense to the Funds
involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy
card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears on the
proxy card.
2. Joint Accounts: Any party may sign, but the name of the party
signing should conform exactly to the name shown in the
registration on the proxy card.
3. Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy
card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of
registration. For example:
Registration
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Valid Signature
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Corporate Accounts
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(1) ABC Corp
(2) ABC Corp
(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan
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ABC Corp.
John Doe, Treasurer
John Doe
John Doe, Director
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Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust
(2) Jane B. Doe, Director u/t/d 12/28/78
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Jane B. Doe, Director
Jane B. Doe
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Custodian or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA
(2) John B. Smith
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John B. Smith
John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY
SHARES OF STOCK YOU OWN.
PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
You may receive more than one proxy card depending on how you
hold shares of a Fund. Please fill out and return each proxy
card.
Stockholders are invited to attend the Meeting either in person
or virtually via conference call. Whether you expect to attend the
Meeting or not, you are urged to review the enclosed materials and
vote using the instructions that appear on the enclosed proxy
card(s), which includes instructions for voting by telephone and by
Internet.
To avoid the additional expense to the Funds of further
solicitation, we ask your cooperation in voting your proxy
promptly, no matter how large or small your holdings may
be.
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Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
877-461-1899
_________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
_________________________
For the Joint Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on September 16, 2022
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of each of
Neuberger Berman California Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American:
NBW) (“California Municipal Fund”), Neuberger Berman High Yield
Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS) (“High Yield Strategies
Fund”), Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc. (NYSE
American: NML) (“MLP Energy Income Fund”), Neuberger Berman
Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBH) (“Municipal Fund”),
Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NBO)
(“New York Municipal Fund”), Neuberger Berman Next Generation
Connectivity Fund Inc. (NYSE: NBXG) (“Next Generation Connectivity
Fund”) and Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.
(NYSE American: NRO) (“Real Estate Securities Income Fund”) (each,
a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) by the Board of Directors
of each respective Fund (each, a “Board” and, collectively, the
“Boards”) in connection with the solicitation of stockholder votes
by proxy to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
“Meeting”), or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, to be
held jointly on September 16, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. As
part of our precautions regarding the coronavirus pandemic
(“COVID-19”) and to support the health and safety of each Fund’s
stockholders, stockholders of each Fund have the option to attend
the Meeting either in person at the offices of Neuberger Berman
Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”), 1290 Avenue of the Americas,
New
York, New York 10104, or virtually via conference call. It is
expected that the Notice of Joint Annual Meeting, this Proxy
Statement and form of proxy will be mailed to stockholders on or
about August 10, 2022.
At the Meeting, common stockholders and preferred stockholders, if
any, of each Fund will be asked to consider and act upon the
following:
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(1)
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With respect to each Fund, the election of three Class II Directors
as outlined below:
|
|
A.
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Two Class II Directors, which include Michael J. Cosgrove and
Deborah C. McLean, to be elected by the holders of common stock and
the holders of preferred stock, if any, voting together as a single
class, such Directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in 2025, or until their successors are elected and
qualified; and
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B.
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One Class II Director, George W. Morriss, to be voted on by the
holders of preferred stock of California Municipal Fund, High Yield
Strategies Fund, Municipal Fund, and New York Municipal Fund,
voting as a single class, and by the holders of common stock of MLP
Energy Income Fund, Next Generation Connectivity Fund and Real
Estate Securities Income Fund, voting as a single class, such
Director to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2025,
or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
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(2)
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To consider and act upon any other business that may properly come
before the Meeting or before any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
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As part of our precautions regarding COVID-19, we are sensitive to
the public health and travel concerns that stockholders may have,
as well as any restrictions and/or protocols that federal, state,
and local governments may impose. Accordingly, due to the
difficulties arising from COVID-19, the Funds and each Board have
decided to hold a “hybrid” meeting, where stockholders of each Fund
may attend the Meeting either in person at the offices of NBIA or
virtually by participating telephonically via conference call.
All persons wishing to attend the Meeting in person must present
photo identification. To protect the health and safety of our
employees, clients, and guests, Neuberger Berman requires that all
visitors to our offices be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (i.e.,
two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks
after a single-dose vaccine). As per the CDC, we encourage visitors
to wear a mask indoors if in an area of substantial or high
transmission. As such, all stockholders that wish to attend the
Meeting in person must provide proof of vaccination when
checking-in at Neuberger Berman’s office. Proof can include a
physical card, photo/photocopy of a card, or mobile app, such as
Excelsior Pass or Docket. To assist the Funds in facilitating
attendance at the Meeting, if you plan to attend the Meeting in
person please call 877-461-1899.
2
Any stockholder wishing to participate in the Meeting by means of
remote communication can do so. If you held shares of a Fund
through an intermediary (such as a broker-dealer) as of July 19,
2022, in order to participate in and vote at the Meeting by means
of remote communication, you must first obtain a legal proxy from
your intermediary reflecting your Fund’s name(s), the number of
Fund shares you held as of July 19, 2022, and your name and email
address. You may forward an email from your intermediary containing
the legal proxy or attach an image of the legal proxy, email it to
AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendameeting@astfinancial.com
and put “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. Requests for
registration must be received by AST no later than 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on Thursday, September 15, 2022. After receiving the
appropriate information, AST will then email you the conference
call dial-in information and instructions for voting during the
Meeting. If you wish to participate in the Meeting, but not vote at
the Meeting, you may do so by providing AST with proof of ownership
as of July 19, 2022. You can demonstrate proof of ownership by
emailing AST at attendameeting@astfinancial.com a copy of your
proxy card, letter from your intermediary or a copy of your
brokerage account statement.
If you were a record holder of shares of a Fund (i.e., you
held shares of a Fund directly in an account with the Fund’s
transfer agent) as of July 19, 2022, you can participate in and
vote at the Meeting or at any adjournments or postponements thereof
by means of remote communication. To do so, please email AST at
attendameeting@astfinancial.com no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on Thursday, September 15, 2022. Please include your Fund’s
name(s) in the subject line and provide your name and address in
the body of the e-mail. After receiving the appropriate
information, AST will then email you the conference call dial-in
information and instructions for voting during the Meeting.
The Boards may choose to reconsider the date, time, and/or means of
conducting the Meeting. If the Boards choose to change the date,
time, and/or means of conducting the Meeting, the Funds will
announce the decision to do so in advance, and details on how to
participate will be set forth in a press release issued by the
Funds, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) as additional proxy material, and/or posted on the Internet
at www.nb.com, which we encourage stockholders to check prior to
the Meeting.
Stockholders of record or beneficial owners as of the record date
of each Fund may obtain a free copy of the annual report for the
fiscal year or fiscal period ended October 31, 2021 (fiscal year
ended November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund),
which includes audited financial statements for the Fund, and the
semi-annual report for the period ended April 30, 2022 (May 31,
2022 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund), by writing to
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC at 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10104, Attn: Shareholder Services, by
calling toll free 877-461-1899 or accessing the Internet at
www.nb.com.
3
Stockholders may send communications that they would like to direct
to a Board of Directors or to an individual Director of a Fund to
the attention of the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of the Funds,
or to Claudia A. Brandon, Secretary of the Funds, Neuberger Berman
Funds, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104. Each
Board has directed the CCO and Ms. Brandon to send such
communications to the chairpersons of the applicable Fund’s Ethics
and Compliance Committee and Closed-end Funds Committee. Nominee
recommendations and stockholder proposals should be directed to the
attention of Claudia A. Brandon, Secretary of the Funds, Neuberger
Berman Funds, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104
as described in this Proxy Statement under “Proposal 1: Election of
Directors—Information Regarding Each Fund’s Process for Nominating
Director Candidates” and “General Information—Stockholder
Proposals.”
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and
Class III). The terms of office of Class I, Class II and Class III
Directors will expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in
2024, 2022, and 2023, respectively, and at each third Annual
Meeting of Stockholders thereafter. Each Director shall hold office
until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or
her earlier death, resignation or removal. The classification of
each Fund’s Directors helps to promote the continuity and stability
of each Fund’s operations and policies because the majority of the
Directors at any given time will have prior experience as Directors
of the Fund.
Preferred stockholders are entitled, as a class, to the exclusion
of the holders of all other classes of stock of a Fund, to elect
two Directors of the Fund (regardless of the total number of
Directors serving on the Board). Those Directors are Class I and
Class II Directors and are up for election in 2024 and 2022,
respectively. One of those Directors, George W. Morriss, is a
nominee to be considered at the Meeting. MLP Energy Income Fund,
Next Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund have no preferred stock outstanding and, therefore, no
preferred stockholders. As a result, MLP Energy Income Fund’s, Next
Generation Connectivity Fund’s and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund’s common stockholders will be asked to consider the election
of George W. Morriss.
The term of each current Class II Director expires at the Meeting,
but each expressed his or her willingness to serve another full
term as Director of the Funds if nominated by the respective
Boards. Each Fund has implemented a retirement policy, which
generally calls for Directors of a Fund to retire by the end of the
year in which they reach the age of 77. Due to such retirement
policy, if elected, George W. Morriss may retire during his term,
before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2025.
4
Each Fund’s Governance and Nominating Committee carefully reviewed
the qualifications, experience and background of each incumbent
Class II Director. Based upon this review and consideration, each
Committee determined that nominating the incumbent Class II
Directors for election would be in the best interests of its Fund’s
stockholders.
