Mr. Zizza, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegation, paid $150,000 and agreed to cease and desist committing or causing any future violations of Rule 13b2-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934” Act). The Board has discussed this matter and has determined that this does not disqualify Mr. Zizza from serving as an Independent Trustee.
(8)
| Includes time served in prior officer positions with the Fund. Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
*
| Nominee to serve, if elected, until the Fund’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
**
| Term continues until the Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
***
| Term continues until the Fund’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of other Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes or skills common to all Trustees are their ability to review critically and to evaluate, question, and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, the Adviser, the sub- administrator, other service providers, counsel, and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained in large part through the Trustee’s business, consulting, or public service positions and through experience from service as a member of the Board and one or more of the other funds in the Fund Complex, public companies, non-profit entities, or other organizations as set forth above and below. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively also has been enhanced by education, professional training, and other experience.
Independent Trustees/Nominees
Calgary Avansino. Ms. Avansino was CEO of Glamcam from 2018 - 2020, a social commerce app focusing on the Gen Z market. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Cate School beginning in 2017 and the E.L. Wiegand Foundation beginning in 2018, and is a member of the Common Sense Media Advisory Council beginning 2019. Previously, beginning in 2014, she was a Contributing Vogue Editor in order to launch her eponymous wellness company, and in 2016, she published the nutrition book entitled Keep It Real, launched a website, and was a prolific public speaker on wellness trends. From 2009 - 2013 Avansino was Executive Fashion Director and Digital Project Director at British Vogue. Ms. Avansino is a graduate of Cate Preparatory School ’93 and Georgetown University ’98, with a major in English Literature and a minor in Women’s Studies.
James P. Conn. Mr. Conn is the Lead Independent Trustee of the Fund and a member of the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting and ad hoc Pricing Committees. He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He was a senior business executive of Transamerica Corp., an insurance holding company, for much of his career including service as Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Conn has been a director of several public companies in banking and other industries, and was lead director and/or chair of various committees. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Santa Clara University.
Vincent D. Enright. Mr. Enright is Chairman of the Fund’s Audit and Nominating Committees, a member of the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee, and a member of both multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committees. He has been designated as the Fund’s Audit Committee Financial Expert. He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. Mr. Enright was a senior executive and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corp., an energy public utility, for four years. Mr. Enright is a former director of a therapeutic and diagnostic company and served as Chairman of its compensation committee and as a member of its audit committee. He is a former director of a pharmaceutical company and a diversified manufacturing company. Mr. Enright received his Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.
Leslie F. Foley. Ms. Foley is an attorney currently serving on the Boards of the Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy Andover. She serves on the boards of other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. Ms. Foley was previously Vice President, Global Ethics & Compliance and Associate General Counsel for News Corporation. She also served in the White House Counsel’s Office as Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. Earlier in her career, Ms. Foley served as Counsel for O’Melveny and Myers LLP; Managing Director of Fixed Income Legal at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.; associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP; and law clerk to Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated from Yale University magna cum laude and from the University of Virginia School of Law where she was an editor of the Virginia Law Review.
Michael J. Melarkey, Esq. Mr. Melarkey, after more than forty years of experience as an attorney specializing in business, estate planning, and gaming regulatory work, retired from the active practice of law and is of counsel