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 [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
| [ ] | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| [ ] | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| [X] | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| [ ] | Definitive Additional Materials |
| [ ] | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12 |
CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
Attn: Abigail J. Murray, Esq.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203
(720) 917-0623
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| [X] | No fee required. |
| [ ] | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
| (1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
| (3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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| (5) | Total fee paid: |
| [ ] | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| [ ] | Check 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 registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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| (4) | Date Filed: |
Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND
(the “Fund”)
1290 Broadway, Suite 1100
Denver, Colorado 80203
(877) 256-8445
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JULY 28, 2015
To the Shareholders of the Fund:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the Fund will be held at the offices of the Fund, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time, for the following purposes:
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1.
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To elect three (3) Trustees of the Fund;
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2.
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To consider and vote upon a shareholder proposal, if properly presented before the Meeting; and
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| 3. | To consider and vote upon such other matters, including adjournments, as may properly come before said Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
These items are discussed in greater detail in the attached Proxy Statement.
The close of business on May 29, 2015, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to a notice of and to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET, BY PHONE OR
COMPLETE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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By Order of the Board of Trustees of
Clough Global Equity Fund
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Edmund J. Burke
President and Trustee
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| June 29, 2015 |
CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND (“GLQ”)
(
the “Fund”)
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
July 28, 2015
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund (the “Meeting”) to be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time, at the offices of the Fund, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, and at any adjournments thereof. The purpose of the Meeting is to consider and act upon the following proposals:
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1.
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To elect three (3) Trustees of the Fund;
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2.
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To consider and vote upon a shareholder proposal, if properly presented before the Meeting; and
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| 3. | To consider and vote upon such other matters, including adjournments, as may properly come before said Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
This Proxy Statement is first being sent to shareholders on or about June 30, 2015.
The Fund invites you to attend the Meeting in person. However, whether or not you are personally present, your vote is very important. The Fund offers multiple options for voting your common shares of the Fund (“Common Shares”). You may complete, sign, and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope, vote your shares electronically via the Internet by using the Internet address on the proxy card, or vote by telephone using the toll-free number on the proxy card. Authorizing a proxy will ensure that your vote is counted, even if you cannot attend the Meeting and vote in person.
If the enclosed proxy is properly executed, has voting instructions marked, and is returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the Common Shares represented thereby will be voted as instructed. If you return the properly executed proxy card but give no instruction, then the Common Shares represented thereby will be voted “FOR” Proposal 1 and “AGAINST” Proposal 2, as listed in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In either case, Common Shares will be voted in the discretion of the proxy holders as to the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Meeting. Any shareholder who has given a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise either by attending the Meeting and voting his or her Common Shares in person or by submitting a letter of revocation or a later-dated proxy to the Fund at the above address prior to the date of the Meeting. You may call 877-256-8445 for information on how to obtain directions to attend the Meeting in person.
A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at the Meeting. A majority of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment for the Meeting will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those Common Shares present at the Meeting in person or by proxy. If a quorum is present, the persons named as proxies will vote those proxies that they are entitled to vote “FOR” any proposal in favor of such adjournment and will vote those proxies required to be voted “AGAINST” any proposal against such adjournment.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on July 28, 2015: The Fund’s Proxy Statement is available at www.proxyvote.com.
THE FUND’S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT, INCLUDING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2014, AND THE MOST RECENT SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT, IF ANY, ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING TO THE FUND AT 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1100, DENVER, COLORADO 80203 OR BY CALLING THE FUND AT 877-256-8445 OR VIA THE INTERNET AT
WWW.CLOUGHGLOBAL.COM
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2
The close of business on May 29, 2015, has been fixed as the “Record Date” for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Fund’s Meeting and all adjournments thereof.
The Fund has one class of capital stock: Common Shares. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote for each full share and an appropriate fraction of a vote for each fractional share held. As of the Record Date the following total was the number of Common Shares outstanding for the Fund.
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Fund
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Common Shares Outstanding
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Clough Global Equity Fund
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17,819,104.600
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The following table shows the ownership as of March 31, 2015 of Common Shares of the Fund by each Trustee and the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer (each an “Executive Officer” and together, the “Executive Officers”).
Each Trustee and Executive Officer and all Trustees and Executive Officers as a group owned less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of March 31, 2015.
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Trustees & Executive Officers
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Total GLQ
Shares Owned |
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Edmund J. Burke*
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0
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Robert L. Butler
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1,982
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James E. Canty
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99,225
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Adam D. Crescenzi
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0
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Jeremy O. May*
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0
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John F. Mee
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0
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Richard C. Rantzow
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21
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Jerry G. Rutledge
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11,489
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Vincent W. Versaci
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4,350
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All Trustees and Executive Officers as a group
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117,067
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*
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Mr. Burke is a Trustee and the Principal Executive Officer of the Fund. Mr. May is the Principal Financial Officer of the Fund.
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The following table shows, as of May 29, 2015, the ownership of Common Shares by persons or organizations known to the Fund to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares.
5% or greater Shareholders
(1)
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Name & Address
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Percentage of Common
Shares Held |
Total Common
Shares Owned |
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Advisors Asset Management, Inc.
18925 Base Camp Road
Monument, Colorado 80132
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7.76%
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1,385,134
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Bulldog Investors LLC
80 Park West Plaza Two
250 Pehle Ave., Suite 708
Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663
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6.58%
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1,171,843
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(1)
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The table shows 5% or greater shareholders’ ownership of Common Shares as the Record Date. The information contained in this table is based on Schedule 13G filings and Schedule 13D filings made on or before the Record Date.
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3
In order that your Common Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are requested to vote on the following matters:
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF NOMINEES
TO THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Nominees for the Fund’s Board
The Fund’s Board is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office for one class will expire. Listed below are the nominees for the Fund, who have been nominated by the Board for election to serve a three-year term to expire at the Fund’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Proposal 1: Nominees for Clough Global Equity Fund
(1) Adam D. Crescenzi
(2) Jerry G. Rutledge
(3) Vincent W. Versaci
Unless authority is withheld, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the proxy “FOR” the election of the nominees named above. Each nominee has indicated that he has consented to be named in this Proxy and to serve as a Trustee if elected at the Meeting. If a designated nominee declines or otherwise becomes unavailable for election; however, the proxy confers discretionary power on the persons named therein to vote in favor of a substitute nominee or nominees.
Information About Each Nominee’s/Trustee
’s
Professional Experience And Qualifications
Provided below is a brief summary of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills for each Trustee that warranted his consideration as a Trustee/Nominee to the Board of the Fund, which is structured as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”).