The Boards received the recommendations of the Governance and
Nominating Committees. After discussion and consideration of, among
other things, the backgrounds of the incumbent Class II Directors,
each Board voted to nominate Michael J. Cosgrove, Deborah C. McLean
and George W. Morriss for election as Class II Directors with terms
expiring in 2025. Each Board considered that each incumbent
Director serves on the Boards of Directors for a total of seven
closed-end funds and a family of open-end funds, all part of the
Neuberger Berman Fund Complex, and has substantial experience
protecting fund investors’ interests. As part of their service for
the closed-end funds in the Neuberger Berman Fund Complex, the
incumbent Directors regularly evaluate issues unique to closed-end
funds, including the discount of a closed-end fund’s market price
relative to its net asset value per share (“NAV”), and have
approved a variety of actions designed to enhance investor value
and increase the Funds’ competitiveness in the secondary market,
which may narrow the discount between a Fund’s market price and its
NAV. Over the years, those actions have included: (i) managing the
Funds’ distribution rates and making changes in distribution rates,
when necessary; (ii) approving certain other discount mitigation
measures, such as tender option programs where a Fund would conduct
a tender offer if its market price traded at a certain discount
level compared to its NAV; (iii) approval of fund mergers; (iv)
actively managing Fund leverage structures in order to best
position the Fund to maintain its levered exposure at a reasonable
cost; and (v) making changes to Funds’ investment strategies when
they believe a different strategy would enhance investor return
potential without undue risk.
Each Board believes that the incumbents are well suited for service
on the Board due to their familiarity with the Fund as a result of
their prior service as Directors, their knowledge of the financial
services sector, and their substantial experience in serving as
directors or trustees, officers, or advisers of public companies
and business organizations, including other investment companies.
None of the Directors are related to any other Director.
Properly executed proxy cards will be voted as instructed by
stockholders. In the absence of such instruction, however, it is
the intention of the persons named on the enclosed proxy card(s) to
vote in favor of the election of each nominee named in this Proxy
Statement. Each nominee has consented to be named in this Proxy
Statement and to serve as a Director if elected. Each Board has no
reason to believe that any nominee will become unavailable for
election as a Director, but if that should occur before the
Meeting, the proxies will be voted for such other nominees as the
Board may recommend.
5
The following tables set forth certain information regarding each
Director of the Funds.
INFORMATION REGARDING NOMINEES FOR ELECTION
Name,
(Year of
Birth),
and
Address(1)
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Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
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Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
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Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
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Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
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Class II
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Independent Directors/Nominees
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Michael J. Cosgrove (1949)
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Director since 2015 and 2021 (NBXG)
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President, Carragh Consulting USA, since 2014; formerly, Executive,
General Electric Company, 1970 to 2014, including President, Mutual
Funds and Global Investment Programs, GE Asset Management, 2011 to
2014, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mutual Funds and
Intermediary Business, GE Asset Management, 2007 to 2011,
President, Institutional Sales and Marketing, GE Asset Management,
1998 to 2007, and Chief Financial Officer, GE Asset Management, and
Deputy Treasurer, GE Company, 1988 to 1993.
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50
|
Director, America Press, Inc. (not-for-profit Jesuit publisher),
2015 to 2021; formerly, Director, Fordham University, 2001 to 2018;
formerly, Director, The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, June 2015 to
June 2016; formerly, Director, Skin Cancer Foundation
(not-for-profit), 2006 to 2015; formerly, Director, GE Investments
Funds, Inc., 1997 to 2014; formerly, Trustee, GE Institutional
Funds, 1997 to 2014; formerly, Director, GE Asset Management, 1988
to 2014; formerly, Director, Elfun Trusts, 1988 to 2014; formerly,
Trustee, GE Pension & Benefit Plans, 1988 to 2014; formerly,
Member of Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute.
|
6
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
Deborah C. McLean (1954)
|
Director since 2015 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Member, Circle Financial Group (private wealth management
membership practice), since 2011; Managing Director, Golden Seeds
LLC (an angel investing group), since 2009; Adjunct Professor
(Corporate Finance), Columbia University School of International
and Public Affairs, since 2008; formerly, Visiting Assistant
Professor, Fairfield University, Dolan School of Business, Fall
2007; formerly, Adjunct Associate Professor of Finance, Richmond,
The American International University in London, 1999 to 2007.
|
50
|
Board member, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, since 2020; Board
member, Norwalk Community College Foundation, since 2014; Dean’s
Advisory Council, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, since
2014; formerly, Director and Treasurer, At Home in Darien
(not-for-profit), 2012 to 2014; formerly, Director, National
Executive Service Corps (not-for-profit), 2012 to 2013; formerly,
Trustee, Richmond, The American International University in London,
1999 to 2013.
|
George W. Morriss (1947)
|
Director since 2007 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML) and
2021 (NBXG)
|
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University School of International and
Public Affairs, since 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, People’s United Bank, Connecticut (a
financial services company), 1991 to 2001.
|
50
|
Director, 1 WS Credit Income Fund; Chair, Audit Committee, since
2018; Director and Chair, Thrivent Church Loan and Income Fund,
since 2018; formerly, Trustee, Steben Alternative Investment Funds,
Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund, and Steben Select Multi-Strategy
Master Fund, 2013 to 2017; formerly, Treasurer, National
Association of Corporate Directors, Connecticut Chapter, 2011 to
2015; formerly, Manager, Larch Lane Multi-Strategy Fund complex
(which consisted of three funds), 2006 to 2011; formerly, Member,
NASDAQ Issuers’ Affairs Committee, 1995 to 2003.
|
7
INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS WHOSE CURRENT TERMS
CONTINUE
Name,
(Year of
Birth),
and
Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
Class I
|
Independent Directors
|
Marc Gary (1952)
|
Director since 2015 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Executive Vice Chancellor Emeritus, The Jewish Theological
Seminary, since 2010; formerly, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief
Operating Officer, Jewish Theological Seminary, 2012 to 2020;
formerly, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Fidelity
Investments, 2007 to 2012; formerly, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, BellSouth Corporation, 2004 to 2007; formerly,
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, BellSouth
Corporation, 2000 to 2004; formerly, Associate, Partner, and
National Litigation Practice Co-Chair, Mayer, Brown LLP, 1981 to
2000; formerly, Associate Independent Counsel, Office of
Independent Counsel, 1990 to 1992.
|
50
|
Chair and Director, USCJ Supporting Foundation, since 2021;
Director, UJA Federation of Greater New York, since 2019; Trustee,
Jewish Theological Seminary, since 2015; formerly, Director,
Legility, Inc. (privately held for-profit company), 2012 to 2021;
Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
(not-for-profit), since 2005; formerly, Director, Equal Justice
Works (not-for-profit), 2005 to 2014; formerly, Director, Corporate
Counsel Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, 2007 to 2012;
formerly, Director, Greater Boston Legal Services (not-for-profit),
2007 to 2012.
|
8
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
Michael M. Knetter (1960)
|
Director since 2007 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML) and
2021 (NBXG)
|
President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Wisconsin
Foundation, since 2010; formerly, Dean, School of Business,
University of Wisconsin - Madison; formerly, Professor of
International Economics and Associate Dean, Amos Tuck School of
Business - Dartmouth College, 1998 to 2002.
|
50
|
Director, 1 WS Credit Income Fund, since 2018; Board Member,
American Family Insurance (a mutual company, not publicly traded),
since March 2009; formerly, Trustee, Northwestern Mutual Series
Fund, Inc., 2007 to 2011; formerly, Director, Wausau Paper, 2005 to
2011; formerly, Director, Great Wolf Resorts, 2004 to 2009.
|
Tom D. Seip (1950)
|
Director since 2002 (NBW, NBH and NBO), 2003 (NRO), 2006 (NHS),
2013 (NML) and 2021 (NBXG); Chair of the Board since 2008; Lead
Independent Director from 2006 to 2008
|
Formerly, Managing Member, Ridgefield Farm LLC (a private
investment vehicle), 2004 to 2016; formerly, President and CEO,
Westaff, Inc. (temporary staffing), May 2001 to January 2002;
formerly, Senior Executive, The Charles Schwab Corporation, 1983 to
1998, including Chief Executive Officer, Charles Schwab Investment
Management, Inc.; Trustee, Schwab Family of Funds and Schwab
Investments, 1997 to 1998; and Executive Vice President-Retail
Brokerage, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 1994 to 1997.
|
50
|
Formerly, Director, H&R Block, Inc. (tax services company),
2001 to 2018; formerly, Director, Talbot Hospice Inc., 2013 to
2016; formerly, Chairman, Governance and Nominating Committee,
H&R Block, Inc., 2011 to 2015; formerly, Chairman, Compensation
Committee, H&R Block, Inc., 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director,
Forward Management, Inc. (asset management company), 1999 to
2006.
|
9
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
Class III
|
Independent Directors
|
Martha Clark Goss (1949)
|
Director since 2007 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML) and
2021 (NBXG)
|
President, Woodhill Enterprises Inc./Chase Hollow Associates LLC
(personal investment vehicle), 2006 to 2020; formerly, Consultant,
Resources Global Professionals (temporary staffing), 2002 to 2006;
formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc.,
1995 to 1999; formerly, Enterprise Risk Officer, Prudential
Insurance, 1994 to1995; formerly, President, Prudential Asset
Management Company, 1992 to 1994; formerly, President, Prudential
Power Funding (investments in electric and gas utilities and
alternative energy projects), 1989 to 1992; formerly, Treasurer,
Prudential Insurance Company, 1983 to 1989.
|
50
|
Director, American Water (water utility), since 2003; Director,
Allianz Life of New York (insurance), since 2005; formerly,
Director, Berger Group Holdings, Inc. (engineering consulting
firm), from 2013 to 2018; formerly, Director, Financial Women’s
Association of New York (not-for-profit association), from 1987 to
1996, 2003 to 2019; Trustee Emerita, Brown University, since 1998;
Director, Museum of American Finance (not-for-profit), since 2013;
formerly, Non-Executive Chair and Director, Channel Reinsurance
(financial guaranty reinsurance), 2006 to 2010; formerly, Director,
Ocwen Financial Corporation (mortgage servicing), 2005 to 2010;
formerly, Director, Claire’s Stores, Inc. (retailer), 2005 to 2007;
formerly, Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. (engineering
consulting firm), 2007 to 2010; formerly, Director, Bank Leumi
(commercial bank), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Advisory Board Member,
Attensity (software developer), 2005 to 2007; formerly, Director of
Foster Wheeler Manufacturing, 1994 to 2004; formerly Director
Dexter Corp., Manufacturer of Non-Wovens, Plastics, and Medical
Supplies, 1992 to 2001.
|
10
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
James G. Stavridis (1955)
|
Director since 2015 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Operating Executive, The Carlyle Group, since 2018; Commentator,
NBC News, since 2015; formerly, Dean, Fletcher School of Law and
Diplomacy, Tufts University, 2013 to 2018; formerly, Admiral,
United States Navy, 1976 to 2013, including Supreme Allied
Commander, NATO and Commander, European Command, 2009 to 2013, and
Commander, United States Southern Command, 2006 to 2009.
|
50
|
Director, American Water (water utility), since 2018; Director, NFP
Corp. (insurance broker and consultant), since 2017; Director, U.S.