Robert L. Butler
– Mr. Butler is currently an independent consultant for businesses. Mr. Butler was President of Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. from 1989 to 1998. He was Senior Vice-President from 1985 to 1988 and Executive Vice-President and Director from 1988 to 1999 of the Pioneer Group, Inc. While at the Pioneer Group, Inc. until his retirement in 1999, Mr. Butler was a Director or Supervisory Board member of a number of subsidiary and affiliated companies, including: Pioneer First Polish Investment Fund, JSC, Pioneer Czech Investment Company and Pioneer Global Equity Fund PLC. From 1975 to 1984, Mr. Butler was a Vice-President of the National Association of Securities Dealers (currently Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Mr. Butler has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception and as Chairman of the Board for the Fund since 2006. Mr. Butler has also served as a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee during his tenure as a Trustee for the Fund. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Butler has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Butler’s professional experience in the financial services industry, including extensive involvement with international investing and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Butler contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
4
Adam D. Crescenzi
– Mr. Crescenzi is currently an Associate Trustee of Dean College and founding partner of Simply Tuscan Imports LLC. He currently serves as a Director of two non-profit organizations and as a member of the Board of Governors for the Naples Botanical Gardens and the Club Pelican Bay. Mr. Crescenzi graduated from the Greater Naples Leadership program in 2014. He previously served as a Trustee of Dean College from 2003 to 2015. He has been a founding partner and investor of several start-up technology and service firms, such as Telos Partners, a strategic business advisory firm, Creative Realties, Inc. a creative arts technology firm, and ICEX, Inc., whose principal business is web-based corporate exchange forums. Prior to being involved in multiple corporate start-ups, Mr. Crescenzi retired from CSC Index as Executive Vice-President of Management Consulting Services. During his career, Mr. Crescenzi has also served with various philanthropic organizations such as the Boston College McMullen Museum of Arts. Mr. Crescenzi has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception
. Mr. Crescenzi has also served as a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee during his tenure as a Trustee for the Fund. Mr. Crescenzi has served as Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the Fund since 2006. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Crescenzi has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Crescenzi’s professional experience with emergent businesses, strategic consulting and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Crescenzi contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
John F. Mee, Esquire
– Mr. Mee has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years with experience in both Massachusetts’ state and Federal District Court. Mr. Mee continues to practice in the areas of commercial law, family law, product liability and criminal law. Mr. Mee is a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Middlesex and Central Middlesex Bar Associations, respectively. He was an instructor in the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop from 1990 to 2009. During his legal career,
Mr. Mee has also served as a director with various philanthropic organizations such as Holy Cross Alumni Association and the Concord Carlisle Scholarship Fund.
Mr. Mee has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Mee has also served as a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee during his tenure as a Trustee for the Fund. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Mee has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Mee’s professional experience as a reputable attorney and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Mee contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
Richard C. Rantzow
– Mr. Rantzow, a Certified Public Accountant, has over 40 years of experience in the finance industry and has served in a variety of roles. Mr. Rantzow during his nearly 30 year career at Ernst & Young, an independent public accounting firm, served as an audit partner and office managing partner. At Ernst & Young, he was responsible for the auditing of financial statements for a variety of companies, which included financial institutions. In addition, Mr. Rantzow also currently serves as Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Director and Audit Committee Chairman of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, each a closed-end investment company. Mr. Rantzow has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Rantzow has also served as Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Nominating Committee during his tenure as a Trustee for the Fund. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Rantzow has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Rantzow’s professional experience in the preparation and auditing of financial statements for financial institutions and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Rantzow contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
Jerry G. Rutledge
– Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business that has operated for over 40 years. As a recognized community leader in the state of Colorado, Mr. Rutledge was elected as a Regent at the University of Colorado in 1994 and retired in 2007. In addition, Mr. Rutledge is currently serving as a Director of the University of Colorado Hospital and is a Trustee of Financial Investors Trust, an open-end investment company, and the Principal Real Estate Income Fund, a closed-end investment company. Mr. Rutledge also served as a Director of the American National Bank until 2009. Mr. Rutledge has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Rutledge has also served as a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee during his tenure as a Trustee for the Fund. Mr. Rutledge has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Rutledge’s leadership, long-term professional success in operating a business in a competitive industry and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Rutledge contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
5
Hon. Vincent W. Versaci –
Judge Versaci has served as a Judge and Supreme Court Justice in the State of New York since January 2003. Currently, Judge Versaci is assigned as an Acting Supreme Court Justice and also presides over the Surrogate’s Court for Schenectady County, New York. Previously, Judge Versaci has served as an Adjunct Professor at Schenectady County Community College and a practicing attorney with an emphasis on civil and criminal litigation primarily in New York State Courts.
Judge Versaci has served as a member of the Fund’s Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and as a Trustee since March 2013. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Judge Versaci has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Judge Versaci’s professional experience as a reputable attorney and judge, believes Judge Versaci contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
Edmund J. Burke
– Mr. Burke joined ALPS Fund Services, Inc. in 1991 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”)), and a Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc., and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. These organizations specialize in the day-to-day operations associated with both open- and closed-end investment companies, exchange traded funds and hedge funds. In addition, Mr. Burke is also currently Trustee, Chairman and President of the Financial Investors Trust, an open-end investment company, and Trustee and Vice-President of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Director and Vice President of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., each a closed-end investment company. Additionally, Mr. Burke is on the Board of Directors of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a financial services solutions provider. Mr. Burke has served as Trustee for the Fund since 2006 and as an interested trustee he does not serve as a member of the Audit and Nominating Committees. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Burke has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Burke’s long-term professional experience with operational requirements and obligations in operating closed-end investment companies and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Burke contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
James E. Canty, Esquire
– Mr. Canty is a founding partner, President and Portfolio Manager for Clough Capital Partners LP (“Clough”). Prior to founding Clough in 2000, Mr. Canty worked as a corporate and securities lawyer and Director of Investor Relations for Converse, Inc. from 1995 to 2000. He was a corporate and securities lawyer for the Boston offices of Goldstein & Manello, P.C. from 1993 to 1995 and Bingham, Dana and Gould from 1990 to 1993. Mr. Canty served as an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University from 1996 to 2000. Mr. Canty is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Clough Offshore Fund, Ltd. and Clough Offshore Fund (QP), Ltd. Mr. Canty is also currently a Trustee of St. Bonaventure University, and serves on the boards of directors of Blacklight Power, Inc. and Razia’s Ray of Hope, a nonprofit organization. Mr. Canty has served as Trustee since the Fund’s inception and as an interested trustee does not serve as a member of the Audit and Nominating Committees. In addition, since being appointed to the Board, Mr. Canty has further enhanced his experience and skills, in conjunction with the other Trustees, through the Board’s oversight of the Fund’s officers in dealing with a diverse range of topics, to include but not limited to, portfolio management, legal and regulatory matters, compliance oversight, preparation of financial statements and oversight of the Fund’s multiple service providers. Mr. Canty is also a certified public accountant. The Board of Trustees, in its judgment of Mr. Canty’s long-term professional experience with portfolio management and as a trustee of closed-end investment companies, believes Mr. Canty contributes a diverse perspective to the Board.
Also, additional information regarding each Trustee’s current age, principal occupations and other directorships, if any, that have been held by the Trustees is provided in the table below.
6
Additional Information About Each Nominee and Trustee and the Fund’s Officers
The table below sets forth the names, addresses and years of birth of the nominees, Trustees and principal officers of the Fund, the year each was first elected or appointed to office, their term of office, their principal business occupations during at least the last five years, the number of portfolios overseen by each Trustee of the Fund Complex and their other directorships of public companies.
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N
ame, Address
1
and Year of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
Term of
office and length of service with GLQ 2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past
Five Years |
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee 3 |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
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Non-Interested Trustees/Nominees
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Robert L. Butler
1941
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Chairman of the Board and Trustee
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2016
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Since 2001, Mr. Butler has been an independent consultant for businesses. Mr. Butler has over 45 years experience in the investment business, including 17 years as a senior executive with a global investment management/natural resources company and 20 years with a securities industry regulation organization, neither of which Mr. Butler has been employed by since 2001.