Naval Institute, since 2014; Director, Onassis Foundation, since
2014; Director, BMC Software Federal, LLC, since 2014; Director,
Vertical Knowledge, LLC, since 2013; formerly, Director, Navy
Federal Credit Union, 2000-2002.
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
Joseph V. Amato* (1962)
|
Chief Executive Officer and President since 2018 and 2021 (NBXG);
Director since 2009 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML) and
2021 (NBXG)
|
President and Director, Neuberger Berman Group LLC, since 2009;
President and Chief Executive Officer, Neuberger Berman BD LLC and
Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger
Berman Inc.), since 2007; Chief Investment Officer (Equities) and
President (Equities), NBIA (formerly, Neuberger Berman Fixed Income
LLC and including predecessor entities), since 2007, and Board
Member of NBIA since 2006; formerly, Global Head of Asset
Management of Lehman
|
50
|
Member of Board of Advisors, McDonough School of Business,
Georgetown University, since 2001; Member of New York City Board of
Advisors, Teach for America, since 2005; Trustee, Montclair
Kimberley Academy (private school), since 2007; Member of Board of
Regents, Georgetown University, since 2013.
|
11
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length
of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex(3)
|
|
|
Brothers Holdings Inc.’s (“LBHI”) Investment Management Division,
2006 to 2009; formerly, member of LBHI’s Investment Management
Division’s Executive Management Committee, 2006 to 2009; formerly,
Managing Director, Lehman Brothers Inc. (“LBI”), 2006 to 2008;
formerly, Chief Recruiting and Development Officer, LBI, 2005 to
2006; formerly, Global Head of LBI’s Equity Sales and a Member of
its Equities Division Executive Committee, 2003 to 2005; President
and Chief Executive Officer, twelve registered investment companies
for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
|
|
(1)
|
The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10104.
|
(2)
|
Each Board shall at all times be divided as equally as possible
into three classes of Directors designated Class I, Class II and
Class III. The terms of office of Class I, Class II and Class III
Directors shall expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held
in 2024, 2022 and 2023, respectively, and at each third Annual
Meeting of Stockholders thereafter. Unless otherwise noted, each
date for length of time served applies to all Funds.
|
(3)
|
Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the
positions shown for at least the last five years.
|
*
|
Indicates a Director who is an “interested person” within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“1940 Act”). Mr. Amato is an interested person of each Fund by
virtue of the fact that he is an officer of NBIA and/or its
affiliates.
|
12
Additional Information About Directors
In nominating each candidate to serve, each Board was generally
aware of each Director’s skills, experience, judgment, integrity,
analytical ability, intelligence, common sense, previous profit and
not-for-profit board membership and, for each Director who is not
an “interested person” within the meaning of the 1940 Act
(“Independent Director”), his or her demonstrated willingness to
take an independent and questioning stance toward management. For
candidates to serve as Independent Directors, independence from the
Fund’s investment manager, its affiliates and other principal
service providers is critical. Each Director also has considerable
familiarity with each Fund, its investment manager and
administrator, and their operations, as well as the special
regulatory requirements governing regulated investment companies
and the special responsibilities of investment company directors,
and in the case of each Director who has served on the Boards over
multiple years, as a result of his or her substantial prior service
as a Director of the Funds. No particular qualification, experience
or background establishes the basis for any Fund Director’s
position on a Board and a Governance and Nominating Committee and
individual Board members may have attributed different weights to
the various factors.
In addition to the information set forth in the table above and
other relevant qualifications, experience, attributes or skills
applicable to a particular Director, the following provides further
information about the qualifications and experience of each
Director.
Independent Directors
Michael J. Cosgrove: Mr. Cosgrove is
President of an asset management consulting firm. He has experience
as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer
of the asset management division of a major multinational
corporation. He also has experience as a President of institutional
sales and marketing for the asset management division of the same
corporation, where he was responsible for all distribution,
marketing, and development of mutual fund products. He also has
served as a member of the boards of various not-for-profit
organizations. He has served as a Fund Director for multiple
years.
Marc Gary: Mr. Gary has legal and
investment management experience as executive vice president and
general counsel of a major asset management firm. He also has
experience as executive vice president and general counsel at a
large corporation, and as national litigation practice chair at a
large law firm. He has served as a member of the boards of various
profit and not-for-profit organizations. He currently is a trustee
and the executive vice chancellor and COO of a religious seminary
where he oversees the seminary’s institutional budget. He has
served as a Fund Director for multiple years.
Martha Clark Goss: Ms. Goss has experience
as chief operating and financial officer of an insurance holding
company. She has experience as an investment professional, head of
an investment unit and treasurer for a major insurance
company,
13
experience as the Chief Financial Officer of two consulting firms,
and experience as a lending officer and credit analyst at a major
bank. She has experience managing a personal investment vehicle.
She has served as a member of the boards of various profit and
not-for-profit organizations, including five NYSE listed companies,
and a university. She has served as a Fund Director for multiple
years.
Michael M. Knetter: Dr. Knetter has
organizational management experience as a dean of a major
university business school and as President and CEO of a university
supporting foundation. He also has responsibility for overseeing
management of the university’s endowment. He has academic
experience as a professor of international economics. He has served
as a member of the boards of various public companies and another
mutual fund. He has served as a Fund Director for multiple
years.
Deborah C. McLean: Ms. McLean has
experience in the financial services industry. She is currently
involved with a high net worth private wealth management membership
practice and an angel investing group, where she is active in
investment screening and deal leadership and execution. For many
years she has been engaged in numerous roles with a variety of
not-for-profit and private company boards and has taught corporate
finance at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She commenced her
professional training at a major financial services corporation,
where she was employed for multiple years. She has served as a Fund
Director for multiple years.
George W. Morriss: Mr. Morriss has
experience in senior management and as chief financial officer of a
financial services company. He has investment management experience
as a portfolio manager managing personal and institutional funds.
He has served as a member of a committee of representatives from
companies listed on NASDAQ. He has served on the board of another
mutual fund complex. He has served as a member of the board of
funds of hedge funds. He has an advanced degree in finance. He has
served as a Fund Director for multiple years.
Tom D. Seip: Mr. Seip has experience
in senior management and as chief executive officer and director of
a financial services company overseeing other mutual funds and
brokerage. He has experience as director of an asset management
company. He has experience in management of a private investment
partnership. He has served as a Fund Director for multiple years
and as Independent Chair and/or Lead Independent Director of the
Boards.
James G. Stavridis: Admiral Stavridis has
organizational management experience as a dean of a major
university school of law and diplomacy. He also held many
leadership roles with the United States Navy over the span of
nearly four decades, including serving as NATO’s Supreme Allied
Commander Europe and serving at the Pentagon at different periods
of time as a strategic and long range planner on the staffs of the
chief of Naval Operations, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and as Commander, U.S. Southern Command. He has also served
as an advisor to private and public companies on geopolitical and
cybersecurity matters. He has served as a Fund Director for
multiple years.
14
Fund Director who is an “Interested Person”
Joseph V. Amato: Mr. Amato has investment
management experience as an executive with Neuberger Berman and
another financial services firm. Effective July 1, 2018, Mr. Amato
began serving as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Funds
and the other funds in the Neuberger Berman Fund Complex. He also
serves as Neuberger Berman’s Chief Investment Officer for equity
investments. He has experience in leadership roles within Neuberger
Berman and its affiliated entities. He has served as a member of
the board of a major university business school. He has served as a
Fund Director since 2009.
Board of Directors and Committee Meetings
Except for Next Generation Connectivity Fund, each Fund’s Board met
four times during its fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 (November
30, 2021, with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund). Next Generation
Connectivity Fund’s Board met two times during its fiscal period
ended October 31, 2021. During each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year or
fiscal period, each Director attended at least 75% of (i) the total
number of meetings of each Board (held during the period for which
he or she has been a Director) and (ii) the total number of
meetings held by all committees of each Board on which he or she
served (held during the period for which he or she has been a
Director).
The Boards are responsible for managing the business and affairs of
the Funds. Among other things, each Board generally oversees the
portfolio management of its Fund and reviews and approves its
Fund’s investment management agreement and other principal
contracts.
Each Board has appointed an Independent Director to serve in the
role of Chair of the Board. The Chair’s primary responsibilities
are (i) to participate in the preparation of the agenda for
meetings of the Board and in the identification of information to
be presented to the Board; (ii) to preside at all meetings of the
Board; (iii) to act as the Board’s liaison with management between
meetings of the Board; and (iv) to act as the primary contact for
board communications. The Chair may perform such other functions as
may be requested by the Board from time to time. Except for any
duties specified herein or pursuant to the respective Fund’s
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, the designation as Chair does
not impose on such Independent Director any duties, obligations or
liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability
imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.
As described below, each Board has an established committee
structure through which the Boards consider and address important
matters involving the Funds, including those identified as
presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest for
management. The Independent Directors also regularly meet outside
the presence of management and are advised by experienced
independent legal counsel knowledgeable in matters of investment
company regulation. Each Board periodically evaluates its structure
and composition as well as various aspects of its operations. Each
Board believes that its leadership structure, including its
Independent Chair and
15
its committee structure, is appropriate in light of, among other
factors, the asset size of the fund complex overseen by the Board,
the nature and number of funds overseen by the Board, the number of
Directors, the range of experience represented on the Board and the
Board’s responsibilities.
The Boards do not have a standing compensation committee although
the Governance and Nominating Committees do consider and make
recommendations relating to Independent Director compensation to
the Boards.
Audit Committee. Each Fund’s Audit
Committee’s purposes are: (a) in accordance with exchange
requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to oversee the
accounting and financial reporting processes of the Fund and, as
the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal
control over financial reporting of service providers; (b) in
accordance with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940
Act, to oversee the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial
statements and the independent audit thereof; (c) in accordance
with exchange requirements and Rule 32a-4 under the 1940 Act, to
oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Fund’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to
the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control
over financial reporting and independent audits; (d) to approve
prior to appointment by the Board, the engagement of the Fund’s
independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and
evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the
Fund’s independent auditors; (e) to act as a liaison between the
Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board; (f) to prepare an
audit committee report as required by Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K
to be included in proxy statements relating to the election of
directors; (g) to monitor the operation of policies and procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that each portfolio holding is valued
in an appropriate and timely manner, reflecting information known
to management about the issuer, current market conditions, and
other material factors (“Pricing Procedures”); (h) to consider and
evaluate, and recommend to the Board when the Committee deems it
appropriate, amendments to the Pricing Procedures proposed by
management, counsel, the auditors, the Committee itself or others;
and (i) from time to time, as required or permitted by the Pricing
Procedures, to establish or ratify a method of determining the fair
value of portfolio securities for which market prices are not
readily available or are deemed unreliable. The independent
auditors for each Fund shall report directly to the Audit
Committee. Each Fund has adopted a written charter for its Audit
Committee. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter for each Fund is
available in the “Fund Governance” section of the NBIA’s website at
www.nb.com. The Audit Committee of each Fund has delegated the
authority to grant pre-approval of permissible non-audit services
and all audit, review or attest engagements of the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm to each member of the
Committee between meetings of the Committee.
Each Fund’s Audit Committee is composed entirely of Independent
Directors who are also considered independent under the listing
standards applicable to each Fund. For each Fund, its members are
Michael J. Cosgrove (Chair), Martha C. Goss (Vice
16
Chair), and Deborah C. McLean. All members are Independent Fund
Directors. Each Board has determined that Michael J. Cosgrove,
Martha C. Goss, and Deborah C. McLean are qualified to serve as
Audit Committee financial experts. The Reports of the Audit
Committees relating to the audit of each Fund’s financial
statements for the fiscal year or fiscal period ended October 31,
2021 (fiscal year ended November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP
Energy Income Fund) are attached hereto as Exhibit A. Except for
Next Generation Connectivity Fund, during each Fund’s 2021 fiscal
year, its Audit Committee met six times. Next Generation
Connectivity Fund’s Audit Committee met two times during the Fund’s
2021 fiscal period.
Closed-End Funds Committee. Each Fund’s Closed-End
Funds Committee is responsible for consideration and evaluation of
issues specific to such Fund. For each Fund, its member is George
W. Morriss (Chair), who is an Independent Director. Except for High
Yield Strategies Fund, MLP Energy Income Fund, and Next Generation
Connectivity Fund, during each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year, its
Closed-End Funds Committee met five times. High Yield Strategies
Fund’s Closed-End Funds Committee and MLP Energy Income Fund’s
Closed-End Funds Committee each met seven times during each Fund’s
2021 fiscal year. Next Generation Connectivity Fund’s Closed-End
Funds Committee met two times during the Fund’s 2021 fiscal
period.
Contract Review Committee. Each Fund’s Contract
Review Committee is responsible for reviewing and making
recommendations to the Board regarding whether to renew the Fund’s
principal contractual arrangements and such other agreements or
plans involving a Fund as the Board determines from time to time.
For each Fund, its members are Michael J. Cosgrove, Marc Gary,
Deborah C. McLean (Chair), and George W. Morriss (Vice Chair). All
members are Independent Directors. Except for Next Generation
Connectivity Fund, during each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year, its
Contract Review Committee met five times. Next Generation
Connectivity Fund’s Contract Review Committee met three times
during the Fund’s 2021 fiscal period.
Ethics and Compliance Committee. Each Fund’s Ethics and
Compliance Committee generally: (a) coordinates the Board’s
oversight of the Fund’s CCO in connection with the implementation
of the Fund’s program for compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940
Act and the Fund’s implementation and enforcement of its compliance
policies and procedures; (b) oversees the compliance with the
Fund’s Code of Ethics, which restricts the personal securities
transactions, including transactions in Fund shares, of employees,
officers, and directors; (c) considers and evaluates management’s
framework for identifying, prioritizing, and managing compliance
risks; (d) oversees the adequacy and fairness of the arrangements
for securities lending, if any, in a manner consistent with
applicable regulatory requirements, with special emphasis on any
arrangements in which the Fund deals with the manager or any
affiliate of the manager as principal or agent; (e) oversees the
program by which the manager seeks to monitor and improve the
quality of execution for portfolio transactions; and (f) considers
and evaluates other quarterly and annual reports from management,
including reports on contractual arrangements with third
party
17
intermediaries. Each Committee shall not assume oversight duties to
the extent that such duties have been assigned by its Board
expressly to another Committee of the Board (such as oversight of
internal controls over financial reporting, which has been assigned
to the Audit Committee). Each Committee’s primary function is
oversight. Each investment adviser, principal underwriter,
administrator, custodian and transfer agent (collectively, “Service
Providers”) is responsible for its own compliance with the federal
securities laws and for devising, implementing, maintaining and
updating appropriate policies, procedures and codes of ethics to
ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and their
contracts with the Fund. The CCO is responsible for administering
each Fund’s compliance program, including devising and implementing
appropriate methods of testing compliance by the Fund and its
Service Providers. For each Fund, its Ethics and Compliance
Committee members are Marc Gary (Chair), Michael M. Knetter, Tom D.
Seip, and James G. Stavridis (Vice Chair). All members are
Independent Directors. Each Board will receive at least annually a
report on the compliance programs of its Fund and service providers
and the required annual reports on the administration of the Code
of Ethics and the required annual certifications from the Fund and
NBIA. Except for Next Generation Connectivity Fund, during each
Fund’s 2021 fiscal year, its Ethics and Compliance Committee met
four times. Next Generation Connectivity Fund’s Ethics and
Compliance Committee met two times during the Fund’s 2021 fiscal
period.
Executive Committee. Each Fund’s Executive
Committee is responsible for acting in an emergency when a quorum
of its Board is not available; the Committee has all the powers of
the Board when the Board is not in session to the extent permitted
by Maryland law. For each Fund, its members are Joseph V. Amato
(Vice Chair), Michael J. Cosgrove, Marc Gary, Martha C. Goss,
Michael M. Knetter, Deborah C. McLean, George W. Morriss, and Tom
D. Seip (Chair). All members except for Mr. Amato are Independent
Directors. During each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year or fiscal period,
each Fund’s Executive Committee did not meet.
Governance and Nominating Committee. Each Fund’s Governance
and Nominating Committee is responsible for: (a) considering and
evaluating the structure, composition and operation of its Board
and each committee thereof, including the operation of the annual
self-evaluation by the Board; (b) evaluating and nominating
individuals to serve as Fund Directors including as Independent
Directors, as members of committees, as Chair of the Board and as
Fund officers; and (c) recommending for Board approval any proposed
changes to Committee membership and recommending for Board and
Committee approval any proposed changes to the Chair and Vice Chair
appointments of any Committee following consultation with members
of each such Committee; and (d) considering and making
recommendations relating to the compensation of Independent
Directors. The selection and nomination of candidates to serve as
independent directors is committed to the discretion of the current
Independent Directors. For each Fund, its members are Martha C.
Goss (Chair), Michael M. Knetter, Tom D. Seip, and James G.
Stavridis (Vice Chair). All members are Independent Directors. As
previously described, each Committee met to discuss
18
matters related to the nomination of Class II Directors with
respect to its Fund. Except for MLP Energy Income Fund and Next
Generation Connectivity Fund, during each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year,
its Governance and Nominating Committee met four times. MLP Energy
Income Fund’s Governance and Nominating Committee met three times
during the Fund’s 2021 fiscal year. Next Generation Connectivity
Fund’s Governance and Nominating Committee met two times during the
Fund’s 2021 fiscal period.
Investment Performance Committee. Each Fund’s Investment
Performance Committee is responsible for overseeing and guiding the
process by which its Board reviews Fund performance and interfacing
with management personnel responsible for investment risk
management. Each Fund Director is a member of the Committee.
Michael M. Knetter and Deborah C. McLean are the Chair and the Vice
Chair, respectively, of the Committee. All members except for Mr.
Amato are Independent Directors. Except for Next Generation
Connectivity Fund, during each Fund’s 2021 fiscal year, each Fund’s
Investment Performance Committee met four times. Next Generation
Connectivity Fund’s Investment Performance Committee met two times
during the Fund’s 2021 fiscal period.
Risk Management Oversight
As an integral part of its responsibility for oversight of the
Funds in the interests of stockholders, the Boards oversee risk
management of each Fund’s portfolio management, administration and
operations. The Boards view risk management as an important
responsibility of management.
The Funds face a number of risks, such as investment risk,
counterparty risk, valuation risk, liquidity risk, reputational
risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity,
cybersecurity risk, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk
management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events
or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the
business, operations, stockholder services, investment performance
or reputation of the Funds. Under the overall supervision of the
Boards, the Funds, the Funds’ investment manager, and the
affiliates of the investment manager, or other service providers to
the Funds, employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls
to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to
lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the
effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different
processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to
different types of risks.
Each Board exercises oversight of the investment manager’s risk
management processes primarily through the Board’s committee
structure. The various committees, as appropriate, and/or at times
the Boards, meet periodically with the Chief Risk Officer, head of
operational risk, the Chief Information Security Officer, the CCO,
the Treasurer, the Chief Investment Officers for equity,
alternative and fixed income, the head of Internal Audit, and the
Funds’ independent auditor. The committees, or the
19
Boards, as appropriate, review with these individuals, among other
things, the design and implementation of risk management strategies
in their respective areas and events and circumstances that have
arisen and responses thereto.