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3
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None
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Adam D. Crescenzi
1942
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Trustee
Nominee for: GLQ
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2015
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Mr. Crescenzi has served as the Founding Partner of Simply Tuscan Imports LLC since 2007. He has been a founder and investor of several start-up technology and service firms. He currently serves as an Associate Trustee of Dean College and previously served as a Trustee from 2003 to 2015. He also serves as a Director of two non-profit organizations
and as a member of the Board of Governors for the Naples Botanical Gardens and the Club Pelican Bay. He retired from CSC Index as Executive Vice-President of Management Consulting Services.
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3
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None
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John F. Mee
1943
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Trustee
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2017
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Mr. Mee is an attorney practicing commercial law, family law, product liability and criminal law. Mr. Mee is currently a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He serves on the Board of Directors of The College of the Holy Cross Alumni Association and Concord Carlisle Scholarship Fund, a Charitable Trust. Mr. Mee was from 1990 to 2009 an Advisor at the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop.
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3
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None
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7
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N
ame, Address
1
and Year of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
Term of
office and length of service with GLQ 2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past
Five Years |
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee 3 |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
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Richard C. Rantzow
1938
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Vice Chairman of the Board and Trustee
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2016
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Mr. Rantzow has over 40 years experience in the financial industry. His professional experience includes serving as an audit partner with Ernst & Young which specifically involved auditing financial institutions. Mr. Rantzow has also served in several executive positions in both financial and non-financial industries. Mr. Rantzow’s educational background is in accounting and he is a Certified Public Accountant who has continued to serve on several audit committees of various financial organizations.
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3
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Mr. Rantzow is a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
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Jerry G. Rutledge
1944
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Trustee
Nominee for: GLQ
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2015
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Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. Mr. Rutledge was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. In addition, Mr. Rutledge is currently serving as a Director of the University of Colorado Hospital. Mr. Rutledge also served as a Director of the American National Bank from 1985 to 2009.
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4
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Mr. Rutledge is currently a Trustee of the Financial Investors Trust and the Principal Real Estate Income Fund.
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Hon. Vincent W. Versaci
1971
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Trustee
Nominee for: GLQ
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Trustee since:
2013
Term expires:
2015
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Judge Versaci has served as a Judge in the New York State Courts since January 2003. Currently, Judge Versaci is assigned as an Acting Supreme Court Justice and also presides over the Surrogate’s Court for Schenectady County, New York. Previously, Judge Versaci has served as an Adjunct Professor at Schenectady County Community College and a practicing attorney with an emphasis on civil and criminal litigation primarily in New York State Courts.
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3
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None.
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8
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N
ame, Address
1
and Year of Birth |
Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
Term of
office and length of service with GLQ 2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past
Five Years |
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee 3 |
Other
Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
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Interested Trustees
4
/Nominees
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Edmund J. Burke
5
1961
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Trustee and President
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Trustee since:
2006
Term expires:
2017
President since: 2005
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Mr. Burke joined ALPS in 1991 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of ALPS Holdings, Inc.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST)
, and a Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc., and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Mr. Burke is also Director of Boston Financial Data Services. Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act.
|
4
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Mr. Burke is also Trustee, Chairman and President of Financial Investors Trust. Mr. Burke is a Trustee and Vice President of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and is a Director and Vice President of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
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James E. Canty
6
1962
Clough Capital Partners, LP
One Post Office Square
40th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
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Trustee
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Trustee since:
2005
Term expires:
2016
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Mr. Canty is a founding partner, President and Portfolio Manager for Clough. Mr. Canty is deemed an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Canty is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Clough Offshore Fund, Ltd. and Clough Offshore Fund (QP), Ltd. Mr. Canty is also currently a Trustee of St. Bonaventure University, Blacklight Power, Inc. and Razia’s Ray of Hope. Mr. Canty is a Certified Public Accountant.
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3
|
None.
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9
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Officers
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|||||
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Jeremy O. May
1970
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Treasurer
|
Officer since
7
:
2005
|
Mr. May joined ALPS in 1995 and is currently President of ALPS and ALPS Distributors, Inc., and
Executive Vice President and
Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc. and ALPS Holdings, Inc. Mr. May is also Director of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Mr. May is deemed to be an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. May is also President, Chairman and Trustee of the ALPS Series Trust. Mr. May is also President, Chairman and Trustee of the Reaves Utility Income Fund. Mr. May is currently on the Board of Directors of the University of Colorado Foundation.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Erin D. Nelson, Esq.
1977
|
Secretary
|
Officer since
7
:
2005
|
Ms. Nelson is Vice-President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer of ALPS Advisors, Inc. and has served in that position since January 1, 2015. Prior to that, Ms. Nelson was Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Ms. Nelson joined ALPS in January, 2003.
Ms. Nelson is deemed to be an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Theodore J. Uhl
1974
|
Chief Compliance Officer
|
Officer since
7
:
2010
|
Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Vice President and Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served as Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Mr. Uhl is deemed to be an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is currently Chief Compliance Officer of Centre Funds, Financial Investors Trust, Reality Shares Trust and Transparent Value Trust.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Jill Kerschen
1975
|
Assistant Treasurer
|
Officer since
7
: 2013
|
Ms. Kerschen joined ALPS in July 2013 and is currently a Fund Controller at ALPS. Ms. Kerschen is deemed to be an affiliate of the Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Kerschen also serves as Treasurer of Reaves Utility Income Fund and Assistant Treasurer of the Westcore Funds and the Macquarie Global Infrastructure Total Return Fund. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Kerschen was Senior Manager, Financial & Tax Reporting at Great-West Financial from 2007 to 2013.
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| 1 | Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, unless otherwise noted. |
| 2 | GLQ commenced operations on April 27, 2005. |
| 3 | The Fund Complex for all Trustees, except Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke, consists of the Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Fund Complex for Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke consists of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and the Clough China Fund, a series of the Financial Investors Trust. |
| 4 | “Interested Trustees” refers to those Trustees who constitute “interested persons” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. |
| 5 | Mr. Burke is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he is President of the Fund. |
| 6 | Mr. Canty is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because of his affiliation with Clough, which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. |
|
7
|
Officers are elected annually and each officer will hold such office until a successor has been elected by the Board.
|
Beneficial Ownership Of Common Shares Held In the Fund And In All Funds In The Family Of Investment Companies For Each Trustee And Nominee For Election As Trustee
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities held in the Fund and on an aggregate basis for all Funds overseen in a family of investment companies overseen by each Trustee.
10
|
Name of Trustee/Nominee
|
Clough Global
Equity Fund
2
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities Held in All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies 3 |
|
Edmund J. Burke
|
None
|
None
|
|
Robert L. Butler
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
|
James E. Canty
|
Over $100,000
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Adam D. Crescenzi
|
None
|
$1-10,000
|
|
John F. Mee
|
None
|
None
|
|
Richard C. Rantzow
|
$1-$10,000
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
|
Jerry G. Rutledge
|
Over $100,000
|
Over $100,000
|
|
Vincent W. Versaci
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
| 1 | This information has been furnished by each Trustee and nominee for election as Trustee as of March 31, 2015. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Section 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). |
| 2 | Ownership amount constitutes less than 1% of the total Common Shares outstanding. |
| 3 | The Funds in the family of investment companies for all Trustees, consists of the Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. |
Independent Trustee Transactions with Fund Affiliates
As of March 31, 2015, none of the independent trustees, as such term is defined by the NYSE MKT LLC’s (“NYSE MKT”) listing standards (each an “Independent Trustee” and collectively the “Independent Trustees”), nor members of their immediate families owned securities, beneficially or of record, in Clough, or an affiliate or person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Clough. Furthermore, over the past five years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate families have any direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in Clough or any of its affiliates. In addition, since the beginning of the last two fiscal years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate families have conducted any transactions (or series of transactions) or maintained any direct or indirect relationship in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and to which Clough or any affiliate of Clough was a party.