The Boards recognize that not all risks that may affect the Funds
can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective
to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to
bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve
the Funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls
employed to address certain risks may be limited in their
effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Directors as to
risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant
information. Furthermore, it is in the very nature of certain risks
that they can be evaluated only as probabilities, and not as
certainties. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the
Boards’ risk management oversight is subject to substantial
limitations, and no risk management program can predict the
likelihood or seriousness of, or mitigate the effects of, all
potential risks.
Information Regarding Each Fund’s Process for Nominating
Director Candidates
Governance and Nominating Committee Charter. A copy of the Governance
and Nominating Committee Charter for each Fund is available in the
“Fund Governance” section of the NBIA’s website at
www.nb.com.
Stockholder Communications. Each Fund’s Governance
and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by
stockholders; stockholders may send resumes of recommended persons
to the attention of Claudia A. Brandon, Secretary, Neuberger Berman
Funds, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104. To be
considered for a specific Fund at a specific meeting of
stockholders, please identify such request and comply with the
timing and information requirements described under “Stockholder
Proposals.”
Nominee Qualifications. The Governance and
Nominating Committee of each Fund will consider nominees
recommended by stockholders on the basis of the same criteria used
to consider and evaluate candidates recommended by other sources.
While there is no formal list of qualifications, the Governance and
Nominating Committee considers, among other things, whether
prospective nominees have distinguished records in their primary
careers, unimpeachable integrity and substantive knowledge in areas
important to a Board’s operations, such as background or education
in finance, auditing, securities law, the workings of the
securities markets or investment advice. For candidates to serve as
Independent Directors, independence from each Fund’s investment
manager, its affiliates and other principal service providers is
critical, as is an independent and questioning mindset. Each
Committee also considers whether the prospective candidates’
workloads would allow them to attend the vast majority of Board
meetings, be available for service on Board committees and devote
the additional time and effort necessary to keep up with Board
matters and the rapidly changing regulatory environment in which
each Fund operates. Different substantive
20
areas may assume greater or lesser significance at particular
times, in light of a Board’s present composition and a Committee’s
(or a Board’s) perceptions about future issues and needs. In
considering nominees, each Committee also considers the diversity
of its Board with respect to professional experience, education,
skill and viewpoint.
Identifying Nominees. Each Governance and
Nominating Committee considers prospective candidates from any
reasonable source. Each Committee initially evaluates prospective
candidates on the basis of their resumes, considered in light of
the criteria discussed above. Those prospective candidates that
appear likely to be able to fill a significant need of a Board
would be contacted by a Committee member by telephone to discuss
the position; if there appeared to be sufficient interest, an
in-person meeting with one or more Committee members would be
arranged. If a Committee, based on the results of these contacts,
believed it had identified a viable candidate, it would air the
matter with the full group of Independent Directors for
input.
Any request by management to meet with the prospective candidate
would be given appropriate consideration. Each Governance and
Nominating Committee may, but is not required to, retain third
party consultants, at its Fund’s expense, to assist with the
identification and/or evaluation of potential candidates for
Independent Directors.
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
The Funds do not have a policy on Director attendance at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. None of the Funds’ Board members attended
the Funds’ 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Ownership of Securities
Set forth below is the dollar range of equity securities owned by
each Director as of July 25, 2022:
Name of Director/Nominee
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in:
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in all
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Director in Neuberger
Berman Family of Investment Companies(1)
|
NRO
|
NHS
|
NBW
|
NBH
|
NBO
|
NML
|
NBXG
|
Independent Directors
|
Michael J. Cosgrove(2)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Marc Gary
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Martha C. Goss
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Michael M. Knetter
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Deborah C. McLean
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
21
Name of Director/Nominee
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in:
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in all
Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Director in Neuberger
Berman Family of Investment Companies(1)
|
NRO
|
NHS
|
NBW
|
NBH
|
NBO
|
NML
|
NBXG
|
George W. Morriss(3)
|
None
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Tom D. Seip
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
James G. Stavridis
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
Joseph V. Amato
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
(1)
|
Valuation as of July 25, 2022.
|
(2)
|
Mr. Cosgrove owns 1,000 shares of common stock of NBXG,
constituting less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares of
common stock.
|
(3)
|
Mr. Morriss owns 5,000 shares of common stock of NBXG, 9,253 shares
of common stock of NHS and 4,045 shares of common stock of NML,
constituting less than 1% of each Fund’s outstanding shares of
common stock.
|
Independent Directors’ Ownership of Securities
As of July 25, 2022, no Independent Director (or his/her immediate
family members) owned securities of NBIA or securities in an entity
controlling, controlled by or under common control with NBIA (not
including registered investment companies).
Officers of each Fund
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
officers of each Fund. Except as otherwise noted, each individual
has held the positions shown in the table below for each Fund and
for at least the last five years. Officers of each Fund are
appointed by the Directors and serve at the pleasure of the
Board.
22
Name, Address and (Year of Birth)(1)
|
Position(s) and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
Claudia A. Brandon
(1956)
|
Executive Vice President since 2008 and Secretary since 2002 (NBW,
NBH and NBO), 2003 (NRO), 2006 (NHS), 2013 (NML) and 2021
(NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee
since 1999; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2008 and Assistant
Secretary since 2004; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman,
2002 to 2006; formerly, Vice President – Mutual Fund Board
Relations, NBIA, 2000 to 2008;formerly, Vice President, NBIA, 1986
to 1999 and Employee, 1984 to 1999; Executive Vice President and
Secretary, thirty-three registered investment companies for which
NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
Agnes Diaz
(1971)
|
Vice President since 2013 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2012; Senior Vice
President, NBIA, since 2012 and Employee since 1996; formerly, Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, 2007 to 2012; Vice President, twelve
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator.
|
Anthony DiBernardo
(1979)
|
Assistant Treasurer since 2011 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013
(NML) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2014; Senior Vice
President, NBIA, since 2014, and Employee since 2003; formerly,
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2009 to 2014; Assistant
Treasurer, twelve registered investment companies for which NBIA
acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
23
Name, Address and (Year of Birth)(1)
|
Position(s) and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
Savonne L. Ferguson
(1973)
|
Chief Compliance Officer since 2018 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer (Mutual Funds) and
Associate General Counsel, NBIA, since November 2018; formerly,
Vice President T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (2018), Vice President and
Senior Legal Counsel, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (2014-2018),
Vice President and Director of Regulatory Fund Administration, PNC
Capital Advisors, LLC (2009-2014), Secretary, PNC Funds and PNC
Advantage Funds (2010-2014); Chief Compliance Officer, thirty-three
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator.
|
Corey A. Issing
(1978)
|
Chief Legal Officer since 2016 (only for purposes of sections 307
and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
General Counsel– Mutual Funds since 2016 and Managing Director,
NBIA, since 2017; formerly, Associate General Counsel (2015 to
2016), Counsel (2007 to 2015), Senior Vice President (2013 – 2016);
Vice President (2009-2013); Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes
of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002),
thirty-three registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as
investment manager and/or administrator.
|
Sheila R. James
(1965)
|
Assistant Secretary since 2002 (NBW, NBH and NBO), 2003 (NRO), 2006
(NHS), 2013 (NML) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2008 and Employee since
1999; Vice President, NBIA, since 2008; formerly, Assistant Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, 2007; Employee, NBIA, 1991 to 1999;
Assistant Secretary, thirty-three registered investment companies
for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
24
Name, Address and (Year of Birth)(1)
|
Position(s) and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
Brian Kerrane
(1969)
|
Chief Operating Officer since 2015 and Vice President since 2008
(NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman, since 2013; Chief Operating
Officer – Mutual Funds and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2015;
formerly, Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, 2006 to 2014;
Vice President, NBIA, 2008 to 2015 and Employee since 1991; Chief
Operating Officer, twelve registered investment companies for which
NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator; Vice
President, thirty-three registered investment companies for which
NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
Anthony Maltese
(1959)
|
Vice President since 2015 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2014 and Employee
since 2000; Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2014; Vice
President, twelve registered investment companies for which NBIA
acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
Josephine Marone
(1963)
|
Assistant Secretary since 2017 and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Paralegal, Neuberger Berman, since 2007 and Employee since
2007; Assistant Secretary, thirty-three registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
Owen F. McEntee, Jr.
(1961)
|
Vice President since 2008 (NBW, NBH, NBO, NHS and NRO), 2013 (NML)
and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA,
since 2006 and Employee since 1992; Vice President, twelve
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator.
|
John M. McGovern
(1970)
|
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer since 2005
(NRO, NBW, NBH and NBO), 2006 (NHS), 2013 (NML) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2007; Senior Vice
President, NBIA, since 2007 and Employee since 1993; formerly, Vice
President, Neuberger Berman, 2004 to 2006; formerly, Assistant
Treasurer, 2002 to 2005; Treasurer and Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer, twelve registered investment companies for
which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
25
Name, Address and (Year of Birth)(1)
|
Position(s) and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
Frank Rosato
(1971)
|
Assistant Treasurer since 2005 (NRO, NBW, NBH and NBO), 2006 (NHS),
2013 (NML) and 2021 (NBXG)
|
Vice President, Neuberger Berman, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA,
since 2006 and Employee since 1995; Assistant Treasurer, twelve
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator.
|
(1)
|
The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10104.
|
(2)
|
Pursuant to the Bylaws of each Fund each officer elected by the
Directors shall hold office until his or her successor shall have
been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
inability to serve, or resignation. Officers serve at the pleasure
of the Directors and may be removed at any time with or without
cause.
|
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth information concerning the
compensation of the Funds’ Directors. The Funds do not have any
pension or retirement plan for their Directors. For the fiscal year
or fiscal period ended October 31, 2021 (fiscal year ended November
30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund), the Directors
received the amounts set forth in the following table from each
Fund. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, the Directors
received the compensation set forth in the following table for
serving as trustee/director of the funds in the Neuberger Berman
fund family. Each officer and Director who is a director, officer
or employee of NBIA or any entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with NBIA serves as a Director and/or officer
without any compensation from the Funds.
TABLE OF COMPENSATION
Name and Position
|
Aggregate
Compensation from
each Fund other than
MLP Energy Income
Fund for the Fiscal
Year or Fiscal Period
Ended
October 31, 2021
|
Aggregate
Compensation from
MLP Energy Income
Fund for the Fiscal
Year Ended
November 30, 2021
|
Total Compensation from
Registered Investment
Companies in the
Neuberger Berman Fund
Complex Paid to Directors
for Calendar Year Ended
December 31, 2021
|
Independent Directors
|
|
Michael J. Cosgrove Director
|
$24,179
|
$4,836
|
$240,000
|
Marc Gary
Director
|
$23,641
|
$4,728
|
$235,000
|
Martha C. Goss
Director
|
$23,641
|
$4,728
|
$235,000
|
26
Name and Position
|
Aggregate Compensation from each Fund other than MLP Energy
Income Fund for the Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period Ended
October 31, 2021
|
Aggregate Compensation from MLP Energy Income Fund for the
Fiscal Year Ended
November 30, 2021
|
Total Compensation from Registered Investment Companies in the
Neuberger Berman Fund Complex Paid to Directors for Calendar Year
Ended
December 31, 2021
|
Michael M. Knetter
Director
|
$23,641
|
$4,728
|
$235,000
|
Deborah C. McLean Director
|
$24,179
|
$4,836
|
$240,000
|
George W. Morriss
Director
|
$24,043
|
$4,809
|
$240,000
|
Tom D. Seip Chair of the Board
and Director
|
$26,633
|
$5,327
|
$270,000
|
James G. Stavridis Director
|
$22,028
|
$4,406
|
$220,000
|
Candace L. Straight1
Director
|
$14,581
|
$2,916
|
$95,000
|
Peter P. Trapp2
Director
|
$22,028
|
$4,406
|
$220,000
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
1
|
Ms. Straight unexpectedly passed away in June 2021.
|
2
|
Mr. Trapp retired from his position as Director of each Fund
effective December 31, 2021.
|
Effective January 1, 2022, for serving as a trustee/director of the
funds in the Neuberger Berman fund family, each Independent
Director and each Director who is an “interested person” but who is
not an employee of NBIA or its affiliates receives an annual
retainer of $180,000, paid quarterly, and a fee of $15,000 for each
of the regularly scheduled meetings he or she attends in-person or
by telephone. Prior to January 1, 2022, for serving as a
trustee/director of the Neuberger Berman Funds, each Independent
Fund Director and any Fund Director who is an “interested person”
but who is not an employee of NBIA or its affiliates receives an
annual retainer of $160,000, paid quarterly, and a fee of $15,000
for each of the regularly scheduled meetings he or she attends
in-person or by telephone. For any additional special in-person or
telephonic meeting of a Board, its Governance and Nominating
Committee will determine whether a fee is warranted. To compensate
for the additional time commitment, the Chair of the Audit
Committees and the Chair of the Closed-End Funds Committees each
receives $20,000 per year, the Chair of the Contract Review
Committees receives $25,000 per year and each Chair of the other
Committees receives $15,000 per year. Prior to
27
January 1, 2022, the Chair of the Contract Review Committees
received $20,000 per year to compensate for the additional time
commitment. No additional compensation is provided for service on a
Board committee. The Chair of the Boards who is also an Independent
Director receives an additional $70,000 per year. Prior to January
1, 2022, the Chair of the Boards received an additional $50,000 per
year.
The Neuberger Berman funds reimburse Independent Directors for
their travel and other out-of-pocket expenses related to attendance
at Board meetings. The Independent Director compensation is
allocated to each fund in the Neuberger Berman fund family based on
a method the Boards find reasonable.
Vote Required
With respect to each Fund, Michael J. Cosgrove and Deborah C.
McLean must be elected by vote of the holders of a majority of the
Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock, if
any, entitled to vote thereon, voting together.
With respect to each Fund other than MLP Energy Income Fund, Next
Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund, George W. Morriss must be elected by vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund’s preferred stock, voting separately from
holders of common stock. With respect to MLP Energy Income Fund,
Next Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund, George W. Morriss must be elected by vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock.
THE DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND
RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH
NOMINEE.
28
VOTING INFORMATION
Voting Rights
The close of business on July 19, 2022, has been fixed as the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Meeting (“Record Date”). On that date,
each Fund had the following number of shares of common stock and
preferred stock outstanding and entitled to vote:
Fund
|
Shares of
Common Stock
Outstanding
|
Shares of
Preferred Stock
Outstanding
|
California Municipal Fund
|
5,551,044
|
550
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
19,432,540
|
6,080,000
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
56,658,928
|
0
|
Municipal Fund
|
18,843,164
|
1,704
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
5,077,417
|
463
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund
|
78,761,496
|
0
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
47,455,806
|
0
|
Holders of each Fund’s outstanding shares of common and preferred
stock, if any, will vote together as a single class to elect three
Class II Directors. As described herein under the section entitled
“Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” holders of the shares of
preferred stock of each Fund, except for MLP Energy Income Fund,
Next Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund, will vote separately from holders of the shares of common
stock to elect one additional Class II Director. Holders of the
shares of common stock of MLP Energy Income Fund, Next Generation
Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income Fund will vote
to elect each of the Class II Directors because the Funds do not
have preferred stock outstanding.
As to any other business that may properly come before the Meeting,
holders of each Fund’s shares of common stock and preferred stock
may vote together as a single class or separately, depending on the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the Maryland General Corporation Law
(“MGCL”) and a Fund’s charter with respect to said item of
business. Each full share of a Fund’s common stock or preferred
stock is entitled to one vote and each fractional share of a Fund’s
common stock or preferred stock is entitled to a proportionate
share of one vote.
If the enclosed proxy card is properly executed and returned in
time to be voted at the Meeting, the shares represented by the
proxy card will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked
on the proxy card. If no instructions are specified on a proxy
card, shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each nominee for
Director and “FOR,” “ABSTAIN,” or “AGAINST” any other matters acted
upon at the Meeting in the discretion of the persons named as
proxies. Any stockholder who has given a proxy has the right to
revoke it any time prior to its exercise by attending the Meeting
and voting his or her shares or by submitting a letter of
revocation or a later-dated proxy
29
card to the Fund at the address indicated on the enclosed envelope
provided with this Proxy Statement. Any letter of revocation or
later-dated proxy card must be received by the Fund prior to the
Meeting and must indicate your name and account number to be
effective. Proxies voted by telephone or Internet may be revoked at
any time before they are voted at the Meeting in the same manner
that proxies voted by mail may be revoked.
The Funds expect that broker-dealer firms holding shares of the
Funds’ stock in “street name” for the benefit of their customers
and clients will request the instructions of such customers and
clients on how to vote their shares on the election of Directors.
The Funds understand that, under the rules of the NYSE and NYSE
American, such broker-dealers may grant authority to the proxies
designated by the Funds to vote on the election of Directors for
the Funds if no instructions have been received prior to the date
specified in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting
instructions. Certain broker-dealer firms may exercise discretion
over shares held in their names for which no instructions are
received, including by voting such shares in the same proportion as
they have voted shares for which they have received
instructions.
In tallying stockholder votes, proxies that reflect abstentions or
“broker non-votes” (shares held by brokers or nominees as to which
instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or
the persons entitled to vote and either (i) the broker or nominee
does not have discretionary voting power or (ii) the broker or
nominee returns the proxy but expressly declines to vote on a
particular matter) will be counted as shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum and effectively will be a vote against the election of
Directors.
For situations in which advisers have proxy voting discretion, they
will vote the proposals in accordance with their proxy voting
policies. This may mean that they will follow a third-party proxy
voting provider’s recommendations but have the ability to vote
contrary to the recommendation in certain circumstances.
MLP Energy Income Fund’s Articles of Incorporation provide that no
person, other than an excepted person (as approved by the Fund’s
Board), may own in excess of 4.99% of the Fund’s outstanding shares
of common stock. Any person who beneficially or constructively owns
shares in excess of such ownership limitation shall, among other
things, have no rights to vote the excess shares of common
stock.
Each of California Municipal Fund, High Yield Strategies Fund,
Municipal Fund, New York Municipal Fund, Next Generation
Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income Fund has opted
into and is subject to the provisions of the Maryland Control Share
Acquisition Act (the “MCSAA”). Generally, the MCSAA provides that
“control shares” (as defined in the MCSAA) of a Maryland
corporation (e.g., a Fund) acquired in a “control share
acquisition” (as defined in the MCSAA) of outstanding shares have
no voting rights except to the extent approved by the holders of
two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter (which
excludes votes entitled to be cast by the “Acquiring Person” (as
defined in the MCSAA) who has made or
30
proposes to make a control share acquisition or by officers or
employee-directors of the corporation). The MCSAA provides that
Acquiring Persons can have the corporation call a special
stockholder meeting to seek such stockholder approval.
Generally, “control shares” are shares of stock which, but for the
MCSAA, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the
Acquiring Person or in respect of which the Acquiring Person is
able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except
solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the Acquiring
Person to exercise voting power in electing directors (e.g.,
a Fund’s Directors) within one of the following ranges of voting
power: one-tenth or more but less than one-third; one-third or more
but less than a majority; or a majority or more of all voting
power. The MCSAA does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger,
consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to
the transaction, (b) to shares acquired under the satisfaction of a
pledge or other security interest created in good faith and not for
the purpose of circumventing the MCSAA, or (c) to acquisitions of
shares approved or exempted by a provision contained in the charter
or bylaws of the corporation and adopted at any time before the
acquisition of the shares. Stockholders (together with any
“associated persons” (as defined in the MCSAA)) that own less than
ten percent of the shares entitled to vote in the election of
directors are not affected by the restrictions on voting rights
under the MCSAA.