Trustee Compensation
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation of the Fund’s Trustees for the twelve-months ended October 31, 2014. Trustees and Officers of the Fund who are employed by ALPS or Clough receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.
|
Aggregate Compensation Paid From
|
Total Compensation From the
Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees** |
|
|
Name of Trustee/Nominee
|
Clough Global
Equity Fund*
|
|
|
Edmund J. Burke
|
None
|
None
|
|
Robert L. Butler
|
$24,000
|
$72,000
|
|
James E. Canty
|
None
|
None
|
|
Adam D. Crescenzi
|
$20,000
|
$60,000
|
|
John F. Mee
|
$20,000
|
$60,000
|
|
Richard C. Rantzow
|
$22,000
|
$66,000
|
|
Jerry G. Rutledge
|
$20,000
|
$102,000
|
|
Vincent W. Versaci
|
$20,000
|
$60,000
|
|
Total
|
$126,000
|
$420,000
|
| * | Represents the total compensation paid to such persons by the Fund during the twelve months ended October 31, 2014. |
11
| ** | Represents the total compensation paid to such persons by the Fund Complex during the twelve months ended by October 31, 2014. The Fund Complex for all Trustees, except Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke, consists of the Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Fund Complex for Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke consists of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and the Clough China Fund, a series of the Financial Investors Trust. The total compensation paid to Mr. Rutledge includes the compensation he receives as a trustee of Financial Investors Trust. Mr. Burke and Mr. Canty do not receive compensation from the Fund Complex as each is an “Interested Trustee.” |
The Fund pays compensation to the Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”) and each Independent Trustee who is not affiliated with ALPS or Clough or their affiliates. The Chairman receives from the Fund an annual retainer of $16,800 per year plus $1,800 per meeting attended in person and by telephone. The Audit Committee Chairman receives from the Fund an annual retainer of $15,400 per year plus $1,650 per meeting attended in person and by telephone. The Independent Trustees receive from the Fund an annual retainer of $14,000 per year plus $1,500 per meeting attended in person and by telephone. The per meeting fees paid to the Chairman, Audit Committee Chairman and the Independent Trustees are for each regularly scheduled Board meeting for the Fund and any special meeting of the Board convened to address the Fund’s more immediate business or regulatory needs. The Chairman, Audit Committee Chairman and each Independent Trustee’s actual out-of-pocket expenses relating to their attendance at such meetings are also paid for by the Fund.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Board of the Fund met four times. In September 2014, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to October 31. During the period April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014, the Board of the Fund met two times. Each Trustee then serving in such capacity attended at least 75% of the meetings of Trustees and of any Committee of which he is a member.
Leadership Structure of the Board of Trustees
The Board, which has overall responsibility for the oversight of the Fund’s investment programs and business affairs, has appointed an Independent Trustee as Chairman of the Board whose role is to preside at all meetings of the Board. The Board has also appointed an Independent Trustee as Vice-Chairman of the Fund. The Chairman is involved, at his discretion, in the preparation of the agendas for the Board meetings. In between meetings of the Board, the Chairman may act as liaison between the Board and the Fund’s officers, attorneys and various other service providers, including but not limited to, the Fund’s investment adviser, administrator and other such third parties servicing the Fund. The Chairman may also perform other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board believes that the use of an Independent Trustee as Chairman is the appropriate leadership structure for mitigating potential conflicts of interest associated with appointing an Interested Trustee as chairman and facilitates the ability to maintain a robust culture of compliance
. The Board has three standing committees, each of which enhances the leadership structure of the Board: the Audit Committee; the Nominating Committee; and the Executive Committee. The Audit Committee and Nominating Committee are each chaired by, and composed of, members who are Independent Trustees. The Executive Committee consists of two Interested Trustees and one Independent Trustee.
Oversight of Risk Management
The Fund is confronted with a multitude of risks such as investment risk, counter party risk, valuation risk, political risk, risk of operational failures, business continuity risk, regulatory risk, legal risk and other risks not listed here. The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be known, eliminated or mitigated. In addition, there are some risks that may not be cost effective or an efficient use of the Fund’s limited resources to moderate. As a result of these realities, the Board, through its oversight and leadership, has and will continue to deem it necessary for shareholders of the Fund to bear certain and undeniable risks, such as investment risk, in order for the Fund to operate in accordance with its prospectus, statement of additional information and other related documents.
12
However, as required under the 1940 Act, the Board has adopted on the Fund’s behalf a vigorous risk program that mandates the Fund’s various service providers, including the investment adviser, to adopt a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various risks, mitigate the likelihood of such adverse events from occurring and/or attempt to limit the effects of such adverse events on the Fund. The Board fulfills its leadership role by receiving a variety of quarterly written reports prepared by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) that: (i) evaluate the operation of the Fund’s service providers; (ii) make known any material changes to the policies and procedures adopted by the Fund or its service providers since the CCO’s last report and; (iii) disclose any material compliance matter that occurred since the date of the last CCO report. In addition, the Chairman and the Independent Trustees meet quarterly in executive sessions without the presence of any Interested Trustees, the investment adviser, the administrator, or any of their affiliates. This configuration permits the Chairman and the Independent Trustees to effectively receive the information and have private discussions necessary to perform its risk oversight role, exercise independent judgment, and allocate areas or responsibility between the full Board, its various committees and certain officers of the Fund. Furthermore the Independent Trustees have engaged independent legal counsel and auditors to assist the Independent Trustees in performing their responsibilities. As discussed above and in consideration of other factors not referenced herein, the function of the Board with respect to its leadership role concerning risk management is one of oversight and not active management or coordination of the Fund’s day-to-day risk management activities.
Audit Committee Report
The role of the Fund’s Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight of: (i) the quality and integrity of Fund’s financial statements, reporting process and the independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent accountant”) and reviews thereof; (ii) the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii) the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) the independent accountant’s qualifications, independence and performance. The Audit Committee is also required to prepare an audit committee report pursuant to the rules of the SEC for inclusion in the Fund’s annual proxy statement. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter (the “Charter”) that was most recently reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee on December 3, 2014. The Charter is available at the Fund’s website, www.cloughglobal.com. As set forth in the Charter, management is responsible for maintaining appropriate systems for accounting and internal control and the Fund’s independent accountant is responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews. The independent accountant is ultimately accountable to the Fund’s Board and Audit Committee, as representatives of the Fund’s shareholders. The independent accountant for the Fund reports directly to the Audit Committee.
In performing its oversight function, at a meeting held on December 23, 2014, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management of the Fund and the independent accountant, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. (“Cohen”), the audited financial statements of the Fund as of and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, and discussed the audit of such financial statements with the independent accountant.
In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with the independent accountant the accounting principles applied by the Fund and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the independent accountant required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Audit Standard No. 16
Communications with Audit Committees
. The Audit Committee also received from the independent accountant the written disclosures and letters required by PCAOB Rule 3526,
Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence
, and discussed the relationship between the independent accountant and the Fund and the impact that any such relationships might have on the objectivity and independence of the independent accountant.
As set forth above, and as more fully set forth in the Charter, the Audit Committee has significant duties and powers in its oversight role with respect to the Fund’s financial reporting procedures, internal control systems and the independent audit process.
The members of the Audit Committees are not, and do not represent themselves to be, professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control purposes. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the independent verification of the facts presented to it or representation made by management or the Fund’s independent accountant. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and/or financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
13
Based on its consideration of the audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with management and the Fund’s independent accountant, and subject to the limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee set forth in the Charter and those discussed above, the Audit Committee recommends that the Fund’s audited financial statements, subject to the modifications discussed at the December 23, 2014 Audit Committee meeting, be included in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014.
SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Richard C. Rantzow, Chairman
Robert L. Butler
Adam D. Crescenzi
John F. Mee
Jerry G. Rutledge
Vincent W. Versaci
December 23, 2014
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. In September 2014, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to October 31. During the period April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014, the Audit Committee met two times. The Audit Committee is composed of six Independent Trustees, namely Messrs. Butler, Crescenzi, Mee, Rantzow, Rutledge and Judge Versaci. None of the members of the Audit Committee are “interested persons” of the Fund.
Based on the findings of the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee has determined that Mr. Richard C. Rantzow is the Fund’s “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in the rules promulgated by the SEC, and as required by NYSE MKT listing standards. Mr. Rantzow serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee for the Fund.
Nominating Committee
The Fund’s Board has a Nominating Committee composed of six Independent Trustees as the term is defined by the NYSE MKT listing standards, namely Messrs. Butler, Crescenzi, Mee, Rantzow, Rutledge and Judge Versaci. None of the members of the Nominating Committee are “interested persons” of the Fund. The Nominating Committee operates pursuant to a Nominating Committee Charter (the “Charter”) that was most recently reviewed and approved by the Nominating Committee on December 3, 2014. The Charter is available at the Fund’s website,
www.cloughglobal.com
. The Nominating Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. In September 2014, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to October 31. During the period April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014, the Nominating Committee did not meet. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board individuals believed to be qualified to become Board members and officers of the Funds in the event that a position is vacated or created. Mr. Crescenzi serves as Chairman of the Nominating Committee of the Fund.
When such vacancies or creations occur, the Nominating Committee will consider Trustee candidates recommended by a variety of sources to include the Fund’s shareholders. The Nominating Committee has a diversity policy. In considering Trustee candidates, the Nominating Committee will take into consideration the interest of shareholders, the needs of the Board and the Trustee candidate’s qualifications, which include but are not limited to, the diversity of the individual’s professional experience, education, individual qualification or skills.
Shareholders may submit for the Committee’s consideration recommendations regarding potential independent Board member nominees. Each eligible shareholder or shareholder group may submit no more than one independent Board member nominee each calendar year.
14
In order for the Committee to consider shareholder submissions, the following requirements must be satisfied regarding the nominee:
| (a) | The nominee must satisfy all qualifications provided under the Nominating Committee Charter and in the Fund’s organizational documents, including qualification as a possible independent Board member. |
| (b) | The nominee may not be the nominating shareholder, a member of the nominating shareholder group or a member of the immediate family of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group. |
| (c) | Neither the nominee nor any member of the nominee’s immediate family may be currently employed or employed within the last year by any nominating shareholder entity or entity in a nominating shareholder group. |
| (d) | Neither the nominee nor any immediate family member of the nominee is permitted to have accepted directly or indirectly, during the year of the election for which the nominee’s name was submitted, during the immediately preceding calendar year, or during the year when the nominee’s name was submitted, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the nominating shareholder or any member of a nominating shareholder group. |
| (e) | The nominee may not be an executive officer, Trustee (or person fulfilling similar functions) of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group, or of an affiliate of the nominating shareholder or any such member of the nominating shareholder group. |
| (f) | The nominee may not control (as that term is defined under the 1940 Act) the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group (or, in the case of a holder or member that is a fund, an interested person of such holder or member as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act). |
| (g) | A shareholder or shareholder group may not submit for consideration a nominee who has previously been considered by the Committee. |
In order for the Committee to consider shareholder submissions, the following requirements must be satisfied regarding the shareholder or shareholder group submitting the proposed nominee:
| (a) | Any shareholder or shareholder group submitting a proposed nominee must beneficially own, either individually or in the aggregate, more than 5% of the Fund’s securities that are eligible to vote both at the time of submission of the nominee and at the time of the Board member election. Each of the securities used for purposes of calculating this ownership must have been held continuously for at least two years as of the date of the nomination. In addition, such securities must continue to be held through the date of the meeting. The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also bear the economic risk of the investment and the securities used for purposes of calculating the ownership cannot be held “short.” |
| (b) | The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must not qualify as an adverse holder. In other words, if such shareholder were required to report beneficial ownership of its securities, its report would be filed on Securities Exchange Act Schedule 13G instead of Schedule 13D in reliance on Securities Exchange Act Rule 13d-1(b) or (c). |
15
| (c) | Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed nominees must substantiate compliance with the above requirements at the time of submitting their proposed nominee as part of their written submission to the attention of the Fund’s Secretary, which must include: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual or special meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual or special meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Fund’s books, of the shareholder proposing such business or nomination, (iii) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to present such proposal or nomination; (iv) whether the shareholder plans to deliver or solicit proxies from other shareholders; (v) the class and number of shares of the capital stock of the Fund, which are beneficially owned by the shareholder and, if applicable, the proposed nominee to the Board of Trustees, (vi) any material interest of the shareholder or nominee in such business; (vii) to the extent to which such shareholder (including such shareholder’s principals) or the proposed nominee to the Board of Trustees has entered into any hedging transaction or other arrangement with the effect or intent of mitigating or otherwise managing profit, loss, or risk of changes in the value of the common stock or the daily quoted market price of the Fund held by such shareholder (including shareholder’s principals) or the proposed nominee, including independently verifiable information in support of the foregoing; and (viii) in the case of a nomination of any person for election as a Trustee, such other information regarding such nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
It shall be in the Committee’s sole discretion whether to seek corrections of a deficient submission or to exclude a nominee from consideration.
Any shareholder recommendation described above must be sent to the Fund’s Secretary c/o ALPS.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee meets periodically to take action, as authorized by the Board, if the Board cannot meet. Members of the Executive Committee are currently Messrs. Burke, Butler and Canty. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Executive Committee did not meet. In September 2014, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to October 31. During the period April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014, the Executive Committee did not meet.
Compensation Committee
The Fund does not have a compensation committee.
Other Board Related Matters
The Fund does not require Trustees to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. No Trustees attended the Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in 2014.
PROPOSAL 2
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING A SELF-TENDER OFFER
A shareholder, Opportunity Partners L.P., has informed the Fund that it intends to submit a proposal at the Meeting and has requested that the Fund include the proposal in this year’s proxy material. The Fund will provide Opportunity Partners L.P.’s address and number of shares promptly upon receiving an oral or written request.
The Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that you vote
AGAINST
the shareholder proposal.
The proposal and the supporting statement for it, exactly as received by the Fund, are set forth below and are followed by the Board’s explanation of its reasons for opposing the proposal.
PROPOSAL
RESOLVED: The shareholders of Clough Global Equity Fund (the Fund) request that the Board of Trustees authorize a self-tender offer for all outstanding common shares of the Fund at or close to net asset value (NAV). If more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding common shares are submitted for tender, the Board is requested to cancel the tender offer and take those steps that the Board is required to take to cause the Fund to be liquidated or converted to an exchange traded fund (ETF) or an open-end mutual fund.