Accordingly, any of a Fund’s outstanding shares of stock that are
deemed to be “control shares” under the MCSAA will have no voting
rights at the Meeting.
Proxy solicitations will be made primarily by mail, but may also be
made by telephone, electronic transmissions or personal meetings
with officers and employees of NBIA, affiliates of NBIA or other
representatives of the Funds. Proxy solicitations may also be made
by AST.
Quorum; Adjournment
A quorum with respect to a Fund is constituted by one-third of the
Fund’s shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting,
present in person, virtually or by proxy. If a quorum is not
present at a Fund’s Meeting, the persons named as proxies may
propose one or more adjournments of such Meeting to permit further
solicitation of proxies. Subject to the rules established by the
Chair of the Meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote at the Meeting and present in person, virtually or
by proxy may vote to adjourn, or, if no stockholder entitled to
vote is present in person, virtually or by proxy, any officer
present entitled to preside or act as secretary of the Meeting may
adjourn the Meeting. In the former case, the persons named as
proxies will vote those proxies that they are entitled to vote
“FOR” or “AGAINST” any proposal and those proxies they are required
to “WITHHOLD” on some or all nominees in their discretion. If a
quorum is present at the Meeting, the Chair of the Meeting may
adjourn the Meeting if sufficient votes to approve a proposal are
not received or for any other purpose. A stockholder vote may be
taken on the nominations in this Proxy Statement prior to any such
adjournment if sufficient votes have been
31
received and it is otherwise appropriate. Each Board also may
postpone the Meeting of stockholders prior to the Meeting with
notice to the stockholders entitled to vote at or to receive notice
of the Meeting.
Vote Required
With respect to each Fund, Michael J. Cosgrove and Deborah C.
McLean must be elected by vote of the holders of a majority of the
Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock, if
any, entitled to vote thereon, voting together.
With respect to each Fund other than MLP Energy Income Fund, Next
Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund, George W. Morriss must be elected by vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund’s preferred stock, voting separately from
holders of common stock. With respect to MLP Energy Income Fund,
Next Generation Connectivity Fund and Real Estate Securities Income
Fund, George W. Morriss must be elected by vote of the holders of a
majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares of common stock.
With respect to other items of business (and the Funds are not
currently aware of any other items to be brought before the
Meeting), the necessary affirmative vote will depend on the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the MGCL and the applicable Fund’s
charter with respect to said item of business.
To assure the presence of a quorum at the Meeting, please promptly
vote by telephone or through the Internet by following the
instructions on the enclosed proxy card. Alternatively, you may
execute and return the enclosed proxy. A self-addressed,
postage-paid envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS’ INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) audited each Fund’s
financial statements for the fiscal year or fiscal period ended
October 31, 2021 (fiscal year ended November 30, 2021 for MLP
Energy Income Fund). Ernst & Young, 200 Clarendon Street,
Boston, MA 02116, serves as the independent registered public
accounting firm for each Fund and provides audit services, tax
compliance services and assistance and consultation in connection
with the review of each Fund’s filings with the SEC. In the opinion
of each Audit Committee, the services provided by Ernst & Young
are compatible with maintaining the independence of the respective
Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Each Board
has selected Ernst & Young as the independent registered public
accounting firm for the respective Fund for the fiscal year ending
October 31, 2022 (fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 with respect
to MLP Energy Income Fund). Ernst & Young has served as each
Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm since the
Fund’s inception. Ernst & Young has informed the Funds that it
has no material direct or indirect financial interest in any
Fund.
32
Representatives of Ernst & Young are not expected to be present
at the Meeting but have been given the opportunity to make a
statement if they so desire and will be available should any matter
arise requiring their presence.
FEES BILLED BY INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for the audit of the
annual financial statements or services that are normally provided
in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements
of the Funds other than MLP Energy Income Fund for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2021 (fiscal years ended
November 30, 2020 and November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy
Income Fund) are as shown in the table below.
|
Audit Fees Billed
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2021
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
$51,556
|
$53,056
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
$42,161
|
$43,461
|
California Municipal Fund
|
$45,111
|
$46,511
|
Municipal Fund
|
$45,111
|
$46,511
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
$45,111
|
$46,511
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund3
|
—
|
$21,000
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2021
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
$46,740
|
$48,140
|
3
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund commenced operations on May 26,
2021. Fees billed by Ernst & Young are for the Fund’s fiscal
period ended October 31, 2021.
|
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate audit-related fees billed by Ernst & Young for
the Funds other than MLP Energy Income Fund for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2021 (fiscal years ended
November 30, 2020 and November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy
Income Fund) are as shown in the table below. The nature of the
services that could be provided include agreed-upon procedures
relating to the preferred stock.
|
Audit-Related Fees Billed
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2021
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
33
California Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund3
|
—
|
$0
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2021
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for the Funds other
than MLP Energy Income Fund for the fiscal years ended October 31,
2020 and October 31, 2021 (fiscal years ended November 30, 2020 and
November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund) are as
shown in the table below. The nature of the services provided
comprised tax compliance including preparation of the Federal and
State tax extensions and tax returns, review of annual excise tax
calculations and preparation of Form 8613. In addition, services
include assistance with identification of Passive Foreign
Investment Companies (PFICS), assistance with determination of
various foreign withholding taxes and assistance with Internal
Revenue Code and tax regulation requirements for fund
investments.
|
Tax Fees Billed
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2021
|
California Municipal Fund
|
$13,250
|
$12,450
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
$12,450
|
$12,450
|
Municipal Fund
|
$13,250
|
$13,250
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
$12,450
|
$12,450
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
$13,250
|
$13,250
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund3
|
—
|
$19,750
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2021
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
$100,830
|
$100,130
|
All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young for services
provided to the Funds other than MLP Energy Income Fund during the
fiscal years ended October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2021 (fiscal
years ended November 30, 2020 and November 30, 2021 with respect to
MLP Energy Income Fund) other than those reported in Audit Fees,
Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees, are as shown in the table
below.
34
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2021
|
California Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund3
|
—
|
$0
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2021
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
$0
|
$0
|
Non-Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young during the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2021 for non-audit
services to the Funds (fiscal years ended November 30, 2020 and
November 30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund) and NBIA
and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control
with NBIA that provides ongoing services to the Funds are as shown
in the table below.
|
Aggregated Non-Audit Fees
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
10/31/2021
|
California Municipal Fund
|
$13,250
|
$12,450
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
$12,450
|
$12,450
|
Municipal Fund
|
$13,250
|
$13,250
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
$12,450
|
$12,450
|
Real Estate Securities Income Fund
|
$13,250
|
$13,250
|
Next Generation Connectivity Fund3
|
—
|
$19,750
|
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2020
|
Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/2021
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
$100,830
|
$100,130
|
Audit Committees’ Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Each Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures for its
Fund to engage an accountant to render audit and non-audit services
delegate to each member of the Committee the power to pre-approve
services between meetings of the Committee.
Each Audit Committee has considered these fees and the nature of
the services rendered, and has concluded that they are compatible
with maintaining the independence of Ernst & Young. The Audit
Committees did not approve any of the services described above
pursuant to the “de minimis exceptions” set forth in Rule
2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) and Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. Ernst
& Young did not
35
provide any audit-related services, tax services or other non-audit
services to NBIA and any entity controlling, controlled by or under
common control with NBIA that provides ongoing services to a Fund
that the Audit Committees were required to approve pursuant to Rule
2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. Each Audit Committee considered
whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to NBIA and
any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
NBIA that provides ongoing services to a Fund that were not
pre-approved by the Audit Committee because the engagement did not
relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the
Fund is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young’s
independence.
36
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ownership of Shares
As of July 19, 2022, no Fund knows of any person who owns
beneficially more than 5% of its outstanding shares of common stock
or preferred stock other than those listed below.
Fund
|
Class
|
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
|
Amount of Beneficial Ownership
|
Percent of Class
|
California Municipal Fund
|
Common
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
First Trust Advisors L.P.
The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
|
484,860
|
8.73%(1)
|
California Municipal Fund
|
Preferred
|
Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation
214 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
|
550
|
100.00%(2)
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
Common
|
Sit Investment Associates, Inc. 3300 IDS Center 80 South Eighth
Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
|
1,983,100
|
13.52%(3)
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
Common
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
First Trust Advisors L.P.
The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
|
1,858,151
|
12.67%(4)
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
Preferred
|
MetLife Investment Management, LLC One MetLife Way Whippany, NJ
07981
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company MetLife Reinsurance Company of
Charleston Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company 200 Park
Avenue New York, NY 10166
|
6,080,000
|
100%(5)
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
Common
|
City of London Investment Group PLC City of London Investment
Management Company Limited 77 Gracechurch Street London, England
EC3V 0AS
|
7,154,156
|
12.60%(6)
|
37
Fund
|
Class
|
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
|
Amount of Beneficial Ownership
|
Percent of Class
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
Common
|
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
|
6,098,358
|
10.80%(7)
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
Common
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
First Trust Advisors L.P.
The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
|
4,415,286
|
7.79%(8)
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
Common
|
Private Management Group, Inc. 15635 Alton Parkway, Suite 400
Irvine, CA 92618
|
3,474,023
|
6.13%(9)
|
MLP Energy Income Fund
|
Common
|
Saba Capital Management, L.P. Saba Capital Management GP, LLC Mr.
Boaz R. Weinstein 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th
Floor New York, NY 10174
|
3,039,301
|
5.40%(10)
|
Municipal Fund
|
Common
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.
First Trust Advisors L.P.
The Charger Corporation
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
|
1,713,861
|
9.10%(11)
|
Municipal Fund
|
Preferred
|
Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation
214 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
|
1,704
|
100%(2)
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
Common
|
Karpus Management, Inc.
183 Sully’s Trail
Pittsford, NY 14534
|
403,761
|
7.95%(12)
|
New York Municipal Fund
|
Preferred
|
Bank of America Corporation
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation
214 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
|
463
|
100%(2)
|
(1)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by First Trust Portfolios
L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation on
January 18, 2022.
|
38
(2)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13D filed by Bank of America
Corporation and Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation on
December 20, 2021.
|
(3)
|
Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Sit Investment Associates, Inc. on
June 10, 2022.
|
(4)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by First Trust Portfolios
L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation on
January 21, 2022.
|
(5)
|
Based on a Form 4 filed by MetLife Investment Management, LLC on
June 10, 2022.
|
(6)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by City of London Investment
Group PLC and City of London Investment Management Company Limited
on February 11, 2022.
|
(7)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by Morgan Stanley and Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney LLC on January 10, 2022.
|
(8)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by First Trust Portfolios
L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation on
January 26, 2022.
|
(9)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by Private Management Group,
Inc. on February 10, 2022.
|
(10)
|
Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Saba Capital Management, L.P.,
Saba Capital Management GP, LLC, and Mr. Boaz R. Weinstein on July
8, 2022.
|
(11)
|
Based on an amended Schedule 13G filed by First Trust Portfolios
L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation on
January 20, 2022.
|
(12)
|
Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Karpus Management, Inc. on
February 14, 2022.
|
In addition, the Directors and officers of each Fund, in the
aggregate, owned less than 1% of each class of the Fund’s
outstanding shares of stock as of July 25, 2022. Information
regarding each Director’s ownership of shares of each Fund is set
forth above under “Ownership of Securities.” The principal
executive officer and principal financial officer of each Fund own
no Fund shares.
Payment of Solicitation Expenses
Solicitation is made primarily by the mailing of this Proxy
Statement and the accompanying proxy card(s). Supplementary
solicitations may be made by mail, telephone and electronic
transmission or in person by regular employees of NBIA, affiliates
of NBIA or other representatives of the Funds. NBIA serves as each
Fund’s investment manager and administrator. In addition, each Fund
has engaged AST, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the
solicitation of proxies. All expenses in connection with preparing
this Proxy Statement and its enclosures, and additional
solicitation expenses including reimbursement of brokerage firms
and others for their expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation
material to the beneficial owners of shares of stock, will be borne
by the Funds. Additional out-of-pocket costs, such as legal
expenses, incurred in connection with the preparation of this Proxy
Statement, also will be borne by the Funds.
39
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Funds do not know of any matters to be presented at the Meeting
other than those described in this Proxy Statement. If other
business should properly come before the Meeting, including votes
to adjourn the Meeting to allow for the additional solicitation or
proxy statements, the proxy holders will vote on it in accordance
with their best judgment for those shares they are authorized to
vote. However, any proposal submitted to a vote at the Meeting by
anyone other than the officers or Directors of the Funds may be
voted on only by written proxy.
Stockholder Proposals
Each Fund’s Bylaws require stockholders wishing to nominate
Directors or make proposals to be voted on at the Fund’s annual
meeting to provide notice of the nominations or proposals in
writing delivered or mailed by first class United States mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Fund. To be valid, the
notice must include all of the information specified in the
applicable Fund’s Bylaws. Stockholder proposals meeting tests
contained in the SEC’s proxy rules may, under certain conditions,
be included in a Fund’s proxy material for a particular annual
stockholder meeting. Proposals submitted for inclusion in a Fund’s
proxy material for the 2023 Annual Meeting must be received by the
Secretary on or before April 12, 2023. The fact that the Funds
receive a stockholder proposal in a timely manner does not ensure
its inclusion in its proxy material, since there are other
requirements in the proxy rules relating to such inclusion.
Stockholders who wish to make a proposal that would not be included
in a Fund’s proxy materials or to nominate a person or persons as a
Director at a Fund’s 2023 Annual Meeting must ensure that the
proposal or nomination is delivered to the Secretary no earlier
than March 13, 2023 and no later than April 12, 2023. However, if
the date of the mailing of the notice for the Annual Meeting is
advanced or delayed by more than thirty days from the anniversary
date of the mailing of this year’s notice for the Annual Meeting or
a special meeting of stockholders is held, notice by the
stockholders to be timely must be delivered no earlier than the
120th day prior to the date of such meeting, and no later than the
later to occur of (i) the 90th day prior to the date of such
meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Fund.
The proposal or nomination must be in good order and in compliance
with all applicable legal requirements, including the requirements
set forth in each Fund’s Bylaws. The Chair of the Meeting may
refuse to acknowledge a nomination or other proposal by a
stockholder that is not made in the manner described above.
Notice to Banks, Broker-Dealers and Voting Directors and their
Nominees
Please advise the Funds, c/o Secretary, 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10104, whether other persons are
beneficial owners of shares of Fund stock for which proxies are
being solicited and, if so, the number of copies of the Proxy
Statement to supply to the beneficial owners of these shares.
40
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act and SEC regulations, certain
of each Fund’s officers, each Fund’s Directors and portfolio
managers, persons owning more than 10% of each Fund’s common stock
or preferred stock and certain officers and directors of the Funds’
investment manager are required to report their transactions in
each Fund’s stock to the SEC and the NYSE or NYSE American, as
applicable. Based solely on the review by each Fund of the copies
of such reports it received, except as previously disclosed and as
noted below, each Fund believes that, during its fiscal year or
fiscal period ended October 31, 2021 (fiscal year ended November
30, 2021 with respect to MLP Energy Income Fund), all filing
requirements applicable to such persons were met, except that, with
respect to High Yield Strategies Fund, there were two late filings
relating to thirteen transactions by MetLife Investment Management,
LLC.
Investment Manager and Administrator
NBIA serves as the investment manager and administrator to each
Fund. NBIA provides investment management and advisory services to
private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to
mutual funds. NBIA is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, New York 10104. As of June 30, 2022, NBIA and its affiliates
had approximately $418 billion in assets under management.
|
By order of each Board,
|
|

|
|
Claudia A. Brandon
|
|
Secretary of the Funds
|
August 10, 2022
41
EXHIBIT A
Audit Committee Report
Neuberger Berman
California Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman New York Municipal Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc.
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.
(Collectively, the “Funds”)
The Audit Committees of the Boards of Directors of the Funds
operate pursuant to a Charter, which sets forth the role of the
Audit Committee in each Fund’s financial reporting process.
Pursuant to the Charter, and in accordance with Rule 32a-4 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the role of each
Fund’s Audit Committee is to oversee the Fund’s accounting and
financial reporting processes and the quality and integrity of the
Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit of those
financial statements. Each Fund’s Committee is responsible for,
among other things, recommending the initial and ongoing engagement
of the independent auditors and reviewing with the Fund’s
independent auditors the scope and results of the Fund’s annual
audit. Fund management is responsible for the preparation,
presentation and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and
for the procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting
standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent
auditors for the Funds are responsible for planning and carrying
out proper audits and reviews.
The Audit Committees met on December 14, 2021, to review the Funds’
audited financial statements for the fiscal year or fiscal period
ended October 31, 2021. In performing this oversight function, the
Audit Committees have reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements with the Funds’ management and their independent
auditors, Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”). The Audit Committees
have discussed with E&Y the matters required to be discussed by
the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), including Auditing Standard No. 1301.
The Audit Committees have received the written disclosures and the
letter from E&Y required by the applicable requirements of the
PCAOB regarding independent accountant communications with audit
committees concerning the accountants’ independence. The Audit
Committees also have discussed with E&Y its independence.
The members of the Audit Committees are not employed by the Funds
as experts in the fields of auditing or accounting and are not
employed by the Funds for accounting, financial management or
internal control purposes. Members of the Audit Committees rely
without independent verification on the information provided and
the representations made to them by management and E&Y.
A-1
Based upon this review and related discussions, and subject to the
limitation on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee
set forth above and in the Charter, the Audit Committee of each
Fund recommended to its Board of Directors that the audited
financial statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to
Stockholders for the fiscal year or fiscal period ended October 31,
2021.
The members of the Audit Committees are listed below. Each has been
determined to meet the independence requirements of NYSE and NYSE
American.
Michael J. Cosgrove (Chair)
Martha C. Goss (Vice Chair)
Deborah C. McLean
Peter P. Trapp
December 14, 2021
A-2
Audit Committee
Report
Neuberger Berman MLP and
Energy Income Fund Inc.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Neuberger Berman
MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) operates pursuant to a
Charter, which sets forth the role of the Audit Committee in the
Fund’s financial reporting process. Pursuant to the Charter, and in
accordance with Rule 32a-4 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, the role of the Fund’s Audit Committee is to
oversee the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting processes and
the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements and
the independent audit of those financial statements. The Fund’s
Committee is responsible for, among other things, recommending the
initial and ongoing engagement of the independent auditors and
reviewing with the Fund’s independent auditors the scope and
results of the Fund’s annual audit. Fund management is responsible
for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s
financial statements and for the procedures designed to assure
compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. The independent auditors for the Fund are responsible
for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews.
The Audit Committee met on January 20, 2022 to review the Fund’s
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30,
2021. In performing this oversight function, the Audit Committee
has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with
the Fund’s management and its independent auditors, Ernst &
Young LLP (“E&Y”). The Audit Committee has discussed with
E&Y the matters required to be discussed by the applicable
requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(“PCAOB”), including Auditing Standard No. 1301. The Audit
Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from
E&Y required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB
regarding independent accountant communications with audit
committees concerning the accountant’s independence. The Audit
Committee also has discussed with E&Y its independence.
The members of the Audit Committee are not employed by the Fund as
experts in the fields of auditing or accounting and are not
employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or
internal control purposes. Members of the Audit Committee rely
without independent verification on the information provided and
the representations made to them by management and E&Y.
Based upon this review and related discussions, and subject to the
limitation on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee
set forth above and in the Charter, the Audit Committee of the Fund
recommended to its Board of Directors that the audited financial
statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2021.
A-3
The members of the Audit Committee are listed below. Each has been
determined to meet the independence requirements of NYSE
American.
Michael J. Cosgrove (Chair)
Martha C. Goss (Vice Chair)
Deborah C. McLean
January 20, 2022
A-4
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1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104-0002
www.nb.com
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