16
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
In the 9-1/2 years since its inception on April 27, 2005 through November 30, 2014, the Fund’s market price return (5.53% per annum) has significantly underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index (8.51% per annum). The Fund has also underperformed its benchmark for the past three and five year periods ending November 30, 2014. More recently, the Fund’s underperformance has been even worse. For year ending November 30, 2014, the Fund returned 4.13% (based upon market price) vs. 16.86% for S&P 500 Index. Moreover, the common shares of the Fund have traded at a double-digit discount to NAV for more than four years.
As they say, facts are stubborn things. And, in light of these unpleasant facts, we think it is appropriate for the Board of Trustees to authorize a self-tender offer for the Fund’s shares at or close to NAV to afford shareholders an opportunity to receive a price closer to NAV for their shares. If a majority of the Fund’s outstanding common shares are tendered, that would demonstrate that there is insufficient shareholder support for continuing the Fund in its closed-end format. In that case, we think the tender offer should be cancelled and the Fund should be liquidated or converted into an ETF or an open-end mutual fund.
If you agree that it is time to implement measures to address the Fund’s long term underperformance and its persistent double-digit discount, please vote for this (non-binding) proposal.
The Fund will provide promptly to any shareholder, upon receipt of an oral or written request, the address of the shareholder that has submitted the proposal and the number of shares of the Fund’s Common Stock held by the shareholder.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE
AGAINST
THE
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH BELOW
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH BELOW
STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION
The Board unanimously opposes the shareholder proposal described above and strongly urges all shareholders to vote AGAINST the proposal. Some key reasons for the Board’s opposition are summarized below and are more fully described in the discussion that follows:
|
(1)
|
The Board believes that a tender offer is not in the best interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. A tender offer would primarily benefit only opportunistic short-term investors, such as activist investors, providing them a quick financial gain at the expense of many long-term shareholders. The Board continues to believe in the Fund’s long-term investment strategy.
|
|
(2)
|
The Board regularly reviews the Fund’s discount and ways to enhance shareholder value. As part of its evaluation of options to reduce the Fund’s discount and to potentially enhance shareholder value, the Board has proactively taken a number of actions.
|
|
(a)
|
One important component of its focus has involved the Fund’s distributions. The Board approved a managed distribution policy for the Fund and further revised the policy to:
|
|
·
|
increase the level of distributions twice in the last 18 months (effective with the January 2014 distribution and the January 2015 distribution);
|
|
·
|
change the distribution frequency from quarterly to monthly (effective with the January 2014 distribution); and
|
17
|
·
|
in addition, the Board approved the Fund paying its last quarterly distribution in January 2014, thereby resulting in two distribution payments to shareholders in January 2014.
|
Based on the Fund’s March 31, 2015 market price of $15.03, the Fund’s distribution rate is 9.18%.
|
(b)
|
In addition, the Board recently adopted an open-market repurchase program pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares between April 20, 2015 and October 31, 2015.
|
|
(c)
|
The Board also has approved a participation agreement between the Fund and the RiverNorth Funds. The participation agreement would permit the RiverNorth Funds to invest in the Fund in excess of the limits imposed by Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Board and Clough Capital Partners L.P. (“Clough”) considered that the participation agreement has the potential to reduce the Fund’s discount while potentially providing additional liquidity in the trading of Fund shares, thereby benefiting shareholders.
|
|
(3)
|
The proposed tender offer, liquidation, or conversion to an ETF or open-end mutual fund would be inconsistent with the Fund’s investment strategies and could lead to (a) operational complexities, (b) higher costs, (c) the termination of the managed distribution policy and (d) adverse tax consequences for shareholders in taxable accounts.
|
Not in the best interests of long-term shareholders
. The Board believes that the tender offer contemplated in this shareholder proposal is not in the best interests of long-term shareholders of the Fund. This tender offer would primarily benefit short-term Fund shareholders seeking to capitalize on the Fund’s discount at the expense of longer-term shareholders. The tender offer was submitted by Opportunity Partners L.P, an entity over which Phillip Goldstein, Andrew Dakos and Steven Samuels, owners of Bulldog Investors, LLC, exercise control. Mr. Goldstein, and the entities over which he exercises control, are well-known in the closed-end fund universe for submitting numerous
proposals to closed-end funds over the years with the objective, in our view, of seeking a quick trading profit and, in the case of the Fund, without consideration of the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Board and Clough believe that the proposal is focused on only one goal, to benefit Opportunity Partners L.P. and Mr. Goldstein, at any cost.
Shareholders who purchased the Fund based upon its investment objective of providing a high level of return should consider the Fund’s investment strategy, overall long-term performance, cash distributions and distribution rate.
The Fund seeks to pursue its investment objective by applying a fundamental research-driven investment process and will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund is flexibly managed so that, depending on Clough’s outlook, it sometimes will be more heavily invested in equity securities in U.S. markets or in equity securities in other markets around the world.
The following table shows the Fund’s performance (based on NAV) as compared to the average performance (based on NAV) of a peer group comprised of global long/short equity closed-end funds (“Long/Short Fund Peer Group”) constructed by Strategic Insight, an independent third party, and a broader peer group comprised of global closed-end funds (“Global Fund Peer Group”) selected and presented on CEFA.com, with returns calculated by Bloomberg, both independent third parties. Some funds comprising the Global Fund Peer Group may not be included in all time periods shown if they did not trade over the full time period.
18
|
Performance (annualized returns as of March 31, 2015)*
|
|||||
|
Fund
|
Long/Short Fund
Peer Group
|
Global Fund
Peer Group
|
|||
|
1 Year
|
6.3
|
% |
4.1
|
% |
1.4%
|
|
3 Year
|
11.4
|
% |
10.6
|
% |
8.4%
|
|
5 Year
|
8.8
|
% |
8.7
|
% |
7.1%
|
|
*
|
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
|
The shareholder proposal not only fails to provide any data or rationale demonstrating how a tender offer, liquidation, or conversion to an ETF or open-end fund would improve the Fund’s long-term performance, but it also fails to show why such actions might be considered preferable to other aspects of the Fund that are valuable to shareholders, such as its regular distributions and significant distribution yield, and in turn, its role as a component of shareholders’ broader investment portfolios. The shareholder proposal also does not account for the strong commitment by Clough and the Board to the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, including the actions taken to enhance the Fund’s long-term value.
Both Clough and the Board believe that the long-term prospects for the Fund’s investments are strong and that the actions discussed further below are intended to address the Fund’s discount without the possible negative effects often associated with a tender offer, liquidation, or conversion to an ETF or open-end fund. The Board and Clough believe that the ownership of Fund shares by their members, including their increased purchases of Fund shares, underscore their commitment to the Fund, their confidence in the Fund’s investment strategies, and that their interests are aligned with shareholders.
The Board also considered the potential effects if the Fund were to conduct a tender offer and determined that it would not be in the best interests of shareholders. If the Fund were to conduct a tender offer at a price at or close to NAV, those shareholders tendering their shares would realize all or most of the benefit. In order to carry out a tender offer, the Fund would be required to liquidate sufficient portfolio securities to generate the cash necessary to pay proceeds to tendering shareholders. The expenses associated with those transactions and the related capital gain distributions would not be borne solely by tendering shareholders. The sale of portfolio investments, the distribution of cash to tendering shareholders, and the subsequent distribution of capital gains also would cause the Fund’s total assets to decrease significantly, resulting in proportionally higher expenses to be borne by remaining shareholders. The amount of assets available for future investment would also decline, making it increasingly difficult to achieve the Fund’s investment goals. Each of these results could adversely affect long-term investment performance.
In contrast to a tender offer, which generally occurs over a short period of time, the share repurchase program described below provides the Fund with flexibility to repurchase shares at opportune times, with minimal disruption to the investment strategy of the Fund. In addition, the tender offer would have to comply with federal securities laws and would require the Fund to prepare and file a tender offer statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The costs associated with this process would be higher than the costs associated with the open-market share repurchase program, and would be borne by all Fund shareholders.
Other steps being taken to reduce the Fund’s discount
. The Fund has adopted a managed distribution policy. Prior to December 2013, the Fund paid quarterly distributions at $0.29 per share. As part of their regular review of the Fund’s discount and options for potentially decreasing the Fund’s discount, Clough proposed and the Board approved changing the frequency of distributions to monthly and increasing the rate such that distributions would be paid at $0.105 per share effective with the January 2014 distribution. In addition, the Board approved the Fund paying its final quarterly distribution in January 2014, thereby resulting in two distribution payments to shareholders in January 2014. During a subsequent review of the Fund’s discount and managed distribution policy, the Board approved an increase in the monthly distribution to $0.115 per share effective with the January 2015 distribution. The Fund believes its distributions plays an important role in its shareholders’ investment portfolios based upon the positive feedback it has received from shareholders and/or their brokers.
Based on the March 31, 2015 market price of $15.03, the Fund’s distribution rate is 9.18%. Distributions to shareholders since the Fund’s inception on April 27, 2005 through April 2015 have totaled $254,710,926.
19
The Fund believes that the variability of market prices for the Fund’s shares as compared to the Fund’s underlying net asset value per share is inherent in the closed-end organizational format. Discounts to NAV are overwhelmingly common among closed-end funds, particularly equity funds. According to data provided by Lipper on the Closed-End Fund Center, as of May 8, 2015, out of 221 closed-end equity funds, 200 traded at a discount. Trading at a discount tends to attract short-term investors seeking to realize a profit of the incremental differential between the market price paid by the investor and the fund’s NAV. The Board does not endorse short-term trading as it is inconsistent with the Fund’s investment approach and with the investment horizon of longer-term shareholders.
As mentioned above, the Board regularly reviews the level of the Fund’s discount and has carefully evaluated discount reduction measures that are intended to provide long-term benefit to the Fund’s shareholders, including those relating to dividends and distributions and open-market share repurchases. In evaluating these options, the Board considered whether implementation would be in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and whether implementation could have a meaningful long-term effect on the discount based on a number of factors, including the experiences of other fund complexes that have adopted similar measures.
Based upon its evaluation, the Board recently determined to adopt an open-market share repurchase program pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to repurchase up to 5% of its common shares (based on the number of outstanding shares as of April 9, 2015) between April 20, 2015 and October 31, 2015. If the Fund were to purchase its shares on the open market at discounted market prices, the Fund’s remaining shareholders should experience an increase in their NAV per share. This increase in NAV per share may contribute to an increase in the Fund’s market price per share.
The Board also has approved a participation agreement between the Fund and the RiverNorth Funds. The participation agreement would permit the RiverNorth Funds to invest in the Fund in excess of the limits imposed by Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, while prohibiting RiverNorth from becoming a controlling shareholder. The Board and Clough considered that the participation agreement has the potential to reduce the Fund’s discount while potentially providing additional liquidity in the trading of Fund shares, thereby benefiting shareholders.
Inconsistent with the Fund’s investment strategies and potentially costly
. With respect to the second set of alternatives contained in the shareholder proposal, the Board believes that liquidating the Fund or converting it to an open-end fund or ETF if more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are tendered would not be in the best interests of the Fund and, more importantly, its shareholders. Each of these alternatives is only available with additional time and expense, and comes with, among other things, the negative consequences described below, none of which is mentioned in the shareholder proposal or supporting statement.
In addition to the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund also features other important aspects that the Board and Clough believe are valuable to shareholders, such as the Fund’s regular distributions and significant distribution yield. Liquidating the Fund would eliminate any possibility that these features, and in turn, the Fund’s role as a component of shareholders’ broader investment portfolios, would continue. Liquidation is also a lengthy and costly process with many of the same disadvantages detailed above relating to a tender offer, which the proponent of the shareholder proposal neglects to describe in its proposal and supporting statement. The Board does not believe that terminating the Fund would be in the best interests of shareholders.
Similarly, the Board does not believe that converting the Fund to an open-end fund or ETF would be in the best interests of shareholders. Closed-end funds are different from open-end funds, including ETFs, in meaningful ways, such as the extent to which they can make use of leverage and managed distribution policies. A conversion to an open-end fund or an ETF would result in the termination of the monthly distribution pursuant to the managed distribution policy. Many investors favor closed-end funds for their consistent cash flow. In addition, if the Fund were to open-end, it would incur additional distribution-related expenses. Managing an open-end fund would also require the Fund to change its investment strategies. Unlike a closed-end fund, open-end funds must accommodate cash inflows and outflows, which means that the amount of investable assets changes continually and unpredictably. This can sometimes act as a constraint on certain longer-term investment strategies.
20
In the event of a conversion to an unlisted open-end mutual fund, shareholders would lose the benefits of owning an exchange-listed fund, including governance protocols and the ability to purchase and sell Fund shares intra-day. Any proposed conversion to an ETF would require the Fund to apply for, and obtain, an SEC order granting the exemptions under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are necessary for a fund to operate as an ETF, a potentially time-consuming and expensive process. In addition, the “conditions to relief” imposed by the SEC in its ETF exemptive order, if granted, may result in substantive changes on the manner in which the Fund has heretofore conducted its business.
Additional consideration
. The shareholder proposal is advisory only and requests the Board to take specific action. However, after careful consideration, and although the Board believes that the shareholder proposal is not in the best interests of the Fund or shareholders, the Board has determined, as part of the agreement described below, that if the shareholder proposal passes the Fund will conduct a tender offer based on the terms described in the shareholder proposal. The Fund and Clough have entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with Opportunity Partners L.P. and related parties (collectively, “Opportunity Partners”) which, in addition to addressing the shareholder proposal, provides that Opportunity Partners will not solicit or finalize the preliminary proxy statement it had filed in connection with the Meeting and will generally vote its shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board on all proposals (other than Proposal 2) at the Meeting. The Agreement further provides that if less than 40% of the shares present and entitled to vote at the Meeting vote for Proposal 2 and the Fund’s discount does not exceed certain thresholds Opportunity Partners will not submit any shareholder proposal or nomination for the 2016 annual shareholder meeting of the Fund or any fund advised by Clough and will generally vote in accordance with Board recommendations at the 2016 annual shareholders meetings. The Board is very interested in the views of Fund shareholders, and believes that in the present circumstances, in connection with the particular proposals at issue, it is in the best interests of the Fund and Fund shareholders to avoid an expensive proxy contest.
Notwithstanding the Agreement, if the shareholder proposal is approved, the Fund commences a tender offer based on the terms of the shareholder proposal and more than 50% of the Fund’s shares are tendered pursuant to that tender offer, then, consistent with the terms of the shareholder proposal, the Fund would terminate the tender offer and the Board, in its discretion, would consider whether to approve and to submit to shareholders a proposal to liquidate the Fund or convert the Fund into an open-end fund or ETF. Voting for Proposal 2 at the Meeting will not enable shareholders to choose or indicate any preference between liquidating the Fund and converting it into an open-end fund or an ETF if the tender offer is terminated in accordance with the terms of Proposal 2. Moreover, liquidating or converting the Fund into an open-end fund or an ETF cannot occur unless approved by both the Board and by Fund shareholders at a subsequent meeting of shareholders. A proposal to liquidate or convert the Fund into an open-end fund or ETF would require approval of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Such a process takes additional time and expense and is not guaranteed to succeed if attempted.
THE FUND’S BOARD, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “ AGAINST ” PROPOSAL 2.
SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “ AGAINST ” PROPOSAL 2.
REQUIRED VOTE
Proposal 1
The election of each of the listed nominees for Trustee of the Fund requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the Common Shares entitled to vote and represented at the Fund’s Meeting, if a quorum is present.
Proposal 2
The shareholder proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares entitled to vote on any proposal and represented at the Fund’s Meeting, if a quorum is present.
21
Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
Votes will be counted as either “FOR” or “AGAINST.” Abstentions or broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Abstentions or broker non-votes, however, will be considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of the Fund’s quorum. Accordingly, abstentions or broker non-votes will have no effect on Proposal 1 and will have the effect of a vote against Proposal 2.
Shareholders of the Fund will be informed of the voting results of its Meeting in the Fund’s Annual Report dated October 31, 2015.
THE FUND’S BOARD, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “
FOR
” THE ELECTION OF THE FUND’S NOMINEES.
THE FUND’S BOARD, INCLUDING THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “
AGAINST
” PROPOSAL 2.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. (“Cohen”), 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, OH 44115, has been selected to serve as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund’s fiscal year ending October 31, 2015. Cohen acted as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014. The Fund knows of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of Cohen in the Fund. A representative of Cohen will not be present at the Meeting, but will be available by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if asked, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The following table sets forth the aggregate audit and non-audit fees billed to the Fund for each of the last three fiscal years/periods for professional services rendered by the Fund’s principal accountant, Cohen.
|
Fiscal period ended
October 31, 2014
(1)
|
Fiscal year ended
March 31, 2014
|
Fiscal year ended
March 31, 2013
|
||||
|
Audit Fees (2)
|
$20,500
|
$20,500
|
$20,000
|
|||
|
Audit-Related Fees (3)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|||
|
Tax Fees (4)
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
|||
|
All Other Fees (5)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|||
|
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees (6)
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
|||
| (1) In 2014, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to October 31, so this fiscal period consists of the seven months ended October 31, 2014. |
|
(2) Audit Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by Cohen for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and for the services that are normally provided by Cohen in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
|
22
|
(3) Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for assurance and related services by Cohen that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit Fees”.
|
|
(4) Tax Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by Cohen for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. In all periods shown in the table, such services consisted of preparation of the Fund’s annual tax returns, excise tax returns, and review of dividend distribution calculation fees.
|
|
(5) All Other Fees are fees billed for products and services provided by Cohen, other than the services reported under the captions “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”.
|
|
(6) Aggregate Non-Audit Fees are non-audit fees billed by Cohen for services rendered to the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant (collectively, the “Covered Entities”). The Aggregate Non-Audit Fee includes the Tax Fees disclosed pursuant to Footnote 4 above. During all periods shown in the table, no portion of such fees related to services rendered by Cohen to the Adviser or any other Covered Entity.
|
The Fund’s Charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accountant to the Fund and all non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accountant to the Fund’s investment adviser and service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser (“affiliates”) that provide on-going services to the Fund (a “Covered Services Provider”), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee must report to the Fund’s Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairman of the Audit Committee’s pre-approval of such services, his decision(s). The Audit Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of an Audit Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than the investment adviser or the Fund’s officers). Pre-approval by the Audit Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the investment adviser, and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its independent accountant during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee or Audit Committee Chairman prior to the completion of the audit. All of the audit and audit-related services and tax services described above for which Cohen billed the Fund fees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
The Investment Adviser and Administrator
Clough is the investment adviser for the Fund, and its business address is One Post Office Square, 40
th
Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
23
ALPS is the administrator for the Fund, and its business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, require the Fund’s officers and Trustees, officers and directors of the investment adviser, affiliated persons of the investment adviser, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund’s Common Shares (the “Reporting Persons”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE MKT and to furnish the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on these reports and other information provided to the Fund by the Reporting Persons, the Fund believes that all Reporting Persons timely filed the required reports during fiscal year ended October 31, 2014.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Trustees of the Fund do not intend to present any other business at the Meeting. If, however, any other matters, including adjournments, are properly brought before a Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
Shareholder Communications with Board of Trustees
Shareholders may mail written communications to the Fund’s Board, to committees of the Board or to specified individual Trustees in care of the Secretary of the Fund, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203. All shareholder communications received by the Secretary will be forwarded promptly to the Board, the Board’s committee or the specified individual Trustees, as applicable, except that the Secretary may, in good faith, determine that a shareholder communication should not be so forwarded if it does not reasonably relate to the Fund or its operations, management, activities, policies, service providers, Board, officers, shareholders or other matters relating to an investment in the Fund or is purely ministerial in nature.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any shareholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2015 should have been received by the Secretary of the Fund no later than January 29, 2015. In addition, pursuant to the Fund’s By-Laws, a shareholder is required to give to the Fund notice of, and specified information with respect to, any proposals that such shareholder intends to present at the 2016 annual meeting no earlier than January 31, 2016, and no later than March 1, 2016. Under the circumstances described in, and upon compliance with, Rule 14a-4(c) under the 1934 Act, the Fund may solicit proxies in connection with the 2016 annual meeting which confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposals of which the Secretary of the Fund does not receive notice in accordance with the aforementioned date. Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included.
EXPENSES OF PROXY SOLICITATION
In addition to the solicitation of proxies by Internet or mail, officers of the Fund and officers and regular employees of DST, the Fund’s transfer agent, ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”), the Fund’s administrator, and affiliates of DST, ALPS or other representatives of the Fund may also solicit proxies by telephone, Internet or in person. The Fund has engaged Okapi Partners LLC, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies. It is anticipated that Okapi Partners LLC will be paid solicitation fees not to exceed $300,000 plus expenses for such solicitation services, which costs are to be borne by the Fund, provided that solicitation fees and expenses in excess of $300,000 will be paid by the Fund’s adviser, Clough, and ALPS. In addition, the Fund has engaged Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., a professional proxy solicitation firm, to provide tabulation services. The expenses incurred in connection with preparing the Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be paid by ALPS. ALPS will also reimburse brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Fund’s Common Shares.
24
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
Shareholders who share the same address and last name may receive only one copy of the proxy materials unless Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), in the case of shareholders of record, or such shareholder’s broker, bank or nominee, in the case of shareholders whose shares are held in street name, has received contrary instructions. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce printing and mailing costs. Shareholders desiring to discontinue householding and receive a separate copy of the proxy materials, may (1) if their shares are held in street name, notify their broker, bank or nominee or (2) if they are shareholders of record, direct a written request to BFDS.
IF VOTING BY PAPER PROXIES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE THEREFORE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
25
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